Born in Budapest, Hungary, joins Columbia Classical Ballet for a third season. Oliver received his training at the Hungarian National Dance Academy and attended the summer program at North Carolina Dance Theater. At the Slovak State Opera House in Bratislava, Slovakia, he performed roles in Le Corsaire, Swan Lake, Midsummer’s Night Dream, and Bayadere.

From Columbia, South Carolina, Christina has been a member of Carolina Ballet and has trained under Radenko Pavlovich, Pavlovich Dance School. Christina is a second year apprentice with Columbia Classical Ballet.

A 2001 graduate of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, Leonid was invited to join the Russian Academy of Theatrical Arts, GITIS, as a soloist where he proved himself to be a disciplined and dedicated artist. His repertoire includes principal roles in such ballets as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Futile Precaution. Leonid was awarded a prize in the First International Chabukiani-Balanchin International Ballet Competition in 2001. He has toured such countries as England, China, Spain, and the United States. Last season, Leonid choreographed The Polovitsian Dances, an excerpt from the opera Prince Igor, for Columbia Classical Ballet.

A native of Brazil, Renata joins Columbia Classical Ballet this season. Renata began studying ballet at Centro Mineiro de Danças Clássicas in Brazil. She has danced professionally with Sesi Minas Dance Company. She credits her training to such prestigious instructors as Maria Clara Salles, Ofélia Gonzalez and Pablo Moret. In 2006, Renata was awarded Second Place at the Joinville International Competition in Brazil. Her professional repertoire includes such roles as Medora in Le Corsaire, Kitri and Cupid in Don Quixote, Clara in Nutcracker, Diana and Acteon, Paquita, Flames of Paris, and others.

From Columbia, South Carolina, Ragin Lee began her ballet training with Radenko Pavlovich at the age of four. She has also participated in the USC Summer Workshops. At the age of thirteen, Ragin performed the role of Marie (Clara) in "The Nutcracker." Currently a junior at Hammond School, Ragin plans to pursue her love of dance.

Originally from Philadelphia, Miriam has received training from Olga Kresin and at the North Carolina School of the Arts. In 2000, she was a participant in the Fifth International Ballet Competition in Moscow. Miriam has attended summer sessions in Odessa, Ukraine, and Budapest, Hungary. She has danced with Ohio Dance Theatre and the Louisville Ballet. Miriam is beginning her first year as an apprentice with Columbia Classical Ballet.

A native of Brazil, Waldilei joins Columbia Classical Ballet this season. Waldilei began training in Academia Toute Forme in Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil. He later performed professionally with Sesi Minas Dance Company. His prestigious instructors include Tércia Cançado, Pablo Moret, and Ofelia Gonzalez. Waldilei has been awarded various achievements in South American ballet competitions, such as the Joinville International Competition in Brazil. His repertoire includes performances in the Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Paquita, La Bayadere, Coppelia, and Cinderella.

From Columbia, South Carolina, Jessica has received training at the Columbia Ballet School and performed with Carolina Ballet, Devine Street Dance, and Columbia Classical Ballet. She received additional training in Torrington, Connecticut, at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, where she reached the Apprentice level. Jessica is now starting her second year as an apprentice for Columbia Classical Ballet.

Reka returns to Columbia Classical Ballet for her second season. A native of Budapest, Hungary, Reka is a graduate of the Hungarian Dance Academy. Reka’s roles include the Waltz in Balanchine’s Serenade, Kylian’s Symphony in D, and the Sugarplum Fairy in Nutcracker. In 2006, Reka competed in the ballet competition in Vienna. Her summer training includes intensives at the North Carolina Dance Theatre and in Transylvania

Talin began her training in San Diego, CA with Elizabeth Griffiths of the Royal Ballet. At age fourteen, she was awarded an international talent grant to study at the Royal Ballet School in London, and later continued training with Dame Sonia Arova. Talin has danced professionally with Hong Kong Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Carolina Ballet in Raleigh, NC, and in Melbourne, Australia. Her repertoire includes the Sugarplum Fairy in Nutcracker, Nocturne in Les Sylphides, the Pas de Trois in Le Corsaire and various Balanchine works including Concerto Barocco, Rubies, Donizetti Variations, Square Dance, and one of her favorites, Serenade. Talin has created roles in ballets by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Robert Weiss, and Rick McCullough. This is her third season with Columbia Classical Ballet.

