Richmond Ballet
The State Ballet of Virginia
Ira White
Company Dancer
Ira White, native to Richmond, Virginia, discovered his love for dance through Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion program. Soon after, he signed up for ballet and other countless classes that Richmond Ballet offered. Over the years, he rose through the ranks of the School, including a year spent in its trainee program and three seasons in the second company. He is proud to be in his eighth season with the main company and has the privilege of teaching Musical Theater dance to School of Richmond Ballet students.
Education & Training
School of Richmond Ballet and Richmond Ballet Trainee Program
Professional Experience / Career Highlights
Three seasons RBII and seven seasons in the main company!
What inspired you to become a professional dancer?
Knowing the joy I was sharing with the audience is what made me want to pursue dance as my profession. I love making people feel better than how they felt before coming to see a show.
What is your favorite role that you’ve performed?
One of the sailors in Fancy Free, Soloist in Carmina Burana and The Moor in The Moors Pavane.
What do you enjoy about being part of Richmond Ballet?
I’ve been with the ballet for most of my life and I’ve always loved how the dancers have made a welcoming environment for those who are new and for the students who look up to them. The past dancers know what it’s like to be in the new members shoes and I feel there’s a conscious effort to make them feel like part of the RB family.
What do you like about living in Richmond?
I love how much of an arts oriented city it’s become and I love to try out all the new restaurants that come up every so often.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing off-stage?
I love cooking and spending time with friends and family!
A photo gallery of Ira'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
Celeste Gaiera
Enrico Hipolito
Colin Jacob
Khaiyom Khojaev
Garret McNally
Jack Miller
Eri Nishihara
Naomi Robinson
Sabrina Sabino
Joe Seaton
Sarah Joan Smith
Izabella Tokev
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.
Jackson Calhoun
Courtney Collier
Zacchaeus Page
Paul Piner
RBII Apprentices
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
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 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
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
Jerri Kumery
Artistic Associate
Igor Antonov
Artistic Associate and Richmond Ballet II Director
Lauren Fagone
Répétiteur and Artistic Coordinator
