Erika grew up in Yuma Arizona and studied dance under her aunt, Linda Farrar, at The Dancer's Workshop.

Erika has danced all across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Erika has danced professionally with Atlanta Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Magnificat, Ephinany Dance Company as well as Hosanna Dance Company.

Mrs. Romanyuk has also taught at Nashville Ballet, Charles Harding Scholl of Creative Arts as well as many master classes across the country.

She is thrilled and honored to be able to continue her career as the Artistic
Director and resident Ballerina at Yuma Ballet Theatre for the 2007-2008 season as well as Ballet Director/Teacher for their new School of Dance. Yuma is enriched by Erika's complimentary nature and her desire to nurture the performing dance arts throughout Yuma County and the state of Arizona. Call Erika to schedule performances and special events, she will do everything to showcase the YBT dancers. YBT and Erika plan on building the company and broadening their exceptional reputation throughout the state.

Erika is a dedicated mom to her beautiful daughter Bethany. Erika would like to take this opportunity to say how happy she is to be home and be able to be surrounded by close friends and family.

Jared Mesa

Jared Mesa, born in Yuma, began his formal dance training with Dancer's Workshop at the age of 17 in Yuma, AZ and joined YBT as a member in 2000. He has trained in Ballet, Jazz & Modern for over six years. Professionally, he has danced with Ballet Quad Cities in Rock Island, Ill dancing roles as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet and 'couple' in Tango as well as Russian and Harlequin doll in the Nutcracker .

He has studied on scholarship and danced at Burklyn Ballet Theatre in the summer for four seasons and has guest danced with every company and high school in the City of Yuma, most notably Yuma Ballet Theatre, Ballet Yuma, Kofa & Yuma high school. Guest work includes Ballet Yuma: Hilarion in Giselle and James in La Sylphide , and Burklyn Ballet: lead in Russian dance, Drummer Boy in Graduation Ball and Pas de Quarte in Giselle as well as many contemporary works. Jared has also guested with Gliech Contemporary Dances out of London, England at the Rouses Point Fete de Danse. Jared has also worked with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and Sheryl Crow.

As an award winner for his choreography at Burklyn Ballet Theatre for his dance "Lucha con el Toro" in 2003, he has continued to choreograph for them in '05-'07. He has also comissioned choreography for companies in Great Falls, Mt and San Francisco, Ca.

Jared has a strong creative talent in choreography. His focus on developing and growing within his dance career make him an excellent candidate for teaching, performing, rehearsing and setting new "dance" for YBT and our students. Students are encouraged to schedule privates and choreography session with Jared at the YBT office.

Zabie Nields

Ms. Zabie Nields is a veteran company member of YBT and former company member with Lake Erie Ballet. She received her BA in Dance from Mercyhurst College where she concentrated in choreography, performing, and pedagogy. She is certified to teach in the state of AZ and anxious to share her knowledge with her students this year. She also teaches at Cibola High but her forte is classical ballet. She received her Vagonova and Balanchine training in NH from Doreen Caferella and Patrica Lavoie as well as four years at Central Pa Youth Ballet. Ms. Nields has been teaching pointe and served as ballet mistress for several summers at Burklyn Ballet Theatre in VT. She has set and performed many of the classics including Swan Lake, La Sylphede, Paquita, Raymonda, Don Q., La Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty, Copellia, Pas de Quatre, Serenade among others.

Barbara Miller

Barbara W. Miller is a former Dance Professional turned elementary school teacher. She moved to Yuma in 2005 when she accepted a position teaching first graders. Prior to this, since 1985, after she earned her first college degree majoring in dance and graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Oregon, she specialized in teaching children's dance, alongside her performing and choreographic pursuits.

She has taught general dance education to K-5 students in several public and private academic schools including the Portland French School in Oregon and an Artist in Residency at Olivewood Elementary School, National City, California. She has also taught dance workshop classes in elementary schools through Oregon Ballet Theatre's outreach program. In the private dance school realm, Barbara has taught creative movement/dance to the very young and pre-ballet through intermediate ballet as well as modern and jazz dance to children, teens and adults at many locations in Minnesota, Southern California, and Oregon.

Barbara started her own classical ballet training at the age of four in Wyoming, then later in North Dakota, only to discover her love of modern dance while attending the Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Arts Dance Program at the age of fifteen. Two years later she moved to Boston to not only continue taking ballet classes at the Boston Ballet School but also to study modern and jazz dance at the Institute for Contemporary Dance, the Joy of Movement Center and the Boston Conservatory's extension program. Her technical training coupled with course work in child development and psychology as well as anatomy/kinesiology, dance composition and acting plus an internship in children's creative dance early in her teaching career all blend for a unique mix of experiences that she brings to her young students in the dance classes she teaches.