Festival Artists 2024

Julian MacKay

Principal Dancer (Germany)
Julian MacKay, age 26, born in Montana, is a Principal Dancer with the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Germany. His journey began at 11 when he left rural Montana to train at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. He made history as the first American to receive a full Russian Diploma from both - the upper and lower schools. During his training, Julian achieved remarkable success, winning medals in five consecutive International Ballet Competitions, including the Prix de Lausanne, gold medals at the Istanbul IBC and YAGP, and bronze at the Sochi Young Ballet of the World and the Beijing International Ballet Competition.
At 17, Julian made his professional debut as Siegfried in Swan Lake with the Russian State Ballet in Berlin while still attending school. Graduating at the top of his class, he was acclaimed as a young "Apollo" by Russian dance critics, performing numerous roles on the Bolshoi stage. At 17, Julian joined The Royal Ballet in London as their 2016 Prix de Lausanne prize winner. Eight months later, upon personal invitation from Mikhail Messerer, Julian joined The Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg as a Second Soloist.
By 19, Julian MacKay was promoted to First Soloist after a standout performance in Flames of Paris, and he has since danced numerous principal roles worldwide. In 2020, he joined the San Francisco Ballet as a Principal Dancer, and most recently, in September 2022, Julian became a Principal Dancer with the Bayerisches Staatsballett.
Recently, Julian has also become the first-ever male ballet dancer to become a friend of the Maison at Cartier.

Madison Young
Principal Dancer (Germany)
Madison Young was born in Utah, USA, where she initially focused on contemporary and competition dance. At age 13, she shifted her focus to classical ballet, training at the Ballet West Academy in Utah and later at the Houston Ballet Academy in Texas.
In 2016, Madison attended the prestigious Prix De Lausanne in Switzerland, earning the Beau Rivage Palace 2nd place Award. She began her professional career as an apprentice with Houston Ballet in 2016, becoming a full corps de ballet member in 2017. That year, she joined the Wiener Staatsballett under former Paris Opera étoile Manuel Legris, swiftly advancing to Demi-soloist and then to Soloist in 2019.
Madison joined the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Germany as a First Soloist in 2020. Following her acclaimed debut as Cinderella in December 2021, she was promoted to Principal Dancer by director Igor Zelensky. Madison currently dances with the Bayerisches Staatsballett under the direction of Laurent Hilaire. She will be performing at this year’s Yellowstone International Arts Festival, excited to return to Montana.

Jennifer Grace
Principal Dancer (USA)
Jennifer Grace, Principal Dancer with Colorado Ballet, embarked on her dance journey at The Dance Center in Bozeman, Montana at age 7. At 13, she relocated to Moscow, Russia, training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy before completing her studies at the Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy in Southern California.
In 2013, Jennifer joined Tulsa Ballet's second company, where her standout performance as Titania in Christopher Wheeldon’s “MidSummer Night’s Dream” led to her promotion to Corps de Ballet later that year. By 2017, she rose to the rank of Soloist, showcasing her talent in numerous principal and soloist roles. In 2020, Jennifer joined Colorado Ballet, achieving Principal status in 2021 following her acclaimed portrayal of the title character in “Giselle”.
Throughout her 11-year professional career, Jennifer has danced works by esteemed choreographers such as Christopher Wheeldon, Derek Deane, Ben Stevenson, William Forsythe, Nacho Duato, Wayne McGregor, Val Caniparoli, Jorma Elo, Edwaard Liang, Ma Cong, and Alejandro Cerrudo.

Patrick Mihm
Soloist (USA)
Patrick Mihm, born in Dubuque, Iowa, began his ballet training at the Dubuque City Youth Ballet at age 11, where he studied for three years. At 14, he moved to southern Florida to attend the HARID Conservatory. After two years, he relocated to New York City to complete his training at Ellison Ballet. Patrick graduated in 2020 and commenced his career with Colorado Ballet in the Studio Company.
Within a year, Patrick was promoted to Apprentice, and by 2023, he advanced to the Corps de Ballet. In 2024, Patrick achieved the rank of Soloist. Since joining Colorado Ballet, Patrick has performed notable roles including Cavalier in "The Nutcracker," Prince Siegfried in "Swan Lake," and Franz in "Coppelia," among others.

Anna Ingold
Corps de Ballet (USA)
Anna Ingold began her training in Riverside, California. In 2016, she studied at the Colburn Dance Academy in Los Angeles with Jenifer Ringer. In 2018, she was accepted into The School of American Ballet in New York City, where she trained for two years. She joined Carolina Ballet in 2020 as an apprentice and was promoted to the Corps de Ballet in 2021.
During her time at Carolina Ballet, Anna has performed several featured roles in ballets by George Balanchine, Robert Weiss, and Zalman Raffael, and has originated corps de ballet roles in numerous ballets.
Anna comes from a multi-generation Paradise Valley ranching family. Her 4th great grandfather, Dwight Allen, traveled to Montana in 1862, discovered Paradise Valley, and returned in 1879 to homestead land on the Yellowstone River. Anna's grandparents, Stanley Bell and Sally Allen Bell, still live at and manage the ranch to this day.

Joseph Gerhardt
Principal Dancer (USA)
Joseph Gerhardt began his training at age 10 at Mary Pauline’s. He attended summer programs at Houston Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and Harid Conservatory. In 2017, Joseph was awarded the two-year male scholarship to attend the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.
In 2019, he joined Carolina Ballet as a corps member and was promoted to principal in 2023. His favorite roles include Mercutio in "Romeo and Juliet," Albrecht in "Giselle," and the monster in "Frankenstein."

Oksana Maslova
Principal Dancer (Ukraine)
Oksana Maslova, born in Nikopol, Ukraine, began her artistic journey with rhythmic gymnastics, which led her to study ballet under Irina Sycheva, a former ballerina of the St. Petersburg Ballet. She continued her training at the Kiev Choreographic College under renowned teachers such as Anna Petrenchuk and Evgenyi Kaigorodov. During her time there, Oksana performed with the Kiev Youth Ballet, portraying roles like Arabian in "The Nutcracker," Kitri in "Don Quixote," and Odette in "Swan Lake." She later earned her master’s degree as a choreographer and ballet master from the Institute of Culture and Arts.
Oksana's career includes significant roles and achievements, starting with her tenure as a soloist at the Philadelphia Ballet in the 2014/2015 season, where she was later promoted to principal dancer in 2016. Her diverse repertoire features works by acclaimed choreographers such as Christopher Wheeldon's "Polyphonia" and "Swan Lake," David Dawson’s "The Third Light," and numerous pieces by George Balanchine including "Western Symphony," "Serenade," "Jewels," "Agon," "Apollo," and "Symphony in C." She has also performed in Jerome Robbins’ "The Cage," Ben Stevenson’s "Cinderella," Hans Van Manen’s "Adagio Hammerklavier," and Angel Corella’s "Carmen."
Before her time at Philadelphia Ballet, Oksana was a member of Suziriya Dance Theater, Odessa National Opera House (soloist), Grand Rapids Ballet (principal dancer), and Connecticut Ballet Company (principal dancer), where she originated the role of Alice in Brett Raphael’s "Alice in Wonderland."

Denys Nedak
Principal Dancer (Ukraine)
Denys Nedak, born in Odesa, Ukraine, began his dance training at the Kyiv Municipal Ukraine Dance Academy, named after Serge Lyfar, in 2005. Recognized for his exceptional talent, Denys was honored with the title of Merited Artist of Ukraine.
From 2005 to 2021, Denys served as a principal dancer at the National Opera of Ukraine, Kyiv. In 2021, he joined Atlanta Ballet as a principal dancer. His illustrious career includes performances as a regular guest at the National Theater of Serbia. From 2014 to 2015, he was a guest dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and the Vienna State Opera. He continued his guest performances with the Finnish National Opera and Ballet from 2016 to 2017 and with the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet.
Denys has showcased his extraordinary skills on numerous prestigious stages worldwide, contributing significantly to the world of ballet.

**Bianca Gomes Vilarinho Teixeira**
Principal Dancer (Brazil)
Bianca Teixeira, a Principal Dancer at Dresden's Semperoper Ballet, joined the Ballet Academy University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. In 2014, she was awarded best classical dancer at the Festival de Dança de Joinville (Brazil). Two years later, she received the silver medal at the Youth America Grand Prix final. After a year as a member of the Bayerisches Junior Ballett München in the 2016/2017 season, she went on to dance for the Polish National Ballet in Warsaw, where she rose to demi-soloist.
From 2019, she danced with San Francisco Ballet, appearing in productions such as *The Nutcracker*, *Romeo and Juliet*, *A Midsummer Night's Dream*, *Etudes*, *Sandpaper Ballet*, *Cinderella*, and *Blake Works*. At the beginning of the 2021/2022 season, she was engaged as a soloist at the Bavarian State Ballet.

Solomon Osazuva
Demi-Soloist (Austria)
Solomon Osazuva, born in Vienna, Austria is an accomplished ballet dancer renowned for his exceptional artistry and technical prowess. His journey in ballet began at the Vienna State Opera Ballet Academy, where he trained from 2008 to 2019 under the guidance of distinguished ballet teachers, including Rafael Avnikyan, Vladimir Shishov and Mihail Sosnovschi. This rigorous training laid a solid foundation for Solomon's career.
Upon completing his training, Solomon joined the Czech National Theater in Brno, where he performed from 2019 to 2022. His tenure at the Czech National Theater was marked by numerous standout performances that solidified his reputation as a rising star in the ballet community. After venturing as a freelance artist for one season, Solomon transitioned to the Slovenian National Theater in Ljubljana in 2024.
Solomon's competitive accolades are a testament to his skill and dedication. He has been a consistent presence in major ballet competitions, earning top honors such as 1st Place at the European Ballet Grand Prix in 2017 and 2018, and securing a spot in the top ranks at the Youth American Grand Prix in New York. His other notable awards include the Karl Musil Preis and 2nd Place at the Tallinn International Ballet Competition and Tanzolymp Berlin.
Beyond the competition stage, Solomon has performed at various esteemed gala events and international tours. His notable gala performances include the Opening of the Vienna Opera Ball, the Grand Assembleé, and the European Ballet Grand Prix galas in Austria and the Czech Republic. He has also been a guest artist in productions like "The Nutcracker" with Balletto di Verona and "Giselle" with the Bosnian National Theater.
Throughout his career, Solomon has had the privilege of working with a roster of renowned choreographers, including Edward Chlug, Liam Scarlett, and Renato Zanella. These collaborations have enriched his artistic repertoire and allowed him to explore a diverse range of choreographic styles.

