2022 Nutcracker Dancers

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Kirill graduated the world famous and most prestigious Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia under the instruction of Vladlen Semenov, current Master teacher at American Ballet Theatre and former Mariinsky Theater (Kirov Ballet) principal dancer and instructor. 

After graduation in 1985 Kirill  joined the Boris Eifman Ballet Theater, where he danced many solo roles.  Kirill became company member with Mikhailovsky State Opera and Ballet Theatre were he toured and performed in many countries across Europe.

1998-2000 principal danced with Ballet Minnesota.

2001-2017 cofounder-director and Master teacher of Academy of Russia Ballet in Minnesota.

2018 - present  cofounder-director and Master teacher of Minnesota Ballet School

2018 - present Minnesota Ballet Theatre artistic director and cofounder

Samantha, originally from Windsor, CT, trained at Connecticut Concert Ballet in her early years under direction of Wendy Fish-Lawrence and David Lawrence. She then left home to train at Walnut Hill School for the Arts during her high school years. Upon graduating in 2017, Sam joined Ballet Austin’s fellowship program and second company where she had the opportunity to perform George Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie, and Petipa’s Paquita Pas de Trois. She then joined Ballet Tucson as a senior apprentice. In 2021 she started her first season as an apprentice with Rochester City Ballet and was promoted mid-season to a company member. Being in the corps de ballet of George Balanchine’s Concerto Barroco has been her favorite moment on stage so far in her professional career.

Liam started his ballet training at age four with the School of the Minnesota Ballet. He has attended summer intensives at Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Austin, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, and Ellison Ballet NYC. Some of Liam’s most notable roles include Fritz and Russian dancer in Allen Fields’ The Manhattan Nutcracker, and the male lead in Giselle: Peasant Pas de Deux, staged by Karin Ellis-Wentz. After competing and receiving first place at Youth America Grand Prix regionals in 2020, Liam received a full tuition scholarship to train with Joffrey Academy in Chicago where he danced from 2020-2022. At Joffrey, he studied character, classical ballet, contemporary, Cunningham, and Horton techniques. In 2022, Liam received first and third places at Youth America Grand Prix regionals and competed as a finalist in Tampa. He currently dances with the Rochester City Ballet.

Andrew is an award-winning professional dancer based in St. Paul.  Andrew graduated with his BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota in 2006 and has gone on to become a staple of the Twin Cities dance community for almost 20 years. He was a full-time company member of James Sewell Ballet for six seasons. He has also been dancing with local modern company Shapiro & Smith Dance for over 12 years. As a freelance artist, he has collaborated with a variety of esteemed Minnesota companies, including Twin Cities Ballet of MN, Metropolitan Ballet, Continental Ballet, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, Ethnic Dance Theatre, Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater, and the Minnesota Opera. In 2012, he was honored to receive a Sage Award for Outstanding Performer for his work in Shapiro & Smith’s Family and Joseph Morrissey's One. Career highlights include performing for modern dance legend Merce Cunningham, studying under the tutelage of celebrated ballerina Anna-Marie Holmes, and premiering Titicut Follies: The Ballet with James Sewell Ballet in New York City and at the Festival de Danse in Cannes, France.

Alec is a dancer, actor, and visual artist native to Minnesota.  He has performed at multiple venues around the twin cities including Ritz Theater, The Guthrie Theater, The Cowles Center.  This is Alec’s second classical ballet appearance through MN Ballet School’s training and is excited to be afforded the chance to dance. “I encourage dancers of any discipline or style to really immerse yourself in this amazing art form. It will challenge you, make you more confident in technique and push your boundaries of musical expression.”    

Matilda teaches Pre-Ballet and Ballet 1. She  joined ARB at the age of three and still takes classes in the advanced level. Throughout her years with MBS, Matilda danced in all MBS/ARB original productions, such as Peter and the Wolf, Carnival of the Animals and other classical ballet repertoire. Matilda performed Clara,  Arabian Solo, Snow Queen in MBS's annual production The Nutcracker.

Abby started dance when she was 3, and after trying different types, she fell in love with ballet. She began dencing with Minnesota Ballet Theatre & School in 2014. This will be Abby's 9th Nutcracker. She has performed solos from Swan Lake, La Fille Mal Gardee, Sleeping Beauty and the Nutcracker. This year, Abby will be performing the Snow Pas de Deux and Flowers solo (cast 1), and Spanish solo, Flowers and Snow solo (cast 2). Her favorite Nutcracker role was Clara, which she danced last year. Once Nutcracker is over, she will prepare to go to the Youth American Grand Prix semi finals in Kansas City.

Kaitlin is excited to be performing the Arabian solo (cast 1) for

the first time. She will also be dancing the parts of Porcelain Doll, Snow solo, and Flower solo (cast 2). This will be her 12th Nutcracker with the MBS.  After Nutcracker wraps, Kaitlin is looking forwarding to traveling to Kansas City in February 2023 with her MBS friends to participate in the Youth American Grand Prix Regional Semi-final.