2019-2020 Season
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FBP Dancers Kirsten Evans and Jordan Nelson Photo by Zaire Kacz
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2 // Festival Ballet Providence
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42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 3
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42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 5
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6 // Festival Ballet Providence
» 42nd Season, 2019-2020 PROGRAM BOOK CONTENTS » Artistic, Production, Administrative Staff...................................................8 » A Welcome from the Executive Director.....................................................11 » Board of Trustees.............................................................................................13 » A Welcome from the Artistic Director.........................................................14 » Artistic Staff......................................................................................................15 » Company Dancers...........................................................................................16 » Season Guest Dancers, Apprentices & Trainees..........................................20 » 42nd Season Overview.....................................................................................24 » Choreographers...............................................................................................27 » Company History............................................................................................33 » Contributors.....................................................................................................34 » Outreach Programs.........................................................................................41 » Edward M. Fogarty & Christine Hennessey Funds....................................40 » Summer Dance Intensive 2020......................................................................43 » FBP School.......................................................................................................44
COVER AND RIGHT PHOTO BY ZAIRE KACZ
Above: Eugenia Zinovieva and Mamuka Kikalishvili Cover: Kirsten Evans
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Established 1978 825 Hope Street Providence, RI 02906 401-353-1129 • info@festivalballetprovidence.org www.festivalballetprovidence.org Artistic Director
Mihailo Djuric Executive Director
Kathleen Breen Combes ARTISTIC STAFF School Director
Vilia Putrius Ballet Masters
Mindaugas Bauzys Leticia Guerrero Resident Choreographer
Viktor Plotnikov ADMINISTRATION Development Director
Marissa Parmenter Business Manager
Jeanne Moore Marketing Director
Dylan Giles Registrar
PROFESSIONAL COMPANY
Azamat Asangul Katherine Bickford Brenna DiFrancesco David DuBois Kristy DuBois Kirsten Evans Dylan Giles Mamuka Kikalishvili Alex Lantz Emily Lovdahl Jay Markov Charlotte Nash Joseph Van Harn Linnea Wahle Melissa Wong Eugenia Zinovieva
SEASON GUEST DANCERS
Alexander Akulov Jennifer Ricci
Outreach Educator
Digital Media Coordinator
Athina Alimonos Eleanor Ambler Sara Clarke
Community Engagement Director
Valerie Cookson-Botto Jordan Breen Sara Clarke Gisela Creus
Ty Parmenter Grant Consultant
Paula Cassino
MUSICIAN
Shannon McGuirk
APPRENTICES
Jessica Alvarez Alban Costello Kailee Felix Dara Capley Nicole
Lisa McGuirk
FBP SCHOOL FACULTY
Courtney Asselin Mindaugas Bauzys Katherine Bickford Jennifer Cicerone Sara Clarke Valerie Cookson-Botto Alban Costello Erin Gildea Leticia Guerrero Ashlyn Denise Mae Dusica Marcetic Jay Markov Dina Ternullo Melley Dara Nicole Vilia Putrius Joseph Van Harn Marina Van Winkle Melissa Wong RECEPTION
Tom Aquino LeeShonel Ayala Amy Macedo Giovanna Yarn
TRAINEES
POST-GRADUATE
Makena Chase
Public Relations
Ruth Davis
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Kirsten Evans
PRODUCTION Stage Manager
Christine Redihan Michele Salgueiro-Tooley Lighting Design
Alicia Colantonio Production Manager
Evan Dwyer
Wardrobe Assistant
Emily Lovdahl Physical Therapy
Jennifer Davis Chiropractor
Dr. Ron Tyszkowski Photography
Thomas Nola-Rion Video Production
KVI Media
PHOTO BY THOMAS NOLA-RION
Web & Graphic Design, Video Production
Dylan Giles Ty Parmenter Playbill Production
The Allied Group Intern
Adrienne Mercier Jo-Ann Munoz 8 // Festival Ballet Providence
Vilia Putrius and Mindaugas Bauzys in The Sleeping Beauty
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CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS Presenting visionary performances by the world’s leading chamber music artists for over 65 years.
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2019-20 S E A S O N
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Thursday, NOVEMBER 14 – 7:30 pm
arts supporting the many forms of artistic endeavor that inspire us.
