Ivan Bielik, born in Slovakia, began his training at the age of 8 in the Vaganova style at the Vienna State Opera, under Michael Birkmayer and Valentin Onoschko, formerly of the Kirov Ballet, where he joined the company in 1994. In 1996 he joined the Grazer Opera Ballet and promoted to principal dancer in 1999.

Ivan immigrated to the United States in 2001 where he first danced for the Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley and then Pittsburgh Ballet as a principal dancer. He has performed leading roles in Carmina Burana, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphide, Roland Petit's Carmen, Michael Smuin's The Tempest, Ben Stevenson's Dracula, Richard Werlock's Verklaerte Nacht, Stanton Welch's Madame Butterfly, Donald McKayle's House of Tears and Twyla Tharp's Nine Sinatra Songs. He now dances as a principal dancer at The City Ballet of San Diego.

Ariana Samuelsson received her training primarily from her parents, Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich. She became a principal dancer with the City Ballet of San Diego where she danced such roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Kitri in the full-length Don Quixote and the title role in Giselle. Additionally, she has been featured in leading roles in contemporary ballets and works by George Balanchine, including Agon, Valse Fantaisie and Who Cares?

She danced a season with Atlanta Ballet and two seasons with the Joffrey Ballet, under the direction of Gerald Arpino, prior to returning to City Ballet this season. She has also performed as a guest artist with the American National Ballet and currently teaches in the City Ballet School.

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