Ginger Rose Brucker
Harpist (USA)
Ginger Rose Brucker is a distinguished harpist based in Los Angeles, renowned for her versatility and musicality. Named "Music Student of the Year" at Santa Barbara City College, she earned an Associate in Arts before pursuing a Bachelor's in Harp Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a Master's from UCLA. She trained under esteemed harpists Doug Rioth, Emmanuel Ceysson, and Lou Anne Neil.
Ginger's career includes diverse performances and collaborations with the San Francisco Philharmonic, Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, and The Young Musicians Foundation. She has worked with legendary musician Michael McDonald and contributed to the Portal video game soundtracks. A dedicated music educator, Ginger runs a private harp studio in Los Angeles, teaching harpists of all levels.
She co-founded the Coalesce Duo with flutist Jennifer Jo, performing extensively in California and now touring the U.S. As a founding member of the GoOn Ensemble, she contributes her harp expertise to their recordings. Ginger's commitment to the harp community includes serving as President of the American Harp Society’s Santa Barbara Chapter.

Willow Kipp
Indigenous dancer (USA)
"Okii (Hello) my name is Willow Kipp. I come from both the Blackfeet and Shoshone-Bannock tribes. I pride myself in being a lifelong student of my culture and crafting any skills of dancing, designing, and building.
I graduated from the University of Montana in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies and a minor in Environmental Studies. Since 2018, I have gained meaningful workforce experience within the broad scope of conservation and Non-governmental Organizations. I have also started my own design business and website (willow-cahill.com). Through these avenues, I have reconnected to my lifelong passion for dancing and competition.
I have danced the women’s fancy shawl style as well as the women’s jingle style since I was 4 years old and competed in pow wow competitions since I was 7 years old. You will see me at our local Montana pow-wows and summer pow-wows across the country."
— Willow Kipp

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July 21st, 7:30 PM - Paradise Valley, Montana

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Festival Artists 2023

Julian MacKay

Principal Dancer (Germany)
Julian MacKay, age 25, from Montana is a Principal Dancer with the Bayerisches Staatsballett, in Germany. At the age of 11 he left rural Montana to train at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow Russia. Upon graduating he became the first American to receive a full Russian Diploma, having completed both the upper and lower school. While in school he medaled in five consecutive International Ballet Competitions, including the Prix de Lausanne and gold medals at the Istanbul IBC and YAGP along with bronze at Sochi Young Ballet of the World and the Beijing International Ballet Competition.
At 17, while still in school, he made his professional debut as Siegfried in Swan Lake with the Russian State Ballet in Berlin.
Graduating top of his class he was hailed as a young "Apollo" by Russian dance critics, dancing numerous roles on the Bolshoi stage. At the age of 17 Julian joined The Royal Ballet in London, as their 2016 Prix de Lausanne prize winner. Eight months later, upon personal invitation from Mikhail Messerer, MacKay joined The Mikhailovsky Theatre, St. Petersburg as a Second Soloist.
By 19 years old, Julian MacKay was promoted to First Soloist after a thrilling performance in Flames of Paris, and has danced numerous principal roles worldwide. In 2020 he joined the San Francisco Ballet as a Principal Dancer, and in September 2022 he joined the Bayerisches Staatsballett as their newest Principal Dancer.

Maria Beck
Principal Dancer (Hungary)
Principal Dancer Maria Beck was born in Detroit, Michigan and began studying ballet at the age of 6 with Valentina Barsukova. In 2007, she received the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) Hope Award and 3rd place at the NYC finals. At age 13, after receiving a scholarship from YAGP, she left Detroit to study at the Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington DC and did not look back.
In 2010, after a Bolshoi Ballet Academy summer intensive in NYC, she was invited to study at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography (Bolshoi Ballet Academy). After 3 years of studies under the dean of the academy, Marinna Leonova, Maria graduated with a red diploma and won a bronze medal in the prestigious Yuri Grigorovich Moscow ballet competition. That same year, Maria joined the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre as a First Soloist, and within the year was subsequently promoted to Lead Soloist. In 2020, after her debut in Rudolph Nureyevs’ Don Quixote, Maria was announced Principal Dancer by
Laurent Hilaire.
Maria has a vast and widely varied repertoire of both classical and contemporary and has toured the world, including Italy, Japan, China, Thailand, Germany, and France.In 2022, Maria graduated the Moscow State Academy of Choreography and received her master’s degree in teaching. The same year, Maria made the decision to leave Russia and join The Hungarian State Opera ballet company as principal dancer.She credits her parents Elena and Timothy for their tremendous support and encouragement over the years.

Nadia Khan
Soloist (Italy)
Born in Pine Creek, Montana, Nadia left home at age 11 to study at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C. under Angelina Armeiskaya, one of the subjects of the world famous documentary, “The Children of Theatre Street”. Nadia went on to be the student of Prima Ballerina Assoluta, Eva Evdokimova and Bolshoi Ballet Soloist, Masha Mukhamedov respectively. Nadia has been awarded scholarships to Royal Ballet and English National Ballet in London, Princess Grace Academy in Monte Carlo(under founder Marika Besobrasova), Rosella Hightower, in Cannes, American Ballet Theater, and Joffrey Ballet.
At 19 Nadia began her professional career as one of the first members of the Bayerisches Staatsballett’s Junior Company in Munich where she danced with the main and junior company. She was chosen for new creations by Slava Samodurov and Terrance Kohlier. As well as dancing works from Ray Barre, Ivan Liška, John Neumeier, Jiří Kylián, John Cranko, George Balanchine, Jorg Mannes, and Nacho Duato.

After two years in Munich Nadia spent one year in the Leipziger Ballet dancing works by Uwe Scholz and Mario Schröder.
In 2013 Nadia was offered a contract by former Paris Opera Étoile José Carlos Martínez to join the Compañía Nacional de Danza in Madrid. While at the CND Nadia was part of the original choreography of Johan Inger’s “Carmen” as well as performing William Forsythe’s masterpiece, “In The Middle Somewhat Elevated” and George Balanchine’s, “Allegro Brilliante”.

Since 2015 Nadia has been a part of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma in Rome Italy. Under the direction of Paris Opera Ballet Étoile, Eleonora Abbagnato. Nadia has toured all around Europe, China, and Oman and has been invited to dance at the American Embassy in Rome as well as being featured in the “Russian Icons Gala” with her three siblings at the London Colosseum in London. In 2021 she was invited by Roberto Bolle to perform Alexander Ekman’s world famous, “CACTI” for the New Years program, “Danza con Me” on Rai1, the number one Italian tv channel. She has been on the cover of Dance Informa Magazine, called a “Dance sensation” as well as on the cover of Malaysian Tatler. She has been featured in an eight page spread in Singapore Tatler as well as in The Washington Post. She had roles created on her for Jiří Bubeníček’s “Carmen”. As well as dancing soloist roles in Benjamin Pech’s “Swan Lake” and Johan Inger’s “Walking Mad”.

Bayley Graham
Tap Dancer (New Zealand)
New Zealand born and raised, Bayley Graham, age 23, has emerged as one of the hottest new talents in the Tap Dance Game. Sought after to perform, teach, and choreograph around the world he has recently been a Semi Finalist on Americas Got Talent and burst onto the scene as New Zealand's hottest new variety act after being the first ever winner of TVNZs premier talent show ‘60 Seconds’.

Bayley’s unique performance style has seen him perform on Italian TV in Rome, as a featured guest performer with Postmodern Jukebox and in some of New Zealand's biggest venues such as the Spark and Christchurch Arena. He has toured his love of dance around New Zealand with workshops, shows and charity events, featured in the World Buskers Festival and recently as the creative director of his first sell out, award winning Fringe Show ‘Rhythm is my Business’. This high energy tap dance star is always looking for a challenge. He takes his passion for circus and magic and incorporates them seamlessly into his performances. Conventional or unconventional, this multifaceted performer dances with anything from canes to drums.

His viral online tap videos have caught the attention of celebrities such as DJ Marshmello, Abby Lee Miller, The Rockettes and Baz Luhrmann which has gained millions of views and have been seen on TV shows such as ‘The Project’, “What Now” and ‘The Breakfast Show’. "Exploring rhythms and movement with influence from the greats of the past, this young talent brings new, exhilarating energy to a timeless style"

Maria Sascha Khan
Principal Dancer (United Kingdom)
Born in Pine Creek, Montana, USA, Maria Sascha Khan is a Principal Dancer and Artistic Director of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival.
Maria Sascha was trained under Luidmila Morkovina, at the Kirov Academy of Ballet, and under the personal mentorship of Marika Besobrasova (coach to Nureyev and Fonteyn) at the Academie de Danse Classique de Princesse Grace, Monte Carlo. She attended summers at The Royal Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre on scholarship.
Graduating with honours from the Academie, Maria Sascha was invited by Vladimir Malakhov to join the Staatsballett Berlin, one of the top five companies in the world. Dancing a wide range of classical and contemporary repertoire she continued her career with the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, the English National Ballet of London and as Principal dancer of the Ekaterinburg State Ballet, Russia.
Along with her performing career, Maria Sascha is Artistic Director of Ballet Legacy Master Classes worldwide, Production Manager for MacKay Productions, jury member for international ballet competitions, a Mentor for non-profit arts organisation Youth Arts in Action, and an ambassador for London based charity Save Wild Tigers. She is a passionate advocate and cultural ambassador for the arts, including working with the UNESCO International Dance Council. Maria Sascha recently received her Masters Degree in Arts & Cultural Enterprise from the university Central Saint Martins, in London, where she graduated with Distinction.

Zecheng Liang
Principal Dancer (China)
Zecheng Liang was born in China where at a young age he was accepted to train at the renowned Guangzhou Art School. In 2010 after being scouted at the prestigious Prix de Laussane, Zecheng was invited to join the Houston Ballet II where he continued to train and perform with the company from June 2010 to June 2012, supplementing his studies at summer intensives (on full scholarship) with Houston Ballet in 2010 and 2011. Zecheng competed in several international ballet competitions, including winning a Gold Medal at the 3rd Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition in 2015. He was also a 2010 finalist of the Prix de Lausanne and placed 2nd and 3rd (classical) in the 2008 Beijing International and 2009 Tao Li Bei competitions respectively.
In 2017 Zecheng joined the Philadelphia Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet and rose quickly through the ranks. He was promoted to Soloist for the 2018/2019 Season and shortly therafter to the positon of Principal Dancer. He has danced Principal roles in Angel Corella’s The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Desire), Swan Lake (Siegfried), Giselle (Albrecht), Don Quixote (Basilio); and La Bayadère (Solor); Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo & Juliet (Romeo); George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (Cavalier), Theme and Variations, Jewels, Apollo, and Stravinsky Violin Concerto; Episode 31; For Four; Jerome Robbins’ The Cage and Glass Pieces; Petite Mort; and DGV. He’s also performed in many world premieres: Helen Pickett’s TILT, Russell Ducker’s This Divide, Matthew Neenan’s Deco, Jorma Elo’s Trigger Touch Fade, Juliano Nunes’ Connection, and Garrett Smith’s Reverberance.

