INTERNATIONAL BALLET THEATRE
presents
The
20th Anniversary
Performance Season
INTERNATIONAL BALLET THEATRE
presents
The
20th Anniversary
Performance Season
INTERNATIONAL BALLET THEATRE
presents
The
20th Anniversary
Performance Season
INTERNATIONAL BALLET THEATRE
presents
The
20th Anniversary
Performance Season
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Guest Artists
LEO ROSE
A Seattle native, Leo Rose first encountered the theatre in high school. After graduating, he began his dance training with various instructors throughout Seattle before attending Spectrum Dance Theatre's Academy program. Some years later, he began building his classical technique at the International Ballet Academy. The construction continues today. He has had the opportunity to perform throughout the greater Seattle area in a wide array of venues, including in Dracula with the International Ballet Theatre and as Herr Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker!
Company Members
ELIZABETH CAMERON
Elizabeth Cameron was born in Kirkland, WA. She began her ballet training at the age of three with IBA, where she first fell in love with ballet. She spent 8 years in rhythmic gymnastics with Evergreen Rhythmics, traveling extensively for competitions in the US and Canada.
In 2022, she returned to dance. Over the last three years in the program, Elizabeth has gained tremendous artistic experience by performing with IBT in productions of Dracula, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Jungle Book, and Don Quixote, including dancing the iconic role of Queen of Dryads in 2025. She was invited to dance with the Grand Kyiv Ballet as part of their US tour, performing in Swan Lake and Snow White across five states. She has participated in ADC/IBC and the Hungarian National Ballet Grand Prix. She has attended renowned summer intensives, including Ellison Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, as well as ART of Ballet masterclasses in Marseille and Hungarian National Ballet masterclasses in Budapest.
EMMA LIN
Emma Lin was born in Shanghai, China, as a Taiwanese citizen. She began studying classical ballet at the age of four, after falling in love with the elegant classical music of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Emma moved to the United States when she was nine and joined the International Ballet Academy in 2023 after attending a summer intensive. After one year, she was invited to join the IBA Professional Division.
Emma has participated in numerous productions with IBA, including The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and Giselle. She has competed in and been awarded at events such as TANZOLYMP in Berlin, ADC IBC, and the Taiwan Grand Prix. In 2021, she was invited to the Joffrey Ballet Chicago’s summer program, where she studied for two months. Offstage, Emma also brings her strength and dedication to hobbies such as golf and snowboarding. This will be Emma’s second and final year with the company.
NATAN LUBOW
Born in Russia, Natan grew up in Seattle, where at age six, he decided to pursue the study of ballet after seeing IBT's production of The Nutcracker. He has trained with the International Ballet Theatre, Ballet Fantastique, Emerald Ballet Theatre of Bellevue, Spectrum Dance Theater of Seattle, Olympic Ballet, and as well as under the mentorship of Mr. Marco Carrabba.
Natan has attended Summer Intensive Programs at the Portland Festival Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Eugene Ballet, OKC Ballet, and Spectrum Dance Theater, as well as at IBT. Most recently, he finished an apprenticeship with Ballet Fantastique's productions and collaborations in Eugene, Oregon. He is excited to perform with The International Ballet Theatre this season. He has performed with countless ballets with IBT, including Dracula, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, The Jungle Book, and Giselle.
“I wish to tribute the late Mr. John Magnus for refocusing my energy and for teaching me and many others the ideology and physical embodiment of ballet as an art.”
DARIA NAUMOVA
Hailing from Moscow, Russia, Daria began ballet at the age of 13 at the Ledyakh Ballet School and later trained at the Lavrovsky Ballet Academy. Soon after, she continued her studies at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and during her summer breaks, she trained at the Vaganova Ballet Academy. When she moved to the US, she continued her studies at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School before joining the International Ballet Academy.
Last season, Daria had the chance to travel with the IBA to Berlin to attend the TANZOLYMP ballet competition and ADC IBC.
