Ballet BC Digital Program

COVER PHOTO BY MICHAEL SLOBODIAN

D i sc o ve r the star s a nd t he fligh ts.

Dear Patrons, SURPRISING | CAPTIVATING | GRATEFUL

These words speak to what sets TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND apart, and to the state we find ourselves in as we emerge from the Covid Fog. They speak to who we are and how we enter our new season.

Dance is such a distinct art form. Luminous, arduous, meaningful and inspiring. Time and time again, “I’m overwhelmed, this was not what I expected,” are the reactions I hear from first-time audiences, something our longtime subscribers have always known. Reaching our 40th anniversary affords TITAS the unique perspective of looking back and exploring the impact high quality, curatorial arts presentation has on a city and on a community. For 40 years, TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND has presented the most innovative, the most remarkable artists touring the world today. We look forward to another 40 years of innovation.

The 2022:23 season won’t disappoint. Bold, beguiling and breathtaking imagery makes this a very special set of internationally touring companies. We proudly present a season of ten extraordinary companies from the United States, Canada and South Africa. Five of these companies are making their debuts with TITAS.

Thank you for being a part of another year of breathtaking performances, and thank you for actively engaging in the arts and for being a part of the TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND and AT&T Performing Arts Center family.

All that remains of communities and civilizations, all that remains of their worth and dignity exists in the art they leave.

William Carlos Williams

Sincerely,

Charles Santos, Executive Director/Artistic Director TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND

Artistic Director

PRESENTS

Managing Director

Medhi Walerski Kim Spencer-Nairn

Director of Artistic Operations

Artistic Producer

Rupert Tookey Naomi Stikeman

Rehearsal Directors

Director of Production & Operations

Nicolas Ventura, Katherine Cowie Derek Mack

Director of Marketing

Company Manager

Claire Mohun Kate McMillan

Dancers

Luca Afflitto Emily Chessa Sidney Chuckas Livona Ellis Michael Garcia

Orlando Harbutt Kiana Jung Patrick Kilbane Éline Malègue

Benjamin Peralta Sarah Pippin Vivian Ruiz Rae Srivastava

Kaylin Sturtevant Jacob Williams

Emerging Artists

Emanuel Dostine María Pommorsky Jacalyn Tatro

Sydney Tormey Ben Waters

TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND SEASON SPONSORS

The use of cameras, camcorders, tape recorders and cell phones is strictly forbidden during the performance.

Friday | June 09 2023 | Winspear Opera House

PRESENTS

Ballet BC

Artistic Director Medhi Walerski

GARDEN

World Premiere, September 2016, Nederlands Dans Theater I

Company Premiere, November 2021, Ballet BC

Choreography: Medhi Walerski

Staging: Rupert Tookey

Music: Piano Quintet in A Minor, Op. 14: Allegro moderato e maestoso & Andante

sostenuto By: Camille Saint-Saëns; Performed By: Cristina Ortiz, piano; Fine Arts Quartet; Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Sound Design and Dramaturgy: Pierre Pontvianne

Lighting and Stage Design: Theun Mosk

Costume Design: Medhi Walerski, Joke Visser

Kaylin Sturtevant Emanuel Dostine | Sarah Pippin Orlando Harbutt

Éline Malègue Luca Afflitto | Kiana Jung Rae Srivastava

Sydney Tormey Sidney Chuckas

– INTERMISSION –

THE STATEMENT

World Premiere, February 2016, Nederlands Dans Theater

Company Premiere, November 2021, National Arts Centre

Choreography: Crystal Pite

Music: Owen Belton

Text: Jonathon Young

Vocal Performance: Meg Roe, Colleen Wheeler, Andrew Wheeler, Jonathon Young

Lighting Design: Tom Visser

Set Design: Jay Gower Taylor

Costume Design: Crystal Pite, Joke Visser

Luca Afflitto Michael Garcia Emily Chessa Livona Ellis

– INTERMISSION –

BEDROOM FOLK

World Premiere, April 2015, Nederlands Dans Theater I

North American Premiere, May 2019, Ballet BC

Choreographer: Sharon Eyal

Co-Creator: Gai Behar

Rehearsal Director: Nicolas Ventura

Sound Artist and Music: Ori Lichtik

Lighting Designer: Thierry Dreyfus

Costume Design: Rebecca Hytting

Luca Afflito Emily Chessa Sidney Chuckas Enamuel Dostine

Livona Ellis Michael Garcia Kiana Jung Orlando Harbutt

Eline Malegue Sarah Pippin Vivian Ruiz Rae Srivastava

Kaylin Sturtevant Benjamin Waters

About Ballet BC

Founded in 1986 by David Y. H. Lui, Jean Orr and Sheila Begg, Ballet BC is currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Medhi Walerski. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the collaborative and creation-based company has made a unique and valuable contribution to the development of contemporary dance both at home and around the world. In 2019, the company was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production for their tour to Sadler’s Wells in London.

Ballet BC’s 20 dancers are a group of open-minded and curious artists, each unique for their dynamic movement while sharing an intuitive passion for dance. The company is committed to its role as a leader in the community through dancer training opportunities, community and audience outreach, and professional development activities.

Ballet BC presents a diverse repertoire of Canadian and international work from the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including choreography by William Forsythe, Cayetano Soto, Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar, Johan Inger, Medhi Walerski, Ohad wNaharin, Crystal Pite, Company 605, Jorma Elo, Wen Wei Wang, Itzik Galili, Serge Bennathan, Walter Matteini, José Navas, Emanual Gat, Emily Molnar and more, and is deeply committed to the creation and performance of new works.

TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND SEASON SPONSORS

To support TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND Please Scan, and Thank You.