Francesca Velicu
Soloist (United Kingdom)
Rising star Francesca Velicu was born in Bucharest, Romania and began her ballet training at the age of 4 , attending the Choreography High school in Bucharest until she was 15 years old. After receiving 2nd place at Youth America Grand Prix, she was invited to study at Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. Following her two years of study in Russia, at the age of 17 she joined the Romanian National Opera and Ballet for one year while studying for her state exams in Bucharest.
She is currently a Soloist with English National Ballet.
In 2018 she won the prestigious 'Laurence Olivier Award' for 'Outstanding Achievement in Dance' following her performance of 'The Chosen One' in Pina Bausch' s 'Le Sacre du printemps'. She was nominated for both Outstanding Female Performance and Emerging Artist Awards at The Critics Circle National Dance Awards, and was named as a Forbes 30 under 30 Arts and Culture. She has been featured in publications such as Bristish Vogue, Dance For You Magazine, Pointe Magazine, Ballet Magazine.
Her repertoire includes : Clara/Sugar Plum in Wayne Eagling's 'Nutcracker', 3rd Principal Couple in Liam Scarlett' s 'No man's land' , First Couple in George Balanchine's 'Theme and Variations', Kitri in Alexander Gorski's 'Don Quijote' , Trio Couple in Alexey Ratmansky's 'Concerto DSCH', 1st couple in Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Laid in Earth, Henriette in Tamara Rojo’s Raymonda and Vegas in William Forsythe’s Playlist.

Anastasia Smirnova
Principal Dancer (Russia)
Anastasia Smirnova was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she graduated from the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy studying under the tutelage of the legendary Ludmila Kovaleva. While a student of the Academy she toured to Switzerland, Greece, Germany and Japan, performing principal roles such as Clara in The Nutcracker, Fairy Doll, and the pas de trois in Suit en Blanc. At age 15 Anastasia competed in the Vaganova Prix where she won the special Prize of Diana Vishneva, and in 2018 was awarded First Prize in the Vaganova Prix senior category.
Upon graduating, in 2020, she join the Mikhailovsky Theatre as a Soloist, where she immediately began performing principal roles, including Kitri in Don Quixote, Lise in La Fille mal Gardee, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Masha in Nutcracker, Gamzatti in Bayadere, and Laurencia. In September of 2021 Anastasia joined the Mariinsky Ballet where she performed soloist roles in ballets such as Symphony in C, Giselle, Nutcracker, Raymonda, Don Quixote and Push Comes to Shove. In March of 2022 she returned to the Mikhailovsky Theatre where she continued to dance leading Principal roles including Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Odile (Swan Lake), Nikia (Bayadere), Cinderella (Cinderella), Gulnara (Corsaire).
In June 2022 Anastasia won 2nd Prize at the Moscow International Ballet Competion XIV on the Bolshoi Theatre stage, along with gala concerts in Jakarta, Moscow, and Almetievsk, La Bayadere in the Galina Ulanova Festival in Yoshkar-Ola and Rudolf Nureyev Festival in Kazan. In the summer of 2023 Anastasia Smirnova was promoted to First Soloist of the Mikhailovsky Theatre.

Joshua Stewart
International Operatic Tenor (Germany)
Joshua Stewart is an acclaimed American tenor, recognized for his exceptional vocal talent and captivating stage presence. With a diverse repertoire spanning opera, jazz, concert and recital performances, he continues to leave a lasting impact on audiences worldwide, solidifying his reputation as a rising star.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Joshua's musical journey began at the prestigious New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). He released his first solo album at the age of 12, produced by legendary trumpeter Milton Batiste. He is a graduate of the renowned Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and former member of Munich's Bavarian State Opera Studio, where he honed his skills under the guidance of esteemed directors and conductors.
Joshua eagerly anticipates his return to the Yellowstone International Arts Festival, where he will once again dazzle audiences. Throughout his career, Joshua has collaborated with renowned orchestras and conductors, earning him accolades and international recognition.
Joshua's talent has attracted the attention of world leaders, having had the honor of performing for distinguished figures such as King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, as well as Presidents George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and Barack Obama. He has performed alongside conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra on a captivating tour, showcasing his vocal prowess in Tippett's "A Child of our Time." including a recent recording with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London.

Chitat Killsback
Northern Cheyenne (Montana)
Chitat Killsback, age 18, is a member of the Northern Cheyenne and Oglala Lakota Tribes from the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Southeastern, Montana. Chitat is the son of Velinda Fox (Jerry Spang) and Dion (Evelyn) Killsback. He gradutated from St. Labre High School and is currenty studying graphic design at Montana State University. Chitat is an ardent runner and participates in cross-country and track.
Chitat, like his older brother grew up traditional dancing since he could walk. He learned to dance the fancy feather dance style from his older brother Valor.
Chitat loves gaming and taking care of his grandmother. He enjoys hunting with his father and older brother, and cruising his “onewheel”. Chitat really enjoys hikes in the mountains with his family.
It has been an honor to represent the Northern Cheyenne Tribe as a student and person that dances. He seeks to dance and showcase his style of dance for fun and for all Indigenous people.
He would like to thank the Yellowstone International Arts Festival for inviting him to come showcase our dance style for you. "I've been dancing my whole life and its a pleasure to be sharing a part of my culture with everyone in attendance. Thank you for this opportunity!”

Alexander Romanchikov
Soloist (Russia)
Alexander Romanchikov was born in Krasnodar, Russia. In 2006 he graduated from the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia and that same year was invited to join the Mariinsky Ballet. In 2008 he was promoted to the rank of Soloist.
Since 2006 Alexander has been a regular participant in such festivals such as "White nights", "Mariinsky" and "Easter Festival", and has toured to the USA, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, Austria, France, Brasil and beyond. His repertoire includes soloist roles in ballet such as La Sylphide, La Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote and many others, as well as works by Preljocaj, Balanchine, Gusev, Lavrovsky, Ashton and Fokine.
Alexander comes from an artistic family. His wife is also a Mariinsky dancer with whom he recently began a family with the birth of their twins. His sister in law Polina is a talented pianist, violinist and YIAF Artist. Alexander will be performing together with Nadia Khan, Artist of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.

Josh Fisk
Young Talent (USA)
Josh Fisk of Helena, Montana, began dancing at age 14. In September 2019, he was accepted to study at the English National Ballet School (ENBS) in London, England, under the direction of Viviana Durante, former star of the Royal Ballet. While a student, Josh had a leading role in Andrew McNicol’s Splendour and was featured in McNicol’s Of Space and Time and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Memorias del Dorado, which was an online performance during the Covid epidemic.
In 2021, as one of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival’s “Young Talents,” Josh performed a world premiere that was choreographed for him by Alisher Khasanov of Kazakhstan.
During Josh’s final year at ENBS, he performed in a benefit for Ukraine at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London with students from ballet schools throughout Great Britain. He graduated from ENBS in July 2022.
Josh is currently a member of the corps de ballet at The Sarasota Ballet in Sarasota, Florida. As a new company member, he participated in The Sarasota Ballet’s week-long residency in New York City in August 2022. Since joining the company, Josh has performed in Sir Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody, Birthday Offerings¸and Les Patineurs, Johan Kobborg’s production of August Bournonville’s La Sylphide, and George Balanchine’s Western Symphony and Divertimento No. 15, among others. Josh will be performing the La Slyphide Pas de Deux and Sleeping Beauty Pas de Deux with Francesca Velicu of the English National Ballet.

Isaac Hall
Opera Singer (USA)
Isaac is a Baritone studying with Mark Oswald at Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Isaac was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, and is glad to be back for the summer. He enjoys the easy access to the outdoors that Bozeman offers, hiking multiple times a week and spending time with friends in the abundance of parks. As a senior in high school, while a student of Douglas Nagel, Isaac placed first in the NATS competition for the state of Montana.
Isaac first performed as part of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival in 2019, where his talent captured the attention of YIAF Artist Joshua Stewart, who mentored him for that year’s performance. He has been featured as a YIAF Young Talent as well as at the festival’s youth and mentorship focused Fairy Tea for the Arts. He is excited to once more be joining professionals from around the world for the Yellowstone International Arts Festival “Stars on the Yellowstone”.

Ian Maksin
Cellist (Global)
Breaking boundaries both musical and geographical, cellist, composer and multilingual vocalist Ian Maksin has created his own unique style by blending elements of different genres and traditional music from around the globe in a new way using his cello as the main unifying force.
In addition to cello, he used an electronic device called the loop pedal, which allows him to create "loops" or layers by recording and replaying his own playing in real time.
Singing in 30 Languages: What began as a hobby and a passion for linguistics and travel has become part of a unique concert experience. At this time Ian Maksin sings in Ukrainian, Polish, Russian, English, Farsi, Armenian, French, Italian, Arabic, Hebrew, Mongolian, Bambara (one of the tongues spoken in West Africa) and many other exotic languages. Most of this repertoire was amassed by Maksin during his world travels, jam sessions and collaborations with local musicians. Many of his original songs and instrumental compositions are also infused with flavours of ethnic music from countries and regions where he drew inspiration from: Mongolia, West Africa, Middle East, the Balkans, Andalusian flamenco.
Ian Maksin was born in Leningrad, former USSR, into a multinational family and grew up absorbing many cultures and traditions from an early age. He began playing guitar and piano at age 3 and cello at age 6 at the School for Gifted Children in Leningrad and then came to the USA at 16 to continue studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. After working for many years in the classical genre including a three-year tenure with the New World Symphony in Miami Ian has decided to look for his own musical path. His diverse musical experience, including playing rock and blues guitar and passion for jazz and world music has allowed him to take the cello to a new dimension and develop his own distinct style as a musician and composer. In Ian's own words: "At some point I realized that music is much more than mere entertainment. Music is one of most powerful and unifying forces in the world, capable of healing, inspiring, bringing people together and bringing peace among them. I believe that cello will save the world”

Festival Artists 2022

Julian Mackay

Principal Dancer (Germany)
Julian MacKay, age 23, from Montana. At the age of 11 he left rural Montana to train at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow Russia. Upon graduating he became the first American to receive a full Russian Diploma, having completed both the upper and lower school. While in school he medaled in five consecutive International Ballet Competitions, including the Prix de Lausanne and gold medals at the Istanbul IBC and YAGP along with bronze at Sochi Young Ballet of the World and the Beijing International Ballet Competition.
At 17, while still in school, he made his professional debut as Siegfried in Swan Lake with the Russian State Ballet in Berlin. Graduating top of his class he was hailed as a young "Apollo" by Russian dance critics, dancing numerous roles on the Bolshoi stage. At the age of 17 Julian joined The Royal Ballet in London, as their 2016 Prix de Lausanne prize winner. Eight months later, upon personal invitation from Mikhail Messerer, he joined The Mikhailovsky Theatre, St. Petersburg as a Second Soloist.
By 19 years old, MacKay was promoted to First Soloist after a thrilling performance in Flames of Paris, and has danced numerous principal roles worldwide. At the height of his time at the Mikhailovsky Theatre he became an International Guest Artist. Julian is fluent in Russian and has his Bachelors Degree as a Ballet Master and Choreographer from the prestigious GITIS University (Russian Institute of Theatre Arts), in Moscow, Russia.
From 2020 to 2022 he was Principal with the San Francisco Ballet under the direction of Helgi Thomasson. From the 2022-23 season he will dance as Principal with the Bayerisches Staatsballett.

