Richmond Ballet
The State Ballet of Virginia
Cody Beaton
Company Dancer
Cody Beaton, of Round Rock, TX, began her training at the Austin Conservatory of the Arts, at the age of six. She danced with the Colorado Ballet for one season, before joining Richmond Ballet in 2007. She has toured widely with the company, performing at the Royal Opera House in London, The Joyce Theater in New York City, and multiple theaters in China. She has had the privilege of being created on by Jessica Lang, Val Caniparoli, Ma Cong, Nicolo Fonte, and Katarzyna Skarpetowska. Her favorite ballets she has performaed are Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Mozartiana, The Rite of Spring, Sweet Bitter Love, and Lift the Fallen, to name a few. When not dancing she is spending time with her husband, former dancer Trevor Davis, and their always-on-the-move toddler!
Education & Training
Austin Conservatory of the Arts
Professional Experience / Career Highlights
I’ve spent 13 years at the Richmond Ballet. My highlights include Juliet from Romeo and Juliet, Mozartiana, and working with Ma Cong, Kate Skarpetowska, and other choreographers.
What inspired you to become a professional dancer?
I cant remember a specific inspiration, I just always knew I wanted to be a ballet dancer!
What is your favorite role that you’ve performed with Richmond Ballet?
I have many favorite roles, they include Juliet from Romeo and Juliet, Odile from Swan Lake, Mozartiana, Eve in After Eden and Lift the Fallen.
What do you enjoy about being part of Richmond Ballet?
I love the sense of camaraderie and support I feel from the other dancers and staff!
What do you like about living in Richmond?
I love all of the different restaurants and that we get to experience all 4 seasons of the year!
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing off-stage?
I love reading, playing with my cats, and working on a new business that retired company dancer, Lauren Archer, and I just started called, Monarch Flower Farm.
A photo gallery of Cody's artistry
Company Dancers
Our professional company is made up of elite dancers from around the world who have helped earn Richmond Ballet critical acclaim. Dance/USA says Richmond Ballet is “a jewel among U.S. dance companies,” while The Washington Post calls it “a company to which dance fans everywhere ought to pay attention.” We’re proud of all that our company dancers bring to Richmond, and the world.
Jackson Calhoun
Courtney Collier
Michael Duncan
Celeste Gaiera
Mikell Graf
Colin Jacob
Khaiyom Khojaev
Jack Miller
Rachel Nash
Eri Nishihara
Zacchaeus Page
Paul Piner
Christian Renforth
Naomi Robinson
Sabrina Sabino
Izabella Tokev
Ira White
Naomi Wood
Studio Company
The Richmond Ballet Studio Company is the highest level of the Pre-Professional Division of School of Richmond Ballet, featuring exceptional student dancers from across the country. The eleven-month program includes a diverse range of performance opportunities such as Lecture Demonstrations, Richmond Ballet Company mainstage performances, and the end-of-season showcase with the Richmond Ballet Trainees.
First Row
Avalon Kirby
Second Row (L-R):
Tekhylon Armour
Katrina May Thomas
Third Row (L-R):
Itay Krasnovsky
Hannah MacLeod
Josiah Lax
Rika Kinoshita
Darius Mealy
Kennady Jackson
Cade Bolz
TRAINEES
Founded in 1993, the nationally recognized Richmond Ballet Trainee Program offers select advanced students a transitional experience to bridge the gap between the academic ballet setting and the world of professional dance. The Richmond Ballet Trainee Program is one of the few in this country that enables aspiring dancers to pursue formal dance training and gain valuable performance experience with a professional company.
First Row (L-R):
Chelsea Hacking
Kate Swales
Genesis Robinson
Second Row (L-R):
Tess Moayedi
Eden Wilson
Isabella Vanik
Gillian Carr
Third Row (L-R):
Oliver Gardner
Alexis Dawson
Bella Ownby
BriAnna Binzak
Sydney Stutzman
Benjamin Piner
Artistic Staff
The Artistic Staff at Richmond Ballet is made up of international professionals who each bring incredible talent, expertise, and credentials to their respective roles. With impressive backgrounds and world experience, they offer a unique perspective that has helped shape our organization over the years. For over 40 years, Stoner Winslett has served as the founding Artistic Director of Richmond Ballet, the first major company of professional dancers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is one of the longest tenured artistic directors of a major ballet company and one of the country’s few female artistic directors. In June 2020, acclaimed choreographer Ma Cong joined Richmond Ballet as its first ever Associate Artistic Director.
Stoner Winslett
Artistic Director
Ma Cong
Associate Artistic Director
Judy Jacob
Artistic Associate & Chairman of Faculty
Igor Antonov
Artistic Associate and Studio Company Director
Lauren Fagone
Artistic Associate