ABOUT BALLET BC

Founded in 1986 by David Y. H. Lui, Jean Orr and Sheila Begg, Ballet BC is currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Medhi Walerski. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the collaborative and creation-based company has made a unique and valuable contribution to the development of contemporary dance both at home and around the world. In 2019, the company was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production for their tour to Sadler’s Wells in London.

Ballet BC’s 20 dancers are a group of open-minded and curious artists, each unique for their dynamic movement while sharing an intuitive passion for dance. The company is committed to its role as a leader in the community through dancer training opportunities, community and audience outreach, and professional development activities.

Ballet BC presents a diverse repertoire of Canadian and international work from the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including choreography by William Forsythe, Cayetano Soto, Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar, Johan Inger, Medhi Walerski, Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, Company 605, Jorma Elo, Wen Wei Wang, Itzik Galili, Serge Bennathan, Walter Matteini, José Navas, Emanual Gat, Emily Molnar and more, and is deeply committed to the creation and performance of new works.

MEDHI WALERSKI became Artistic Director of Ballet BC in July 2020. Raised in France, he initially trained in Normandy with Laurie Bokobza and Christine Caroly before joining the Conservatoire Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Walerski danced at the Paris Opera Ballet and the Ballet du Rhin before joining Nederlands Dans Theater in 2001. For more than a decade he was an integral part of the company, contributing to the creative, innovative style that NDT is famed for. He was awarded the Dutch dance prize VSCD Zwaan in 2013.Walerski has worked closely with many renowned choreographers, creating alongside and performing works by Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, George Balanchine, Rudolf Nureyev, Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon, Crystal Pite, Johan Inger, and Wayne McGregor among others. Walerski’s choreographic debut was in 2008 for NDT 2. Since then he has created numerous acclaimed works for NDT and Ballet BC including Petite Cérémonie (2011), Chamber (2012), and Silent Tides (2020), as well as works for Bern Ballet, Göteborg Ballet, the State Ballet of Georgia, Staat Ballet Hannover, Staat theater Wiesbaden and Charlotte Ballet. As an educator, he is regularly invited to lecture and give workshops at dance conservatories and festivals around the world.

CRYSTAL PITE, in a choreographic career spanning three decades, has created over 50 works for companies including The Royal Ballet, The Paris Opera Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater I, Cullberg Ballet, Ballett Frankfurt, The National Ballet of Canada, Ballets Jazz Montréal (resident choreographer 2001–04), and Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet. Pite is a member of the Order of Canada, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Benois de la Danse, Canada Council Jacqueline Lemieux Prize, Grand Prix de la danse de Montréal, two UK Critics’ Circle Dance Awards, four Laurence Olivier Awards, and the 2022 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award. She began her dance career as a company member of Ballet British Columbia (Ballet BC), then William Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt, and is currently Associate Choreographer of Nederlands Dans Theater I, Associate Dance Artist of

Canada’s National Arts Centre, and Associate Artist at Sadler’s Wells in London. She holds an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Simon Fraser University and is a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2002, she formed Kidd Pivot in Vancouver.

SHARON EYAL was born in Jerusalem. She danced with the Batsheva Dance Company from1990-2008 and started choreographing within the framework of the company’s Batsheva Dancers Create project. Eyal served as Associate Artistic Director for Batsheva between 2003-2004, and as a House Choreographer for the company from 2005-2012. During her time with the company, she created 16new creations. Since 2005, Eyal has collaborated with Gai Behar on her creations as well as L-E-V company and different projects. From 2009, Eyal has made over 30 new creations for dance companies around the world, such as Bedroom Folk, salt Womb, Feelings and Sara for the Nederlands Dans Theater; Half-Life for the Royal Swedish Ballet; Untitled Black and Autodance for Goteborgs Operans Danskompan, Sweden; Killer Pig and Corps de Walk for Carte Blanche Dance of Norway; Too Beaucoup for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; Plafona for Tanzcompagnie Oldenburg, Germany; Soul Chain for staatstheater Mainz, Germany and more. Eyal has collaborated on major projects outside of the dance world such as: Dior–Spring Summer 2019 Fashion Show; The National and Mike Milles album/movie–participating in 2 music videos for the songs Hairpin Turns and Hey Rosey from the album I Am Easy To Find, as well as a live performance for their international tour’s opening concert at the L’Olympia in Paris. In 2013, Eyal launched L-E-V. L-E-V’s creations are co-produced with some of the leading dance venues around the globe such as Sadler’s Wells–London and Julidans–Amsterdam. The co-producers list consists of many other great venues: Montpellier Danse Festival; GROS Culture Percentage–Dance Festival STEPS; Theater Freiburg; The Banff Centre in Canada; Carolina Performing Arts–North Carolina, USA; and Torino Danza. In the years since L-E-V was founded, the company has had more than 180 performances, in some of the most exclusive venues around the world such as The Joyce Theater–NYC; Jacob’s Pillow–Becket, Massachusetts; Sadler’s Wells–London, UK ; The Montpellier Danse Festival–France; Edinburgh International Festival; Julidans–Amsterdam.

GAI BEHAR, was a great influence on Tel Aviv’s live music, art and nightlife scenes from 1999 to2005, during which period he produced live music, underground artistic events and techno raves. From 1999-2005 Behar also curated and produced the event Man Without a Shirt in Tel Aviv. The event was co-curated by Uri Katzenstein, and included works by Ohad Naharin and Sharon Eyal among others. In October 2012, Sharon Eyal and Behar premiered Untitled Black in collaboration with the Göteborgs Operans Danskompani in Gothenburg, Sweden. In May 2013, they created the ethereal piece Sara for NDT 2. The same year they launched their company L-E-V. Since L-E-V was founded, the company has had more than 150 performances some in the most exclusive venues around the world such as: The Joyce Theater–NYC; Jacob’s Pillow–Becket, Massachusetts; Sadler’s Wells–London, UK; The Montpellier Danse Festival–France; Julidans–Amsterdam.