Madison Young

Principal Dancer (Germany)
Madison Young was born in Utah, USA where she did mostly contemporary and competition dance. At the age of 13 she decided to choose classical ballet as her main focus and joined the Ballet West Academy in Utah and then the Houston Ballet Academy in Texas.
In 2016 she attended the prestigious Prix De Lausanne in Switzerland, where she received the Beau Riviage Palace 2nd place Award. This opened the doors to her professional career and she was awarded an apprenticeship for Houston Ballet which she joined in 2016, in 2017 she joined the company as a member corps de ballet. In 2017 she was invited to join the Wiener Staatsballet under the direction of former Paris Opera etoile Manuel Legris. There she was quickly promoted to Demi-soloist and in 2019 to Soloist. In 2020 she was invited to join the Bayerisches Staatsballet in Germany as a First Soloist, and in December 2021, after her premiere in the title role of Cinderella, she was promoted to Principal Dancer by her director Igor Zelensky. She currently dances as a Principal Dancer with the Bayerisches Staatsballet, under the direction of Laurent Hilaire. Madison will be making her debut at this year’s Yellowstone International Arts Festival and is excited to perform in Montana for the first time.

Violetta Komyshan

(Ukraine)
Violetta Komyshan grew up in New York City and began dancing at the age of 9 at Ballet Tech. There she learned classical ballet, pointe work, character dance and even yoga. She then continued on to train at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Music and Art and the Performing Arts. There she learned modern dance styles like Martha Graham and Horton as well as contemporary dance. Violetta has danced and trained in Paris under Violette Verdy, American Ballet Theatre, and Sao Paolo under Eurika Porto and Adrianna Assaf where she performed La Bayadere at the Sergio Cardoso Theatre. Violetta was a member of Ballet Next under the direction of Michelle Wiles former Principal of American Ballet Theatre during which time she was Violetta invited to perform at the Whitney Museum Biennial & Noguchi Museum in an immersive art display, as well Mauro Bigonzetti’s “La Folia”. Violetta is currently a member of the American Swiss Ballet where she recently performed the lead role of Paquita in Bern, Switzerland. She loves the many facets that dance has to offer and believes having exposure to many physical types of movement makes one a more interesting dancer. She is thrilled to be joining Mackay Productions and performing at the Yellowstone International Arts Festival. Violetta will be making her festival debut performing the US premiere of the solo “Lacrimosa” by choreographer Valentino Zucchetti of the Royal Ballet in London

Maria Beck

Principal Dancer (Russia)
Maria Beck was born in Detroit, Michigan and began studying ballet at the age of 6 with Valentina Barsukova. In 2008, at the YAGP she received a scholarship to study at the Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington where her teachers were Lyubov Fominich and Marianna Lobanova. In 2010, she attended the Bolshoi Ballet Academy summer intensive program in New York, after which she was invited to study at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography (Bolshoi Ballet Academy). After three years of studies under the dean of the academy, Marina Leonova, Maria graduated in 2013 with a red diploma.
In 2013, Maria joined the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre and became Soloist the same year. In 2018 she was promoted to Lead Soloist. In 2020, after her debut in Rudolph Nureyevs’ Don Quixote, Maria was promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer by Laurent Hilaire.
Maria’s has won medals in international ballet competitions including Bronze Medal at the Youth American Grand NYC finals, Bronze Medal at the Yuri Grigorovich Moscow Ballet Competition and Gold Medal at the Yuri Grigorovich Moscow Ballet Competition. This will be her debut at the Yellowstone International Arts Festival

Joshua Stewart

International Opera Singer (Germany)
A native of New Orleans, American tenor Joshua Stewart has been Praised for his compelling artistry and versatility. Recent appearances include Beethoven’s 9. Sinfonie with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle; Zinovy in Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mstensk and Lazarus in the world premiere of Giorgio Battistelli’s Wake at the Birmingham Opera Company, directed by Sir Graham Vick; his debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the role of the Narrator in Schumann’s Das Paradies und die Peri under the directional team of Gustavo Dudamel and Peter Sellars; Antenore in Zelmira with Gianluigi Gelmetti and Le nozze di Teti e di Peleo at the Belcanto Opera Festival „Rossini in Wildbad“. Upcoming performances include his debut at Seattle Opera in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird and a European tour of Tippett’s A Child of Our Time with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla.
Recent debuts include the title role in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird with the Atlanta Opera, Arizona Opera and Madison Opera, tenor soloist in Tippett’s A Child of Our Time with the RTVE Symphony Orchestra in Madrid, Trin in La Fanciulla del West at the Hamburg State Opera, Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail with Opera de Lausanne and Opera de Fribourg, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Toledo Opera, Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera Carolina, Abdallo in Nabucco at the Oberammergau Passionstheater, as the tenor soloist in Carmina Burana with the Toledo Symphony, and as the Erzengel in Das Spiel von der Auferstehung des Herrn by Walter Braunfels with the Muenchner Rundfunkorchester. He also performed the Shepherd in Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex at the Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and at the Royal Festival Hall in London under the musical direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen and directed by Peter Sellars.
Joshua Stewart is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and prizewinner in the 2013 International Voice Competition „Vokal genial“ and is a former member of the studio of Munich’s Bavarian State Opera, where he made his debut in 2012. He has performed in numerous festivals, received several awards, and worked with renowned conductors throughout the world, as well as having the honor of performing for several world leaders, including King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, the Honorable George H. W. Bush, the Honorable William J. Clinton, and the Honorable Barack H. Obama.

Nadia Khan

Dancer with Rome Opera Ballet (Italy)
Born in Pray, Montana, at age 11, Nadia Khan left home to train at the prestigious Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington DC under the direction of Oleg Vinogradov. Being taught by Angelina Armeiskaya (star of movie "Children of Theatre Street"). She then moved to New York where she was privately trained by Prima Ballerina Assoluta Eva Evdokimova. Her final year of training was spent training one on one with Bolshoi star Masha Mukhamedov.
Nadia has been on the cover of Malaysia Tatler and Dance Informa Magazine as a "Dance Sensation". As well as being featured in an eight page spread in Singapore Tatler and The Washington Post. Starting her career with the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, she danced works from Neumeier, Cranko, Petipa, Kylián, Balanchine, Ashton, and Ray Barra. And was also chosen as part of new creations by Slava Samodurov and Terence Kohler. She went on to dance with the Leipziger Ballett in Leipzig. And Compañía Nacional de Danza in Madrid. Where she danced William Forsythe’s, “In The Middle Somewhat Elevated” as well as being part of Johan Inger’s creation, “Carmen”.
Since 2015 Nadia has been dancing in the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma under the direction of Paris Opera Etoile Eleonora Abbagnato. Nadia's repertoire highlights in Rome include Swan Lake by Christopher Wheeldon, the Spanish Princess & Mazurka soloist in Benjamin Pech’s Swan Lake and soloist roles in Johan Inger’s “Walking Mad”, Jiri Bubenicek’s “Carmen” and Sleeping Beauty. In 2020 Nadia was invited by Italian superstar Roberto Bolle to perform Alexander Ekman’s “Cacti” in his televised New Years Eve show on the number one Italian TV channel Rai Uno, which was broadcast internationally.
Nadia has been invited to dance in the American Embassy in Rome. And has been featured, along with her three siblings, in the Russian Icon’s Gala in the London Coliseum, as part of the world premiere of, “Warrior of Light”. A ballet about the artist, writer, archaeologist, theosophist, and philosopher, Nicholas Roerich. Since 2019 Nadia has performed in and, with her family, produced the Yellowstone International Arts Festival. An international arts festival in her home, Paradise Valley, featuring world class international artists from around the world.

Jinhao Zhang

Principal Dancer (China)
Jinhao Zhang is a Chinese-born Principal dancer with the Bayerisches Staatsballet in Munich, Germany, and also a graduate of Tongji University, one of the top universities in China. He attended boarding school to study classical ballet since he was 8 years old, competing in competitions that took him out of China as a young teenager to locations such as South Africa, Hong Kong, and Las Vegas. He eventually moved to Shanghai to attend Tongji University and complete his Bachelors before joining the English National Ballet in 2014. At ENB he had the opportunity to dance at more international locations, including performing principal roles in Le Corsaire on the Palais Garnier ( Paris Opera) stage. In 2017 he joined the Bayerisches Staatsballett as a Soloist and was quickly chosen in his first season to perform principal roles such as Crassus in Grigorovich’s *Spartacus* and Jean de Brienne in Barra's *Raymonda*. Jinhao was promoted to First Soloist in 2018 and danced more principal roles such as the Principal Couple in Diamonds of Balanchine's *Jewels*, Albrecht in Wright's *Giselle*, and the role of Wronski in Spuck’s *Anna Karenina.*
Jinhao was also a prize winner at Prix de Lausanne in 2013, winner of the Emerging Dancer competition in 2015, won silver medal in 2016 at the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition (BIBCC), and won the "Best Choreography" award at the BIBCC the same year. He was created on for the murderous role of Richard Ramirez in Andrey Kaydanovskiy’s *Cecil Hotel* and was in the creation of works with Azsure Barton, Akram Khan, and Annabelle Ochoa.
Recently, Jinhao was filmed performing Siegfried for Bayerisches Staatsballett's online stream of Barra's *Swan Lake,* as well as their online stream of Maliphant's *Broken Fall* alongside fiancée Jeanette Kakareka and a pas de deux from the late Scarlett's *With A Chance of Rain*.

Maria Sascha Khan

Principal Dancer (London)
Maria Sascha Khan is a Principal Dancer and Artistic Director of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival.
Maria Sascha was trained under Luidmila Morkovina, at the Kirov Academy of Ballet, and under the personal mentorship of Marika Besobrasova (coach to Nureyev and Fonteyn) at the Academie de Danse Classique de Princesse Grace, Monte Carlo. She attended summers at The Royal Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre on scholarship.
Graduating with honours from the Academie, Maria Sascha was invited by Vladimir Malakhov to join the Staatsballett Berlin, one of the top five companies in the world. Dancing a wide range of classical and contemporary repertoire she continued her career with the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, the English National Ballet of London and as Principal dancer of the Ekaterinburg State Ballet, Russia.
Along with her performing career Maria Sascha is the Artistic Director of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival, and Ballet Legacy Master Class programs worldwide. She is an invited guest teacher and has taught master classes in London, Munich, Beijing, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Oman, USA, Vienna and Russia. She has adjudicated as a jury member for international ballet competitions, is a Mentor for non-profit arts organisation Youth Arts in Action, brand ambassador for Gaynor Minden and an ambassador for London based charity, Save Wild Tigers. Maria Sascha recently received her Masters Degree in Arts & Cultural Enterprise from the university Central Saint Martins, in London.
Her resume includes commercials for Honda Acura and Löwve, cover girl for Malaysia Tatler, features in Elle magazine, HotBook Mexico, Singapore Tatler, and the Washington Post. Maria Sascha is an accomplished public speaker and produces an online video series called "Inspiring Artists". Her passion is to give back and inspire others through the beauty of the Arts.

