Phoenix Ballet Featured Artists
The Cavaliers
Slawomir Wozniak
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Michal Wozniak
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Zherlin Ndudi
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At age 11, Slawomir began his studies on scholarship at the State School of Ballet in
Warsaw, Poland. While at the school, he performed in many productions in the national opera house. In 2005, Slawomir won Second Place in the National Ballet Competition in Gdansk, and went on to represent Poland in the International Ballet Competition in Bagoya, Japan. In 2006, Slawomir accepted a full scholarship to study at The School of American Ballet in New York City where he trained for two years. Slawomir joined Ballet Arizona in 2008 and has danced soloist roles in Balanchines Divertimento No. 15, The Four Temperaments, and Ib Andersen’s Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake. Slawomir also performed in Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Sleeping Beauty (Blue Bird), Play, Twyla Tharp’s The Golden Section, Petipa’s Raymonda, Andersen’s premiere of Diversionsat the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Balanchine’s “Rubies” at the Chicago Dancing Festival, and Andersen’s Play at The Joyce Theatre in NYC. |
Michal began his training in gymnastics at age seven, and his ballet training when
he was 10 at the State School of Ballet in Warsaw, Poland. As a student, Michal was invited to perform in ballets and operas at the Great Theatre in Warsaw, and in 2004 was awarded first place in the ballet competition there. In 2006, he accepted a full scholarship to study at The School of American Ballet in New York City where he trained for two years. Michal continued studying on full scholarship at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre. Since joining Ballet Arizona in 2009, Michal has been featured in Swan Lake, George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, Petipa’s Raymonda, and Ib Anderson’s The Sleeping Beauty. Michal danced the principal role in Balanchine’s Prodigal Son and Ib Anderson’s Mosiak. Michal toured with Ballet Arizona to perform Andersen’s Diversions at The Kennedy Center, Balanchine’s “Rubies” (from Jewels) at the Chicago Dancing Festival and Andersen’s Play at The Joyce Theatre in New York City. |
Zherlin began his ballet training at the Private School of Vadim Pisarev and continued at the Heinz-Bosl-Foundation in Germany.Zherlin has enjoyed competing internationally and has received over a dozen awards for his talent. He has performed as a soloist with Donetsk Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Aalto Ballet Theater, and Orlando Ballet (USA). Zherlin has danced principal roles in Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, The Nutcracker, and La Bayadere and solist roles in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and Spartacus. Zherlin’s George Balanchine repertoire includes Square Dance, Pas de Dix, Jewels, Bouree Fantasque, Ballet Imperial, Symphony in C, and La Valse. Mr. Ndudi joined Ballet Arizona in 2010, and he has danced soloist and principal roles in Symphony Classique, Topia, Cinderella, and Balanchine’s repertoire. Since 2013, he teaches and performs for Master Ballet Academy.
