Piner, Paul - Richmond Ballet

Paul Piner

RBII Dancer

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL // Joined: 2021

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.

Paul's Ballet Q&A

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 / RBII DANCERS / TRAINEES / ARTISTIC DIRECTORS / ARTISTIC STAFF

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

Celeste Gaiera

Enrico Hipolito

Sabrina Holland

Colin Jacob

Khaiyom Khojaev

Patrick Lennon

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.

Third Years: Kaeley Andrews, Madelynne Boudreau, Courtney Collier, Ana Pavon, Lydia Ross, Liesl Wiedmann
Second Years: Lily Clark, Joey Dlearo, Danielle Guirma, Keeley Hernandez, Meghan Hutto, Meghan Kelley, Tarique Logan, Elizabeth Mann, Maura Moody, Anna Nader, Hannah Powell, Logan O’Neal, Jonathan Robbins, Hope Roberts, Katelyn Roberts, Nan Venderbush
First Years: Allison Bell, Emma Block, Dana Carskadden, Savannah Cherry, Maia Culbreath, Gabrielle Cutrona, Gianna DeMassio, Claire Duritza, Madeline Duritza, Gabrielle Goodson, Carrington Martin, Darius Mealy, Seth Mostofsky, Sage Polak, Sarah Shaw

Artistic Directors

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

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.