The Dancers of Ballet West - Artists
EMILY ADAMS
Emily Adams joined Ballet West II in 2005 and joined Ballet West in 2007. She trained at the School of American Ballet, Studio Maestro, Ballet Technique, and Princeton Ballet. She also studied with Christina Fagundes, Lincoln Jones, and Nancy Bielski. She attended summer programs at the School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, and the Royal Ballet School. As an advanced student at SAB, she performed Serenade, Sleeping Beauty, Chopiniana, and Scherzo a la Russe with New York City Ballet. She choreographed ballets for two SAB student choreography workshops, and at 17 was invited by Peter Martins, artistic director of New York City Ballet, to choreograph for the New York Choreographic Institute, Spring Session 2004. She danced a principle role in Tribute, a new work by Christopher D’Amboise, in the 2005 SAB Student Workshop. She was a guest artist with Suzanne Farrell Ballet in June 2007 performing in George Balanchine's Slaughter on Tenth Avenue at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON - Baltimore, Maryland
Christopher began his studies at the Baltimore School for the Arts and continued at the Purchase College Conservatory of Dance where he graduated Cum Laude. He also received summer training at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Boston Ballet and Point Park College. Christopher danced with the Purchase Dance Corps for three years before joining the Boston Ballet, where he danced for two seasons prior to joining Ballet West in 2001. He has performed in ballets such as Marius Petipa’s La Bayadere and Don Quixote, George Balanchine’s Theme & Variations and Serenade, Kenneth MacMillan’s Concerto, Paul Taylor’s Company B, Merce Cunningham’s Duets, and William Carter’s Concerto. In 1997, he was a representative of the United States at the Hong Kong International Dance Festival.
SILVER BARKES - Marin County, California
A native of the San Francisco Bay area, Silver received her classical ballet training at the Marin Ballet School and San Francisco Ballet School. Her professional career began as an apprentice with State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara, California. In 2002, Silver performed a soloist role in Robert Sunds’ Emmy award-winning Beauty and the Beast in the theaters of Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou while on tour with the State Street Ballet in China. Silver’s performance highlights include leading roles in Romeo and Juliet, Hollywood Nutcracker, and Heartland, all choreographed by Rodney Gustafson, director of State Street Ballet. She is also attributed with roles in Robert Sunds’ ballets, including Alice and Wonderland, The Taming of the Shrew, B.A.N.D. and Carmen.
KATIE CRITCHLOW - San Diego, California
Katie began her training at the San Elijo Dance Academy in San Diego, followed by Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. She also participated in summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre and Boston Ballet. Prior to joining Ballet West, she performed with Pacific Northwest Ballet in Kent Stowell’s The Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Symphony in 3 Movements, Serenade, La Valse and Jewels, as well as Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow. Since joining Ballet West in 2006, Katie’s performance highlights have included James Canfield’s Equinoxe, Jonas Kage’s The Sleeping Beauty and Giselle, and Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker.
ALLISON DEBONA - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Allison is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is in her second season with Ballet West. She began her training under Debbie Parou at the Parou Ballet Company and later with the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet under Jean Gedeon. Before becoming professional Allison chose to attend college and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ballet from Indiana University. Allison also spent one year with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Graduate Program before joining Ballet West.
AIDAN DEYOUNG - San Mateo, California
Aidan received his training at the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco with Richard Gibson and Zory Karah. While there, he performed roles in Bournonville’s La Ventana pas de toirs, Balanchine’s Who Cares?, and Richard Gibson’s More Songs and Quintet in C. Aidan joined Ballet West as a member of Ballet West II in 2007 and was promoted to Company Apprentice in 2008. While with Ballet West Aidan has performed in Andre Prokovsky’s Three Musketeers, Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella and Bruce Marks’ Continuo.
Aidan has also taught at the Elite Ecole workshop in San Antonio, Texas.
STEPHANIE FENZ - Santa Barbara, California
Stephanie began her training in Santa Barbara at the Ellen Schipper Classical Ballet Studio, followed by the Goleta Valley Community Center School of Ballet. She then began commuting to Los Angeles to train at the Westside School of Ballet. In 2001, she received a full scholarship to train in the professional division of Pacific Northwest Ballet School. After three years studying there and performing with Pacific Northwest Ballet, she joined Ballet West.
