Anthony Savoy and Ingrid Silva, photo by Rachel Neville
A Cultural Collaboration Presented to the Community by:
KNIGHT THEATER AT LEVINE CENTER FOR THE ARTS JANUARY 2016
FOUNDERS Arthur Mitchell Karel Shook INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Anna Glass
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Virginia Johnson BALLET MASTER Keith Saunders
BALLET MASTER Kellye A. Saunders
GENERAL MANAGER Melinda Bloom
DANCE ARTISTS Lindsey Croop Ingrid Silva Da’Von Doane Dylan Santos
Chyrstyn Fentroy
Alicia Holloway
Alison Stroming Gentry George
Francis Lawrence
Anthony Javier Savoy
Nayara Lopes Stephanie Rae Williams Choong Hoon Lee Jorge Andrés Villarini
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS Arthur Mitchell Support for Dance Theatre of Harlem’s 2015/2016 programs and activities made possible in part by: Aetna, Jody and John Arnhold, The Arts Federation, Con Edison, Davis/Davray Family Fund, Disney Worldwide Services, The Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation, Elephant Rock Foundation, Ford Foundation, The Friars National Association Foundation, Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, The Grand Marnier Foundation, Agnes Gund, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, The Dubose and Dorothy Heyward Memorial Fund, The Hulitar Family Foundation, The Klein Family Foundation, The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, George Lucas Family Foundation, John L. McHugh Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, The Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation, May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Thompson Family Foundation, West Harlem Development Corporation, Women’s Sport Foundation, The Xerox Foundation.
The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited. Please turn off all electronic devices such as cell phones and pagers prior to the beginning of the performance. 17
ABOUT DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM
Photo by Rachael Neville.
Anthony Javier Savoy and Lindsey Croop.
D
ance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim that uses the art form of classical ballet to change people’s lives. Dance Theatre of Harlem was founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and the late Karel Shook. Mitchell, the first African-American man to become a principal dancer with a major U. S. ballet company (New York City Ballet) turned his despair at the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. into hope by establishing a school and later a company to bring new opportunities to the young people in the Harlem neighborhood where he grew up. He believed that training in a classical art form could instill discipline and focus in a challenged community. Dance Theatre of Harlem’s unprecedented success is built on the bold new forms of artistic expression that arose from the access he created. Through varied artistic interactions, Dance Theatre of Harlem has inspired countless people in New York City, across the country and around the world. Forty-six years later, Dance Theatre of
Harlem remains committed to the excellence that has sustained it. At the same time, it is dedicated to reaching new audiences with a powerful message of self-reliance, artistic relevance, and individual responsibility, all hallmarks of an organization that has played a key role in the national cultural dialogue. Now in its fourth season, a new Dance Theatre of Harlem Company tours nationally and internationally with 14 richly diverse dance artists who perform an eclectic and demanding repertoire at the highest level. The Dance Theatre of Harlem School has continued to train young people from pre-ballet to professional throughout the organization’s history and currently trains more than 500 students per year in winter and summer sessions. Arts education and community engagement remain a key component of the DTH mission. The Company engages community on tour and, here in the New York metropolitan area, Dancing Through Barriers, a comprehensive arts education platform provides access to the life-changing power of the arts. 17A
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM NEW BACH
Choreography: Robert Garland Music: Johann Sebastian Bach Costume Design and Execution: Pamela Allen-Cummings Lighting Design: Roma Flowers Friday, Jan. 22, Saturday, Jan. 23, 8 p.m. I. ALLEGRO MODERATO NAYARA LOPES Dylan Santos
Francis Lawrence
Gentry George
Choong Hoon Lee
DA’VON DOANE Ingrid Silva
Stephanie Rae Williams
Alison Stroming
Alicia Holloway
II. ANDANTE NAYARA LOPES
DA’VON DOANE
The Company III. ALLEGRO ASSAI The Company Saturday, Jan. 23, Sunday Jan. 24, 2 p.m. I. ALLEGRO MODERATO CHYRSTYN FENTROY Dylan Santos
Francis Lawrence
Gentry George
Choong Hoon Lee
ANTHONY JAVIER SAVOY Ingrid Silva
Stephanie Rae Williams
Alison Stroming
Alicia Holloway
II. ANDANTE CHYRSTYN FENTROY
ANTHONY JAVIER SAVOY
The Company III. ALLEGRO ASSAI The Company Music: Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 “Prejudices are sophisticatedly acquired tastes that destroy innocence – that state of purity in which man can be in accord with himself, his fellow men, and attuned to nature. This innocence is one of the intrinsic beauties of man and if we do not regain it soon, we will perish. True dance, in any of its myriad forms, is an expression of this innocence, and it is through dance that man has the possibility to find himself again.” — Karel Shook in his Elements of Classical Ballet Technique, 1977 Pause
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DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM WHEN LOVE (World Premiere: Oct. 20, 2012) Choreography: Helen Pickett Music: Philip Glass Costume: Charles Heightchew Original Artwork for Fabric: Gary Kleinschmidt Lighting: Mark Stanley Assistant to the Choreographer: Kellye A. Saunders Friday, Jan. 22, Saturday, Jan. 23, 8 p.m. CHYRSTYN FENTROY
JORGE ANDRES VILLARINI
Saturday, Jan. 23, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2 p.m. NAYARA LOPES
DA’VON DOANE
