Dancers 2024/25

McKeely Borger SASKATCHEWAN MÉTIS NATION, REGINA

McKeely Borger is a member of the Saskatchewan Métis Nation from Regina, and now of the Métis Nation British Columbia. She has pursued her dance career internationally at Adelphi University in New York under full merit scholarship, Coastal City Ballet in Vancouver, Atlanta Ballet, and in France at Le Ballet de l’Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Metropole as a soloist. She was an original cast member of the mainstage production of Mickey & the Magician at Disneyland Paris in 2016. Before returning to Canada, Ms. Borger spent two years with Ballet Palm Beach, where she had the opportunity to dance George Balanchine’s Who Cares? as the ‘One and Only.’ Embarking on her sixth season with Ballet Kelowna, she has premiered new works by Canadian artists such as Kirsten Wicklund, Kunal Ranchod, and Cameron Fraser-Monroe. Alysa Pires’ Macbeth premiere in May 2022 was a career highlight, where she found delight portraying one of The Three Witches. Ms. Borger also loves sharing the joy of movement with our community as an instructor for IN MOTION. 

Desirée Bortolussi KELOWNA, BC

Desirée Bortolussi was born and raised in Kelowna, BC on the unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people. Ms. Bortolussi began her training at the Canadian School of Ballet under the esteemed direction of Mel Brown and Lori Larson. She completed her RAD Ballet Exams, each with Distinction, participated in summer intensives across North America, and was the Senior Ballet winner at the BC Provincial Festival in 2012. 

Following her graduation in 2012, Ms. Bortolussi began her apprenticeship with Ballet Kelowna and was promoted to company artist the following year. This foundation set the stage for a celebrated career, marked by her performances in works by renowned artists such as John Alleyne, James Kudelka, Simone Orlando, Alysa Pires, and Guillaume Côté, among others.

Her most cherished roles include Blanche Dubois in John Alleyne’s A Streetcar Named Desire and Lady Macbeth in Alysa Pires’ Macbeth. These performances have been highlights of her career, showcasing her remarkable ability to bring depth and emotion to her roles.

As she concludes her remarkable journey with Ballet Kelowna, Ms. Bortolussi reflects with pride on her contributions to the company’s diverse repertoire and the life-long relationships created with her beloved colleagues. She extends her heartfelt thanks to David LaHay for believing in her thirteen years ago, and to Simone Orlando, for her invaluable leadership, dedication, and unwavering support. She is so excited to embark on her final season with Ballet Kelowna and can’t wait to share her love and gratitude with all who have supported her throughout her career.

Avery Grierson KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON

Avery Grierson was born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario where she began dancing at Classical Dance Conservatory. She later joined Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) at the age of eleven, where she trained until graduating high school. While in school, Ms. Grierson had the chance to perform in many works, most notably, as the lead in Jera Wolfe’s Arise, in James Kudelka’s Five Canticles, and as one of the three shades in La Bayadere. After graduating, Ms. Grierson continued her dance training at NBS while starting her career as a supplementary dancer at The National Ballet of Canada, where she had the opportunity to dance in many of their productions such as James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker, Karen Kain’s Swan Lake, and George Balanchine’s Symphony in C. During her first season with Ballet Kelowna, Ms. Grierson performed in Alysa Pires’ Macbeth as Fleance, Kirsten Wicklund’s The Forever Part, and Simone Orlando’s Delicate Fire. 

Riku Hirakoba OSAKA, JAPAN

Riku Hirakoba was born in Osaka Japan, where he started classical ballet training at the age of four. In 2015, he received a scholarship at the Youth America Grand Prix and moved to Canada at the age of twelve to begin his professional training at Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS). He graduated high school in 2021 and continued to train in the Company Life Program at NBS. During his time in the post-secondary program, he had the opportunity to perform in James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker with The National Ballet of Canada. Also during his time in the Company Life Program, he was chosen to perform the lead role in Arise choreographed by Jera Wolfe at the Fall for Dance North Festival, Assemblée International Dance Festival, and 2023 Spring Showcase. Mr. Hirakoba joined Ballet Kelowna as an apprentice in the fall of 2023 and will be continuing as a company member this season.

Shae Jones NANAIMO, BC
Apprentice

Shae Jones began dancing in her hometown of Nanaimo, BC. At the age of twelve, she moved to Ontario to attend the Quinte Ballet School of Canada’s (QBSC) Professional Training Program where she studied with Catherine Taylor, Gizella Witkowsky, and Henning Albrechtsen. While at QBSC, Ms. Jones danced many roles, most notably, the Sugar Plum Fairy Variation in The Nutcracker and the Diamond Fairy Variation in Sleeping Beauty. She took part in master classes with The National Ballet of Canada and Ballet Jörgen and attended Arts Umbrella’s International Summer Dance Intensive in 2021. In 2022, she was offered to join Ballet Kelowna as a trainee in the Emerging Artist Program. Ms. Jones is thrilled to be starting her third season with Ballet Kelowna as an apprentice. She has been fortunate to perform works by artists such as Robert Stephen, Esie Mensah, Alysa Pires, and Cameron Fraser-Monroe. 

