Company

Christopher Anderson began his training in Colorado at the Arvada Center for the Arts with Howard Kanobe and Lynelle Mossholder. At age 14, Anderson trained with internationally renowned teacher and pedagogue Marika Besobrasova at the Academie de Danse Classique de Princesse Grace in Monaco before training at North Carolina School of the Arts under the guidance of Duncan Noble. He completed his training at San Francisco Ballet School under the direction of Richard Cammack. His teachers were Henry Berg, Christine Berring, Richard Cammack, Lew Christensen, Zola Dishong, David Howard, Gabriel Septienne, Michael Smuin, Larissa Sklyanskaya, and his mentor Anatole Vilzak.

Upon completing his education, Anderson danced for sixteen years at San Francisco Ballet, working his way through the ranks, dancing numerous roles and working with many internationally acclaimed choreographers and artists. Anderson has performed the works of George Balanchine, David Bintley, Christopher Bruce, Val Caniparoli, William Forsythe, Jacques Garnier, James Kudelka, Jiri Kylian, Anna Laerkesen, Mark Morris, Jerome Robbins, Deitmar Seyferrt, Paul Taylor, Glen Tetley, Helgi Tomasson and Stanton Welch. He has also danced in many of the classics including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo & Juliet, Giselle, La Sylphide, Chopinyana, and The Nutcracker.

After his time with San Francisco Ballet, Anderson danced internationally in Europe as a Principal Guest Artist. He joined Alberta Ballet under the direction of Mikko Nissinen where he worked three years as a principal dancer. During his time with Alberta Ballet, he danced the works of George Balanchine, Jorma Elo, Jean Grande-Maitre, Emily Molnar, Rudi Van Danzig, Edmund Stripe, and Christopher Wheeldon.

Anderson taught in numerous dance programs, seminars and summer programs including Boston Ballet School where he worked as a faculty member for 16 years before joining School of Ballet RI in 2020. In addition to his work with BBS, Anderson also taught Boston Ballet company class regularly and was the Ballet Master for the Battle Scene in Mikko Nissinen’s production of the The Nutcracker.

Azamat was born in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. He started his studies at age 10. In 2007, Azamat was awarded a Presidential Scholar “Personnel 21st Century” for “Creative achievement in the Performing Skills”. Later he was invited by Altynai Asylmuratova to study in Saint Petersburg, Russia and graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in 2010.

He then joined Moscow City Ballet under the direction of artistic director Victor Smirnov. In 2012, Azamat was selected by Julia Moon to join Universal Ballet in South Korea. He also continued to dance with the Kyrgyz National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 2013, Azamat was invited to join The Russian National Ballet by Artistic Director Sergei Radchenko. He has toured with The Moscow City Ballet in the United Kingdom, Ireland, China, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Taiwan, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Cyprus, Russia and with The Russian National Ballet in the USA. In 2014, Azamat joined Island Moving Co. in Newport, Rhode Island to focus on his contemporary style. Azamat has appeared as a guest artist with Kyrgyz National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, Russian National Ballet, Charleston City Ballet and Ballet Idaho. This is his fourth season with Ballet RI.

Originally from Florida, Katherine was first introduced to dance at Dance Empire in Miami. She continued her training with the Portland School of Ballet in Maine, and then went on to graduate from Canada’s National Ballet School. Katherine has received additional training from summer intensives with San Francisco Ballet School, Houston Ballet Academy, Dominic Walsh’s Compass Coaching Project, and Springboard Danse Montreal.

She earned her B.S. in Ecology and Environmental Science with a minor in dance from the University of Maine, while performing with Robinson Ballet and Bangor Ballet. In 2015, Katherine joined Festival Ballet Providence. At Festival, she has enjoyed working with and performing pieces by choreographers such as Viktor Plotnikov, Kurt Douglas, Mary Ellen Beaudreau, Christopher L. Huggins, Mihailo Djuric, Yury Yanowsky, and George Balanchine. Throughout her dance career, Katherine has enjoyed teaching both dance and group fitness classes to students of all ages.

