Jefferson Dancers 2019 Spring Concert

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April 18–20, 2019 Newmark Theatre Portland’5 Centers for the Arts

2019 SPRING CONCERT

JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL/ MIDDLE COLLEGE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES PROUDLY PRESENTS

Portland’5 Centers for the Arts Newmark Theatre April 18–20, 2019

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

STEVE GONZALES MADE POSSIBLE BY: PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS PORTLAND’5 CENTERS FOR THE ARTS COMPANY MANAGER Jenny Whiteman/Diane Zipper COSTUMER/DESIGNER Earlene Munnerlyn LIGHTING DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER Michael Mazzola STAGE MANAGER Shannon Goffe COMPANY MEMBERS Zach Brant Sierra Briscoe Star Coltrin Lauryn McCarthy

Kaiya Gilbert Zaida Johnson Maia De La Torre-Mackin Jillian Miller Zoe Ridgell

Jensen Sears Ellie Thomas Caalyn Yarbrough Kate Zipper

COMPANY APPRENTICES Wilson Francois Lily Hogenstad-Patrick

Sophia Simpson

Raya Vinar Ana Paloma Whiteman

Jefferson High School/Middle College for Advanced Studies 5210 North Kerby Avenue Portland, OR 97217–2656 Phone: (503) 916-5180

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DEAR FRIENDS: Welcome!! For the past 20 years I have had the privilege of directing the Jefferson Dancers, the longest running dance company in Portland. Every year presents new experiences and learning opportunities for me and the dancers. This year has been no exception. It has been an incredibly busy one. Along with the numerous events the dancers perform or teach at throughout the year, we had the opportunity to participate in the first 2019 Northwest Regional High School Dance Festival in February. Shortly after, we left on our bi-annual international trip, this year to the South of France, and here we are, two weeks later, with three days of concerts that include the premier of three brand new pieces. We’re confident that during the performance, you are about to enjoy, you will be as thrilled as the audiences who gave them standing ovations at both the Dance Festival as well as in France.

I want to personally congratulate, Jefferson Dancer, Star Coltrin. Star was given the opportunity to show her piece, Pretty Words, in the Outstanding Student Choreography Showcase at the Northwest Regional High School Dance Festival in Vancouver, WA. She was awarded first place of the eight highest-scored student choreographed pieces. Congratulations are also due to the many other Jefferson Dancers who were awarded scholarships to various colleges and summer intensives.

On another note, there are seven seniors in the Company this year. We will be very sad to see them leave but excited for them to start their new adventures. Many of our senior Jefferson Dancers have received prestigious college acceptances: • Fourth year company member, Star Coltrin, will be attending SUNY Purchase to pursue a degree in dance.

•F ourth year company member, Jensen Sears, will be attending University of the Arts to pursue a degree in dance.

• First year company member, Maia De La Torre Mackin, will be attending Jose State University with a double major in dance and kinesiology.

•T hird year company member, Ellie Thomas, will be attending SUNY Purchase to pursue a degree in dance and education.

• Second year company member, Wilson Francois, will be attending The Los Angeles Film School to pursue a degree in Digital Filmmaking.

•T hird year company member, Caalyn Yarbrough, will be pursuing a career in criminal justice.

• Third year company member, Kaiya Gilbert, will be attending University of Seattle to pursue a degree in nursing.

I wish them all the best. As with the many alumni of the Jefferson Dancers, the training these incredible students have received at Jefferson has prepared them well to do great things.

Sincerely, Steve Gonzales

COVER Dancers: Star Coltrin, Kaiya Gilbert, Jensen Sears, and Ellie Thomas. Photo by Fritz Liedtke.

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THE JEFFERSON DANCERS

THE JEFFERSON DANCERS is the elite dance company of the nationally known dance department at Jefferson High School. For 43 years, the company has comprised the school’s most advanced students who come for dance training. It is a multi-ethnic company of 18 dancers, ages 14–18. The program is dedicated to physically and mentally preparing students for performing arts careers. In this professional dance company environment, they begin to understand both the responsibility of their role and the rewards of contributing to a product of exceptional quality.

Unlike most dance companies, The Jefferson Dancers perform works in many dance styles.

The company repertoire includes over 200 works of modern, tap, ballet, jazz, Africa, ethnic, hip-hop, aerial, and musical theater dances. These are choreographed by nationally recognized choreographers including Lowell Smith, Donald McKayle, Moses Pendleton, Josie Moseley, Steve Zee, Joseph Webb, Bruce Smith, Raymond Sawyer, Royston Maldoom, Sarah Slipper, Brian Sanders, Brian Simerson, Davis Robertson, Linda Sohl-Donnell, Brenda Buffalino, Van “The Man” Porter, Derell “Sekou Soumah” Walker, Durante Lambert, Thomas Yale, Gerran Reese, Kevin Paul Clark, Sara Mishler Martins, Michael Munday, Charlotte Faillard, Kristi BaconTrad, Bunky Holden-Williams, Rachel Slater, and Artistic Director, Steve Gonzales. Guest artists such as Broadway tap star Honi Coles, The Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Alwin Nikolais have held workshops and conducted full-length residencies. Recent workshops include Ballet Boyz, Herve Kobi, MOMIX Dance Theatre, and Cloud Gate.

Dancers for the company are auditioned in the spring, and those selected make a commitment to perform with the group for one school year. They are expected to attend at least 1.5 hours of technique class and 3 hours of rehearsal five days a week. In order to develop their technical skills to a performance level, numerous lecture-demonstrations, community performances, and concerts are booked. The company has performed internationally in Russia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, and China. By providing students with these diverse performing experiences, they are better prepared for the professional world of dance. The progress of their skills is reviewed after each performance. Students are given constructive feedback and are evaluated on how they apply the feedback, their performance quality, musicality, and technical application.

