SERGIO AMARANTE began his ballet training in Buenos Aires and subsequently joined Ballet Theatre Argentino, performing solo roles in such ballets as Nutcracker, Raymonda and Don Quixote. He was also a member of Ballet Argentino de Julio Bocca, performing and touring in Argentina and internationally. He has been a member of New Jersey Ballet since 2002, performing solo and principal roles.

TUVSHIN BOLD trained at the Kiev Choreographic Academy. He was a principal dancer with the Mongolian State Ballet, the Hungarian State Ballet, and the Ochi International Ballet in Japan. His repertory includes Albrecht in Giselle, Siegfried in Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Le Corsaire Pas de Deux and Romeo and Juliet. He joined NJB in 1997. In 2006, he and fellow NJB principal Saule Rachmedova led a cultural exchange that opened the national arts center in Mumbai, India, with three sold-out performances of New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker.

ALBERT DAVYDOV was born in Russia and began his ballet training at the age of eleven at the Kazan Choreographic School of Ballet. Upon graduation, he joined the Tatar State Theater of Opera and Ballet where he danced solo and principal roles and toured with the company in Europe and the United States. He has won numerous prizes in international competition. His repertoire includes Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet. He joined New Jersey Ballet in 2004.

MICHELLE de FREMERY first appeared with NJB during the 1995-96 season and then returned to California to complete her education, earning a B.A. in Psychology from University of California at Berkeley. She trained at the San Francisco School of Ballet and with David McNaughton in Mill Valley, California. Michelle has performed with regional companies on the West Coast. In the spring of 2000, she rejoined the company and has since performed in Carmen, Designs with Strings, Les Sylphides, Who Cares, For Ella, and Saturday Night. Her portrayal of Myrtha in Giselle won high praise from leading critics.

KONSTANTIN DOURNEV earned degrees in classical ballet and choreography in his native Russia. He performed with Novosibirsk Ballet Theatre, Moscow Classical Ballet Theatre, and the Russian Ballet Theatre in Moscow. His repertory includes leading roles in Giselle, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote. Mr. Dournev won silver and bronze medals in international ballet competitions and was a guest star with the Russian Imperial Ballet under the direction of Maya Plisetskaya.

LEONID FLEGMATOV graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography in 2001, and joined the Russian Academy of Theatrical Arts GITIS as a soloist. His repertoire includes principal roles in such ballets as Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Futile Precaution. Leonid was awarded a prize in the First International Chabukiani-Balanchine International Ballet Competition in 2001. He has toured in Europe, Asia and the United States.

REKA GYULAI hails from Budapest, Hungary. A graduate of the Hungarian Dance Academy, she also trained at the North Carolina Dance Theatre and in Transylvania. Her roles include Balanchine’s Seranade, Symphony in D, and Sugar Plum in Nutcracker.

ANDREI JOURAVLEV studied at the Perm Academy in Russia and went on to become a principal dancer in the Perm State Ballet. He won silver and bronze medals in international competitions in Japan and Russia. Andrei toured internationally dancing the role of Espada in Don Quixote with American Ballet Theatre principal Nina Ananiashvili. He joined NJB as a principal dancer in 1994, and toured China with Stars of American Ballet in 1997. Among his signature roles are Meditation (from Thais) and Reflections. A much in demand guest artist, Mr. Jouravlev recently appeared as Albrecht in California Ballet’s 40th anniversary season production of Giselle.

ERA JOURAVLEV received her training at the Perm Academy, graduating with a degree in classical ballet. She toured internationally with Stars of the Kirov and Bolshoi Ballets and toured Japan and South Korea with American Ballet Theatre principal Nina Ananiashvili. She toured China with Stars of American Ballet in 1997. Ms. Jouravlev performs solo and principal roles in classical repertory and brings great intensity and a sense of drama to such contemporary works as Robert North’s Death and the Maiden, and pas de deux Reflections and Meditation.

KOTOE KOJIMA was born in Japan and studied with New York City Ballet principals Valentina Kozlova and Leonid Kozlov. Ms. Kojima joined NJB during the 2001-2002 season and has appeared in Nutcracker, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, Graduation Ball, Esmeralda, Giselle, Flames of Paris pas de deux and in featured roles in Johan Renvall’s Tango and Robert North’s Let’s Go South. She has guested with Valentina Kozlova in Concert and with Ballet Theatre of Ohio for its production of Summer Night.

ANDRES F. NEIRA received his training in his native Colombia where he was a member of the Ballet de Cali and Barrio Ballet, performing solo roles in Paquita, Coppelia, Le Corsaire, and Who Cares? He was named Outstanding Soloist at the 1996 New York International Ballet Competition. His NJB principal roles include Tango, Pinocchio, Nutcracker and Saturday Night.

GABRIELLA NOA-PIERSON began her training locally and entered New Jersey School of Ballet at the age of 8. At 11, she performed the coveted role of Clara in New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker at Paper Mill—one of the youngest ever to dance the role. Ms. Noa-Pierson was a scholarship student at the Pennsylvania Ballet, and returned to New Jersey and NJB in 1999. Her repertory includes Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, and roles in Allegro Brilliante, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Tango, For Ella, Saturday Night and the Cowgirl in deMille’s Rodeo.

SAULE RACHMEDOVA graduated from Almaty State Academic Choreographic School in her native Kazakhstan. She performed with the ABAI State Theatre of Opera and Ballet and later became a principal with the Russian National Ballet. Ms. Rachmedova has performed in Great Britain, Japan, and throughout Europe and the U.S.. She returns to Kazakhstan every year to work with that nation’s young dancers and to star in productions of such classics as Swan Lake and Giselle. She is an Honored Artist of Kazakhstan, and the Women Consuls General of New York honored her for Outstanding Achievements and Contribution to Community Empowerment. As NJB principal, she has earned critical acclaim for her Giselle, the Dying Swan, and in George Tomal’s Carmen and the New Jersey premiere of Boris Eifman’s Red Giselle.

VLADIMIR ROJE was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. He began his ballet training at the national Conservatory for Dance in Bulgaria and earned a B.A. and Masters of Ballet Direction/Ballet Art from the State Music Academy in Sofia. He began his career as a soloist at the Bulgarian National Theater for Opera and Ballet, and later became a principal dancer at the opera in Graz, Austria. He has traveled extensively as a guest artist in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. His awards include a bronze medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, and third place in the international competition in Luxemburg.

MARI SUGAWA was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Japan where she received her training. She joined the Matsuyama Ballet Company in 1994 and performed as a soloist in such classics as Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Coppelia, Cinderella, and Giselle. She also performed Ballet Ballet Ballet, a contemporary work by Matsuyama Company choreographer Tetsutaro Shimizu. Ms. Sugawa has performed with Ballet Austin , New York Theatre Ballet and Eglevsky Ballet. Her Juliet and Princess Aurora have met with high critical praise.

DAVID TAMAKI began his formal training at New Jersey School of ballet at age 7. He also studied at the Joffrey Workshop in Texas and with Miami City Ballet. In 1998, he became a member of the NJB Junior Company and joined the Company in 1999. His repertory includes Allegro Brillante, Cinderella, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, For Ella, Saturday Night, Trepak and the Prince in Nutcracker. He has guested with the Eglevsky Ballet and International Ballet and Metropolitan Ballet of Minneapolis, where he reprised his NJB success as the tap dancing Champion Roper in Agnes deMille’s Rodeo.

JUNIO TEIXEIRA began his dance training in his native Brazil, where he studied with renowned ballet master Pablo Moret. In 1998 Teixeira joined Sesiminas Companhia and was promoted to soloist in 2000. He has been a laureate and participant in numerous dance competitions including Festival Internacional De danca de Joinville, Brasilia International Dance Seminar and NY IBC . Teixeira comes to NJB from Columbia Classical Ballet in South Carolina where he danced lead roles in La Fille Mal Garde, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Paquita, Nutcracker, Carmina Burana and Cinderella.

CHRISTINA THERYOUNG-NEIRA started her training at New Jersey School of Ballet and later studied at the School of American Ballet and the Royal Ballet, London. Upon returning to the U.S., she joined the Los Angeles Ballet, directed by John Clifford, and also performed with the Fort Worth Ballet. Christina appeared in New Jersey Ballet's 25th Anniversary Nutcracker in 1995 and joined the company for the 1996 season. In 1997, she entered the New York International Competition and was chosen to perform the Stars and Stripes solo at the Gala performance.

GLEIDSON VASCONCELOS began his training at Studio Arte Danca in his native Brazil, and continued on full scholarship at The Harid Conservatory and the School of American Ballet. He has earned many awards including the Rudolf Nureyev Award, Gold Medals at Festival de Danca, Mercosul-Unesco, and was a finalist in the New York IBC in 2005. Mr. Vasconcelos has danced with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami.

VITALY VERTERICH trained at the Kiev Ballet School and the Moscow Academy of Art. After graduating, he danced solo roles in classical and contemporary works with the Russian Chamber Ballet Theatre, and often appeared as a guest with the Bolshoi and Kirov. In 1998, Vitaly was a principal with Moscow Folk Ballet when Michael Flatley invited him to join Riverdance. Vitaly toured Europe, Australia, Canada and the U.S. with Riverdance, and performed in it on Broadway.

JULIA VOROBYEVA trained at the Academy of the Bolshoi Theatre and performed with the Moscow Classical Ballet Theatre. Her repertory includes White Swan, Nutcracker Pas de Deux, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty and other classical ballets. Ms. Vorobyeva has toured with the Bolshoi in Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America, and also performed with the Russian Ballet Company. She has introduced New Jersey audiences to such contemporary Russian works as Macbeth and Spartacus, and scored tremendous critical success in the title role of New Jersey Ballet’s Esmeralda.