Alongside their work with L-E-V, Eyal and Behar have also been commissioned to create for external companies: the Nederlands Dans Theater’s Sara (2013); Bedroom Folk (2015); salt Womb (2016), Half-Life for the Royal Swedish Ballet and more.

DANCERS

LUCA AFFLITTO (he/him) is originally from Genova, Italy where he started dancing at the age of 11. In 2014, he was admitted at the Academie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo under the direction of Luca Masala where he graduated three years later. While staying at the academy, he had the opportunity to study with internationally renowned teachers and to dance works by Jiri Kylian, Marco Goecke and Mats Ek among others. In 2017, he joined Ballett Zurich under the direction of Christian Spuck and after two seasons in the Junior Ballet, in 2019 he joined as part of the main company. While in Zurich he had the opportunity to dance works of the same director and choreographers such as Crystal Pite, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Jiri Kylian, Marco Goecke, Goyo Montero, Edward Clug, Johan Inger and Cayetano Soto. In 2019 he was awarded the “Dance Prize of the Friends of Ballett Zurich.” Luca is excited to be joining Ballet BC for the 2022/23 season.

EMILY CHESSA (she/her) is from Richmond BC and began her professional dance training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in 2006 where she received the Paddy Stone Scholarship for choreography and the Arnold Spohr Scholarship for achievement in dance. After graduating in 2010, Emily trained at Arts Umbrella in the graduate program under the guidance of Artemis Gordon and has participated in summer programs such as the Movement Invention Project in New York City and Springboard Danse Montreal. Since joining Ballet BC in 2012, Emily has performed works by Company 605, Johan Inger, Lesley Telford, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Emily Molnar, William Forsythe, Medhi Walerski, Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin and Sharon Eyal. Highlights include dancing the role of ‘Juliet’ in Medhi Walerski’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’. In the 2020-21 season, Emily joined Nederlands Dans Theater 1, and was in the creation and performance of Michael Schumacher’s “Revisitation”. Excited and grateful, she is entering her 10th season with Ballet BC.

SIDNEY CHUCKAS (he/they) was born in Evanston, Illinois. He learns, creates and educates through his multidisciplinary art practices with a larger mission to dismantle the institutionalized marginalization of minoritized bodies. Dancing since the age of five at Dance Center Evanston, performing principal roles in musical theatre productions at Evanston Township High School, and graduating from the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance have all taught Chuckas to utilize his diverse experiences to thoughtfully engage in others’ work while engaging those around him in progressive conversation and change. He has performed works of William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, Ohad Naharin, and Barak Marshall, danced for Brandy, Chance the Rapper, and Paris Jackson, trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Alvin Ailey, and The Joffrey Ballet, and has also created his own works for stage and screen. His time at USC also led him to discover his passion for design and he was able to complete his undergraduate studies with a minor in Architecture and receive an academic scholarship to attend the Pratt Institute of Design Master’s of Architecture program. Sidney is honoured to be a part of the Ballet BC community for a second season and is excited to continue feeding his passion for inclusive, collaborative innovation and creativity.

LIVONA ELLIS (she/her) was born on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples: Skwxw ú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səlí ’ lwəta /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xwməθkwəy’əm Nations. She completed her training at Arts Umbrella under the direction of Artemis Gordon. In 2010 she received her Dance Diploma and began dancing with Ballet BC. Throughout her time with the company she has been fortunate to perform works by world renowned artists such as Crystal Pite, Sharon Eyal, Medhi Walerski, Company 605, William Forsythe, and many others. Independently she has collaborated with Jennifer McLeish-Lewis for the EDAM Spring Series, Rachel Meyer and Jennifer Mascall for Dancing on the Edge Festival 2019, and MaryLouise Albert and Peter Bingham for Solo Dances 2020/21. Livona has performed in international venues such as Sadler’s Wells, Movimentos Festival Wolfsburg, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Fall for Dance NYC and North, and International Dance Festival Birmingham UK. She has created works for Dances for a Small Stage, Dance Deck Trois, Public Salon 2019, Contemporary Art Gallery Gala 2018, and Arts Umbrella Season Finale. In 2017 she received the Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award for Emerging Artist. In 2019, Livona staged Medhi Walerski’s Prelude on Staatsoper Hannover in Germany. Livona was also a guest artist with Konzert Theater Bern in Switzerland for their 2019/2020 season. Livona is currently on faculty at Arts Umbrella and is also one of the Programming Advisors for the BC Movement Arts Society. This is her 11th season with Ballet BC.

MICHAEL GARCIA (he/they) born in McAllen, Texas. His early passion and ambition for dance led him to Dallas, Texas where he trained at Dance Industry Performing Arts Center and Booker T.Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He received his BFA from The Juilliard School, under the direction of Alicia Graf Mack. After graduating, Michael was deeply grateful to have performed with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for their 44th season. He has performed works by Robert Battle, Aszure Barton, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Lar Lubovitch, Ohad Naharin and Dwight Rhoden as well as creatively with Bryan Arias, Sidra Bell, Ethan Colangelo, Shannon Gillen, Francesca Harper, Loni Landon, Andrea Miller, Jermaine Spivey and Benoit-Swan Pouffer. He has been recognized as National YoungArts Winner, Alumni of the School at Jacob’s Pillow, and performed at iconic dance spaces such as The Joyce Theater. Beyond performing, Michael has many pursuits in teaching, choreography and modeling. He has received an Outstanding Choreography award from YAGP, travelled across the United States teaching, and appeared in campaigns for Bogner, FortyFiveTen, & photographer Mark Mann. He is excited to be joining Ballet BC and the Vancouver arts community to continue to cultivate his personal artistic voice and tour the world.

