Paperturn Dracula Program 2023 !!! (6) - Flipbook - Page 9
THE COMPANY | ACADEMY DIRECTOR
Rafaela Risco
Sponsored by Ross & Danby Carter
Rafaela Risco, a native of Cuba and now an American
citizen, retired as a dancer after the 2009–10
season, and was the principal female dancer of the
Kentucky Ballet Theatre since its founding in 1998.
She was trained at the Vocational School of the Arts
in Camaguey, Cuba. From 1989 to 1994 she danced
under the direction of Fernando Alonso in Ballet de
Camaguey. From 1994-1996, Mrs. Risco worked with
Ballet de Monterrey under the direction of
Fernando Bujones. In 1989, Mrs. Risco received both
the Gold Medal and the Grand Prix for best female
performance in the UNEAC Competition. She has
toured with Ballet de Camaguey to Brazil, Uruguay,
Jamaica, Venezuela, Mexico, Martinique, and
Guadaloupe Islands. Her classical repertoire
includes Principal roles in Giselle, Cinderella,
Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), Paquita, Coppélia, Don
Quixote, Les Sylphides, Romeo and Juliet, Le
Corsaire, Swan Lake, La Vivandiere, La Fille Mal
Gardée, Dracula, Phantom of the Opera, Carmen,
The Nutcracker, and many others. With her
husband, Norbe, they have choreographed The
Nutcracker based on the original version, Dracula,
The Wizard of Oz, The Witches of Doon, Carmen,
Phantom of the Opera, Peter Pan, Beauty & The
Beast, The Night Before Christmas and The Little
Mermaid. In 2017, Rafaela received the Distinguished
Arts Educator of the Year Award from the National
Society of Arts & Letters, Kentucky chapter. She is
the Costume Designer for KBT and also does most
of the staging for KBT’s productions. Mrs. Risco has
been part of