Richmond Ballet
The State Ballet of Virginia
Courtney Collier
Company Dancer
Courtney Collier was born in Northern Virginia where she started dancing at The Dance Academy of Loudoun at an early age. She fell in love with dancing after trying on her first pair of pointe shoes at the age of 12. Courtney had the opportunity to train at the Nutmeg Conservatory and Houston Ballet’s professional training division prior to becoming a trainee at Richmond Ballet. She has enjoyed performing in Swan Lake, Val Caniparoli’s Violin, Tom Mattingly’s Jahreszeiten, Malcolm Burn’s Romeo and Juilet, Balanchine’s Serenade, and Claudia Schreier’s Lost Keys. Courtney is thrilled to be joining the main company this season
Education & Training
The Dance Academy of Loudoun, The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, Houston Ballet Professional Academy, Richmond Ballet Trainee
What inspired you to become a professional dancer?
Ever since I can remember I would dance around our family room and create little dances to show my family. For Christmas one year, my family bought tickets to see The Richmond Ballet perform The Nutcracker. I instantly fell in love and knew I’d want to be up on that stage one day!
What do you enjoy about being part of Richmond Ballet?
I really enjoy the supportive community Richmond Ballet has to offer between the Artistic Staff and Company Dancers. I love the diverse repertory we perform as well!
What do you like about living in Richmond?
Richmond is such a vibrant city with a beautiful cityscape! I love that there are so many fun places to explore.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing off-stage?
I love traveling, spending time with my friends, and exploring everything Richmond has to offer!
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.
Cody Beaton
Jackson Calhoun
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 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