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10 // Festival Ballet Providence
McVINNEY AUDITORIUM 43 DAVE GAVITT WAY DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE Convenient free parking
» From the Executive Director Welcome! I am very excited to be greeting you from my new role as Executive Director of FBP. It is an honor to join the team here, along with new Board President Alan Weiss and established Artistic Director Misha Djuric. Together we will dance forward, expanding the brilliant vision that has turned FBP into a powerful Rhode Island institution. Much like the city of Providence, FBP is both steeped in rich history and dedicated to innovation and exploration. The Company is constantly pushing the boundaries of dance and creating new unique works of art, and I look forward to building upon the healthy financial ground on which we currently stand. Arts flourish when given the space to breathe, and your support allows that breath. Thanks to all of you, and your loyal patronage, we can continue to grow this strong organization as an expansive member of the Rhode Island art scene. With great appreciation for the supporters who have been with us for the past 42 years, we look forward to branching out even further into the community in both audience and sponsorship as we head into our 2019/2020 Season. Thank you for warmly welcoming me into this remarkable community. Here's to a great 42nd Season filled with inspiring dance both on stage and in the community!
Kathleen Breen Combes Executive Director
» About Kathleen Kathleen Breen Combes joins Festival Ballet Providence this season as Executive Director. Breen Combes holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University in Communications and Management and a Graduate Certificate in Non-profit Management. Her history with the art form has been lifelong, as she was a professional ballet dancer for nineteen years before transitioning to the administrative side. She started her professional career with The Washington Ballet and danced for Boston Ballet for sixteen years; ten of them as a Principal Dancer. Hailed by The New York Times as a “ballerina of colossal scale and boldness” Breen Combes performed a large and diverse repertoire including the leading roles in the classical repertoire and a large variety of neoclassical and contemporary works, many created specifically for her. In 2012 she was nominated for the prestigious Benois de la Danse award for her portrayal of Juliet in Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet and Titania in Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and was invited to perform at the Bolshoi Theatre. Breen Combes has also performed in numerous galas worldwide. Breen Combes worked at Boston Ballet in the Development and Artistic Administrative departments and was the AGMA Union representative for the company from 2012-2016. She has been featured in and contributed to numerous print articles in Dance Spirit, Pointe Magazine, and Dance Magazine among others. In 2014, Breen Combes created a TedEd video entitled “Rethinking Ballet” and has been a guest speaker at The University of Massachusetts, University of Tokyo, Northeastern University and Harvard University.
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375 P U T N A M P I K E S M I T H F I EL D, R I 0 2 917 L A B R I E@ C A P E Z I O.CO M
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» Board of Trustees PRESIDENT
Alan Weiss VICE PRESIDENT
Kimberly Winslow TREASURER
Erica Guatieri SECRETARY
Laurine Ryan Perry
BOARD MEMBERS
Joan Abrams Judy Barrett Litoff Chris Corey Gail Higgins Fogarty Linda McGoldrick Eve S. Rounds Mary Tsangarakis Marie Weiss Don Wineberg Toots Zynsky EX-OFFICIO
Kathleen Breen Combes Executive Director Mihailo Djuric Artistic Director
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» From the Artistic Director We have been dancing together for so many years! This 2019-2020 Season offers many opportunities for me to invite you to dance forward with us. Without a doubt, this season will elevate your passion for dance with inspiring new works and timeless fairytales, showcasing a spectrum of ballet. We recently welcomed a new executive director, Kathleen Breen Combes, and a new President of our Board of Trustees, Alan Weiss, to the FBP family. With you, our audience, in mind, we are taking bold strides into a next chapter of dance. In February we will present Game Changers, a daring evening of contemporary dance, highlighting the unique choreographic voices that continue to transform this eternal art form. The evening will be filled with innovation, showcasing three ballets all in one night! The program includes the Rhode Island premiere of Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s spellbinding Morphoses and two world premieres: visionary Yury Yanowsky’s world premiere Same, in collaboration with songwriter and violinist Josh Knowles playing live on stage with the dancers, plus a thrilling World Premiere from former Alvin Ailey dancer/choreographer Christopher Huggins. Our signature Up Close On Hope series will bring back Viktor Plotnikov’s audience-favorite, Carmen, this fall. In the spring, the intimate series gives audiences the chance to experience George Balanchine’s spirited Tarantella and jazzy Who Cares?, along with several world premieres from young and established choreographers. In December, we are delighted to return to PPAC to present our majestic family tradition, The Nutcracker! This magical classic story never ceases to spark the childlike imagination in each of us, surprising us all with fresh joy each holiday season. Our young audience series, chatterBOXtheatre, is reviving two previously sold-out productions, Ilya Kozadayev’s spooky Hansel & Gretel and Louisa Mejeur’s charming Three Little Pigs. The Sleeping Beauty, the gem of all story ballets with sparkling sets, enchanting costumes, and spectacular dancing, will conclude our 42nd Season. This season we are celebrating a new chapter of our artistic growth. Thank you for joining us in this exciting adventure. Thank you for dancing forward with us! Enjoy the show!