MEGAN FURSE - Houston, Texas
Megan joined Ballet West in 2004 as a member of Ballet West II, the Company’s studio trainee company. She joined Ballet West as a corps de ballet member in 2006. Megan received her ballet training at Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet in Houston, Texas and at the Orlando Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet School, and Ballet West Academy. She graduated from the University of Utah with degrees in Ballet and Political Science and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Utah. Prior to joining Ballet West, Megan performed with Orlando Ballet Theater, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and Utah Ballet. Some of Megan's favorite roles she has performed with Ballet West include the Autumn Fairy in Ben Stevenson's Cinderella and the Russian Girl in George Balanchine's Serenade. In the 2007-2008 season, Megan's work "Le Chant de la Terre" premiered in the inaugural production of Innovations, Ballet West's showcase for emerging choreographers.
NATHANIEL KING - Baltimore, MD
Nathaniel King began his training at the Ballet Royale Institute of Maryland, under the guidance of Vyacheslav Mesropov, and Donna Pidel. He later trained on full scholarship at both Houston Ballet - Academy and The Rock School. Nathaniel became a professional dancer in 2004 when he was hired by Terrance Orr and join Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. During his first season, he had the honor of performing - Dwight Rhoden’s Seventh Heaven at the Joyce Theater in New York City. The following season he moved to Utah and joined Ballet West under the leadership of then Artistic Director Jonas Kåge.
This will be Nathaniel’s third season with Ballet West, and during past seasons he has performed many exciting works such as Hans van Manen’s In and Out, John Butler’s Carmina Burana, and Jonas Kåge’s Swan Lake. Recently, Nathaniel has been featured in works by Juan Carlos Claudio and Frank Chaves, Artistic Director of Chicago's River North dance company.
When he’s not dancing he enjoys singing karaoke and salsa dancing.
ELIZABETH MURPHY - Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Elizabeth joined Ballet West in 2006 as a member of Ballet West II and was promoted to the position of company Artist mid-year for Ballet West’s 2007-08 season. Elizabeth received her ballet training at the Academy of Ballet Arts in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, as well as the Rock School for Dance Education, where she trained for three years, followed by the Chautauqua Summer Program, during which she danced as an Apprentice with North Carolina Dance Theater. Prior to joining Ballet West, Elizabeth also performed with Pennsylvania Ballet.
AARON ORLOWSKI - Fort Collins, Colorado
Aaron Orlowski received his dance training from the Boston Ballet Summer Programs, Canyon Concert Ballet and the University of Utah. Aaron began his career with Ballet Internationale in Indianapolis and continued on to Nevada Ballet Theatre before joining Ballet West in 2003. Performance highlights include the role of Theseus in Bruce Steivel's A Midsummer Night's Dream, as well as several lead roles in Steivel's The Nutcracker. He has also performed the principal role in James Jeon's Line of Life, and as a soloist in Jeon's Inner Moves, as well as in Roy Tobias's Mozart, George Balanchine's Allegro Brillante, Bruce Marks' Lark Ascending, and Glen Tetley's The Rite of Spring.
BEAU PEARSON - San Francisco, California
Beau began his ballet training at the age of 18 after graduating from high school. He trained at the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco under Richard Gibson and Zory Karah. Prior to joining Ballet West, he performed with Chamberdance, a performing group of the Academy of Ballet. While there, Beau performed lead roles in Gibson’s Concerto in D and Quintet in C, as well as the pas de deux from Don Quixote, Balanchine’s Who Cares?, the pas de quatre from Swan Lake and the Grand Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker. Since joining Ballet West, Beau’s performance highlights have included the Snow Pas de Deux in Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker and “Elegy” Man in Balanchine’s Serenade. Beau is excited to be with Ballet West for his second season.