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Madison Penney - Sugar Plum Fairy
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Born and raised in Arizona, Madison Penney began dancing at a very young age and trained in all different disciplines of dance. When she was eight years old, she decided to focus on ballet training and joined Master Ballet Academy, led by Artistic Director Slawomir Wozniak. Since then, while still at a young age, Madison continuously keeps growing as a dancer and an artist. She is recognized as one of the most talented and skilled dancers of the upcoming generation. Among her many accolades and awards are winning the Gold Medal at the World Ballet Competition in 2015, the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Hope Award in 2016, and most recently won the 2017 Grand Prix award at YAGP finals in New York. She has been invited as a guest artist performing in World Ballet Competition Gala in Orlando as well as a guest performer in China at IBC/China. She has been offered many scholarships which some are from Princess Grace in Monaco, Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Ellison Ballet, and most recently received an International Scholar Award with The Royal Ballet in London. Based on her proven ability, Madison has performed with Phoenix Ballet in several productions with seasoned professionals that include soloist roles originated for her by Krista King-Doherty, Albert Blaise Cattafi and Fransisco Gella. In addition, Madison has been featured in Dance Spirit and Pointe magazines. In The Nutcracker this year she will perform multiple roles over the weekend. Don't miss her as the Sugar Plum fairy in the Sunday Matinee performance. |
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Amber Skaggs - Sugar Plum Fairy
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Amber Skaggs is 14 years old and has been with Master Ballet Academy and Phoenix Ballet for 6 years. Some of her achievements include being a two time Hope Award winner, a World Ballet Competition Silver medalist, a top 10 best dancer at the Dance Awards and a National Title winner at the Kids Artistic Revenue. She has preformed at galas, on TV and has been featured in magazines here in the USA, in the UK, Russia, and Australia. Amber has received scholarships from prestigious schools all over the world. In 2018 she was announced as a Paris Opera Ballet School Scholarship recipient (recently named #1 Ballet School in the world according to A Ballet Education Magazine). Her international recognition and impeccable training proves her to be unstoppable and on her way to a successful career as a professional dancer. |
Tia Wenkman - Sugar Plum Fairy
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Tia is originally from Wisconsin & relocated to Arizona to train under the direction of Slawomir & Irena Wozniak at Master Ballet. Tia has trained and competed in many styles of dance before starting her serious ballet training. She holds a national title in Jazz and has achieved many awards including a Bronze Medal at USA/IBC 2018 and Beijing International Dance Competition 2018, Grand Prix Award at ADC/IBC American Dance Competition/International Ballet Competition 2018, Grand Prix Award 2018 Phx Youth America Grand Prix YAGP. She is an International Scholar for the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London, and has also studied under scholarship at the Princess Grace Academy of Monaco, American Ballet Theatre ABT in NY, Kirov Academy in DC and Ellison Ballet. She has been featured in Dance Lifestyle & A Ballet Education Magazine as well as on Fox’s SYTYCD. She recently played the role of Leah in the upcoming film "On Pointe" and was featured in the Youtube Docu-series “Born On Pointe”. Tia continues to grow her skills and perfect her technique while having the ability to work with well-respected choreographers including Fransisco Gella, Krista King Doherty. Tia has performed in principal roles such as Diana and Acteon Pas De Deux as a gala artist alongside seasoned professionals as well as being featured as a guest artist with Phoenix Ballet in several productions. She is excited to return to beautiful Sedona to perform again this year. |
Bel Pickering - Snow Queen
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Bel began her vocational training at age 10 with the Royal Ballet School in London. She performed at the Royal Opera House on many occasions with the Royal Ballet company including a solo role at age 10 playing the little girl in La Sylphide. At age 12 she had another solo role as a young girl in Swan Lake Act 1 and was a baby swan in the same Production. During her time at the school she also performed each Christmas in the Royal Ballets production of The Nutcracker. She won 3 choreographic awards at Royal including Best Choreographer medal when she was 13. At age 14 Bel starred along side Sarah Lamb in a short film, Dreams of Giverney which has won many awards on the film festival circuit. She came to Master Ballet Academy in 2016 and during her time here she has won 1st place at YAGP Phoenix in 2017 and 1st place at Dallas YAGP in 2018. She has attended the YAGP finals twice and this year she placed in the top 12 senior women. She is very much looking forward to performing in Sedona with The Phoenix Ballet.
Basia Rhoden - Snow Queen
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Basia Rhoden has attended Master Ballet Academy since August 2017, and this will be her second year in Master Ballet’s Nutcracker. Since moving to Arizona, she has participated in many national and international competitions. Her greatest achievements of this year include gold medals at YAGP Las Vegas, silver medal in contemporary at ADCIBC, senior bronze medal at YAGP NY Finals, and being a finalist in Beijing IBC. She hopes to continue this form of art for many years to come. 