ORLANDO HARBUTT (he/they) was born in New York City and spent his early childhood in Rome, Italy. He began dancing at 10 and in 2011 after relocating to the US, joined a hip hop crew curated by James Polo whilst training with a local ballet studio HVAPA. He was later scouted by Victoria Rinaldi and began competing in ballet competitions such as VKIBC, where he was awarded gold in the contemporary division. He has attended summer intensives such as NYSSSA (‘15,’16), Manhattan Youth Ballet SI (‘16,’17), The Juilliard School SI (‘17) Arts Umbrella SI (‘18,’19), Jacob’s Pillow (‘20), Body Traffic (‘21), S.W.E.A.T. (‘21) and most recently Springboard Danse Montréal (‘22). At 15, Orlando began to train with Manhattan Youth Ballet full-time, performing classics

of George Balanchine as well as works by Brian Reeder and Earl Moseley, among others. At MYB, Orlando was awarded the first Men of Merit Scholarship Award. Orlando has performed works by Aszure Barton, Norbert De La Cruz III, Anne Plamondon, Gregory Dolbashian, Johannes Wieland, and Crystal Pite and has worked pre-professionally with Medhi Walerski, Rupert Tookey, Olivia Ancona, Eric Beauchesne, Tom Weinberg, Ethan Colangelo, Victor Quijada, Evangelos Poulinas, Helen Picket, and Francesca Harper and enjoyed choreographic and collaborative experiences with peers, students, and independent artists such as Jeffrey Gibson. Most recently, Orlando has been dancing with The Juilliard School and Arts Umbrella.

KIANA JUNG (she/her) was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, where she started her dance training at Arts Umbrella from the age of 9. She went on to complete the Professional and Graduate Program under the direction of Artemis Gordon. While studying at Arts Umbrella, Kiana was invited to perform in Ballet BC’s Romeo + Juliet in their 17/18 season, as well as the ITs Festival in Amsterdam in 2017. During her studies she has performed works by Amos Ben-Tal, Mats Ek, Johan Inger, Emily Molnar and Crystal Pite. She has also had the opportunity to work with dance artists such as Eric Beauchesne, Yvan Dubreuil, Bret Easterling, Rafael Sady, Cayetano Soto, Lesley Telford, and Tom Weinberger, among others. Kiana has furthered her training at summer intensives, including the AU international Summer Intensive, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and a dance residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Kiana joined Ballet BC in 2019 as an Emerging Artist, and is entering her second full season as a company member. She has performed works by Aszure Barton, Sharon Eyal, and Medhi Walerski, as well as performed in BC Culture Days 2020 and The Dancing On The Edge Festival 2021.

PATRICK KILBANE (he/him) is from Bainbridge Island, Washington. He discovered dance at the age of 14 and trained on full scholarship at San Francisco Ballet School. He continued his training at the School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet School and with Suzanne Farrell at The Kennedy Center. He spent two seasons with Oregon Ballet Theater and five seasons with NW Dance Project in Portland, Oregon where he had the opportunity to perform, choreograph, and teach. There he danced original roles in new works by Ihsan Rustem, Wen Wei Wang, Danielle Agami, Lucas Crandall, Didy Veldman, Patrick Delcroix, André Mesquita, Andrea Miller, Lauren Edson, Benoit Swan-Pouffer, and many others. Patrick spent several years as a freelance artist based in Seattle where he danced with Kate Wallich + The YC, W’Him W’Him, KT Niehoff, and created and performed internationally. Patrick joined Ballet BC under the directorship of Emily Molnar in 2017. During his time with the company, he had the privilege of traveling the world performing works by William Forsythe, Emily Molnar, Medhi Walerski, Cayetano Soto, Sharon Eyal, Serge Bennethan, Adi Salant, Jorma Elo, Ohad Naharin, and Crystal Pite. Patrick spent the last two years living and teaching at a spiritual retreat in Portland, Oregon and recently became a certified yoga instructor. He is thrilled to be moving back to Vancouver to rejoin Ballet BC for the 2022/23 season.

ÉLINE MALÈGUE (she/her) was born in Saint-Étienne, France. She graduated from Paris Opera Ballet School in 2007 and spent the following two years with the San Francisco Ballet Trainee program. Éline began her professional career with Victor Ullate Ballet in Madrid. In 2010, she joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and was later promoted to demi-soloist. Over more than a decade with the company, she performed diverse repertoire across ballet, neoclassical and contemporary styles, including works by internationally renowned choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Jiří Kylián, Mats Ek, Mauro Bigonzetti, Marco Goecke, Edward Clug, and Marcos Morau to name a few. During her time with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, Éline also created work for À Suivre, the company’s choreographic workshop, and performed in the Festival Quartiers Danses. Beyond dance, Éline has participated in various film and television projects, and enjoys crafts and customizing clothing.

BENJAMIN PERALTA (he/him) grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, where he danced competitively and trained at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. In 2018, Peralta left home to pursue a BFA in dance at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance as part of the Class of 2022. While studying at USC Kaufman, Peralta performed the works of artists such as William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Barak Marshall, Bret Easterling, and more. His additional passions for both yoga and photography influence his expression when executing choreography, as well as his creation process. With attention to mindfulness that is practiced in yoga and a hyper-fixation on the transitional moments that can be found in photography, Peralta’s approach to dance is an accumulation of multiple different mediums. His most recent work experience includes staging William Forsythe’s ‘The Barre Project’ alongside Jodie Gates and William Forsythe at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York.