Insistent time maps our days. But, when we are in love we surrender to unbridled time. What we share together during this span seems “out of time.” And then, too suddenly, time shifts into focus again. An imprint of what we shared lingers, and traces of remembrances float into view. Yes, we crawl, walk, run, and love in time. But in these brief, wondrous periods we experience timeless love, and we dance our being. – Helen Pickett Music: Knee 5 from Einstein on the Beach The choreographer wishes to thank Thomas F. DeFrantz. When Love was created as part of Harlem Dance Works 2.0, an initiative made possible through a Rockefeller Foundation 2010 NYC Cultural Innovation Grant. Intermission DANCING ON THE FRONT PORCH OF HEAVEN Odes to Love and Loss (World Premiere 1993, DTH Premiere: Oct. 4, 2013) Choreography: Ulysses Dove; The Estate of Ulysses Dove: Alfred Dove Administrator Music: Arvo Pärt (Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, 1977) Staging: Anne Dabrowski Costume Design: Jorge Gallardo Lighting Design: Björn Nilsson; Recreated by Peter D. Leonard Friday, Jan. 22, Saturday, Jan. 23, 8 p.m. INGRID SILVA DA’VON DOANE
NAYARA LOPES DYLAN SANTOS
ALISON STROMING GENTRY GEORGE
Saturday, Jan. 23, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2 p.m. LINDSEY CROOP CHYRSTYN FENTROY FRANCIS LAWRENCE ANTHONY JAVIER SAVOY
ALCIA HOLLOWAY JORGE ANDRES VILLARINI
Subtitled “Odes to Love and Loss,” Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven was choreographed for the Royal Swedish Ballet in 1993 during a challenging period in Ulysses Dove’s life. Having lost 13 close friends and relatives, among them his father, Dove himself explained, “I want to tell an experience in movement, a story without words, and create a poetic monument over people I loved.” Set to Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, Dove’s spare but demanding choreography invites dancer and viewer alike to live in each moment as if it were the last. 17C
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM Intermission COMING TOGETHER (World Premiere 1991, DTH Premiere: April 8, 2015) Choreography: Nacho Duato Music: Frederic Rzewski Staging: Eva López Crevillén Costume and Set Design: Nacho Duato Lighting Design: Nicolas Fischtel Organization: Carlos Iturrioz/Mediart Producciones SL (Spain) CHYRSTYN FENTROY ALICIA HOLLOWAY LINDSEY CROOP ALISON STROMING INGRID SILVA DA’VON DOANE
NAYARA LOPES
ANTHONY JAVIER SAVOY
FRANCIS LAWRENCE
DYLAN SANTOS
GENTRY GEORGE
JORGE ANDRES VILLARINI
The turbulent repetition of musical structures and recited text from Frederic Rzewski’s frantic composition provides the accompaniment and counterpoint to an abstract work by Nacho Duato, who uses his effervescence both to bring us closer to frenzy and hysterics, and as a contrast in his creation of oneiric atmospheres. Both phenomena appear alternately as well as simultaneously as could happen with the rhythms and sensations of a big city. The result, of an obvious contemporary style, forces the spectator to focus his attention on the multiple changes of the choreographic process as well as on the system and structure of steps, rather than on the ordinary descriptive and narrative elements. Rzewski’s piece entitled Coming Together and Attica, written for narrator and instruments, to be performed ad libitum in two parts, is of crucial importance in the history of repetitive music and not only because of its obvious influence on later pieces. Here the repetitive techniques and structuring are not an end in themselves, but the means of creating a coherent musical, dramatic world. While this piece – just like Rzewski’s other works – makes use of improvisation and repetition, it is also a committed work both in the social and the political sense. Rzewski managed to combine the political, ideological meaning of the text and the musical structure into a homogeneous whole by means of an original “minimal” idea. The eight sentences (included below) from a letter by Sam Melville (a political prisoner killed in the 1971 Attica prison riots) are first narrated in an additive then in a deductive progression. The title of the piece is a reference to a sentence of the letter and to the technique of musical improvisation I think the combination of age and a greater coming together is responsible for the speed of the passing time. It’s six months now and I can tell you truthfully few periods in my life have passed so quickly. I am in excellent physical and emotional health. There are doubtless subtle surprises ahead but I feel secure and ready. As lovers will contrast their emotions in times of crisis, so am I dealing with my environment. In the indifferent brutality, incessant noise, the experimental chemistry of food, the ravings of lost hysterical men, I can act with clarity and meaning. I am deliberate—sometimes even calculating – seldom employing histrionics except as a test of the reactions of others. I read much, exercise, talk to guards and inmates, feeling for the inevitable direction of my life.” —Sam Melville, Attica Prison, May 16, 1970 This production is dedicated to the late Victor Elmaleh, whose generous support made it possible. 17D
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM
Lindsey Croop
Da’Von Doane
Chyrstyn Fentroy
Gentry George
Alicia Holloway
Francis Lawrence
Choong Hoon Lee
Nayara Lopes
Dylan Santos
Anthony Javier Savoy
Ingrid Silva
Alison Stroming
Jorge Andrés Villarini 17E
Stephanie Rae Williams
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM VIRGINIA JOHNSON (Artistic Director) A founding member of Dance Theatre of Harlem, Virginia Johnson was one of its principal ballerinas over a career that spanned nearly 30 years. After retiring in 1997, Ms. Johnson went on to found Pointe Magazine and was editor-in chief for 10 years. A native of Washington, D.C., Ms. Johnson began her training with Therrell Smith. She studied with Mary Day at the Washington School of Ballet and graduated from the Academy of the Washington School of Ballet and went on to be a University Scholar in the School of the Arts at New York University before joining Dance Theatre of Harlem. Johnson is universally recognized as one of the great ballerinas of her generation and is perhaps best known for her performances in the ballets Giselle, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Fall River Legend. She has received such honors as a Young Achiever Award from the National Council of Women, Outstanding Young Woman of America and the Dance Magazine Award, a Pen and Brush Achievement Award, the Washington Performing Arts Society’s 2008-2009 Pola Nirenska Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2009 Martha Hill Fund MidCareer Award. ARTHUR MITCHELL (Co-Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus) Arthur Mitchell is known around the world for creating and sustaining the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the internationally acclaimed ballet company he co-founded with Karel Shook in 1969. Following a brilliant career as a principal artist with the New York City Ballet, Mr. Mitchell dedicated his life to changing perceptions and advancing the art form of ballet through the first permanently established African American and racially diverse ballet company. Born in New York City in 1934, Mr. Mitchell began his dance training at New York City's High School of the Performing Arts,
