The Albany Berkshire Ballet Dancers

The ABB Dancers
2011

Benjamin Biswell—has studied at the Joffrey Ballet school and the School of the Kansas City Ballet, he received his BFA from University of Missouri at Kansas City and has performed extensively with the Kansas City Ballet, Minnesota Ballet and the Albany Berkshire Ballet.

Caitlin Burke—originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Caitlin received her early training from TeDee Theofil and Wendi Dubois. She then moved onto Mercyhurst College where she received a BA in Dance with a minor in Arts Administration. In addition to performance, Caitlin has taught ballet for Bayfront Dance in Erie, PA as well as Dance Arts of Chelsea and Youth Dance Theater of Michigan in Chelsea, MI.

Marie Buser—began her training in Albany, NY at the School of the Albany Berkshire Ballet. Supported by a scholarship she then went on to continue her training at the Conservatory of Music & Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she earned her BFA. Upon completing her studies she is pleased to return to ABB for the 2011 Nutcracker tour before beginning her contract with American Contemporary Ballet in Los Angeles.

Demetra Demetriou—from Cyprus, Greece, Demetra began her training at the Ballet School Froso Hatzigeorgiou. She received a Diploma in dancing and teaching from the Higher Professional School of Ballet, Larissa, Greece, received her postgraduate Master Class Diploma in Ballet from the State Choreographic College of Ballet, Minsk, Belarus, and received a BA in Classical ballet and contemporary dance from the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, London, UK. She has danced with DanceCyprus, Thessaly Ballet, and Balletcyprus, and is represented by DManagement International Dance Agency.

Mariko Ishikawa—a San Francisco native, is currently training at the Ayako School of Ballet in Belmont, CA. She has performed leading roles with Peninsula Youth Ballet. Mariko represented USA at Youth America Grand Prix New York Finals and has traveled to Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Japan. IShe has been invited to perform with the ManDance Company SF and Diablo Ballet in California, and is now represented by DManagement.

Kerry Piaggione—is a graduate of the School of The Albany Berkshire Ballet and has performed extensively with their professional company, most notably in The Nutcracker. She minored in Dance at Hofstra University and holds a MA in Teaching from Union College. Kerry teaches at the school and assists in rehearsals for both The Nutcracker and the school’s annual recital.

Fernando Ursuga Rios—Born in Cali, Colombia, and took his ballet studies at the Instituto Colombiano de Ballet, Incolballet and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree, Artist in Ballet. Fernando has danced with Incolballet’s Compania Colombiana de Ballet, and Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas. He is presented by DManagement International Dance Agency.

Ruslan Sprague—has been dancing with the ABB since he was 4, cast as the changeling in “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” all the way up to the Snow Prince in the production of “The Nutcracker”. Ruslan has also studied with Darrell Pucciarello from the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Ruslan is now dancing as a trainee with Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah.

YeongJu Son—born in Korea, she studied in Sunhwa Arts school. After graduation, she trained in Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia. YeongJu joined the Seoul Ballet Theater and was a semi-finalist in Asian Pacific International Ballet Competition.

Salome Trujilio—studied at the Colombian Institute Incolballet, where she obtained a BA in classical ballet. She danced with the Colombian Ballet Company and has toured in Spain, Germany, Holland, and Russia, among others.

Mica Ward—is from Lockport, IL, and began her training at Southport Performing Arts Conservatory, and then studied at Von Heidecke Dance Center in Joliet, IL. Mica is currently training at The Academy of Dance Arts in Downers Grove, IL. She has performed solo variations at Youth America Grand Prix, as well as group variations. Mica attended the 2010 Orlando Ballet summer intensive, and is a recipient of the Costume Gallery Beverly Miller Scholarship Award.