Balázs began studying ballet at the age of eleven in his hometown of Gyor, Hungary. At age thirteen, Balázs joined the Hungarian Dance Academy in Budapest, graduating in 2007. He has participated in summer programs in Spain, Charlotte, NC, and Chautauqua, NY. In 2004, Balázs won 3rd prize at the International Vienna Competition. In 2005-2006, he was a member of the second company at North Carolina Dance Theatre. This is his first season with Columbia Classical Ballet.

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Morgan returns for her second season with the company. Before joining Columbia Classical Ballet, she performed with Dale Lam’s Columbia City Jazz, touring Austria with the troupe in the summer of 1998. In spring 1996, she began training with Radenko Pavlovich, attending summer programs at The Kirov Academy in Washington, D.C., Boston Ballet’s Dance LAB, North Carolina School of the Arts, and North Carolina Dance Theatre. In spring 2002 she was awarded third place in the Junior Contemporary Division at the International Competition, Youth America Grand Prix, in New York City. Morgan has attended summer programs of the Hungarian Ballet Academy in Budapest under the tutelage of Gyula Pandi. Morgan’s ballet repertoire includes principal roles in productions at Richland District II’s Performing Center for the Arts, under the direction of Ann Richardson. Her repertoire with Columbia Classical Ballet includes Jekyll & Hyde, The Wizard of Oz, The King & I, and Jennifer Gelfand Rising.

Joining Columbia Classical Ballet for his first season, Peter hails from Hungary. He began training in 1999 at the Hungarian Dance Art Academy. He was a finalist in the V. Internal Competition of Hungarian Dance Art Academy in 2003. His roles include Chinese and Russian solos in Robert Lindgren’s the Nutcracker, and soldier variation Act I; role of Benvolio in the pillow dance in Romeo and Juliette – John Crenko; peasant pas de deux in Perrot, Petipa’s Giselle, grand pas de deux in Petipa’s Don Quixote, Lophuhov’s Gopak, Kazats’ La fille mal garde pas de deux, Bournonville’s La Sylphide: James variation, and Robert North’s Tempo (two boys, four boys).

From Columbia, South Carolina, Kasey, of has trained under Columbia Classical Ballet’s Artistic Director Radenko Pavlovich since 1999, and in 2005 was featured as Clara in the Nutcracker. Kasey has additionally attended summer programs at USC’s Summer Dance Conservatory, Carolina Ballet (CMFA), North Carolina Dance Theater, the Joffrey Ballet, and American Ballet Center in New York City.

In his first season with Columbia Classical Ballet, Adam is a native of Budapest, Hungary. He is a 2005 graduate of the Hungarian Dance Academy. During the 2006-2007 season, Adam was a member of the Slovakian National Opera. He danced the previous season with Wiener Staatstoper in Vienna. Adam has participated in summer intensive programs at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Pergine Spettacolo Aperto, and the Ballet des Jeunes d’Europe. He has toured in Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Germany, France, Italy, and in the USA..

In his first season with Columbia Classical Ballet, Devin is a native of Upstate New York. He began his ballet training at the age of four, studying at the Decker School of Ballet in New York State .He has received summer training at the NYSSSA ballet program and has also participated in summer programs at ABT, New York and North Carolina Dance Theatre. At age 18, Devin joined the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he has spent the past two years.

