Japanese native Iori Araya received the Idemitsu Scholarship at the Asian Pacific International Ballet Competition, enabling her to train at The Australian Ballet School. She has performed with The Australian Ballet’s The Dancers Company, Singapore Ballet, and New Jersey Ballet before joining Ballet Memphis. 

She has performed numerous principal and soloist roles including Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Principal Woman in George Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations, and Fate in Choo San Goh’s Romeo & Juliet. She has been featured in works by George Balanchine, Steven McMahon, Trey McIntyre, Matthew Neenan, Durante Verzola, Val Caniparoli, Edwaard Liang, Stanton Welch, Charles Askegard, Colby Damon and more. Outside of Ballet Memphis, she has performed internationally at Ballet Ensemble Gala in Japan, Palm Desert Choreography Festival, and National Choreographers Initiative 2024, 2026.

Iori Araya is appearing courtesy of Ballet Memphis under the Artistic Direction of Steven McMahon

Kennedy Ballard made his stage debut at age 4 as a party boy in The Nutcracker with the Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre. Since then, he has garnered an impressive resume. Kennedy grew up at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts with Ms. Lynette Mason Gregg, where he trained exclusively until the summer of 2015, when he studied at the prestigious School of American Ballet. In 2016, he trained at Feijóo Ballet School under the direction of Lorna Feijóo and Nelson Madrigal. Kennedy was a Principal Dancer with the Huntsville Ballet Company for three years. He is currently in his fourth season as a Company Artist with Ballet Memphis. Throughout his career, Kennedy has performed many roles. Some of his favorites are Albrecht (Giselle), Siegfried (Swan Lake), Basilio (Don Quixote), Romeo (Steven McMahon’s Romeo & Juliet), Principal Man (George Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations), and Sugarplum Cavalier (The Nutcracker). Kennedy would like to thank Lorna Feijóo, Nelson Madrigal, Natalie Zundel, his parents, and Lynette Mason Gregg for everything he has become.

Kennedy Ballard is appearing through the courtesy of Ballet Memphis under the Artistic Direction of Steven McMahon.

Daniel Benavides began his dance training in Ballet Folklórico before transitioning to ballet at age seventeen through the S.T.E.P. UP program at Anaheim Ballet, where he earned a full scholarship. Within two years, he was accepted into summer programs at American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet. He went on to train on full scholarship at San Francisco Ballet School before beginning his professional career with Boston Ballet II in 2004.

Prior to joining Orlando Ballet in 2006, Mr. Benavides performed with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, including a tour of Scotland and a performance at the Edinburgh Festival. Over nearly twenty seasons with Orlando Ballet, he has danced numerous leading and soloist roles and worked with acclaimed choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Jessica Lang, and Lila York.

In addition to performing, Mr. Benavides is an experienced educator and choreographer who has taught and coached at several Orlando-area studios. He is working on completing his Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts from Saint Mary’s College of California with an interest in Arts Administration and Grant writing.

Telmen Munkherdene began his training in his native Mongolia at the Mongolian State Conservatory, graduating in 2017. During his final year, he performed with the Mongolian State Opera and Ballet Theatre. Awarded a full scholarship to the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., Telmen joined the junior company and performed Giselle with the Cuban National Ballet at the Kennedy Center. He trained under ballet legends Bat Udval and Evgenia Singur, Marina Bogdanova.

Telmen has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He won the silver medal for classical ballet and the Grand Prix for contemporary dance at the 32nd World Association of Arts Exchange Festival in South Korea. Additionally, he earned the bronze medal at the Mongolian National Ballet Competition. In 2019, he received the Gold Medal at the World Ballet Grand Prix in New York and a full scholarship to attend the Joffrey Ballet School. He also won the silver medal and Best Technique Award at the Jewels Festival in New York and received a diploma at the YAGP 2019 finals.

Notably, Telmen is the youngest recipient of the Medal for Leading Cultural Artist in Mongolia, awarded by the Ministry of Culture. He has danced as a guest artist for several international productions, including in China, with Ajkun Ballet Theatre in the United States, and Fire Bird with Komaki Ballet Japan in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. His repertory includes leading roles in classical ballets such as Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, Flames of Paris, Walpurgis Night, Diana and Acteon, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Giselle.

