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  2006-2007 Season Series : Gala of International Ballet Stars 2007 Cast Join our Mailing List

Meet the Cast of the 2007 Gala of International Ballet Stars

Adiarys Almeida, Cincinnati Ballet Vitor Luiz, Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro
Alejandro Alvarez, National Dance Company of Spain

Hernan Piquin, Ballet Argentino de Julio Bocca
Aleksandar Antonijevic, National Ballet of Canada Joseph Phillips, San Francisco Ballet
Stephanie Dalphond, National Dance Company of Spain Ana Sophia Scheller, New York City Ballet
Caroline Queiroz Gaier, Teatro Argentino

Nicholas Wright III, Urban Ballet Theater
Joseph Gatti, Cincinnati Ballet Haiyan Wu, Miami City Ballet

Natalia Johnson, Urban Ballet Theater

 Bridgett Zehr, National Ballet of Canada
Cecilia Kerche, Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro Yang Zou, Miami City Ballet
   

 

Adiarys Almeida
Cincinnati Ballet
Born in Matanzas and raised in Havana, Cuba, Adiarys Almeida joined Cincinnati Ballet in 2004 as a Soloist and was promoted to Senior Soloist in 2005 and to Principal Dancer in 2006.Her professional training includes the Vocational Arts School, Matanzas Cuba, and the National Ballet School, Havana Cuba. Yolanda Dominguez, Martha Iris Fernandez, Ana Julia Bermudez, Rosario Suarez, Magaly Suarez and Orlando Molina are among Ms. Almeida’s most significant teachers. Ms. Almeida danced with The National Ballet of Cuba for two years (2001 to 2003), under the direction of Alicia Alonso (the ultimate dream of many Cuban dancers.) Her favorite roles are Giselle in Giselle, Carmen in Carmen, Odette-Odile in Swan Lake, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Kitri in Don Quixote, Medora in Le Corsaire, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Tchaikovsky pas de deux and the lead pas de deux in Balanchine's Stars and Stripes. She participated in the International Ballet Competition of Havana, Cuba, where she received a Silver Medal in 1997 and 1998 and a Gold Medal in 1999 and 2000. In Japan, Ms. Almeida participated in the 1999 International Dance Competition of Nagoya and the Gala of the Ballet Muses in Tokyo as the partner of Rolando Sarabia. She been invited to perform as a Principal Guest Artist with Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, The Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami, Ballet Rosario Suarez, The Miami International Ballet Festival, and many Ballet Galas around the World. Ms. Almeida has danced in lots of international stages like, Holland, Spain, Mexico, Japan, Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic ,Puerto Rico ,and all over the USA. She was also finalist in the USA International Ballet Competition 2006 where she performed the World Premiere of “Nothing” choreographed by Jamal Story. Almeida thanks her boyfriend, Joseph Gatti, for inspiring her to dance everyday and her family for their love and their wonderful support throughout her career.

USA IBC 2006 Awards Gala "Le Corsaire" pas de deux performed by Adiarys Almeida & Joseph Gatti.

"…The highlight of the Gala…" “…The evening's only standing ovation…” "…Astonishing…” ”…Astounding…"The purest and most honest ballet dancing…" “Delivered with a lack of affectation and with seamless, fluid finishes that made rare artistry of the gimmicks." New York Times, July 4th, 2006 by Jennifer Dunning.

Alejandro Álvarez
National Dance Co. of Spain

 Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Alejandro Álvarez began dancing at the age of seventeen. A year later he was offered a full scholarship to attend the National Ballet School of Canada. Upon graduating, Alejandro began his professional career and danced with, among others, Feld Ballets/NY, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (Soloist), Mannheim Ballett under the directorship of Kevin O’Day (Soloist) and William Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt (Guest artist). In 2004 he joined Nacho Duato’s Compañía Nacional de Danza as a Principal Dancer. His extensive repertoire includes the works of George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Dominique Dumais, Matz Ek, Eliot Feld, Michael Fokine, William Forsythe, Shawn Hounsel, James Kudelka, Jiri Kylian, Ohad Naharin, Kevin O’Day, Marius Petipa and Anthony Tudor. He has been invited to perform in galas in Canada, Germany, Spain, Korea and the United States.

