Dancers 2023/24

McKeely Borger SASKATCHEWAN MÉTIS NATION, REGINA

McKeely Borger is a member of the Saskatchewan Métis Nation from Regina. She has pursued her dance career internationally at Adelphi University in New York under full merit scholarship, Coastal City Ballet in Vancouver, Atlanta Ballet, and in France at Le Ballet de l’Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Metropole as a soloist. She was an original cast member of the mainstage production of Mickey & the Magician at Disneyland Paris in 2016. Before returning to Canada, Ms. Borger spent two years with Ballet Palm Beach, where she had the opportunity to dance George Balanchine’s Who Cares? as the ‘One and Only.’ Embarking on her fifth year with Ballet Kelowna, she has premiered new works by Canadian artists such as Kirsten Wicklund, Kunal Ranchod, and Cameron Fraser-Monroe. Alysa Pires’ Macbeth premiere in May 2022 was a career highlight, where she found delight portraying one of The Three Witches. Ms. Borger also loves sharing the joy of movement with our community as an instructor for IN MOTION. 

Desiree Bortolussi KELOWNA, BC

Desiree Bortolussi was born in Kelowna on the unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people. As a student, she participated in training programs across North America, including Ballet Kelowna’s very own Okanagan Summer Dance Intensive. Ms. Bortolussi went on to complete her training at The Canadian School of Ballet under the direction of Mel Brown and Lori Larson. In 2012, she was offered an apprenticeship with Ballet Kelowna and was invited to join the Company as a full-time artist the following year. She has been fortunate to perform works by world renowned artists such as John Alleyne, Joe Laughlin, James Kudelka, Simone Orlando, Alysa Pires, and many more. Now in her twelfth season, Ms. Bortolussi is proud to be a part of Ballet Kelowna’s diverse repertoire; some of her favourite roles range from classical works such as Blanche Dubois in John Alleyne’s A Streetcar Named Desire, to creating the role of Lady Macbeth in Macbeth by Alysa Pires. 

Cameron Fraser-Monroe VERNON, BC
Associate Artist

Cameron Fraser-Monroe is a member of the Tla'amin First Nation, as well as being of Ukrainian and Scottish descent. At three years old he started Ukrainian dancing in Vernon, BC leading him into a wide variety of music, theatre, and performance. He was privileged to receive several years of training and performance with World Champion Hoop Dancer Dallas Arcand and studied Grass Dance with Elder Mollie Bono. Since graduating from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School on the RWB Alumni Scholarship, he has performed with many companies including Red Sky Performance at Jacob’s Pillow Festival, Dancers of Damelahamid, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada. As a choreographer, Mr. Fraser-Monroe has received commissions from the National Ballet of Canada, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet Kelowna, The Winnipeg Summer Dance Collective, the Artist's Climate Collective, TRANSFORM Cabaret Festival at the Cultch, and both PULSE and Indigenous Day Live! on APTN. 

Avery Grierson KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON
Apprentice

Avery Grierson was born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario where she began dancing at Classical Dance Conservatory. She later joined Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) at the age of 11, where she trained until graduating high school. While in school, Ms. Grierson had the chance to perform in many works, most notably, as the lead in Jera Wolfe’s Arise, in James Kudelka’s Five Canticles, and as one of the three shades in La Bayadere. After graduating, Ms. Grierson continued her dance training at NBS while starting her career as a supplementary dancer at The National Ballet of Canada, where she had the opportunity to dance in many of their productions such as James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker, Karen Kain’s Swan Lake, and George Balanchine’s Symphony in C. Ms. Grierson is very excited to be joining Ballet Kelowna as an apprentice this season and is looking forward to learning from Ballet Kelowna’s diverse repertoire.

Riku Hirakoba OSAKA, JAPAN
Apprentice

Riku Hirakoba was born in Osaka Japan, where he started classical ballet training at the age of four. In 2015, he received a scholarship at the Youth America Grand Prix and moved to Canada at the age of twelve to begin his professional training at Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS). He graduated high school in 2021 and continued to train in the Company Life Program at NBS. During his time in the post-secondary program, he had the opportunity to perform in James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker with The National Ballet of Canada. Also during his time in the Company Life Program, he was chosen to perform the lead role in Arise choreographed by Jera Wolfe at the Fall for Dance North Festival, Assemblée International Dance Festival, and 2023 Spring Showcase.

