Cassa Pancho – Artistic Director & Founder

Of Trinidadian and British parents, Cassa trained at the Royal Academy of Dance. Upon graduating in 2001, she founded Ballet Black to provide role models to young, aspiring black and Asian dancers. A year later, she opened the Ballet Black School in Shepherd's Bush and in 2004, the BB Associate Programme, which currently has over one hundred members. The Company and Associate Programme are based at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.

Raymond Chai – Chief Ballet Master

Born in Malaysia, Raymond has worked in television, musical theatre and classical ballet. He danced with the National Ballet of Portugal and in musical theatre productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company; the London Palladium; Royal National Theatre and Theatre Royal, as well as in Stuttgart, Hamburg and Zurich. His credits for German television include Tatort and Zorc and he choreographed for the UK television show, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet for the BBC. Raymond’s other choreographic commissions include working for the National Ballet of Portugal; Hong Kong Ballet; Sommer Tanz Fest (Berlin and Switzerland); Staatstheater Karlsruhe and Atelier at the Music Room in London. Raymond has been guest teacher for Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures; Richard Alston Dance Company; Hong Kong Ballet; Mavin Khoo Dance Company; Ballett de Badisches; Staatstheater Karlsruhe; Ballett de Niedersachsische; Staatstheater Hanover; National Ballet of Portugal; Singapore Dance; English National Ballet and Rambert Dance Company. He also teaches Professional Ballet at Dance Works in London.

Cira Robinson– Dancer

Cira was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she began dancing at the age of eight, spending many summers training with the Cincinnati Ballet. After graduating from the Performing Arts School in 2004, she moved to New York to dance full-time with Dance Theater of Harlem. During her three years there, she performed at the White House for the President of the United States, as well as the Protégé Festival. This is her first time dancing with a company in London, and Cira hopes to learn and grow with Ballet Black for many years to come.

Chantelle Gotobed– Dancer

Born in Buckinghamshire, Chantelle trained at the Royal Ballet Lower and Upper School. During her time at the Royal Ballet School, she danced in Royal Ballet Company productions of The Nutcracker (2000), Raising the Curtain Gala (2000), Paquita (2003), Manon (2005), The Firebird (2006), Romeo and Juliet (2006) and The Sleeping Beauty (2006). She also toured throughout Washington and Boston with the Royal Ballet Company in 2006, and has danced in works by Jennifer Jackson and Liam Scarlett. In 2007, she joined Northern Ballet Theatre, dancing in David Nixon's productions including Peter Pan, Dracula and Hamlet, before returning to Ballet Black in 2008.

Damien Johnson– Dancer

Jazmon Voss – Dancer

Jaz was born in Utica, New York and started his ballet training at the age of four at the Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute. At fifteen, he began attending Summer Intensive courses at the Rock School of Philadelphia and the Nutmeg Conservatory in Connecticut. The following year, he was accepted into the Dance Through Barriers® Ensemble, a part of Dance Theatre of Harlem, under the direction of Arthur Mitchell. Jaz joined Ballet Black in 2008.

Sarah Kundi– Dancer

Born in London, Sarah began dancing at the age of six. She then trained with Anna du Boisson before joining the Central School of Ballet for her professional training. Upon graduating in 2004, Sarah joined Northern Ballet Theatre in Leeds and danced there for four years, performing in several David Nixon productions including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Madame Butterfly, I Got Rhythm, Peter Pan, A Midsummer’s Night's Dream, Dracula and Hamlet. With Northern, she toured all over the UK and was fortunate enough to perform in China and Thailand. This is Sarah’s first season with Ballet Black and she is excited and proud to be part of such a challenging and innovative company.

Jade Hale-Christofi– Dancer

Jade was born in North London and began dancing at the Urdang Academy of Ballet and Performing Arts. In 1995 he joined the Royal Ballet School Junior Associate Programme and progressed to the Royal Ballet School Lower School at White Lodge. There he danced in Royal Ballet productions of The Nutcracker and the Windsor Castle Gala for Her Majesty the Queen. After joining the Royal Ballet Upper School in 2003 he performed in student works Monochromatic, Colour Blind, Jabula, Uneven Ground, as well as Don Quixote. He also performed with the Royal Ballet in Anastasia, Cinderella, La Fille mal gardée, The Rite of Spring, Manon and La Valse. In 2006 Jade joined Ballet de l’Opéra national du Rhin performing principle roles in Bejart’s Firebird, Balanchine's Apollo and Forsythe’s Work Within Work, along with various roles in Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Last Piece By Anybody and Theme and Variation. Jade joined Ballet Black in 2008.

“There is not a weak moment here. [Ballet Black] well and truly buries the sly old arguments about the black physique not being "adapted" to classical dance. The sight of gorgeous Monica Stephenson strutting her Balanchine style in a tiny white bikini, or tall Damien Johnson streaking out in a series of diagonal jumps of radiant poise and finish - leaves such qualms looking quite absurd.”

Jenny Gilbert, The Independent on Sunday, February 2007