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Susan Mazer and Dallas Smith - Sierra Nevada Ballet Composers in Residence
In addition, they are the founders of Healing HealthCare Systems, producing the C.A.R.E. CHANNEL for patient television, which is now serving hospitals in 44 states. Susan was recently featured on ABC's Good Morning America, in which she was interviewed about their work with hospitals around the country. Susan and Dallas are in their fourth year as the primary funders of the Elder Care Concert Series administered by Sierra Arts Foundation. Domingo Rubio - Permanent Guest Artist
Rubio danced the role of Maxfield Parrish in A PAINTER’S LOVE STORY and was a featured artist in SNB’s Dancing By the River and A Celebration Of Gershwin. He choreographed PRELUDE, a pas des deux for himself and SNB principal, Ananda Bena-Weber which premiered in Reno in July of 2005. In addition to performing as a ballet dancer, he is a concert pianist, composer, choreographer and visual artist. He has illustrated several books on ballet and exhibits his sculpture art work throughout the USA. Mr. Rubio teaches ballet and guest performs with dance companies throughout the USA.
Sam Weber - Permanent Guest Artist
He dances
all over the USA and Europe and receives standing ovations and rave reviews
wherever he performs. He has done numerous TV appearances (including
Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood) and stars in the German film, TWO IN TAILS. He is
one of the few tap artists to perform Morton Gould’s Concerto for Tap Dancer
and Orchestra throughout the US and Europe. Weber has performed with SNB
since 2001.
Beth Beasley - Dance Artist / Principal
Ms. Beasley is an experienced dance instructor. She has taught in several fine dance institutions throughout the US and teaches all levels of ballet, pointes and variations. She also teaches Modern and Ballroom dance and is a certified Pilates instructor. Beth is featured in SNB’s 2006 summer season and performs in new choreography by Rosine Bena such as : Gershwin Allegro; Unsquare Dance; Take Five and Take Me To The River. Beth was the former Executive Director of the Coastal Arts Project and is experienced in working in bringing arts into the public schools. Ms. Beasley is involved in SNB’s new Dancing In The Schools Program which brings dance into the elementary schools in the Northern Nevada community. Ananda Bena-Weber - Dance Artist / Principal
She has appeared in principal roles in several original dance works such as Dreams, Take Me To The River, Dancing In The New Millennium, GSR, Back Street, Laura, Blue Rondo, Armando’s Rumba and classics such as The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Romeo and Juliet and Paquita. Ms Bena-Weber is an award winning artist and has performed acting, singing and dancing featured roles in over 30 theater productions in the SF Bay Area. A gifted choreographer, Ananda has choreographed several works for the professional ballet company, Sierra Nevada Ballet, and for the San Francisco State Drama Department, Peninsula Ballet Theater School Performing Group and San Mateo High School performing arts program. Bena-Weber is a Magna cum Laude graduate of San Francisco State University, has attended Columbia University Masters Program in Drama and studies acting at the Linkleter Center in New York City. She teaches at Mary Mount College and guest teaches all levels of ballet and related dance classes and acting (without words) throughout the US. She has performed leading acting roles with Nevada Shakespeare Company and has been featured as a Principal dancer with the Sierra Nevada Ballet company since 2001. Ramona Cachinero- Dance Artist / Principal
At the age of 19, Ramona returned to Australia, her birthplace. At that time she attended college for an Associate's Degree in Dance. She also performed with Ballet Theatre of Queensland and was one of the first company members in Harold Collin’s Australian Theatre Ballet. Ramona then returned to America which saw her dancing with companies such as the Dayton Ballet, South Florida Ballet Theatre, Area-51 Dance Theatre, Nevada Ballet Theatre and Ohio Dance Theatre for which she was a principal dancer. Ms. Cachinero has a passion for teaching ballet and choreography. In May of 2007 she choreographed and staged “The Wizard of Oz” into a ballet which she hopes to present again in the future. Ramona is a principal dancer and choreographer for the Tasmanian Classical Ballet Company in Australia. In 2007 she danced the lead role of "Giselle", her favorite role thus far. Ramona hopes to one day start her own ballet company on Australia's "Sunshine Coast". Rachel Speidel - Dance Artist / Principal
Alexander Biber - Company Dancer
Biber was featured as the Wolf in Peter and The Wolf; in Tarentella For Three and SNB’s A Celebration of Gershwin, Take Five, Mozartina and Take Me To The River. He was featured as the Rat King, Flower Prince, Lead Father and Chinese Prince in the PEANUTCRACKER-The Story In A Nutshell. He was featured the Count and the Gorgon in the SNB 2007 Spring production of THE UNICORN, THE GORGON and THE MANTICORE.
