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.

CORY BARNETTE & TROY HERRING, CHOREOGRAPHERS

Cory Barnette and Troy Herring are dancers, choreographers, and educators whose artistic journeys began in Arizona and Oklahoma before converging at The Juilliard School, where both earned their BFAs in 2014. Their professional performance careers include Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, with experience spanning contemporary and classical repertoire by some of the world’s leading choreographers. Barnette also performed with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA, while Herring appeared in the original Broadway tour of Oliver! and performed the leading role of Romeo in Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Romeo and Juliet.

Now partners in life and art, Barnette and Herring teach and choreograph internationally, combining their diverse performance backgrounds with a shared commitment to developing the next generation of artists. Their collaborative work reflects a passion for movement, creative exploration, and the evolving possibilities of dance.

LARISSA PONOMARENKO, CHOREOGRAPHER

Larissa Ponomarenko spent 18 years as a principal dancer with Boston Ballet before joining the company’s artistic staff as Ballet Master and Coach in 2011. Acclaimed for her expressive artistry and dramatic portrayals, she has performed leading roles across a wide-ranging classical and contemporary repertory and appeared as a guest artist with companies around the world. A dedicated teacher and coach, Ponomarenko has worked with companies and schools throughout the United States and internationally. She was nominated for the Benois de la Danse award in 2005.

In 2019, she debuted her adaptation of Giselle for Boston Ballet.