Madeline Glinski was born in Malvern, Pennsylvania. She began her training with the International Ballet Theater, studying in the Vaganova method under Artistic Director Jaelyn Fellona.

In her formative years, Madeline was awarded 3rd Place in the Classical Category at Youth America Grand Prix and invited to participate at the Finals. Her repertoire includes Aurora, Princess Florine (Sleeping Beauty), Giselle (Giselle), Sugarplum Fairy, Snow Queen (The Nutcracker), and Swanilda (Coppelia). Madeline is honored to have been coached by Gennadi and Ludmilla Potapovich, Leanne Benjamin, Larissa Ponomarenko, Viktor Plotnikov, Yury Yanowsky, Anna Liceica, Evan Mckie, and Charles Askegard.

Born in Providence, Kirsten began training in the FBP School at age eleven. She performed as a member of Ballet RI’s Company for five years before joining the main company as a trainee in 2010 before being promoted to Company Artist in 2013. While training, Kirsten attended summer intensives with Bolshoi Ballet Academy, The Nutmeg Conservatory, and was a member of the Jacob’s Pillow Summer Dance Festival in 2009.

She was a two-time finalist in the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City, where she was awarded several scholarships as well as a traineeship with Ballet West in Utah. Kirsten has performed numerous principal roles in both classical and contemporary works by choreographers including Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Trey McIntyre, Yury Yanowsky, Viktor Plotnikov, and Dominic Walsh, among others. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts/Journalism from Providence College and is pursuing a certificate in Interior Design from RISD. Kirsten also founded a summer performing arts coming called Revolve Dance Project. This is Kirsten’s thirteenth season with the company.

A native of Venezuela, Ms. Guerrero received her early training at the Keyla Ermecheo Ballet School in Caracas. She has performed with numerous companies including Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas, Metropolitan Ballet of Caracas, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Michigan Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theatre, Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre and Cadence Dance Project.

She has created leading roles in ballets in Gianni Dimarco’s El Amor Brujo, Schéhérazade and Azucar, Plotnikov’s Carmen, The Widow’s Broom,Loof and Let Dime and Coma, De Bouteiller’s Romeo and Juliet and FBP’s 2006 premiere of Don Quixote. Other leading roles include Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Rubies, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, Tarantella, Who Cares?, Pelzig’s The Princess and the Pea, Swan Lake and Eldar Aliev’s A Thousand and One Nights. Ms. Guerrero also participated in the 2004 Venezuela Del Mundo Gala and was recognized for representing Venezuela internationally with high standards and “projection, dignity and beauty.” In addition Providence Mayor David Cicilline awarded a Citizens Citation for her “exceptional and wholehearted devotion for the art of dance.”

After her retirement from the stage in May 2012, she transitioned into her new role as Ballet Mistress with the Company, and as a faculty member with School of Ballet RI where she continues to pass on her knowledge to a new generation of dancers.

Originally from San Clemente, CA, Juliana received her early training from Victor and Tatiana Kasatsky and later from Maple Conservatory of Dance in Irvine, CA. At the age of 17, she moved to Philadelphia, PA to attend the Rock School for Dance. Juliana then made the decision to dance and earn her BFA at the University of Utah’s Ballet School. Throughout her degree, Juliana performed in various classical and contemporary works, most notably as Mytha in Giselle Act II and Gulnare in Le Corsaire. In addition to her studies and performances at the University, Juliana danced in New York City as a part of Michelle Wiles’s BalletNext, performing in various pieces by Wiles as well as Mauro Bigonzetti’s La Follia.

Following her recent graduation in 2020, Juliana was hired as an apprentice to California Ballet. Throughout the pandemic however, Juliana has danced extensively and choreographed for Ballet Project OC located in Tustin, CA. After joining Festival Ballet Providence in 2021, she had the incredible opportunity to perform in the company’s productions including the role of Marie Taglioni in Sir Anton Dolin’s Pas de Quatre in addition to working with renowned choreographers Yury Yanowsky, Paulo Arrais & Lia Cirio. She has also had the honor of teaching and creating for the students of the School of Education at Ballet RI. Additionally, Juliana recently choreographed and danced as a part of Rhode Island Women’s Choreographic Initiative under the mentorship of Penny Saunders.

