Sergei Kheylik
Born in Voronezh, Russia, Sergey Kheylik moved to Vienna, Austria, at the age of 13 after receiving the Rudolph Nureyev Scholarship. He studied at the Vienna State Opera School and continued his training at the John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany. Kheylik has danced with Vienna State Opera, Carolina Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, Odyssey Dance Theatre, and was a performer with Cirque du Soleil.
He can also be seen as a dancer in the hit film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt. His most notable awards include the Hope Prize at the Prix de Lausanne (2000), the Gold Medal at the Vienna International Ballet Competition (2001), as well as the Gold Medal at the Varna International Competition (2002). This is Kheylik’s second season with Festival Ballet Theatre.