the dancers
Sophie Williams
Artistic Director
SOPHIE WILLIAMS, a California native with an international dance career, founded Pointeworks in 2023 with a vision to elevate the voices of female artists and bring cutting-edge ballet to her hometown of San Diego.
She trained in Solana Beach at Ballet Arte Academy of Classical Ballet under Sara Viale and Erlends Zieminch, and in Miami City Ballet’s Pre-Professional Division.
Her professional career has been a story of passion, perseverance, and resilience. Beginning with Ballet San Jose, and taking her on to dance with companies across the USA (Oklahoma City Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, BalletMet, Complexions, Richmond Ballet, and American National Ballet), and a few seasons overseas with the Royal New Zealand. In 2022, she returned back to the USA, where joined Texas Ballet Theater, under Ben Stevenson.
Williams’ repertoire includes principal roles in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco (First and Second Violins), Serenade (Dark Angel), and La Bayadère (Gamzatti). With performance highlights in Balanchine’s Rubies, Theme and Variations, contemporary gems such as Andrea Schermoly’s Within Without, Val Caniparoli’s Without Borders, and classical full length productions, including Giselles by Alicia Alonso, Ethan Stiefel, and Edward Liang, Liang’s Don Quixote, Cinderella, Liam Scarlett’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Patricia Barker’s Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, and Pas de Quatre, Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Alice in Wonderland among other celebrated works. While freelancing, Williams has enjoyed engaging in the creative processes with the National Choreographers Initiative and Chamber Dance Project.
Instagram: @sophiewilliams742
RAYLEIGH VENDT
Rayleigh Vendt is a dancer with Texas Ballet Theater and an original cast member of Pointeworks. She performed in Pointeworks’ inaugural season, dancing in Melody Mennite's Floreciente, Reka Gyulai’s Off Beat, and Caili Quan’s Press Play.
Rayleigh Vendt, born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Dallas, Texas, began her pre-professional training at the Ballet Academy of Texas under Lisa Slagle. After graduating early, she embarked on her professional career at Cincinnati Ballet, followed by two seasons with Ballet Austin, and a five year career with Oklahoma City Ballet. In 2020, Vendt returned to Dallas to work for artistic director Ben Stevenson at Texas Ballet Theater.
Highlights of her career include performing Russian Girl in Balanchine’s Serenade, Alice in Stevenson’s Alice in Wonderland, Flora in Stevenson’s Dracula, the classics such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and cutting-edge contemporary works by choreographers Garret Smith and Helen Picket. Her repertoire includes the lead pas de deus in Val Caniparoli’s Without Borders, in Balanchine’s Rubies, and Stevenson’s Bartok, among others.
Instagram: @rayleighvendt
RIEKO HATATO
Rieko Hatato is a soloist with Texas Ballet Theater and an original cast member of Pointeworks. She performed in Pointeworks’ inaugural season, dancing in Melody Mennite's Floreciente, Reka Gyulai’s Off Beat, and Caili Quan’s Press Play. In September 2024, she danced the principal role of Cinderella in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella.
Hatato began her ballet training at the age of five in Japan at the renowned Yoko Tsukamoto Theater de Ballet Academy in Nagoya. She quickly gained recognition in prestigious ballet competitions, earning a bronze medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition and being a two-time finalist in the USA International Ballet Competition.
She guest-starred with the Russian Ballet Theater in Cyprus before joining Arts Ballet Theater of Florida in 2017 and moving to the United States.
Since joining Texas Ballet Theater, Hatato has performed a wide range of roles, including the Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty, Svetlana in Dracula, Tiger Lily in Alice in Wonderland, and leads in The Nutcracker. She has also danced major pas de deux roles, including Bartok, Sylvia, and Esmeralda. Additionally, her repertoire features works by Tim O'Keefe, Val Caniparoli, Garret Smith, and performances in Balanchine’s Serenade and Rubies.
Instagram: @7rieko_hatato7
paige nyman
Paige Nyman is a principal dancer with Texas Ballet Theater and an original cast member of Pointeworks. She performed in Pointeworks' inaugural season, dancing in Heather Nichol's Meraki pas de deux and Melody Mennite's Floreciente.