SARAH PIPPIN (she/her) is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. She completed her early dance training at CC & Company Dance Complex where she received a diverse dance education. In May 2020, Sarah graduated from The Juilliard School with a BFA in Dance. During her time there, Sarah performed repertoire works by Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and José Limón, as well as new creations by Peter Chu, Gentian Doda, Stephen Petronio, and John Heginbotham. Additional performance opportunities include works by Sharon Eyal, Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, and Jiri Pokorny, among many others. Sarah has furthered her training at summer intensives including Springboard Danse Montreal, chuthis. Movement Intensive, Nederlands Dans Theater, The School at Jacob’s Pillow, and San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. She is a National YoungArts winner as well as the recipient of the Irving B. and Joan W. Harris Endowed Scholarship and the 2020 Martha Hill Award from The Juilliard School. Sarah is thrilled to be returning for a second season as full company artist with Ballet BC.

VIVIAN RUIZ (she/her) was born in Miami, Florida where she began her diverse dance training at Stars Dance Co & Sarasota Cuban Ballet School. In 2019 she moved to Vancouver, BC to attend the Arts Umbrella Post-Secondary Program under the direction of Artemis Gordon. While at Arts Umbrella, Vivian was fortunate to study works by Crystal Pite, Marco Goecke, Medhi Walerski, Nacho Dureto, Victor Quijada, David Raymond, Lesley

Telford, Lukas Timulak, Sharon Eyal, and participated in the Ballet BC Performance Project in the 2021/22 season. In 2021, she had the opportunity to be a part of the research process for Crystal Pite’s ‘Animation’. In the spring of 2022, Vivian danced with Kidd Pivot as a swing for the ‘Revisor’ European tour.

RAE SRIVASTAVA (he/him) is originally from Austin, Texas, and began his dance training with Cheryl Copeland. During high school, as his commitment to dance intensified, he found an equivalent devotion to the humanities. By continuing his education at USC Kaufman, he was able to pursue both of these vocations, interweaving these disparate fields into one cohesive curriculum. Due to a generous scholarship, Rae was afforded the opportunity to pursue his Master’s in Legal Ethics while he concluded his rigorous B.F.A. studies. During his time at USC, Rae studied under influential artists like William Forsythe, Jermaine Spivey, Bobbi Jene Smith, and Victor Quijada, while performing masterworks by Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe, and Jiri Kylian. Upon graduation, Rae joined Ballet BC as an Emerging Artist for the 2020/21 season, performing Medhi Walerski’s GARDEN. He is delighted to return to Ballet BC for his second season as a company member.

KAYLIN STURTEVANT (she/her) is originally from Plano, Texas, and grew up training at Dance Industry Performing Arts Center and Booker T Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She achieved her BFA in Dance in 2020 from the USC Kaufman School of Dance in Los Angeles under the leadership of Jodie Gates. At USC, Kaylin had the opportunity to work closely with and perform works by artists such as William Forsythe, Barak Marshall, Aszure Barton, and Jodie Gates. She has also trained at summer intensives including Nederlands Dans Theater, Jacob’s Pillow, Arts Umbrella, and Alonzo King Lines Ballet. In 2016, Kaylin was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar of the Arts and National YoungArts Winner in Modern Dance, where she performed at the Kennedy Center in a multi-faceted arts show directed by Debbie Allen. Kaylin has worked professionally with The DASH Ensemble directed by Gregory Dolbashian, ISHIDA Dance Company, and is a certified Pilates instructor through the BASI Comprehensive Program. Kaylin is excited to be entering her second season as a full company member at Ballet BC!

JACOB WILLIAMS (he/him) is originally from Vancouver, Washington. For many years, he performed in musical theater until he found a love for dance at the age of 16. After high school, Jacob furthered his education at Alonzo King Lines Ballet going on to dance with dawsondancesf and Oregon Ballet Theatre 2 (OBT2). In 2018, he joined the Arts Umbrella Graduate Program under the direction of Artemis Gordon, graduating in 2020. During his summers, Jacob trained at Springboard Danse Montreal, AU International Summer Intensive, and Northwest Dance Project. He has had the honor of performing works by Nacho Duato, Mats Ek, Sharon Eyal, Marco Goecke, Johan Inger, and Crystal Pite. As a choreographer, Jacob’s quintet, Semble, which premiered as a part of TAKE FORM, was selected as a finalist in the International Choreographic Competition Hannover. He recently collaborated with Canadian folk music group The Fugitives on Over the Ridge. Jacob joined Ballet BC as an Emerging Artist in the 2020-2021 season, and is overjoyed to be returning for his second season as a full company member.

EMANUEL DOSTINE (he/him) was born in Detroit, Michigan and received his initial dance training from Spotlight Dance Works where he was a YoungArts winner in contemporary dance. He furthered his dance education by completing the Arts Umbrella graduate program under the direction of Artemis Gordon. While at Arts Umbrella, Emanuel got the opportunity to perform repertoire by Crystal Pite, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Fernando Magadan and Marco Goecke. He is thrilled to be taking the next steps with Ballet BC as an emerging artist for the 2022/23 season.

MARÍA EUGENIA POMMORSKY is an Argentinian dancer and graduate from Taller de Danza Contemporánea del Teatro San Martín in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She participated in choregraphics workshops as a guest dancer in Teatro Colon and Teatro San Martín Ballet. Professionally, she danced with choreographers such as Jorge Amarante, Guido de Benedetti, Laura Roatta, Giorgio Azzone. María was invited as a guest dancer. Last year she got part in “El Show Debe Continuar” with the well known dancer Hernan Piquin. She is thrilled to join BC Ballet this year as an emerging artist.

