Bengt Jörgen – CEO and Artistic Director, Jörgen Dance
We are thrilled that you’ve chosen to dance with us. Our motto is “dance for all” because we believe that dance is for everyone.
Welcome to your studio. We are here to help you advance your dance.
"I love teaching because it is a great way to share the joy that I find in the art form."
Fans of Ballet Jörgen will know award-winning Principal Dancer Hannah Mae Cruddas from her many roles but perhaps best of all for her captivating and heartwarming portrayal of Anne in Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet, a ballet created especially for her by Artistic Director Bengt Jörgen.
A Nova Scotia native, Hannah Mae started dancing when she was just three years old and hasn’t stopped moving since. After studying locally at The Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and the Leica Hardy School of dance, she joined The National Ballet School at 16. She began her association with Ballet Jörgen in 2007 in Halifax as a Local Participant, went on to become a Junior Company Member and an RBC Foundation Apprentice in 2011, and became a full Company Member in 2012.
As a teacher, she is much in demand across Canada, the United States, and Brazil. With the Virtual Dance Studio, Hannah Mae is excited to join you in your home, classroom, or studio and share the secrets of the great ballet training that have made her the internationally recognized dancer she is today.
"The real excitement for me as a teacher is when you see students having a hard time and after you coach them, you see them light up and they're like, ‘I can actually do this!’"
Born and raised in Brazil, Daniel joined Ballet Jörgen in 2009. He is known for his extensive repertoire, bringing depth and expression to his leading roles which include Florimond in Sleeping Beauty, the Prince in Cinderella, Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, and Siegfried in Swan Lake. His dancing was also featured at the Cannes Film Festival debut screening of Ballet Jörgen’s short film The Marvelous Girl. Though known for his dramatic roles, he doesn’t take ballet too seriously. “I love when I perform for kids and make them laugh. I think it's super fun to be silly on stage.”
"My advice to aspiring dancers is to believe in your small achievements and never forget the music: it is the most joyful part of dancing."
Originally from Japan, Akari came up through the Ballet Jörgen ranks first as a Junior Company Member and then as an Apprentice, before joining the Company in 2017. Audiences will know her from her performances as the Birch, lead Flower, Loons in The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition, Stepsister from Cinderella, Juliet from Romeo and Juliet, Diana Barry from Anne of Green Gables - The Ballet.
Akari began dancing at the age of three, training at the Shiho Kanazawa Ballet Studio until the age of 14. From there she moved continents to study at the Koninklijke Ballet School in Belgium, before finally moving to Toronto enrolling at Canada’s National Ballet School.
"I tell students feeling frustrated ‘just think about how much progress you've made. You're always better than this week or the month before’."
Montréal native, Lydia-Laure Germain graduated with honours from the George Brown College Dance Performance program in April 2020. She then joined Ballet Jörgen’s Junior Company before being promoted to Company Dancer in 2022. She has also preformed professionally with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Ballet Ouest de Montréal, and Ballet de Québec.
Lydia’s training includes studying at various international ballet schools, such as the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, l’École de danse de l’Opéra national de Paris, the Royal Danish Ballet School, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and the Royal Ballet School of London. A beneficiary of extensive training, she likes sharing her passion for dance with students. “I enjoy seeing them working hard and progressing every time.”
"One of the things I enjoy most is working with little kids. It feels great to see them evolve and improve every day."
Omar joined Ballet Jörgen in 2021 having trained as a soloist in the Cuban National Ballet. While dancing with the Cuban National Ballet he performed all of the Company´s repertoire and performed internationally in Mexico, Spain, China, the United States, France, Italy, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Canada. He also participated as a soloist in contemporary choreography by Anabel López Ochoa, Alexei Ratmansky, Ricardo Amarante and Cathy Martson. Omar trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba, graduating as a Ballet Dancer – Professor.
"Normally ballet dancers start when they're three, eight, 10 years old. So, for me to even fantasize about going into a professional career at 18 was unusual. I feel very lucky and fortunate to be where I am."