FRANCINE RITZMAN
Francine Ritzman was born and raised in Normandy Park, Washington. She joined Evergreen City Ballet in 2017. While studying there, she participated in performances such as Coppélia, Hansel and Gretel, and The Nutcracker. Over the past few years, she traveled for dance summer intensives, including Ellison Ballet in New York City, City Ballet in San Francisco, and Long Beach Ballet in California.
Francine joined International Ballet Theater’s professional program for their 2024/2025 performance season and is looking forward to this year’s training and performance opportunities.
ELLA SACCONE
Ella Saccone was born in San Diego, California. She discovered her love for ballet at age nine when she moved to Virginia and started taking classes with the Virginia National Ballet. In 2020, she moved to Sammamish, Washington, and joined Issaquah Dance Theater, where she performed as a member of their competition team. She joined IBT in 2024 and is going into her second year in the Professional Division. Since then, she has performed in IBT productions such as Dracula, Nutcracker, and Don Quixote. She has also competed at the ADC/IBC competition and placed in the Top 24.
She has also attended multiple summer intensives, including those at San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Boston Ballet.
EMILY SUTANTO
Growing up in Washington, Emily Sutanto has been part of IBA for many years. Starting ballet at the age of five, she has been a constant in the various productions IBA has to offer for the past 13 years. From the annual Nutcracker to the various spring productions of Alice in Wonderland and Don Quixote, Emily has enjoyed all her time being on the stage.
Thanks to her Ballet training, she has been able to travel to various states across the country, including Colorado and Connecticut, for different summer intensives. This past summer, she spent her time in New York with John Cranko. As this is her second year in the Professional Division with IBA, she is excited to graduate and see where her dancing will take her in the coming years.
INARA TOCCI-PONCE DE LEON
Inara Tocci-Ponce de Leon was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but has lived in Washington her entire life. She started ballet at age five with Pacific Northwest Ballet and has always dreamed of dancing professionally.
Inara joined International Ballet Academy’s Professional Division last year. This is Inara’s second year as a member of the company. Inara has performed in multiple IBA productions, including Don Quixote, and has competed in the TanzOlymp in Berlin, Germany. She continues to pursue her dreams as a professional dancer through IBA’s company. When not dancing, Inara enjoys crocheting and learn to play the bass.
Apprentices
MAYA BERNSTEIN
Maya Bernstein was born in Kirkland, Washington. She was introduced to dance by her mother and began studying ballet at age 3 with the International Ballet Academy. As her passion for dance grew over the years, she trained in ballet, jazz, flamenco, character, and contemporary.
With the International Ballet Theatre, Maya has performed in productions including the Nutcracker, Dracula, Don Quixote, and Snow White. She has also attended summer programs at IBA and the Boston Ballet School.
PAYTON KNAUSS
Payton was born and raised in Redmond, Washington, and began ballet at age two after seeing Swan Lake on TV. Right then, when she saw the stunning, strong dancers, she decided she needed to learn to be just like them. She convinced her mom to enroll her at IBA, and ever since then, Payton has been dancing.
At IBA, Payton has performed numerous productions, including Nutcracker, Dracula, Giselle, and even Snow White, where she got the opportunity to play the lead role. Payton has participated in SAB, The Royal Danish Ballet, and IBA’s summer intensives over the years. Along with her passion for dance, Payton also enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting in her free time.
SAMYUKTHA MANI
Samyuktha Mani was born in New York and raised in Seattle. She began ballet at age three and trained at the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet. She has performed in both classical and contemporary works and is currently a member of the Professional Division at the International Ballet Academy. Samyuktha was a Top 12 finalist at YAGP and advanced to the YAGP Finals.
MADELINE OLLIS
Madeline Ollis was born in Kirkland, Washington. She began ballet training at the International Ballet Academy at the age of three. Over the years, she has developed her love of dance and technique through training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, character, and flamenco. In addition to her studies at IBA, Madeline attended summer intensives at Orlando Ballet and The Royal Ballet of London.
Outside of dance, Madeline enjoys writing and traveling with her family. This is her second year in the professional division.