Roberto Cisneros - Company Soloist Roberto has been dancing with Smuin Ballet in San Franciso since he was 9. He has won many awards for his dancing including The Young Artist's Award (2001) and Mr. Jr. Dance of California (2001). In 2004, Roberto attended the ABT Summer School on Scholarship. He currently studies at School of the Arts in San Francisco. Photo Coming Soon! Courtney Jankovic - Company Dancer
She then proceeded on to dance professionally with the Minnesota Ballet for three seasons. There she was given many gracious opportunities to tour and perform ballets such as Cinderella, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie and numerous other repertoire works. The years 2005-2007, Ms. Jankovic spent two seasons with the Ohio Dance Theatre performing multiple soloist roles in Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Nutcracker, Alice and Wonderland, and Swan Lake amongst many others. It was there she also began teaching all levels of ballet, tap, pilates, and choreographing. She debuted the children’s ballet, Sleeping Beauty, in May of 2007. Following that, Courtney became a soloist dancer with the Sierra Nevada Ballet in which she performed various pieces including the world premiers of Percussivlund, Marimba Madness and the Unicorn, Gorgon and Manticore. Currently, she is a principal dancer and instructor with the Fargo Moorhead Ballet in North Dakota. In her first season with the Company, she was featured as the Sugar Plum Fairy in 'The Nutcracker' and Lucretia MacEvil in 'Spooky Ballet'. Courtney is honored to be a part of Sierra Nevada Ballet’s Company for her 2nd year. E. Cort Larson - Soloist / Company Dancer
He has danced featured roles in Story Book Tales; A Painter’s Love Story; A Tribute to Roy Orberson, Tarantella for Three, The Peanutcracker-The Stoy In A Nutshell, Take Five, Mozartina, Take Me To The River and the Gershwin Concerto. He created the role of Peter in SNB’s Peter and The Wolf and the Russian Prince in The Peanutcracker-The Story in a Nutshell. A talented teacher and choreographer, Cort is the recipient of the SNB’s 2005 Young Choreographers Award for SLAVE DANCE which was featured in SNB’s 2005 Summer Concert series. Cort is now a company dancer with the Sacramento Ballet.
Justin Quandt - Soloist / Company Dancer
Laura Lunde - Company Dancer
While at the Kirov Academy, Ms. Lunde trained with Jacqueline Akhmedova, Ludmila Morkovina, Anatoli Kucheruk, and Vladimir Djouloukhadze. She has also worked with Zola Dishong, Charles Anderson, Karen Burns, and presently Rosine Bena. Ms. Lunde has danced numerous roles such as a gypsy in “Esmeralda”, the dancing doll, flower soloist, and the Spanish dancer in “The Nutcracker”, a soloist Willi in “Giselle”, a corps de ballet dancer in “La Bayadere” and “Le Corsaire” , as well as many other classical and contemporary roles.
Arthur Reloj - Company Dancer
He has danced the role of the Grandfather in Peter and The Wolf; appeared as a featured dancer in A Painter’s Love Story, Take Five, Mozartina, Take Me To The River and A Celebration of Gershwin. Arthur was featured as the Grandfather and the Spanish Prince in The Peanutcracker-The Story In A Nutshell and as the Doctor in the SNB 2007 Spring Production of THE UNICORN, THE GORGON and THE MANTICORE.
