Kaleena Burks

Joined KCB in 2010

Kaleena Burks was raised in Coral Springs, Florida, where she received training from Magda Auñon and Magaly Suarez. In 2005, she was awarded first place in the pre-professional division of the American Ballet Competition and has since been invited to perform in many galas, including the International Ballet Festival of Miami. Ms. Burks has danced with Cincinnati Ballet, Columbia Classical Ballet, and the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami. She has been honored to dance the role of Sugar Plum Fairy at the Kennedy Center with Kansas City Ballet’s tour of The Nutcracker in 2017 and 2022. In Kansas City, she has performed many principal roles including the title role in Giselle as well as Myrtha, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Marguerite Gautier in Lady of the Camellias, The Chosen One in Rite of Spring, Waltz Girl in Serenade, Principal in Diamonds, Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, Lucy in Dracula, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Glinda in The Wizard of Oz, along with notable features in Cacti, Diving into the Lilacs, The Golden Section, In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, In the Upper Room, Interplay, Mercury, Petal, Peter Pan, Petite Morte, Tulips and Lobster, and Wunderland. In addition to her performing career Ms. Burks has recently been appointed Artistic Director of Moving Arts, a local summer dance company. This marks her fifteenth season with the Kansas City Ballet.