Daniel Rubin

Leading Soloist (Russia)
Daniel was born and raised in Cupertino, California, USA. After training locally, Daniel studied at the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, DC, and later, under the wing of Tamara Statkoun. Daniel continued his studies of classical ballet at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography (Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Russia). Upon graduation in 2015, Daniel joined the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg. After having performed the entire corps de ballet repertoire at the theatre, he was promoted to soloist in 2018, and to leading soloist in 2020. Daniel has originated the following roles: Konstantin Treplev in *The Seagull. A Ballet Story*, Louis XIV, Old Molière, and the Commander in *Molière Passion, or The Mask of Don Juan*, and the Angel in *The Pygmalion Effect*. Daniel was awarded the St. Petersburg State Prize in the realm of Culture and Fine Art for 2021, for the creation of the ballet *The Seagull. A Ballet Story*. Daniel was also nominated for the “Golden Spotlight” in the category “Best Male Role in a Ballet Performance” for his roles in *Molière Passion, or The Mask of Don Juan*. Among his other roles in Boris Eifman’s repertoire: George Balanchine in *Musagète*, Alexei Karamazov in *Beyond Sin*, the Heir in *Russian Hamlet*, Tchaikovsky, Prince, Lensky, and Joker in *Tchaikovsky. Pro et Contra*, Molière in *Molière Passion, or The Mask of Don Juan*, Lensky in *Onegin*, The Young Man in *Requiem,* Claude Debussy in *Roden, Her Eternal Idol*.
As a dancer with the Eifman Ballet, Daniel has performed in some of the most renowned theatres in the world, including New York City Center, Lincoln Center (NYC), Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Theater am Potsdamer Platz (Berlin), Dubai Opera, Palais des congrès (Paris), the Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow), Place des Arts (Montreal), Royal Opera House (Muscat), Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Los Angeles), Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Costa Mesa), London Coliseum, Meridian Hall (Toronto), National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing), Gran Teatre del Liceu (Barcelona), Shanghai Oriental Art Center, among many others. Daniel has taken part in the ballet-films *Tchaikovsky. Pro et Contra*, *The Pygmalion Effect*, and *Molière Passion, or The Mask of Don Juan*.
Daniel was a guest artist at the 30th Anniversary Gala of the prestigious Benois de la Danse competition in 2022. He is currently completing his Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts at Saint Mary’s College of California (2023).
Daniel will be making his debut as a YIAF Artist in a world premiere commissioned and choreographed specifically for the Yellowstone International Arts Festival.

Kenedy Kallas

(Netherlands)
Kenedy Kallas is a 22 year old young star from Utah, USA. She started her training at Ballet West Academy, from where she then moved on to train in the professional training division at the San Francisco Ballet. In 2019 Kenedy accepted her first professional contract with the Nederlands Dans Theater 2. Since joining she has been sought after for new creations by choreographers Sol León, Paul Lightfoot, Marco Goecke, Crystal Pite, Dimo Milev, Nadav Zelner, Emilie Lerich, Marcos Marou, David Raymond, Tiffany Tregarthen and Tom Weinberger. She has also performed pre-existing works by Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, Edward Clug, Hans Van Manen and Yoanne Bourgeois.
This August she will be joining Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden for the 2022/2023 season At a young age Kenedy burst on to the professional ballet scene and her talent propelled her to recognition early on. She was the 1st runner-up in the Teen Female division of the The Dance Awards in NYC, and showcased as a young talent in the Youth America Grand Prix “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” gala in NYC, as well as Gala de Danza in Cabo San Lucas. She was picked out by Dance Magazine as the “complete package” with “drool worthy feet”, “effortless extension” “work ethic and humility”. In Kenedy’s own words she says “something that I strive for in my life, and especially in my work, is presence. I tend to find myself the most present while I am dancing…the possibilities are endless.” This will be her debut performance at the Yellowstone International Arts Festival.

Polina Krasovskaya

Pianist (Russia)
Polina was born in Saint- Petersburg. She graduated from the Saint-Petersburg state conservatory named after N. Rimsky-Korsakov in 2020. Polina graduated from the the Moscow state conservatory named after P. Tchaikovsky as a composer, as well. Her music is performing in different concert programs by herself and other musicians. Also, Polina writes music for ballet, drama productions and short films. Polina is a laureate and diplomat of different international competitions as a violinist, a composer, a pianist and a member of the piano trio. (St. Petersburg State Scholar Award "Young Talents”, International "Bravo" Competition (Namur, Belgium), St.Petersburg International Shostakovich Competition, Lubeck International competition (as a pianist), III International chamber music competition named after T.Gaidamovich, V Myaskovsky International competition of young composers, II Gavrilin International competition) She has many performances in Russia (in the Mariinsky theatre, in state Philharmonic hall, in Moscow conservatory hall, Kazan philharmonic and on other stages), in Europe (during International musical fests in Hamburg, Amsterdam, Utrecht) and in the USA (Joseph Gingold international music festival in Miami (Florida) concerts in Irvine (CA)) as a solo player and a member of the chamber ensembles. Since 2016 Polina is a soloist of Saint-Petersburg Music House.
Along with being an extraordinarily talented musician Polina writes music for ballet, drama productions and short films. Polina comes from a family of musicians and is joined at this year’s festival by her brother Mariinsky soloist Alexander Romanchikov. This will be Polina’s second time appearing at the Yellowstone International Arts Festival!

Chloe Misseldine

Soloist (USA)
Chloe Misseldine age 20, is a Soloist with the American Ballet Theatre in NYC. She began her classical training at Orlando Ballet School. She attended ABT Summer Intensives in Orange County, California and New York City as an ABT Summer Intensive National Training Scholar. In 2016, she performed a traditional Chinese fan dance called Mo Li Hua in the CCTV New Year’s Gala known as the Beijing Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan), broadcast to over 700 million viewers. At age 15, Misseldine earned second place in the 2017 Youth America Grand Prix New York City Finals and performed at the YAGP “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” Gala. In 2018, she was named a finalist at the Prix de Lausanne and joined American Ballet Theatre Studio Company.
Misseldine joined American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in December 2019 and became a member of the corps de ballet in September 2021. Her repertoire Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Sugarplum Fairy in the Nutcracker, Big Swan & Peasant Pas de Trois in Swan Lake, the Queen of Babylon in Ratmansky’s Of Love and Rage as well as featured roles in Bernstein in a Bubble and La Follia Variations, and Balanchine’s Theme and Variations. She was recently featured on the cover of Dance Spirit Magazine, and in Pointe Magazine. Chloe will be making her debut at this years Yellowstone International Arts Festival and she is excited to be performing in Montana for the first time!

Erin Casale

(USA)
Erin Casale, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is a member of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre under the direction of former ABT star Susan Jaffe. In 2019, she was invited to join the company from the Graduate Program. She trained with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Academy of Russian Ballet and Johnstown Concert Ballet prior to joining PBT. She has performed in PBT productions of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Raymonda, Giselle and The Great Gatsby. Her repertoire also includes George Balanchine’s Rubies, Divertimento No.15, Western Symphony, Allegro Brillante, and Susan Jaffe’s Carmina Terra. Erin recently got engaged to her on and offstage partner Montana’s own Josiah Kaufmann. Together they will be performing Satanella Pas de Deux and Carmina Terra. Erin has been featured in the Yellowstone International Arts Festival’s Fairy Tea for the Arts dancing the charming Flower Festival of Genzano, this will be her first time performing as a YIAF Young Talent!

Josiah Kauffman

(USA)
Josiah Kauffman was born and raised in Belgrade, Montana. He is a member of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre under the direction of former star of American Ballet Theatre Susan Jaffe. Josiah began his training in competition dance, where he excelled winning many awards, but discovered his true passion was for ballet. In 2016 he moved to Indiana to train with Robert Moore and Pollyanna Ribeiro, at En Pointe Indiana Ballet, where he won Gold at YAGP regionals, in both classical and contemporary. In 2019, Josiah joined the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as an apprentice and was quickly promoted to the rank of Corps de Ballet. His repertoire includes: The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Giselle, The Great Gatsby, Beauty and the Beast, and Susan Jaffe’s Carmina Terra. Josiah recently got engaged to his on and off-stage partner Erin! Together they will be performing Satanella Pas de Deux and Carmina Terra. Over the years Josiah has been mentored by Youth Arts in Action and featured in the Yellowstone International Arts Festival’s Fairy Tea for the Arts and as a Young Talent in YIAF 2019 inaugural performance.

Isaac Hall

Young Talent (USA)
Isaac Hall is a rising Junior at Manhattan School of Music. Now studying with Dimitri Pittas, he has his sights on mastering the standard Bass-Baritone Repertoire. Isaac hopes that his music can be a welcome warmth to people in hard times, the same way it is for himself. Recent career highlights include singing Peter in Bach's Saint John Passion conducted by Michael Sheetz, and performing Crudel! Perchè finora for Manhattan School of Music's Voice Recital.
Isaac was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, and is glad to be back for the summer. He enjoys the easy access to the outdoors that Bozeman offers, hiking multiple times a week and spending time with friends in the abundance of parks. As a senior in high school, while a student of Douglas Nagel, Isaac placed first in the NATS competition for the state of Montana. Isaac first performed as part of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival in 2019, where his talent captured the attention of YIAF Artist Joshua Stewart, who mentored him for that year’s performance. He has been featured as a YIAF Young Talent as well as at the festival’s youth and mentorship focused Fairy Tea for the Arts. He is excited to once more be joining professionals from around the world for the Yellowstone International Arts Festival “Art on the Yellowstone”.

Festival Artists 2021

Alyona Kovalyova

Leading Soloist (Russia)
Born in Saint Petersburg. In 2016, she completed her training at Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet (teacher Yulia Kasenkova) with distinction and joined the Bolshoi Ballet Company. Her coach at the Bolshoi is Olga Chenchikova.
Among the parts danced during the education period: Eastern Dance (solo), Waltz (Nutcracker by P. Tchaikovsky, V. Vainonen version), Japanese Doll, the title part in Die Puppenfee by J. Bayer (choreography by N. and S. Legat, N. Tsiskaridze version), Soloist in Naina's Magical Gardens Scene from Ruslan and Lyudmila opera by M. Glinka (choreography by M. Fokine, N. Tsiskaridze version).

