Tanika’s story coming soon.

Olivia Holabird grew up in Los Angeles, CA where she trained at Los Angeles Ballet and the Colburn School under the guidance of Leslie Carothers and Jukka Aaroma.  While training she performed lead roles in The Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Don Quixote, Napoli, and Konservatoriet. She graduated from Butler University with a BS in Dance-Arts Administration and an Environmental Studies minor in May 2020. There, she performed various roles in remastered ballets such as The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and Cinderella, as well as premiere modern and contemporary works. Olivia also traveled with Butler Ballet across Eastern Europe in a semi-professional touring company.  After graduating, she spent a year dancing with City Ballet of San Diego and is now excited to begin her first season with San Diego Ballet!

Who has influenced you the most to become the dancer you are today?

The support of family, friends, and fellow dancers has been immeasurable in both my love of dance and my pursual of it. 

What goes through your mind just before you perform?

It’s really a magical feeling. You’ve worked so hard and you’re next to all your friends who have worked alongside you and together you’re going to go out there and make the audience feel something. Being able to transport the audience away from their lives for just a little is one of my favorite parts of being a dancer.  

What is the funniest episode/episodes you’ve experienced in your career?

One time in The Nutcracker we had the smoke machine set off the fire alarm during one of the shows. So everyone, including the audience and all the dancers, had to evacuate. So we were standing outside in the winter cold in our tutus and pointe shoes. It was a funny moment because it felt like the fourth wall was broken, but as soon as we went back on stage I felt closer to the audience because I had been able to relate to them out in the cold. 

Who would I most like to share the stage with living or dead?

I missed my last performance at Butler University because of the pandemic so I would love to perform one more time with my class.  We had gotten close over the years and it was sad to leave without one more performance.

What do you like/ admire about San Diego Ballet?

I love the variety of works here. From contemporary to classical, it’s fun to not stick to the same style! The dancers are also so welcoming. I’m very grateful for being pushed to work at my best, but also supported to try something new. 
P.S. I did graduate with a BS in Arts Administration and have worked with several dance companies doing admin work so if you ever need some help around the office, I have a decent amount of experience and would love to help!

Kara Covaleski was born in Westlake Village, CA and began her dance training at the age of three and spent fourteen years at California Dance Theatre under the direction of Kim Maselli. After high school, she moved to Ohio to be a trainee with Cincinnati Ballet and was then promoted to be a member of Cincinnati Ballet II the following year. While at Cincinnati Ballet, she has been grateful to perform in Septime Webre’s Peter Pan, Kirk Peterson’s Swan Lake, Victoria Morgan’s The Nutcracker to name a few and be casted in soloist roles in Pam Robinson’s Aladdin and as the lead in Pam Robinson’s Snow White as Snow White. Kara is super excited to begin her first season with San Diego Ballet and be back on stage! 

Who has influenced you the most to become the dancer you are today? 

My parents have definitely influenced me the most to become the dancer that I am today. They have given me the tools to navigate the dance world and to push myself to be better each day. Without my parents, I would not have the positive outlook and strong mindset I have needed to challenge myself to be the dancer and human I am today. 

What goes through your mind just before you perform? 

There is a lot that goes through my mind before I perform but I think I mostly feel great emotions of gratitude to be able to share what I love most with an audience! This helps me have the confidence to perform my best and leave it all out on the stage. 

What is the funniest episode/episodes you’ve experienced in your career? 

The funniest thing to happen to me on stage would have to be when I was performing in my studio’s end of the year recital when I was 10 years old. We were doing a jazz piece to the Cheetah Girls music and wearing rainbow and cheetah printed unitards with a neon skirt. I led me and my friend out of the wings 2 eight counts too early, I didn’t know what to do so we just freaked out and sprinted off. The audience got a kick out of it too. Since then, I always know to count my music!!

Who would I most like to share the stage with living or dead?

