Ballet grows by 10 feet

Cincinnati Ballet adds five dancers for 2011-2012, bringing the company roster to 25, up one from last season. "We are expanding, slowly but surely," said artistic director and CEO Victoria Morgan.

New to the company:

Rodrigo Almarales, Corps de Ballet. Originally from Cuba, Almarales was a corps member with Boston Ballet and a soloist with Deutsche Oper Am Rhein (Germany).

Ruslan Mukhambetkaliyev, Corps de Ballet. Mukhambetkaliyev was a Principal Dancer with the Russian National Ballet since 2005

Patric Palkens, Corps de Ballet. ) A leading dancer with Orlando Ballet. Reviews cited his ability to "light the room on fire."

Sirui Liu, Corps de Ballet. Liu trained with Shanghai Dance School and Shanghai Theatre Academy. She has won multiple international competitions, including the gold in the prestigious at the China National Ballet Competition.

Craig Hall, Apprentice. Hall has been a company dancer with Los Angeles Ballet since 2008. He trained with Pacific Northwest Ballet School and School of American Ballet.

Grace Reeves and Thomas Caleb Roberts, both CBII Dancers last season, return for 2011-2012 as Apprentices.

The Ballet has also added 10 dancers to CBII, its emerging professionals program, who receive professional experience and perform in outreach events. The 2011-2012 ballet season begins in September with a program of "New Works."