Naomi Kawamura RICHMOND, BC

Naomi Kawamura was born on the ancestral, unceded territory of the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Musqueam Nations (North Vancouver). She began her ballet training under Mary Burke in Richmond, BC, and continued her studies with Janet Gittens. At age fourteen, she moved to Toronto to study at Canada's National Ballet School (NBS). While at NBS, Ms. Kawamura participated in international exchange programs in London, Hamburg, and Copenhagen. After graduating from NBS in 2019, she expanded her expertise in ballet, modern, and improvisation techniques at the Palucca University of Dance in Dresden. While in Germany, Ms. Kawamura performed in the Semperoper Ballet’s productions of Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. Upon returning to Canada, she toured with Ballet Jörgen in their production of The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition and also performed with Coastal City Ballet in Vancouver. Since joining Ballet Kelowna in 2022, Ms. Kawamura has especially enjoyed performing as one of the four “Boons” in Robert Stephen’s Mustard. 

Donaldo Nava MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Donaldo Nava began his professional training at the age of eleven. He moved to Victoria, BC in 2017 to continue his training and graduated from the Victoria Academy of Ballet’s Post-Secondary Bridge Program in 2019. While in the Bridge Program, he worked with many guest teachers including Alysa Pires, Jorden Morris, and Christopher Anderson, and performed with Ballet Kelowna in John Alleyne’s A Streetcar Named Desire. Mr. Nava participated in Dance Victoria’s 2019 Choreographic Lab under Justine Chambers and Susan Elliot. Now in his sixth season with Ballet Kelowna, Mr. Nava enjoys working for a creation-based company and has worked with many notable choreographers including Eva Kolarova, Kunal Ranchod, and Seiji Suzuki. 

Lacey Park HUDSON, OH
Apprentice

Lacey Park was born in Hudson, USA where she started her dance education at the age of twelve. During her early training, she attended summer programs on scholarship at the San Francisco Ballet School and Chautauqua School of Dance. In 2021, she moved to Toronto to attend Canada’s National Ballet School’s Company Life Program. While in the Company Life Program, Ms. Park was chosen to participate and perform in the 2024 Holland Dance Festival and was awarded the Peter Dwyer Award. Ms. Park has performed in many new creations and established works including lead roles in Serenade by George Balanchine, Lay Dances by James Kudelka, and Lavender Echoes by Robert Stephen. 

Samuel Ramos SUZANO, BRAZIL

Samuel Ramos was born in Suzano, Brazil and started dancing at Livres Para Dançar at age eight, graduating in 2017. In 2018, Mr. Ramos started dancing at Anacã Estúdio de Dança before moving to Vancouver to continue his dance career with Coastal City Ballet under the direction of Katie Bois. While at Coastal City Ballet, Mr. Ramos had the opportunity to work with world-renowned artists, expand his knowledge of dance, and grow as a dance artist. In 2022, Mr. Ramos joined Ballet Edmonton as an Emerging Artist where he danced works by Dorotea Saykaly, Ihsan Rustem, Wen Wei Wang, and Diego Ramalho. Mr. Ramos joined Ballet Kelowna as an apprentice in 2023 and is thrilled to continue as a company member this season. Highlights while working with Ballet Kelowna include dancing in the world premiere of Robert Stephen’s Mustard as well as making his ensemble debut in Alysa Pires’ Macbeth.

Emily Webb MARKHAM, ON
Apprentice

Emily Webb was born in Markham, Ontario where she began ballet classes at age three. At age eleven, she began training at Canada's National Ballet School (NBS) before going on to join their Company Life Program after graduating in 2022. During her time at NBS, she had opportunities to learn from many notable teachers and choreographers including Mavis Staines, James Kudelka, Margaret Tracey, and Jera Wolfe. Ms. Webb also had the chance to perform a lead role in George Balanchine’s Serenade and Autumn from James Kudelka’s Four Seasons. She is thrilled to be joining Ballet Kelowna this season.

Kurt Werner SCARBOROUGH, ON

Kurt Werner is a graduate of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division and has travelled abroad to Austria, England, Italy, New Zealand, and the U.S. to further his development in classical, contemporary, and modern dance. In 2015, he was awarded the Brian Macdonald Dance Award during his participation in The Banff Centre’s Summer Professional Dance Program. While with Ballet Kelowna, Mr. Werner has enjoyed creating and performing such works as Petrushka by Heather Dotto and MAMBO by Alysa Pires, as they have helped let his personality shine on stage. In 2018, Mr. Werner founded the Evolve Arts Collective, a platform to share his choreographic works and expand his network with artists across all disciplines. He is grateful for opportunities to present his works at the Kelowna Fringe Festival and the Theatre on the Edge Fest while continuing to workshop new movement with fellow company dancers.

MacKye White COURTENAY, BC

MacKye White began his dance training on Vancouver Island at Pantuso Dance and Éclat Dance Youth Company. He went on to pursue professional training at Alberta Ballet School on scholarship where he worked with Ashley McNeil, Murray Kilgour, Janet Tate, Aram Manukyan, Edmund Stripe, Graham McKelvie, and Sasha Ivanochko. After graduating in 2020, Mr. White was accepted into the Lamondance training program on a full scholarship. During his two years at Lamondance he performed works by Davi Rodrigues, Racheal Prince, Brandon Alley, Kirsten Wicklund, and Heather Dotto, among others. Entering his third season with the company Mr. White has had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Alysa Pires, John Alleyne, Cameron Fraser-Monroe, and looks forward to many more.