Our People

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Aliaksandra Kuryakova is a graduate of the Minsk Ballet Academy and continued her professional development through an internship in Manchester, United Kingdom.

During her professional career, Aliaksandra performed as a Principal Dancer with the Minsk State Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the Russian National Ballet. Her classical repertoire includes leading roles such as Odile in Swan Lake, Kitri in Don Quixote, and Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty.

Known for combining strong classical technique with dynamic stage presence, Aliaksandra has performed extensively in major classical repertoire. She has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist.

 Born in Taraz, Kazakhstan, Nurlan Kinerbayev is a graduate of the Almaty Choreographic College and Bolashak University in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan.

Throughout his professional career, Nurlan has performed with companies including Moscow City Ballet and the Russian National Ballet. His classical repertoire includes leading roles such as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Basilio in Don Quixote, Prince Désiré in The Sleeping Beauty, and Albrecht in Giselle.

A laureate of international ballet competitions, Nurlan has performed extensively in classical repertoire, bringing both strong technique and dramatic versatility to his roles. He has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist.

Tevfik Bayram Vatansever received his early dance training with Hilton Head Dance Theatre and completed his pre-professional training at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities.

Throughout his career, Tevfik has performed internationally in classical, contemporary, and character roles. His repertoire includes The Firebird, Peter Pan, and Balanchine’s Jewels, and he has participated in international competitions including Youth America Grand Prix and the International Istanbul Ballet Competition. Tevfik has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist.

Alessandra Carter received her pre-professional training at the Vitacca School for Dance before joining the Joffrey Academy in Chicago as a trainee. She later continued her training in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School Graduate Program, performing with the company in productions including The Nutcracker and Beauty and the Beast.

In 2024, Alessandra joined the Richmond Ballet Studio Company, performing in works including Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella and Ma Cong’s Pentaptych. Her additional training includes summer intensives at the Dutch National Ballet Academy, San Francisco Ballet School, and Boston Ballet School. Alessandra has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist.

Andrew McGee began his training at Greenville Civic Ballet before continuing at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

His performance experience includes principal roles in The Nutcracker, Firebird, and Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, as well as contemporary works by choreographers including Sidra Bell and Ilya Kozadayev. Andrew’s training and performance experience span classical, contemporary, and neoclassical repertoire. He has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist.

Christina Grace Duffy trained with organizations including Charlotte Ballet, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Cincinnati Ballet, BalletMet, and Oklahoma City Ballet. She later joined Roanoke Ballet Theatre, performing principal and soloist roles, followed by a season with Arles Youth Ballet Company in France.

Her repertoire spans classical and contemporary works, and she has performed as a guest artist in productions including Cinderella, Carnival of the Animals, Peter and the Wolf, and The Nutcracker. Christina has also competed internationally in the United States and Europe. She has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist.

Elena Olshin received her early ballet training at the American Dance Institute and later completed her formal training at the Akhmedova Ballet Academy. She went on to dance for four seasons with First State Ballet Theatre, performing featured roles in classical productions including Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, and Flames of Paris.

Her professional experience also includes Bowen McCauley Dance Company, Wilmington Ballet, and Pegasus Contemporary Ballet, where she has performed works by a diverse range of contemporary choreographers. Elena has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist in company productions.

Jonathan Robbins trained at Ballet West Academy and Richmond Ballet, where he also participated in company performances. He began his professional career with Nevada Ballet Theatre and later danced for three years with New Orleans Ballet Theatre.

His repertoire includes Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Carmina Burana, Dracula, and The Nutcracker, with featured and soloist roles throughout his professional career. Jonathan appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist, including as the Sugar Plum Cavalier in The Nutcracker.

Originally from Australia, Sam Neale trained at the Atelier School for Classical Ballet and The McDonald College before joining Milwaukee Ballet II. He later joined Minnesota Ballet, where his repertoire included leading roles such as the Prince in The Nutcracker, Kostchei in The Firebird, and Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake.

Sam continued his professional career with Eugene Ballet and has appeared as a guest artist with several companies, including Ballet Co.Laboratory and Minnesota Dance Theatre. He appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist in The Nutcracker, performing the Snow Prince and Spanish lead.

Boris Ceballos began his ballet training at the Colombian Classical Ballet Institute (Incolballet) and later continued his studies at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre in New York City.

He went on to become a Principal Dancer with Orlando Ballet and has performed as both a dancer and choreographer in competitions and galas throughout the United States and internationally. Boris has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist.

Ryo Munakata began his classical ballet training in Sendai, Japan, at Etoile Ballet School and later continued his studies in New York at American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, Manhattan Youth Ballet, and Peridance Capezio Center.

From 2016 to 2018, Ryo danced with Minnesota Ballet, performing featured roles including Prince in The Nutcracker, Prince Ivan in Firebird, and Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake. In 2018, he was a finalist at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi.

He later danced with Ballet West, performing in George Balanchine’s Jewels. Ryo has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist.

Oksana Maslova received her ballet training in Ukraine at the Kiev Choreographic College and later earned a master’s degree in choreography and ballet instruction from the Institute of Culture and Arts.

Her professional career includes the Odessa National Opera House, where she rose to the rank of soloist, followed by engagements as a Principal Dancer with Grand Rapids Ballet and Connecticut Ballet. In 2014, Oksana joined Philadelphia Ballet as a soloist and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2016. 

Her repertoire includes leading roles such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Kitri in Don Quixote, Medora in Le Corsaire, and Cinderella, as well as works by George Balanchine and Christopher Wheeldon. Oksana has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist.

Anton Kandaurov is a graduate of the Kiev State College of Choreography and continued his studies in Zurich. He began his professional career with the Croatian National Ballet and later danced with the Kiev National Opera House Ballet, Kiev City Academic Theater, and Moscow Ballet Company.

Anton later joined Grand Rapids Ballet and went on to become a Principal Dancer with Connecticut Ballet, performing leading roles in The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland, as well as repertoire from Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, and Giselle.

He is the Artistic Director of ChamberSquared Dance Project and has performed as a guest artist with ballet companies throughout the United States. Anton has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist in company productions.

Emily Speed received her classical ballet training at Denton Ballet Academy and the Marina Almayeva School of Classical Ballet. Early in her career, she earned First Place at Youth America Grand Prix, was a finalist at the World Ballet Competition, and competed internationally at the Varna International Ballet Competition and USA International Ballet Competition.

As a professional dancer, Emily performed as a Soloist with Colorado Ballet and Ballet Idaho and has appeared as a Principal Guest Artist throughout the United States. Her repertoire includes classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works by choreographers including George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Antony Tudor, Twyla Tharp, Christopher Wheeldon, and Yuri Possokhov.

Emily is the Founder and Artistic Director of Artistic Ventures in Dance (AVID) and continues her work as a performer, educator, and artistic leader. Emily has appeared with Minnesota Ballet Theatre as a guest artist in company productions.