State Street Ballet: About

Nerea Barrondo was born in Bilbao, Spain. She received her early training at Igor Yebra's Ballet Academy and the Royal Conservatory of Dance Mariemma in Madrid. At the age of 14 she began her training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow and graduated four years later with a "Ballet Artist" diploma. During her training in Moscow she participated in the Prix de Lausanne competition, won 1st and 2nd prize at Pisa Ballet competition in Italy, 3rd prize at the Rieti Ballet Competition and Top 12 in the senior classical and contemporary divisions in YAGP Paris. Nerea has performed with the State Russian Ballet Company on their tours to Russia and Ukraine, in principal roles with Gelsey Kirkland Ballet in New York City, Roxey Ballet, and most recently with Ballet Frontier of Texas. She is also an experienced and passionate instructor, teaching ballet, variations, body conditioning, and private lessons. She has also taught master classes and been a principal guest artist in Japan. Nerea joined State Street Ballet in 2022. 

Tanner Blee, from Grand Junction, CO, started his training with Absolute Dance. He received additional dance training at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, and has danced with Orlando Ballet II and Nashville Ballet II. Tanner has performed as Bluebird and Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty, as Conrad in Le Corsaire, as the Lead Male in Raymonda, and as James in La Sylphide. He joined State Street Ballet in 2018 and has since performed the roles of Cavalier and Snow King in The Nutcracker.

Oscar Bravo Ly, is from Santiago, Chile and received his ballet training from Charles Benner and former Principal Dancer Lidia Olmos. He also studied at Miami City Ballet School and Harid Conservatory on full scholarship and has danced with Santiago City Ballet in many principal roles including Siegfried in Swan Lake, Cavalier and Snow King in The Nutcracker, and Solor in La Bayadere. Oscar has performed with State Street Ballet since 2018 and is currently the director of Santiago City Ballet.

Sergei Domrachev, was born in Russia and graduated from the Perm Ballet Academy. He was a bronze medalist in the Vaganova Competition and the International Arabesque Competition in 1992, also earning the Audience Favorite Award. He has danced professionally as a Soloist with both Moscow Classical Ballet and Los Angeles Classical Ballet. Domrachev joined SSB in 1997, and throughout his 20-year tenure has performed Principal and Character roles to critical and popular acclaim.

Elizaveta Domracheva is from Santa Barbara, CA and began her ballet training at age three at State Street Ballet Academy (formerly Gustafson Dance). As a young dancer she performed with State Street Ballet in Appalachian Spring, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, and Love, Love, Love. She went on to study at the Perm State Ballet College in Russia, graduating with honors, and danced professionally with Russian Ballet Theatre in Moscow. She has performed throughout Germany, Switzerland, China, and Greece, performing soloist and principal roles in Swan Lake. Elizaveta won Second Place in Pas De Deux at the International Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition in Italy, was a finalist on the Russian National Youth Talent TV Show in Moscow and performed the principal role of Lise in La Fille Mal Gardee at the famous Perm Opera and Ballet Theater in Russia. She has also performed as a principal guest artist with Fresno Ballet Theater and Ventura County Ballet. Elizaveta joined State Street Ballet in 2022. 

Amara Galloway, from Fairfax, VA, trained at BalletNova Center for Dance, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, and Ballet Arizona. During her training she was a three-time semi-finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix and had the opportunity to perform choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, and Jeffrey Cirio. Since joining State Street Ballet in 2017 Amara has performed lead and soloist roles in Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, and most notably as Clara in The Nutcracker. She has been featured in solos created by Autumn Eckman, and in works by William Soleau, Kevin Jenkins, Kassandra Taylor Newberry, Edgar Zendejas, and Laurie Eisenhower. 

