Ballet Jörgen Canada Dancers, 2009-2010 Season

Sarah Koekkoek
(Apprentice)

Saniya Abilmajineva

Originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Saniya graduated from the Choreography College in Moscow in 2007. In 2007-2008, she was the first soloist with the Natalia Satz Theatre (formally known as the Children's Musical Theater). Saniya is the recipient of many awards: In 2005, she took home the silver medal from the International Ballet Competition in Berlin and one year later she received a gold medal at the same competition. In 2007, she received a diploma from both the International Ballet Competition in New York and the International Ballet Competition in Shanghai. In 2009, she was a semi-finalist at the International Ballet Competition at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre. Saniya joined Ballet Jörgen Canada during the 2009-2010 Season.

Tara Butler

A native of Pickering, Ontario, Tara began her ballet training at the National Ballet School in Toronto. Upon graduation she apprenticed with the National Ballet of Canada for their 1992-1993 season. She then danced with the Alberta Ballet for 2 seasons and the Banff Festival Ballet for 3 summers. In 1995, Tara joined Ballet Jörgen Canada as a Principal dancer. She has performed lead roles such as "Juliet", which was created for her in Bengt Jörgen’s Romeo and Juliet, and the title roles in both Cinderella and the new full-length ballet, Anastasia. Tara is in great demand by choreographers across Canada and has been a principal guest artist with the Hong Kong Ballet, the International Miami Hispanic Dance Festival, and the Banff Anniversary Gala. Tara also teaches and coaches for Ballet Jörgen Canada, George Brown Dance, and many other dance schools across the country.

Daniel Da Silva

Hampus Gauffin

Hampus Gauffin joined Ballet Jörgen Canada in the 2007-2008 season as an apprentice dancer and is now a full-time company member. He trained at the Royal Swedish Ballet School in Stockholm from 1998–2006 and performed in productions such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Bartered Bride and Peer Gynt. Hampus played the roles of Madge and Gurn in La Sylphide. Most recent productions include Romeo & Juliet, La Fille mal gardée and The Uprooting, choreographed by Joseph Sturdy. Hampus choreographed a contemporary piece for the graduation performance at the Royal Swedish Ballet School in November 2006 and also choreographed Vis-Hamu with Siv Ander for the Eurovision Young Dancer’s Swedish finals in March 2005.

Taylor Gill

Taylor Gill, a native of Canada, trained when she was young at the Alberta Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet schools. She began her professional training in Vancouver with Yaming Li at Pacific Dance Arts. In 2008, she joined Atlanta Ballet Company’s Fellowship program on paid scholarship and she performed in John McFall’s Swan Lake and Nutcracker, Michael Pink’s Dracula, Christopher Hampson’s Sinfionetta Giocosa, as well as the lead role as the Evil Queen in Bruce Well’s Snow White. Taylor qualified as a semi-finalist at the 2007 Shanghai International Ballet Competition in China. She spent her summers training at a variety of schools including Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Miami City Ballet. She is thrilled to be returning to Canada and beginning her career this season with Ballet Jörgen Canada.

Cristina Graziano

Yoo Sang Hong

Yoo Sang Hong was born in Seoul, Korea and began dancing at the age of 12 at Yewon Arts School. He came to Canada when he was 14 years old to attend the Professional Ballet Program at Canada's National Ballet School. During his time at NBS, he worked with internationally recognized choreographers and repetiteurs, such as James Kudelka, Joysanne Sidimus and Sorella Englund. After graduating with honors in 2006, Yoo Sang completed one year of Post Secondary Education at Canada's National Ballet School and then finished his training in the Aspirant Program at Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Yoo Sang joined Ballet Jörgen Canada in 2008-2009 and this is his second season with the Company.

Clea Iveson

A Toronto native, Clea’s ballet training took place at George Brown Dance and the National Ballet School, as well as programs in Banff, Montreal and St. Petersburg. Clea joined Ballet Jörgen Canada in 1991 as an apprentice, and as a full company member is 1992. Clea performs in many roles with the Company, including Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, the Lead Czardas in Coppélia and one of the Stepsisters in Cinderella, all of which were created on her. Clea has also performed in Dusk Dances and Opera Ontario productions. In addition to dancing with the Company, Clea co-ordinated tours for the Company from 1995-2001, and is one of the Company’s Rehearsal Assistants.

Clea celebrates her last major role with the company on October 3 - click here for more information. Click here to see her full professional bio.

Preston McBain

Originally from Sudbury, Ontario, Preston trained at the Quinte Ballet School, The Banff Center for the Arts, and as an apprentice with Banff Festival Ballet, and at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. In 2001, he joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet as an apprentice, dancing in numerous major full lengths such as Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Carmina Burana, Anna Karenina and The Nutcracker, as well as performing in numerous contemporary and neo-classical works such as Symphony in D (Kylian), Allegro Brilliante (Balanchine), Mirroirs (Mark Godden), to name a few. In 2003, he joined Ballet Jörgen Canada and has had the opportunity to perform in Coppélia, The Nutcracker and Cinderella. Preston has also been very well received in his title performance of Petrushka, and as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. He has had the opportunity to work with numerous choreographers such as Robert Desrosiers, Crystal Pite, Giaconda Barbuto, William Young, Darryl Hoskins, Helen BlackBurn, Benjamin Hatcher and Mavin Khoo. Preston has also been a guest teacher numerous times at the Quinte Ballet School of Canada, the Randolph Academy, Metro Movement and Urban Sweat ’06.

Livan Pujada

Livan was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, and began his ballet training at the age of 9 in the Provincial School of Arts. Nine years later, in 2003, he graduated from the Cuban National School of Ballet in Havana, under the direction of Ramona de Saa. After graduating, Livan became part of the National Ballet of Cuba and under the direction of Alicia Alonso, danced major roles such as the Jester in Swan Lake. There, he also performed in productions of Don Quixote, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, as well as in works from Balanchine, Bournonville and Contemporary ballets. He has danced on major stages in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Egypt, Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Livan is now in his third season with the Company.

Danielle Rosengren

Hiroto Saito

Hiroto was born in Kobe, Japan and began dancing at the age of 7 at Sadamatsu Hamada Ballet School. He went further to study at the English National Ballet School in London, and during his time at ENBS, he took part in summer courses at the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco and performed with English National Ballet. Upon graduating, he joined Hong Kong Ballet under the direction of Stephen Jefferies and performed in many classical and contemporary ballets. He has been fortunate to work with internationally
recognized choreographers and repetiteurs such as Wayne Eagling, Alexander Grant and Susanne Farrell, to name a few. His major roles include Romeo and Mercutio in Bengt Jörgen's Romeo and Juliet, Nathaniel in Jörgen's Coppélia, Interrogator in Wayne Eagling's Last Emperor as well as Dimitry in Jörgen’s Anastasia. Hiroto danced with Ballet Jörgen Canada during the 2007-2008 season and is rejoining the Company for the 2009-2010 season.

Alyssa Stevens

Cristina Tucciarone

Cristina is a graduate of the National Ballet School, graduating with Honours and earning the Governor General’s Academic Medal for academic excellence. While at the National Ballet School, Cristina performed in ballets such as The Sleeping Beauty, Chopiniana, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. She also had the pleasure of dancing in works by choreographers Margie Gillis, Matjash Mrozewski, Lar Lubovitch, and Jiri Kylian. In addition to training at the National Ballet School, Cristina also trained during summers at L'École Supérieur de Danse Cannes Rosella Hightower (France), The Banff Centre for the Arts (Alberta), and the Pacific Northwest Ballet School (USA). Cristina joined Ballet Jörgen Canada in the 2004-2005 season.