where he won the coveted annual dance award and subsequently a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet. In 1955, he became the first male African American to become a permanent member of a major ballet company when he joined New York City Ballet. Mr. Mitchell rose quickly to the rank of Principal Dancer during his fifteen-year career with New York City Ballet and electrified audiences with his performances in a broad spectrum of roles. Upon learning of the death of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and with financial assistance from Mrs. Alva B. Gimbel, the Ford Foundation and his own savings, Mr. Mitchell founded Dance Theatre of Harlem with his mentor and ballet instructor Karel Shook. With an illustrious career that has spanned over fifty years, Mr. Mitchell is the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, a National Medal of the Arts, a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, the New York Living Landmark Award, the Handel Medallion, the NAACP Image Award, and more than a dozen honorary degrees. THE DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM COMPANY Lindsey Croop, Midland, Texas Entering her fourth season with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Lindsey (Pitts) Croop is a firm believer in art’s ability to break down barriers, Lindsey draws inspiration from the rich cultural and balletic legacy of her surroundings. In an age where African American ballerinas like Misty Copeland are pioneering for acceptance in a traditional art form, Lindsey uses her spotlight to connect with the community and promote diversity. While touring the world with DTH, Lindsey has grown from her artistic exchange with resident choreographer Robert Garland, performing lead roles for him in “New Bach” and “Return.” Ms. Croop’s artistic highlights include performing works from Alvin Ailey, George Balanchine, Ulysses Dove, Nacho Duato and DTH’s broad and demanding new works from nationally acclaimed choreographers Donald Byrd and Darrell Grand Moultrie. Ms. Croop holds degrees in Dance-Arts Administration and Journalism from Butler University where she graduated cum laude. Growing up in Texas, Lindsey’s interest in dance began at A Petite Dance Studio. By the age of 11 she joined Midland Festival Ballet where she trained under Susan Clark, followed by intensives with Milwaukee, Orlando and 17F
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM COMPANY Atlanta Ballets. she began her professional career with Nashville Ballet before following her dreams to New York. Lindsey was recently honored as a featured artist for the One World Trade Center grand opening. Learn more at www.lindseycroop.nyc
from Swan Lake, Pas De Dix from Raymonda, Alvin Ailey’s The Lark Ascending, and George Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux and Agon. Chyrstyn was recently featured on the January 2015 cover of Dance Magazine as one of the 25 Dancers to Watch.
DA’VON DOANE, Salisbury, Maryland Da’ Von Doane began his training at the Salisbury Studio of Dance (now Salisbury Dance Academy) where he trained with Betty Webster, Tatiana Akinfieva-Smith and Elena Manakhova. As a member of the schools’ regional dance company, the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre, he performed various roles in annual productions of The Nutcracker, Coppélia, Scheherazade and the Polovtsian Dances¸ and others. Mr. Doane attended summer intensives at the Kirov Academy of Ballet (Washington, D.C.) and the Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theatre. At age 15, he returned to ACBT as a fulltime academic student and trained there for four years. New York, Mr. Doane moved to New York and joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, performing in venues across the country including Jacob’s Pillow. Mr. Doane has appeared with Ballet Noir at East River Park as part of SummerStage, in the 200th Anniversary Chopin Celebration and the 2010 World Dance Gala in Kielce, Poland. As a guest artist, Mr. Doane performed with the Classical Contemporary Ballet Theatre and choreographer Ja' Malik in E-moves Emerging Choreographers Showcase. With Dance Theatre of Harlem, Mr. Doane has danced leading roles in Glinka Pas de Trois, In the Mirror of Her Mind, New Bach, Return, Fete Noir, South African Suite, Concerto In F and Contested Space.
GENTRY ISAIAH GEORGE, Miami, Florida Founder and Artistic Director of the Washington Heights / Inwood-based contemporary performance art company ZEST COLLECTIVE, George is a graduate of The Juilliard School and In April 2013 was heralded by the NY Post as one of “3 Men to watch in Ballet.” George founded ZEST COLLECTIVE Contemporary Performance Art on November 02, 2013. He began his artistic studies at age eight with The Community Book and Dance Academy founder Linda Agyapong. He studied with Daniel Lewis before graduating from New World School of the Arts in 2008. Mr. George trained with Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida’s Artistic Director Vladimir Issaev, and was a scholarship student at The Ailey School, The School at Jacob’s Pillow and The Miami Conservatory’s Thomas Armour Youth Ballet. He is a recipient of a Level 1 ARTS award given by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and is featured on HBO’s “Masterclass,” also starring Jacques d’Amboise. He has graced the pages of Essence Magazine, has appeared in an editorial collection by fashion photographer Matthew Kim and can be seen in the feature-film “Life of an Actress.” Most recently George has premiered collaborative performances with artists throughout South Florida, New Jersey, and New York. George is an Associate Artist at New York Live Arts and has danced for Ailey II, Lustig Dance Theatre, Collage Dance Collective and Malcolm Low’s Formal Structure.