Arianna Hartanov, from Denver, CO, trained with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater, and Kansas City Ballet. She then joined State Street Ballet’s Professional Track Program, where she had the opportunity to work with Kassandra Taylor Newberry, Kevin Jenkins, Edgar Zendejas, and Autumn Eckman. Arianna joined SSB as an apprentice in 2018 and was promoted to full company member in 2019. Since joining the company, some of her favorite moments have been choreographing for Modern Masters and performing as Carabosse in The Sleeping Beauty.

Amber Hirschfield, from Southbury, CT, trained with The Nutmeg Conservatory, Orlando Ballet, and State Street Ballet’s Professional Track Program for two years. With the Professional Track she performed the principal roles in Giselle and Paquita, as well as the pas de deux from Diana and Acteon. She was invited to tour with the company in The Nutcracker in 2018, joined State Street Ballet as an apprentice in 2019, and was promoted to full company member in 2020.

Julia Kamilos, from Sacramento, CA, trained at The Sacramento Ballet School and Texas Christian University where she graduated cum laude with a BFA in Ballet. While at TCU, Julia performed principal and soloist roles and worked with renowned choreographers. After graduation, Julia became a member of SSB’s Professional Track Trainee Program where she toured with the company in The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. She joined State Street Ballet as an apprentice in 2020 and was promoted to full company member in 2021.

Marika Kobayashi, was born in Japan and received her early training at Epris Ballet Studio. She continued her training at Elmhurst School for Dance in the United Kingdom where she won the "Grand Prix" and "Most Promising Female" awards in school competition. Marika then studied at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's graduate program on full scholarship before joining State Street Ballet in 2015. Since joining SSB she has performed the leading roles of Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and the dual roles of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake as a Principal Guest Artist at Fresno Ballet Theatre.

Ryan Lenkey is from Wheeling, WV, and started his dance training at Oglebay Institute. He continued his training at Pittsburgh Youth Ballet and Next Generation Ballet, attending summer programs at Boston Ballet, Ballet West, Manhattan Youth Ballet, the Rock School for Dance, and The School of American Ballet. Ryan was a trainee with Boston Ballet and Ballet West before joining Ballet West II, where he danced for two seasons. He joined State Street Ballet in 2021.

Makena Malonso, from San Jose CA, trained at Dance Theatre International and City Ballet San Francisco. She has performed at Radio City Music Hall in the Christmas Spectacular, and joined State Street Ballet’s Professional Track program where she performed soloist roles in Paquita, Le Corsaire, and La Bayadere and toured with the company in The Nutcracker. She joined State Street Ballet as an apprentice in 2022.

Emma Matthews, from Vernon, NJ, attended The Rock School for Dance Education, was a Trainee with Orlando Ballet, and danced with Nashville Ballet II. Emma has performed in George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, as Gulnare in Le Corsaire, as a Demi Soloist in George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, and as the Principal Female role in Raymonda and La Sylphide. Since joining State Street Ballet in 2018, some of her favorite roles have been Clara in The Nutcracker, a fairy in Sleeping Beauty, and performing in William Soleau’s Chichester Psalms, Nuevo Tango, and Appalachian Spring.  

Harold Mendez was born in Havana, Cuba, and received his dance training at Cuba’s National Ballet School, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, and San Francisco Ballet School. As a student, he had the opportunity to perform with the school and company in most of the popular classical ballets. Harold has competed in numerous ballet competitions, receiving the Bronze Medal at YAGP, the Gold Medal at the World Ballet Competition, the Bronze Medal at the USA IBC, and most recently was a competitor in the prestigious Prix de Lausanne. He joined State Street Ballet in 2021.

Deise Mendonça, from Brazil, was a Principal Dancer with The Bolshoi Company in Brazil, and performed with Teatro Alla Scala in Milan, Ballet Municipal of Rio de Janeiro, and Ballet de Santiago in Chile. Deise joined State Street Ballet in 2013, and has performed the Principal roles The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Alice in Wonderland. Deise was a semi-finalist on "So You Think You Can Dance" in 2014, and has been a principal guest artist in the US and abroad, including an invitation in 2020 to perform principal roles with Ballet Nacional del Sodre in Uruguay. Deise is accomplished in classical ballet, neoclassical, contemporary and Latin styles. 

