Guest Principal Dancers

We are delighted to announce Rasta Thomas, Adrienne Canterna and Tina Kay Bohnstedt as our exciting guest principal dancers. We are excited to have members of Rasta's new dance compan y, Bad Boys of Dance, perform as guest artists.

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Rasta Thomas

After completing his studies at the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Mr. Thomas trained and performed with Le Jeune Ballet de France where he gained professional experience. In competition, his honors include the Special Jury Prize from the 1994 Paris IBC, and the Gold Medal in the Senior Men's Division of the Jackson, MS USA-IBC.

Mr. Thomas was a principal dancer with the Hartford Ballet (1997). His guest credits include the Russian Imperial Ballet, National Ballet of China, Victor Ullate Ballet of Spain, Inoue Ballet of Japan, Universal Ballet of Korea, Joffrey Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Philadanco. He's been a featured soloist at many galas, including Le Gala Des Etoiles. In 2001, Mr. Thomas was the first American to become a member of the Kirov Ballet of St. Petersburg, Russia.

A versatile performer, some of Mr. Thomas' roles include Balanchine's Prodigal Son, "Basilio" in Don Quixote, "Ali" in Le Corsaire, "Cavalier" in The Nutcracker, "The Chosen One" in Kirk Peterson's Le Sacre du Printemps (Hartford Ballet) and "Death" in Debbie Allen's Soul Possessed.

Mr. Thomas works in television and film. His credits include a featured solo in the 1999 Academy Awards presentations and the Spring 2000 international ad campaign for The GAP. He recently completed a feature film role as "Timmy" in Patrick Swayze's Without A Word.

In 2007 Mr. Thomas guested with the American Ballet Theatre and became a Guest Artist with Japan's premier ballet company K-Ballet. He is currently directing his company BAD BOYS of DANCE and seeks to make it the premier male dance company of the world. A critically acclaimed classical and contemporary dancer; martial arts master; gymnast; and director, Mr.Thomas is a cutting-edge performance artist who continues to push his artistry to a new dimension. Rasta Thomas is, indeed, one of the most gifted artists of his generation.

Adrienne Canterna

A native of Maryland, 25 year old Adrienne Canterna began dancing at age 3. She is a scholarship graduate of the Kirov Academy of Ballet and a national and international guest artist, choreographer, teacher and judge.

In 1998, she was the youngest American ever to win the Jr. Female Gold Medal at the Jackson International Ballet Competition at the age of 15. Other prestigious awards include "Teen Miss Dance of America" and the "Grishko Award of Excellence in Ballet."

She has performed across the USA, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Caribbean. Adrienne has danced with numerous companies including the Washington Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and was a Principal Guest Ballerina with the Universal Ballet in Seoul, Korea for their productions of "Don Quixote", "The Nutcracker" and "La Bayadere." She can also be seen in the motion picture, "Step Up."

Adrienne is the Founder and Artistic Director of "American Dance Artists" and "Pretty Girls of Dance." She is also the Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer of Rasta Thomas' "Bad Boys of Dance."

Tina Kay Bohnstedt

Ms. Bohnstedt began her dance training with the Heinz-Bos Stiftung Ballet Academy in Munich, Germany in 1981, and received her diploma in 1989. During this time, she was awarded the Junior Gold Medal at the German Ballet Competition (1986), as well as Finalist Fourth place in the Moscow International Competition (1989). From 1989 to 1998 Ms. Bohnstedt was a principal dancer of Bavarian State Ballet, Munich, Germany.

Her artistry was recognized with the Bavarian Cultural Award for outstanding achievement in the Arts. She performed a wide range of classical and contemporary roles. Ms. Bohnstedt has toured internationally in China, Italy, Korea, the Philippines, Poland, Belarus, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. After season with the Lawrence Pech Dance Company in San Francisco, she joined the Diablo Ballet in 1999 and has been featured in many works of Diablo Ballet and guest choreographers. In 2005, Ms. Bohnstedt become Director of Diablo Ballet Apprentice Program.

 
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