Guest Male Performers
Cole Companion - Guest Artist in Residence
Cole began his training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating with their highest honor, the “Prix D’excellance De Danse,” he has been a performing member of Alabama Ballet, The Arova Foundation, Birmingham Ballet Reparatory Company, Oakland Ballet Company, and Bay Pointe Ballet. Previous roles include Albrecht in Giselle, Tea Man in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Principal in Alfonzo Figeroura’s Changes, Hues in The Awakening, Furbo In Graham Lustig’s Pulcinella, Russian in Bruce Steivel’s The Nutcracker, Michael in Bruce Steivel’s Peter Pan, and Puck in Bruce Steivel’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As a choreographer he has created numerous works including The Allegory of the Cave, Our Best Decision, El Dorado, Les Biches, and The Cask of Amontillado. In response to COVID, Cole Companion co-founded an online virtual performance platform called The Isolation Project, allowing artists around the globe to create new and original artistic compositions.
Cole began his training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating with their highest honor, the “Prix D’excellance De Danse,” he has been a performing member of Alabama Ballet, The Arova Foundation, Birmingham Ballet Reparatory Company, Oakland Ballet Company, and Bay Pointe Ballet. Previous roles include Albrecht in Giselle, Tea Man in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Principal in Alfonzo Figeroura’s Changes, Hues in The Awakening, Furbo In Graham Lustig’s Pulcinella, Russian in Bruce Steivel’s The Nutcracker, Michael in Bruce Steivel’s Peter Pan, and Puck in Bruce Steivel’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As a choreographer he has created numerous works including The Allegory of the Cave, Our Best Decision, El Dorado, Les Biches, and The Cask of Amontillado. In response to COVID, Cole Companion co-founded an online virtual performance platform called The Isolation Project, allowing artists around the globe to create new and original artistic compositions.
Michael Warner
Michael Warner, born in Indianapolis, IN, began his dance career at the age of 15 at his local high school. Upon graduation, he decided to pursue dance as a career and enrolled at Anderson University in the fall of 2016 as a dance major. While studying at AU, he had the opportunity to work with many guest choreographers including Earl Mosley, Eddie Ocampo, Ian Poulis, and many more. After two years of studying at AU he transferred to Lindenwood University located in St. Charles, MO. While studying at Lindenwood, Michael studied with companies such as MADCO and Big Muddy Dance Company as well as working with New York based choreographers, Nick and Zack Betty-Neagle.
Upon graduating with a BA in dance and emphasis in contemporary in 2020, Michael moved to Columbia, MO, where he teaches and choreographs at a local dance studio, Comotion Dance. In the Fall of 2020 Michael was selected to choreograph for the Regional Alternative Dance Festival (RAD Fest). His contemporary work “Juvenile” premiered in March of 2021 during the RAD Fest’s virtual festival. That following Spring, he was commissioned to choreograph a solo at Lindenwood University’s 2021 Spring concert. All while making guest appearances in The Belleville School of Ballets Nutcracker from 2019-2021. In 2022, Michael taught advance levels of contemporary at the American College Dance Association Central region conference. That following Summer, he was invited to teach at Anderson University’s Summer Intensive, as well as the Missouri Dance Organizations annual conference.
He is currently still teaching and choreographing as he prepares for competition season to begin! He is excited for his guest performance in Anderson Young Ballet Theatre’s production of The Sleeping Beauty!
Michael Warner, born in Indianapolis, IN, began his dance career at the age of 15 at his local high school. Upon graduation, he decided to pursue dance as a career and enrolled at Anderson University in the fall of 2016 as a dance major. While studying at AU, he had the opportunity to work with many guest choreographers including Earl Mosley, Eddie Ocampo, Ian Poulis, and many more. After two years of studying at AU he transferred to Lindenwood University located in St. Charles, MO. While studying at Lindenwood, Michael studied with companies such as MADCO and Big Muddy Dance Company as well as working with New York based choreographers, Nick and Zack Betty-Neagle.
Upon graduating with a BA in dance and emphasis in contemporary in 2020, Michael moved to Columbia, MO, where he teaches and choreographs at a local dance studio, Comotion Dance. In the Fall of 2020 Michael was selected to choreograph for the Regional Alternative Dance Festival (RAD Fest). His contemporary work “Juvenile” premiered in March of 2021 during the RAD Fest’s virtual festival. That following Spring, he was commissioned to choreograph a solo at Lindenwood University’s 2021 Spring concert. All while making guest appearances in The Belleville School of Ballets Nutcracker from 2019-2021. In 2022, Michael taught advance levels of contemporary at the American College Dance Association Central region conference. That following Summer, he was invited to teach at Anderson University’s Summer Intensive, as well as the Missouri Dance Organizations annual conference.
He is currently still teaching and choreographing as he prepares for competition season to begin! He is excited for his guest performance in Anderson Young Ballet Theatre’s production of The Sleeping Beauty!
Josh Maldonado - Guest Artist in Residence
(Courtesy of BEEF & BOARDS)
Josh Maldonado is so excited to be a part of this production! Josh graduated from Anderson University where he studied musical theater and dance. His musical performances include: Albert (Disney’s Newsies), Dick (9 to 5), the Centipede (James and the Giant Peach) from The Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and Audrey II Operator (Little Shop of Horrors) at Beef & Boards. He has performed as Snow King, The Nutcracker, Dew Drop Prince (The Nutcracker), The King (The Little Mermaid), and The King of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland). Josh has also performed as a touring puppeteer with Madcap Players, performing for children all over the Midwest. In his spare time, he loves learning about technology, eating popcorn, and playing the organ. He would like to thank Jennifer Thiemet for her teaching, his family for their support, and God for His love.