Maggie Tietz - Company Dancer
Maggie has performed in multiple ballets with the SNB company including A Painter’s Love Story, Gershwin Concerto, and Paging Mr. Stair. She was featured in Romeo and Juliet as Rosaline and as the Girl Doll and a Flower in Peanutcracker – The Story In A Nutshell. She was also featured as The Doctor’s wife in THE UNICORN, THE GORGON and THE MANTICORE. Maggie was promoted to company dancer in 2007.
Mindy Lai - Company Apprentice
Lead roles that Mindy has performed include: Clara, Snow Queen, Dewdrop, and Sugar Plum Fairy in ‘The Nutcracker’; Firebird in ‘The Firebird’; Lisette in ‘La Fille Mal Gardee’; Competitor in ‘Graduation Ball’; Kitri’s friend in ‘Don Quixote’; and Queen Fairy in ‘The Firefly’. Mindy has also danced as a soloist in contemporary pieces choreographed by Deanna Carter, Armando Duarte, Heather Ferguson, Peter Powlus, and Brenda Tally. In 2006 Mindy was awarded a full scholarship to Craft of Choreography in Utah. Last summer she received a level II scholarship to study at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.
Kylene, born in
Reno and has practiced tap, jazz and ballet since the age of three. Prior
to Sierra Nevada Ballet, Kylene had danced in a performance group that has
been highlighted in many local events for the for five years as well as
dancing the role of Clara in "The Nutcracker".
Ciara Perez- Company Apprentice Photo and Bio Coming Soon!!
Katy Breeding- Company Trainee
Katy recently accepted a position as a trainee with the Sierra Nevada Ballet Trainee Program as of Summer 2008. She trains with Rosine Bena at Western Nevada Performing Arts Center in Carson City, Nevada, where she currently attends school. She has previously appeared and danced with the Sierra Nevada Ballet in the both the Spring and Summer productions of THE UNICORN, THE GORGON and THE MANTICORE , as well as in the PeanutCracker -The Story In A Nutshell in 2006 and 2007. Katy enjoys ballet, tap, and jazz classes as well and assisting with elementary ballet student class instruction and is delighted to be a part of the Sierra Nevada Ballet.
Casey began her ballet training in 2006 at In Motion Studio of Dance under the direction of Rosine Bena. She was privileged to perform a small acting role, as well as be an understudy for the 'waltz of the flower's, in SNB's 2007 production of "Peanutcracker- The Story in a Nutshell". In Summer of 2007, Ms Rath took part in SNB's ballet intensive program Casey is very excited to begin her traineeship with the Sierra Nevada Ballet and hopes to learn as much as possible from this experience.
Larrissa Cassera - Dance Artist / Principal
Larissa trained with the school of the Oregon Ballet and joined SNB as a soloist in May of 2004 and was quickly raised to Principal in September of 2004. She has danced featured roles in Four For Tango, Rococo and was featured as the Snow Queen and Flower Soloist in The Peanutcracker-The Story In A Nutshell. Ms. Cassera has been featured as a principal in such works as: Gershwin Allegro; Paging Mr. Stair; Take Me To the River; Walking On Broken Glass and A Shape of A Pair. Larissa is a third grade teacher with the Washoe County School District, part of the Masters Program at UNR and teaches Beginning and Adult Ballet at In Motion Studio of Dance in Reno.
