our dancers

PROFESSIONAL DIVISION

Ballet Mistress.  She was born in Kudymkar, Russia. She received her ballet training and graduated from the renowned Perm State Choreographic Academy in 1995. She immediately joined the well known Grigorovich Ballet Theater under the direction of celebrated choreographer Yuri Grigorovich. Olga performed in many ballets including Romeo and Juliet, Golden Age, Chipolino, Spartacus and Raymonda. Before moving to the United States , Olga danced in many different countries including, Japan , Portugal, Lebanon and Spain . Since joining the Sarasota Ballet in 2002 under the direction of Robert de Warren audiences have also seen her in Paquita, SwanLake and A Midsummer night’s dream. In 2007-2008 season with Artistic Director Iain Webb, Olga danced a variety of roles in ballets. Olga started her ballet teaching experience in 2005. In July 2008 Olga was invited to work as a guest teacher to in Miami under direction Vladimir Issaev. She had opportunity to work with Russian Pedagogues from Vaganova Ballet Academy, Saint Petersburg, Russia. In 2011, Olga was named jury for the First International Ballet Competition in Caracas, Venezuela. Ms. Olga joined the staff of Vladimir Issaev School of Classical Ballet in 2009 and she also works as Ballet Mistress of Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida where she dances as a guest in soloist roles.

Claudia Fernandez

Claudia Fernández was born in Habana, Cuba. She started her ballet training at the Alejo Carpentier Ballet School. She later moved to the Escuela Nacional. In 2005 she continued her ballet training at the faculty of the Arts of the Universidad de Chile, where she was a soloist of the Youth Ballet Company conducted by Hilda Riveros and Vladimir Guelbet. In 2009 she obtained her degree as a Ballet Artist and she joined the Ballet de Santiago de Chile under the artistic direction of Marcia Haydee. Claudia has recently joined Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida.

Breeana Flannery

Breeana Flannery began her training under the direction of Leeanne Rutherford at Ballet Theatre Australia (formerly Ballet Theatre Victoria), in Melbourne, Australia. Breeana was the recipient of many awards and scholarships, and in 2008 won first prize, the Mabel Pryde Memorial Scholarship at the annual Ballet Teachers’ Workshop Competition. From 2009/2010 Breeana performed as a principal dancer with the Youth Australia Ballet, throughout their regional and interstate tours of Australia, where her repertoire included The Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire and Grand Pas Classique as well as various other new works. Breeana also attended the 2010 American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive in New York City, before graduating from Ballet Theatre Australia with high distinction. This will be Breeana’s first season with Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida.

Lillian Hill

Lillian Winter Hill began her training at Pro-Am Dance Studio at a very young age. She furthered her classical ballet training with Magda Aunon at Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique. While attending Dillard Canter for the Performing Arts as a dance major, she worked as an apprentice with Jubilee Dance Theater.  Upon graduation she joined the Richmond Ballet and began working towards a BFA in dance at Virginia Commonwealth University.  Additionally, she has attended summer intensives at Orlando Ballet and Joffrey Ballet. Some of her greatest achievements include performing Dew Drop in the Nutcracker and for the Prince of Saudi Arabia. She is excited to now continue her professional career with the Arts Ballet Theater of Florida.

Kaori Fukui

Kaori Fukui began her training at the Iwata Ballet School and later continued at the Tokushima Ballet School. She was a member of Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company from 2006-2007 and worked for Roxey Ballet until 2009. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including a 1st prize in the 18th Kobe Dance Competition and 3rd prize in the 20th All Japan Ballet Competition. Ms. Fukui joined Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida in 2010 , since then she has danced soloist and principal roles in Vladimir’s choreographies of The Nutcracker, Petrouchka, Harlequinade, Four Seasons, Dr. Ouch! ; Yanis Pikieri’s Danzon, and classical ballets such as Paquita, Diana & Acteon and Don Quixote. She has recently won the Silver Medal at the Korea International Ballet Competition.

Kohhei Kuwana

Kohhei Kuwana started his Ballet training at Kaori Ballet Studio in Japan. At age 14 he was accepted to study at the prestigious Canada National Ballet School where he trained under Sergiu Stefanschi until he graduated in 2008. After graduation, Mr. Kuwana moved to California to continue his training at the San Francisco Ballet School. In 2009 he joined the Orlando Ballet Company II. Kohhei Kuwana has received numerous awards; among them 6th place at Kobe Dance Competition, 3rd place at the Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals for Contemporary Dance, and most recently he was awarded the Chacott Prize at the Saitama Dance Competition and the 3rd Prize at All Japan Ballet Competition. Mr. Kohhei has joined Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida in 2010, he has danced soloist roles in Vladimir Issaev’s Petrouchka, Four Seasons, Dr. Ouch!, Taiko Men along with Yanis Pikieri’s Danzon, and classical ballets such as Paquita.