» About Misha
Mihailo "Misha" Djuric Artistic Director
Mihailo "Misha" Djuric is a former first soloist with the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. His training and experience encompass ballet, jazz, modern, folk dance and musical theater. During his ballet career, he has worked with Nevena Miric, Dusanka Kecojevic, Jovanka Bilegojevic, Ana Roje, Natalia Dudinskaya, Constantin Sergeyev, Svetlana Afanasieva and Maryon Lane. As a choreographer, he has been recognized with numerous awards including gold and bronze medals at the Yugoslavian choreographers' competition. Besides Yugoslavia (and its former six republics) and the United States, his work has been performed in Russia, Switzerland, Malta, Romania, Italy and Venezuela. In 1991, Misha was appointed Artistic Director at Ballet New England. Under his direction, Ballet New England's Company and School dramatically increased its programs and visibility, becoming the leader of New Hampshire's dance community. In 1993 and again in 1998, Mr. Djuric was awarded an Individual Artist Fellowship from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA). In July, 1998, Misha was appointed as the Artistic Director of Festival Ballet Providence (FBP) where he is responsible for managing the Company, the Trainee Program and the Festival Ballet Providence School. During his tenure, the organization has grown into one of the most exciting and accomplished arts and cultural organizations in Rhode Island and has been recognized as one of top regional ballet companies in the country. In 2007, Misha received the Pell Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Arts, and in April 2011, he received the "Vip Invites" Award from the Serbian Ministry of Culture at the Belgrade International Dance Festival. He is honored to have been named the first laureate to receive this award for outstanding Serbian artists living and working outside of Serbia.
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» Artistic Staff Mindaugas Bauzys Ballet Master
Born in Lithuania, Mindaugas graduated from Vilnius Ballet School, joining the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre where he was a principal dancer. He continued his training at the Copenhagen Bournonwille Summer Academy and the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. He was a principal dancer with Ballet Arlington and a soloist with Boston Ballet. In 2008, Mindaugas joined Festival Ballet Providence, where he performed numerous lead roles. His repertory includes Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Giselle, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, Romeo and Juliet, Raymonda, Daphnis and Chloe, Tchaikovsky, Carmen, Greek Zorba, Don Quixote, Le Spectre de la Rose, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Artist’s Life, Venetian Carnival, Hamlet, Apollo, Divertimento # 15, Allegro Brillante, Eldar Aliev’s A Thousand and One Nights and many modern and contemporary works choreographed for him. Mindaugas has performed as a guest artist in the USA, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Latvia, Estonia, Russia and, in 2000, he performed in Vladimir Vasilyev’s anniversary Gala at Bolshoi Theatre. He was also honored as Ballet Artist of the Year and he received the St. Christopher’s Prize from the Lithuanian Theatre Union while becoming the laureate in the arts category of the Baltic Assembly Prizes for Literature, The Arts and Science. In 2001, he was awarded the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, which was given by the Lithuanian President. After his retirement from the stage in May 2016, he joined the Festival Ballet artistic staff as Ballet Master with the Company and as a faculty member with Festival Ballet Providence School.
