
Cody Beaton, of Round Rock, TX, began her training at the Austin Conservatory of the Arts. She continued on to join the Colorado Ballet for one season. She has been with Richmond Ballet since 2008 and married retired company dancer Trevor Davis in 2017. They recently welcomed a baby boy into their family.
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.
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.
Richmond Ballet II, our second performing company, is comprised of talented young dancers between the ages of 18 and 22. RBII members perform their own diverse repertoire on tour across the Commonwealth as well as alongside the main company in mainstage productions.
RBII Apprentices are the top level of the Pre-Professional Division of School of Richmond Ballet. They receive an intensive training program, full scholarship, living stipend and are the bridge to RBII, our second company. Their time is divided between RBII rehearsals and the Trainee Program, performing in Lecture Demonstrations, Richmond Ballet Company mainstage performances and the end of season showcase performance with RB Trainees.
Richmond Ballet II Apprentices
Seated (L-R): Gianna DeMassio, Rachel Nash
Standing (L-R): Michael Duncan, Hannah MacLeod, Darius Mealy
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.
Richmond Ballet Trainees - Second and Third Years
First Row- Senior Trainees: Kennady Jackson, Sarah Shaw, Gabrielle Goodson
Second Row: Katrina May Thomas, Sheridan Brown, Anna Orzulak, Parker Edmondson, Kendall Taylor, Ella Warren
Third Row: Carter Bush, Gavin Haas, Cade Bolz, Garrett Janiak, Daniel Miller
Richmond Ballet Trainees - First Year
First Row: Anne Pearson Gremer, Kristen Soyars Green, Isabella Vanik
Second Row: Gillian Carr, BriAnna Binzak, Savannah Wyatt, Claire Kehoe, Alexis Dawson, Kinsey Phelps, Chelsea Hacking
Third Row: Kiera Luci Dulog, Gillian Grossman, Oliver Gardner, Sydney Stutzman, Benjamin Piner
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.