Adrián Ramírez Juárez emigrated to Canada from Mexico, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Dance, graduating with distinction. Although he started studying ballet as a teenager, he went on to become a medallist in the prestigious Attitude International Ballet Competition. He has toured in Les Grands Ballets Canadien’s Nutcracker, danced as a soloist with Ballet de Montreal, and as a guest dancer for Symphony Nova Scotia. Previously, Adrián performed with Taller Coreografico de la UNAM in Mexico City.
Adrián’s repertoire with Ballet Jörgen includes Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, the Prince in Cinderella, Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty, Paris in Romeo & Juliet, Von Rothbart & Spanish Dancer in Swan Lake, Hannah Kiel’s Conversation 1, and various roles in The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition. Adrián has been a Company Member since 2014.
"Everyone has their own talent. Believe in your talent."
Japanese native, Momoka Matsui has been a company member of Ballet Jörgen since 2015. On the 2023 tour, she will be a dancing the lead in Cinderella, having won audiences’ hearts as Anne in Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet® and Klara in Coppélia.
Momoka began her dance training at the Yukiko Kato Ballet School and under Kato’s mentorship she performed major roles in The Nutcracker, Paquita, Harlequinade and Coppélia. She has garnered numerous awards including: the Silver Medal, Ballet Competition Fukuoka; the Bronze Medal both in 2010 and 2013, NAMUE Classical Ballet Competition; and the renowned Fukuoka Prefectural Governor Award. She joined a Russian concert tour produced by Morihiro Iwata and had the opportunity to dance at many prestigious ballet schools, including the Moscow Ballet Academy.
"My advice to any aspiring dancer is to try absolutely everything that you can. You are on your own journey, and you will get to where you need to go in your own time."
A Glaswegian, Callum’s training includes JazzArtUK, Scottish Ballet’s Junior Associate Program, The Dance School of Scotland, and the Scottish Ballet Youth Exchange. Joining the London’s Central School of Ballet, he was part of performances such as the Prix de Lausanne’s first ever choreographic project with guest choreographer Goyo Montero. He has danced as a guest artist in New English Ballet Theatre’s 2018 season tour and has performed in works by Jasmin Vardimon, Christopher Marney, Fredrick Ashton, Kenneth Macmillan, Sophie Laplane, and Jenna Lee. After joining the Ballet Jörgen in 2019, he has performed in original creations by Bengt Jörgen, Jose Carret, Katlyn Addison, and Hanna Kiel, and in many different roles in The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition, Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet and Romeo & Juliet.
"My advice to students is: Listen to your body, listen to your teachers. It's very easy for us dancers to keep pushing and pushing but be patient with yourself."
Born in Brazil, Leandro moved to Rio de Janeiro at 16 to study with Ronaldo and Rachel Martins Ribeiro, soloists from the Municipal Ballet Theater of Rio de Janeiro. A winner of multiple awards including from the National Brazilian Dance and The Enesdança Dance Competitions, Leandro garnered a full scholarship to the NYC’s Joffrey Ballet School and was accepted to the Maria Olenewa State Dance School. He has performed with in John Cranko’s Onegin and Enrique Martinez´s Coppélia.
As a participant in the workshop of the Ballet Clássico da Amazônia in Brazil, Leandro danced the lead roles in The Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadère, Swan Lake and Don Quixote. He has also appeared as a guest dancer at many major national festivals, including performing the principal role of the Nutcracker Prince with the Albany Berkshire Ballet. Leandro’s roles with Ballet Jörgen have included Snow Cavalier, Wolf, Male Snowflake, and Bear in The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition and Henchman and Mazurka Dancer in Swan Lake.
"I love teaching because it's a part of giving what I've learned from all the teachers to a new generation."
