RWB Full Dancer Bios

Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet Dancers 

VANESSA LAWSON 

Principal Dancer 

“So it needs to be said that Lawson, in her 12th season with RWB, isn't just 

dependable. She's a shining artist one to celebrate and treasure as she deepens her 

interpretations and polishes her beautiful technique from one role to the next.” 

-‐ Winnipeg Free Press, 2010 

“But on Wednesday night in Romeo and Juliet, the 31-‐year-‐old ballerina made a 

breathtaking debut, investing body and soul in a flawless portrayal of Shakespeare's 

14-‐year-‐old heroine. In a triumph of sensitive acting as well as technique, Lawson 

takes Juliet from a flitting child to a defiant young woman who announces with every 

cell of her being that nothing will keep her from her romantic destiny.” 


“The wispy Lawson just seems to get better all the time. Her long-‐limbed 

expressiveness and impeccable technique captures the enchanting magic of the snow 

Pas de Deux…” 

-‐Winnipeg Free Press, 2007 

“Lawson packs an enormous wallop of power into her tiny frame, and is quickly 

becoming the sparkling jewel in the RWB's crown.” 

-‐ Uptown Magazine, 2007 

“Lawson proved that her greatest strength is her fragility. Her barely-‐there presence 

belies an astonishing physical strength, with her sinewy arms and trembling feet 

capturing all of Odette's yearning vulnerability” 


“Lawson brings a sweetness and naiveté to the role that makes Giselle’s ultimate 

betrayal all the more poignant.” 

-‐ Georgia Straight, 2002

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Lawson began her first 12 years of training with the 

Edmonton School of Ballet. She left home at the age of 16 to further her studies at the 

Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division where she received the Prince 

Edward Award and graduated with distinction in 1996. Lawson was hired into the 

company the following year as an apprentice, promoted to soloist in 2002 and became a 

principal dancer in the 2005/06 season. 

Lawson has performed many principal roles since joining the RWB. The first of such roles 

was in David Nixon’s Butterfly, when Nixon picked Lawson from the corps de ballet to 

perform the lead. In the 2001/02 season she worked with Sir Peter Wright to dance the 

dramatic and technical role of Giselle. After that experience she fell in love with the 

character and it has become one of her favorite roles. 

Other roles that Lawson enjoys include Odette/Odile in Galina Yardonova’s staging of 

Swan Lake, Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Lucy in Mark Godden’s Dracula, 

Pamina in Mark Godden’s The Magic Flute, the tender Cours D’Amour in Mauricio 

Wainrot’s Carmina Burana, and the lead role of Nancy in Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella 

Story. She has performed many Balanchine ballets and loves the athleticism, precision, 

and musicality they demand. Lawson is known for roles that have been created on her 

including Tinker Bell in Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan; Destiny in Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmen, 

The Passion; March Hare in Shawn Hounsell’s Wonderland; and Natalie in Jorden 

Morris's box-‐office hit Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet. 

In 2009 Lawson danced the role of Juliet in Rudi van Dantzig’s Romeo & Juliet for which 

she was called “simply stunning” by the Winnipeg Free Press. Performing this role was 

one of the most memorable moments of her career. While performing as Odette/Odile 

in Swan Lake, Lawson explains, “I experienced one of my most magical moments on 

stage during this show where I could completely abandon myself to the music, my 

partner, and my character.” 

Lawson has appeared as a guest artist internationally, performing in galas with the 

Compania Nacional de Danza in Mexico City, the Benios De La Danse in Moscow, the 

10th and 13th International Ballet Festivals of Miami, and most recently the Encore 

International Dance Festival in Quebec. She has also been invited to dance with various 

companies and schools in full-‐length productions of Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and The 

Sleeping Beauty throughout Canada and the U.S.A. In the fall of 2009, Lawson was hand 

selected by acclaimed choreographer Peter Quanz to perform a new piece called In 

Tandem at the prestigious Guggenheim Museum in New York City and at the 2010 

Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa. As part of the Cultural Olympiad for the 2010 

Vancouver Winter Olympic Games she performed the lead in Hikarizatto. 

“I dance to let every emotion that might otherwise be drowned flow from my body 

without hesitation. It is where I find my freedom.”

WANG YUN 


Wang Yun joins the RWB this season from the Liaoning Ballet in China where she was a 

principal dancer. She began her dance career with this company after graduating from 

Liaoning Ballet’s School of Ballet in 2005. Representing China, Yun has won several 

domestic and foreign competitions and has been invited to perform throughout China 

and around the world in Star Shows and Charity Performances. Among these 

international opportunities, she has danced at the opening ceremony of the 2010 

Shanghai World Expo and at the closing ceremonies for the 2007 Asian Winter Games. 

Most recently, Wang competed at the 1 st Beijing International Ballet and Choreography 

Competition this summer. 

She has performed lead roles in several classical ballets including Don Quixote, Swan 

Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, Raymonda, and Napoli. 

She has also received critical acclaim from both reviewers and audience members. 

This season, watch for Wang Yun to grace the stage as principal dancer performing the 

title roles of Giselle in Giselle and Clara in Nutcracker, among other lead roles. 

JIAO YANG 


Jiao Yang joins the RWB this season from the Liaoning Ballet in China where he was 

senior principal dancer. A graduate from Liaoning Ballet’s School of Ballet in 2001, he 

has won awards in international competitions including Gold Prize, Senior Division in the 

Nagoya International Ballet Competition. 

Yang has been invited to perform around the world and most recently toured the United 

States. 

His gala performances include All Stars Shows in Paris and Hungary, the Japan 

International Arts Festival, closing ceremonies of the China Central Television (CCTV) 

Dance Competition, the opening gala performance of the Korea International Ballet 

Competition, closing ceremonies of the 6 th Asian Winter Games, and opening 

ceremonies of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. 

His repertoire includes the lead roles in several classical ballets including Jean de 

Brienne in Raymonda, The Prince in The Nutcracker, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, 

Albert in Giselle, Conrad in La Corsaire, Florimond in The Sleeping Beauty, and Basilio in 

Don Quixote. Yang’s performances have been praised by ballet experts and audience 

members alike. He has also performed in a number of Chinese ballets and contemporary 

works.