Leticia Guerrero Ballet Mistress
It all started with a last minute call to learn and perform Mr. Djuric’s renowned ballet Today. Leticia Guerrero, a native of Venezuela, received her training and graduated from Escuela de Ballet Keyla Ermecheo, a prestigious ballet school in Caracas. She joined Festival Ballet Providence artistic staff as Ballet Mistress in 2011 after dancing for the company for nine years. She has performed with numerous companies including Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas, Metropolitan Ballet of Caracas, North Atlantic Ballet, Minnesota Dance Theater, Michigan Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theater, José Mateo Ballet Theater, Cadence Dance Project and Part of the Oath. She danced leading roles in Di Marco’s El Amor Brujo, Schéhérazade, Azucar; Viktor Plotnikov’s Carmen, The Widow’s Boom, Loof and Let Dime, and Coma; De Bouteiller’s Romeo & Juliet; and Don Quixote. Other leading roles include, Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Rubies, Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux, Tarantella, Who Cares?; Pelzig’s The Princess and the Pea; Eldar Aliev’s A Thousand and One Nights; Odette and Odile in Swan Lake; Sugarplum Fairy, Snow Queen and Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker. Leticia also participated in the 2004 Venezuela del Mundo Gala and was recognized for representing Venezuela internationally with “high standards and projection dignity and beauty”. In addition, former Providence Mayor David Cicilline awarded a Citizen Citation for her “exceptional and wholehearted devotion for the art of dance.” After her retirement from the stage in May 2012, she transitioned into her full-time role as Ballet Mistress with the Company and as a faculty member with Festival Ballet School, where she continues to pass her knowledge to a new generation of dancers.
Vilia Putrius
School Director, Summer Dance Intensive Director
Born in Lithuania, Vilia received her early training at the Vilnius Ballet School. Following graduation, she joined the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre where she was a soloist. From there, she joined Ballet Arlington in Texas as a principal dancer and then joined the Boston Ballet. In 2006, she became a Festival Ballet Providence company member. Vilia traveled with the company in 2008 for a multi-city tour of Venezuela and in 2011 for the Belgrade Dance Festival which was televised and broadcast throughout Europe. Putrius performed with Festival Ballet as a leading dancer for 11 seasons, performing lead roles in major productions like The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, and many other roles including principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Viktor Plotnikov, and others. With 16 years of teaching experience, Putrius is an experienced educator and coach for aspiring dancers. She is married to Mindaugas Bauzys, current Ballet Master of the Company.
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» Company Dancers Azamat Asangul
@danseur01
Azamat was born in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. He started his studies at age 10. In 2007, Azamat was awarded a Presidential Scholar “Personnel 21st Century” for “Creative achievement in the Performing Skills.” Later he was invited by Altynai Asylmuratova to study in Saint Petersburg, Russia and graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in 2010. He then joined Moscow City Ballet under the direction of artistic director Victor Smirnov. In 2012, Azamat was selected by Julia Moon to join Universal Ballet in South Korea. He also continued to dance with the Kyrgyz National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 2013, Azamat was invited to join The Russian National Ballet by Artistic Director Sergei Radchenko. He has toured with The Moscow City Ballet in the United Kingdom, Ireland, China, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Taiwan, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Cyprus, Russia and with The Russian National Ballet in the USA. In 2014, Azamat joined Island Moving Co. in Newport, Rhode Island to focus on his contemporary style. Azamat has appeared as a guest artist with Kyrgyz National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, Russian National Ballet, Charleston City Ballet and Ballet Idaho. This is his third season with Festival Ballet.
Katherine Bickford Originally from Miami, Katherine began her training at Dance Empire. She continued to study ballet more seriously with the Portland School of Ballet in Maine, and attended summer intensives with Walnut Hill, Bossov Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and Houston Ballet Academy. At the age of 13, she enrolled full time at Canada’s National Ballet School, from which she graduated in 2010. Katherine went on to earn a B.S. in Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Maine. While at university, she danced with Bangor Ballet and as a contributing artist with Robinson Ballet. This is Katherine’s fifth season with Festival Ballet Providence.