Former Jefferson Dancers have gone on to study at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Juilliard, SUNY Purchase, North Carolina School of the Arts, CAL Arts, Philadelphia School of Performing Arts, Alvin Ailey--through Fordham University, Cornish College, and many more. Our graduates are performing all over the world with professional companies including MOMIX Dance Theatre, Merce Cunningham, Spectrum Dance Theatre, Luna Negra Dance Theatre in Chicago, Batsheva Dance Company, and Vertigo Dance Theatre in Israel. They are also performing in Broadway productions including Guys and Dolls, Movin’ Out, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, and Legally Blonde. The company has come full circle since one of its former dancers, Steve Gonzales, took over as the artistic director in 1999.

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THIS EVENING’S PROGRAM CONVERSACIÓN (2019) CHOREOGRAPHY Steve Gonzales MUSIC Max Richter, Philip Glass, Eduardo Larez & Hector Castillo, Michael Riesman & Lyric Quartet, Losers COSTUMES Earlene Munnerlyn PERFORMERS Movement 1: Full Company Movement 2: Ellie Thomas, Zach Brant Movement 3: Full Company

WE LIVE A THOUSAND YEARS (2018)

DIRECTOR’S NOTE Welcome to an evening with The Jefferson Dancers. I am honored to bring another incredible performance by one of the longest running dance companies in Portland.

I want to thank all the contributors that have helped us out financially this year and in the years past. Without your financial support, it would be difficult to keep this nationally acclaimed program running smoothly.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the financial resources that we once had and can only continue with your help. Your generous support makes it possible for us to continue to educate, inspire, and create new and exciting pieces for the company.

INTERLUDE 1: Performed by Zach Brant,

CHOREOGRAPHY Rachel Slater MUSIC Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Harmonia Ensemble, Joan Jeanrenaud COSTUMES Earlene Munnerlyn PERFORMERS Sierra Briscoe, Star Coltrin, Kaiya Gilbert, Zaida Johnson, Lauryn McCarthy, Jillian Miller, Zoe Ridgell, Jensen Sears, Ellie Thomas, Ana Paloma Whiteman, Kate Zipper

Caalyn Yarbrough; Music by Usher

INTERLUDE 4: Choreography by

BOSS GIRL (2018)

Michael Munday; Performed by Jillian Miller, Jensen Sears, Kate Zipper; Music by Fall

by Chole & Halle

INTERLUDE 5: Performed by

RUTHLESS GRAVITY (2004)

Kaiya Gilbert; Music by Victory Lab

by Nipsey Hussle

CHOREOGRAPHY Michael Munday MUSIC Gwen Stefani, Kash Doll, Nicki Minaj, Murda Beatz, Michael Jackson, Rihanna, YG, Cardi B COSTUMES Earlene Munnerlyn PERFORMERS Zach Brant, Sierra Briscoe, Star Coltrin, Maia De La Torre-Mackin, Wilson Francois, Kaiya Gilbert, Zaida Johnson, Lauryn McCarthy, Jillian Miller, Zoe Ridgell, Jensen Sears, Ellie Thomas, Caalyn Yarbrough, Kate Zipper

INTERLUDE 2: Performed by Sierra Briscoe, Zaida Johnson; Music by Toast by Koffee

HUMANITÉ (2019) CHOREOGRAPHY Sara Mishler Martins MUSIC Denmark by Portland Cello Project, Makeba by Jain COSTUMES Earlene Munnerlyn PERFORMERS Sierra Briscoe, Star Coltrin, Maia De La Torre-Mackin, Lily HogenstadPatrick, Zaida Johnson, Lauryn McCarthy, Jillian Miller, Zoe Ridgell, Jensen Sears, Sophia Simpson, Raya Vinar, Ana Paloma Whiteman, Kate Zipper

INTERLUDE 3: Performed by Ellie Thomas; Music by Agape by Nicholas Britell

CHOREOGRAPHY Steve Gonzales MUSIC Craig Armstrong COSTUMES Earlene Munnerlyn PERFORMERS Star Coltrin, Zoe Ridgell, Ellie Thomas This dance was inspired by Moses Pendleton’s piece White Widow, featured in the movie The Company. ​ On a personal note, my daughter, Ceyjon Demaya Gonzales, inspires me daily.

Due to her illness from RETT Syndrome, Ceyjon is unable to use her legs. When younger she used a swing, loving the effortless feeling it provided. I dedicate this piece to her as well as all the women who suffer from this terrible disease.

—INTERMISSION—

TEMPEST (2019) CHOREROGRAPHY Ellie Thomas, Assisted by Steve Gonzales MUSIC Max Richter & Alexander Balanescu COSTUMES Earlene Munnerlyn PERFORMERS Star Coltrin, Zoe Ridgell, Ellie Thomas, Sophia Simpson, Sierra Briscoe, Jensen Sears, Jillian Miller, Raya Vinar

PRETTY WORDS (2018) CHOREOGRAPHY Star Coltrin MUSIC K-half Noise by MUM COSTUMES Earlene Munnerlyn PERFORMERS Zach Brant, Sierra Briscoe, Maia DeLaTorre-Mackin, Zaida Johnson, Lauryn McCarthy, Zoe Ridgell, Jensen Sears, Ellie Thomas, Kate Zipper

INTERLUDE 6: Performed by Lauryn McCarthy, Kate Zipper; Music

by Lonesome Valley by Jack Garratt

PARIS MON AMOUR (2018) CHOREROGRAPHY Charlotte Faillard MUSIC Edith Pilaf, Charles Aznavour COSTUMES Earlene Munnerlyn PERFORMERS Full Company

