As Autumn Begins, Here’s the Latest Roster Roundup

October 17, 2022

Leaves are falling, and companies have officially kicked off their 2022–23 seasons. With that comes another wave of exciting career news—check out these recent updates in company rosters, leadership positions, awards and more in our latest roster roundup.

Farewells and New Arrivals

BalletMet welcomes eight dancers this season: former Atlanta Ballet principal Erica Alvarado, Beñat Andueza Molina, Iris Dávila, Matoi Kawamoto, Andrew Rossi and Hamburg Ballet’s Miguel Wansing Lorrio, as well as former Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre corps de ballet members Cooper Verona and Victoria Watford.

Former Dance Theatre of Harlem dancer Crystal Serrano moves to the Boston Ballet corps; Daniel Rubin also joins the corps from Eifman Ballet, where he was a leading soloist.

Oliver Oguma moves to Charlotte Ballet from Ballet de l’Opéra National du Rhin.

Former Dance Theatre of Harlem artist Anthony Santos has joined the touring cast of Hamilton as an ensemble member. DTH welcomes Lucas Castro from Utah Metropolitan Ballet as its newest member.

Karen Russo Burke will conclude her 10-year tenure as artistic director of Dayton Ballet at the end of the 2022–23 season. Dayton Performing Arts Alliance board member Rodney Veal leads a search committee to identify her successor.

Karen Russo Burke, shown neck-up, poses for a headshot in a black and white collared button-down. She has short dark gray hair and looks directly at the camera with a determined look.
Karen Russo Burke, courtesy DPAA.

Houston Ballet first soloist Allison Miller has announced that she will retire following the company’s performances of The Nutcracker this December.

Eric Figueredo joins Milwaukee Ballet from The Sarasota Ballet.

Oregon Ballet Theatre welcomes soloist Carly Wheaton from BalletMet. New corps members include Nicholas Sakai from Eugene Ballet, Gavin Hounslow from Boulder Ballet and former Sarasota Ballet soloist Asia Bui.

David O’Matz joins the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre corps from Orlando Ballet.

The Rock School welcomes five new instructors this fall: The Art of Classical Ballet artistic director Magaly Suárez as resident master teacher, and Anne White, Melissa Stafford, Etienne Diaz and Anastasia Babayeva.

Promotions and Appointments

Former Paris Opéra Ballet étoile Laurent Hilaire, who was appointed artistic director of Bavarian State Ballet in May, has promoted Canadian Shale Wagman to first soloist.

Northern California Emmy Award–winning choreographer Benjamin Needham-Wood succeeds Lance Hardin as artistic director of Boulder Ballet, effective immediately.

Carolina Ballet soloist Taylor Ayotte has been promoted to principal, and Deirdre Scanlon, Ayla O’Day and Braden Hart to soloist.

Paloma Herrera, in a white button down blouse, black slacks and black heels, leans against a cream colored wall in front of a red wall and red couch. Her long wavy black hair is down, and she smiles toward the camera, relaxed.
Paloma Herrera, courtesy Kaatsbaan Cultural Park.

Kaatsbaan Cultural Park has announced former American Ballet Theatre principal Paloma Herrera as director of the 2023 Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive, effective immediately.

Kiyon Ross has been named associate artistic director of PNB, effective immediately. Ross, who has maintained a relationship with the company for 22 years, is a PNB School alumnus and former company soloist. Following his retirement from the stage, Ross has served as a school faculty member, company choreographer, NEXT STEP program manager and, most recently, director of company operations.

Kiyon Ross, dressed in a cobalt blue suit and button-down shirt, is shown waist-up as he leans over a ballet barre, smiling at the camera.
Kiyon Ross. Photo by Lindsay Thomas.

Pacific Northwest Ballet artistic director Peter Boal announced the promotions of James Kirby Rogers, Jonathan Batista and Cecilia Iliesiu to principal onstage following the company’s opening night performance of Allegro Brillante in its Carmina Burana program. Batista makes history as the company’s first Black principal dancer.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Masahiro Haneji and Lucius Kirst have been promoted to principal dancer; both joined the company in 2014. Colin McCaslin has been promoted to soloist, Sujanya Dhillon and Jacob Miller to corps de ballet and Ariana Chernyshev to apprentice.

The Sarasota Ballet’s Yuki Nonaka has been promoted to soloist, and Dominique Jenkins and Emelia Perkins to coryphée.

Awards and Honors

Cincinnati Ballet company member Lenai Wilkerson is the Dance Category grand prize winner of the 2022 inaugural JarriTODOS Artist Grant Competition. Wilkerson has been awarded a $10,000 grant to pursue her choreographic project blending African diasporic music and reflections on mental health.

Mira Nadon dances a neoclassical ballet onstage in pink tights and pointe shoes and a white camisole leotard. She lunges and flexes her hands with her arms extended, her dark hair in a slick bun.
Mira Nadon in Balanchine’s Movements for Piano and Orchestra. Photo by Erin Baiano, courtesy New York City Ballet.

New York City Ballet soloist Mira Nadon is the dance-category recipient of the annual Clive Barnes Awards, which recognizes two professional artists—one in dance and one in theater—for exceptional performance.