I have been very lucky to share the stage in the past with my favorite ballerina, Tiler Peck before so my next dream would be to share the stage with all of my amazing teachers and mentors who have helped me reach my dream of being a professional ballerina. I have learned everything I know from them and they have all had incredible careers. It would be a dream to share the stage and watch them dance. 

What do you like/admire about San Diego Ballet? 

I really admire the positive and welcoming energy of all the dancers in San Diego Ballet! The people definitely make it easier to wake up in the morning and be ready for a great day of dance and fun in the studios! 

Joshua webb was born in Surrey, England and started ballet at the age of 3. Joshua joined the Royal Ballet School at the age of 11 and studied there for 2 years until he was 13. During his time at The Royal Ballet School Joshua had the chance to perform in The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.  He then moved to Moorland International Ballet Academy where he spent 5 years finishing his training and gaining two diplomas in teaching. During Joshua’s time at Moorland International Ballet Academy he had the Opportunity to work with ex Northern Ballet Dancer Simon and Lynsey Kidd as well as choreographer Kenneth Tindall. He also competed at YAGP Paris in 2018 where he won a Scholarship to Bolshoi Ballet’s summer intensive in New York City, where he was taught by Bolshoi Academy teachers. Joshua is extremely excited to be joining San Diego Ballet and looks forward to the upcoming season.

Who influenced you most to become the dancer you are today?

I have been extremely lucky to work with some amazing dancers and teachers. I have always been surrounded by very influential people and a very supportive family. The Director of Moorland International Ballet Academy, Simon Kidd, had a big influence on me. Being lucky enough to have Simon as a Director through school was amazing not only for my technical ability but also for my artistry and performance ability.

What was the funniest episode(s) you’ve experienced in your career?

The funniest thing to happen in my career to date was during a performance of Nutcracker with The Royal Ballet. I was a soldier in the fight scene. At the start of the fight scene the soldiers got into the fort in the wings and climbed into position before being pushed onto stage. One show we were pushed on very quickly and stopped abruptly causing a domino effect with soldier after soldier being knocked over in the fort. This was definitely the funniest moment of my career so far.

Who would you most like to share the stage with (living or dead)?

There are a few people that I would have loved to share the stage with. Firstly, Rudolph Nureyev, who in my eyes was the first man to really mix athleticism and ballet together. I would also have loved to share the stage with Vaslav Nijinsky and finally, Ivan Vasiliev. Mr Vasiliev has one of the biggest jumps I have ever seen and his stage presence is phenomenal.

What goes through your mind just before you perform?

Prior to any performance, I try to relax my body as much as possible and let go of any tension. I am very superstitious and will always have my water bottle pointing in a certain direction before heading out on stage. The very last thing that goes through my mind is to just enjoy performing and enjoy the feeling of expressing myself through movement.

What do you like/admire most about San Diego Ballet?

San Diego Ballet has a variety of dancers that all excel at different things. This is something I really admire and something that I will use to improve my ability as a dancer. The culture here is also something that has really impressed me, everybody at San Diego Ballet is so welcoming, friendly and supportive, making it an easy place to settle and focus on performing. 

Lepa Juju Stojanovic grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and began dancing at age five at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Preparatory Department. She trained in the CCM Preparatory Department all the way through high school where she performed leading roles in ballets such as The Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, and Le Corsaire, and performed the Dying Swan with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at Cincinnati Music Hall. Following high school, she was accepted to continue her studies at CCM in the college division. Throughout her time as a ballet major at CCM, she performed soloist and principal roles in Swan Lake, Paquita, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in the spring of 2019 from University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet with a second major in Mathematics. She has attended summer intensives at Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre in New York City.

Who influenced you most to become the dancer you are today?