This season marks Jioa Yang’s first as principal dancer with the RWB and he will perform 

lead roles in a number of ballets with the company including Giselle and Nutcracker. 

NURZHAN KULYBAEV 


Nurzhan Kulybaev joined Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet as a Principal in 2011. Before 

joining the RWB Kulybaev was principal dancer with Jacobson’s State Academic Ballet 

Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia from 2007. He graduated from The Tashkent Academy 

of Choreography in 2002 and subsequently joined the Alisher Navoi State Academic 

Opera and Ballet Theater of Tashkent. 

Kulybaev’s roles include parts in both classical and modern repertory. He has had many 

characters created on him in productions choreographed by Leonid Jacobson. His roles 

in classical ballets include Count Albrecht in Giselle, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, 

Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, The Prince in The Nutcracker, Franz in Coppelia, Jean de 

Brienne in Raymonda, and Prince Desire in The Sleeping Beauty. 

Kulybaev has received several awards for his performances including an honorary 

diploma for his participation in the finale of the XI International Ballet Competition and 

became a Laureate of the highest theatre prize of St. Petersburg, the Golden Sophit. 

Watch for Kulybaev to perform lead roles this season in Svengali, Giselle, and 

Nutcracker. 

AMANDA GREEN 

Soloist 

“The character who comes the closest to embodying the confident, somewhat snotty 

cabaret girl is La Goule, played by Amanda Green. Her strong dancing is a testament 

to how much the patrons at the Moulin Rouge desire her.” – Star Phoenix, 2009 

“In the tango scene, yes, there is sultry allure in all those dips and flashes of leg, with 

Amanda Green a standout.” – Winnipeg Free Press, 2009 

“…Amanda Green, a rising force in the company whose performance matches her 

sparkling dress.” 


“RWB is currently showing an impressive depth of talent. In particular, there's 

emerging sparkle and poise among the women, such as… Amanda Green....” 

-‐ Winnipeg Free Press, 2008

“In particular Amanda Green as the Fairy of Generosity (also known as the crumb 

fairy), Jacelyn Lobay as the Fairy of Mischievousness and Jennifer Welsman as the 

Fairy of Bravery blow through their dances like winds.” 

-‐ Vancouver Sun, 2008 

Born just outside Edmonton in Tofield, Alberta, Amanda Green began her dance training 

with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division at the age of ten. While a 

student, she received numerous awards including the Royal Bank of Canada Scholarship, 

the Arnold Spohr Award, The Prince Edward Scholarship, among others. Green 

graduated from the Harid Conservatory where she earned the Rudolf Nureyev 

Scholarship. 

Green joined the RWB in 2004 as an apprentice and moved up the ranks in the company 

to soloist. Since joining the RWB she has danced various roles including La Goulue in 

Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet, Fairy Godmother in Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story, Clara 

in Nutcracker and Tiger Lily/Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan. In Mark Godden’s The Magic Flute 

Green performed the role of a Glamazon, a role that she took to the big screen for the 

2006 film version of the ballet titled The Tale of the Magic Flute. 

A major milestone in her career as a dancer was performing the iconic lead dual role of 

Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. She also had a role created for her in Mauricio Wainrot’s 

Carmen, The Passion and was the lead of four dancers who performed the Caterpillar in 

the world premiere of Wonderland. Green’s other repertoire includes In the Upper 

Room, Carmina Burana, In Tandem, Dracula, Angels in the Architecture, The Messiah, 

The Sleeping Beauty, Hikarizatto, and As Above, So Below. 

Green has also performed internationally. In 2006, she had the opportunity to 

participate in the Jackson International Ballet Competition and has been a guest dancer 

in Japan. Dance International featured Green as one of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s up-‐ 

and-‐coming dancers in the magazine’s summer 2008 issue. In fall 2009, she was hand 

selected by acclaimed choreographer Peter Quanz to perform a new piece called In 

Tandem at the prestigious Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Along with the RWB, 

she danced before an international audience at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic 

Games Cultural Olympiad. 

EMILY GRIZZELL 

Soloist 

“Wendy Darling, whom Emily Grizzell seems born to play, is much like Nutcracker's 

Clara -‐-‐ a spunky girl on the brink of womanhood. Finally, when stubbornly wild Peter

and fast-‐maturing Wendy dance their farewell pas de deux, Morris's choreography 

makes touching poetry from an archetypal breakup story. Neither can be what the 

other wishes they could. No pixie dust can fix it. And mere words could never say it as 

eloquently.” 


“..[a] standout in this non-‐stop test of female endurance and precision was Emily 

Grizzell as the quicksilver princess in the bluebird pas de deux” 


“Lead couple Emily Grizzell and her dashing partner romped through Balanchine’s fleet 

footed dance set to Tchaikovsky’s unfinished Third Piano Concerto with panache” -‐ The 

National Post, 2003 

A native of Spokane, Washington, Emily Grizzell is embarking on her 14 th season with 

the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Grizzell trained at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School 

Professional Division and graduated in 1996. In 1997, she joined the company as an 

apprentice. She moved her way up through the ranks of the company and became a 

soloist for the 2005/06 season. 

Grizzell has performed many feature roles while dancing with the RWB. Her favourite 

role is Juliet in Rudi van Dantzig’s Romeo & Juliet. She enjoys the chance to bring 

sincerity and humanity to the characters she is given to bring to life on stage, such as 

The Cowgirl in Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo, Nancy in Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story, 

Wendy in Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan, and the Third Song in van Dantzig’s Four Last Songs. 

She also relishes the chance to challenge her versatility in the classics, as Princess 

Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty and Clara in Nutcracker, (a role performed countless 

times in her parents’ living room as a child), and to indulge in the pure joy of movement 

and music as the lead female in George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and the Russian 

Girl in Serenade. A highlight for Grizzell last season was experiencing the non-‐stop 

energy and physical challenge of dancing with her fellow company members in Twyla 

Tharp’s In the Upper Room. This season, Grizzell looks forward to falling down the rabbit 

hole as Alice in Shawn Hounsell’s Wonderland. 

Grizzell has participated in the New York International Ballet Competition and as a 

finalist was asked to perform Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux at the event’s Gala 

performance. 