JACALYN TATRO, a native of Naperville, Illinois, began her training with Inspire School of Dance and completed her BFA degree at The Juilliard School in May of 2022. She’s had the privilege of working personally with choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Aszure Barton, Bobbi Jene Smith, Kyle Abraham, Justin Peck, Jamar Roberts, Marcus Jarrell Willis, Alexandra Damiani, Francesca Harper, and others. This past spring, she was chosen for Terese Capucilli’s recreation of Martha Graham’s 1937 solo, “Deep Song”, becoming the first dancer after Ms. Graham to perform the solo set to its original Henry Cowell music score. Jacalyn enjoys the challenge of new experiences and has completed Springboard Danse Montreal, the Gaga Lab, Hubbard Street Summer Dance Intensive, Complexions Contemporary Ballet Intensive, NYCDA Contemporary Winter Intensive, The Dance Sessions, and River North Dance Intensives, which allowed her to study the repertoire by Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, and Hofesh Shechter. Jacalyn completed a dance residency with the Zeitgeist Dance Company during the past two summers and additionally has had the opportunity to take part in benefit performances at the Joyce Theatre, the Skirball Center, and several Dance For Life performances at the Chicago Auditorium Theatre.

SYDNEY TORMEY (she/her) is orginally from Mapleton, UT and began exploring all genres of dance at the age of seven. After graduating in 2016, she moved to research the dance scene in Los Angeles, CA. With a desire to further her education, in 2018 she moved to Chicago to begin training with the professional program at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago under the direction of Alexandra Wells. After completing two years in Chicago, she joined the Arts Umbrella Post Secondary dance program in Vancouver, BC under the direction of Artemis Gordon. During her studies, she has had the opportunity to perform works by artists such as Crystal Pite, Medhi Walerski, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Marco Goecke, Fernando Magadan, Peter Chu and Anne Plamondon. She has also had the honor of working with dance artists such as Eric Beauchesne, Bobbi Jene Smith, Shamel Pitts and Ryan Mason, along with many others.

In her second year at Arts Umbrella, Sydney was awarded the McCall McBain Cultural Leadership Scholarship, and participated in the Ballet BC Performance Project. Sydney is thrilled and grateful to be joining Ballet BC as an emerging artist for the 2022/23 season.

BEN WATERS (he/him) was born in Burnaby, British Columbia. He began tap dancing at the age of two at Dance Express. Ben later took on hip hop, and joined the Dance Express Competition Team, as well as Adam McKinnon’s ‘Ones to Watch’ Crew. He remained a member of Dance Express and OTW Crew until age 16, when he was introduced to Arts Umbrella. There he began his professional training under the direction of Artemis Gordon. During Ben’s time at Arts Umbrella, he had the opportunity to research and perform works by Crystal Pite, Marco Goecke, Emily Molnar, Medhi Walerski, Victor Quijada, Lesley Telford, David Raymond, and participated in the Ballet BC Performance Project in the 2021/22 season. Ben also has a background in music and composition. He is the Resident Composer for Arts Umbrella Dance Company, and has composed original works for Ballet BC (‘Semble’ by Jacob Williams), Ethan Colangelo, Whim W’Him, DAF, Arts Umbrella, Zeitgeist Dance Theatre, and more. Ben has been attending Ballet BC’s performances since a very young age, and he is beyond thrilled to be joining as an emerging artist for the 2022/23 season.

TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND SEASON SPONSORS

The use of cameras, camcorders, tape recorders and cell phones is strictly forbidden during the performance.

BALLET BC

Artistic Staff

Artistic Director: Medhi Walerski

Director of Artistic Operations: Rupert Tookey

Artistic Producer: Naomi Stikeman

Rehearsal Directors: Nicolas Ventura, Katherine Cowie

2022/23 Artists in Residence: Margaret Grenier, Starr Muranko

Administrative Staff

Managing Director: Kim Spencer-Nairn

Director of Finance: Linus Anandaraj

Director of Development: Michael Schwartz

Director of Marketing: Claire Mohun

Associate Director of Development: Madeleine Janes

Manager of People Operations: Anna Sedo

Manager of Outreach and Engagement: Heather Myers

Company Manager: Kate McMillan

Audience Services Manager: Mikaela Sanders

Facilities Manager: Natasha Jay

Event Manager: Samantha Brett

Creative Content Producer: Peter Smida

Artistic Administrator: Colette Habel

Marketing Coordinator: Jamie Loh

Accountant: Maryam Taghi

Box Office Assistant: Scott Boyce

Production Office

Director of Production & Operations: Derek Mack

Head of Wardrobe: Kate Burrows

Stage Manager: Linzi Voth

Production Stage Carpenter: Lucas Hall

Production Electrician: Taylor Janzen

TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND SUPPORTERS

As of May 2023

PLATINUM $20,000 and up

American Airlines

Beverly Blumenthal*

City of Dallas, Office of Arts and Cultural

Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District Program

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

Mona and Bill~ Graue

Zoé de Ropp Hart~ and Todd Hart

Neiman Marcus

Ann and Fred~ Margolin

DeMetris Sampson~

Sheraton Dallas Hotel

Texas Commission on the Arts

Jean Baptiste “Tad” Adoue, III Fund of The Dallas Foundation

TACA (The Community Arts Alliance)