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Carly Berro - Clara
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Carly Berro was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is a sixth grade honor student at Cocopah Middle School, where her favorite subject is Science. While she enjoys all forms of dance, she has been most passionate about ballet since the age of three. She is currently training at Master Ballet Academy
under the direction of Irena and Slawomir Wozniak. Carly was a Youth America Grand Prix Top 12 Regional Semi-Finalist in 2018 and 2017. In addition to ballet, Carly is accomplished at the piano and violin. |
Melanie McIntire - Clara
Melanie McIntire is 12 years old and was born in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is a product of Master Ballet Academy having started her training under the direction of Slawomir and Irena Wozniak at the age of 6. Melanie is thrilled to have the role of Clara in Phoenix Ballet’s 2018 production of The Nutcracker! She would love to become a professional ballerina in a company some day. Outside of dance she attends public school in Scottsdale where she enjoys math, science, and art.
Tegan Chou - Clara
Tegan Chou, born in San Francisco, is thrilled to be dancing the role of Clara for the second year in a row with Phoenix Ballet. Tegan is 12 years old and relocated from California last year to train at Master Ballet Academy in pursuit of her dream of becoming a professional ballerina. Tegan has earned awards at prestigious dance competitions including first place for two consecutive years at YAGP regionals, the Primary Grand Prix award at ADCIBC in 2018, and Top 10 at the Dance Awards. Tegan is a leotard model for Second Skin Costumes. When she isn't busy dancing, Tegan plays the violin, loves puzzles and games, and is a voracious reader. You can follow her on Instagram @tegan_Chou. Tegan would like to thank her family for all of their love and support, as well as her teachers at Master Ballet Academy for taking her under wing and giving her the opportunity to pursue her ballet and dance dreams.
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Misha Broderick - Fritz and Nutcracker Prince
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Misha is 13 years old prodigy and was born in Scottsdale, AZ. He started his ballet training at the age of 9 at Master Ballet Academy under the direction of Slawomir and Irena Wozniak. This is his 4th year being a part of the Phoenix Ballet Nutcracker, and he is excited to be performing the role of Nutcracker Prince again this year. He wants to be a professional ballet dancer when he grows up. |
Rayan Dridi - Nutcracker Prince
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Rayan Dridi was born in Grenoble, France. He moved to California as a young boy, and at 12, started ballet at Marin Dance Theatre. Rayan attended summer intensives at Ellison Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. Now at 15, he is thrilled to be training full time with Master Ballet Academy. Rayan was awarded 3rd place at YAGP San Francisco for his Classical Solo, and for Pas De Deux, and was invited to the NYC finals. He is very excited to be performing in the Nutcracker with Phoenix Ballet. |
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Zakary Landt - Nutcracker Prince
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Zakary Landt, 13 years old, hails from Florida and recently moved to Scottsdale to study ballet at the world-renowned Master Ballet Academy with Slawomir and Irena Wozniak. Zakary began his dance studies at the age of eight at the in Gotha, Florida and was quickly identified as an artist. Zakary moved to the Orlando Ballet School in 2015 to pursue his dance studies. He has performed with the Orlando Ballet in Giselle, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Beauty and the Beast and is the 2017 ADC/IBC Gold Award Winner. Zakary will dance the Nutcracker Prince in the 2018 Phoenix Ballet performances as well as a Chinese and Spanish Cavalier. In addition to dance, Zakary has many hobbies which include the fiber arts, piano, drawing, swimming and a love of sport cars.
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Introducing
Miguel Jose (MJ) Maldonado Chapman - Fritz
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Chapman started his dance career at age 7 with tap classes at Cottonwood Civic Center. He’s now studying at least 5 times each week under Slawomir and Irene Wozniak, directors of the Master Ballet Academy which is considered one of the top ballet schools in the world. Now 11, Miguel is preparing for a starring role as Fritz in “The Nutcracker”. His favorite part of performance art? “The jumps,” Miguel said. He enjoys catching air partly because he’s good at it. Miguel is a natural entertainer and people notice. While visiting family back in New York, Miguel found himself featured in The New York Times’ “Humans of New York” series. He also performed in an unexpected singalong with Bobby McFerrin at the Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale. But Miguel is still a young boy with interests in football and basketball. He also plays the guitar, the recorder, the cello and keyboard. MJ is outgoing and is a dedicated student.
