American Ballet Theatre promotes six dancers to soloist

Zimmi Coker, Michael de la Nuez, Tyler Maloney, Joseph Markey, Andrew Robare, and Yoon Jung Seo have been promoted to the rank of Soloist with American Ballet Theatre. The promotions, effective September 1, 2026, were announced by ABT Artistic Director Susan Jaffe.

“I am honored to announce the promotion of these six extraordinary dancers to the rank of Soloist,” said Jaffe. “Each of them has grown tremendously during their time in the corps de ballet, bringing versatility, artistry, and dedication to every role we have given them. It has been a tremendous pleasure to witness their journeys from ABT Studio Company to the main Company. I could not be prouder of the artists they have become, and I look forward to all that they will bring to our stage in this next chapter.”

The promotions recognize six artists who have followed ABT’s training pipeline from ABT Studio Company to the main Company’s corps de ballet. As Soloists, they will continue taking on featured roles across ABT’s classical and contemporary repertoire.

Zimmi Coker began her ballet training in Colorado with her mother, Michele Coker, before continuing at Classic Dance Academy in Denver. After attending ABT’s Summer Intensive, she joined the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and later ABT Studio Company in 2015. Coker became an apprentice with the main Company in 2017 and joined the corps de ballet in 2018. Her repertoire includes featured roles in Le Corsaire, Don Quixote, Giselle, Like Water for Chocolate, The Nutcracker, Onegin, Swan Lake, and Sylvia.

Michael de la Nuez was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he trained at de la Dance Center with his parents, former professional dancers Mario de la Nuez and Meridith Benson. He joined ABT Studio Company in 2018, became an apprentice later that year, and joined the corps de ballet in 2019. His repertoire includes leading roles in Don Quixote, Swan Lake, The Winter’s Tale, Woolf Works, and Serenade after Plato’s Symposium.

Tyler Maloney began his training in Wyckoff, New Jersey, studying jazz, modern, contemporary, hip-hop, and ballet before joining the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. He joined ABT Studio Company in 2013, became an apprentice in 2015, and joined the corps de ballet in 2016. Maloney’s repertoire includes roles in The Dream, Harlequinade, Othello: A Dance in Three Acts, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, and The Winter’s Tale. He has also created works for ABT Incubator, including Embers in the Sky in 2023.

Joseph Markey is originally from Jacksonville, Florida, and trained at Debbie’s Dance Company and Orlando Ballet School. A YoungArts finalist and medalist at the USA International Ballet Competition and Youth America Grand Prix, Markey joined ABT Studio Company in 2018, became an apprentice in 2019, and joined the corps de ballet in 2021. His repertoire includes leading roles in Crime and Punishment, Don Quixote, Giselle, Onegin, Othello: A Dance in Three Acts, Swan Lake, and The Winter’s Tale.

Andrew Robare was born in Winchester, Virginia, and began his dance training with tap before starting ballet at Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy. He later trained at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School as an American Ballet Theatre National Training Scholar. Robare joined ABT Studio Company in 2018, became an apprentice in 2021, and joined the corps de ballet in 2022. His repertoire includes roles in Don Quixote, Firebird, The Nutcracker, Othello: A Dance in Three Acts, Swan Lake, and Sylvia.

Yoon Jung Seo is a native of Gwangmyeong, South Korea, and began studying ballet at age six. She trained at Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School before becoming a finalist at the Prix de Lausanne in 2019. Seo joined ABT Studio Company in 2019, became an apprentice in 2021, and joined the corps de ballet in 2022. Her repertoire includes roles in Don Quixote, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Othello: A Dance in Three Acts, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Sylvia, and Sextet.

The six newly promoted Soloists will begin their new roles with American Ballet Theatre’s 2026–2027 season, continuing the Company’s tradition of developing artists throughout every stage of their careers.

For more information, visit www.abt.org.

Zimmi Coker, Michael de la Nuez, Yoon Jung Seo, Joseph Markey, Tyler Maloney, and Andrew Robare have been promoted to ABT Soloist. Photo credit Natalia Sanchez.