DANCERS

PRINCIPALS  |  SOLOISTS  |  CORPS DE BALLET  |  COMPANY

Dedication. Grace. Athleticism. Artistry.

Professional ballet dancers are the epitome of dedication, grace, and athleticism, showcasing their passion and artistry on stage. With their tireless training and captivating performances, they inspire audiences and fellow dancers alike, embodying the beauty and magic of ballet.

Sara Mearns

Principal, New York City Ballet

Sara Mearns was born in Columbia, South Carolina and at the age of 13 began training with Patricia McBride at the School of North Carolina Dance Theatre, in Charlotte. Ms. Mearns then entered the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, full time in the fall of 2001.In June of 2004, Ms. Mearns joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet.In March of 2006 she was promoted to soloist and in June 2008, Ms. Mearns was promoted to principal dancer.

CHRISTINE ROCAS

Company Leading Artist, Joffrey Ballet

Since joining the Joffrey in 2005, Rocas has danced numerous leading roles in ballets by Gerald Arpino, Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, William Forsyth, Ronald Hynd, Kurt Jooss, Cathy Marston, Wayne McGregor, Krzysztof Pastor, John Neumeier, Marius Petipa (staged by Lola D’Avila), Justin Peck, Jerome Robbins, and Yuri Possokhov as Anna Karenina at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Stanislav Olshanskyi

Principal, Miami City Ballet

Stanislav was the winner of the 1st prize of the XII International Ballet Competition in Seoul (South Korea, 2019) and Grand Prix of the 1st International Ballet Festival UA (National Opera of Ukraine, 2021). He graduated from Kyiv State Choreographic School (2011) and worked at the Lviv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater.  He was the first soloist in 2016 and became a principal dancer at the National Opera of Ukraine in 2018 until 2022. He then joined MCB as a Principal in 2022.

Destiny Wimpye

Corps de Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet

Destiny Wimpye (she/her) is from Atlanta, Georgia. She studied at the Colburn Dance Academy and Pacific Northwest Ballet School, both on full scholarship, and attended summer courses at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Chautauqua Dance Program. She joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2022 and was promoted to corps de ballet in 2023.

Carlos Gonzalez

Soloist, American Ballet Theatre (ABT)

Gonzalez joined American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in September 2015, became an apprentice with the main Company in December 2016, and joined the corps de ballet in June 2017.  He was promoted to Soloist in March 2024. His repertoire with ABT includes the Lead Gypsy in Don Quixote, the peasant pas de deux in Giselle, Harlequin in Alexei Ratmansky’s Harlequinade, and Pedro and Juan Alejandrez in Like Water for Chocolate.

Karina González

Principal, Houston Ballet

Karina González is a native of Caracas, Venezuela and a silver medal winner of the New York International Ballet Competition in 2007. She trained at the Gustavo Franklin Ballet School in Caracas, Venezuela and has danced professionally with Ballet National of Caracas and Tulsa Ballet, where she reached the rank of principal in 2007. Ms. González joined Houston Ballet as a soloist in 2010 and was promoted to principal dancer in February 2013.

Yuri Kimura

Principal, The National Ballet of Japan

Yuri Kimura was born in Chiba prefecture. She trained under IZUMI Keiko, IZUMI Atsuko and MAKI Asami. After training as preparatory student for 2011-2012, she enrolled at the New National Theatre Ballet School in 2013. She participated in the 240th Aniversary of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy International Ballet School Festival and danced MAKI Asami’s Triptyque in Grand Kremlin Palace in 2013. She joined the National Ballet of Japan as Soloist in 2015. She won the 2017 Dance Critic Circle of Japan’s New Comer Award. She was promoted to First Soloist in 2019 and was subsequently promoted to Principal in 2022.

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