Aleksandar Antonijevic
National Ballet of Canada

 Born in Yugoslavia, Aleksandar Antonijevic attended the National Ballet School in Novi Sad where he studied under Ksenija Dinjaski and was coached by renowned Russian teachers Natalia Dudinskaya and Konstantin Sergeyev.
In 1988 Mr. Antonijevic received a Certificate of Honour for reaching the final round in the 13th International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. In 1989 Mr. Antonijevic joined the Zurich Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet under the direction of Uwe Scholz. Within 10 months he was promoted to Demi-Soloist. In 1991 Mr. Antonijevic joined The National Ballet of Canada as a Second Soloist. He was promoted to First Soloist in 1993 and to Principal Dancer in 1995. Since joining The National Ballet of Canada, Mr. Antonijevic has danced many principal roles and has created several lead roles in ballets by James Kudelka He has performed internationally as a guest artists for numerous premiers, galas, and festivals. "Antonijevic's Florimund was one of those bolts of lightning that strikes only once or twice in a decade, announcing that there is magic in the air....Antonijevic must be one of the most exciting dancer-actors anywhere." The Globe and Mail, 1994 “(Antonijevic) has a soft springy jump that a gazelle would envy – though this leaper lands in perfect fifth and deep plié each time. He possesses high extension and excellent lines, making an elegant and supportive partner.” Dance Magazine, 1999.

Stéphanie Dalphond
National Dance Co. of Spain

 Born in Montreal, Canada, Stéphanie Dalphond began training at the age of nine. At the age of fourteen she became one of the first Canadians to be accepted at the school of the Paris Opera on a full scholarship. Two years later, she accepted a contract with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, becoming the youngest dancer in the company’s history. During her six seasons with the company, she excelled both in the classical and the contemporary repertoire. She started to freelance in Montreal until American choreographer Kevin O’Day offered her a soloist contract with his new company in Mannheim, Germany. Stéphanie danced with the company for a year before going back to freelancing in Europe. For the following two years, she has worked with some of the best contemporary European choreographers such as Serge Campardon, Veronika Riz and Antonio Gomes. She has guested in Galas in Switzerland, Italy and Germany. She joined in Compañía Nacional de Danza in September, 2005.
 

Caroline Quieroz Gaier
Teatro Argentina

 Born in the city of Porto Alegre (Brazil), Caroline started her studies with maestros Alexander Sidoroff, Oscar Recalde and Victoria Milanes, who coached her for contests in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, where she won several gold medals. In 1996, she entered the Instituto Superior de Artes del Teatro Colon (Superior Arts Institute in Colon Theatre), and she improved her technique in Argentina with maestros Graciela Sultanik, Raul Candal, Katty Gallo and Alejandro Totto. The same year, she joined the Teatro Argentino de La Plata ballet corps, through open selection, taking Principal and Soloist roles in great productions from both contemporary and classical repertoire. She has worked with international prestige choreographers as Vladimir Vassiliev, Zarko Prebil, Oscar Araiz, Esmeralda Agoglia, Gustavo Mollajoli, Antonio Truyol, Ana Maria Stekelman, and Miguel Angel Elias, among others. She has shared the stage with Saint Petersburg Kirov Theatre stars, such as Elvira Tarasova and Andrei Batalov. From 2001-2005, she has danced as parter to Iñaki Urlezaga in important Galas, International Festivals, world tours with his Company, “Ballet Concierto,” directed by Lilian Giovine. Her repertoire includes Don Quixote, Swan lake, Romeo and
Juliet, Coppelia, Paquita, Le Corsaire, Giselle, Niño Brujo, Gaite Parisiense, La Sylphide, Carmen, Sylvia, El Talismán, Constancia, Sylphides, Midsummer Night Dream, Floralis, Pulsaciones, Bolero (music by M. Ravel), Magnificat, Haendel, Destino Buenos Aires, Apollo and her aunts, and more. She has performed on important international stages across Argentina, USA, Canada, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Peru and Chile. Prizes include the Gold Medal in “Concurso Latinoamericano de Danza” (1990 & 1991); the Gold Medal and Revelation Ballerina Prize in the “Bento en Danza” Festival - Brasil (1994); the Silver Medal in “Certamen Internacional de Ballet y Danza” de Buenos Aires- Argentina (1996).

“Another youthful addition to the Gala lineup was twenty-six-year-old Caroline Queiroz Gaier of Teatro Argentino de La Plata. She performed the Sylvia Pas de deux with Inaki Urlezaga of Royal Ballet,who choreographed this pleasing version. With her gracious manner, beaming smile and clean technique, Gaier uncannily resembled an up-to-date young Margot Fonteyn from head to toe.” ~ Maisonneuve (Kena Herod), Montreal, Canada , September 2005.