SLIDESHOW by Sierra Briscoe

LEN JEN TIRIBA (2019) CHOREOGRAPHY Bunky Williams DRUMMERS Hakim Muhammad, Derrel Sekou Soumah Walker COSTUMES Earlene Munnerlyn PERFORMERS Full Company ARTSLANDIA.COM

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ARTISTIC STAFF & CHOREOGRAPHERS Steve Gonzales, artistic director since 1999, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, and an alumni of Jefferson High School. Under the direction of Mary Vinton Folberg he performed with the Jefferson Dancers for three years then went on to perform with Pacific Ballet Theatre (now Oregon Ballet Theatre) in 1986. Mr. Gonzales continued his dance training at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he was a member of the Second Avenue Dance Company. At NYU, he worked with directors and choreographers: Jenny Way from Twyla Tharp, Kevin Wynn, Elisa Monte and Stephen Petronio. He also choreographed several pieces for Second Avenue Dance Company members and collaborated with other choreographers at NYU. He performed Charles Wiedman’s role in the Humphery-Wiedman retrospective performance of New Dance Variations and Conclusions, presented at the Danny Kale Playhouse in New York. He began dancing with MOMIX Dance Theatre just days after graduating from NYU in 1994.

Under the direction of Moses Pendleton, he performed the company’s entire repertoire all over Europe, Canada, South America, Australia, Israel, Greece, Russia, Japan and the United States, including their annual season at the Joyce Theater in New York until 2008. In addition to performing, he has also been teaching master classes worldwide, performed live for several television shows in Spain, Italy, Germany, and for the BBC in London, has appeared in numerous European fashion magazines and has assumed the responsibilities of rehearsal director, choreographer and company spokesperson to ambassadors and dignitaries around the world.

Mr Gonzales was featured in Michael Curry’s World Premiere Production of Spirits in 2001. He worked closely with choreographers Moses Pendleton, David Parsons, Trey McIntyer, Jamey Hampton, Ashley Rolon and Sylvia Hase.

In 2009, Mr. Gonzales collaborated with Stumptown Stages and choreographed The Wiz and A Chorus Line. Mr. Gonzales was

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awarded a Drammy for Best Choreography for The Wiz. Mr. Gonzales has received many awards for his work as a teacher and his involvement in the Portland Community including the “Excellence in Community Engagement” award presented by the dance presenters of Whitebird in 2015. In 2003 the Jefferson Dancers were voted the “Best Local Dance company” by Willamette Week.

As the artistic director of The Jefferson Dancers, Mr. Gonzales has taken the company to a whole new level. In addition to bringing in cutting-edge choreographers, he has set over 100 new and exciting works on the company, including Rhythm is the Key, Primitive, Cancao Do Mar, Eye of RA, Time Signatures, IMPACT, Tantango, Aquatique, Escape Velocity, Chapter One, Anima Vita, Strength Within and Exposed which were recently performed in the gala concerts at the National High School Dance Festivals in Long Beach, CA, Miami FL, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, PA. He has taken the company on 11 National tours including LA, New York and Washington DC. and 9 International tours including Germany, England, Italy, China, and France. He credits the program at Jefferson with exposing him to the dance world, and ultimately launching his career.

He is determined to see the program flourish to its greatest potential, and dedicated to ensuring that The Jefferson Dancers will continue to influence generations to come.

Earlene Munnerlyn, resident costume designer, learned to sew at an early age from her mother. She had been sewing professionally for over 30 years.

Beside costuming for Jefferson, local dance studios, and high schools, she also does dressmaking and interior design work. Some of her awardwinning costumes have traveled to Florida, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Germany, and China. She particularly enjoys working with the Jefferson Dancers because it allows her to do two of her favorite things— sewing and mothering.

Cynthia Tosh teaches ballet at Jefferson. She began her career at Ballet Pacifica under Lila Zali. She was the youngest to receive a Ford Foundation Scholarship to attend the School of American Ballet in New York City. Tosh also receive full scholarships to attend Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and The San Francisco Ballet.

Tosh was a principal dancer with Chicago City Ballet and Chicago Lyric Opera under Maria Tallchief before joining The Boston Ballet as a soloist under the direction of Violette Verdy. There, she partnered with Rudolph Nureyev in his production of Don Quixote. Her repertoire includes classical ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Paquita, The Four Seasons, Les Sylphides, La Sylphide, Coppelia, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Graduation Ball, La fille Mal Gardee, Don Quixote, Prince Igor, The Stone Flower, Sylvia, Pas de Quatre, Carmina Burana, and numerous Balanchine ballets such as The Firebird, Pas de Dix, Who Cares, Symphony in C, Concerto Barocco, Jewels-Rubies, The Four Temperaments, Faust, Valse Fantasie, Donizetti Variations, Afternoon of a Faun, and Divertimento No. 15.

Tosh has been teaching ballet, coaching, and choreographing in the Portland area for 34 years, including ten years as the artistic director of Portland Community Ballet. She teaches all levels of ballet.

Bunky Holden-Williams was born and now resides in Portland, Oregon. He began his training at Tubman and Fernwood Middle Schools, and continued dancing at Jefferson High School. He is a Jefferson Dancer alumnus, trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, African, hip-hop, step, and gymnastics. Holden-Williams was also member of the Northwest African American Ballet for six years. He has performed internationally and nationally for shows including Nike, Avia, Reebok, and Nordstrom. He is co-founder of Dynasty Dance Zone and has been teaching dancers

of all ages extensively for the past 17 years.

He currently teaches jazz, hip-hop, and African at Jefferson High School. Holden-Williams prides himself on giving back to the community and is known for his dynamic, energetic, and inspirational presence.

Rachel Slater is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher living in Portland, Oregon.