Daynelis Muñoz was born in Cuba, where she studied Classical Ballet for eight years. She graduated in 2005 as a Professional Classical Dancer and Ballet Instructor. She has been a part of professional Companies with Cuban National Ballet, Mexico Ballet, and Tulsa Ballet. She has also danced on stages in Spain, France, Colombia, and Mexico. Her career as a Principal Dancer has been highlighted by her leading roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Infra, Serenade, and Bayadera. Daynelis has danced pieces by internationally renowned choreographers in the world of art, such as John Cranko, Edwaard Liang, Marcello Angelini, George Balanchine, Wayne McGregor, Ma Cong, and Alicia Alonso. She has participated in different International Ballet Competitions in Cuba, and Mexico, winning Gold Medal and Youth America Grand Prix. She has been a member of the jury in Competitions of Dance, International Dance Meetings, and Congresses of Spectacles.

She is currently a Principal Guest Artist and Ballet Instructor and has been invited to several Galas, Masterclasses, and Ballet Productions in Chicago, Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona, Ohio, and Florida.

Max Murdock is a Fort Walton Beach-based dancer and educator whose career has been rooted in Northwest Florida Ballet. A graduate of the fifth class of the Northwest Florida Ballet Académie in 2011, he continued his training and performance career with Northwest Florida Ballet throughout high school before attending Florida State University, where he studied dance and performed as a demisoloist with The Tallahassee Ballet.

Throughout his professional career, Max has performed with Northwest Florida State College, Mobile Ballet, Las Vegas Dance Academy, and Northwest Florida Ballet. He currently teaches adult ballet at Northwest Florida Ballet and offers a variety of dance classes throughout the local community. Max is committed to sharing his professional experience and fostering a lifelong appreciation for dance among students of diverse ages and abilities.

C'Jae Ransom began her dance training at Northwest Florida Ballet at age 5 and was accepted into the NFB Académie at age 7, entering third grade. She went on to complete all ten years of the Académie and Pre-Professional Program, becoming the first Black dancer to complete the entire training program.

Throughout her training, C'Jae attended prestigious summer intensives with Charlotte Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and BalletMet. In 2024, she completed her final year of training with Atlanta Ballet, where she performed alongside the professional company in Cinderella, La Sylphide, and The Nutcracker.

At 18 years old, C'Jae signed her first professional contract as a Company Artist with South Carolina Ballet. During two seasons with the company, she performed featured and soloist roles in Romeo and Juliet, Off the Wall & Onto the Stage, and The Nutcracker.

In the spring of 2026, C'Jae explored a new side of the performing arts by auditioning for several NFL cheerleading teams. She advanced to the semifinal and finalist rounds for the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, showcasing her versatility as both a dancer and performer.

In August 2026, C'Jae returns home to Northwest Florida Ballet as an Académie Ballet Instructor and dancer for the 2026–2027 season. She is honored to give back to the school that shaped her artistic journey and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of dancers through excellence, discipline, and a love for the art of ballet.

Aaron began dancing at age 4, at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Houston, TX. Through high school, he was trained in Vaganova technique, jazz, tap, and musical theatre styles of dance. Aaron then went on to Marymount Manhattan College where he attained a BFA in Dance. While in college he studied the techniques and performed repertoire by Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, and Martha Graham, as well as continuing his Ballet training. He now happily lives in New Orleans where he has danced with Marigny Opera Ballet, Delta Festival Ballet, Melange Dance Company, and New Orleans Ballet Theatre. Aaron is currently in his fourth season as a company member with New Orleans Ballet Theatre. 

Guest Artists

2026-2027 Guest Artists

Iori Araya

Kennedy Ballard

Daniel Benavides

Brandon Forrest

Telmen Munkherdene

Daynelis Muñoz

Max Murdock

C'Jae Ransom

cransom@nfballet.org

John Aaron Wiggins