IMG_0255.jpeg.JPEG — Julian Mackay

Principal Dancer (Russia)
Julian MacKay, age 23, from Montana, is the youngest Principal Dancer of the San Francisco Ballet. At the age of 11 he left rural Montana to train at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow Russia. Upon graduating he became the first American to receive a full Russian Diploma, having completed both the upper and lower school. While in school he medaled in five consecutive International Ballet Competitions, including the Prix de Lausanne and gold medals at the Istanbul IBC and YAGP along with bronze at Sochi Young Ballet of the World and the Beijing International Ballet Competition.
At 17, while still in school, he made his professional debut as Siegfried in Swan Lake with the Russian State Ballet in Berlin. Graduating top of his class he was hailed as a young "Apollo" by Russian dance critics, dancing numerous roles on the Bolshoi stage. At the age of 17 Julian joined The Royal Ballet in London, as their 2016 Prix de Lausanne prize winner. Eight months later, upon personal invitation from Mikhail Messerer, he joined The Mikhailovsky Theatre, St. Petersburg as a Second Soloist.
By 19 years old, MacKay was promoted to First Soloist after a thrilling performance in Flames of Paris, and has danced numerous principal roles worldwide. At the height of his time at the Mikhailovsky Theatre he became an International Guest Artist. Julian is fluent in Russian and has his Bachelors Degree as a Ballet Master and Choreographer from the prestigious GITIS University (Russian Institute of Theatre Arts), in Moscow, Russia.

Hee Seo

Principal Dancer (South Korea)
Hee Seo is a South Korean Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), one of the three leading classical ballet companies in the United States. She became the company's first Korean ballerina to be promoted to principal dancer in ABT's 75-year history. She is also one of the youngest dancers in ABT history to be promoted to principal at the age of just twenty-six. The New York Times has described her style and dancing to "exude an unhurried purity that sums up all that is lovely about ballet" and by Vogue as "unspeakably lissome". Several critics have noted her style as "lyrical and open" and she has been critically acclaimed for her "humility" and "unique feminine strength".
Seo began training her training in the Russian Vagonova style at the age of twelve, a relatively late start for a ballet dancer. Her mother, aunt, and grandmother all studied fine arts and she, along with her two older and younger brothers, studied piano and took swimming lessons. Seo’s talent was quickly noticed by her teachers and after only one year of professional training she was offered full scholarships to study abroad at prestigious ballet schools such as the Kirov Academy of Ballet, in Washington DC from where she graduated top of her class. She gained further notice by winning a scholarship at the 2003 Prix de Lausanne as well as the Grand Prix at the 2003 Youth America Grand Prix finals.
Upon joining ABT Seo was rapidly promoted from ABT Studio Company and joined the full company in May 2005. She was again quickly promoted into the corps de ballet in March 2006 and to soloist in August 2010 before being named as Principal dancer in July 2012 by Kevin McKenzie, the artistic director of ABT. During her time at ABT, she has performed numerous lead roles in classical and contemporary ballet.

Nadia Khan

Dancer with Roma Opera Ballet (Italy)
Born in Pray, Montana, at age 11, Nadia Khan left home to train at the prestigious Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington DC under the direction of Oleg Vinogradov. Being taught by Angelina Armeiskaya (star of movie "Children of Theatre Street"). She then moved to New York where she was privately trained by Prima Ballerina Assoluta Eva Evdokimova. Her final year of training was spent training one on one with Bolshoi star Masha Mukhamedov.
Nadia has been on the cover of Malaysia Tatler and Dance Informa Magazine as a "Dance Sensation". As well as being featured in an eight page spread in Singapore Tatler and The Washington Post. Starting her career with the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, she danced works from Neumeier, Cranko, Petipa, Kylián, Balanchine, Ashton, and Ray Barra. And was also chosen as part of new creations by Slava Samodurov and Terence Kohler. She went on to dance with the Leipziger Ballett in Leipzig. And Compañía Nacional de Danza in Madrid. Where she danced William Forsythe’s, “In The Middle Somewhat Elevated” as well as being part of Johan Inger’s creation, “Carmen”.
Since 2015 Nadia has been dancing in the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma under the direction of Paris Opera Etoile Eleonora Abbagnato. Nadia's repertoire highlights in Rome include Swan Lake by Christopher Wheeldon, the Spanish Princess & Mazurka soloist in Benjamin Pech’s Swan Lake and soloist roles in Johan Inger’s “Walking Mad”, Jiri Bubenicek’s “Carmen” and Sleeping Beauty. In 2020 Nadia was invited by Italian superstar Roberto Bolle to perform Alexander Ekman’s “Cacti” in his televised New Years Eve show on the number one Italian TV channel Rai Uno, which was broadcast internationally.
Nadia has been invited to dance in the American Embassy in Rome. And has been featured, along with her three siblings, in the Russian Icon’s Gala in the London Coliseum, as part of the world premiere of, “Warrior of Light”. A ballet about the artist, writer, archaeologist, theosophist, and philosopher, Nicholas Roerich. Since 2019 Nadia has performed in and, with her family, produced the Yellowstone International Arts Festival. An international arts festival in her home, Paradise Valley, featuring world class international artists from around the world.

PHOTO-2021-01-31-21-56-57 5.jpg — Lauren Lovette

Principal Dancer (USA)
Lauren Lovette is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and an acclaimed independent choreographer. In her time with the company she has earned both the Janice Levin Award and the Clive Barnes Award for dance.
She has created works for the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company, Paul Taylor Dance Company, among others. Her collaborators include musician Kate Davis, poet Andrea Gibson, and fashion designers Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim of Oscar de la Renta/MONSE, Zac Posen, Narciso Rodriguez and Victor Glemaud.
In 2019 Ms. Lovette was named Artist-in-Residence for Damian Woetzel’s prestigious Vail Dance Festival. In 2018, she was awarded a Virginia B. Toulmin Fellowship for Women Leaders in Dance at The Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University.
Since December 2018, Ms. Lovette has served as Artistic Chair of the Board of Groove With Me, an organization that offers hundreds of young women free dance and movement classes, with the goal of providing a safe and nurturing environment in which to practice self-expression and explore potential.

Carlo di Lanno

Principal Dancer (Italy)
Carlo di Lanno is a former Principal Dancer of the San Francisco Ballet and the Dresden Semperoper Ballet in Germany. He began his studies at the age of 9 at the Teatro di San Carlo. At age 15 he moved to Milan to continue his studies at the prestigious Accademia Teatro alla Scala. Upon graduating he was invited to join the corps de ballet of Teatro alla Scala where he was quickly chosen to perform Principal roles including with famed Bolshoi Ballet Prima Ballerina Svetlana Zakharova. He subsequently joined the Staatsballett Berlin where he danced a variety of soloist and principal roles, including: Siegfried in Nureyev's Swan Lake, Basilio in Nureyev’s Don Quixote, the lead role in Diamonds by Balanchine and principal roles in Concerto DSCH and Russian Seasons by Ratmansky and Pink Floyd Ballet by Roland Petit. In 2016 he joined the San Francisco Ballet as a soloist and was quickly promoted to Principal Dancer. During his time with SFB, he worked closely with choreographers in creation of new works, such as: Forsythe’s Pas/Parts 2016; Thatcher’s Frayed, Painting Greys and Ghost in the Machine; Bubenicek’s Fragile Vessels; Millepied’s The Chairman Dances; Dawson’s Anima Animus; Welch’s Bespoke; Wheeldon’s Bound. In 2020, he joined the Dresden Semperoper Ballett as a Principal Dancer.
In March of 2015 he was named Best Emerging Artist at the Premio Danza&Danza, and won The Eleventh International Competition for the Erik Bruhn Prize in Toronto, Canada. In 2014 he was named Italian Classical Dancer of the Year at Positano Premia la Danza Léonide Massine in Positano, Italy.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts at Saint Mary's College of California, and starting September of 2021 will be pursuing his Masters Degree in Business from Stanford University, in California.

Maria Sascha Khan

Principal Dancer (London)
Born in Pray, Montana, USA, from a young age Maria Sascha has been passionate about helping and inspiring others through the Beauty of the Arts.
Maria Sascha is from a family of artists. All of her siblings were born and raised in Montana. Hailed as “the most influential ballet family of our time” by London dance critics and “ballet treasures” by the Washington Post, they are passionate about bringing this international acclaim back to where it all began.
Maria Sascha's career has taken her across the globe to the stages of the world, including as a Principal Dancer in Russia.
Along with her performing career, Maria Sascha is Artistic Director of Ballet Legacy Master Classes worldwide, a Mentor for non-profit arts organisation Youth Arts in Action, and an ambassador for London based charity Save Wild Tigers. She is a passionate advocate and cultural ambassador for the arts, including working with the UNESCO International Dance Council. She is currently undertaking her Masters Degree in Arts and Cultural Enterprise at Central Saint Martins, in London.

Jeanette Kakareka

Soloist (Germany)
Jeanette Kakareka is a Pennsylvania-born Soloist of the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, Germany. She was originally trained at the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia where she competed as a NYC finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix for several years before being invited to join as a trainee with the San Francisco Ballet School. After three years, she moved abroad to London to dance with the English National Ballet, which took her to stages around the world such as Tokyo, Singapore, Beijing, and the Palais Garnier in Paris. She had her premiere as a Lead Swan in Deane's *Swan Lake* in Barcelona, Spain at the Gran Teatre del Liceu and went on to perform it on the 360 degree stage of the Royal Albert Hall.
Since coming to the Bayerisches Staatsballett Jeanette has danced a wide variety of roles, including 2nd Principal Couple in Emeralds at the Munich premiere of Balanchine's *Jewels*, "Weiss Dame"--a principal role in Ray Barra's *Raymonda* alongside Sergei Polunin, Manon Lescaut in John Neumeier's *Lady of the Camellias*, the Queen of the Dryads solo in Ray Barra's *Don Quixote,* and Lead Swans in Barra's *Swan Lake*. She has been in the creations of works with choreographers such as Andrey Kaydanovskiy, Akram Khan, and Annabelle Ochoa and performed the masterpiece that is Pina Bausch's *Le Sacre du Printemps*. Jeanette was nominated as Emerging Dancer finalist at the English National Ballet in both 2015 and 2016 and was coached in the role of Giselle by Sir Peter Wright himself for guesting shows of *Giselle* at the Hammond School.
Recently, Jeanette premiered in Russell Maliphant's *Broken Fall* in the role made on Sylvie Guillem in 2003, as well danced in livestream evenings performing her Emeralds solo and a pas de deux from Wayne McGregor's *Kairos*. She will be dancing with her real-life fiancé, Jinhao Zhang, for the festival evening.