CHYRSTYN FENTROY, Los Angeles, California Chyrstyn Mariah Fentroy was born and raised in Los Angeles, California where she trained mainly with her mother Ruth Fentroy until the age of 17. She moved to New York City after being offered a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School trainee program. During her first year there she was asked to join the Joffrey Ballet School Performance Company and toured the East Coast. Chyrstyn competed in the Youth America Grand Prix finals in New York in 2010 and 2011 and was asked to compete in the Beijing International Dance Competition. She is currently in her third season with the Dance Theatre of Harlem where she performs principal roles in The Black Swan Pas de Deux
CHOONG HOON LEE, Seoul, South Korea Born in Korea, Choong Hoon Lee began his training at the Korean National University of Arts before receiving a scholarship from the School of American Ballet in New York. His training and talent yielded awards at two prestigious competitions, Varna (where he was a semi-finalist in 2004) and the Gwanju International Competition where he won a Gold Medal in Pas de Deux in 2005. Lee has danced with the Mariinsky Ballet in Russia and the Korean National Ballet, where he was a soloist performing in works such as Othello, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Cinderella, 17G
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM COMPANY Spartacus, Paquita, Le Corsaire and Giselle. In the U.S. he has danced with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and New York Theatre Ballet before joining Dance Theatre of Harlem in 2015.
Richardson. He joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem company in 2012. DYLAN SANTOS, Sao Paulo, Brazil Dylan Santos began his studies at Centro de Artes Pavilhao D in Brazil under the direction of Ricardo Scheir. At the age of 15 he was a finalist at Youth American Grand Prix in NYC where he was awarded scholarships for study at several schools including the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, FL, where he ultimately decided to continue his studies. After working as a trainee with the Houston Ballet, Dylan joined the Orlando Ballet under direction of Robert Hill, where he performed in many productions including Giselle, Carmen and Esmeralda. With Ballet Chicago, Mr. Santos first performed such Balanchine works Serenade, Swan Lake, Who Cares and Divertimento No.15. He has also danced lead roles in Coppelia, Le Corsaire, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Swan Lake and has worked with many choreographers and teachers including Stanton Welch, Phillip Broomhead Claudio Munoz, Andrew Murphy, Anna-Marie Holmes, Deidre Miles Burger, Oliver Munoz, Alexei Kremnev, Anna Reznik, Kim Marsh , Patricia Miller, Ashley Wheater. He has worked in company productions with the Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet.
NAYARA LOPES, Curitiba, Brazil Nayara Lopes started dancing at age six and trained both at the School of Theatre Dance Guaira in Brazil and American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in New York City. Following her early training, she joined Orlando Ballet II, where she performed roles in Carmen, Giselle and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She joined The National Ballet of Canada as an Apprentice in 2011 where she performed in many full-length ballets including The Nutcracker, Giselle, La Fille mal Gardée and Alice in Wonderland. Ms. Lopes has competed in ballet competitions such as the New York finals of Youth America Grand Prix where she received the Mary Day Special Award and the Youth America Grand Prix- Regionals (Columbia, South Carolina) where she was the Grand Prix Winner 2011. She has worked with choreographers including Christopher Wheeldon, James Kudelka, Lindsay Fischer, Robert Hill, Raymond Lukens and Jessica Lang. Additional roles include Kitri in Don Quixote, Allegro Brilliante, and the Black Swan and Sleeping Beauty Pas de Deux. Ms Lopes was featured on the January 2016 cover of Dance Magazine and named one of 25 to Watch. FRANCIS LAWRENCE, Melbourne, Australia Francis Lawrence studied at The Australian Ballet School and graduated with a diploma in dance. While still a student, he performed with the The Australian Ballet and with its regional Dancers Company for two years. Upon arriving in the U.S, Mr. Lawrence joined New York Theatre Ballet for their 30th season in Cinderella and Dance/Speak: The Life of Agnes de Mille and has danced for the Grand Rapids Ballet Company under the direction of Patricia Barker. During his time in the company, he performed repertoire by George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp, José Limón, Paul Taylor, Ulysses Dove, Lew Christensen, David Parson and Mario Radacovsky. Mr. Lawrence has studied in programs offered by The Ailey School, Complexions and Hubbard Street, getting to work with choreographers such as Pedro Ruiz, Olivier Weavers, Dwight Rhoden and Desmond
ANTHONY JAVIER SAVOY, Annapolis, Maryland Starting late, at the age of 16, Anthony Javier Savoy began his classical studies at Abigail Francisco's School of Classical Ballet. In 2006, Savoy was awarded the title Maryland All State Dancer by the Congressional House Representative of Maryland, Christopher Van Hollen. He went on to continue his studies at Point Park University. In 2008, he left Point Park University to attend Anne Arundel Community College, working towards a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and a minor in biology. Savoy has attended summer intensives with American Ballet Theatre, The Kirov Academy and Dance Theatre of Harlem, all on full scholarship. In 2010, Savoy joined DTH’s Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble, where he participated in the Fire Island Dance Festival 17 in collaboration with Dancers Responding to AIDS and Broadway Cares. Savoy has served as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department performing and providing community outreach while touring internationally with DTH. Anthony worked
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DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM COMPANY with FOX TV on Nigel Lythgoe’s hit television series, 'So You Think You Can Dance' and with NBC’s America’s Got Talent. In addition to an extensive list of commercial television appearances and print modeling, Savoy has performed principal roles in ballets including Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Nacho Duato's Coming Together, Agon, Ulysses Dove's Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven, Alvin Ailey’s The Lark Ascending and many others.