Outside of the studio, Grizzell and fellow RWB dancer Amar Dhaliwal, enjoy their own 

living room performances put on by their two year-‐old daughter Lucie. 

JO-‐ANN SUNDERMEIER

First Soloist 

“Jo-‐Ann Sundermeier was an absolute joy as the adult Clara – radiant, expressive and 

elegant, as a 12-‐year-‐old’s dream version of herself ought to be.” –Winnipeg Free 

Press, 2010 

“Jo-‐Ann Sundermeier sparkles in technique and stage presence” 


“In the Juliet Prowse role of La Goulue -‐-‐ you know, the saucy, leggy minx -‐-‐ Jo-‐Ann 

Sundermeier was clearly having a blast.” 

-‐ The Star Tribune, 2009 

“Jo-‐Ann Sundermeier's portrayal of the fiery-‐tempered sprite Tinkerbell stood out from 

start to finish. Flitting around the stage like a temperamental hummingbird, 

Sundermeier's character was frantic but her flexed-‐footed dancing was controlled 

thanks to an impeccable centre.” 

-‐ Saskatoon StarPhoenix, 2008 

“Jo-‐Ann Sundermeier's spritely Tinker Bell steals the show. The elfin ballerina seems 

born to dance the spunky role; bringing Tink's simmering jealous temper to a boil with 

the shaking fists and stomping feet of a petulant two-‐year-‐old and tackling the trickier 

turns in the choreography with fierce abandon.” 

-‐ Edmonton Journal, 2008 

“Jo-‐Ann Sundermeier also deserves kudos for her solo work here.” 

-‐ Winnipeg Free Press, 2008 (All Balanchine) 

“RWB is currently showing an impressive depth of talent. In particular, there's 

emerging sparkle and poise among the women, such as Jo-‐Ann Sundermeier (the Fairy 

of Diamonds)…” 


Born in Pompano Beach, Florida, Jo-‐Ann Sundermeier began her dance training with 

Liana Navarro in Miami when she was eight years old. She came to the Royal Winnipeg 

Ballet School Professional Division in 1997 and graduated in 2002. While a student she 

received the Prince Edward Award, the school’s most prestigious scholarship. 

Sundermeier made her professional debut with the RWB in 2002, dancing in Nutcracker. 

During the 2003/04 season she became an apprentice with the company, and has 

moved her way up the ranks to soloist. Sundermeier’s first lead role with the RWB was 

Tinkerbell in Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan. For the 2009/10 season she was given the 

opportunity to play the demanding, dueling roles of Odette/Odile from the

quintessential ballet Swan Lake. She also danced as La Goulue, a role created on her for 

Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet by choreographer Jorden Morris. 

Other roles Sundermeier has danced include the Grand pas de Deux from Nutcracker, 

Blue Bird in The Sleeping Beauty, Russian Girl in Balanchine’s Serenade, Second Violin in 

Concerto Barocco, and the Fairy Godmother in Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story. Her 

other repertoire includes Romeo & Juliet, Raymonda, Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room, 

Toer van Schayk’s Seventh Symphony, Mark Godden’s Dracula and Angels in the 

Architecture, Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmina Burana, Itzik Galili’s Hikarizatto, and 

Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments. 

Sundermeier has been a featured company dancer at Ballet in the Park, performing a 

mixed repertoire including the principal role in the technically challenging Paquita. 

Sundermeier also danced a variation from the same ballet for His Royal Highness, Prince 

Edward. She was also the feature Spotlight cover story for the 2010 fall issue of 

Winnipeg Women’s Magazine. 

Along with the RWB Company, Sundermeier performed in Mark Godden’s As Above, So 

Below before an international audience at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games 

Cultural Olympiad. In the fall of 2009, Sundermeier was hand selected by acclaimed 

choreographer Peter Quanz to perform a new piece called In Tandem at the prestigious 

Guggenheim Museum in New York City. She was invited to join Quanz’s project based 

company Q Dance for its 2010 debut. 

Sundermeier values every challenge and opportunity that is given to her, and enjoys 

pushing herself to the limit. In May 2011, she was invited to perform as part of the RWB 

School’s Professional Division’s 40 th anniversary celebration where she performed the 

lead role in Balanchine’s Scotch Symphony. This season she is looking forward to 

performing in Giselle. 

DMITRI DOVGOSELETS 

Soloist 

“Even lovelier is Dmitri Dovgoselets’ gorgeous performance as the Mock Turtle.” – 

Winnipeg Free Press, 2011 

“Dmitri Dovgoselets sparkles with personality as Romeo's teasing friend Mercutio, 

who keeps doing tricky leaps almost until the moment of his death.” 


“Dmitri Dovgoselets exuded magnetic intensity and danced like a leading man in the 

supporting role of the dark, jealous Monostatos.” 

-‐Winnipeg Free Press, March 2007

“In the famous Blue Bird Pas de Deux, Dmitri Dovgoselets delivered the most 

formidable technique of the evening with his flawless brise voles, in which the body is 

arched gracefully mid-‐air as the feet beat against each other.” 

-‐Charleston Post and Courier, 2002 

Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Dmitri Dovgoselets began dancing at age ten. He trained at The 

School of Ukrainian Dance and at The National Ballet School of Ukraine. At 18, 

Dovgoselets joined The National Ballet of Ukraine in Kiev, where he danced for two 

seasons. In 1996, he performed in Nutcracker with Kiev's Classical Ballet for a one-‐ 

month tour of Japan. In 1997, he danced on a Canadian Nutcracker tour with The 

National Ballet of Ukraine and Shumka Ukrainian Dancers. Dovgoselets joined Canada’s 

Royal Winnipeg Ballet as an apprentice in 1998. He was promoted to soloist for the 

2005/06 season. 

Dovgoselets’ dance list is extensive. He has danced the pas de six in Giselle, Mercutio in 

Rudi van Dantzig's Romeo & Juliet, and Arthur Holmwood in Mark Godden’s Dracula. He 

has been featured in Prince Desire and Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty, the Prince in the 

Nutcracker, Monostatos in Mark Godden’s The Magic Flute, Peter in Peter Pan, and 

Toulouse-‐Lautrec in Moulin Rouge – The Ballet®. His other accomplishments include the 

pas de trois in Swan Lake, Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Vesak’s The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, 

Kylian’s Symphony in D, Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmina Burana, Nina Menon’s La Soif, and 

Itzik Galili’s Hikarizatto. 