I am thankful for so many of the teachers I have come across throughout my training and the impact each of them has had on me as a dancer. I feel extremely lucky to have grown up with such an amazing and supportive group of teachers on my side. I credit one of my teachers from home in particular, Tricia Sundbeck, with inspiring my love for dance starting in my middle school years. Over the years she has pushed and supported me so much and I don’t believe I would have continued dancing beyond high school if it weren’t for her.

What was the funniest episode(s) you’ve experienced in your career?

During a dress rehearsal for one of our shows at Universisty of Cincinnati, we were testing out the dry ice for a piece but the tech people went way too heavy on the dry ice and it was one person after another hitting the ground just seconds after someone else had fallen! A couple minutes in, and several falls later, they were just about to halt the run of the piece and I came down particularly hard. They mopped up and abandoned the dry ice for a second run of the piece, but this time it was too sticky. My partner’s foot got stuck while he was supporting me in a difficult position and I tumbled to the ground in slow motion as he lost his grip on me. At the moment it was a little frustrating, but after rehearsal we put together a video of all the falls and couldn’t stop laughing at the ridiculousness of the sheer number of falls in such a short span of time!

Who would you most like to share the stage with (living or dead)? 

I think it would be inspiring to share the stage with some of my old teachers during their careers!

What goes through your mind just before you perform?

Before I perform I like to do one last mental run of the choreography, remind myself of how fortunate I am to get to do this every day, and then I try to let it all go and just enjoy myself onstage.

What do you like/admire most about San Diego Ballet?

San Diego Ballet is full of people who are not just talented dancers, but also amazing people, and I love being in the studio and on stage with them every day!

Natalie Panayi is from Melbourne, Australia and started ballet when she was 3 years old. Her first major performance was at the age of 9 when she had the opportunity to perform at the Autumn Arts Festival in Fuji City, Japan.

She then began training at The Australian Ballet School under the direction of Leigh Rowles, Marilyn Rowe AM OBE, and Lisa Pavane. During her training at The Australian Ballet School, she performed at the Sydney Opera House, danced in The Australian Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, and received a secondment to dance with Sydney Dance Company in 2018.

Over her nine years at the school, she enjoyed performing many classical and contemporary works by choreographers including George Balanchine, Greg Horseman, Lucas Jervies, Leigh Rowles, Simon Dow, and Margaret Wilson. Natalie performed in The Australian Ballet School’s 50th Anniversary Gala, and performed in original works choreographed by world renowned choreographers, as well as many of the classics such as La Sylphide and Coppélia.

Natalie is excited to dance her first season with San Diego Ballet.

Who influenced you most to become the dancer you are today?

All of my teachers at The Australian Ballet School influenced me to become the dancer I am today. From a young age, my teacher Irina Konstantinova, taught me to push myself and believe in myself. I will never forget her favorite quote, “Consistency is the gold key to success.” Of course, I would not be where I am today without the ongoing support and encouragement of my parents, for which I am forever grateful.

What was the funniest episode(s) you’ve experienced in your career?

One time during a rehearsal, there was a part where we all had to be holding hands in a line while doing the choreography. After we had just run on while holding hands, I slipped and fell to the floor nearly bringing down everyone with me. It was very unexpected and I was told a “graceful” fall. What made it funny is that my teacher didn’t even notice at first.

Who would you most like to share the stage with (living or dead)? 

It’s hard to pick just one! But I’d have to say Natalia Osipova, I was lucky enough to see her perform when she came to Australia. Her charisma, energy and passion that shines through when she’s on stage is something I very much admire about her dancing.

What goes through your mind just before you perform?

Just before I go on stage, I always go through the choreography and triple check my pointe shoe ribbons won’t come undone. I remind myself to feel the music and enjoy the performance.

What do you like/admire most about San Diego Ballet?

I love being surrounded by such a talented diverse group of dancers who motivate me to push myself in new ways everyday. The company’s variety of repertoire is also something I admire. Dancing well known classical ballets and being a part of new choreography all in one season is very exciting as a dancer and for the audience, there is something for everyone to enjoy.