DANCERS

Guest Artists

Aaron Smyth is a global stage and screen star. Born in Gold Coast, Australia, Aaron attended the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre on full scholarship before joining ABT II. He then joined the Royal Ballet, London, and has also danced with Joffrey Ballet Chicago and State Street Ballet. Aaron has won numerous international competitions and starred in Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Aaron has been a Ventura County Ballet guest artist for seventeen seasons.

Alexander Saveliev graduated from the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg in 2010 with a Bachelor's degree. He then embarked on a distinguished career as a ballet dancer at the Mariinsky Theatre, where he performed from 2010 to 2016. Following this, Alexander expanded his international experience by performing as a guest soloist in Europe, with notable appearances in Bratislava, Slovakia, and Essen, Germany.
Since 2020, Alexander has pursued a vibrant solo career, performing at prestigious venues and events around the world. His recent highlights include standout performances at Classics on Palace Square and Andrea Bocelli’s concert hall in St. Petersburg. As a principal soloist, he has toured extensively across Italy, Spain, Kazakhstan, the USA, Canada, and Brazil, demonstrating his dedication and passion for ballet on a truly global level.
In addition to his performance career, Alexander has been actively involved in teaching since 2021. He offers his expertise in Russia, Brazil, and the USA, serving as an esteemed jury member for ballet school exams and competitions. He also organizes and participates in numerous master classes and workshops, contributing significantly to the ballet community worldwide.
Alexander will star at the Nutcracker Prince in Ventura County Ballet's 27th annual The Nutcracker.

Hanna Chudinova is a graduate from the Kyiv Choreographic College in Kyiv, Ukraine where she studied ballet performance and pedagogy.
She has toured throughout Europe and the United States with Youth Kyiv Ballet, St. Petersburg Ballet, Ukrainian Ballet Theater, Russian Grand Ballet and Moscow Ballet. Ms. Chudinova has danced featured roles in La Bayadere, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and many others. She has recently danced starring roles with Ventura County Ballet’s The Nutcracker and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Leeza was born in Santa Barbara, CA and started her training at State Street Ballet Academy and Ballet Academy Ventura. Leeza continued her education at Perm State International Ballet Academy and graduated with honors.
In 2016 Leeza became a finalist of International TV show for Youth Talent in Moscow ‘’Blue Bird". In 2019 Leeza won Second Place at the International Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition "Domenico Modugno" in Italy, were she also received a Special Jury Prize.
She has performed a lead roles in ballets “La Fille Mal Gardee”(Lise), “Swan Lake” (Odette) “Coppelia” (Swanhilda), “La Bayadere” (Nikia), “Sleeping Beauty” (Princess Aurora), “Fire Bird” (Beloved Beauty), “Giselle” (Giselle) and “Nutcracker” (Dream Clara and Snow Queen). She has toured Internationally with professional ballet companies in Germany, Switzerland, China, Greece and Japan.
Leeza has perform with Ventura County Ballet throughout her career. She is a recent past company member with State Street Ballet.

Shane Tice was born in Seattle, Washington where he received his primary training from Ronald G. Tice and Magali Messac. He was a scholarship student at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Shane was a member of the Minnesota Dance Theater, State Street Ballet, Smuin Ballet, and Festival Ballet, Rhode Island.
Ventura County Ballet is happy to have Shane return for his eighth season..

Jack Stewart is from Albuquerque, NM. He trained at New Mexico Ballet with his mother Jennifer Boren. Jack has performed principal roles with numerous ballet companies including State Street Ballet where he was featured in The Nutcracker, The Secret Garden, Starry Night and American Tango. Jack has also toured England in The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
This is Jack’s fifteenth season with Ventura County Ballet.

Alvaro Oquita is from Tucson, Arizona. He began his dance training at Dancing in the Streets Arizona under the direction of Joseph Rodgers and Soleste Lupe. He also trained with State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara. Alvaro has performed in numerous State Street Ballet productions and as a guest dancer with Fresno Ballet Theatre, Northwest Ballet and at his home studio in Tucson. Ventura County Ballet is excited to welcome Alvaro back for his sixth season.