Dovgoselets also participated in filming The Tale of the Magic Flute, the made for 

television version of Godden’s ballet, for which the cast was awarded a Gemini Award 

for ‘Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program’ in 2006. In 2008 he performed 

Belong with Principal Dancer Tara Birtwhistle at the Gala des Etoiles. He performed 

before an international audience at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games Cultural 

Olympiad. As part of the British Monarchy’s Royal visit to Canada last summer, 

Dovgoselets performed a pas de deux with former RWB dancer Maureya Lebowitz 

under the watchful eye of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Dovgoselets is also father to two year old Isabella. 

ALEXANDER GAMAYUNOV 

Soloist 

“Here, the reptile (Alexander Gamayunov) wears a sleek, sexy body suit and 

bejewelled mask, and pulls off a mesmerizing, sensual duet with a sultry Tiger Lily 

(Jennifer Welsman).” 

-‐ Georgia Straight, March 2009

“Soloist Alexander Gamayunov's Tybalt became downright scary, aggressively 

taunting Mercutio (Yosuke Mino) until murdered by the vengeful Romeo.” 

-‐ Uptown Magazine, March 2009 

“Alexander Gamayunov captures the mystical essence of Sarastro, Pamina’s father, 

while swirling majestically in a challenging full length saffron velvet robe.” 

-‐ Times Colonist, 2004 

“Alexander Gamayunov gives Sarastro a sorcerer’s presence.” 

-‐ The Toronto Star, 2003 

Alexander Gamayunov was born in Kiev, Ukraine and started folk dancing at the age of 

eight. At ten years old he began training with The National Ballet School of Kiev and 

upon graduation was accepted into The National Ballet of Ukraine. Gamayunov was cast 

in many leading roles and was soon promoted to principal dancer. In 2001 he moved to 

Canada to join the Royal Winnipeg Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet. 

Gamayunov was promoted to second Soloist in 2003 and then to soloist for the 2005/06 

season. 

During his eight years with the RWB, Gamayunov has performed many principal roles 

such as Dracula in Mark Godden’s Dracula, the Prince in Nutcracker, Prince Siegfried in 

Swan Lake, Blue Bird in The Sleeping Beauty, Tybalt in Rudi van Dantzig’s Romeo & Juliet, 

Captain Hook in Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan, and Jamie Paul in The Ecstasy of Rita Joe. A 

number roles have also been set on Gamayunov. Mark Godden choreographed the lead 

role of Sarastro on him for his world premiere of The Magic Flute. Gamayunov also 

premiered the comical role of the Penguin in Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story and 

most recently the Mad Hatter in Wonderland. 

Other ballets that Gamayunov has performed include Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and 

The Four Temperaments, Kylian’s Symphony in D, Giselle, Miroirs, Moulin Rouge – The 

Ballet®, and Carmina Burana. 

In 2003, Gamayunov performed with Principal Dancer Tara Birtwhistle, Julie Andrews, 

Christopher Plummer, and Charlotte Church for the Holiday Spectacular “A Royal 

Christmas,” which toured extensively throughout Canada and the United States. In 2007 

he performed Brian Macdonald’s Requiem 9/11 for the 60th anniversary gala at The 

Banff Centre, and was also invited to perform at the Governor General’s Awards. In 

2009, he was selected by acclaimed choreographer Peter Quanz to perform a new piece 

called In Tandem at the prestigious Guggenheim Museum in New York City. He has 

subsequently performed in Quanz’s productions on Q Dance for the past two years. In 

2010, Gamayunov along with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet performed at the 2010 

Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, Cultural Olympiad.

Gamayunov holds a Masters Degree for teaching and choreography, which he received 

from the National University of Culture and Art in 1999. He also teaches dance and has 

guest taught for the RWB School and for master classes across the country. 

YOSUKE MINO 

Soloist 

“The White Rabbit – wonderfully brought to life by Yosuke Mino – doesn’t need ears, 

just a brilliantly busied demeanour and wrist permanently flexed to check his watch.” 

–The Star Phoenix, 2011 

“Thursday's Peter was danced by the boyish Yosuke Mino. The role is perfect for Mino, 

showing off his chief strengths beautiful turns, light, laser-‐cut footwork and an 

irrepressible, bounding sense of fun.” 

-‐Ottawa Citizen, 2009 

“Peter Pan (Yosuke Mino) is calm and cool as a hip-‐hop mogul” 

-‐The Winnipeg Sun, 2006 

“Yosuke Mino brings out the boyishness of the title character with athletic precision, 

inspiring an audible gasp of delight from the audience for one particular, spine-‐ 

twisting leap.” 


“Another crowd-‐pleaser on opening night was Yosuke Mino playing the Jester with 

mercurial pirouettes and leaps. Mino brings a lot of mischievous spirit to the role and 

carves out the air on the stage like a jet turbine engine.” 


Born in Kanazawa, Japan, Mino began his dance training at the Akiko Kanamaru Ballet 

Studio. He moved to Canada in 1998 to train at the RWB School Professional Division 

and graduated in 1999. A year after graduating, he became an apprentice of the RWB 

and accompanied the company on their Asian Tour. In 2001/02, Mino spent one season 

with The Boston Ballet. 

Mino returned to the RWB for the 2002/03 season. While dancing with the RWB, Mino 

has performed many memorable roles including the Jester in Swan Lake, Blue Bird in 

The Sleeping Beauty, Jack Seward and Wolf in Dracula, Mercutio in Rudi van Dantzig’s 

Romeo & Juliet, and Papageno in Mark Godden’s The Magic Flute. Mino has also had a 

number of roles created on him by choreographers; he premiered the roles of Peter in 

Peter Pan, Toulouse-‐Lautrec in Moulin Rouge – The Ballet®, and White Rabbit in 

Wonderland.

Other works Mino has performed with the RWB include Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, 

Kylián’s Symphony in D, as well as Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmina Burana, Toer van 

Schayk’s Seventh Symphony,Rudi van Dantzig’s Four Last Songs, Itzik Galili’s Hikarizatto, 

and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room. 