Catazaro- Apollo by Paul Kolnik.jpeg — Zachary Catazaro

Principal Dancer (USA)
Zachary Catazaro was born in Canton, Ohio, and began his dance training at the School of Canton Ballet under Cassandra Crowley, Angelo Lemmo, and his mother, Jennifer Catazaro Hayward. Mr. Catazaro studied at the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet, in 2006. There he received mentorship from former New York City Ballet Principal Dancers Jock Soto and Sean Lavery. In October 2007, he became an apprentice with New York City Ballet and joined the Company’s Corps de Ballet in October 2008. He was promoted to Soloist in February 2014 and elevated to Principal Dancer in 2017. Notable featured roles at New York City Ballet include the title role in George Balanchine’s Apollo, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, Romeo in Peter Martins’ production of Romeo + Juliet, and Prince Siegfried in Martins’ full-length production Swan Lake, among many others. Mr. Catazaro has also been featured in Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story Suite as Tony and Bernardo and performed in Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering and NY Export: Opus Jazz. In 2018 he was featured in Walt Disney’s feature film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms dancing with American Ballet Theater’s Misty Copeland. He has recently been a principal guest artist at Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich and Rome Opera Ballet. In 2021, Mr. Catazaro joined the Cleveland Ballet by invitation from its Artistic Director, Gladisa Guadalupe.

John Hanifin

Cellist (USA)
John Hanifin — cellist, singer-songwriter & producer enjoys a diverse musical career. His repertoire spans across centuries and genres, from period-instrument performances of the early baroque to contemporary works and collaborations with popular artists, film-score composers & symphonies. John began his study of cello at the age of seven with Boris Kogan. John's childhood was supported by his mother who studied ballet for many years along with his father who was a classically trained guitarist. In high school, John was sponsored by the Five College, Early Music Program and studied both cello and viola de gamba. At age sixteen, John made his conducting debut in Venice, Italy and upon graduation received the National Orchestra Award. While an undergraduate at The Boston Conservatory of Music at Berklee, John was named a Jephson Educational Trust Scholar. Throughout his undergraduate degree, John studied with both Rhonda Rider and Andrew Mark. In his Junior year, John debuted as a soloist in a performance at Belcourt Castle in Newport, Rhode Island. Wishing to pursue a career as a conductor, John founded the Eclipse Symphony Orchestra which debuted in Boston in 2009.
At conservatory, John received multiple scholarships to summer programs where he was asked to be both assistant coach and cello instructor. John received The Bachelor of Music Degree from The Boston Conservatory of Music in 2010. In the fall of 2010, John was accepted to and named an Ambassador of the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where he continued his graduate study of cello performance under Boston Symphony cellist, Mihail Jojatu. Hanifin was awarded The Masters of Music Degree in 2012. Following his Masters Degree, John began John Hanifin Band. A group of extremely diverse musicians performing through out the country. While operating John Hanifin Band, John received endorsements from NS Design, D’Addario Strings, Rutman Strings, Coda Bows & Takamine Guitars. In 2016 John was asked to be a featured soloist in Joel A. Martins “Footsteps of Mandela”. Hanifin began 2021 by releasing his first published solo cello composition entitled “Wenonah” followed closely by a collaboration Hanifin produced for artist “DSharp” which premiered on YouTube in July of 2021 entitled “Crossroads”. John used both “Crossroads” & his solo arrangement of “Ave Maria” to launch his newest venture and production company, ONE7SEVEN Productions. Hanifin continues to work on the completion of his first cello concerto which will be completed by the end of 2021. Hanifin continues to operate a successful private studio of cellists from around the globe.

Native American Drummers & Dancers

YIAF 2021 will feature Native American drummers and dancers. Foremost among those are Valor and Chitat Killsback of the Northern Cheyenne tribe. This brother duo come from a family of dancers and from a young age were immersed in the world of their traditional history and storytelling through dance. Both their mother and father are professional dancers and would bring their sons along to pow-pows where the young boys soon learned to dance. Valor is in his third year at MSU in Bozeman and is majoring in Philosophy. Chitat will be a senior in high school this fall and also plans to attend MSU. They will perform a mix a traditional war dances, fancy dancing and grass dancing.

Young Talent 2021

Screenshot 2021-08-05 at 23.14.58.png — **Isaac Hall**

USA
Isaac is a Baritone studying with Mark Oswald at Manhattan School of Music in New York City, and has just completed his freshman year. Despite all the restrictions in place for education and socializing this year, he believes he had a great education and made great friends. Isaac is confident that his experiences the past year and a half will make him a stronger person in every facet of life.
Isaac was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, and is glad to be back for the summer. He enjoys the easy access to the outdoors that Bozeman offers, hiking multiple times a week and spending time with friends in the abundance of parks. As a senior in high school, while a student of Douglas Nagel, Isaac placed first in the NATS competition for the state of Montana. Isaac first performed as part of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival in 2019, where his talent captured the attention of YIAF Artist Joshua Stewart, who mentored him for that year’s performance. He recently performed at the Yellowstone International Arts Festival as part of the “Fairy Tea for the Arts - Waters of Life” and is honoured to once more be performing as part of the the Yellowstone International Arts Festival “Feel the Freedom” Young Talent section. Joshua will be singing a duet together with YIAF Artists Joshua Stewart.

**Josh Fisk**

USA
Josh Fisk of Helena, Montana, began dancing at 14. While a student he danced the role of the Nutcracker Prince and performed as a guest artist at the San Clemente Dance & Performing Arts Center in San Clemente, California. In March 2018, Josh participated in the Universal Ballet competition in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended summer intensives at Houston Ballet, and the Royal Ballet School in London, England. In March 2019, Josh was accepted to the English National Ballet School (ENBS), a specialist training center for ballet dancers aged 16 to 19, in London, England.
He began his studies in September 2019 under the direction of Director of Dance, Viviana Durante, former star of the Royal Ballet. In his first performance as a student at ENBS Josh had a leading role in Andrew McNichol’s “Splendour.” Although the 2019-2020 school year was interrupted by Covid-19, ENBS created an online performance in which Josh danced in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s “ Memorias del Dorado”. During the 2020-2021 school year Josh was once again chosen by choreographer Andrew McNicol to feature in his ballet “Of Space and Time” for ENBS’s winter showcase. As one of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival featured “Young Talents” Josh will be performing a world premiere which has been choreographed on him by choreographer Alisher Hasanov of Kazakhstan.

Festival Artists 2020

**Maria Sascha Khan**

Artistic Director
Born in Pray, Montana, USA, from a young age Maria Sascha has been passionate about helping and inspiring others through the Beauty of the Arts.
Maris Sascha is from a family of artists. All of her siblings were born and raised in Montana. Hailed as “the most influential ballet family of our time” by London dance critics and “ballet treasures” by the Washington Post, they are passionate about bringing this international acclaim back to where it all began.
Maria Sascha's career has taken her across the globe to the stages of the world, including as a Principal Dancer in Russia.
Along with her performing career, Maria Sascha is Artistic Director of Ballet Legacy Master Classes worldwide, a Mentor for non-profit arts organisation Youth Arts in Action, and an ambassador for London based charity Save Wild Tigers. She is a passionate advocate and cultural ambassador for the arts, including working with the UNESCO International Dance Council. She is currently undertaking her Masters Degree in Arts and Cultural Enterprise at Central Saint Martins, in London.

**Julian Mackay**

Julian MacKay, age 22, from Montana, is the youngest Principal Dancer of the San Francisco Ballet. At the age of 11 he left rural Montana to train at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow Russia. Upon graduating he became the first American to receive a full Russian Diploma, having completed both the upper and lower school. While in school he medaled in five consecutive International Ballet Competitions, including the Prix de Lausanne and gold medals at the Istanbul IBC and YAGP along with bronze at Sochi Young Ballet of the World and the Beijing International Ballet Competition.
At 17, while still in school, he made his professional debut as Siegfried in Swan Lake with the Russian State Ballet in Berlin. Graduating top of his class he was hailed as a young "Apollo" by Russian dance critics, dancing numerous roles on the Bolshoi stage. At the age of 17 Julian joined The Royal Ballet in London, as their 2016 Prix de Lausanne prize winner. Eight months later, upon personal invitation from Mikhail Messerer, he joined The Mikhailovsky Theatre, St. Petersburg as a Second Soloist.
By 19 years old, MacKay was promoted to First Soloist after a thrilling performance in Flames of Paris, and has danced numerous principal roles worldwide.
At the height of his time at the Mikhailovsky Theatre he became an International Guest Artist.
Julian is fluent in Russian and has his Bachelors Degree as a Ballet Master and Choreographer from the prestigious GITIS University (Russian Institute of Theatre Arts), in Moscow, Russia.

**Nina Kotova**

The Russian-American cellist Nina Kotova, has been praised by Gramophone as a “strong and individual artist” and by the Los Angeles Times as “a talent to reckon with - poised, committed, graceful and spirited.”
Ms. Kotova has been internationally recognized as one of the outstanding instrumentalists of her generation. She has performed as a soloist with symphony orchestras across the globe and has repeatedly toured the UK, Europe, Asia and the US. Nina Kotova began cello studies at six and studied at the Moscow Conservatory and graduated from the Musikhochschule in Cologne. She gave her first performance as a soloist with orchestra at age 11 in the Soviet Union.
Ms. Kotova has performed in Red Square in Moscow, for the Imperial family of Japan and at Buckingham Palace. She has appeared in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, at Town Hall and Carnegie Hall in NewYork, Wigmore Hall, the Barbican Centre in London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Berlin Philharmonic, to name a few.

**Barrett Wissman**

Barrett Wissman, entrepreneur, philanthropist and concert pianist is the Chairman of IMG Artists Worldwide. IMG Artists represents over 500 artists, arts organizations and companies, in addition to founding and operating festivals and working with non- profit arts organizations around the globe. Barrett’s commitment to music began at an early age with serious piano studies. He made several debuts as a concert pianist with prominent orchestras from the age of 11 and won several national and international competitions thereafter. He graduated cum laude from Yale University in economics and political science and went on to receive graduate degrees in music from Southern Methodist University and the Accademia Chigiana in Italy.
Mr. Wissman founded the Festival del Sole in Cortona, Italy, Festival Napa Valley as well as the Singapore Sun Festival in Singapore, The Palm Springs Life Festival in the Coachella Valley and the Placido Domingo Festival in Seville Spain, which have all celebrated the performing, visual and culinary arts as well as theatre, dance and wellness.
As part of his work in the arts, Barrett Wissman has collaborated with such great artists and luminaries as Robert Redford, Jeremy Irons, Placido Domingo, Sophia Loren, Anthony Hopkins, Sting, Renee Fleming, John Malkovich, Robert De Niro and many others as a producer and collaborator.