Donna M. Wilhelm Family Philanthropy Fund

GOLD $10,000-$19,999

Anonymous

Leland Burk and Thomas Feulmer

Lee A. Cobb~ and Lucilo A. Peña

Crow Museum of Asian Art of the University of Texas Dallas

Trammell S. Crow

Carol A. Crowe

Claire Dewar~

Empire Baking Co/Meaders and Robert Ozarow

Read and Steven~ Gendler

Gayle and Jim Halperin

Jay Franke and David Herro

Ambassador Ron Kirk and Matrice~ Ellis-Kirk

Lola~ and Todd Lott

National Endowment for the Arts

Cindy and George Santos

Margaret Selby/Selby Artists Management

Greg Swalwell and Terry Connor

The Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust

Michael Weinman

Nan White

SILVER $5,000-$9,999

Dabney and Ric Abel

Anonymous

Arts Midwest Touring Fund

Audrey and Joel~ Bines

Lois Anne Bond

Diane and Hal Brierley

Delia and Michael~ Crossley

Harlan R. Crow Foundation

Daniel H. Lome Foundation

Lauren Embrey/Embrey Family Foundation

Rebecca and Barron Fletcher, III

Michael Ginsberg and Lorri Michel/ Sterlizia Foundation

Hall Arts Restaurant Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas

Tracey Nash Huntley and David Huntley

Madeline Jobst and Ralph Randall

KERA

Madeline and Jim McClure

Susan and Bill Montgomery

Harry S. Moss Foundation

Dana Nearburg

Lynn and Hisashi Nikaidoh

Nancy Cain Robertson and Sanford

Robertson Sally Pian and Ira Silverman

Roberto Powers

Deedie Rose

Eugene Sepulveda and Steven Tomlinson

Nancy Whitenack

BRONZE $2,000-$4,999

Anonymous Association of Performing Arts Professionals Cultural Exchange Fund

Barbara and William Benac

Sue~ and Ted Benn

Booker T. Washington HSPVA

Mary Ann and Greg Borden-Neary

Kimberly and Jose Bowen

Kitty~ and Keith Carter

Communities Foundation of Texas

Richard Delaney

Lenore~ and Kevin Diamond

Meghan Downey

Bess and Ted Enloe

Wanda Gierhart-Fearing~ and Dean Fearing

Mary and Hilton Geartner

Carol and Don Glendenning

Linda and Scott Greer

Gail Griswold~ and Bill Brice, Jr.

Kathy and Graham Greene

Amy Lewis Hofland

Denise Huddle

Rusty and John Jaggers

Rodger Kobes~ and Michael Keller

Carol and Mark Kreditor

Lisa and Peter Kraus

Bill Leazer

Michelle and William Lockhart

Veronica Moyé

Jill and Brent Magnuson

Gail and Guillermo Marmol

Tom and Charlene Marsh Family Foundation

Doug Mitchell and Ed Calcote

Mary and Sean O’Brien

Jay Oppenheimer

Joe and Arnold Pacetti

Joseph Patti

Mary and Robert Potter

Tracy Preston~

Janine and Charles Pulman

Jacqueline and William Stavi-Raines

Saundra Steinberg~ and Matthew Wilner

Arlene Switzer Steinfield~ and David Steinfield

Titens Family Philanthropic Fund of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation

Stacey and Michael~ Titens

Lily~ and Jeff Weiss

Sophie and Eric Zuckerman

PRODUCER’S CIRCLE $1,000-$1,999

Cordell Adams

Anonymous

Steve Atkinson and Ted Kincaid

Deborah Bennett

John R. Blanton, Jr. and Deborah Handler

Kathy Chamberlain/Chamberlain Ballet

Sue Ellen Chambers

O. Paul Corley, Jr.

Lisa Dawson and Tom Maurstad

Maureen and Robert Decherd

Karen and Clay Deniger

Julie and Bob England

Faynetta Fort

David Glover and Jorge Martinez

Steven Goldfine and Deborah Deitsch

Perez Maria Gomez and Luis Escobar

Carol Hall

Denise Roberts Hurlin

Kathryn Jordan

Donna M. Kun

Tara Lewis and John Swords

Veletta Forsythe Lill and John C. Lill

Francis Luttmer and Jose Gomez

William McManemin

McManemin Family Fund of the Communities Foundation

Marilyn K. Mueller

Diana and Geoff Newton

Noel Pittman

Dr. Rhonda Porterfield and Dr. Arthur Bollon~

Andrew Rosen

Amy Rudy

Ann Simmons and Cara Moore

Julia Simon and Bernard Shaw

Bliss and Pelham Smith

Gloria Snead

Social Impact Architects

Martin and Judy Tobey

Diane Lynn Wahl

Timothy Webster and Ernest Norden

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE $500-$999

Mike Birrer

Paula Blackmon

Lauren Corr

Leslie Ann Crozier

Kathleen Delsanter and Sari Bahl

Helen and Jerome Frank

Kim Fredenberg

Alex Hamerman

Maria Hasbany

L. Keith Hughes

Louise W. Kahn Endowment Fund of the Dallas Foundation

Niketa Kumar and Sam Kaminksy

Garfield Lemonius

Candace MacMahon

Patricia Meadows

Renae Williams Niles

Nancy Pearce

Jill and Francois Perrin

Jacqueline Porter/The Dallas Conservatory

Cindy and Howard Rachofsky

Charles Santos and Rick Bond

Genie and Gary Short

Michelle Wilson

CHOREOGRAPHER’S CIRCLE $250-

$499 Anonymous

Dolores Barzune

Allison Bovard

Michele DeSalme and Frederick Toulmin

Mark Heymann

Margaret H. Jordan

Susan Paul and Jim Kipp

Kathy and Randy Luster

Abbie Meyering and John Sadler

Donovan Miller

Janet Mockovciak

Kim Noltemy

Lynn and Mark Oristano

Annita and Mark Ryan

Stanley Sanders

Sue and Sam Sayah

Lenore M. Sullivan and Barry N. Henry

The Benevity Community Impact Fund

Roslyn Dawson Thompson and Rex Thompson

Ellen Tye

Dale Van Vleck

Marilyn and Larry Waisanen

Maureen and John Wangermann

Donna and Ronald Whitehead

COMPOSER’S CIRCLE $100-$249

Stephanie Al Otaiba

Anonymous

Anonymous in honor of Saundra Steinberg

Louise Applebome

Sari Bahl Giving Fund

Charles Barefoot

Dave Bedford

Karl Berger

Sarah Biettner

Jo and Ralph Blackburn*

Lisa Calhoun

Jan Callender

Nancy Calomiris

Beverly and Don Campbell

Mildred Carrethers

Fran Carris

Sarah and Christopher Cauble

Patricia and James Chatt

Courtney Clendenin and Joshua Miller

Philip Clemmons

Kay Colbert and Carlos Barroso

Jennifer Conley

Nina Cortell and Bob Fine, M.D.