She is a Jefferson Dancer Alumna and holds a BFA from the University of the Arts in Modern Dance Performance with an Emphasis in Choreography. She co-directs Muddy Feet Contemporary Dance with Suzanne Chi. In Portland, she has performed for Rachel Erdos (IL), Franco Nieto, Tere Mathern Dance, Carla Mann, Tracey Durbin, Éowyn Emerald & Dancers, Sara Parker/TedX and her own platform for work, Rachel Slater Dance.

Slater’s previous work includes performance engagements in Philadelphia, North Carolina, up and down the West Coast, and Southern France (with the Jefferson Dancers).

Her choreography has been presented in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Remix Festival, 12 Minutes Max in Seattle, the Women on the Way Festival in San Francisco, and Pacific Dance Makers, among others. Slater was a New Expressive Works Resident in 2013 and a 2014 recipient of the Oregon Arts Commission Career Opportunity Grant. In 2018 she created her first work for the Jefferson Dancers, We Live A Thousand Years, which was selected to close the Northwest Regional High School Dance Festival in Vancouver, WA. Most recently, Slater was seen performing in Minh Tran & Company’s world premiere, Anicca. She currently teaches for BodyVox Dance Center and Jefferson HS/Middle College’s Dance Department. Rachel is very excited that Muddy Feet is heading to the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Alberta, CA for a Choreographic Residency this spring.

Charlotte Faillard was raised in Aix-en-Provence, France. She began her training at the Conservatoire d’Aix-en-Provence under Catherine Tamiser and

later at the Conservatoire d’Avignon under the direction of Mme Petracchi. In 2001, as an exchange student, she joined and trained with the Jefferson Dancers. She returned to France in 2002 and continued her training at Les Jeunes Ballets Mediterraneens under the direction of Claudine Andreot in Grasse.

In 2004, she joined Le jeune Ballet d’Europe under the direction of Jean-Charles Gilles.

While there, she performed a piece by George Appaix. She later joined the Maurice Bejart’s school for two years. Her second year there, she danced with Bejart’s company, Le Sacre du Printemps. In 2007, she moved to Italy where she performed for a dance project directed by Veronica Frisotti. She later integrated into the national Italian company Aterballetto, directed by Mauro Bigonzetti. For seven years, she performed works by choreographers Ohad Naharin, Henri Oguike, Eugenio Scigliano, and William Forsythe. Roles from different pieces premiered in Baden-Baden Dance Festival 2011 and Canto per Orgeo, in which she danced the role of Euridice which premiered in the August dance festival in 2012.

Michael Munday is a professional dancer born and raised in Portland, Oregon.

He began his dance career through the Portland Public Schools’ dance program with his final four years as a company member of the Jefferson Dancers under Steve Gonzales. Upon graduating from Jefferson High School, Munday was accepted into and chose to attend EDGE Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles through their prestigious EDGE Scholarship Program. Once he completed the program, Munday’s career took off. He assisted in the choreography of the opening ceremonies of the world’s largest sports arena in Kiev, Ukraine, with Tovaris Wilson. Then, he continued working and dancing in shows and productions including Glee, the MTV Video Music Awards with Taylor Swift, NBC’s Peter Pan Live with Allison Williams and Christopher Walker, and the 87th Oscars with celebrities Common, John Legend, Jack Black, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Recently, Munday was featured in the film Ted 2 and had the opportunity to perform

for President Barack Obama in honor of Rita Moreno at the Kennedy Center Awards in Washington, D.C. He has been seen dancing with James Corden at the Tony Awards, in the CMA Country Christmas Show, in an episode of Nashville, and in a dance cameo in the award-winning film La La Land.

Sara Mishler Martins is a choreographer, dance educator, and performer who was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. As a JD alumna, Sara credits her passion for dance and her versatility, in large part, to the many exceptional teachers and choreographers she worked with at Jefferson High School.

Martins earned her BA in Dance from UCLA, where she was fortunate to study and work with internationally renowned choreographers such as Judith Jamison, Bill T. Jones, Lynn Dally, Ronald E. Brown, Pat Catterson, Dan Wagoner, Joanie Smith, and Danial Shapiro. As a freelance performer and choreographer in L.A., Martins worked in theatre, concert dance, industrials, and television, and she served as the associate director of dance at the prestigious Buckley School. Since Martins’ return to Portland, her choreography has been featured on many local stages, including Lakewood Theatre Company, Triangle Productions, Spectre Productions, Staged, Portland Center Stage, and Oregon Children’s Theatre, where she served as resident choreographer for eight seasons. Her work has garnered critical praise, as well as multiple Drammy and PAMTA nominations and awards for Outstanding Choreography. Sara also serves as the choreographer for the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus their dance subgroup, The Locomotions.

She has taught multiple dance styles at Northwest Academy, NW Dance Project, Polaris Dance Theatre, and currently teaches tap at da Vinci Arts Middle School.

Martins is thrilled to return as a choreographer with the Jefferson Dancers this year, and to work with so many of her former da Vinci students! She would like to thank Steve for the invitation, and her husband Fernando and twins, Ava and Alex, for their love, patience, and support.

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COMPANY MEMBERS Star Coltrin is an eighteenyear-old senior and this is her fourth year on the company. She began training in ballet at the age of four at Flor de Liz Dance studio in Tucson, Arizona. When she moved to Portland in 2012, she began studying at Classical Ballet Academy under the direction of Sarah Rigles. She has been accepted to many summer intensives and has attended the Ballet Tucson, Orlando Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Northwest Dance Project, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and University of the Arts summer intensives.

After high school she plans to continue her dance training in a college or conservatory setting, and then continue on to a professional career in dance. She thanks Steve Gonzales for his work with the company, and for pushing her to work harder every day. She would also like to thank Cynthia Tosh for her influence on ballet and technique and Rachel Slater for teaching her how to push her limits through movement.