Hernan Montenegro was born and raised in Santiago, Chile where he graduated from the Escuela de Ballet del Teatro Municipal de Santiago. At the age of 16, he won the silver medal at the Lima International Ballet Competition and a contract with Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida where he spent five years as a principal dancer. In 2016, Hernan joined Ballet de Santiago, dancing soloist and principal roles in the works of John Cranko, Maurice Bejart, Luis Ortigoza, Marcia Haydee, and George Balanchine, among others. In 2020, he moved to the United States as a principal guest artist and teacher with Southwest Virginia Ballet, Utah Metropolitan Ballet, Virginia National Ballet, and Star City School of Ballet. Most recently he danced with American Repertory Ballet under the direction of Ethan Stiefel. Hernan has also attended multiple festivals and toured throughout Peru, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, and Poland. He joined State Street Ballet in 2022. 

Anna Nader, from Fort Wayne IN, trained with Project Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Richmond Ballet. She has performed a variety of roles, her favorite being a soloist  in George Balanchine’s Who Cares? Anna joined State Street Ballet’s Professional Track in 2021, and toured with the company for The Nutcracker. She was promoted to apprentice in 2022, and is dancing her first season with the company.

Hallie Rumsey began her dance training at the age of 13 in Media, Pennsylvania under the direction of Anastasia Babayeva and Denis Gronostayskiy. She competed as a finalist in Youth America Grand Prix and attended Summer Intensives at the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet School, and Ballet X. She was an apprentice with International Ballet Classique for three years before joining Ballet Theatre of Maryland. In 2018 she joined American Repertory Ballet where she danced for five seasons performing leading roles in Giselle, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, and Paquita. Hallie joined State Street Ballet in 2022. 

Noam Tsivkin, from New York City, received his dance training from Merle Sepel and his mother, Rebecca Tsivkin. He continued his training at the School of American Ballet where he performed with New York City Ballet in productions of The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet. He received further training from the Alvin Ailey School, French Academie of Ballet, and State Street Ballet’s Professional Track program before joining State Street Ballet in 2016.

Nathaniel Tyson is originally from Valley Forge, PA. He began his formal ballet training at the Greater York Center for Dance Education in York, PA and then attended Butler University, receiving his BA in Dance-Pedagogy.  During his time at Butler he performed featured roles in The Nutcracker, Giselle, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.  He also performed works by Cynthia Pratt and Susan McGuire, and performed in the world premiere of Patrick de Bana’s Falling Sky.  Nathaniel was a member of State Street Ballet’s Professional Track program, and joined the company as an apprentice in 2021.

Kaito Yamamoto was born in Hokkaido, Japan. He received his early training at Midori Okajima Ballet Studio and Kanako Sakai Ballet Studio in Japan. He has performed principal roles with the Gelsey Kirkland Ballet, Roxey Ballet, and Ballet Frontier of Texas. Kaito has taught numerous master classes in Japan and has performed there as a principal guest artist. He joined State Street Ballet in 2022. 

Saori Yamashita, was born in Sapporo, Japan. She received her dance training at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C. and the Joffrey Academy of Dance Trainee Program. She was invited to join The Joffrey Ballet's Studio Company in 2014 where she performed works by Christopher Wheeldon, Alexander Ekman, Stanton Welch, Sir Frederick Ashton, Gerald Arpino, Alexei Kremnev, and Krzystof Pastor. She has performed at Lincoln Center in New York City as part of the YAGP Gala and was invited to compete in the Japan Grand Prix IBC and Moscow International Ballet Competition. Since joining State Street Ballet in 2017 she has performed the leading roles in The Jungle Book, Chichester Psalms, Flirting, Five by Gershwin, and Nuevo Tango.