Hiroto Saito first met Ballet Jörgen Artistic Director Bengt Jörgen while he was dancing with the Hong Kong Ballet in Bengt’s Romeo & Juliet. Soon thereafter, Hiroto joined Ballet Jörgen. His repertoire includes many principal roles, including Romeo and Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, Nathaniel and Dr. Coppélius in Coppélia, Dimitry in Anastasia, the Prince and Suitor in Cinderella, Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty and Lord Birch in The Nutcracker, A Canadian Tradition. During the 25th anniversary season, Hiroto was involved in creating roles in the company’s new production of Swan Lake, in which he performed the principal roles of Siegfried and Von Rothbart. In 2017, Hiroto transitioned into the role of Ballet Master, taking on a more creative role with the company as well as performing on stage.
Hiroto studied ballet as a child in Japan at Sadamatsu Hamada Ballet School in Kobe and then at the English National Ballet School. He joined the Hong Kong Ballet under the direction of Stephen Jefferies and has worked with internationally recognized figures such as Wayne Eagling, Alexander Grant, and Suzanne Farrell.
"I love teaching dance because as I am teaching, I'm also learning at the same time. I'm discovering new things while sharing my knowledge."
Brazilian Márcio Teixeira started dancing at the Núcleo de Convivência Menino Jesus aged 10. In 2008 at 14, he attended his first ballet school, Escola de Ballet Sandra Amaral in São Caetano do Sul/SP. Four years later, he found himself studying in Canada at the Pacific DanceArts in Vancouver. And by 2015, Márcio had graduated from the U. K.’s English National Ballet School. Returning to Canada, Márcio danced with Vancouver’s Coastal City Ballet. In 2017, he joined Ballet Jörgen’s Junior Company, then earning his apprenticeship with the Company the following year, and in 2019 becoming a full Company Member. His roles have included Town Doll in Coppélia as well as many characters in Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet.
"I tell students: Never give up. If this is your dream, you should pursue it."
Ana Zamora trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba, graduating with a Gold Diploma as a Ballet Dancer – Professor. She passed the final exam with the highest mark, performing the pas de deux Grand Pas Classique. Ana joined the Cuban National Ballet in 2016 where she performed roles in ballets by acclaimed choreographers, including Alicia Alonso, George Balanchine, Anabel Lopez Ochoa, Alexei Ratmansky, Pierre Contall, Maria Rovira and Cathy Marston. While with the Cuban National Ballet, Ana toured internationally to Mexico, Spain, China, and the United States. Ana was awarded the Gold Medal at the 2014 XX International Meeting of Ballet Academies of Havana, Cuba and a finalist in 2015. Ana joined Ballet Jörgen in 2022.
"What I love most about teaching is making the learning process fun so the students can enjoy learning the choreography."
Taisiia began her dance training at DVFU Choreography College in Russia. She was accepted to the L. M. Lavrovski Choreography college on a full scholarship and graduated with a diploma in ballet performance and instruction. During this time, Taisiia performed on many famous stages across Russia, including the Kremlin Theatre, The Natalia Sats Musical Theatre, Moscow International House of Music, and Taganka Theatre. In 2021 Taisiia graduated from the George Brown College’s Dance Performance Program. Taisiia completed the Mentorship and the Junior Company programs with Ballet Jörgen, which led her to becoming an Apprentice. As an Apprentice, Taisiia performed in such ballets as The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition, Cinderella, Romeo & Juliet, and Anne of Green Gables. Taisiia is excited to begin the 2023-2024 season with Ballet Jörgen.
"If you're starting ballet or, or you are newer to ballet, you should be like a sponge - there's always something that a teacher can give to you, even the smallest detail."
Esther began her training at Escuela Nacional Superior de Ballet in Lima, Perú, where she participated in several international competitions and festivals such as the X International Young Dancers Festival. She travelled to Mexico and Poland representing the school. Upon graduation, she joined the Ballet Municipal de Lima. She received a scholarship for NYC’s Joffrey Ballet School and studied under many recognized teachers including Gaiane Akopian and Era Jouralev. Esther then returned to Lima continuing to perform with Ballet Municipal de Lima. She’s danced various soloist and first soloist roles in big classical productions including Big Swans, Russian Dance in Swan Lake, Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Mercedes in Don Quixote, and Myrtha/Bathilde in Giselle. She joined Ballet Jörgen in 2021.