Lastly, she would like to thank Tracey Durbin for introducing her to a wider world of dance and for always believing in her. Additionally, she would like to thank her parents for always supporting her ambitions, especially her mom for being so dedicated to helping her achieve a career in dance.

Kaiya Gilbert is an eighteenyear-old senior at Jefferson High School, and this is her third year on the company.

Kaiya started ballet training at the age of ten and continued dancing through middle school and into high school. In middle school, she danced with West Sylvan Dance Team under Keeley and Kerry Driscoll. Outside of dance team, she took ballet classes at Bodyvox to further her technique, and she continues to take classes in all styles at Bodyvox and Vega Dance Lab. Through high school she has trained with Steve Gonzales and Cynthia Tosh. She would like to thank Keeley and Kerry Driscoll for helping her truly discover her love for dance and supporting her, as well as her grandfather, Doyle Gilbert, for helping her reach her goals. Kaiya would like to attend a four-year college and a medical school to fulfill her medical career goals while also continuing to dance.

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Jensen Sears is an eighteenyear-old senior and this is her fourth year with the company. She began dancing under Sara Anderson at Elite dance studio, and found her love of dance while dancing at West Sylvan under Keeley Driscoll. She also trained in jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, and African at West Sylvan.

She has attended Alonzo King LINES Summer Intensive, Northwest Dance Project Summer Intensive, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance Summer Intensive, and the University of the Arts Pre-College Summer Program. After high school Jensen would like to go to college to obtain her BFA in Dance and then continue on to dance professionally with a company. She would like to thank Keeley and Kerry Driscoll for their continuous support, Ching Ching Wong for believing in her and guiding her, and Steve Gonzales for allowing her to be a part of such incredible dance company while pushing her everyday.

Lastly, she would like to thank her parents and grandparents for their amazing love, encouragement, and for always believing she could do whatever she put her mind to.

Ellie Thomas is a seventeenyear-old senior, and this is her third year with the company. She started dancing at the age of four in tap, jazz, and ballet until she moved to Singapore where she continued her training. After moving to Portland, Oregon, she trained at Portland Festival Ballet for two years. Her formative training began at Sultanov Russian Ballet Academy (SRBA) in 2010. While studying under Artur Sultanov, she learned character dance and furthered her experience in pointe and Russian ballet, as well as jazz at Elite Dance Studio. She still trains and performs with SRBA in addition to Jefferson Dancers. Ellie has attended SRBA’s summer Ballet intensives from 2011-2018. She also attended the San Francisco Ballet Summer Program in 2017 and Alonzo King LINES Contemporary Ballet Pre-professional Program in 2018. After high school, she plans to attend college and earn dual degrees in English and dance performance. She would like to thank Artur Sultanov for years of excellent ballet training and Steve Gonzales for pushing her to do more than she ever thought she could. She would

like to thank her family, especially her parents and grandparents, for being so supportive of her dreams and helping her get this far.

Maia De La Torre-Mackin is a seventeen-year-old senior and a first year Jefferson Dancer.

Maia took many different dance classes as a young child, though she became much more dedicated and serious about her dance career at the age of fourteen when she began attending Rose City Ballet School and Jefferson High School. She has attended The Joffrey Ballet School Summer Intensive, as well as different workshops through BodyVox and Northwest Dance Project. After high school, she plans to continue her dance training in a college setting, to prepare her for a life of dance. She would like to thank all of the dance faculty at Jefferson, especially Steve Gonzales for giving her the amazing opportunity to be a part of the Jefferson Dancers. She would also like to thank Renee Meiffren for accelerating the development of her ballet technique. Lastly, she would like to thank her mom for her unconditional support.

Caalyn Yarbrough is a seventeen-year-old senior and this is her third year with the company. She has been dancing for as long as she can remember but really got her start when she began dancing with SEI doing Hip Hop. She has found her love for choreographing through being involved in multiple dance projects throughout her high school experience. After high school, Caalyn would like to go to college to earn a degree in criminal justice while still continuing to dance. She would like to use her education to join the police force and eventually become a detective. She would like to thank everyone who has continued to push and support her through her journey, especially Steve Gonzales for believing in her when she didn’t believe in herself.

Sierra Briscoe is a sixteenyear-old junior, and this is her third year with the company. She began dancing at Main Street Ballet at the age of six, continued on to Sun Valley Ballet, and then to Dance Fusion Northwest where she trained

under Carla Kendall-Bray and Darvejon Jones. She has participated in multiple musical theater productions including Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, and, most recently, Broadway Rose’s production of Annie. After high school she would like to go to a university in New York to double major in musical theatre and health studies. Sierra would like to thank all of her dance teachers and Steve Gonzales for pushing her to always want to be her best. Being a Jefferson Dancer has been an incredible experience for her, and she wouldn’t be able to do it without the constant support of her mom and sisters, who she is incredibly thankful for.

Zachary Brant is a seventeen-year-old junior, and this is his second year with the company. He has danced previously at the Portland Ballet and attended their summer intensive three times. He also attended the Joffrey Ballet and Hip-Hop Summer Intensives. Zach would like to thank his very first dance teacher, Brian Baker, who taught him breakdance for seven years. He would also like to thank all the teachers at the Portland Ballet as well as the teachers at Jefferson.

Lauryn McCarthy is a sixteen-year-old junior and this is her third year with the company. She started dancing at Irvington Elementary School at the age of six as a requirement. She took classes such as African and ballet under the training of Ms. Cassandra, who recommended she dance outside of school. This really began her love for dance. After high school Lauryn would love to continue dancing in the commercial world while still attending college and majoring in criminal justice or psychology. Lauryn would like to thank her teachers that have helped her grow along the way, like Claire Olberding and Sara Martins: her jazz and tap teachers from middle school, because they really pushed her to grow and are the reason she made it into the Jefferson Dancers. She would also like to thank Renée Meiffren, her ballet teacher in middle school, as well as Elizabeth Parkinson, the director of the UNCSA Broadway Commercial Dance Lab Summer Intensive, for encouraging Lauryn to grow not only as a dancer but as a person and showing her another part of the dance world that overall made Lauryn realize that she does want to dance after high school.