JENNIFER ROBINSON - Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Jennifer Robinson received her early training at Virginia Ballet Theatre School and later at Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts. In 1997, she joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) School where she performed principal roles in Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, and Serenade. Jennifer also danced in many PBT company performances including Stevenson's Dracula and Balanchine's Symphony in C. In 2000, she was invited to join Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) School professional division under the direction of Francia Russell. During her time there, Jennifer performed with PNB in Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty, Stowell’s The Nutcracker, and Balanchine’s Chacconne and Western Symphony. After completing a season as a corps de ballet member with Tulsa Ballet, Jennifer joined Ballet West in 2002. Some of her favorite roles with Ballet West include The Girl with the Green Feather in Tudor's Offenbach in the Underworld, Stepmother in Stevenson's Cinderella, Four Little Russians in Balanchine's Serenade, and Softly as I Leave You in Tharp's Nine Sinatra Songs.
Outside of ballet Jennifer enjoys NASCAR racing, Utah Jazz basketball, and her golden retriever Scully.
JOSEY SILVA - Tucson, Arizona
Josey began her ballet training at the Phoenix School of Ballet and Ballet Arizona. She then studied at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, graduating from their professional division. Josey began her professional career as an apprentice with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She then became a corps de ballet member for the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet, during which time she performed the third theme in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments. Prior to joining Ballet West, Josey was a corps de ballet member for three seasons with Boston Ballet, where her performance highlights included the pas de trois in Gerald Arpino’s Suite Saint-Saens and Rudi van Dantzig’s Ginastera.
KIRA SMITH - Bozeman, Montana
Kira grew up in Bozeman, Montana where she started her ballet training with Montana Ballet. She was able to continue her training with the Milwaukee Ballet School, Virginia School of the Arts and Houston Ballet Academy. Kira started her professional career with the Houston Ballet in 1999 and joined Ballet West in 2001. She has performed in many works by Ben Stevenson, including Coppélia, Romeo and Juliet, Dracula, The Snow Maiden and Cleopatra. Kira has also been featured as the Song Bird Fairy and Puss in Puss in Boots in Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty, as well as a cygnet swan in Jonas Kåge’s Swan Lake. Kira married Nicholas Smith, a fellow dancer with Ballet West, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
HEATHER THACKERAY - Layton, Utah
Heather began taking ballet and tap dancing lessons from her mother at the age of 3. She continued her studies at the Christiansen Academy, the Ballet West Conservatory, Pacific Northwest Ballet School (on scholarship), and at the University of Utah Ballet Department (also on scholarship). She joined Ballet West in 1991 as an aspirant. In 1994, she was promoted to artist and to senior artist in 1995. She has performed in many classical and contemporary productions including Val Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camelias, Lambarena, and Prawn-watching, Raymond van Mason’s Seasons and Desert as a Rose, Graham Lustig’s Paramour, Ben Stevenson’s Coppélia and Alice in Wonderland, Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker, Peter Anastos’ Peter Pan, Andre Prokovsky’s Queen of Spades, Eddie Tousaint’s Requiem, Frederick Ashton’s The Dream, and Jonas Kåge’s Swan Lake.
In addition to dancing for Ballet West, Heather teaches for the Company’s I CAN DO program, which is designed to teach 5th graders the joy of dance and the importance of goal setting. She also leads and narrates presentations for Ballet West for Children, a touring show that reaches nearly 100 elementary schools across the state each year, and assists in rehearsing the children in Ballet West’s annual production of The Nutcracker.
AROLYN WILLIAMS - Rowe, Massachusetts
Arolyn Williams joined Ballet West in 2004 as a member of Ballet West II and was promoted to the main company in 2006. She received her training first at Pioneer Valley Ballet in Massachusetts under Gail Collins, and then at the North Carolina School of the Arts, where she received the Chancellor's Award for Artistic and Academic Excellence. While there she performed in Symphony in C and Stars and Stripes, as well as the leading role in Lynn Taylor-Corbett's ballet Lost and Found. She has spent summers training with American Ballet Theater, Miami City Ballet and San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. At SFCD she has been privileged to perform in works by Jiri Kylian and Ohad Naharin, as well as studying Naharin's Gaga technique. Performance highlights with Ballet West include Spring Fairy in Cinderella and Ophelia in Val Caniparoli's Hamlet and Ophelia Pas de Deux.