Nyman began her dance journey in Kansas City, Kansas, and at 16, earned a scholarship to the Harid Conservatory. There, she trained under esteemed instructors Svetlana Osiyeva, Oliver Pardina, and Victoria Schneider.
Since joining Texas Ballet Theater in 2009, Nyman has captivated audiences in lead roles such as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Mina in Dracula, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Alice in Alice in Wonderland. She has also performed as the principal in Balanchine’s Rubies and Serenade, and in Robbins’ The Concert. Her repertoire includes standout roles in Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated and as Carmen in Carlos Acosta’s production of Carmen.
Valentin Batista
Valentin Batista is a soloist with Texas Ballet Theater and an original cast member of Pointeworks. He performed in Pointeworks’ inaugural season, dancing the principal pas de deux in Melody Mennite's Floreciente and Reka Gyulai’s Off Beat. He was also featured in Pointeworks' dance film The Tides, choreographed by Leiland Charles, which premiered at film festivals worldwide and was streamed on Marquee TV, earning multiple nominations.
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Batista began his ballet training at the age of 5 with his first teacher, Sara Rzeszotko. At 12, he joined the school of Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires to further his education. In 2012, Batista moved to the United States after being awarded a full scholarship to join Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy. He also attended summer intensives at Houston Ballet, Ellison Ballet in NYC, Orlando Ballet, and Jacob’s Pillow. After three years of training at Houston Ballet, he began his professional career with Orlando Ballet. Batista's achievements include winning first place at the American Dance Competition, where he received coaching from Olivier Muñoz.
In 2017, Batista joined Texas Ballet Theater under the direction of the acclaimed choreographer Ben Stevenson. His soloist career has featured highlights such as performing in Stevenson's 3 Preludes, Mozart’s Requiem, The Nutcracker, Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, and Bartok. He has also performed in Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances, as well as works by Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, and Garret Smith.
In addition to his work with Texas Ballet Theater, Batista had the exciting opportunity in 2022 and 2023 to collaborate with the National Ballet of Cuba to stage works by Ben Stevenson.
KYLE TORRES HIYOSHI
Kyle Torres-Hiyoshi is a soloist with Texas Ballet Theater and an original cast member of Pointeworks. He performed in Pointeworks’ inaugural season, dancing in Melody Mennite's Floreciente, Reka Gyulai’s Off Beat, and Nicole Von Enck's Familiar Reflections.
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Torres-Hiyoshi began his dance training at the American Academy of Ballet. At the age of 15, he was awarded a full scholarship to continue his education at The School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center. After graduating, he joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company and later danced with Boston Ballet II.
Torres-Hiyoshi then joined Sarasota Ballet from 2014 to 2017, where he performed principal roles in George Balanchine’s Rubies and Diamonds, Sir Frederick Ashton’s Sinfonietta, Valse Nobles et Sentimentales, Scene de Ballet, and Anthony Tudor’s Continuo. His repertoire also includes Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes, Jiří Kylián’s Wings of Wax, and Alexander Ekman’s Cacti.
In 2017, Torres-Hiyoshi joined Texas Ballet Theater, where he has performed in notable works such as William Forsythe’s In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances, and a range of ballets curated by Ben Stevenson, including Bartok, Dracula, Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and lead roles in Stevenson’s The Nutcracker.
Emma von Enck
Emma Von Enck was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and began her dance training at the age of 5 at the Royal School of Ballet with Joanne Morscher. She later studied at the Cleveland School of Dance with Gladisa Guadalupe and the Cleveland Ballet Conservatory with Kerry Skuderin, and attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet in 2011 and 2012. She enrolled as a full-time student at SAB for the 2012 winter term.
In August of 2016, Ms. Von Enck became an apprentice with NYCB. As an apprentice, she originated a corps role in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Unframed and danced featured roles in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker® (Doll) and Nicolas Blanc’s Mothership. She joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in August 2017.
Ms. Von Enck was promoted to the rank of soloist in January 2022, and to principal in May 2024.
Claire von enck
Claire Von Enck is a member of the New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio and began her dance training at the age of seven at the Royal School of Ballet with Joanne Morscher. She later studied at the Cleveland School of Dance with Gladisa Guadalupe before attending the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, during the 2009 summer course. She then enrolled as a full time student the following fall.