Mino also has had the opportunity to perform for competitions and in special 

international performances. Mino has participated in the Jackson International Ballet 

Competition and recently won second prize for dance at the International Solo Tanz 

Theater Festival in Stuttgart, Germany. In 2009, he was selected by acclaimed 

choreographer Peter Quanz to perform a new piece called In Tandem at the prestigious 

Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Along with the RWB, he performed before an 

international audience at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, Cultural 

Olympiad. His screen credits include The Goblin in YTV’s children’s series The Toy Castle 

and the film One Last Dance starring Patrick Swayze. 

Mino has recently delved into choreography. This past year, he performed his work Koji 

at the International Solo Tanz Theater Festival in Germany and for Q Dance in Winnipeg. 

Mino and former RWB dancer Maureya Lebowitz performed his work Kafe for the RWB 

School Professional Division’s 40 th anniversary performances. 

CARRIE BRODA 

Second Soloist 

“Another Act II favourite is the Arabian duet, which has the aura of an opium-‐scented 

sultan’s tent. The slinky harem girl has become a much-‐loved signature role for Carrie 

Broda.” –Winnipeg Free Press, 2010 

“Two other dancers also deserve special mention: Carrie Broda's beautifully radiant 

Sugar Plum Fairy…” 


“Act III … gave several a chance to shine … in particular Darren Anderson and Carrie 

Broda, as Puss ’n Boots and the White Cat were flirty and fun.” 

-‐ Theresa Stuart, Fredericton Daily Gleaner, 2002 

Born in Melville, Saskatchewan and raised in Regina, Carrie Broda began her dance 

training at Myers Dance Centre. She trained professionally at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet 

School, graduating from the Professional Division in 1996. While still in the RWB School, 

Broda made her professional debut in the company’s 1994 production of Swan Lake. 

Broda joined the RWB as an apprentice in 1998 and was promoted to the corps de ballet 

in 2000. For the 2006/07 she was promoted to second soloist. During her time with the 

RWB, Broda has been featured in many roles including Tiger Lily/Mrs. Darling in Peter

Pan, Sugar Plum Fairy in Nutcracker, Lilac Fairy and The White Cat in The Sleeping 

Beauty, Flamingo in Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story, and Don José’s Mother in 

Carmen, The Passion. 

Other ballets in Broda’s classical repertoire include Giselle, Anna Karenina, Rudi van 

Dantzig’s Romeo & Juliet, and Swan Lake. Broda’s contemporary repertoire includes 

Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmina Burana, Shawn Hounsell’s Creaturehood, Mark Godden’s 

Miroirs, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, Symphony in D, Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, 

Concerto Barocco, and Serenade. Broda was a featured company dancer in Ballet in the 

Park 2006, where she performed Antony Tudor’s The Leaves Are Fading with Soloist 

Alexander Gamayunov. Along with the RWB troupe, she performed Itzik Galili’s 

Hikarizatto before an international audience at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic 

Games Cultural Olympiad. 

This past season Broda performed in Dracula, Nutcracker, the world premiere of 

Wonderland, and in The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room as 

part of the mix repertoire performance entitled Pure Ballet. She also toured with the 

company to Israel and across Canada. 

SERENA SANDFORD 


Hailing from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Serena Sandford studied at the Edmonton School 

of Ballet and then joined the RWB School Professional Division at the age of 15. While a 

student, she received the Royal Bank of Canada Scholarship and the Esso Kids Award of 

Excellence. In 2002 she graduated with Distinction from the School. 

Sandford made her professional debut with The National Ballet of Canada in 2003 

performing in The Nutcracker and Rudolf Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty. She also 

performed in the Banff Festival Dance in 2002 and 2003. 

In 2004/05, Sandford joined the RWB as a member of the corps de ballet and last season 

was promoted to second soloist. In 2006, Sandford premiered the role of Liza for the 

world premiere of Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan. Sandford was also featured in the role of 

the Dark Angel in Balanchine’s Serenade and as a guest starring company dancer in 

Ballet in the Park 2007, performing the Lilac Fairy in the The Sleeping Beauty. Sandford 

has also enjoyed performing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker the past 

few seasons. Sandford has recently begun dancing lead roles, first as Nancy in Val 

Caniparoli's A Cinderella Story and last season as Mina Murray in Mark Godden's 

Dracula. 

Other repertoire that she has performed with the RWB include Romeo & Juliet, 

Wonderland, The Magic Flute, Angels in the Architecture, Moulin Rouge – The Ballet®,

and the ever classic Swan Lake. Along with the RWB, she has also performed Itzik Galili’s 

Hikarizatto and Mark Godden’s As Above, So Below before an international audience at 

the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad. 

AMAR DHALIWAL 


“Amar Dhaliwal as the Mad Hatter danced with intensity ...” – Review Vancouver, 

2011 

"Amar Dhaliwal delivered a commanding performance as Zidler — the sleazy, owner 

of the [Moulin Rouge]. The rehearsal scene he leads in the dark, seedy after-‐hours 

when Nathalie is first introduced to the territorial Diamond Dog dancers is 

authoritative and powerful." 

-‐ Edmonton Journal, 2010 

“There's too much impressive ensemble work to mention, but kudos to the delicate 

bridesmaids and to Amar Dhaliwal and Zhen Guo Chen for their athletic antics during 

the street celebration.” 


Amar Dhaliwal comes from Sherwood Park, Alberta, where he began his training as a 

dancer. He started his professional ballet training at age 18 in the RWB School 

Professional Division and upon graduation became an apprentice with the company. He 

has also danced in the Banff Centre’s training program and professional company. 

Dhaliwal became a member of the corps de ballet in 2005 debuting in Nutcracker and 

was promoted to second soloist for the 2008/09 season. Since joining the RWB he has 

performed in various ballets including Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmina Burana, Val 

Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story, Nutcracker, Agnes de Mille's Rodeo, Swan Lake, Itzik 

Galili’s Hikarizatto, Toer van Schayk's Seventh Symphony, and Mark Godden’s As Above, 

SoBelow. 

