The
Dancers

Paloma is originally from Asunción, Paraguay, where she began her ballet training at a young age with Patricia Manavella. She also trained with Miguel Bonnin, and in 2021 at the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Mariemma in Madrid, Spain.

Before joining Alberta Ballet, Paloma had the opportunity to dance in France with Opera National du Capitole in Toulouse, as well as Balletto di Milano in Italy.

She has performed as a guest artist with Ballet Clásico y Moderno Municipal de Asunción, with featured roles such as Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Kitri in Don Quixote, and Odette and Odile in Swan Lake. She has also performed in productions of Le Corsaire, La Fille mal Gardee, La Bayadere, The Nutcracker, Na Floresta by Nacho Duato and many others.

Zachary began dancing at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, under the renowned Marcia Dale Weary. Following CPYB, he completed his training at the San Francisco Ballet School, performing in numerous pieces with the company. Zachary joined the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago as a Studio Company member in 2017 before joining the Kansas City Ballet in 2019. Zachary has been featured in accredited roles such as the pas de trois in George Balanchine’s Emeralds, Wunderland by Edwaard Liang, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Tulips and Lobster. Since joining Alberta Ballet, some highlight performances have been performing Jesse in Helen Pickett’s Petal, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Botero and Hansel and Gretel by Loughlan Prior.

Born in Sydney, Australia, Zoe began her ballet training at The McDonald College performing arts school. In 2021, she moved to Melbourne to join the Australian Ballet School in Level Five. During her time at the Australian Ballet School, Zoe received the Graeme Murphy AO Contemporary Dance Award, the Areti Boyaci Spanish Dance Award, the Sandra Ball Award for Excellence in Anatomy Studies and was elected 2024 School Captain. Zoe has performed in various productions with The Australian Ballet, including Graeme Murphy’s The Nutcracker: Story of Clara, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The National Tour, and The Storytime Ballet Season of The Sleeping Beauty, where she performed the roles of Aurora, Lilac Fairy and Carabosse. Zoe is excited to join Alberta Ballet as a Corps de Ballet artist in 2025.

Originally from Ukraine, Yaroslav moved to Calgary at age 11. He received all of his ballet training at the Alberta Ballet School. After working alongside the company in multiple productions as a student, he officially joined Alberta Ballet as an apprentice dancer in 2020. Yaroslav returned as a Corps de Ballet member for the 2023/24 season. Dalis and Sentinels in Jean Grand-Maître's PHI, his first soloist role in Alysa Pires' Skyward, and Boterosutra, Tango, and Soldiers in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's BOTERO were particularly memorable roles for Yaroslav.

Jolie Rose Lombardo was born in Tyler, Texas, the Rose Capital of America. She began her passion for dance at the age of four in Atlanta, Georgia. From ages nine to 14, she received private ballet training from Rebecca Metzger, a former soloist with the New York City Ballet. She then joined the International City School of Ballet under the direction of Georne Aucoin before moving to Florida, where she joined the Orlando Ballet School.

During her time at Orlando Ballet, she developed a special relationship with Deirdre Miles Burger. At just 14 years old, Miles Burger coached Jolie to become the youngest finalist at USA IBC as well as a gold medal at the YAGP Finals. This achievement earned her a full scholarship to the John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany.

At 17, Jolie performed the principal role in the ballet Glazunov Suite for her graduation and was offered a contract with the Stuttgart Ballet. During her years in the Corps de Ballet in Stuttgart, she enjoyed dancing in beautiful ballets by Cranko, MacMillan, Marcia Haydée, Edward Clug, and Uwe Scholz.

Some of her most memorable roles include Concerto pas de deux by Kenneth MacMillan and a specially created soloist role in IFIMA by Louis Stiens & Shaked Heller as well as Corps roles in remarkable ballets such as Mayerling, Onegin, and The Taming of the Shrew.

She is thrilled to continue her ballet career on the North America continent in the beautiful country of Canada with Alberta Ballet.

Hotaru is originally from Japan.

She began her training in Tokyo and Okinawa before studying at Staatlich Ballettschule, Berlin and Alberta Ballet School’s Post-Graduate and Trainee program.

After graduation, she joined the Alberta Ballet for the 23/24 season. Her most memorable role was dancing a Ballerina Doll in Edmund Stripe’s The Nutcracker, but Hansel & Gretel was the her most memorable production.

Originally from Perth, Australia, Matthew began his ballet training with Samantha Leeman. In 2014 Matthew relocated to Brisbane, Australia where he trained for several years at the Annette Roselli Dance Academy. In 2020 he graduated from the Australian Ballet School with a Graduate Diploma in Classical Ballet.

After graduation, he joined Queensland Ballet as part of the Pre-Professional Program and in 2022 he became a Jette Parker Young Artist with the company. During this time he had the opportunity to perform at The Royal Opera House in London as part of the Next Generation Festival. Matthew first joined Alberta Ballet in the Spring of 2023. During his career, he has had several standout roles including: Bluebird in Christopher Anderson's Sleeping Beauty, Cavalier in Edmund Stripe's The Nutcracker and Hansel in Loughlan Prior’s Hansel and Gretel.

Originally from Naples, Italy, Mirko graduated from Harmony Dance School of Arnaldo Angelini in 2019 and from Choreutic High School "Palizzi" in 2020. In 2023 he joined Teatro dell'Opera in Rome, Teatro Massimo in Palermo (Sicily) and Teatro San Carlo in Naples as Corps de Ballet. In 2024 he has had the opportunity to dance as guest Soloist at Tirana Opera House (Albany) for Peasant pas de deux in Agron Aliaj’s Giselle.

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Michael began his training at Victorian College Of The Arts Secondary School. He went overseas to train in Switzerland at Tanz Akademie Zurich, and The Netherlands at European School Of Ballet. Michael first joined the Alberta Ballet as a supplemental for Cinderella in March 2022. He was promoted from Apprentice to Corps De Ballet in November 2022. His most memorable performances with Alberta Ballet were Alysa Piers' Skyward, Cathy Marston's Moving Still, Karl in Edmund Stripe's The Nutcracker and Hansel in Loughlan Prior's Hansel And Gretel.