Ballet Master
Jerri Kumery began her studies with Roman Jasinski and Moscelyn Larkin in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She later studied at the School of American Ballet, going on to dance with New York City Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins. In 1981, Ms. Kumery was hand-picked by Balanchine to be in the original cast of the current version of Mozartiana. Having served as repetiteur for Ballet Teatro Lirico Nacional and Pacific Northwest Ballet, in 1990, she became the repetiteur and associate artistic director of North Carolina Dance Theatre, under the direction of the late Salvatore Aiello. From 1996 to 2007, Ms. Kumery served as co-associate artistic director of North Carolina Dance Theatre with Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. Ms. Kumery was awarded an Arts & Science Council Fellowship for her meritorious contribution to the artistic community in Charlotte, NC. She is the curator of the Salvatore Aiello ballets and serves as repetiteur with the George Balanchine Trust.

Resident Artist
Igor Antonov was born in Zaporozie, Ukraine. Upon graduation from the Kiev Choreographic Institute, he joined the Donetsk Ballet (Ukraine) as a soloist. For the next four years he performed solo and principal roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Spartacus, The Nutcracker and 1001 Nights. In 1990, he was invited to join Richmond Ballet, where for five seasons he danced leading roles in works by George Balanchine, John Butler, Antony Tudor, William Soleau, Malcom Burn and Ms. Winslett. For the next several years, he danced with Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Deuseldorf, Germany, and made guest appearances with major ballet companies in Berlin, Madrid and Nice. Returning to Richmond Ballet in 2003 as Resident Artist, he continues to perform with the company, conduct rehearsals and teach.

Kara Brosky, of Simi Valley, California, began training at The Performing Arts Center in Van Nuys, California, at the age of 12. She studied at the American Ballet Theater NYC Summer Intensive for three years before entering their professional training school in 2004. In 2006, she accepted an apprenticeship with Richmond Ballet and joined the professional company in 2008.

Lauren Fagone, is originally from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She received her training in New York City and Charlotte, N.C. while attending Indiana University. After a two-year apprenticeship, Lauren joined Richmond Ballet and is currently in her eighth season as a company member. She has also spent four summers participating in the National Choreographers Initiative in Irvine, California.

Thomas Garrett is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. He started his training at the age of 11. Since then he has worked with many renowned choreographers including Eddie Toussaint, Yanis Pikieris and Ronin Koresh. Thomas was an apprentice with Richmond Ballet for two seasons and is currently enjoying his sixth year in the company.

Kirk Henning, the second of six children, grew up in Momence, Illinois, and began his ballet training at age 17 with Watmora Casey and Avnun Yakabov. In 1999 Kirk joined the Dayton Ballet and in 2003 he won the Josie award for most outstanding performer in the Dayton area. Kirk joined Richmond Ballet in 2004, and began appearing as a guest artist with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in 2006. In 2007, he received the Movado Future Legends Award. Kirk is happy to be returning for his sixth season with Richmond Ballet.

Shira Lanyi is a native of Richmond, Virginia. She began her training with the School of Richmond Ballet, attending both the trainee and apprentice programs. Shira attended summer programs at San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Boston Ballet. She is enjoying her fourth season in the professional company.

Justin McMillan studied at Mendocino Ballet and Dance Theatre Seven. He also attended summer programs at the School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet school and Marin Ballet. Justin started his professional career dancing with San Francisco Ballet then Tulsa Ballet in Oklahoma. Justin is in his fifth season with Richmond Ballet.

David Neal, born and raised in Casper, Wyoming, began his training with Shirley Lewis and Heather Marsh and continued at Walnut Hill School with Samuel Kirkjian. After studying with Gus Solomons jr, James Sutton and Cherylyn Lavagnino, David graduated from New York University with a BFA in dance. After graduation, he joined Richmond Ballet for two apprentice seasons. This is his third season as a company member.

Thomas Ragland of Richmond, Virginia, began his dance training with Annette Holt and the Parks and Recreation City Dance Program.   He then continued his training with the School of Richmond Ballet, eventually attending both the trainee and apprentice programs. Thomas attended the Julliard Summer Intensive and danced with the City Dance Troupe. He enjoys teaching, choreography, and time with his family. Thomas is celebrating his fourth season in the professional company.

Fernando Sabino studied at Ballet Renata Celidonio for five years in Brazil. Fernando danced with Prodanza, the Laura Alonzo Company in Cuba and more recently, studied at Juilliard in their summer intensive program. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and riding bikes. Fernando is in his fifth season with Richmond Ballet.

Phillip Skaggs, of Louisville, Kentucky, graduated from The Youth Performing Arts School in 1996 and moved to Connecticut to train with The Nutmeg Ballet. He danced with the Hartford Ballet and then in 1999 joined the Richmond Ballet and has been dancing with the company for 12 years. Philip enjoys digital photography, teaching swing dance and refurbishing his 1930's-era bungalow.

Maggie Small began dancing at the School of Richmond Ballet where she rose through the ranks of the school to become a trainee and an apprentice. Maggie also participated in the Minds in Motion educational program while she was in middle school.  Maggie then spent one year at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. In the summer of 2009, Maggie participated in the National Choreographer's Initiative. She is now in her fifth season in the company.

Valerie Tellmann began her professional training with the School of Richmond Ballet and attended both the trainee and apprentice programs before being promoted into the company in 2000.  She has also danced with the National Choreographers Initiative in Irvine, California. She recently completed her fifth summer with the National Choreographers Initiative in California. Valerie enjoys teaching at her alma mater, Saint Gertrude High School, babysitting, scrap booking and the local cuisine scene.

Cecile Tuzii graduated from the Academie Princesse Grace de Monaco and studied with Marika Besobrasova. Cecile danced with the Ballet du Rhin in France as well as the Basel Ballet in Switzerland and Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Germany. Most recently, Cecile danced with Tulsa Ballet in Oklahoma. Cecile is now in her fifth season with the company.