A native of Japan, Tomoko is joining Columbia Classical Ballet for her first season. She began dance at the age of seven at The Nagano Ballet School. Tomoko received additional training at The Emiko Kojima Ballet School, The Aoil Tori Ballet School, The Goh Ballet School, The Momoko Tani Ballet School and The Hungarian Dance Art Academy. She won 1st place in the 2003 60th Tokyo Paper All Japan Ballet competition, 3rd place in The 2nd Japan Grand Prix, and in 2005 won 2nd place in the 8th NBA All Japan Ballet competition, where she was awarded Special Judge Prize – Chacott Scholarship. Favorite roles include Black Bird Symphony in D, Szerenad, Sylvia variation, Diana and Acteon pas de deux, Black Swan Grand pas de deux, Blue Bird pas de deux, Don Quixote Grand pas de deux, and Le Corsaire pas de deux.

A native of Brazil, Humberto returns to Columbia Classical Ballet for a second season with the company. Humberto began training at age 17 at the Bailarte School of Dance in Divinopolis, MG, Brazil. His prestigious instructors have included Pablo Moret, Cristina Helena, and Chaim Gebber. Humberto has advanced through the ranks of numerous companies in Brazil, where he has danced many featured roles from classical repertoire. Among his favorites are Don Quixote, Coppélia, and Paquita. Humberto is the recipient of a gold medal from the Dance Festival of Joinville. In 2007, Humberto choreographed Pilar, a contemporary piece for Columbia Classical Ballet’s LifeChance “Gala of the Stars” event.

From Brazil, Júnio Henrique joins us for his third season with Columbia Classical Ballet. Júnio received training from instructors such as Pablo Moret, Leonardo Villela, and Humberto Teixeira. He boasts various achievements earned in South American ballet competitions, such as the Dance Festival of Joinville. Júnio’s repertoire includes roles in La Fille Mal Garde, Don Quixote, Paquita, and Cinderella.

Born in Osaka, Japan, where she began studying ballet at the age of four, Kaori first attended the Mitaka Ballet Academy under the tutelage of Tetuji Adachi, and received a strong foundation for her professional career. While studying in Japan, Kaori performed soloist roles in her school’s anniversary productions of Coppelia and Don Quixote. Her repertoire includes the roles of Swanhilda, Cupid, Esmeralda Pas de Deux, Chinese, and other pieces in notable classical and contemporary ballets. Kaori has competed in a number of acclaimed ballet competitions including the Saitama Competition, where she was awarded an Encouragement Prize, the Japanese Nationwide Competition, and the NBA Competition, also held in Japan. Kaori has recently graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy, and is pleased to join Columbia Classical Ballet this season.

Joining us for her first season, Priscilla was born in Sao Paulo. Today she is considered one of the great revelations of the Brazilian ballet, first dancer of the Especial Cia, de Dancas Classica de Sao Paulo. She started her classic ballet studies in the Especial Academia de Sao Paulo, under the direction of maitre Aracy de Almeida and teacher Guivalde de Almeida. Special guest for several Brazilian festivals and Mercosul festivals. She is supported by the Brazilian Capezio, under orientation of Mr. Luiz Cavalcante. She is also supported by one of the biggest marks of the world in pointe shoe, “Sansha” of Thailand (Mis. Audrey Berger) and in New York (Mr. Philippe Saint Paul). Priscilla’s achievements include 1999 Gold medal winner in the Festival of Danza del Mercosul, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Cecilia Kerche’s trophy as the best classic dancer; 2000 Prix de Lausanne between 128 candidates from all over the world, was classified as finalist, she enters the ten better private dancers of the world; 2003 guest for the international of ballet do Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Chile as first dancer, performed the complete ballet of Don Quixote to the side of the first dancer, Luis Ortigoza; 2004, the Gold Medal winner in XIX, the Concorso Internazionale of danza di citta di Rieti. Italy; 2004, guest for the opening of the XIX Festival Internacional de ballet de la Havana, Cuba; and in 2006 was special guest for the XI International Ballet Festival of Miami. Priscilla’s sponsors are Compania Athletica and Analia Fronco