(Courtesy of BEEF & BOARDS)
Josh Maldonado is so excited to be a part of this production! Josh graduated from Anderson University where he studied musical theater and dance. His musical performances include: Albert (Disney’s Newsies), Dick (9 to 5), the Centipede (James and the Giant Peach) from The Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and Audrey II Operator (Little Shop of Horrors) at Beef & Boards. He has performed as Snow King, The Nutcracker, Dew Drop Prince (The Nutcracker), The King (The Little Mermaid), and The King of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland). Josh has also performed as a touring puppeteer with Madcap Players, performing for children all over the Midwest. In his spare time, he loves learning about technology, eating popcorn, and playing the organ. He would like to thank Jennifer Thiemet for her teaching, his family for their support, and God for His love.
Prudencio Rodriguez III
Prudencio Rodriguez III has been dancing since the age of 13. He started his dance training with the Latin dance group Talento De Barrio. In high school he was then apart of Hammond Academy for Performing Arts where he studied modern, ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. He is graduated from
Anderson University with a degree in Dance Pedagogy. He most recently performed in Alice in Wonderland. Prudencio plans to attend Florida State University where he hopes to achieve his MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) in dance. Upon receiving his master’s degree, he plans to audition for professional dance companies and teach dance at a university level.
Prudencio Rodriguez III has been dancing since the age of 13. He started his dance training with the Latin dance group Talento De Barrio. In high school he was then apart of Hammond Academy for Performing Arts where he studied modern, ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. He is graduated from
Anderson University with a degree in Dance Pedagogy. He most recently performed in Alice in Wonderland. Prudencio plans to attend Florida State University where he hopes to achieve his MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) in dance. Upon receiving his master’s degree, he plans to audition for professional dance companies and teach dance at a university level.
Fletcher Barr
(Courtesy of Indiana University)
Fletcher Barr was born in Owensboro KY, where he began dancing at the age of 5 at Johnson’s Dance Studio. Since then, he has trained with Evansville Ballet, the School of Ballet Indiana, and the Harid Conservatory, before returning home to join the Owensboro Dance Theatre. Barr has also trained with the Louisville Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and Long Beach Ballet summer intensives. Barr has performed lead roles in works
choreographed by Justin Peck, George Balanchine, Michael Vernon, and Mark Godden.
(Courtesy of Indiana University)
Fletcher Barr was born in Owensboro KY, where he began dancing at the age of 5 at Johnson’s Dance Studio. Since then, he has trained with Evansville Ballet, the School of Ballet Indiana, and the Harid Conservatory, before returning home to join the Owensboro Dance Theatre. Barr has also trained with the Louisville Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and Long Beach Ballet summer intensives. Barr has performed lead roles in works
choreographed by Justin Peck, George Balanchine, Michael Vernon, and Mark Godden.
Craig Sample
Craig returns to the stage after many years, prompted not-so-subtly by his daughter, AYBT dancer Josephine Sample. He studied Meisner Acting Technique under Michael Blain-Rozgay in Portland, OR and then Howard Fine in Los Angeles, CA. He attended the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles as well, where he crafted 2 albums. As a SAG/AFTRA
member, most of his acting career was spent in front of the camera for film, commercials, and industrials. Some of his work, he was blessed to be able to work with Kevin Costner in The Postman, Marissa Silver/Keanu Reeves in Permanent Record, and Janet Jackson in the Black Cat Live video.
He’s honored and excited (if not a little nervous) to be a part of this AYBT production, but doubly so to share the stage with his daughter.
Craig returns to the stage after many years, prompted not-so-subtly by his daughter, AYBT dancer Josephine Sample. He studied Meisner Acting Technique under Michael Blain-Rozgay in Portland, OR and then Howard Fine in Los Angeles, CA. He attended the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles as well, where he crafted 2 albums. As a SAG/AFTRA
member, most of his acting career was spent in front of the camera for film, commercials, and industrials. Some of his work, he was blessed to be able to work with Kevin Costner in The Postman, Marissa Silver/Keanu Reeves in Permanent Record, and Janet Jackson in the Black Cat Live video.
He’s honored and excited (if not a little nervous) to be a part of this AYBT production, but doubly so to share the stage with his daughter.
Tyler Binnion
Tyler Binnion returns to the stage with AYBT after 34 years. He fell in love with ballet when Miss Lou Ann first invited him to dance in AYBT’s production of The Nutcracker. Under her tutelage, he performed the following roles: Father to Claire and Fritz, Arabian dancer, and Mother Ginger. He is honored to share the stage with AYBT dancers, again, as Drosselmeyer, and wants to thank Miss Jennifer for inviting him back into the world of dance.
Tyler Binnion returns to the stage with AYBT after 34 years. He fell in love with ballet when Miss Lou Ann first invited him to dance in AYBT’s production of The Nutcracker. Under her tutelage, he performed the following roles: Father to Claire and Fritz, Arabian dancer, and Mother Ginger. He is honored to share the stage with AYBT dancers, again, as Drosselmeyer, and wants to thank Miss Jennifer for inviting him back into the world of dance.