 

Joseph Gatti
Cincinnati Ballet

 Born in Warwick, New York. Joseph joined Cincinnati Ballet in 2005 as a soloist and was promoted to Senior Soloist in 2006 and to Principal Dancer in 2007. In 2003 he was awarded the Gold Medal at the Youth American Grand Prix in New York and a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in London. Upon graduating with honors he received the 2004 Dame Ruth Railton Award for Excellence in Dance . In 2005 he became the first American male to win the prestigious Gold Medal at the New York International Ballet Competition. Mr. Gatti was nominated for best male dancer at the 2006 Benois de la Danse in Moscow. He also received the Bronze Medal at the 2006 USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson ,Mississippi and the Silver Medal at the 2006 Seoul International Ballet Competition in Korea ,both in the Senior Division. He was also chosen to be featured in a video entitled “ The Male Ballet Dancer ” presented by renowned master teacher and trainer Finis Jhung. In the summer of 2007 Joseph was coached by Cuban teacher Magaly Suarez for the First World Ballet Competition in Orlando ,Florida ,were he received the Gold Medal in the Senior Division.
Mr. Gatti began dancing at age ten at the Orlando Ballet School in Florida and later continued his training with Vadim Fedotov and Irina Depler in Orlando. Joseph danced with Orlando Ballet as an apprentice 2002-2003 under the direction of Fernando Bujones. Named a National Trained Scholar after attending the 2003 American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive, he joined the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company for the 2004-2005 season. There he danced Principal Roles in Classical and Contemporary works throughout the U.S.
Some of his recent roles include the Prince in “The Nutcracker“,”Cinderella“ and “The Sleeping Beauty“. Albreth and the Peasant pas de deux from “Giselle“, Romeo in Victoria Morgan’s “Romeo and Juliet”, Petal Miller- Ashmole’s “La Favorita“ pas de deux ,Anton Dolin’s “Variations for four”, Arthur Saint- Leon’s “La Vivandiere” ,Stephen Mill’s “Hush”, Ali in “Le Corsaire”, “Black Swan” pas de deux ,”Don Quixote” pas de deux ,”Tchaicovski” pas de deux ,El Capitan in Balanchine’s “Stars and Stripes”,Jorma Elo’s “Plan to B” and Twyla Tharp’s “Baker’s Dozen”. Joseph has been invited as a Principal Guest Artist with Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, The Miami International Ballet Festival ,Ballet Municipal de Lima ,Peru, and many others ballet Galas around the world in places like Germany, London ,Puerto Rico ,Dominican Republic, Peru ,Moscow, Korea ,Japan and all over the U.S. Joseph would like to dedicated this year to his family and girlfriend Adiarys Almeida for their never-ending inspiration, love and support and to his coach and friend Orlando Molina.

USA IBC 2006 Awards Gala "Le Corsaire" pas de deux performed by Adiarys Almeida & Joseph Gatti.


. . . " The Highlight of the Gala," The evening's only standing ovation," Astonishing," Astounding," The purest and most honest ballet dancing," Delivered with a lack of affectation and with seamless,fluid finishes that made rare artistry of the gimmicks"
New York Times . July 4th 2006 by Jennifer Dunning.

World Ballet Competiton 2007 ,Orlando, Florida .”Gala of the Stars” “Don Quixote” pas de deux .

. . . “Gold-winner Gatti ,whose form and zeal remind me of a young Fernando Bujones”

Orlando Sentinel . July 11 Diane Hubbard Burns.

 

Natalia Johnson
Urban Ballet Theater

 Natalia Johnson is a native of Lubbock, Texas and joined Ballet Lubbock at the age of eight. After graduating she attended the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s summer intensive dance program in New York City and before the end of the summer was asked to stay as a member of the Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble. Ms. Johnson has stared in the title role in Debbie Allen’s stage production of Pearl and danced professionally with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She is currently a principal dancer with the Urban Ballet Theater.
 

 

Cecilia Kerche
Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro

Cecilia Kerche was born in Brazil. She studied with Vera Mayer, Halina Biernacka and Pedro Kraszczuk, her coach and husband. She joined Municipal Ballet Theatre of Rio de Janeiro in 1982, becoming principal Dancer in 1986. Her performances in several galas and festivals, have taken her to Madrid, Moscow, London, Peralada, Santander, Nerve, Jerez, Dresden, Berlin, Brussels, Antwerp, Paris, Melbourne and Sidney. She was invited by the English National Ballet as senior principal for the winter season of 1993/94, coming back as principal resident guest artist for the winter and summer season in 1995/96 touring in Korea and for the falls season in 1997 touring extensively in England. Cecilia Kerche is one of the best known and admired dancers in Argentina and Brazil. She was coached by Natalia Makarova in her versions of La Bayadere and Swan Lake in South America.

