Nutcracker
Guest Artists
Mykhaylo
Izotov

Mykhaylo
Izotov was born in Ukraine. He graduated from the School of Choreographic
Mastery under Vadim Pisarev and joined the Donetsk State Theatre
of Opera and Ballet. Upon arriving in the United States, he performed
with Colorado Ballet, spent several seasons with Columbia Classical
Ballet, and two seasons with Metropolitan Classical Ballet.
Misha
is currently a freelance dancer, based in Dallas Tx. This year,
he has been a featured guest artist for Dallas Metropolitan Ballet
and Ballet Ensemble of Texas. He is an annual favorite for Artisan
Dance, performing Raymonda, Don Quixote, and choreography
by the artistic director, Sallyann Mulcahy. Misha is sponsored
by Premier Ballet.
Melian
Izotova

Melian
Izotova is a freelance ballet dancer from Dallas, Texas. She trained
with Fernando and Karen Schaffenburg, in addition to significant
influence and thanks to Sallyann Mulcahy and Lauri Worrill-Biggs.
She began her professional career with Metropolitan Classical
Ballet, performing in both classic Russian ballets such as Nutcracker
and Creation of the World, and Balanchine works including
Agon, Four Temperments and Concerto Barocco.
She
is a featured guest artist for Artisan Dance and New World Ballet,
as well as performing for Lakecities Ballet Theatre and Ballet
Concerto. Last spring, United Ballet Association asked her to
return for an encore performance series after her appearance as
Odette/Odile in the UBA full-length production of Swan Lake.
Melian is sponsored by Premier Ballet.
Stephen Anaya
Steven
Anaya began his dancing career in 1998 with the West Virginia
School of Ballet under the direction of Caralou Russel. During
that time he danced the roles of Cavalier in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker,
Albrecht in Adam's Giselle, and Prince Florimund in Tchaikovsky's
Sleeping Beauty. He has also performed in many of Balanchine's
works such as Union Jack, Jewels, Apollo
and The Four Temperments.
In 2004 Stephen relocated to Lubbock, Texas where he performed
various roles written and choreographed by faculty and students
in The School of Visual and Performing Arts at Texas Tech University.
He is currently a company member of Ballet Lubbock where he
has performed various roles in the Nutcracker such as
Snow King, Rat King and Russian. He has also performed various
choreography by Yvonne Racz, artistic director of Ballet Luccock.
Stephen
is excited about the opportunity to share his love of ballet
with the Abilene Ballet Theatre and the community of Abilene.
Kevin
Wayne Freeman

Kevin
Wayne Freeman returns to for his 10th season in the role of the
Nutcracker and the Peacock Prince. Kevin is no stranger to the
stage and has had the opportunity to perform all over the United
States. He is currently a principal dancer with Dallas Metropolitan
Ballet and has performed lead roles with Bruce Wood Dance Company,
Lake Cities Ballet Theatre, Corpus Christi Ballet, Midland Festival
Ballet, Mississippi Ballet, North Texas Ballet Theatre and Lonestar
Ballet to name a few.
Kevin
currently holds an AAS in radiation therapy from Amarillo College,
a BFA in ballet from West Texas A & M University, a MFA in
ballet from Texas Christian University and is currently a doctorate
candidate in the field of early childhood education at the University
of North Texas in Denton. Kevin resides in Mesquite, Texas with
his lovely wife Kara and their two beautiful children, MaKayla
and Kyler.
Derek
Turner
