Richmond Ballet
The State Ballet of Virginia
Izabella Tokev
Company Dancer
Izabella Tokev was born in Las Vegas, NV. She began her dance education in a small local studio at an early age. At 17, she moved to Perm, Russia to continue her professional dance training, at the Perm State Choreographic College. In August of 2016, Izabella joined Richmond Ballet’s second company. Three years later, she was promoted into Richmond Ballet’s main company. During her time at Richmond Ballet she has had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Katarzyna Skarpetowska, Ma Cong, Nicolo Fonte, as well as many others. She has also had the privilege of performing in ballets such as Carmina Burana by John Butler, Three Preludes by Ben Stevenson, and Serenade by George Balanchine. She is thrilled to be starting her eighth season with Richmond Ballet and is excited about all the new works to come and all the opportunities the new season will hold and unveil.
Education & Training
Ballet studios in Las Vegas and Perm Ballet school in Russia
Professional Experience / Career Highlights
Professional experience includes RBll for 3 years and 2 years in the main company. My career highlights are performing the Snow Queen, Alone Beside Me by Ma Cong, and Paquita.
What inspired you to become a professional dancer?
The beauty of ballet. I wanted to be just like the graceful ballerinas I would see in stage.
What is your favorite role that you’ve performed with Richmond Ballet?
The Snow Queen in The Nutcracker
What do you enjoy about being part of Richmond Ballet?
I enjoy how positive of an atmosphere it is. My coworkers are also my best friends. It is what I cherish most.
What do you like about living in Richmond?
I love how beautiful it is. You can see every season come and go. It gives you a very wholesome feeling throughout the year.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing off-stage?
I love crafting! I embroider, sew, draw, and so much more. It is definitely my personal creative outlet.
A photo gallery of Izabella'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.
Cody Beaton
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
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
