Anna Ackerman began her dance training in 2015 at Sovereign Ballet in Erie, Pennsylvania. During her time in Erie, she attended summer intensives at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Mercyhurst University. In 2019, she moved to Pittsburgh to continue her full-time training in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Pre-Professional and Graduate Program. There, she performed with the PBT company in The Nutcracker and Beauty and the Beast, as well as in soloist and principal student roles. In 2021, Anna competed in the National Society of Arts and Letters competition, winning 1st place regionally and 3rd place nationally. Since joining New York State Ballet in 2022, Anna has danced roles such as Clara, Snow Queen, and Dewdrop Fairy in The Nutcracker, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, and Belle in Beauty and the Beast. This is her third season with the company.

Jessica de Jong, originally from Colorado, trained under David Taylor and Anastasiya Baranova. She pursued her artistic education at Butler University, graduating cum laude in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Pedagogy. While at Butler, she worked closely with Marek Cholewa, Rosanna Ruffo, Susan McGuire, and Derek Reid, performing demi-soloist and corps de ballet roles in major productions. In 2018, Jessica toured Europe, studying with renowned ballet masters, and in 2019, she apprenticed with Zika Dance Ensemble. After graduation, she joined Confluence Ballet Company for its inaugural season, performing soloist roles like Clara and the Lilac Fairy, as well as original works by Julia Erickson and JoAnna Schmidt. Jessica also served as Confluence’s Co-Executive Director and Financial Manager. This is her first season with New York State Ballet.

Mackenzie Kenyon, originally from Rochester, began her dance training at the Draper Center for Dance Education before joining New York State Ballet as a Graduate Dancer. She then trained with the Joffrey Academy in Chicago, where she performed roles like the soloist in Lar Lubovitch’s Concerto 622, Twilight: Gods with the Lyric Opera, and in Yoshihisa Arai’s Bolero. After completing Joffrey’s Trainee Program, Mackenzie joined Nashville Ballet, where her favorite roles included Sugar Rum Cherry with the Gateway Chamber Orchestra and Madame Bonbon in Nashville’s Nutcracker. This is her first season with New York State Ballet as a company dancer.

Lizzie McMindes is currently in her second season with New York State Ballet, following the successful completion of the Graduate Program at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. A Rochester native, Lizzie has received extensive training at both New York State Ballet and The Draper Center for Dance. Her versatility as a dancer has been showcased in a wide range of roles, including memorable performances in The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, and Little Red Riding Hood. In addition to her stage achievements, Lizzie has competed at esteemed competitions such as the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), World Ballet Competition (WBC), and Universal Ballet Competition (UBC), where she demonstrated her technical skill and artistic expression. Lizzie is thrilled to continue her journey with New York State Ballet, bringing passion and dedication to each performance.

Ryo began his classical ballet training at the age of five at Etoile Ballet Studio under the tutelage of renowned instructors Misako Kawamura and Sergiy Savoschenko. At thirteen, he expanded his dance horizons by taking modern ballet lessons from Yuko Takahashi. He has attended the prestigious Summer Intensive Program of the American Ballet Theater in New York City through the recommendation of his dance instructor Hilary Cartwright. Ryo trained at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT from 2014 to 2016 and also studied at Manhattan Youth Ballet. Ryo was a finalist at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson in 2018, as well as a finalist at the International Ballet and Choreography Competition in 2019.
Ryo went on to dance professionally at Minnesota Ballet, Ballet West, and Rochester City Ballet. Ryo is now in his second season with New York State Ballet, and we're thrilled to have him stepping into the role of Ballet Master this year.

Anna Stewart, originally from Las Vegas, developed a passion for dance at the young age of three. She received her training from renowned institutions, including Nevada Ballet Theatre and the Nevada School of Dance, and graduated from the Pre-Professional Program at Master Ballet Academy in Scottsdale, AZ. Her development continued through summer intensives with prestigious programs like American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Arizona, and the Kirov Academy. Anna’s professional career includes dancing with Minnesota Ballet and Rochester City Ballet. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education. This is her second season as a company dancer with the New York State Ballet.

Keith Justin Reeves, a native of Augusta, began his training at age 15 with the Jessye Norman School of the Arts. Shortly after he joined the Augusta Ballet School now known as Colton Ballet under the direction of Zanne and Ron Colton. He has received scholarships to summer programs at Nashville Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School and The School at Jacob’s Pillow. In 2015, Justin received the Audrey B. Morgan Scholarship for the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education Conservatory program and later joined the company. He has performed works by Jiri Kylian, Salvatore Aiello, George Balanchine, Dwight Rhoden, Mark Morris, Kiyon Ross, Annabelle Lopez Ochooa, Ricardo Armante, Tara Seem Yuri Possokhov Ohad Naharin, among others. Last season he worked with Atlanta Ballet’s resident choreographer, Claudia Shrieier, on a solo for the Guggenheim WPA Virtual commission called “Force of Habit.” Justin was also featured in the 2021 March edition of In Style Magazine’s “Black Trailblazers.” He started on his choreographic journey with the Atlanta Ballet School’s conservatory program in 2016. In 2019 he choreographed on the Atlanta Ballet’s second company. Justin is excited to take on a year of freelancing and is choreographing and working on his LGBTQ dance collective “Bodies in Motion ATL.”