Repertoire includes:
Main roles in Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle, La Bayadère, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Nutcracker, Spartacus, Raymonda and Paquita.

Vitor Luiz
Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro

 Vitor Luiz began his training at the age of eleven with Victor Navarro and continued his classical studies with his greatest "maître de ballet" Mr Pedro Krasczuck.
At age seventeen, he was accepted at The Royal Ballet School and after three months, he joined the corps de ballet at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, performing in national and international seasons. He joined the Ballet do Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro in 2000 and has danced as a soloist and principal work since 2001. He was nominated "Principal Dancer" during the Onegin 's season, in 2005, and is currently invited for International Gala's performances and to Guest in Companies in South America, in countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Ecuador , and has just made his America's Debut at the YAGP GALA , in New York City. Vitor Luiz is an extremely versatile dancer who has performed central roles in a wide range of the ballets in the Ballet do Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro repertoire including: “Siegfried” and “Benno”in Swan Lake- (Natalia Makarova , Eugênia Federova and Yelena Pankova), “Mercutio” and “Paris” in Romeo and Juliet- (Vladimir Vassiliev), “Albrecht” and “Paisant Pas” in Giselle- (Peter Wright), “Lensky” in Onegin- (Jonh Cranko), “Prince Desirée” and “Blue Bird” in The Sleeping Beauty- ( Marius Petipa and J. Slavicky), “Franz” in Coppelia- (Martinez), “Prince” in The Nutcracker- (Dalal Achcar), Waltz in Serenade- (George Balanchine), “Basil” in Don Quixote- ( Marius Petipa), La Sylphide-(August Bournoville), “Hortensio” in The Taming of the Shrew -(Jonh Cranko), Le Corsarie- (Marius Petipa) and “Colas” in La Fille Mal Gardée- (Jean Dauberval /F.Ashton) Volunteries (Glen Tetley)
.He has also worked with many Brazilian and international contemporary and new classic coreographers, in pieces made specialy for him performed in this Company. Some of them are Glen Tetley, Tindaro Silvano, Gustavo Mollajoli, Sulich Vassili, David Bintley, Heron Nobre, Pederneiras and others.

Hernan Piquin
Ballet Argentino de Julio Bocca

Hernan Piquin is one of the most outstanding Argentinian dancers. Born in Argentina, he started his career at “ Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colon, “ In 1985, he received an invitation as a student of honor for the English National Ballet School. HE ha danced for Le jeune Ballet de la France, Ballet Juvenil de Caracas and Ballet Estable del Teatro Colon.
Since 1994, he has been the main star of the Julio Bocca’s Ballet Argentino, in which he has performed all over Europe, Asia, Africa and the entire American continent. His repertoire is composed by plays such as “ The Swan Lake “, “ Carmen “, “ Le Corsaire “, “ Giselle “, “ Serenade “, “ Apollo “, “ Night Chase “. “ The River “ from Alvin Ailey, “Orfeo “, “Nine Sinatra Songs “from Twyla Tarp, “The man in the red tie “, among others.
By the year 2000 he was main dancer of the “ Smuin Ballet San Francisco “ playing “Medea”, “ Q a V “, “ Homeless “, “ Eternal Idol “, “ Dancing with Gershwin “, “ The Nutcracker Christmas Ballet “, among others. He has received such dinstinguished awards such as the Maria Ruanova Award, granted by the Argentinian Dance Council member of the CID UNESCO, and the Clarin Prize “Dance Figure of the Year” granted by the most important newspaper of Argentina.
 

Joseph Phillips
San Francisco Ballet

Joseph Phillips joined the San Francisco Ballet in 2003. He won the Gold Medal at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi (2002), the Gold Medal at the First Prague International Ballet Competition (2002), Gold Medal at the Youth American Grand Prix, NY, (2002) and the Jury Prize at the International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland (2001). He began his dance training in Columbia, South Carolina when he was ten years old studying with Anita Ashley and the Carolina Ballet. He attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts studying with master teacher and coach, Stanislav Issaev. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts on full scholarship and studied extensively with Warren Conover. He was also coached by Gyula Pandi for many competitions and galas. He has studied with American Ballet Theatre and at the School of American Ballet. Hailed by the press as “Ballet’s Golden Boy,” he is a frequent guest artist at national and international festivals and with companies throughout the globe from Japan and Mexico to Hungary and most recently at the Spoleto Festival in Italy (2006). He also lit the torch to open the VIII United States of America International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi this year. He has danced the leading roles in many ballets of the classical repertoire including “Coppelia,” ”Stars and Stripes,” “Symphony 13”, “Sleeping Beauty” and in “pas de deux” such as “Don Quixote,” “Le Corsaire,” “La Bayadere,” “Flames of Paris,” and “Diana and Acteon.” Phillips has been guest artist with civic, regional and international ballet companies including the Carolina Ballet, Raleigh, North Carolina, the Carolina Ballet, Columbia, South Carolina, the NBA Ballet Company, Tokyo, Japan.