Shae Jones NANAIMO, BC
Trainee

Shae Jones began dancing in her hometown before moving to Ontario at the age of twelve to attend the Quinte Ballet School of Canada’s Professional Training Program where she studied with Catherine Taylor, Gizella Witkowsky, and Henning Albrechtsen. While at the Quinte Ballet School, Ms. Jones enjoyed performing the Sugar Plum Fairy Variation in The Nutcracker and the Diamond Fairy Variation in Sleeping Beauty. She took part in master classes with The National Ballet of Canada and Ballet Jörgen and attended Arts Umbrella’s International Summer Dance Intensive in 2021. Ms. Jones is thrilled to be participating in Ballet Kelowna’s Emerging Artist Program. 

Naomi Kawamura RICHMOND, BC

Naomi Kawamura began her ballet training under Mary Burke in Richmond, BC. She continued her studies with Janet Gittens before being invited to attend Canada's National Ballet School (NBS) at the age of fourteen. While at NBS, Ms. Kawamura performed in numerous ballets including Balanchine’s Serenade, Bournonville’s Napoli, and new creations such as James Kudelka’s SCHOOL. After graduating from NBS in 2019, she attended Dresden’s Palucca University of Dance, expanding her expertise in ballet, modern, and improvisation techniques. While in Germany, Ms. Kawamura performed in the Semperoper Ballet’s productions of Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. She has also had the opportunity to tour with Ballet Jörgen in their production of The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition and performed with Coastal City Ballet in Vancouver. 

Emily Murray SUDBURY, ON

Emily Murray completed her training at Canada’s National Ballet School and was subsequently invited to attend their Post-Secondary Program. During her time at the school, and through other summer programs at the Australian Ballet School and Ballet Jörgen’s Junior Company Intensive, Ms. Murray was able to work with choreographers such as James Kudelka, Peggy Baker, Bengt Jörgen, Hannah Kiel, and Jera Wolfe. She has also had the opportunity to dance works by George Balanchine, John Neumeier, and Ramon Oller. Now in her fourth season with Ballet Kelowna, Ms. Murray has had the pleasure of working with many notable choreographers such as Kirsten Wicklund, Heather Dotto, and Alysa Pires. 

Donaldo Nava MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Donaldo Nava began his professional training at the National School of Classical and Contemporary Dance in Mexico City. He moved to Victoria, BC to continue his training and graduated from the Victoria Academy of Ballet’s Post-Secondary Bridge Program in 2019. While in the Bridge Program, he worked with many guest teachers including Alysa Pires, Jorden Morris, and Christopher Anderson, and performed with Ballet Kelowna in John Alleyne’s A Streetcar Named Desire. Mr. Nava participated in Dance Victoria’s 2019 Choreographic Lab under Justine Chambers and Susan Elliot. Now in his fifth season with Ballet Kelowna, Mr. Nava has worked with many choreographers including Eva Kolarova, Kunal Ranchod, and Seiji Suzuki. 

Yuka Otsuki HYOGO, JAPAN

Originally from Hyogo, Japan, Yuka Otsuki began her professional training at the Victoria Academy of Ballet and graduated from their Post-Secondary Bridge Program in 2017. Ms. Otsuki placed in the top twelve in the Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals in Seattle, Washington in 2015 and 2017. She has attended summer programs with Evelyn Hart, Ballet Jörgen, and Milwaukee Ballet. Ms. Otsuki joined Ballet Kelowna as a trainee in 2017. Now in her seventh season with Ballet Kelowna, she has had the honour of performing works by Robert Stephen, Kirsten Wicklund, Gioconda Barbuto, Joe Laughlin, and Alysa Pires, among others. Some of her most memorable moments with the Company include dancing in Folie à Cinq by Heather Myers, The Forever Part by Kirsten Wicklund, and originating the role of Mal in Alysa Pires’ Macbeth.

Jake Poloz HIGH PRAIRIE, AB
Guest Artist

A graduate of the Conteur Academy, Jake Poloz is a Montreal-based dancer and choreographer. He has performed works by Lesley Telford, Kirsten Wicklund, Guillaume Côté, John Alleyne, Robert Glumbek, Roberto Campanella, Ermanno Sbezzo, and Jessica Muszynski. He has been a company dancer with ProArteDanza since 2018, and later with Ballet Kelowna from 2022. Mr. Poloz has also performed with Alysa Pires Dance Projects, Bouchardanse, and was part of the Dora Mavor Moore award nominated ensemble of Human Body Expression’s Resonance.