York City Ballet. She attended the American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive in New York in 2004 where Franco De Vita, principal of the JKO School, offered her a full scholarship to the new Junior Division. Alison was a member of American Ballet Theatre II and toured Europe in 2010 and 2011. Alison won the title of Miss New York’s Outstanding Teen 2010 and represented the state of New York at the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition, where she won the Overall Talent award. Ms. Stroming was also the recipient of the Dizzy Feet Foundation Scholarship in 2010. She danced for two seasons with the Alberta Ballet in Canada and most recently with Ballet San Jose under the direction of Jose Manuel Carreno where she performed works by Dwight Rhoden, Twyla Tharp, Ohad Naharin, and George Balanchine. She is also a demonstrator for the regional tour of Jump: The Alternative Convention and Nuvo Dance Convention, both directed by her brother, Gil Stroming. Alison is a national Capezio Athlete, and is proud to be a representative of the brand. This past year Alison starred in her first national ad campaign "Strength in Beauty, Beauty in Strength" for Tumi Luggage which was featured in retail stores across the globe.
INGRID SILVA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Ingrid Silva began ballet studies at the age of 8 at Projeto Dancando Para Nao Dancar. Silva studied at Escola de Danca Maria Olenewa, Centro de Movimento Debora Colker on full scholarship and at age seventeen joined Grupo Corpo as an apprentice. Following high School, she attended Univercidade da Cidade. Silva attended the Dance Theatre of Harlem Summer Program on full scholarship in 2007, joined the Professional Training Program and Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble in 2008 and became a member of the professional Company in 2013.As guest artist, Silva performed with Dançando Para Não Dançar in Brasil, Armitage Gone!Dance, and The Francesca Harper Project. Silva’s work with choreographers includes Arthur Mitchell, Donald Byrd, John Alleyne, Darrel Grand Moltrie, Francesca Harper, Robert Garland, David Fernandez, Carol Armitage, Deborah Colker, Rodrigo Pederneiras and many others. With Dance Theatre of Harlem Silva has danced Principal roles in George Balanchine's Glinka Pas de Trois and Agon, Robert Garland’s Return, Ulysses Dove’s Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven and John Alleyne’s Far but Close. Soloist roles include Alvin Ailey's Lark Ascending, Donald Byrd’s Contested Space, and Darrel Grand Moltrie’s Vessels. As a cultural ambassador for the U.S State Department Silva has performed and provided community outreach in Jamaica, Honduras and Israel. She performed at the Brasil Foundation’s Lincoln Center 2014 Gala and was featured in the Brasilian film Mare Nossa Historia de Amor. She was featured recently in Vogue and Glamor magazines in Brasil.
JORGE ANDRÉS VILLARINI, San Juan, Puerto Rico Jorge Andrés Villarini is an alum of the Escuela de Baile Andanza in Puerto Rico, the JKO School at American Ballet Theatre and holds a BFA degree in dance from Marymount Manhattan College. Upon graduation Mr. Villarini danced for three seasons with Ballet Met where he was awarded the Columbus Dances Choreographic Fellowship by the Greater Columbus Arts Council. Mr. Villarini went on to join the Martha Graham Dance Company performing in venues including the Villa Adriana International Festival in Tivoli, Italy and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus at the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. With Dance Theatre of Harlem, he has been featured in George Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux at the Ravenna Festival in Italy as well as Nacho Duato's Coming Together at New York City Center. Mr. Villarini's versatile performance experience expands through the realms of classical and neoclassical ballet, modern and contemporary dance, including works by Alvin Ailey, George Balanchine, John Butler, Nacho Duato, Frederick Franklin, Martha Graham, Alwin Nikolais, Amedeo
ALISON STROMING, Recife, Brazil Beginning her formal ballet training at age nine at The School of American Ballet, Alison went on to perform many children’s roles with New 17I
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM COMPANY Amodio, James Kudelka, Edwaard Liang, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, Rodney Rivera, Christopher Wheeldon and Shen Wei.
the Dance Department at the University of Wyoming, and he taught and choreographed at their Snowy Range Dance Festival from 2003 – 2008. Keith Saunders was appointed Dance Theatre of Harlem's assistant ballet master in 1994 and ballet master in 1996. From 2004 2010, Mr. Saunders was Director of Dancing Through Barriers®, Dance Theatre of Harlem's international education and outreach initiative, in addition to directing the DTH Ensemble.
STEPHANIE RAE WILLIAMS, Salt Lake City, Utah Stephanie Rae Williams began her training at Dallas Dance Academy with Lyndette Galen and Fiona Fairrie. Prior to joining Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble in 2010, she danced with The Francesca Harper Project, Complexions Dance Company, Ballet Black, and Texas Ballet Theatre, where she made her professional debut. She trained summers at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Springboard Danse Montreal, The Juilliard School, Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, and Houston Ballet Academy. Ms. Williams was featured in Dance Magazine's "On the Rise" in the August 2013 edition, and she was a Fellowship recipient at the Ailey School, a 2006 National Foundation for the Arts Award Winner, a 2006 Youth America Grand Prix Finalist, and a 2004 Texas Commission on the Arts Young Master.