Cece Cox

Carol L. Croy

Huong Dang

Rebecca Daniels

Joan Davidow and Stuart Glass

Audrey Decherd

Dawn Edelman

Debbie Eichner

Tammy Elkins

Mark Foster

John Frazier and Tom De Arman

Barbara and Stowe Gardner

Ruben Gerding

Jenny Givens

Jamie Gonzales

Marge and Larry Goodman

Murray Gordon

Daniel Guenther and Tom Fowler

Marcie Guidry

Lisa and Eric Hall

Jennifer Heffernan

Chris Heinbaugh

Pamela R. Hill

Stephen Hoffner

Holly Hrabik

Joanne Hurtekant

Ronit Ilan

Michael Kaufman

Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart

Maureen and Tim Kroeger

Bonnie Kudlicki

Kelley Lindquist

Elizabeth Lang-Miers and Jeb Miers

Alan H Levi

Lillian Lin

Barbara Lynn

Julie and Anthony Matt

Kathryn McBride

Amy and Gavin Melmed

Paula Miller

Regina Montoya and Paul Coggins

Elya Naxon

Deborah and Jim Nugent

Finley O’Neill and Scott O’Neill

Anthony Petrosky

Cheryl and Scott Pike

V. Diane Pitts

Marianne Pohle

Cheryl Pollman

Chad Priest

Betheny Reid

Lynne Richardson

Cynthia Rollow and Edward Bennett

Sonja Bilger Romanowski

Keira Scanks

Sally Schreiber

Edwin Seifert

Rob Senders

Kristin Shelley

Chris and Ken Sherman

Erica Shoemaker

Debbie and Todd Siddens

Nancy and Rene Somodevilla

Melanie H. Spiegel

Molly Steele

Richard Stern

Dorit and Michael Suffness

Tina Syring

Deborah Tapler and Jeffrey Horswell

The Boeing Company Gift Match Program

The Meadows Foundation Gift Match Program

Rebecca Torres

Jean-Louis Trochu

Douglas Unger

Elizabeth Van Vleck

Linda Vorhies

Mary Sue and Bart Wade

Sarah and John Wechsler

Nancy Whittier

Byron Williamson

Michael Wilson

Carol Windham

Judy Youngblood and Dan Butler

ARTIST’S CIRCLE $0-$99

Tina Aguilar

Judy and Dennis Ashworth

Sheila Avidon and Michael Scott

Tequita Azantilow

Carron Batt

Manuel Beckles

Luba Brewster

Rachel Brittenham

Sophie Burton

Lakecha Butler

Teresa Byrd

Paul Cadwalladerf

Julia Callaway and Joe Madden

Stan Carpenter and Jerry Baden

Holly Castora

Sarah and Christopher Cauble

Carrie and Brandon Chenault

Jessica Chiles

David Chong

Chip Clint

Jordan Conway

Thierry Couturier

Gail Cronauer

Carol Croy

Joe Czyz

Louise Delano

Desiree DeLullo

Jeanet Deskin-Haig and Donald Haig III

Anthony Dinh

Leasa Donovan

Bryan Douglas

Monica and Christopher Ducic

La Rhonda Duncan

Leslie el-Effendi

Kathryn Eller

Robert Emery

Rola Fakhoury

Michelle Spezio Ferm

Andrea Fields

Jill Flynn

Anonymous

Debra Gibert

Elizabeth Gillaspy and Randy Clements

Howard Gottlieb

Gregory Graham

Marisol Guerra

Andrea Hagar

Patricia Halpern

Amanda Hart

Kenneth Heimlich

Wendy Helker

Andrew Hopkins

Thomas Hulsebosch

Philip Inman

Suzie Jary and Eric Pratt

Renea Jones

Darlene Judy

Kristin Julian

Nakizito Kazigo

Kathryn Kessler

Sheilon King

Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart

Jason Klein

Dawn Knowlton

Vince Kordmeier

Charmaine Lampert

Lori Lawrenz

Kenneth Leathers

Maria Lowery

Lorn MacDougal

Jeannine Mahoney

Jessica and Dylan Malek

Yaminah McKessey

Loren Moore

Robert Moore

Alejandro Munoz

Alice Murray

Pamela Navarro

Natalie Newman

Deborah and Jim Nugent

Linda Owen

Kimberlie Page

Claudia Palomeque

Emmanuel Parker

Riana Pellicane-Hart

Shawanna Phillips

Dr. Michael and Mrs. Iris Podolsky

Ellen Presby

Odealya Price

Jim Price

Gerald Ragan

Susan Abrams and Gregory Rainger

Cinde Rawn

Stephanie Riggall

Cynthia Rollow and Edward Bennett

Jane Scholz

Kathleen Sharp

Sheila and Joel Sheilds

Allen Simmons

Jennifer Simpson

Snehamay Sinha

Suzanne and Jamie Smith

Nancy and Rene Somodevilla

Nancy S Spence

Melanie H. Spiegel

TW Spilker

Camille Stearns Miller

Bradley Swiger

Monica Tenhunen

Lela Thompson

Meagan Kirk Thompson

Veronica Towe

Amparo Valenzuela

Michael van Enter

Gordon Walker

Sadie Wallace

Paula Wenstrom

Linda and Ralph Williams

Marc Williams

Christy Wolverton

James W. Woodall

Meredith and Ian Zapata

* in Memoriam

~ denotes TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND

Board of Trustee

PHOTO BY MICHAEL SLOBODIAN

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