Ballet BC will welcome six dancers as part of its 2020-2021 emerging artist program.
The annual program provides an opportunity for the artists to work with Ballet BC’s artistic team to learn about the structure of a professional dance company environment, train with established dancers, perform and tour with a professional dance company, and participate in the creative process.
“The emerging artist program supports the professional development of distinctively talented and emerging dance artists,” says the company in a media release. “We are proud that some of the most promising dance artists are trained right here at home.”
Two of this year’s participants, Kiana Jung and Evan Rapaport, are returning, while four others will join for the first time from across the United States.
Kiana Jung
A Vancouver native, Kiana Jung began her dance training with Arts Umbrella at the age of nine, later completing their professional and graduate programs. She was invited to perform in Medhi Walerski’s Romeo + Juliet in Ballet BC’s 2017/18 Season. She has attended many summer intensives, as well as the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Evan Rapaport
From Miami, Florida, Evan Rapaport started dancing at the age of five and followed his passion for Hip-Hop and popular dance forms all the way to Juilliard. He furthered his rigorous training through summer intensives such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Springboard Danse Montréal before joining Ballet BC in the 2019/20 season.
Stefanie Noll
Stefanie Noll was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, but grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. Her training includes the Joffrey Trainee Program, Marymount Manhattan College, and the Arts Umbrella Graduate Program. Outside of school, she has worked with multiple choreographers as well as dancing for music videos and concerts.
Sarah Pippin
Sarah Pippin began dancing at the age of three in Raleigh, North Carolina. She pursued her BFA in Dance at Juilliard, where she received the Irving B. and Joan W. Harris Endowed Scholarship and the prestigious Martha Hill Prize. She attended many summer intensives, including Nederlands Dans Theater and The School at Jacob’s Pillow.
Daniel Rae Srivastava
Daniel Rae Srivastava comes from Austin, Texas. He studied dance and the humanities at USC Kaufman, while also pursuing a Master’s in Legal Ethics. He firmly believes in the power of dance to elicit positive social change, and devoted his senior thesis to planning and organizing a fundraising gala for Planned Parenthood.
Jacob Williams
Jacob Williams performed in musical theatre in his hometown of Vancouver, Washington, until he discovered his love of dance at age sixteen. He furthered his education at Alonzo King Lines Ballet, going on to dance with dawsondancesf and Oregon Ballet Theatre 2. Most recently, he graduated from the Arts Umbrella Graduate Program.