Dhaliwal's favorite roles include Jonathan Harker in Mark Godden’s Dracula and Puss ‘n 

Boots in The Sleeping Beauty. Most recently, he danced the role of Zidler in Moulin 

Rouge – The Ballet® and the Mad Hatter in Wonderland. Along with rest of the 

company, Dhaliwal performed before an international audience at the 2010 Vancouver 

Winter Olympic Games, Cultural Olympiad and last season toured Israel. 

Dhaliwal and his wife, soloist Emily Grizzell, are parents to Lucie who was born in August 

2009. 

Harrison James

First Soloist 

In the “magnificently magnetic” Svengali, “broad-‐shouldered Harrison James … shows 

off elegant technique and skilled acting.” – Winnipeg Free Press, 2011 

“... Harrison James as the White Rabbit moved flawlessly.” –Review Vancouver, 2011 

Harrison James was born in New Zealand and started his ballet training with a local 

ballet studio at the age of five. Since then he has trained in two major dance schools, 

the New Zealand School of Dance and the San Francisco Ballet School's Trainee 

Program. Here, as well as at the ballet program in the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival he 

received training from the likes of Jean-‐Yves Esquerre, Parrish Maynard, Anna-‐Marie 

Holmes, Amanda McKerrow, Adam Sklute, and Nikolaj Hubbe. During these years he has 

performed a variety of works including Balanchine's Theme and Variations, Tomasson's 

7 for Eight Pas de Deux and Sleeping Beauty. 

James has also performed with the San Francisco Ballet as a student in Helgi's own Swan 

Lake, Romeo and Juliet and Nutcracker, John Neumeier's The Little Mermaid, and 

Jerome Robbins' The Concert. 

Since joining the RWB in 2010 James has risen through the ranks to First Soloist, an 

honour awarded to him early in the 2011/12 season. In his first season with the 

company he danced roles in Dracula, Nutcracker, Carmina Burana, In the Upper Room, 

In Tandem, and Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet. He also had the opportunity to perform the 

role of White Rabbit in Shawn Hounsell’s Wonderland. Most recently James was 

selected to dance the title role in RWB’s new creation, Svengali, by renowned director 

Mark Godden. 

ERIC NIPP 


“…the powerfully built Eric Nipp, 23, in his most mature performance to date.” 

Winnipeg Free Press, 2011 

“Another remarkable ascension from the ranks was that of Eric Nipp as the petty, 

materialistic, jealous and cruel Zidler.” Brandon Sun, 2009 

Eric Nipp is from Salmon Arm, BC and began dance training at the age of 11. He is a 

graduate of the RWB School Professional Division. As a student he was the recipient of 

the Antonio Klockow Memorial Bursary. Nipp graduated from the Professional Division 

in 2005 and then completed a year in the School’s Aspirant Program, under the direction 

of Stéphane Léonard.

Nipp made his professional debut in 2005 in the RWB’s Nutcracker. In 2006, he joined 

Ballet Kelowna where he danced for a season. Nipp returned to Winnipeg in 2007 to join 

the RWB as an apprentice and then move up to the corps de ballet for the 2008/09 

season. This season, Nipp has been promoted to second soloist. 

Nipp enjoys dancing both classical and contemporary ballets. He made his debut as a 

company member performing in The Sleeping Beauty, Balanchine’s Serenade, Mauricio 

Wainrot’s Carmina Burana, Toer van Schayk’s Seventh Symphony, and Peter Quanz’ 

ballet Quantz by Quanz. 

In 2008, Nipp took part in Festival Dance at the Banff Centre for the Arts and had the 

opportunity to work with Lindsay Fischer and Mea Venema on Grosse Fuge by Hans van 

Manen and was part of Heather Myers’ new creation Dedications. 

Nipp’s RWB repertoire includes The Sleeping Beauty, Serenade, Carmina Burana, 

Hikarizatto, Dracula, Quantz by Quanz, Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Val Caniparoli’s A 

Cinderella Story. For the world premiere of Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet in 2009, Jorden 

Morris created the role of Zidler on Nipp. Most recently, Nipp partnered Tara Birtwhistle 

in The Ecstasy of Rita Joe for Birtwhistle’s farewell performances. 

Along with the RWB troupe, he performed Itzik Galili’s Hikarizatto and Mark Godden’s 

As Above, So Below before an international audience at the 2010 Vancouver Winter 

Olympic Games, Cultural Olympiad. 

SARAH DAVEY 

Corps de Ballet 

A native of Waterdown, Ontario, Sarah Davey began dancing at the age of 3. She trained 

professionally at the RWB School Professional Division and was awarded the Royal Bank 

of Canada Award and the Odette/Odile Scholarship. Davey graduated from the 

Professional Division in 2007 and has trained in the School’s Aspirant Program until 

2009, when she joined the RWB as an apprentice. Davey has recently been promoted to 

the corps de ballet for the 2011/12 season. 

As a student, Davey has performed with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet in several 

ballets including Concerto Barocco, Serenade, The Four Temperaments, Hikarizatto, The 

Sleeping Beauty, and Peter Pan. Davey also took part in the Banff Centre’s professional 

dancer program in the summer of 2008 where she performed Divertimento #15 and 

Prefigured Effect by Robert Glumbek. 

Since joining the RWB, Davey has performed in Moulin Rouge – The Ballet®, Nutcracker, 

Swan Lake, Wonderland, Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story, Dracula, and The Ecstasy of 

Rita Joe. Along with the RWB troupe, Davey performed Itzik Galili’s Hikarizatto and Mark

Godden’s As Above, So Below before an international audience at the 2010 Vancouver 

Winter Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad. 

YAYOI EZAWA 


Hailing from Chiba, Japan, Yayoi Ezawa began her dance training at the age of nine at 

Rei Classical Ballet Institute under Reiko Togashi. She has also trained at Momoko Tani 

Ballet and joined the RWB School Professional Division in 2001. Ezawa earned numerous 

awards during her training including the Arnold Spohr Scholarship -‐ she also graduated 

with distinction from the Professional Division in 2003. After completing two years in 

the Aspirant Program, she joined the company as an apprentice for the 2005/06 season. 

A year later Ezawa was promoted to corps de ballet. 