She also wants to give a huge thank you to Steve Gonzales for the amazing opportunities that the Jefferson Dancers have brought

throughout the past three years. Lauryn would lastly like to thank her mom for being such a strong person and always encouraging her to follow her dreams.

Kate Zipper is a sixteenyear-old junior and this is her third year with the company. She started dancing during school in kindergarten, but later took it on as an after school activity in third grade. After high school she plans to go to college in California and dance in LA commercially. Kate would like to thank Chisao Hata for introducing her to dance, Sara Martins for helping her realize her love for tap, Charlie Cheath for pushing her in hip hop, and Renee Meifron for helping her maintain and exceed her technique in ballet. She would also like to thank Steve Gonzales for giving her the opportunity to be a part of the Jefferson Dancers.

Zaida Johnson is a fifteenyear-old sophomore and this is her second year with the company. At the age of four she began her dance training at the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre (SOBT). Dancing there, Damara Bennett gave her multiple opportunities through dance. She also gained valuable exposure to perform in professional dance productions throughout her training at SOBT. Zaida has attended multiple summer intensives including SOBT, The Portland Ballet, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco, California. After Jefferson, Zaida hopes that she can go out of state for college and wants to see where dance can take her all around the world. She would like to thank Damara Bennett for introducing her to the world of dance at the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre, as well as Claire Olberding, Sara Martins, and Eowyn Emerald Barrett of the da Vinci dance department for expanding her true love for dance. Zaida would also like to thank Heather Jackson for deepening her pre-professional dance experience and for supporting her every step of the way and Steve Gonzales and the Jefferson dance department staff for giving her this incredible opportunity. Finally, she would like to thank her family for always having her back and for being so supportive of her.

Zoe Ridgell is a sixteenyear-old sophomore and this is her second year with the company. She was first introduced to dance by Chisao Hata at Buckman

Elementary. There, she discovered her love for dance and began training at Classical Ballet Academy in fourth grade. Dancing at CBA gave her a strong foundation for dance, while creating a strong community between her and her fellow dancers. She would like to thank all of her teachers at CBA but most of all, her director, Sarah Rigles, and contemporary teacher, Sissy Dawson, for teaching her to reach for her dreams and strive toward her fullest potential. Zoe has been accepted into summer programs such as Alvin Ailey and Alonzo King Lines Ballet. This past summer, she attended the Alonzo King Lines Summer Intensive. After high school she plans to dance in college and afterwards join a contemporary company. She would like to thank Sara Martins, Claire Olberding, and Tracey Durbin for giving her countless opportunities and pushing her to be her best.

Finally, she would like to thank Steve Gonzales for giving her this amazing opportunity as well as her family for pushing her to pursue her dreams.

Jillian Miller is a fifteenyear-old freshman and a first year company member. She started dancing with Carla Kendall-Bray at Dance Fusion NW when she was five years old. At the age of eleven, she started training with Maricar Drillon and Jennifer Hata-Livingston at Northwest Classical Ballet. She has attended Northwest Dance Project Summer Intensive, The Portland Ballet Summer Intensive, and Tremaine Summer Dance Intensive. Ultimately,she wants to be a Professional Dancer. Depending on what opportunities might be available after High School,she plans on attending college where she can pursue a career in dance while studying in a field that allows her to help others. Jillian’s mom, Jaime, passed away in May 2018 after courageously battling breast cancer. She was Jillian’s biggest fan and guided her every step along her dance journey with love and support. Jillian would like to thank Maricar Drillon for believing in her, seeing her potential, and guiding her forward; Jennifer Hata-Livingston for pushing her beyond what she thought her limits were; and Ryan Paul with New Athlete for training her like a Professional Football Player! She also wants to thank her entire family, especially her dad and brother, Andy and Alex, for encouraging her every step of the way and for just being awesome! Finally, she would like to thank her entire community of friends who support her and cheer really loud!

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COMPANY APPRENTICES Wilson Francois is an eighteen-year-old senior and a second year company member. He started dancing at the age of twelve under Damon Keller at the first Ockley Green Middle School dance classes. He has also trained in Hip-Hop during the summer at Beaverton Dance Center in Beaverton, Oregon. After high school, Wilson would like to earn his BFA in dance from University of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. He would like to thank Damon Keller and Bunky Williams for being the best teachers he ever had and for teaching him everything he knows. His most influential and trusted teacher is Bunky, who has helped with everything in Wilson’s dance classes, and is always there to talk.

Lily Hogenstad-Patrick Lily Patrick is a fourteen-yearold freshman, and this is her first year with the company. At the age of three she began dancing with Hollywood Dance and soon after with Chisao at Buckman Elementary School. Lily then attended da Vinci Middle School, where she danced under Claire Olberding and Sara Martins. She also participated in an after-school dance program with Éowyn Emerald. Lily has also danced at Éowyn Emerald’s Dancescape summer intensive. After graduating high school, Lily wants to go to a university to study dance, and eventually join a professional dance company. She would like to thank her dance teachers from da Vinci—Claire Olberding and Sara Martins—for always pushing her to succeed. She would also like to thank her teachers—Miss Jessica and Rachel—from Hollywood Dance for both giving her a good foundation to dance. She would also like to thank Éowyn Emerald for expanding her knowledge of dance.

Lastly, she would like to thank Chisao for showing her professionalism and how to act in a company.