Brenna DiFrancesco
@brendifran
Brenna DiFrancesco was born in Seekonk, Massachusetts where she began her training at The State Ballet of Rhode Island, under the guidance of Herci Marsden before joining Festival Ballet as a Junior Company member at age 17. She has trained with The Nutmeg Conservatory, Orlando Ballet, The School of American Ballet and also competed in the Youth American Grand Prix competition placing second and then first for two consecutive years. Brenna joined the company as a Trainee in 2010 and has since performed many roles with the company, including Arabian, Spanish, Lead Snow, and Lead Flower in The Nutcracker, Gretel in Ilya Kozadaevs Hansel & Gretel, Cygnets in Swan Lake, Flower Festival in Genzano pas de deux, the La Corsaire pas de deux, and featured roles in Christopher wheeledons, The American and several Balanchine ballets. She has also worked with many contemporary artists including Victor Plotnikov, Yury Yanowsky, Ilya Kozadaev, Dominique Walsh, and others. This will be Brenna’s ninth season with the Company.
David DuBois
David DuBois began his dance training at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts in St. Petersburg Florida. David then attended the Boston Conservatory, studying under Luis Fuentes and Laszlo Berdo. David began his professional career in 2003 with Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theater. There, he performed as Cavalier in The Nutcracker and many other principal roles. David joined Island Moving Company in 2007, working with choreographers such as Colin Conner, Scott Putman, Colleen Cavanaugh, Kelly Ann Sloan, and Monica Bill Barnes, also originating the title role in Miki Ohlsen’s critically-acclaimed Dracula. He has been a principal guest artist with many dance organizations throughout New England. In 2010 and 2011, David competed in the Sibiu Romania IBC with his wife Kristy Anne DuBois. David joined American Repertory Ballet for its 2011-2012 season. There, David performed the role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. David re-joined Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre in 2012, dancing many principal roles there with his wife. David has been with Festival Ballet Providence since 2015 and has danced in a vast range of classical and contemporary works including Von Rothbart in Mihailo Djuric’s Swan Lake and Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante. This is David’s fifth season with the Company.
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Kristy Anne DuBois grew up in New Jersey and studied at the South Jersey Ballet Theatre. After high school, she moved to NYC to study at The Ailey School in conjunction with the Fordham University BFA program. While there she had the opportunity to learn Horton, Graham, and West African dance techniques. Kristy then accepted a traineeship with the Richmond Ballet, and performed in Valse Fantasie, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Nutcracker. She moved to Newport, Rhode Island and spent five years dancing with the Island Moving Company. While there, Ms. DuBois created the role of Lucy in Miki Ohlsen’s critically acclaimed ballet Dracula. She also danced in works by Colin Connor, Scott Putman, Carol Somers, and Colleen Cavanaugh. In 2011, Kristy moved to Boston to dance with Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre, and had the opportunity to dance principal roles in many of Mr. Mateo’s original ballets as well as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Kristy's dance achievements include being named a “Finalist” in the 2011 Sibiu International Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition in Sibiu, Romania. This is Kristy's fourth season with the Company.
Kirsten Evans
@keeksevans
Born in Providence, Kirsten began training in the FBP School at age 11. She performed as a member of FBP’s Junior Company for 5 years before joining the main company as a Trainee in 2010. Kirsten has attended summer intensives with Bolshoi Ballet Academy, The Nutmeg Conservatory, and was a member of the Jacob’s Pillow Summer Dance Festival in 2009. Kirsten was a two-time finalist in the Youth America Grand Prix in NYC, where she was awarded several scholarships as well as a traineeship with Ballet West in Utah. Previous roles with FBP include Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Wendy in Peter Pan, the title role in Cinderella, The Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker, as well as principal roles in George Balanchine’s Apollo, Allegro Brillante, Agon, Rubies, Serenade, and Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, in addition to principal roles in Christopher Wheeldon’s The American and Five Movements, Three Repeats. Kirsten has also been featured in contemporary works by Viktor Plotnikov, Dominic Walsh, Ilya Kozadayev, Kurt Douglas, and others. Kirsten works as the PR and Communications Assistant for FBP and recently completed her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts/Journalism at Providence College. Kirsten also writes a personal blog called Setting The Barre. This is Kirsten’s tenth season with the Company.
» C O M PA N Y D A N C E R S
Kristy DuBois
Dylan Giles
Dylan Giles began his training at the age of six in Raleigh, North Carolina at Raleigh School of Ballet. Throughout his youth, he performed with Carolina Ballet in various productions between 2002 and 2008 and attended summer courses at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Boston Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. In 2008, Mr. Giles joined Indiana University Ballet Theater where he performed in Balanchine’s Rubies, Allegro Brillante, and Who Cares? He graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Ballet Performance and an Outside Field in Journalism. At FBP, he has performed the role of Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood, Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker, and M. Duval in Lady of the Camellias, and Lady #2 in Pippi. Dylan also serves as Director of Marketing for FBP. This is Dylan's ninth season with the Company.
