Richmond Ballet
The State Ballet of Virginia
Paul Piner
RBII Dancer
Paul Piner is from Jacksonville, FL. He moved to Cary, NC four years ago to train at International Ballet Academy. This is Paul first professional season, as well as his first year at RBII.
Dance Education & Training
Previous to Richmond Ballet, I attended the International Ballet Academy in Cary, North Carolina.
What inspired you to become a professional dancer?
Watching videos and performances with Sergei Polunin and Mikhail Baryshnikov inspired me to make the leap from student to professional. They were always such amazing performers and so technically precise.
What brought you to Richmond Ballet?
I loved the idea of having such a diverse group to work with, as well as getting to dance both classical and neoclassical rep.
What do you like about living in Richmond?
I love the energy of the city and I love the surrounding areas. One way is a mountain, the other the beach, and running through it is a river. So much to do in this area!
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing off-stage?
When I am not dancing I am playing music, drawing, reading, sitting outside, being on the computer and enjoying my friend’s company.
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.
Celeste Gaiera
Enrico Hipolito
Sabrina Holland
Colin Jacob
Khaiyom Khojaev
Jack Miller
Eri Nishihara
Naomi Robinson
Joe Seaton
Sarah Joan Smith
Izabella Tokev
Ronald Wagstaff
Ira White
Naomi Wilson
RBII Dancers
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.
Kaeley Andrews
Nicole Bui
Jackson Calhoun
Courtney Collier
Roland Jones
Garret McNally
Zacchaeus Page
Marjorie Sherman
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.
Richmond Ballet Trainees - Second Year
First Row: Savannah Cherry, Sage Polak, Emma Block, Gianna DeMassio
Second Row: Sarah Shaw, Gabrielle Goodson, Maia Culbreath, Carrington Martin
Third Row: Madeline Duritza, Seth Mostofsky, Allison Bell, Darius Mealy, Claire Duritza
Richmond Ballet Trainees - First Year
First Row: Kennady Jackson, Ella Warren, Katrina May Thomas
Second Row: Carter Bush, Kendall Taylor, Parker Edmondson, Sheridan Brown, Anna Orzulak, Garrett Janiak
Third Row: Cade Bolz, Gavin Haas, Ephraim Bullock, Daniel Miller
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
Malcolm Burn
Artistic Associate
Judy Jacob
Artistic Associate & Chairman of the Faculty
Jerri Kumery
Artistic Associate
Igor Antonov
Artistic Associate and Richmond Ballet II Director