KELLYE A. SAUNDERS (Ballet Master) Ms. Saunders began her dance training at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet in Washington, DC. She continued her dance education with Rosella Hightower at Le Centre de Danse International in Cannes, France under the tutelage of Rosella Hightower, before joining DTH. Ms. Saunders spent most of her career with the Dance Theatre of Harlem where she was a principal dancer. Some of Ms. Saunders’ featured roles include Firebird, Giselle, A Song for Dead Warriors, Apollo, Serenade, Adrian (Angel on Earth), The Four Temperaments, The Moor’s Pavane, Allegro Brillante and Fancy Free. Ms. Saunders has also appeared in the Broadway productions of The Red Shoes and Porgy and Bess and as a guest artist dancing the role of The Striptease Girl in Slaughter on Tenth Avenue in a collaborative project with The New York City Ballet. After leaving DTH, Ms. Saunders joined Ballet NY and Collage Dance Collective as a principal dancer. Some of her other guest appearances include performances with Washington Ballet, Maryland Ballet, Ballethnic Dance Company, Gala of International Ballet Stars, Configurations Dance Company, The Flint Institute of Music, Complexions Contemporary Dance and The Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Saunders has had extensive experience teaching and coaching dancers at both academic and professional levels. From 2010-2013, Ms. Saunders served as the project coordinator for the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Harlem Dance Works 2.0 Series. Harlem Dance Works 2.0 was a series of choreographic workshops whose purpose was to produce new repertoire for the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company. She is
KEITH SAUNDERS (Ballet Master) Keith Saunders, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, began dancing in 1971 while a student at Harvard University. He began his ballet training in 1973 at the National Center for AfroAmerican Artists in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Mr. Saunders joined Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1975 and continued his development under the tutelage of Arthur Mitchell, Karel Shook and William Griffith. He became a principal dancer with DTH and performed a wide range of roles throughout the company’s repertoire for more than 17 years. He also danced with France's Ballet du Nord (1986) and BalletMet of Columbus, Ohio (1987-1989). As a guest artist, Mr. Saunders appeared with Boston Repertory Ballet, Maryland Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Ballethnic Dance Company, and the David Parsons Company, among others. He has been a faculty member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem School, the BalletMet Dance Academy (where he also served as Education Director), the New Ballet School (now Ballet Tech), and the 92nd Street Y. In 2003, Mr. Saunders was Guest Artist-in-Residence in 17J
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM COMPANY currently a Ballet Master of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company. ROBERT GARLAND (Resident Choreographer) "[Gloria], Robert Garland’s 2012 ballet celebrating Dance Theater of Harlem’s rebirth is a transcendent work that relies as much on imagination as steps." New York Times Garland was a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company achieving the rank of principal dancer. After creating a work for the DTH School Ensemble, Arthur
Mitchell invited Robert Garland to create a work for The Dance Theatre of Harlem Company and appointed him the organization’s first Resident Choreographer. He is also Director of the Professional Training Program of the DTH school, and the organization's webmaster. In addition to choreographing several ballets for DTH, Mr. Garland has also created works for New York City Ballet, Britain's Royal Ballet, Oakland Ballet and many others. His commercial work has included music videos, commercials and short films, including the children’s television show Sesame Street, a Nike commercial featuring New York Yankee Derek Jeter, the NAACP Image Awards, a short film for designer Donna Karan, and the “Charmin Cha-Cha” for Proctor and Gamble. Mr. Garland holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Juilliard School in New York City.
Dance Theatre of Harlem, Inc.
Everett Center for the Performing Arts 466 West 152nd Street New York, NY 10031-1814 (212) 690-2800, (212) 690-8736 fax www.dancetheatreofharlem.org
Board of Directors
Michael D. Armstrong, Chairman Leslie Wims Morris, Vice-Chairman Ackneil M. Muldrow, III, Vice-Chairman Zandra Perry Ogbomo, Treasurer Don M. Tellock, Esq., Secretary Kendrick F. Ashton Jr. Nancy Pforzheimer Aronson Frank Baker Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts III Kevin M. Cofsky Isabel Kallman Sylvia R. Lindsey Spencer Means Jessye Norman Asha Richards
Staff
Artistic Director: Virginia Johnson Executive Consultants: Anna Glass, Dawn Gibson-Brehon Director, Individual Giving: Sharon Duncan Marketing Manager: Keyana K. Patterson HR Consultant: Gina Puppo Facilities & Operations Manager: John F. Lynch
Company Staff
Ballet Masters: Keith Saunders, Kellye A. Saunders General Manager: Melinda Bloom Production Stage Manager: John F. Lynch Lighting Supervisors: Alex Fabozzi, William Cotton Wardrobe Supervisor: Oran Bumroongchart Company Pianist: Coty Cockrell Booking Manager: Edward Schoelwer Resident Choreographer: Robert Garland Physical Therapists: Alison Deleget & Joshua Honrado, Harkness Center for Dance Injuries
Dance Theatre of Harlem School
Lower/Upper School Director: Augustus van Heerden School Administrator: Kenya Massey-Rodriguez Student Affairs Officer: Karen Farnum-Williams Business Affairs Officer: Ruben Ortiz
Dancing Through Barriers
Education/Outreach Administrator: Roberto Villanueva Program Associate: Theara Ward 17K
Blumenthal Performing Arts recognizes with gratitude the dedication and generosity of the following supporters.
PRODUCER'S CIRCLE Chairman
Peg and Jay Adamczyk Dr. Milton and Arlene Berkman Philanthropic Fund Victoria and Porter Durham
Vickie and Tom Gabbard Barbara and David Goodman Laura and Jeff Hay
Renee and Chris Hobart Mr. and Mrs. William B. McGuire, Jr.