Ezawa made her professional debut with the RWB in 2002 in Nutcracker. Since joining 

the RWB she has performed in several classical ballets including Romeo & Juliet, 

Dracula, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story, Nutcracker, 

and Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan. She also danced in contemporary works such as Mark 

Godden’s Angels in the Architecture and As Above, So Below, Itzik Galili’s Hikarizatto, 

Mauricio Wainrot’s The Messiah and Carmina Burana, and Balanchine’s Concerto 

Barocco, The Four Temperaments and Serenade. Ezawa has also performed feature roles 

including Mome Fromage in Jorden Morris` Moulin Rouge – The Ballet® and most 

recently the Dormouse for the world premiere of Shawn Hounsell’s Wonderland. 

Ezawa participated in the 2004 Groundswell New Music Festival in New York City and 

was a semifinalist at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson in 2006. She was 

also a semifinalist at the Shanghai International Ballet Competition in 2007. In 2010, she 

performed with the RWB at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, Cultural 

Olympiad. 

Sophia Lee 

Corps de ballet 

Sophia Lee joins Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet this season as a corps de ballet 

member. Lee graduated from the RWB School Professional Division in 2010 and last 

season trained in the School’s Aspirant program. As a student she received the School’s 

two most prestigious awards: the Arnold Spohr Scholarship and the Prince Edward 

Award. 

In 2009 she travelled to Toronto to participate in The National Ballet School’s 50th 

anniversary Assemblée Internationale. In 2010 Lee attended the Monaco Dance Forum 

as part of the Tremplin Jeunes Ballets event in 2010. As a student, she performed lead 

roles in Don Quixote, Deverell, Laurentia, and Coppélia and shared the stage with the

RWB Company in Nutcracker. Most recently, Lee was selected to perform with former 

RWB Principal Dancer Jaime Vargas at the 31st Annual Genie Awards to Jorden Morris’ 

Dance Me to the End of Love with Montréal rock band Karkwa. 

LIAM CAINES 


Originally from Kingston, New Brunswick, Liam Caines began dancing in Saint John at 

Rothessay Ballet School before switching over to Port City Dance Academy at the age of 

8. In 2003, he started training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division, 

graduating three years later. While training in the Professional Division, Caines was the 

recipient of the Juanita Alexander Scholarship and the Carlson Wagonlit Bursary. 

Following his graduation, Caines studied for a year in the RWB School’s Aspirant 

program. 

In December 2006, Caines made his professional dance debut as a Pirate in the RWB’s 

world premiere of Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan. In January 2007, he performed in Salute to 

Vienna with other dancers from the RWB and a month later danced in Ballet British 

Columbia’s Scheherazade. As a dancer in the RWB School’s Aspirant program he 

performed in the Winnipeg New Music Festival entertaining audiences in Winnipeg, 

Brandon and Portage la Prairie. For the 2007 Carol Shields Festival of New Works at 

Prairie Theatre Exchange, Caines performed in Bruce Monk’s new work Sigh, Cry and 

Hungry Kiss. 

For many summers, Caines has returned to Saint John to both teach at the Port City 

Dance Academy and perform in their annual production of Dancing Bodies. For these 

productions, he has danced with, and choreographed on, Tara Butler, Principal Dancer 

from Ballet Jorgën. This summer Caines lead a month-‐long creative residency in Saint 

John at the Port City Dance Academy: teaching, choreographing, conducting a two-‐week 

intensive dance program and a dance workshop for boys. 

Caines was promoted to corps de ballet in the 2009/10 season. Some of the ballets he 

has performed since joining the RWB include Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, 

Serenade, Peter Pan, Romeo & Juliet, Hikarizatto, Swan Lake, Mauricio Wainrot’s 

Carmina Burana, and the world premiere of Jorden Morris’ Moulin Rouge – The Ballet®. 

Caines was also the host of a video blog series about the making of the RWB’s Moulin 

Rouge – The Ballet® which can be viewed on the RWB’s website. 

Along with the RWB troupe, he performed Itzik Galili’s Hikarizatto and Mark Godden’s 

As Above, So Below before an international audience at the 2010 Vancouver Winter 

Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad. This past season he travelled with the company to 

Israel for three city tour as part of the RWB’s 70 th Anniversary.

TRISTAN DOBROWNEY 


Tristan Dobrowney, originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan graduated from the Royal 

Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division in June 2008. Dobrowney began Ukrainian 

dancing at age six and ballet at age 12, before coming to the Professional Division in 

2002. As a student at the RWB School, he has been the recipient of many awards 

including the prestigious Prince Edward Award. Dobrowney was also the recipient of 

one of the “2008 Developing Artists Grants” from The Hnatyshyn Foundation. 

Dobrowney joined the RWB Company in 2008 as an apprentice and was promoted to 

the corps de ballet last season. With the RWB he has performed in various story ballet 

including Peter Pan, Romeo & Juliet, Nutcracker, Dracula, Moulin Rouge – The Ballet®, 

Swan Lake, and Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story. For the world premiere for 

Wonderland he danced as part of the Tweedlede & Tweedledum duo. His other RWB 

repertoire includes Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmina Burana; Peter Quanz’ Quantz by Quanz 

and In Tandem; Mark Godden’s As Above, So Below; Itzik Gaili’s Hikarizatto; and Twlyla 

Tharp’s In the Upper Room. 

In summer 2008, Dobrowney took part in the Banff Centre’s summer dance program 

and performed Balanchine’s Divertimento #15 and Peggy Baker’s Julio Lumo. Along with 

the RWB, Dobrowney performed before an international audience at the 2010 

Vancouver Winter Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad and last season performed in a 

three-‐city tour of Israel as part of the company’s 70 th Anniversary. This past May, he was 

selected by Peter Quanz to perform in the choreographer’s intimate triple-‐bill titled Q 

Dance. 

THIAGO RODRIGO DOS SANTOS 


Originally from São Caetano do Sul in São Paulo, Brazil, Thiago Rodrigo Dos Santos began 

dancing hip-‐hop when he was 11 years old. He then switched to classical ballet at the 

age of 13 where he trained at Escola de Ballet Sandra Amaral in São Caetano Do Sul and 

also at the Espaco de Dancas e Artes Paulista in São Paulo. In 2007, Dos Santos trained 

at the Pacific Dance Arts in Vancouver on a scholarship he received after instructor Li 

Yaming noticed him at a summer training program in Brazilia, Brazil. 