Sophie was raised in Rochester, NY and received her dance training at the Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education, starting at age 8. She has had the opportunity to dance in Rochester City Ballet’s version of The Nutcracker as well as George Balanchine’s Serenade. After high school, Sophie attended Point Park University where she received her BFA in dance with a concentration in ballet. While at Point Park, she had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Adam Highland, Jae Man Joo, Matthew Powell, David Norsworthy as well as others. Sophie is currently an artist with Confluence Ballet Company in Pittsburgh, PA for their inaugural season. She is very excited to be dancing with New York State Ballet this Nutcracker season!

Brianne Falanga, originally from Webster, NY, began her ballet training at age 11 with the New York State Ballet Training Academy under Katherine Johnson, Robert Royce, and Lauren Tenney. While at NYSB, she performed both corps de ballet and soloist roles in The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Alice in Wonderland, and more. After completing NYSB’s graduate program at 16, Brianne joined Ballet West’s Professional Training Division for two years. At 18, she moved to Cincinnati to join Cincinnati Ballet’s Trainee Program under Sarah Hairston Berkley and David Morse, performing in main company productions and trainee showcases. Her favorite roles include the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, soloist in La Vivandière, and Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty.

Katrina Gonzalez began her dance journey at the age of 4 at South Florida Ballet in Miami, FL, where she discovered her love for ballet under the guidance of Ms. Jennifer Rose. During her high school years, she trained at New World School of the Arts and Miami Youth Ballet, gaining strong foundations in ballet, contemporary, and modern dance. She had the opportunity to perform in works by renowned choreographers, including Jessica Lang’s Oblivion, Uri Sands’ Something Amber, and an original piece by Darshan Buller. Katrina further developed her technique at the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory’s Post Graduate Program, focusing on the Vaganova method and intensive pas de deux training. She is excited to begin her first professional season as an apprentice with New York State Ballet!

Rhian Jones began her ballet training at the age of 4 at The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory in Connecticut, where she trained year-round for 14 years. She also attended summer intensives at Washington Ballet, Ballet Rhode Island, and the Maritime Conservatory of Dance. During her time at Nutmeg, Rhian was coached by renowned instructors like Eleanor D’Antuono and performed leading roles such as Sugar Plum and Adult Clara in The Nutcracker, Princess Florine in The Sleeping Beauty, and Swanhilda in Coppélia. Rhian is excited to join New York State Ballet for her first season.

Katherine Kilbourn, originally from Easton, Maryland, began her dance journey at Mid Shore Dance Academy and trained at the Washington School of Ballet under Xiomara Reyes. She earned her BFA in Dance, with a minor in Psychology, summa cum laude from Mercyhurst University. Katherine has performed at the Kennedy Center alongside renowned companies such as the Joffrey Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, and Kansas City Ballet, and at the Warner Theatre with the Washington Ballet. Memorable roles include Cygnet in Swan Lake, Lucile Grahn in Pas De Quatre, and Medora in the Le Corsaire Grand Pas De Deux. This is her first season with New York State Ballet.

Emma Larson began her ballet training at age 8 at the Saugerties Ballet Center and continued with Lisa and Peter Naumann at the New Paltz School of Ballet. At 15, she joined the Boston Ballet School's year-round program after attending their Summer Intensive, studying classical ballet, modern, and character dance. She also gained experience as an assistant teacher under Luciano Aimar. Emma holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Dance Education from SUNY Purchase and SUNY Empire State University. This is her first season with New York State Ballet.

Olivia Turner-Leftwich, originally from Nashville, Tennessee, began her ballet training at Centennial Youth Ballet through the Metro Parks Dance Division. She graduated summa cum laude from Mercyhurst University with a BFA in Dance, a BA in History, and completed the Honors Program. During her time at Mercyhurst, she performed in a variety of classical and contemporary productions, including roles as a Lover in Midsummer Night’s Dream, one of the Odalisques Trio in Le Corsaire, and Spanish in Swan Lake. In her senior year, Olivia choreographed and designed a contemporary ballet piece titled “The Myth of the Indigenous Woman,” merging her research from both her history and dance studies. Her passion for storytelling and curiosity fuel her artistic journey. This is her first season with New York State Ballet.

Kendall Austin Born and raised in Scottsville, NY, Kendall began her dance journey at the age of 6 at A Time for Dance. At 16, she advanced her training by joining the New York State Ballet Training Academy, where she completed three years of intensive study, including the graduate program. Kendall's dedication to her craft has led her to continue training with the New York State Ballet, where she is honing her skills and deepening her passion for ballet.