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Sophia Simpson is a fourteen-year-old freshman and a first-year company member. Sophia started dancing at The School of Oregon Ballet Theater where she studied ballet under Damara Bennett. The minute she stepped into the dance studio she knew that was what she wanted to do. In elementary school she danced at The Portland Ballet, where she was taught by Patty Jones and Nancy Davis, as well as Éowyn Emerald and Josey Mosley over the summer. She spent the last year at Northwest Dance Project under Charlene Hannibal. Sophia has attended The Portland Ballet summer program for three years as well as Northwest Dance Project’s Junior Dance Intensive. In the coming years, she hopes to go out of state for summer programs. After High School, she hopes to study dance and music in college. Sophia is incredibly thankful for all the teachers that have guided her and helped her reach her full potential in dance over the years. She would like to thank Damara Bennett who introduced her to ballet and showed her the value of hard work, Éowyn Emerald for helping her realize her love of moving, Patty Jones for being such a wonderful mentor and teacher, the Da Vinci dance department for helping her expand the horizons of her training while introducing her to the world of tap, and Steve Gonzales for giving her this amazing opportunity to thrive and grow in a supportive community of wonderful dancers. She would also like to thank her parents and her sister, Nora, for always being there for her and giving her strength.

Ana Paloma Whiteman is a fifteen-year-old freshman and a first year company member. Paloma started dancing with Chisao Hata at Buckman Elementary School as a part of Chisao Hata’s after-school dance program. In preparation for da Vinci’s dance program,

Paloma began ballet at Laurelhurst with Jojo Hills and Amy Havins where she studied for 3 years. In the summer of 2016, Paloma attended the Portland Ballet Summer intensive, which was very intense but was one of the most amazing experiences for her. After eight beautiful years of dancing, Paloma would like to thank her dance teachers Sara Martins, Claire Olberding, and Chisao Hata for helping broaden her knowledge of the dance world. She would also like to thank her parents for always being supportive of her dreams.

Raya Vinar is a fifteen-yearold freshman and a first year company member.

Raya began training at the age of four, starting with a few ballet classes. In kindergarten, she started dancing at Buckman Arts Elementary School. There, she was taught by Chisao Hata. In third grade, she decided to pursue dance further and started taking classes after school and on the weekends at NW Dance Project. She continued training throughout middle school at da Vinci Arts Middle School under the direction of Claire Olberding and Sara Martins. During middle school, she continued to train at NW Dance Project where she was taught by various company members. She attended the Nashville Ballet’s summer program in Nashville Tennessee. Raya plans to continue dancing after high school. She hopes that her love for dance can help her travel and attend college away from home. Raya would like to thank Chisao Hata for introducing her to dance, Sara Martins and Claire Olberding for always being supportive figures in her life, Tracy Durbin for teaching her how to be an artist, Tracy Julias and Charlene Hannibal for giving her a strong ballet foundation, and finally Steve Gonzales for giving her the amazing opportunity of dancing with the Jefferson Dancers. She would also like to thank her friends and family for always being supportive of her and her passion for dance.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE DONATED & SUPPORTED THE JEFFERSON DANCERS FOR 43 YEARS.

MASTERS OVER $5000 WW Trailers, Inc Mark & Ann Edlen Gordon Sondland & Katherine Durant Foundation Nike Jordan

CHOREOGRAPHERS $2500–$4999.99 Arlene Schnitzer & Jordan Schnitzer Cano Real Estate Nathan Cano Frederick & Gail Jubitz United Way of the Columbia Willamette Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington

TEACHERS $1000–$2499.99 Zipper Family Mike & Sue Ellen Coltrin Andy Miller Melvyn Heller Warren & Sheryl Rosenfeld Fund of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation Nervous Habit, Inc Starseed Foundation Columbia Arts Pixie Dust Productions Westside Elementary PTO Paula Smith

CREW $500–$999.99 LeRoy Phillips Chandler Vinar Dick Miller Jeff Reingold Gloria Gilbert

Parkdale Elementary PTO Wieden & Kennedy James P. Chasse Shanon Emerson/ Living Room Realty Eric Larson Sharon Baker AAA of Oregon & Idaho Marysville Elementary May Street Elementary PTO John Hardiman Constance Lee Hogenstad Robbianne Mackin Pamela Pfaff Wayne Thomas Traci Parker Wendy Lin & Edward Guillery

FAMILY $100–$499.99 Shaver Elementary Iris & Gary Moye Theresa Garcia & Fred Nilsen Drake Delich Elizabeth Sandow Jill Griffith Kathy Landers Melaura Wittemyer Roger Thomas PSU Foundation Phillip Dobson Charles Farmer Candace Hess Marion Simpson Jeanne Carlson Leonard & Natasha Pereira Diane Schaffer Susan Maloy Gloria Maynard Judith Brenes Eli Lane John & Heather Dykes Victoria & Luke Groser Helen Kelly

Robin Dunitz Boise-Eliot/Humboldt PTA JOIN Big O’s Wood Fired Pizza The Campbell Foundation Jean & Ray Auel Kathleen Valdez Rebecca Fleischman Julia Ball Jonathan Betlinski Jo Ann Bleich Christine Bourdette Gayle Brown Nancy Christensen Bernadette Downie Bonnie Doyle Ron & Ann Emmerson Doyle Gilbert Vernon Jones & Carl Hitt Laurie Holland Robin Kerr Joyce Kirlin Annette Mackin Martin Muller Shari Powell Jean Slyman Carol Smith-Larson Paul Steiner R Tremblay Peter Valdez Stacia Vinar John Wilhelmi Dan & Michelle Alexander Susan Hanson Alicia Gilbert Dewey Daniel Hehli Jon & Patricia Hehli Donna Brooks Jeannie Reutter Tim & Janet Gillespie Jan Verduin Zhen Gou & Henan Hao Ted Takamura Carson & Valerie Bowler Michelle DeChesser

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JEFFERSON DANCERS | PRESS NEWS Artistic Director Steve Gonzales is largely responsible for the dancers’ current level of professionalism.