In August of 2012, Ms. Von Enck became an apprentice with NYCB and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in August 2013.
In March 2025, she will perform with Pointeworks in their NYC tour in a special piece choreographed by Laine Habony, alongside her sisters Nicole and Emma von Enck, dancers with Texas Ballet Theater and New York City Ballet. This marks the first time the three sisters will perform together, making it an extraordinary moment.
Niclole von Enck
Nicole Von Enck is in her 15th season with Texas Ballet Theater. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, she began her professional training with Joanne Hughes Morscher at the Royal School of Ballet. In 2008, she joined North Carolina Dance Theatre as an apprentice for two years before joining Texas Ballet Theater in 2010.
Her favorite roles include Odette/Odile in Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake, Cinderella in Stevenson’s Cinderella, Russian Girl in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Rubies Principal in Balanchine’s Rubies, Esmeralda Pas de Deux by Stevenson, the Prima Ballerina in Harald Lander’s Études, Third Pas de Deux in Christopher Wheeldon’s DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse, Britten Pas by Stevenson, Petite Mort by Jiří Kylián, Flora in Stevenson’s Dracula, Pas de Trois in Glen Tetley’s Voluntaries, Pas de Quatre in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Gloria, and My One and Only variation from Balanchine’s Who Cares?
Nicole is married to fellow Texas Ballet Theater company member Joamanuel Velazquez, and together they have a daughter and son. In March 2025, she will perform with Pointeworks in their NYC tour in a special piece choreographed by Laine Habony, alongside her sisters Claire and Emma von Enck, both dancers with New York City Ballet. This marks the first time the three sisters will perform together, making it an extraordinary moment.
Nicole also choreographed Familiar Reflections, a pas de deux that premiered in Pointeworks' inaugural season.
Sophie savas-carstens
Sophie Savas-Carstens, born and raised in San Diego, began her training at Ballet Arte Academy of Classical Ballet in San Diego, under the direction of directors Sara Viale and Erlends Zieminch. She attended esteemed summer intensives at The School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and San Francisco Ballet. She was a competitor in the 2018 USA Jackson International Ballet Competition, as well as a finalist in the 2018 Spotlight Music Center Program. In 2018, Sophie embarked on her 7 year career with Philadelphia Ballet under the direction of Angel Corella.
Her performance highlights include classical masterpieces Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Giselle, Balanchine’s Who Cares, Divertimento 15, Avon, Forsythe's In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, Tharp's In the Upper Room, and new works by acclaimed choreographers Andonis Foniadakis, Garret Smith, Andrew Winghart.
Instagram: @Sophie.savas
Ingrid Silva
Ingrid Silva, a Rio de Janeiro native, began her ballet training at 8 through the social project Dançando Para Não Dançar. She later trained at Escola de Dança Maria Olenewa and Centro de Movimento Deborah Colker on full scholarships and apprenticed with Grupo Corpo. In 2007, she moved to New York to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) Professional Training Program, becoming a company member in 2013.
With DTH, Silva has performed principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, and Ulysses Dove, among others, and has worked with renowned choreographers like Arthur Mitchell and Robert Garland. A cultural ambassador for the U.S., she has toured globally and performed at prestigious events, including the Brazil Foundation Gala at Lincoln Center.
Silva's activism includes founding PodHer and co-founding Blacks in Ballet, platforms promoting inclusivity in ballet. Her pointe shoes were exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in 2020.
Recognized for her impact, Silva has been featured in Vogue, The New York Times, and Forbes Brazil's 20 Successful Women list. She has partnered with global brands like Dior, Nike, and Dove, and authored the bestseller The Pointe Shoes That Changed My World. In 2023, she was named one of the Most Influential People of African Descent under 40. Currently, Silva is expanding her work as a choreographer, recently debuting her first commissioned piece with Chattanooga Ballet.