Ana Sophia Scheller
New York City Ballet

Ana Sophia Scheller was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and began her dance training when she was six years old at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colon, where her principal teachers were Katy Gallo and Raúl Candal. She received a scholarship as part of Argentina's National Presidential Prize for Cultural Excellence in Classical Dance for three consecutive years before moving to New York at age 13 to enroll as a full time student at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, in January 2000. At SAB, Ms. Scheller danced featured roles in Ballo della Regina and Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet (Balanchine) and Aurora in the wedding pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty (Martins) in SAB's 2002 and 2003 Workshop Performances. Ms. Scheller joined American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company in August 2003, and joined New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2004. In December 2006, she was promoted to Soloist.

Nicholas Wright III
Urban Ballet Theater


Nicholas Wright III, was born in Dallas, Texas. He received his training at Ballet Academy of Texas, Fort Worth Ballet School and School of American Ballet. Mr. Wright III has danced with City Ballet of Los Angeles, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Delaware Dance Company, and Fort Worth Ballet's production of "Cinderella", "Nutcracker", and "Four Season". He has also appeared with Metropolitan Opera in "Aida" and "La Boheme". Mr. Wright III is currently a principal dancer with the Urban Ballet Theater.
 

Haiyan Wu
Miami City Ballet

 A principal dancer with Miami City Ballet since 2003, Haiyan trained at Beijing Dance Academy In China and danced with National Ballet of China from 1996-2003. Her principal roles include Giselle, Don Quixote, Coppelia, The Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, Swan Lake , Nutcracker, La Valse, La Sonnambula, Sonatine, by George Balanchine; and Afternoon of a Faun by Jerome Robbins. She has performed all over the world including Russia, Denmark, Turkey, Israeli, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan . She performed the Esmeralda pas de deux in France (1996), and performed as Giselle for the 25th Anniversary Reunion Gala at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi (2004). She has medaled in international competitions including Shanghai International (Bronze, 1995); Shanghai International (Gold, 2001); and Jackson International (Gold, 2002).
 

Bridgett Zehr
National Ballet of Canada

 Bridgett Zehr was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida. She began her training with the Sarasota Ballet’s innovative Dance: The Next Generation programme. She continued her studies at The Harid Conservatory in Florida, and finished her training at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy, which she attended on full scholarship for one year and two summer intensive programs. In 2002, while still an apprentice with Houston Ballet, Ms. Zehr was a finalist in the International Ballet Competition in Shanghai in 2002. Ms. Zehr joined Houston Ballet in 2003, and in 2006 was promoted to Soloist. Ms. Zehr joined The National Ballet of Canada as Second Soloist in September 2006. With The National Ballet of Canada, Ms. Zehr has danced the role of The Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, the Diamond Lady in The Sleeping Beauty and a featured role in Symphony in C. With the Houston Ballet Ms. Zehr danced Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Calliope in Apollo and both the Snow Queen and The Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. She also appeared in La Walse, Western Symphony, Theme and Variations and In the middle, somewhat elevated. Artistic Director Karen Kain selected Ms. Zehr to represent The National Ballet of Canada at the Seventh International Competition for the Erik Bruhn Prize on March 3, 2007 at the Four Seasons Centre. Ms. Zehr will be partnered by First Soloist Keiichi Hirano.
 

Yang Zou
Miami City Ballet

 Yang Zou trained at Xin Hai College of Music and Dance, Guangzhou Culture and Art School and danced for Guangzhou Ballet of China from 2000-2004. He was promoted to Principal Soloist in 2004. In 2005, he joined Miami City Ballet as a Soloist. He has performed principal roles in Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and Grand Pas Classique. In 2004, he won a silver medal in the Senior Division of the Shanghai International Ballet Competition.. Yang has performed all over the world including Australia, Japan, Korea, France, Peru, Italy, Holland, Germany, Hong Kong, and Macao.
 

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