Profiles

RAÚL SALAMANCA, CEO AND DIRECTOR

An acclaimed artist and entrepreneur with over 25 years of professional experience in the world of dance. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he enjoyed a celebrated performing career with prestigious companies such as Boston Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, and Ballet Arizona. His time with these organizations allowed him to work with some of the industry’s most esteemed teachers, coaches, and choreographers, honing his expertise in classical, neoclassical, and contemporary ballet. In 2023, Mr. Salamanca expanded his artistic repertoire by choreographing a new production of The Nutcracker, earning widespread praise for his innovative storytelling and artistic vision. As a passionate advocate for the arts, Mr. Salamanca is a member of the International Dance Council (CID), an official partner of UNESCO, demonstrating his commitment to preserving and promoting dance on a global scale. His leadership extends beyond the stage, as he has guided countless artists as an A.G.M.A. union representative, successfully navigating complex labor contract negotiations. Before founding Golden State Ballet in 2021, Mr. Salamanca held several distinguished positions: Ballet Master and Director of Education at Ballet San Antonio, Répétiteur for Boston Ballet’s resident choreographer Jorma Elo, and Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer at Los Gatos Ballet in Silicon Valley. His entrepreneurial spirit also led to the creation of Golden State Ballet Academy alongside his wife, Cindy Huang in 2019. Under Mr. Salamanca’s direction, Golden State Ballet has become a cornerstone of the San Diego arts community, celebrated for its excellence and accessibility. Through his visionary leadership, he continues to champion the transformative power of dance, inspiring the next generation of artists and captivating audiences with world-class performances.

COURTNEY GIANNONE, GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER

Giannone is our modern instructor at Golden State Ballet Academy. A dancer, choreographer, and circus artist based in San Diego, she originally hails from New York City and holds a BFA in Dance from Fordham University and The Ailey School. Giannone has performed in shows and with companies including Queen of the Night, Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, Company XIV, Quixotic Fusion, Malashock Dance Company, Buglisi Dance Theater, STREB, Diavolo, and in the works of Kazuko Hirabayashi, Pascal Rioult, Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, Robert Battle, and Milton Myers. She is a certified instructor in Horton Technique, GYROTONIC®, and Cyr Wheel, and currently teaches at Golden State Ballet Academy, Mironova Classical Ballet Academy, and San Diego Circus Center, as well as serving as a guest instructor at Malashock Dance School, SDSCPA, Circus Juventas, and Idyllwild Arts Academy.

In 2015, Giannone became a world champion in competitive wheel gymnastics for Team USA. Her honors and affiliations include Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative, Gold Medalist Pianist at Carnegie Hall, winner of the Dance Magazine video competition, recipient of the STREB Emerging Artist Commission, Bindlestiff First of May Award (2013), and residencies at Spaceworks NYC and Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica, California.

Giannone’s choreographic works have been presented at Youth America Grand Prix, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, San Diego Circus Center, Golden State Ballet Academy, Circus Juventas, Galapagos Arts Space, Dixon Place, STREB, California State University Long Beach, Cornish College of the Arts, and The Ailey School. She has also appeared on Harry TV, Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, and other television programs. Giannone is thrilled to be working with the Golden State Ballet company as a guest choreographer for Crafted II.

NATHAN MADDEN, GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER

Madden has been blessed to have a full career of designing, choreographing, directing, and performing all around the world and with each experience he becomes more of a well-rounded creative force. He is thrilled to be creating work on this amazing San Diego-based company! After completing his degree at the Juilliard School, he went on to grace the stages of countless theaters during two seasons with Les Ballet Jazz des Montreal, touring with Twyla Tharp's Come Fly Away, and guesting with Lar Lubovitch Dance. His Broadway journey began with Fosse’s legendary CHICAGO, then was an original cast member of Christopher Wheeldon's An American In Paris, and part of the team bringing back the revival of Hello, Dolly!.  He was awarded the Héctor Zaraspe Prize for exemplary movement, was a finalist for the Capezio ACE Awards, and has had his work place in The National Society of Arts and Letters competition. He created new works for The Current Sessions, the Reverb Festival, the Dumbo Dance Festival, Arts on Site, and various museum openings across the country.  As a designer with Water Entertainment Technologies, he has brought movement to water features worldwide. He remains passionate about the pursuit of leadership development; supporting youth organizations through ministry, arts education, and outreach.

NATASHA RADER, GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER