Guest Artists

Eliezer Rabello

The Nutcracker Prince, Chinese, Trepak

Eliezer Rabello was born and raised in Brazil, beginning his dance training with the dance masters Conceicao Souza, Olga Shimasaki (National Ballet of Peru), Raul Candal (Colon Theatre of Argentina), Jair Moraes (Ballet Guaira of Brazil), and other internationally renowned teachers Ivo Karaguiorguiev (National Ballet of Sophia), and Ronald E. Brown (Alvin Ailey Dance Theater).

In 1995 Eliezer founded Cia. Ballet da Barra, a dance school and company that performed Rabello’s version of The Nutcracker for three years at the famous Amazon Opera House. He also received awards in important dance festivals in Brazil such as Festival de Danca do Mercosul in Bento Goncalves from 1995 to 1997 and IX Seminario Internacional de Danca Brasilia in 1999.

Here in the USA, Eliezer has worked with Lula Washington Dance Theater and has been a guest artist with other companies such as the American Repertory Dance Company, Ballet Folclorico do Brasil, Project 21, Kin Dance Co., and Ballet Collective.

Eliezer is currently working as a ballet and modern dance teacher at the Lake Arrowhead School of Dance. This is his sixth season with the Lake Arrowhead Classical Ballet Company.

For now, Eliezer has as his most important project “to build a solid marriage and an eternal family with my wife Danae and to be the best father that I can be to our baby girl Tabata.”

Armando Neri

Spanish

Armando Neri, a native of San Bernardino, has been dancing most of his life, having started with tap lessons when he was six. As he reached his teen years he was drawn to Spanish dance and Flamenco.

His first teacher was Eduardo Cansino, father and teacher of Rita Hayworth. Later, he continued his training with Antonio Triana, and much later with Luisa Triana, daughter of Señor Triana. He then became a member of her company, performing in Las Vegas and on tour.

Mr. Neri now enjoys teaching — passing both his skills and his enthusiasm to new generations of students of this unique Spanish art form.

His favorite memory is having performed for Princess Grace of Monaco at a private function on her last visit to Hollywood.

Luigi de Nuñez

Spanish

Luigi began his Flamenco training with Armando Neri at the age of thirteen. For several seasons, he appeared in the Mexican-American Pageant at Valley College of San Bernardino with Señor Neri’s company Los Flamencos. He continued his studies with Lupe Del Rio in Hollywood during which time he performed on the Walt Disney Channel. Other performances have been in the musical production of Luisa Fernanda with opera singer Hernan Pelayo at the Downey Opera House, and in the San Bernardino Civic Light Opera’s production of The Man of La Mancha as Jose. He has also appeared as a guest artist with Margo and her Dance Company.

Raymond Genato

Mouse King, Parent

Born in the Philippines, Raymond has been dancing for more than a decade. A veteran of over fifteen years with the Lake Arrowhead Classical Ballet Company, Raymond has danced the roles of the Nutcracker Prince, Arabian, Trepak, and Toy Soldier. This year he reprises his role as the swashbuckling Mouse King. You’ll also see him on stage with his wife, Anny, as the Prussian party guests.

An accomplished dancer, actor, and choreographer, Raymond danced at the University of California, Irvine, where he studied under the careful tutelage of dance masters Israel “El” Gabriel, James Penrod, and Donald McKayle. He has performed such modern dance classics as McKayle’s Games and Album Leaves, and Sophie Maslow’s The Village I Knew. Ray’s theater and stage credits include Evita, West Side Story, and Me and My Girl. He has also been cast for roles in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet.

David Oliveri

Arabian, Mirlitons

David started his dance training at Saddleback Valley Dance Center in 1995 under the instruction of Ann Mari. In 1998 he started at Ballet Pacifica and received full scholarships to San Francisco Ballet, The Rock School, Houston Ballet, and American Ballet Theater. He also won a full scholarship to Milwaukee Ballet from Dance Masters of America.

During 2003 and 2004 David danced at the Lake Arrowhead School of Dance and participated in a number of LACBC productions. He left to attend Indianna University. He joined St. Louis Ballet as a principal dancer in 2005. He has also performed as a guest artist with Delaware Opera, Westchester Ballet, and Pennsylvania Ballet.