2003-2004 Season

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

In addition to hip hop, Derek continues to study ballet, ballroom, tap, jazz and pas de deux. Derek currently teaches hip hop dance classes at Munro Ballet Studios in Corpus Christi. He travels and teaches workshops and master classes all over the state of Texas.