Company Dancers
"Robards has a strong sense of craft...and seems to take pleasure in dance without clumsily concocted themes and other gimmicks... The choreography does demand unremitting energy and athleticism from the performers, a staple in dance today. But, Ms. Robards thinks in grander terms."
Dance Critic Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times
LaRana Skalicky (Executive Director) has been a Company Member since 1988. In addition to her work as a dancer, LaRana also serves KRD as a teacher and administrator. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Aurora Cultural Arts District. She was selected for an Associateship with the Rocky Mountain Women's Institute, has been a Dance Teaching Artist for the Aesthetic Education Institute of Colorado, served on The Scen3 Denver SCFD Tier III marketing committee, and on the CAST3 Leadership Team. LaRana teaches at The Academy of KRD and in KRD's educational outreach programs. She graduated cum laude with honors as one of four $20,000 Four Years Honor Scholars from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Philosophy. LaRana is originally from Salina, KS. She plays the cello and has a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do. LaRana wishes to thank her mentor Kim Robards. Many teachers have been important to LaRana including Kay Henderson, Michael Simms, Vivette Darnell Ashen-Brenner, Patrick Suzeau, and Muriel Cohen, among others.
Silken Threads
Charles Clark first performed with KRD in Summer 2019. From Saginaw, MI, Charles began dancing at a young age, training in numerous styles such as jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet, and hip hop. In 2011 Charles furthered his training at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, where he trained extensively in modern, ballet, and jazz. While at Grand Valley he also had the opportunity to perform as a principal guest artist with companies throughout Michigan, such as the Children’s Ballet Theater of Michigan, Flat River Dance Company, and Opera Grand Rapids. Charles graduated from Grand Valley in 2015 with a B.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences. He was a company member with Minnesota Ballet from 2016-19, and Ballet Tucson for the 2019-20 season.
Inmigracion
Rachyl Kirk became a KRD company member in 2023 after an apprenticeship. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in May 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Spanish and minors in Dance and Teaching English as a Second Language. During her time at UNC, she danced with the Colorado Dance Collective and in UNC mainstage productions and student-lead performances. Rachyl is originally from Colorado Springs. She has always had a passion for dance, travel, and trying new things. She is excited to begin her professional dance career with Kim Robards Dance, eagerly looking forward to working with Artistic Director Kim Robards and company members.
Yearning from Hearthside Suite
Michael Bateman returns to perform with KRD after having performed as a KRD Company Member for three seasons before returning to his love and profession in education. He performed in Vintage Theater’s productions of Five Guys Named Moe as "Big Moe" and in The Scottsboro Boys as “Andy.” His acting credits also include “Bobby” in Crazy For You, “Mark” in The Source Theater’s The B Word, “Rooster” in Annie, and “Big Oscar” in the Firehouse Theater’s Well. Michael was a Principal Intern at Willow Elementary in DPS and currently is Principal at Amesse Elementary in Denver. He also co-leads the Hallel Dance Ministry at Colorado Christian Fellowship in Aurora. He thanks his crazy, artistic siblings; and his children, Jonathan and Serenity, for their support as he pursues his love of theater and dance.
Inmigracion
Emily Speed (Visiting Dancer) joins KRD for her first performance with the Company, having originally worked with Kim Robards at Ballet Tucson. She began her training at Denton Ballet Academy under the direction of Hugh Nini and went on to graduate from Marina Almayeva School of Classical Ballet. Emily received First Place as a soloist at Youth America Grand Prix and was Finalist at World Ballet Competition. In 2010 she competed in Varna International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria and in 2014 she competed in USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS. Emily was a Demi-Soloist with Colorado Ballet and is currently a Freelance Guest Artist. Some of her most notable roles include Russian Girl in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort, Antony Tudor’s The Leaves are Fading, Lilac Garden and Little Sister in his masterpiece Pillar of Fire, Clara, Dew Drop and Sugar Plum in The Nutcracker, Pink Couple in Clark Tippet’s Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Flames of Paris Pas de Deux, Red Couple in Twyla Tharp’s A Brief Fling, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty as well as numerous others. She has also performed at Vail Dance Fest in 2015, 2017 and 2019 and performed at Battery Dance Festival in NYC in 2021.
Duosity
Abril Gonzalez joins KRD as a Summer Intensive Company Project Scholarship recipient. Originally born in Argentina, she grew up in Florida. Abril received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Florida Southern College in May of 2022, where she trained in various dance styles. During her time at Florida Southern College, she participated in works by Doug Gillespie, Leah Pinder, Alex Jones, Stefan Dolbashian, and RAKR Dance. Upon graduation, she performed with Emotions Dance Company in Orlando, Florida while completing internships with Parsons Dance Company and AIM by Kyle Abraham Dance Company. Abril recently moved to Denver from Florida and is very excited for this new artistic chapter.
Inmigracion
Morgan Stillman (Visiting Dancer) made his first appearance with Kim Robards Dance during the 2016 Summer Intensive Company Project. Morgan was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he began his dance training with The New American Youth Ballet. He attended dance programs with The Juilliard School, Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Chautauqua Institution, and Ballet Chicago. Morgan studied at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and was previously a company member with Nevada Ballet Theatre in Las Vegas. He is a Company Member at Ballet Austin. Throughout his career he has performed choreography by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Dwight Rhoden, Violette Verdy, Nicolo Fonte, Michael Vernon, James Canfield, Tara Foy, and now, Kim Robards.
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