Lisa Maltseva

Lisa Maltseva was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She attended the Vaganova Ballet Academy where she was trained by Elena Zabalkanskaya, and Elena Evteeva. Upon her graduation she was immediately selected to join the Mariinsky Balet Theater , formerly known as the Kirov Ballet. She danced as a soloist in Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Fountain of Bakchisaray, La Sylphide, La Bayadere and The Nutcracker. She also danced during the international tours of the company in important Ballet Festival a at the Royal Opera House of London, The Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, the Deutsche Opera House in Berlin in Germany and the Bellini Theater in Palermo Italy, and also in Japan, Korea, China, Finland, Mexico and the US. She also performed in Bangkok, for the Royal Family of Thailand. After relocating to Miami, Florida, in 2010, Lisa joined Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida as a soloist and also as a Ballet teacher for Vladimir Issaev's School of Classical Ballet.  She has danced Issaev’s Four Seasons, Harlequinade, The Nutcracker, Dr. Ouch! and Yanis Pikieri’s Danzon.

Kelvin Rabines

Kelvin Rabines was born in Trujillo, Perú. He trained at the Arte y Ballet Vision de la Danza with his uncle, now his father Eusebio Rabines and Erika Ruiz. He has been awarded the Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Lima in 2006, and 2008 and a scholarship to Vladimir Issaev School of Classical Ballet. He has recently graduated as a dancer and began his professional career as a soloist at Ballet Municipal de Lima for the production of Swan Lake and until June of 2011 as a soloist for the Cultural National Institute Ballet. His repertoire also includes Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, Gopak, Esmeralda, La Fille Mal Gardee among others. After being awarded a scholarship the The Rock School this past summer, he joined Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida for the 2011-2012 season

Yhosvany Rodriguez

Born in Matanzas, Cuba, Yhosvany began his ballet studies at age 10 when he was scouted at a public school to "to do ballet", a unknown career for him. After only 2 years of training  he won the 1st Municipal Competition and he continued to win several national and international competitions. He joined the National Ballet School of Havana and after graduating he joined the Cuba National Ballet, where he danced almost all of the company repertoire. He danced for a short term with Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami until he met Ballet Master Vladimir Issaev and accepted the opportunity to dance with Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida for the 2011-2012 Season. He is deeply thankful to  the one person who played a very important role in his life: his grandmother to whom he owes everything in life and thanks to her he is where he is now.

Jun Tanabe

Jun Tanabe began his training at the Kurosawa Tomoko Ballet Studio and later continued at the Rock School for Dance Education 2005-2008. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including a 1st prize in the 20th All Japan Ballet Competition and 1st Prize in the 66th Tokyo Newspaper National Ballet Competition and 2nd & 3rd prize in the Youth America Grand Prix NY final 2006 & 2007.He has performed at Miami Ballet Festival in 2007 and Roxey Ballet. Mr. Tanabe joined Arts Ballet Theatre in 2010 , since then he has danced soloist and principal roles in Vladimir’s choreographies of The Nutcracker, Petrouchka, Harlequinade, Four Seasons, Dr. Ouch! ; Yanis Pikieri’s Danzon, and classical ballets such as Diana & Acteon and Don Quixote. He has recently won the Silver Medal at the Korea International Ballet Competition.

Apprentices to the Professional Company

Claresta Alim 
Claresta Alim began her dance training in Marlupi Dance Acedemy, Indonesia. She became semi-finalist at the Adeline Genee International Ballet Competition in Toronto, Canada to represent Indonesia. She has also been awarded with scholarships to the Trainee program of the Joffrey Ballet School, the American Ballet Theater’s Summer Session and The Washington Ballet School, Professional Training Program and the Independent Study at Ailey school. Her repertoire includes The Little Mermaid in Ballet, Shostakovich (3 movements), Garden Pas de deux and The Nutcracker.

Alyssa Frantz, has been a student of Vladimir Issaev School of Classical Ballet since she was 7 years of age. She has also attended the Summer Intensive Programs of Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida with Vladimir Issaev, Alla Osipenko, Tatiana Terekhova and Yelena Zabalkanskaya. She has performed in the productions of the Nutcracker, Chipollino, Firebird Chipollino, Doctor Ouch!. Alyssa has toured with the company to Poland in 2006 and Germany in 2008.

Junior Members

Eugenia Bejar, Veronika Bondarenko, Gustavo Candelas, Natalia Correa-Ferro, Ana Belen Franco, Nicole Guenoun, Yasamin Haghayegh, Sofia Manzo, Kayci Rodriguez,  Sharon Rozencwaig, Georgina Whelan, Raquel Zerbib

Apprentices to the Junior Company

Alexia Barandiaran, Alexandra Behar, Sharon Beriro, Michelle Gru, Valentina Guidi, Sasha Matvienko, Capriana Petruzielo, Dominique Szymkievicz, Hany Zerbib