Dos Santos credits his classical ballet training to four special instructors that have helped 

shape him as a classical dancer: Sandra Amaral, Camilla Puppa, Mauricio de Olivera, and 

Li Yaming. 

Dos Santos joined the RWB in 2008/09 as a corps de ballet member. His repertoire with 

the RWB includes: Peter Pan, Romeo & Juliet, Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmina Burana, Toer

van Schayk’s Seventh Symphony, Peter Quanz’ Quantz by Quanz, Moulin Rouge – The 

Ballet®, Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Dracula, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, and Val Caniparoli’s A 

Cinderella Story. His other repertoire includes Don Quixote, Coppélia, Paquita, Sleeping 

Beauty, Giselle, and Sylvia. 

Dos Santos’ international performances with the RWB include dancing at the 2010 

Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, Cultural Olympiad and touring to Israel as part of the 

RWB’s 70 th Anniversary Tour. 

ZHEN GUO CHEN 


Zhen Guo hails from Qing Dao, China where he began studying dance in 1995. He 

trained with Li Yaming at the Pacific Dance Arts as well as the Shanghai Drama College 

Dance Department and Guangzhou Ballet Company Dance School. He joined the RWB in 

August of 2004 as a member of the corps de ballet. 

Prior to coming to the RWB, Chen performed the pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty, 

Paquita, and Swan Lake. He made his professional debut in RWB’s 65th Anniversary 

season opener Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story. Since joining the company, Chen has 

danced in various classical ballets including Raymonda, Nutcracker, Jorden Morris’ Peter 

Pan, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Romeo & Juliet. 

The contemporary ballets he has performed include Balanchine’s The Four 

Temperaments, Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmina Burana, Mark Godden’s The Magic Flute 

and Dracula, Itzik Galili’s Hikarizatto, and Jorden Morris’ Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet. 

Chen performed with the RWB at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, Cultural Olympiad 

and recently toured overseas to Israel on a three-‐city tour as part of the RWB’s 70 th 

Anniversary. 

Beth Lamont 

Apprentice 

Beth Lamont is originally from Waterloo, Ontario where she began taking ballet 

lessons at age four. She began training with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School 

Professional Division in 2004. During her years in the School, Lamont receivedvarious 

scholarships, including the Founders Scholarship and the Arnold Spohr Scholarship. 

Lamont made her professional debut dancing the role of Young Clara in RWB’s 

Nutcracker. As a student, Lamont performed lead roles such as Mercedes in Don 

Quixote, Lise in La Fille Mal Gardee and Gulnare in Le Corsaire. Following her graduation 

from the school in 2008, she attended the Banff Summer Dance program, where she

performed a soloist role in Balanchine’s Raymonda. Lamont has attended Jacob’s Pillow 

Dance Festival under the instruction of Anna Marie Holmes. She was also featured in 

Merit Motion Pictures films Ballet Girls and Ballet High. While training in the RWB 

School Aspirant program, she has performed with the RWB Company in many shows 

including, Peter Pan, Nutcracker, Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story, and Swan Lake. 

Lamont joined the RWB last season as an apprentice and performed with the company 

is Dracula, Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Moulin Rouge®– The Ballet. She also joined the 

RWB on tour to Israel as part of the RWB’s 70 th Anniversary performances. 

Alanna McAdie 

Apprentice 

Though she has been dancing since the age of three, Alanna McAdie began her ballet 

training at the age of eight at the Edmonton School of Ballet. She trained professionally 

at the RWB School Professional Division, graduating in 2009. 

She made her debut on the stage as Clara in Alberta Ballet’s Nutcracker when she was 

twelve. In 2008, while training at the RWB School, she was awarded the Juanita Y. 

Alexander Award for Artistic Excellence. As a student, McAdie’s performance credits 

included the Scotch Girl in Balanchine’s Scotch Symphony and Hula from Forsythe’s The 

Second Detail, as well as the pas de deux’s from Coppélia and Nutcracker. In 2010, she 

attended the Banff summer arts festival and danced in Balanchine’s Who Care’s. 

McAdie has trained in the RWB School Aspirant program since graduating in 2009 and 

has performed with the company in a few ballets including Dracula, Nutcracker, Swan 

Lake, and Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet. 

Catherine Rutherford 

Apprentice 

A Winnipegger, Catherine Rutherford began training at age five at Marquis Dance 

Academy and entered the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division when she 

was 13 years old. 

While training professionally, Rutherford received numerous awards including the 

Investors Group Scholarship and the Julia Arkos Memorial Award. As a student her 

performance credits included ‘Hula’ from William Forythe's The Second Detail and 

Balanchine's Scotch Symphony. 

Rutherford graduated from the RWB Professional Division in 2009. Since that time she 

has been part of the RWB School Aspirant program. She has danced with the RWB in a 

number of ballets including Swan Lake, Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story, and the role

of Filbert the Bear in Nutcracker. Rutherford was also featured in the television series 

Ballet Girls. 

Alex Lantz 

Apprentice 

Alex Lantz began his dance training at age seven at the Rockford Dance Company in his 

home town of Rockford, Illinois and was accepted into the RWB School in 2006 at age 

17. Recipient of the Arnold Spohr Scholarship and the Daimler-‐Chrysler Scholarship, 

Lantz has had a variety of performance opportunities. He danced the roles of Prince 

Charming in Cinderella and Franz in Coppélia with the Rockford Dance Company, and 

last spring was a guest artist in RDC’s Sleeping Beauty. He has also been featured in 

many RWB School Professional Division performances, including Pas de Quatre by David 

Moroni and the roles of Alain in La Fille Mal Gardée and Gamache in Don Quixote. 

Lantz’s piece, The Sea Within Us, wowed the crowd at the RWB School’s First Steps 

Choreographic Competition 2009, earning him first place and the RWB School Award. 

The Sea Within Us was also featured at the National Ballet School of Canada’s 

Assemblee International 2009 where it was performed with an international cast. 

Lantz joined the RWB last season as an apprentice. He has performed with the company 

in Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet, Dracula, and Wonderland. He 

also joined the company last year on a three-‐city tour to Israel as part of the RWB’s 70 th 

Anniversary tour.

RWB Full Dancer Bios

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