Michael, Jaime and Allie Monday Jeanne and Rick Puckett
Mr. William K. Diehl, Jr. Belinda and Timothy Gunter
David and Nancy Hauser Wendy and Michael Kahn
In Memory of Jane Mary Reilly
Lynn and Bill Sullivan
Anonymous Cathy and Jim Baily Mr. William M. Barnhardt and Mrs. Nancy B. Thomas Christine and Arthur Becker The Blumenthal Foundation Amy and Philip Blumenthal
Betsy and Alfred Brand Dr. Bryan Edmiston and Mr. Felipe Gonzalez Minna and Michael Elliott Elizabeth and James Faulkner Dorlisa and Peter Flur Beverly and Jim Hance
Diane and Chuck Harrington Rebecca S. Henderson and J. Michael Booe Kearns Saldinger Charitable Foundation Julie and Howard Levine Jane and Hugh McColl
Beth Monaghan Mr. and Mrs. George Raftelis Kelli and Mike Richardson Jean and Matthew Salisbury Ann and Michael Tarwater Karen and Edgar Whitener Joan and Robert Zimmerman
Elizabeth Austin Julie and Riaz Bhamani Robin and Lea Burt Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chesney Nan and Hal Clarke Amy and Alfred Dawson Ms. Jennie Derby Jim Donahue Charlie Elberson Beth and Jonathan Feit Landrum and Kathie Fisher
Sandra and Stephen Godofsky Douglas R. and Elizabeth G. Goldstein Mrs. Gail Grim Lisa and Greg Haislip Sally Hawk and Tommi Levi Patti and Mark Hawley Nora and Thomas Hughes Susan and David Jamison Juanita and Lloyd Johnson
Dr. Shannon Moran and Mr. Joseph Lovallo Hedy and John Manry Barbara and Josh Meeks Anna and Tom Nelson Linda and Tony Pace Wendy and Frank Rosen Ken Rothmel Brenda and Bill Ryan Michael Serulneck Rose and Tom Sherard
Lisa and Glenn Sherrill Norma and Rodney Short The Levine-Sklut Family Foundation - Lori and Eric Sklut Anne and Robert Stolz Jacqueline A. Tucker Sandy and Greg Vlahos Ed Weisiger, Jr. and Betsy Fleming Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. White Lisa and Kenny Wilson Amy Wooden and Joe Kolodziej
Anonymous (2) Holly and Jeff Atkins Anne and John Barry Mrs. Kimberly Beason Joyce and Andrew Berger The Donald H. and Barbara K. Bernstein Family Foundation Catherine W. Bickley, DDS Mr. and Mrs. Alan Blumenthal Peggy and Ray Bouley Kristin and Buck Bradberry Barbara and William A. Branch Jaye Salter and Daniel Brewster Pat and Tim Brier George Brooks Mary and Frank Brown Peter and Cynthia Buck Katy and James Bullock Dr. Chris Burkett Jeff and Anne Brady Carlson Karmen Cassell
Elaine and Steve Coats Karin and Sean Davies Gloria and Peter De Arcangelis Dr. Zoe Forward and Dr. Luke Dollar Michele Durkin Jennifer and Scott Fuller Todd E. Gardner, MD In Memory of Judy Gerhart Todd Glenham Randy Griffin Robin and Blaine Hawkins Carol and Chris Horn Mandy and Todd Houser Peggy and Jim Hynes Michelle Johnson Janet and Neil Kaplan Mr. Howard Kushner Patty and Chris Lambert Marc and Xhenis Levack The Leon Levine FoundationSandra and Leon Levine
Mr. and Mrs. Scott and Ashley Mattei Jill Maxwell Kristy and Tadd Morganti Janet and Peter Nixon Emily and Jacob Norris Anne Patefield Dr. Helene Keyzer and Dr. Richard Pollard Gregory Price Jim Putnam Cindy and Randy Rice Mrs. Jon Richardson Lisa and Robert Rollins Mr. and Mrs. Jason C. Schmidly Vesime and Marty Schroering Roger Shaul, Jr. Deanna and Norman Shue Peggy and Pope Shuford June Silver
Sherry and Tom Skains Dr. Ramada Smith and Mr. Kevin Smith Judith Smith Cindy and David Soliday Jeri Dianne Stancil Ingrid and Walter Steele Dia and Paul Steiger Patricia and John Stewart Dr. and Mrs. Robert Sullivan Jennifer and David Teifer Carrie and Jeff Teixeira David Thomason Lee and George Veltri Catherine and Scott Warfield Mary Ellen and Reid Wilkerson Johnnie Willis and Michael Green In loving memory of my Rip – Cathey Winfield
Larry Adams Valerie and Bill Alexander Leslie Alston Bryan and Kristen Barboza Dr. and Mrs. Edward S. Baum Renee and Mike Baumbach Diann and Doug Beckner Marinn and Scott Bengel Mr. and Mrs. Tony Bikhazi Crandall and Erskine Bowles Bill and Robin Branstrom Kathleen Britton Bret Burquest Karen and Kevin Chapman Brent Clevenger Mr. Edward Cook Harvey and Muri Corzin Lori and Roger Cuddy Rose and Bill Cummings Joni and Aaron Davis Donna and Al de Molina Gaither and Robert W. Deaton Lee Ann and Steve DeCarlo Pamela and Greg Dills Betty Doria Pepper and Roddey Dowd, Sr. Brigid and James Downs
Marcia and Bob Dynko Rachel and Jonathan Ellis Steven Ellis Kelli Enos Elaine and Jeffrey Fagan Carolyn B. Faison Dr. and Mrs. Roger J. Fish Michele and Walter Fisher Joyce Staley Ford John R. Georgius Robin Gershen Joe and Carol Gigler Anne and George Goodyear Mr. and Mrs. Mike Greene William Griesser Molly and Robert Griffin Pamela Hanna, M.D. Ellen and Ned Hardison Donna and Randy Helton Eric, Lori, Halle and Casey Hillman Carolyn and Tim Hilton Sarah Hollar and Peter Macon Larissa and Ken Huber Kathy and Charlie Izard David S. Jacobson Lynn Jeffrey Linda and Kerry Kenner
