JULIA PONOMAREVA - Ms. Ponomareva is a graduate of Rudolf Nureyev Academy in Ufa, Bashkortostan as well as the Kazan State Music Academy, Faculty of Dance Pedagogy and Ballet-Master Degree. She won the Gold Medal at the first All-Russian and International Delphy Arts Games, Classic Dance Section. She was a cast member of the National Tatarstan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (2003 to 2012) and the Croatian National Ballet (2011-2012). Ms. Ponomareva was featured as ‘La Carlotta’ in Kim Tuttle’s Phantom and as ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’ and ‘Snow Queen’ in DANB’s Nutcracker, and has danced leading roles in the majority of the world’s most famous ballets, among them Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Giselle, La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet, Coppelia, Carmen, Napoli, La Dame aux Camellias, Jewels, and Spartacus. Ms. Ponomareva is married to DANB Principal dancer Alexsey Kuznetsov. ALEXSEY KUZNETSOV - Mr. Kuznetsov graduated from the Kiev State Choreographic School and the International Slavic University of Harkov, Faculty of Dance and Pedagogy. He was a member of the National Opera of Ukraine and the Croatian National Ballet. Mr. Kuznetsov made his debut with DANB in Phantom and performed as ‘Nutcracker Prince’ in DANB’s Nutcracker. He has danced ‘Prince’, ‘Harlequin’, ‘Russian’ and ‘Spanish’ in Nutcracker, ‘Prince’ and ‘Blue Bird” in Sleeping Beauty, ‘Gold Idol’ in Bayadere, ‘Peasant Pas de Deux’ in Giselle and ‘Slave’ in Le Corsaire as well as numerous contemporary roles. He is married to DANB Principal dancer Julia Ponomareva. CARLA AMANCIO - Born in Brazil, Ms. Amâncio trained at the Grupo Corpo Ballet School until joining Ballet Cristina Helena where she was featured soloist. Ms. Amâncio was then invited to join Sesiminas Dance Company where she performed as First Soloist until beginning a freelance career as guest artist. She stands out in roles in Esmeralda, Le Corsaire, La Bayadere, Coppelia, Don Quixote, and Diana and Acteon which she performed in Havana, Cuba at the Closing Gala in 1997. Ms. Amâncio was awarded 1st Place at the III Junior Capezio Festival, Brazil; 1st and 2nd places at the CBDD Unidanca Competition, Brazil; and Finalist at the Concours Internacional de Danse de Paris, France. Ms. Amancio joined Dance Alive National Ballet in 2008. ANDRE VALLADON - Mr. Valladon studied at Studio de Danças Cristina Helena in Brazil before joining Grupo Corpo Brazilian Dance Company. One year later he became Principal Dancer at Minas Gerais Dance Company. In 1995 he represented Brazil at the International Dance Competition is Osaka, Japan where he received the Lift Prize and a contract with Jeune Ballet de France. Mr. Valladon was then invited to join first the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Theatre Ballet and then Sesiminas Dance Company as Principal Dancer. Mr. Valladon has been awarded several Gold Medals, Revelation Prize, Character Dance Revelation Price and Grand Prix at the Joinville International Dance Festival, Brazil; Gold Medal Classic and Contemporary at the Brazilian Dance Council Competition, Brazil; Lift Prize at the International Dance Competition in Japan; Finalist at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and Concours de Danse de Paris, France.