Lindsey Donnell
Lindsey Donnell is an artist with the internationally acclaimed Dance Theatre of Harlem. She was born and raised in Midland, Texas where she studied ballet under Susan Clark and the late Judy Coleman, followed by her time at Butler University, earning degrees in Dance-Arts Administration and Journalism. She began her professional career with Nashville Ballet until moving to New York City to join Dance Theatre of Harlem for the company's celebrated return under Virginia Johnson. During her time with the company, she has had the honor of performing in almost all 50 states and for audiences around the world, including Italy, Honduras, Israel, Turkey, Poland and Brazil and at the White House. Witnessing the power of art to unite communities led Lindsey to speak at TEDxBroadway 2016 and be a featured artist at the opening of One World Trade Center. Some performance highlights for Lindsey include the 2017 and 2022 Kennedy Center Honors, Jacobs Pillow, Vail Dance Festival, and the Kennedy Center’s Ballet Across America. In her repertoire are works by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Nacho Duato, Alvin Ailey, Robert Garland, Geoffrey Holder, Dianne McIntyre, Stanton Welch & Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa. Lindsey is ever grateful for her family & friends.
Elias re
Elias Re, born in Milan, Italy, trained at La Scala Ballet School, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, and Escuela Nacional de Ballet de Cuba. His professional experience includes performing with Dance Theatre of Harlem, American Repertory Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, Cleveland Ballet, and RP Civic Ballet Training Company. Re's repertoire features works by renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe, Christopher Wheeldon, Geoffrey Holder, Stanton Welch, Robert Garland, Claire Davidson, Anna Rita Larghi, Gino Labate, Victor Alexander, and Da’Von Doane. In March 2025, he will perform with Pointeworks in a new work choreographed by Gabriel Speiller.
Luis Fernando Rego
Luis Fernando Rego, a Rio de Janeiro native, trained at Projeto Vidançar, the Maria Olenewa School, and the School of the Bolshoi Theater in Brazil. He has danced with Tivoli Ballet Theatre in Copenhagen and is currently in his second season with Dance Theatre of Harlem. His repertoire spans classics such as Napoli by Bournonville, Nutcracker, Raymonda, Scheherazade, Don Quixote, Talisman, Le Corsaire, Swan Lake, Valse Moskovsky, Spring Water, and Diana and Acteon. In March 2025, Rego will perform with Pointeworks in a new work choreographed by Gabriel Speiller.
Denis Maciel
Denis Maciel began his dance training in 2009 at the Escola De Dança Alice Arja in Brazil with Alice Arja and Daniela Silva. In 2012 he was awarded a full scholarship to the Escola de dança do Conservatório Nacional – Lisboa, after competing in Passo de artes Indaiatuba Sao Paulo.Denis participated in YAGP selective in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 2013.
In 2014, after being awarded a full scholarship to Miami City Ballet School, Maciel moved to the USA, where he trained with Geta Constantinescu, Olivier Pardina, and Maria Torija. During his training, he performed George Balanchine’s Western Symphony and Etudes. Denis went on to dance with City Ballet of San Diego, where he featured in Peter Martins’s Hallelujah Junction, and with Ballet Tucson, where he was featured in Paquita and The Phantom of the Opera. In 2018 he joined the ranks of Philadelphia Ballet, under Angel Corella. There he has been featured in the classics, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Balanchine’s Who Care’s, and new works by Andonis Foniadakis and Garret Smith.
Instagram: @maciel_dennis
Gabriel wright
Gabriel Wright started his training with the American Ballet Academy in Salem, Oregon. He studied for 1 year at the Colburn Dance Academy. In 2019 he was awarded a full scholarship to Pacific Northwest Ballet. He trained for 2 years under Peter Boal before joining Ballet Arizona in 2021, where he has featured as Albrect in "Giselle" and lead roles in the "Nutcracker".
Spencer lenain
Born in San Diego, California, Spencer Lenain began his dance training at age seven at Ballet Arte in Solana Beach, where he was instructed by Erlends Zieminch and Sara Viale. He attended nine summer intensives at American Ballet Theater, earning the National Training Scholar scholarship three times. He attended the California Institute of the Arts and graduated with a BFA in dance in May 2024. In 2024 Spencer will be working with Vail Dance Festival as a Scholar-In-Residence. Spencer is also very active on social media where his ballet videos are featured on TikTok @spencerdancerrr and Instagram @spencerdancer.