—David Plechl, The Portland Observer

Energetic, entertaining, and a joy to behold.

–Phil Hunt, The Oregonian

Teenage dancers ecstatically pushed their bodies past their limits.

– Kelly Clarke, Willamette Week

The Jefferson Dancers were voted the best local dance company.

–Willamette Week, Best of Portland (2003)

THEIR LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO ARTISTIC DIRECTOR STEVE GONZALES. –Catherine Thomas, The Oregonian

Powerful, playful, mesmerizing, and at times gravity-defying, Jefferson Performing and Visual Arts Magnet High School’s elite troupe of dancers drew a long standing ovation Saturday night in the Astoria High School Auditorium.

Darren L. Dunlap, The Daily Astorian

...last winter’s sold-out White Bird/PSU Series show at Lincoln Hall to wowing the international set in the south of France, Portland’s Jefferson Dancers have had the equivalent of their performance SATs this school year. The Jefferson Dancers get an A+ for effort this year in my book.

–Kelly Clarke, Willamette Week

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The Jefferson Dancers have sprinkled America’s professional dance troupes with performers, and they routinely move on to elite performing-arts colleges.

–Bob Hicks, The Oregonian

Gonzales has resparked the program’s energy, skill, and pride.

Gonzales has raised the technical bar; his dancers are also fluent in African, hip-hop, tap, and jazz.

–Catherine Thomas, The Oregonian

Bob Hicks, –The Oregonian

The Jefferson Dancers are so well trained, so energetic and enthusiastic that their student status is forgotten the instant the curtain goes up.

Reinvigorated by Gonzales, a former Jefferson Dancer himself ...exciting dancers and a wide variety of forms and moves by some of the best choreographers in the world. That’s the combination the company will take to the Kennedy Center.

–Martha Ullman West, Willamette Week

–Barry Johnson, The Oregonian

DONORS (CONT.) Courtney Hayes-Lattin Courtney Aguirre Jean Seaver Gerry Rainingbird Ronald Cobb & Laurie Kilbourn Jacqueline Hutchings Shane & Mary Hilde John Hendrix Anthony & Donna Gort Shauncey Mashia Shannon Carey Pete & Linde Eidenberg Molly Stenzel Mark Miller Margaret Calvert Lori Wyatt Lolly Jameson Lisa Da Silva Laura Garnier Kristen & Bill Conwell Kevin Sehreutelkanp Jordan Johnson Jim Bruce Ingrid Hogenstad Greta Hogenstad Eric Matthews Craig Figgins Elizabeth & Edward Neuwelt Carolyn & Paul White Vida Lee Edera Susan Pfohman Robert Rawson Gene Brown David & Jane Maynard Dennis & Kristina Korabiak Mary Folberg Mike & Brenda Withycombe Dewey Meyer

FRIENDS UP TO $99.99 Linda Schneider Kaiser Foundation Community Giving Campaign George & Nancy Thorn Michael Schlieski Jackie Howard Kraybill Kroger Community Rewards Program Adam Haas & Marsha Spellman Emily Ann Heape Greg & Diane Smith

Jimmie Darr Joyce Hammond Marguerite Nabeta Bruce & Cindy Brenn Laura Struble John Cover Cindy Ramzy Gail Kuhlman Simon Rendon Amy Kirkman Sharon Bidstrup Lynn Minneman Barbara Page Dennis Johnson Dan & Willo Oswald Eunice Gadbois Greg Lyons Bruce Richards Chisao Hata Melinda Marshall Scott Pratt Thomas & Carol Ann Riley Ben & Sandra Langston Dan Johnson & Kimberly Karaman Johnson Brenda Keene Susan Woods David Wolf Peter Vennewitz Anne Thomas Carol Thomas Monica Stel Judith Spady Kerim Senkal Edward Saunders Marilyn Pitts Sheila Nyhus Gretchen Nagely Toni Morgan Lisa Molinaro Walter Mintkeski Chelsea McAlister Julie Maxion Carolyn Martin Richard Lowensohn Jeff Logan Michael Korinek George Koop Dennis Kenny David Kaiser Sheila Jakobsen Lynn Ingraham Linda Harter

Rita Fawcett Scott & Mary Eagle Susan Coons Cynthia Cohen Amber Clough Kate Bramer Paul Blankenmeister Conrad Thomason In Memory of Marlyn Thomason, Class of 1956 Micaela Hayden Vida W. Lohnes Laurie Holland J. Hills Robert Walters & Carolyn Martin Barbara Jensen Inger McDowell-Hartye Patricia Kourafas Judy Griffen Bella Zaccari Meredith Wilson Ellen & Eric Weeks George Slyman Martha Anyang Robert Harr Rima Litke Kat Cooper Carol Jean Reutter Delores Kueffler Phyllis Brudney Andrew Coltrin Betsy Collins David Bennet George Brant Joleen Fuller Brian Deitchman Morgan Senkal Sarah Miller Jessica Baccelleria Jill DeSantis Ann Ezell Susan Halada Robert & Eileen Mackin Lavonne Mahugh Lara Miyahira Bettie D. Wennevold In memory of Bonnie Merrill Kathleen Fisher

IN-KIND DONATIONS Nike Jordan

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AUDITIONS The Jefferson Dancers 2019–2020 June 4 & 5, 2019 3:30–6:30pm

Please attend both days!

Open to students grades 8-11 at Jefferson High School

(503) 916-5180 Ext. 71316 Email: sgonzale@pps.net Web: jeffersondancers.org