Erica Chipp - Dance Artist / Principal
Currently, Erica is employed as a full-time professional company member of Festival Ballet Providence, which she joined in 2004. While dancing with FBP, Erica has performed in the world premieres of Schéhérazade, Romeo & Juliet, as a Spivey boy in The Widow's Broom, and Viktor Plotnikov’s Coma. Some of her notable roles have been in Gianni Dimarco's Azucar, as the Chinese doll in The Nutcracker, in Daniel Pelzig’s The Princess and the Pea, George Balanchine’s Rubies and various roles in Up CLOSE on HOPE repertoire. This past November, Erica was given the opportunity to tour with FBP to various cities in Venezuela, including Caracas, to perform the soloist red girl in Mihailo Djuric’s Soledad. To continue dancing throughout the summer, Erica returns to her hometown to perform as a principle with Sierra Nevada Ballet. She loves being a part of and watching the tremendous growth of the company and the dancers. Not only would she like to thank Rosine Bena for the wonderful opportunities she gives her, but she would also like to thank her family for their continuous support. Eugene Petrov - Dance Artist / Principal
After arriving in the United States in 1992, he joined the Irine Fokine Ballet Company in New York City and became part of their school staff. Presently he is a principal dancer, teacher, and choreographer with the Fokine Company. Mr. Petrov has performed as guest artist with numerous ballet companies throughout the United States including Phoenix, AZ; Oneonta, NY; Cleveland, OH; and Washington DC. Eugene has danced lead roles in all the renowned classics such as Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Paquita, as well as many contemporary works. Presently Eugene works with Irine Fokine Ballet, and performs as a principal dancer with Sierra Nevada Ballet. Petrov danced the lead in THE UNICORN, THE GORGON and THE MANTICORE which premiered in May of 2007. |
Susan
and Dallas are well-known to Reno Tahoe audiences as well as their music
being featured on NPR, Nova, and the Discovery Channel. Composers,
performers, recording artists, and producers, Mazer and Smith have just
released their 21st CD, New Times Good Times, which is available for the
first time tonight. This CD is done in celebration of their 20th year
working together as musicians. 
Back
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Domingo
Rubio is SNB’s second Permanent Guest Artist as of May 2005. He has
danced professionally for some 20 years. Domingo has danced with the Joffrey
Ballet and Ballet Hispanico and was recently featured in the Robert Altman
film, THE COMPANY.
Sam
Weber is SNB’s First Permanent Guest Artist and is a founding member of the
company. He danced with the Joffery Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Sacramento
Ballet, Peninsula Ballet Theatre and The Jazz Tap Ensemble.
Besides being a fine ballet dancer, Weber is considered one of the
greatest Tap dancers in the world. He is known as “the fastest feet in tap”.
Mary
Beth Beasley is principal dancer with Sierra Nevada Ballet and joined the
company in June of 2006. Beth trained and performed with the North Carolina
School of the Arts and has danced professionally as a principal dancer with
the Florida Ballet and as a soloist with Ballet Theater International,
Southern Ballet Theater and The Sarasota Opera.
Ananda
Bena-Weber is a principal dancer artist with the Sierra Nevada Ballet and a
founding member. She has danced professionally as a soloist with the Reno
Ballet, Perspectives Dance Theatre and Fascinating Rhythm Productions. She
has appeared as featured soloist with Sam Weber performing in Morton Gould's
"Concerto for Tap Dancer and Orchestra" throughout the SF Bay Area.
Ramona
Cachinero began dancing when she was 9 years old at Nevada Festival
ballet. There she trained with Maggie Banks and Cheryl Bruce. She then
went on to study at Houston Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet School in New
York City, where she was asked to stay year round on a full scholarship. 
A native of Michigan, Rachel Speidel Little has had the pleasure of
being a member of a number of dance companies throughout the United
States. She began her career as a trainee with the Milwaukee Ballet,
and then went on to dance with the chamber companies Ballet Wisconsin
and Channel Islands Ballet, and with the Oakland Ballet. Recently, she
has worked with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montreal, and Ballet de
Teatres Generalitat Valenciana in Valencia, Spain.
Alexander
has trained exclusively with Rosine Bena at Western Nevada Performing Arts
Center in Carson and at In Motion Studio in Reno. He presently attends TMCC
High School in Reno. Alex was taken into the SNB Apprentice Program in
June of 2003 and has appeared with the Apprentice Company and the
professional Company since.
