2022 Season

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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 Lester 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.”