Iori Araya, a native of Japan, danced at Singapore Dance Theatre and New Jersey Ballet prior to joining Ballet Memphis in 2017. She has danced Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, Serenade, Allegro Brillante, Divertimento #15, Stanton Welch’s Maninyas, Val Caniparoli’s Chant, Edwaard Liang’s Age of Innocence. She was a finalist at the 10th Asian Pacific International Competition, winning a scholarship to The Australian Ballet School where she was chosen to be a part of The Australian Ballet’s Dancers Company Tour. Her noted performances with Ballet Memphis include George Balanchine’s Square Dance and Matthew Neenan’s Water of the Flowery Mill.

Rafael Ferreras received his early ballet training in New York with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Joffrey Ballet School. Audiences know him for his leading roles in Romeo and Juliet, Dracula, The Firebird, Angels in the Architecture, Midsummers Night’s Dream, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty. He danced with Ballet Memphis, Tulsa Ballet, Hartford Ballet, New Jersey Ballet and Elisa Monte Dance. Ferreras is currently the Ballet Master for the San Antonio Ballet.

Originally born in Sarasota, Florida and received his training from both of his parents, Stephanie Murrish and Daniil Gaifullin. Nikolas has had the opportunity to work with well renowned choreographers such as Johan Kobborg, Anna Marie Holmes, Yuri Possokhov, Jade Hale Christofi, Joshua Bergasse, Omar Nieves, Anthony Krutzkamp, Devon Carney, Anthony Johnson, Ryan Nye, Robert Mills, Ma Cong, Dwight Rhoden, Norbert De La Cruz Ill, Tara Lee, Kiyon Ross, Ross Freddie McCray, Viktor Plotnikov, Bruce Wells, and John McFall. Nikolas has performed with companies and troupes such as Kansas City Ballet 11, Atlanta Ballet, Polunin Ink, Oklahoma City Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, and Broadway production of Sugar Hill: Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker. His repertoire includes Johan Kobborg's Romeo and Juliet, Yuri Possokhov's Don Quixote and Nutcracker, Septime Webre's Alice in Wonderland, Dwight Rhoden's Sunrise Divine, Robert Mills Nutcracker, John McFall's Nutcracker, Kiyon Ross's Sum Stravinsky, Jiri Kylian's Return to a Strange Land, Tara Lee's Blink, Ma Cong's Tchaikovsky, Ross Freddie McCray's Fraudulent Smile, Viktor Plotnikov's Vesna, Anthony Krutzkamp's Carmina Burana, Anthony Johnson's Rings of the Rose, Ryan Nye's Tone it Bach, Norbert De La Cruz's The Fourth Wall, Bruce Well's Midsummer Nights Dream, Devon Carney's Nutcracker, Gregory and Marjorie Schramel’s Carmina Burana, Van Helsing in Oliver Halkowich’s Dracula, and Todd Allen’s Afterglow. Nikolas has performed principal roles in the classical ballet repertoire such as Basilio in Don Quixote, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Drosselmier in Yuri Possokhov's Nutcracker, Cavalier in Robert Mills and John McFall's Nutcracker, and Tybalt in Johan Kobborg's Romeo and Juliet which was the world premiere in Arena di Verona of 2019 and once again performed and reprised his role of Tybalt at Royal Albert Hall in London of 2021. He has attended The Carreno Festival in 2012, ABT Summer Intensive and National Ballet School of Canada in 2015 and Jacob's Pillow in 2016. Nikolas has competed in two world renowned ballet competitions, YAGP and World Ballet Competition. In 2007 he performed Gala of the Stars at the Spoleto Festival in Italy. Recently Nikolas has performed the roles of Volga Vouty and the Hooligan King in Sugar Hill Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker which premiered in the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, choreographed by Jade Hale Christofi whom choreographed the famous variation Take Me to Church and Joshua Bergasse from Broadway New York whom choreographed numerous Broadway productions. Nikolas's career showcases his dedication, talent, and versatility as a dancer. His achievements and performances have earned him recognition and respect in the ballet community. 

Oliver Halkowich grew up in South Florida, where he performed in Miami City Ballet's first Nutcracker at the age of seven. He then migrated west to train at the San Francisco Ballet School. In 2001, he began his professional dance career with the Boston Ballet and a year later joined Houston Ballet as a Corps de Ballet member. There, he rose through the ranks to First Soloist, dancing for 19 seasons with the company. Oliver has danced various classical, contemporary and character roles in Sir Frederick Ashton's La Fille mal Gardee, Stanton Welch's Cinderella, George Balanchine's Rubies and Jerome Robbin's Fancy Free. He has choreographed for Houston Ballet, Dance Alive National Ballet, Houston Contemporary Dance Company, Mercury Ensemble, the Texas Contemporary Art Fair, the Blaffer Museum, Houston Cinema Arts Society, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and Moody Center for the Arts. He debuted his first solo commission, Following, for Houston Ballet's 50th Anniversary season in 2019.

Daynelis Muñoz was born in Cuba, where she studied Classical Ballet for eight years. She graduated in 2005 as a Professional Classical Dancer and Ballet Instructor. She has been a part of professional Companies with Cuban National Ballet, Mexico Ballet, and Tulsa Ballet. She has also danced on stages in Spain, France, Colombia, and Mexico. Her career as a Principal Dancer has been highlighted by her leading roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Infra, Serenade, and Bayadera. Daynelis has danced pieces by internationally renowned choreographers in the world of art, such as John Cranko, Edwaard Liang, Marcello Angelini, George Balanchine, Wayne McGregor, Ma Cong, and Alicia Alonso. She has participated in different International Ballet Competitions in Cuba, and Mexico, winning Gold Medal and Youth America Grand Prix. She has been a member of the jury in Competitions of Dance, International Dance Meetings, and Congresses of Spectacles.

