Born in Boston and raised in Modesto, Joseph Adkins was introduced to dance as a teenager at Juline • School of Dance. Joseph Adkins is one of Central West Ballet's most featured male artists. A passionate worker, he has been leading the way as a Principal Dancer since 2006. A dancer of great sensitivity, Adkins has the ability to handle any role with panache and intuition. This combined with a very cultured mind gives him a wide range in approaching a myriad of roles. From the characters of Romeo to Franz in Coppelia and from the Oberon figure in Of Faeries and Elves to the role of Peter Pan, Adkins maneuvers through multiple characters with ease while maintaining the qualities of a noble leading male dancer. Artistic Director René Daveluy says Adkins is a self motivated person. "Joseph is the ultimate worker and consummate artist", says Daveluy, "I constantly am amazed at his high level of concentration and his instincts make him a valuable element of any company". In the area of partnering, Adkins again shows an astonishing ability to handle practically any demands. "Joseph is a terrific partner and strong by any standards", says Daveluy, "I have seldom seen anybody having the power to accomplish the most difficult lifts and intricate moves, especially at the early stages of a career". Adkins is also at home in intricate contemporary works, such as in Val Caniparoli's Violin. This capacity for such focus shows that the best of Adkins is yet to come. Joseph Adkins is another Central West Ballet leader with a deep commitment. He always pushes himself to his limits and then goes beyond.

Born in Modesto, Brandon Phelps joined Central West Ballet in 2007, becoming a leader among the Principal Dancers with his powerful partnering and masculine solo performances. Always charming and with a great sense of humor, Brandon Phelps is a perfectionist both in the studio and onstage. "His hard working ethics are always about getting everything just right", says Artistic Director René Daveluy, "I am constantly amazed at how Brandon pushes himself, and his partners, to get the most out of the performance". Phelps is a verstaile partner. His strength in any style of partnering is matched by a great sensitivity to every lift, shift of weight and especially to every nuance given by his partner. With great care and a genuine desire to make a Pas de Deux seamless, Brandon Phelps brings a great sense of quality to any choreographic work. Daveluy says Phelps has an integral part of Central West, reaching higher with every new season. "Brandon is a well rounded dancer", Daveluy goes on to say, "he is quite at home in Modern and Contemporary movement, but I keep reminding him of his wonderful charismatic classical male dancer qualities." Phelps has a developed sense of technique and aplomb, most noticeable in roles such as Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty. Daveluy says Brandon Phelps has only begun to realize his full potential as an artist and looks forward to seeing him perform in upcoming seasons.

Adkins distinguished himself in Central West Ballet's Rat Pack in Revue with a showmanship remisnicent of a seasonned Vegas entertainer. With the energy of a Russ Tamblyn from the film cast of West Side Story, Adkins added his own touch in portraying every emotion from thoughtful loneliness to exhuberance to intimate love. Joseph Adkins handles a modeling career while pursuing this interest simultaneously with his dancing career. A perfectionist in everything he approaches, Joseph is interested in all arts and enjoys travelling.

Audiences couldn't get enough of Brandon Phelps in Central West Ballet's Rat Pack in Revue. With the confidence of a Frank Sinatra, Phelps smoothly carried himself through a myriad of demanding duets and energetic solo work. His ability to reach out into the house and touch an emotional cord with every audience member made every dance he performed a special event in itself. Phelps has established himslef as a true leader in the the roster of Principal Male Dancers at Central West. His distinct professionalism in focusing on detailed work is a wonderful gift for the Company. René Daveluy says Phelps instincts as a partner makes him especially valuable in the creative process during rehearsals. "Brandon is quick and willing to spend the time to make every choreographic idea come to life and I am always grateful for his willingness to go the extra mile".

Central West Ballet News