**Christine Shevchenko**

Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre, Christine Shevchenko was born in Odessa, Ukraine where she trained in rhythmic gymnastics and ballet at an Olympic School. At the age of eight, she moved to the United States. Shevchenko danced the children’s lead in Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker for three years, and was featured in the NBC special “Degas and the Dance”. In 2002 she was invited to perform with International Ballet Theatre Company’s “Stars of Kirov, Bolshoi and Ukrainian Ballet”.
In 2003, Shevchenko became the youngest recipient of the Princess Grace Award. Other awards include a Bronze Medal in the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, 2005 Gold Medal and Title of Laureate at the Moscow International Ballet Competition, the George Zoritch of Ballet Russe Award for Talent Recognition and the 2010 Margaret Moore Dance Award. In August 2006, Shevchenko joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company. She joined American Ballet Theatre in December 2007 and was promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer in September 2017.

**Beckanne Sisk**

Principal Dancer, Beckanne Sisk began her ballet training with Longview Ballet Theater at the age of 5. She studied there until age thirteen when she moved to Philadelphia, PA to attend The Rock School for Dance Education on scholarship. While there, Miss Sisk won the Jerome Robbins award in 2007, and competed at the Youth America Grand Prix from 2007-2010, placing in 1st and 3rd. In 2010, at age 17, Adam Sklute invited her to join Ballet West II, after seeing her compete at YAGP. After one year in Ballet West II she joined the main company. In 2015 Miss Sisk was promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer. She has performed the female principal roles in Anna Marie Holmes’ Don Quixote, John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet and Onegin, as well as Adam Sklute’s adaptations of Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.
Sisk has been noticed by The Washington Post in William Christensen's The Nutcracker, "one of the most charming and beguiling ballerinas to embody the role in recent memory. She was every bit the fairy-tale queen of one's dreams - regal but warm, expressive but subtly so, who sustained her balances as if mere air held her up, and yet paradoxically, her dominant quality was softness". Her performance in Cranko's Onegin was recognized by Pointe Magazine as one of the Standout Performances of 2019. She has since become an international guest star. In addition to her dancing, Miss Sisk was featured on the CW’s Breaking Pointe television show for two seasons and has appeared in Mexico Vogue.

Chase O'Connell — **Chase O’Connell**

Principal dancer Chase O’Connell was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia. At 13, he received a scholarship to train at the Kirov Academy of Washington, D.C. He studied under Vladimir Djoulouhadze and Anatoli Kucheruk from 2007 to 2009. In 2009 he received a scholarship to train at the Royal Ballet School in London, England. There, he studied under Meelis Pakri and David Peden. While at school he had the privilege to perform with English National Ballet in their 2010 Nutcracker.
After studying at the Royal Ballet School for 2 years Chase joined the world-renowned Paris Opera Ballet to perform in their production of Cinderella. In 2012 he began his contract with Ballet West II. He was promoted to the main company in 2013 and to the rank of Principal Dancer in 2016.
While at Ballet West he has performed prinicpial roles in ballets by John Cranko, Frederick Ashton, Balanchine, Jiri Kylian, Jerome Robbins, Nicolo Fonte, Stanton Welch and Adam Sklute. As well as contemporary principal roles created on him by Nicolo Fonte, Edward Liang, Africa Guzman and Val Caniparoli.
Chase has danced in Galas internationally and his performance in Onegin was one of Pointe Magazines top performances in 2019. “He is a dynamic dancer, the consummate prince, and a caring patner to his ballerinas.” Adam Sklute

**Alisher Khasanov**

Alisher Khasanov is an award-winning Choreographer and Director of the 11th International Choreography Competition and the First Russian Folk Dance Competition, in Moscow, Russia. He is the artistic director and inspiration behind the theatre movement 'Mime- Orchestra". Mr. Khasanov has degrees both from the School of Choreography, in Almaty, Khazakstan, and the prestigious Russian Academy of Theater Arts (GITIS), in Moscow Russia.
After working as a dancer both in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Mr. Khasanov turned to directing. As a choreographer, he participated in various international projects, including the Center of Dramatic Arts in Shanghai, International Chekhov Festival and the 'Gesher' Theater Israel. He has choreographed productions for theatres, such as the Bolshoi Theater in Russia, Opera and Ballet Theater Chelyabinsk and many others. He was the choreographer for the Russian National figure skating team and the Artistic Director of Tzvetnoy Bulvard Circus, touring both England and Japan. From 2002 to 2009 Alisher Khasanov was the head choreographer and the artistic director of Moscow Children's Music and Drama Theater.
He continues to create performance and competition pieces, for artists around the world and is excited to be in Montana for the first time! Tonight will showcase two world premieres! His all new original solo “Rain" & Bach solo especially choreographed for the Yellowstone International Arts Festival.

Young Talent 2020

Josh Fisk

Josh Fisk of Helena, Montana, started dancing three years ago at age 14. While a student he danced the role of the Nutcracker Prince in 2017 and 2018, as well as performing as a guest artist at the San Clemente Dance & Performing Arts Center in San Clemente, California.

In March 2018, Josh participated in

the Universal Ballet competition in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended summer intensives at Houston Ballet,

and the Royal Ballet School in London, England. In March 2019, Josh was accepted to the English National Ballet School (ENBS), a specialist training center for ballet dancers aged 16 to 19, in London, England. He began his studies in September 2019 under the direction of Director of Dance, Viviana Durante, former star of the Royal Ballet. In his first performance as a student at ENBS Josh had a leading role in Andrew McNichol’s “Splendour.” Although the 2019-2020 school year was interrupted by Covid-19, ENBS created an online performance in which Josh danced in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s “ Memorias del Dorado”.

Samuel L. Siskind

Actor, composer and vocalist Samuel L. Siskind landed the Youth Principal role of Sem in the LA Opera’s production of Benjamin Britten's "Noye's Fludde” at 10 years old.

Winner Best Performance in a Musical as Brett in Children's Letter's to God at Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Center NY 2019, Nominated Best Actor in his first film Little Angel by the Official Latino Film Festival 2018.

Featured in three supporting roles in the art-house thriller "The Uncanny" (2020), including a vocal solo of "Panis Angelicus" for the plot climax scene.

At the age of 12 Samuel completed his first major classical composition entitled “THE FOREST,” a three part choral work for voice and piano.

The Forest had it’s worldwide premier at Carnegie Hall May 2019 and the National Children’s Chorus took it on tour in Asia that summer.

Jaden Grimm

Jaden Grimm grew up in a small mountain town in Colorado. At age 13, she left her home and her family to pursue her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer, training in the pre-professional program at Master Ballet Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona. During her time there, Jaden danced soloist roles in many Phoenix Ballet productions, received recognition at international competitions, and performed in international galas. In September 2019, Jaden

moved to St. Petersburg, Russia as one of the few Americans invited to train at the renowned Vaganova Ballet Academy.

Some of her accomplishments include, international trainee at Vaganova Ballet Academy, St. Petersburg, Russia, USA IBC
2018, YAGP Silver Medalist & NYC Finalist 2017-2019, YAGP 1st Place Pas De Deux 2018, People’s Choice Award Recipient at Arizona Young Artists' Competition 2019, ADC IBC Award Winner 2019, Grishko World Ambassador 2020.

Heath Voy

Heath Voy, Montana, USA first found his passion for dance at age 10. Attending summer intensives at Harid Conservatory, Kirov Academy of Ballet and the Los Angeles Ballet School, he then moved to Florida to study full time at the Harid Conservatory.

In 2019 Heath was invited to attend the Vaganova Academy in

Saint Petersburg, Russia, making history as the second Montanan to ever attend the school. He was quickly singled out as one of the few international students to perform in the Vagonova Ballet Academy’s production of The Nutcracker on the historic Mariinsky Theatre stage. Heath is a “Ballet Legacy Master Classes”2019 scholarship recipient and has been mentored by Youth Arts in Action. He has performed in full length ballets such as Giselle, The Nutcracker, and Raymonda, and variations from Swan Lake, Giselle, Flower Festival in Genzano, The Nutcracker, Laurencia, Coppélia, Raymonda, Paquita, and Don Quixote.

Isaac Hall

Isaac Hall performed at the premier of the Yellowstone International Arts Festival, Fairy Tea for the Arts, under the tutelage of Youth Arts in Action mentor, Joshua Stewart. Joshua’s performance at last years Festival proved a great inspiration to Isaac, encouraging him to go on and pursue his dream of becoming a profestional singer.

Isaac has just graduated from Bozeman High School with the class of 2020. Despite having to fall back to remote learning this spring, he knows that he received a great education and was given opportunities not available to many students elsewhere in the country. This coming fall Isaac will be attending Manhattan School of Music in New York City, and looks forward to being surrounded by so much culture.

Isaac will be performing An Die Musik by Schubert, When I think Upon the Maidens by Head, and Cabin from Bowles’ Blue Mountain Ballads.

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Festival Artists 2024

Julian MacKay

Principal Dancer (Germany)

Madison Young

Principal Dancer (Germany)

Jennifer Grace

Principal Dancer (USA)

Patrick Mihm

Soloist (USA)

Anna Ingold

Corps de Ballet (USA)

Joseph Gerhardt

Principal Dancer (USA)

Oksana Maslova

Principal Dancer (Ukraine)

Denys Nedak

Principal Dancer (Ukraine)

Bianca Gomes Vilarinho Teixeira

Principal Dancer (Brazil)

Solomon Osazuva

Demi-Soloist (Austria)

Ginger Rose Brucker

Harpist (USA)

Willow Kipp

Indigenous dancer (USA)

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Festival Artists 2023

Julian MacKay

Principal Dancer (Germany)

Maria Beck

Principal Dancer (Hungary)

Nadia Khan

Soloist (Italy)

Bayley Graham

Tap Dancer (New Zealand)

Maria Sascha Khan

Principal Dancer (United Kingdom)

Zecheng Liang

Principal Dancer (China)

Francesca Velicu

Soloist (United Kingdom)

Anastasia Smirnova

Principal Dancer (Russia)

Joshua Stewart

International Operatic Tenor (Germany)

Chitat Killsback

Northern Cheyenne (Montana)

Alexander Romanchikov

Soloist (Russia)

Josh Fisk

Young Talent (USA)

Isaac Hall

Opera Singer (USA)

Ian Maksin

Cellist (Global)

Festival Artists 2022

Julian Mackay

Principal Dancer (Germany)

Madison Young

Principal Dancer (Germany)

Violetta Komyshan

(Ukraine)

Alexander Romanchikov

Soloist (Russia)

Maria Beck

Principal Dancer (Russia)

Joshua Stewart

International Opera Singer (Germany)

Nadia Khan

Dancer with Rome Opera Ballet (Italy)

Jinhao Zhang

Principal Dancer (China)

Maria Sascha Khan

Principal Dancer (London)

Daniel Rubin

Leading Soloist (Russia)

Kenedy Kallas

(Netherlands)

Polina Krasovskaya

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