Born in Indianapolis, IN, Alexandra Jones began dancing at Butler University’s Jordan Academy of Dance, and continued her training at the Indianapolis School of Ballet. In May 2021, Alexandra graduated from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music with a Bachelor of Science in Music (Ballet) under the direction of Sarah Wroth, Carla Körbes, Sasha Janes, Kyra Nichols, Michael Vernon and Christian Claessens. She was a 4-year recipient of the Hudson & Holland Scholarship, Music Faculty Award, Premier Young Talent Scholarship, and the Carmack OEM Music Scholarship.

While pursuing her B.S. Degree she also received an Outside Field in Kinesiology, a Minor in Psychology, and became a Nationally Registered & Certified EMT. Some of her repertoire at IU includes; Wheeldon’s Carousel: A Dance, Tudor’s Dark Elegies, Balanchine’s Walpurgisnacht, Robbins’ The Concert, Balanchine’s Emeralds (1st Variation), and Forsythe’s In The Middle Somewhat Elevated (Excerpt). Alexandra is excited to be returning to FBP for her second season. For her full bio visit — www.AlexandraRJones.com

Born in Tbilisi Georgia, Mamuka Kikalishvili completed his ballet Training at V. Chabukiani Tbilisi state Ballet school. He joined the State Ballet of Georgia in 2011 and was promoted to Coryphe in 2012. In 2012, he performed in the Donetsk International Ballet Festival World Ballet stars. He also participated in Bournonvile in Biarritz in 2011-2013, 2012 IX International Choreographic Competition “Riga Spring” – The Winner of the Grand Prix.

Mamuka Kikalishvili joined Festival Ballet Providence in 2018 and his repertoire includes Carmen-Choreography By Viktor Potnikov (Don Jose, Escamillio) – The Nutcracker– Choreography By Mihailo Djuric (Prince) – The Nutcracker – composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, choreography by A. Fadeyechev (Prince, Spanish Doll, Harlequine) – La Fille Mal Gardee – choreography by A.Fadeyechev (Kolen). – Swan Lake – composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, production by M. Petipa and new choreographic version by A.Fadeyehev (Pa de Trois, Neopolitan dance) – Motus II, Eunoto – choreography by Teet Kask – Giselle – composer Adolf Adam, choreography and staging Petipa (Pas de six) – Reflection – choreography by Yuri Possokhov. – Birthday Offering – choreography by Frederick Ashton – Sagalobeli – one-act ballet on Georgian folk melodies, choreography by Yuri Possokhov – 1st flesh – choreography by Jorma Elo. – Creatures of Egmont – choreography by Jorma Elo. – Cacti – choreography by Alexander Ekman. – Swan Lake, choreography by Natalia Conus after M. Petipa (Jester) – The Nutcracker, choreography by Yury Yanowsky (Nutcracker, Cavalier)

Fiona grew up in NJ, where she started ballet at age 10 under Carolyn Clark at New Jersey School of Ballet. They attended summer programs at Joffrey Ballet, Washington ballet, Boston Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, and Ballet Austin. In 2013 she continued her training under Gelsey Kirkland at Gelsey Kirkland academy. While at GKA, Fiona was selected to perform with the Mikhailovsky Ballet at the Koch theater in Lincoln Center as part of their American tour.

Fiona continued their training at Ballet Academy East, studying under Darla Hoover, and working with many acclaimed teachers such as Peter Frame, Wendy Whelan, Gonzalo Garcia, and Elizabeth Walker. After graduating from BAE, she spent two years as a Trainee at Cincinnati Ballet under the tutelage of Sarah Hairston, Dawn Kelly, and Zach Grubbs, and danced in several company productions including Romeo and Juliet and Peter Pan. Fiona then spent a year as an apprentice with Ballet Tucson where she danced in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco and Russian Demi in Serenade. Outside of ballet, they enjoy taking photographs, rock climbing, and sailing as much as they can!