Our Dancers | Phoenix Ballet

PRINCIPAL DANCERS

Michal Wozniak

Principal Dancer

Slawomir Wozniak JR

Principal Dancer

McKenzie Thomas

Principal Dancer

Michal began his training in gymnastics at age 7, and began his ballet training when he was 10 at the State School of Ballet in Warsaw, Poland. As a student, Michal was invited to perform in ballets and operas at the Great Theatre in Warsaw, and in 2004 was awarded first place in the ballet competition there. In 2006 Michal accepted a full scholarship to study at The School of American Ballet in New York City where he trained for 2 years. Michal continued studying on full scholarship at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre.

Since joining Ballet Arizona in 2009, Michal has been featured in Swan Lake, George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, Petipa’s Raymonda, and Ib Andersen’s The Sleeping Beauty. Michal danced the principal role in George Balanchine’s Prodigal Son and Ib Andersen’s Mosiak. Michal toured with Ballet Arizona to perform Andersen’s Diversions at The Kennedy Center, Balanchine’s “Rubies” (from Jewels) at The Chicago Dancing Festival and Andersen’s Play at The Joyce Theatre in New York City.

Slawomir Jr., also known as Slawek was born into a ballet family: His father was Principal Dancer of the Ballet of the Polish National Opera in Warsaw. At age 11, Slawomir began his studies on scholarship at the State School of Ballet in Warsaw, Poland. While at the school he performed in many productions in the national opera house. In 2005 Slawomir won Second Place in the National Ballet Competition in Gdansk, and went on to represent Poland in the International Ballet Competition in Nagoya, Japan.

In 2006 Slawomir accepted a full scholarship to study at The School of American Ballet in New York City where he trained for 2 years. Slawomir joined Ballet Arizona in 2008 and has danced soloist roles in Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15, The Four Temperments, and Ib Andersen’s Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake. Slawomir has also performed in Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Sleeping Beauty (Blue Bird), Play, Twyla Tharp’s The Golden Section and Petipa’s Raymonda. Slawomir performed in Andersen’s premiere of Diversions at the Kennedy Center in D.C., Balanchine’s “Rubies” (from Jewels) at The Chicago Dancing Festival and Andersen’s Play at The Joyce Theatre in New York City.

Not even her beloved early dance training in contemporary, jazz and tap could stop McKenzie Thomas from choosing ballet as a career. After a summer intensive program she took at age 15 McKenzie says, “I knew from that moment that’s what I wanted to do.”

The Colorado native’s ballet training began at Zamuel Ballet School and continued at Master Ballet Academy in Scottsdale, AZ under the direction of Slawomir and Irena Wozniak. She was a company member of Colorado Ballet from 2018-2021 where one of her favorite performances was Balanchine’s Serenade at Vail Dance Festival.

Her competitive successes include earning a Bronze Medal at 2021 World Ballet Competition, Top 12 finalist at American Dance Competition, International Ballet Competition, First Place Pas de Deux at Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) in Phoenix, and YAGP NYC finalist.

McKenzie Joined Orlando Ballet in 2021 as a company dancer where she danced for 2 seasons.

McKenzie is now currently a company dancer with Phoenix Ballet.