Ashley Rabinovitch NORTH VANCOUVER, BC

Ashley Rabinovitch was born in Richmond, BC and her love of dance started at the age of four. She has attended summer intensives at Canada’s National Ballet School, École Supérieure de Ballet du Quebec, Joffrey Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Ballet Kelowna’s very own Okanagan Summer Dance Intensive. In 2019 she began her professional training with Lamondance under the direction of Davi Rodrigues and later graduated from their Post-Secondary Program. Ms. Rabinovitch has enjoyed performing works by Racheal Prince, Brandon Alley, Dario Dinuzzi, Kirsten Wicklund, and Heather Dotto. In 2022, she premiered the role of Fleance in Alysa Pires’ Macbeth, which has been her favourite role to dance thus far. 

Samuel Ramos SUZANO, BRAZIL
Apprentice

Samuel Ramos was born in Suzano, Brazil and started dancing at Livres Para Dançar at age 8, graduating in 2017. In 2018, Mr. Ramos started dancing  At Anacã Estúdio de Dança before moving to Vancouver to continue his dance career with Coastal City Ballet under the direction of Katie Bois. While at Coastal City Ballet, Mr. Ramos had the opportunity to work with world-renowned artists, expand his knowledge of dance, and grow as a dance artist. In 2022, Mr. Ramos joined Ballet Edmonton as an Emerging Artist where he danced works by Dorotea Saykaly, Ihsan Rustem, Wen Wei Wang, and Diego Ramalho. This is Mr. Ramos’ first season with Ballet Kelowna.

Seiji Suzuki MIE, JAPAN

Seiji Suzuki was born in Mie, Japan and moved to Victoria, BC when he was seventeen years old to further his training at Victoria Academy of Ballet under the directorship of Bleiddyn Bellis. In 2014, Mr. Suzuki received a scholarship to participate in the International Summer School in Melbourne, Australia hosted by Cecchetti Ballet Australia. He was chosen for featured roles in The Gift by Ballet Victoria, The Nutcracker by Alberta Ballet, and was a guest artist with Island Circus Space. Mr. Suzuki joined Ballet Kelowna in 2016 and has created numerous roles including Banquo in Alysa Pires’ Macbeth. Also an emerging choreographer, Mr. Suzuki was selected to participate in Dance Victoria’s 2017 Choreographic Lab under the direction of Wen Wei Wang. He was commissioned to create two works for Ballet Kelowna’s 2020/21 digital season, Gekko and Stolen Tide. This is Mr. Suzuki’s seventh season with Ballet Kelowna. 

Kurt Werner SCARBOROUGH, ON

Kurt Werner is a graduate of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division and has travelled abroad to Austria, England, Italy, New Zealand, and the US to further his development in classical, contemporary, and modern dance. In 2015, he was awarded the Brian Macdonald Dance Award during his participation in The Banff Centre’s Summer Professional Dance Program. While with Ballet Kelowna, Mr. Werner has enjoyed creating and performing such works as Petrushka by Heather Dotto and MAMBO by Alysa Pires, as they have helped let his personality shine on stage. In 2018, Mr. Werner founded the Evolve Arts Collective, a platform to share his choreographic works and expand his network with artists across all disciplines. He is grateful for opportunities to present his works at the Kelowna Fringe Festival and the Theatre on the Edge Fest while continuing to workshop new movement with fellow company dancers. This is Mr. Werner’s twelfth season with Ballet Kelowna.

MacKye White COURTENAY, BC
Apprentice

MacKye White began his dance training on Vancouver Island at Pantuso Dance and Éclat Dance Youth Company. He went on to pursue professional training at The School of Alberta Ballet where he worked with Ashley McNeil, Murray Kilgour, Janet Tate, Aram Manukyan, Edmund Stripe, Graham McKelvie, and Sasha Ivanochko. After graduating in 2020, Mr. White was accepted into the Lamondance training program on scholarship. During his two years at Lamondance he performed works by Davi Rodrigues, Racheal Prince, Brandon Alley, Kirsten Wicklund, Heather Dotto, Yoshito Sakuraba, Richard Walters, and Noam Gagnon and trained with Bev Baggs, Nicholas Ventura, Reed Walters, Ted Littlemore, and Joshua Beamish.