Youth Program Faculty
Alexi Zubiria – Artistic Director
Alexi Zubiria has danced with ballet companies worldwide including the International Ballet of Caracas, San Francisco Ballet, and Deutsche Oper Berlin. In 1982 he competed in the II U.S. International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, winning a Silver Medal. Mr. Zubiria brings a wealth of experience and a passion for teaching of the highest standards to Western Ballet.
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Daiane Lopes da Silva
Contemporary
Daiane Lopes da Silva is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and artistic director of Kinetech Arts, where she works on the intersection of dance, science and technology. Her work has been performed in Brazil, France, Belgium, Greece, Germany, Italy, and the U.S.A. As a dancer, she has performed with KUNST-STOFF dance company, Labayen Dance, Lisbon Dance Company, Little Seismic Dance Company, Robert Moses’ Kin, and in works of Sara Shelton Mann.
Mariia Sotnikova
Contemporary
Mariia Sotnikova is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher from Vladivostok, Russia. For 15 years, she danced professionally with KAURI, a contemporary dance company based in her hometown. During her time with KAURI, Mariia became a staff teacher and a head of the youth and teens division at their school, teaching contemporary, jazz and contact improvisation to both: adults and children. Her work has been performed in Russia, China (Beijing, Dalian, Shanghai) and the US.
Lisa Sundstrom
Ballet IVb – VII
Lisa Sundstrom received her early ballet training in Astoria, Oregon, and at Marin Ballet in California. At age 16, she was selected by American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Mikhail Baryshnikov for the ABT Scholarship Program and went on to perform nationally and internationally with American Ballet Theatre, dancing a wide range of corps de ballet, soloist, and principal roles. She later joined Philadelphia Ballet as a soloist and was quickly promoted to principal dancer. Her extensive repertoire includes leading roles in Swan Lake and Coppélia, as well as works by renowned choreographers including George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, William Forsythe, and Agnes de Mille. A respected educator for over 35 years, Ms. Sundstrom has served on the faculties of The Rock School, Portland Festival Ballet, and Oregon Ballet Theatre, where she was OBT2 Program Director and Principal Teacher. Most recently, she served as Rehearsal Director for Fort Wayne Ballet from 2023–2025 and is delighted to join Western Ballet this season, teaching in both the Youth Program and Open Program.
Alison Share
Assistant to the Artistic Director
Alison Share was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She trained at Western Ballet studying with Mark Foehringer, Marny Trounson, and Alexi Zubiria. After graduating, Alison danced with Peninsula Ballet Theatre for three years before returning to Western Ballet as a teacher and a dancer with Western Ballet Company where she has performed works by Vicente Nebrada, Yanis Pikieris, and Alexi Zubiria. She is currently dancing and teaching at Western Ballet as the Assistant Artistic Director.
Eileen Zubiria
Ballet III & IVa
Eileen Zubiria received her ballet training in Marin County, California, studying at Marin Ballet, Dance Theater Seven and with Christine Walton. She danced with Oakland Ballet from 1995 through 1998, where she was a soloist and participated in three national tours. . In In 2006 she returned to Oakland Ballet to perform in The Nutcracker, and in 2009 she performed in the Western Ballet Spring Gala and The Nutcracker.