Virginia A. Kern Debra and Steve Kinney Janice S. Ladley Eleanor Ehrhart and Dominick Landi Beverly and John Lassiter James Ledbetter Cathy and Fred Littlejohn Catherine and Jeremiah Malone Julianne Marley Marie-Claire Marroum-Kardous Betsy and T. Bragg McLeod Shelley and Andy Misiaveg Ms. Marie Mitchell Jared Mobley Charlotte and Arthur Mott William Newcomb Jill and Ed Newman Drs. Elaine and Thomas Pacicco Mr. and Mrs. Edwin B. Peacock III Donna and Steve Pernotto Joy Pinchback Susan and Dale Pond Fidel and Laura Prieto Mary and Dave Pylipow Dr. and Mrs. Richard S. Roberts Sally and Russell Robinson
William R. Rollins Carla and Ed Rose Dr. Marvin Shapiro and Mrs. Anita Shapiro Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Shelton, Sr. Cheryl Barringer and Mike Sherman Mr. and Mrs. Donald J. Sherrill Rita and Pat Shevlin The Marc and Mattye Silverman Foundation Rosemary and Paul Smith Tom E. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Wayne B. Smith, Jr. Claudia and David Strickert Suzanne and Michael Stritch Claire and Jim Talley Mr. and Mrs. Jack H. Thomas Christina and John Trainor Ellen and Ron Vilas Diana and Matt Wakefield Jacqueline and Rusty Wasco Margo and Dave Wehrung Drs. James and Jackie Wheeler Teresa and Stick Williams Pat and Bill Williamson
Director
President
Benefactor
Investor
Grand Patron
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Contributions received from Dec. 11, 2014 – Dec. 11, 2015
MAJOR GIFTS
SIGNATURE GIFTS
LEADERSHIP GIFTS
Blumenthal Performing Arts recognizes with gratitude the dedication and generosity of the following supporters.
2015-2016 Broadway Lights
THE DOCTOR FAMILY FOUNDATION
Presenting Sponsor The Blumey Awards & Dance Theater of Harlem
Education Programs and Student Scholarships
Breakin' Convention Sponsor
2016 Jazz Festival Presenting Sponsor
Big Brothers Big Sisters Ticket Sponsor, an Arts for All Initiative
Preferred Dining and Catering Partner
Duke Energy Ticket Scholarship Fund, an Arts for All Initiative
Preferred Caterer
$15,000+ CEO PARTNERS
$10,000+ PRESIDENTIAL PARTNERS
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Blumenthal Performing Arts recognizes with gratitude the dedication and generosity of the following supporters.
LEADERSHIP GRANTS The Arts & Science Council Supports Blumenthal Performing Arts’ 2016 Fiscal Year budget with a Basic Operating Grant in the amount of $312,092.
Blumenthal Performing Arts receives support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.
CORPORATE PARTNERS $7,500+ Directing Partners Ernst & Young LLP
Granite Sky Design
Publix Super Markets Charities
$5,000+ Executive Partners Belk, Inc Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP British American Business Council C design Inc. CliftonLarsonAllen
Cousins Properties Crescent Communities, LLC Deloitte Elliott Davis Decosimo InterCon Building Corporation King & Spalding LLP Lincoln Harris
Mayer Brown LLP Midrex Technologies, Inc. North Highland Company NUCOR Rodgers Builders Inc. SPX Corporation
SteelFab, Inc. Troutman Sanders LLP UTC Aerospace Systems Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC
McGladrey McGuireWoods LLP Moore & Van Allen PLLC PMMC
Preferred Electric Co., Inc. Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson P.A. White Knight Engineered Products, Inc.
McKenny’s Inc. McVeigh & Mangum Messer Construction Company NC Interiors Contracting Odell Associates Parsec Financial Red Moon Marketing
Robert Hopkins General Contractor LLC Schindler Elevator Corp. Terri DeBoo Ideas@Work Tippens & Zurosky LLP Velligan Medical Services, PC Xentegra
$2,500+ Managing Partners Baird Private Wealth Management BDO Bryan Cave Charlotte Paint Co. Inc.
Commercial Flooring Solutions Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP LEC Media Little
$1,000+ Associate Partners Balfour Beatty Construction BB&T Cabarrus Glass Company Inc. Chicago Title Insurance Company Crosland Southeast Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP DTH IT Consulting
Galvan Industries, Inc. Garmon & Company, Inc. Commercial Flooring High Performance Technologies Hood Hargett & Associates Hoopaugh Grading Company, LLC Howard Brothers Electric Jenkins Peer Architects
Contributions received from Dec. 11, 2014 – Dec. 11, 2015
RESTAURANT PARTNERS Our Restaurant Partners help make your Blumenthal experience even more special. We gratefully acknowledge their generous support and hope you will patronize them frequently.
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Photo by Rachel Neville
Storytelling, one move at a time Dance has captivated audiences for centuries. It tells our stories in ways that everyone understands, helping us connect with each other. Wells Fargo is proud to celebrate Dance Theatre of Harlem’s inaugural visit to Charlotte.
© 2016 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (1998301_16954) 18