Courtney
Jankovic, a native of Cleveland Ohio, received the majority of her dance
training at the School of Cleveland San Jose Ballet. She spent the years
of 2000-2002 as a member of their youth ballet company under the
direction of Gladisa Guadalupe. Early training also included summer
intensives of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, North Carolina Dance Theatre
and Cleveland San Jose Ballet as a scholarship recipient. 
E.
Cort Larson is the youngest professional soloist in Sierra Nevada Ballet’s
first company. Cort has trained exclusively with Rosine Bena at Western
Nevada Performing Arts Center in Carson City and at In Motion Studio in Reno
and currently attends TMCC High School. Larson was taken into the SNB
Apprentice program in January of 2003, and was raised to the first Company
in September 2004 and raised to soloist in June of 2006.
Justin is a
graduate of the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree in dance. A multi-talented dancer and teacher, Justin
specializes in jazz, ballet, modern, hip hop and tap. His training has
taken him from Los Angeles to New York, where he has performed in works
by Mia Michaels, George Balanchine, Sherry Zunker, and many other
renowned choreographers. Justin has also spent his summers intensely
studying in Chicago with the Gus Giordano and River North Jazz Dance
Companies. He recently performed with Tyra Banks on America's Next Top
Model, was featured in Dance Spirit Magazine, was a company member with
the David Taylor Dance Theatre, Denver, Co. Justin danced for Royal
Caribbean Cruise Line Productions and can be seen as a guest
artist/choreographer for various companies and studios throughout the
United States.
Laura Lunde joined the Sierra Nevada Ballet as an apprentice in July
2007, and was promoted to full time company member in October 2007. She
has trained at the Kirov Academy of Washington D.C., Contra Costa
Ballet, and Central West Ballet.
Arthur
has trained with Rosine Bena as part of the apprentice program and is a
graduate student in UNR’s Computer Science Masters Program. He has appeared
in numerous dance productions throughout the community. He joined SNB’s
Trainee program in January of 2004 and was raised to apprentice in September
of 2004 and to the first company in September of 2005.
Maggie
has been dancing since she was a young child at local dance studios in
Montana and Nevada. She began training with Rosine Bena in the summer of
2004 at In Motion School of Dance in Reno and was accepted into Sierra
Nevada Ballet as a trainee in September of 2005. Maggie presently trains
with Bena and was raised to an apprentice in September of 2006.
Mindy began her dance
career at the age of four in her country of origin, Taiwan. While in
Taiwan, she was accepted and enrolled in the School of Arts, Cho-Wen.
She moved to the United States at age nine, where she began taking
classes from Debbe Busby at Busby Dancenter. Mindy has been a member of
The Victoria Ballet Theatre of Victoria, Texas, for the past eight
years. 
Larrissa
Cassera has danced numerous professional roles in companies including the
Oregon Ballet and the University of Arizona Dance Ensemble.
A
native of Nevada, Erica completed her formal dance training as a
full-scholarship student at The Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida.
Prior to attending Harid, she studied with Pinkerton Ballet Academy, Nevada
Festival Ballet, and Western Nevada Performing Arts Center. Her ballet
teachers and coaches include Olivier Pardina, Victoria Schneider, Svetlana
Osiyeva, Kyle Tucker, Vickie McMaster, Ayako Britt and Rosine Bena. Erica
also attended summer programs at Burklyn Ballet Theater, Central
Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Boston Ballet.
Eugene
Petrov performs for the first time as an SNB principal dancer in May, 2007 .
He is a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, and began his dance education at
the age of seven with the School of the International Dance Ensemble. By the
age of 15 he became a company member, and shortly after was promoted to
soloist. He performed throughout Russia and its former republics and
performed internationally in places such as Helsinki, Finland; Vienna,
Austria; and many areas of India.