She is currently a Principal Guest Artist and Ballet Instructor and has been invited to several Galas, Masterclasses, and Ballet Productions in Chicago, Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona, Ohio, and Florida.

Telmen Munkherdene began his training in his native Mongolia at the Mongolian State Conservatory, graduating in 2017. During his final year, he performed with the Mongolian State Opera and Ballet Theatre. Awarded a full scholarship to the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., Telmen joined the junior company and performed Giselle with the Cuban National Ballet at the Kennedy Center. He trained under ballet legends Bat Udval and Evgenia Singur, Marina Bogdanova.

Telmen has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He won the silver medal for classical ballet and the Grand Prix for contemporary dance at the 32nd World Association of Arts Exchange Festival in South Korea. Additionally, he earned the bronze medal at the Mongolian National Ballet Competition. In 2019, he received the Gold Medal at the World Ballet Grand Prix in New York and a full scholarship to attend the Joffrey Ballet School. He also won the silver medal and Best Technique Award at the Jewels Festival in New York and received a diploma at the YAGP 2019 finals.

Notably, Telmen is the youngest recipient of the Medal for Leading Cultural Artist in Mongolia, awarded by the Ministry of Culture. He has danced as a guest artist for several international productions, including in China, with Ajkun Ballet Theatre in the United States, and Fire Bird with Komaki Ballet Japan in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. His repertory includes leading roles in classical ballets such as Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, Flames of Paris, Walpurgis Night, Diana and Acteon, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Giselle.

Max Murdock is a 25-year-old ballet dancer based out of Las Vegas, NV. He was a member of the 5th graduating class of The Northwest Florida Ballet Académie in 2011. He continued dancing with the company in high school. After high school, he studied in the Florida State University dance program and as a demisoloist with The Tallahassee Ballet. Max has been performing ever since with Northwest Florida State College, Mobile Ballet, Las Vegas Dance Academy, and Northwest Florida Ballet.

Hannah Wang Powell is originally from Austin, Texas where she started dancing at Ballet Austin at age three. She began her pre-professional training at Austin Metamorphosis Dance Academy. She studied there under Melanie Kregel and Melissa Glouchkova for seven years while performing with Metamorphosis Dance Ensemble. She had the opportunity to participate in Bailando Dance Festival and also perform as a guest artist for Corpus Christi Concert Ballet. Hannah spent summers studying at American Ballet Theatre, Ballet West, and Joffrey Ballet Chicago. In 2017, she joined the Atlanta Ballet Conservatory Program under the direction of Sharon Story where she had the opportunity to perform in the world premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s The Nutcracker, Johan Kobborg’s La Sylphide, and Bruce Wells’ Beauty and the Beast. Subsequently in 2019, Hannah was offered a scholarship to Richmond Ballet’s trainee program under the direction of Judy Jacob and Stoner Winslett. She toured and performed with Richmond Ballet for two years, including in their productions of Paquita and The Nutcracker. Hannah joined New Orleans Ballet Theatre in 2021 and this will be her fourth season with the company.

Quenedit comes to Cincinnati from the National Ballet of Cuba, where he quickly ascended to the role of principal dancer. He began his training in 2006 in Cuba at Escuela Elemental de Ballet Alejo Carpentier where he trained for five years. He then spent eight years training with the National Ballet School of Cuba. He graduated in 2014 and joined the National Ballet of Cuba as a corps de ballet dancer. Quenedit Castro was quickly cast in soloist and principal roles, before being named principal dancer at the prestigious, international company.

He has also worked with internationally-renowned choreographers including Alicia Alonso, Alexei Ratmansky, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Giuliano Peparini, Alberto Mendez, among others. Sharing his art with dance lovers around the world has been one of his passions. He has performed lead roles in the United States, Italy, Spain, France, Canada, Mexico and several others. Competitions awards include: Bronze medal at the International Ballet competition in Havana, Cuba; Junior division. Gold medal at the International Ballet competition in Cape Town, South Africa; Junior division.Gold medal at the XX International Ballet competition in Havana, Cuba. Also awarded best Artistic Performance; Senior division. Winner at Amici Word Dance competition in Italy. Principal roles with the National Ballet of Cuba: Sawn Lake; Don Quixote; Giselle; La Fille Mal Gardée; The Nutcracker; Romeo & Juliet; Carmen; La Bayadere; Cinderella, Theme & Variations.

Aaron began dancing at age 4, at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Houston, TX. Through high school, he was trained in Vaganova technique, jazz, tap, and musical theatre styles of dance. Aaron then went on to Marymount Manhattan College where he attained a BFA in Dance. While in college he studied the techniques and performed repertoire by Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, and Martha Graham, as well as continuing his Ballet training. He now happily lives in New Orleans where he has danced with Marigny Opera Ballet, Delta Festival Ballet, Melange Dance Company, and New Orleans Ballet Theatre. Aaron is currently in his second season as a company member with New Orleans Ballet Theatre. 

Guest Artists

2024-2025 Guest Artists

Iori Araya

Rafael Ferreras

Nikolas Gaifullin

Oliver Halkowich

Daynelis Muñoz

Telmen Munkherdene

Max Murdock

Hannah Powell

Rafael Quenedit

John Aaron Wiggins