@dylancgiles
Mamuka Kikalishvili
Born in Poti,Georgia. Mamuka Kikalishvili completed his ballet training at V.Chabukiani Tbilisi State Ballet School. He joined the State Ballet of Georgia in 2011 and he was promoted to coryphee in 2012. Kikalishvili joined Hungarian National Ballet in 2013. 2014 the Hong Kong ballet and 2016 Boston ballet. His repertoire includes A.Fadeyechev's The Nutcracker (Prince) A.Fadeyechev's La Fille mal gardée ( Kolen ) Cynthia Harvey's Sleeping Beauty (Blue Bird) Alexander Ekman's Cacti, Jorma Elo's Creatures of Egmont. As well as roles in ballets by Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Yuri Possokhov, Alexei Ratmansky. In 2012 Kikalishvili won Gold medal and Grand prix in Riga Spring ballet competition same year he was finalist in Helsinki international ballet competition. This is Mamuka's first season with the Company.
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» C O M PA N Y D A N C E R S
Alex Lantz
Alex Lantz began his dance training at age seven at the Rockford Dance Company in his home town of Rockford, Illinois. In 2006, he was accepted into the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division. Alex joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet company as an apprentice in 2010. He performed with the company in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Moulin Rouge – The Ballet, Dracula, Wonderland, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, Svengali and Giselle. Alex also joined the company in 2010 on a three-city tour of Israel, part of the RWB’s 70th Anniversary tour. Lantz came to Festival Ballet Providence in 2012. He has performed the roles of Spanish, Snow King and Sugarplum Cavalier in The Nutcracker, has been featured in Dominic Walsh’s Afternoon of the Faun, Ilya Kozadayev’s Moonlight Pas De Deux, and has also performed leading roles in Viktor Plotnikov’s Orchis and Coma as well as principal roles in George Balanchine’s Agon and Tchaikovky Pas de Deux. Alex also has performed a number of character roles including Von Rothbart in Swan Lake, The Witch in Hansel & Gretel, Kastchai in The Firebird, Smee in Jordan Morris’ Peter Pan and Herr Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker. This is Alex's eighth season with the Company.
Emily Lovdahl
Born and raised in southeast Wisconsin, Emily received her early training from Marc Darling and Linda Bennett at The Studio of Classical Dance Arts in Racine, WI, as well as attending summer programs with Milwaukee Ballet, BalletMet, and Oklahoma City Ballet. She was invited to join Milwaukee Ballet II for the 2014-15 season, and spent the following year dancing with BalletMet in Columbus, OH as a trainee. Emily joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2016 where she had the privilege of working with Cynthia Gregory on her staging of Swan Lake and appearing in George Balanchine’s Serenade and Western Symphony as well as in other classical and contemporary works. With Festival Ballet, she has performed the roles of Marzipan, Snow and Flower corps in The Nutcracker, Russian Corps in Serenade, and roles in Swan Lake and in Viktor Plotnikov’s Coma. This is Emily's second season with Festival Ballet and her first as a Company Dancer.
Jay Markov
Jay Markov was born in Phoenix, Arizona and started training in classical ballet at the age of 7 with Slawomir and Irena Wozniak of Master Ballet Academy. The years following he received full scholarships and training at San Francisco Ballet School, Harid Conservatory for the Arts, School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. At age 15 Jay was selected to train at San Francisco Ballet School for the year round program. In 2012, Jay began his dance career with Ballet Arizona under the direction of Ib Anderson where he performed roles in productions of Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Napoli, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Don Quixote, and Western Symphony. From 2016-2018 Jay danced as a corps member with Los Angeles Ballet under artistic directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary where he performed contemporary works by Meghan Lou, Aszure Barton, and Alejandro Cerrudo. Jay has also performed in many of Balanchine’s Ballets such as Theme and Variations, Serenade, Movements and Monumento, Violin Concerto, Who Cares?, Four Temperaments, and Prodigal Son. This is Jay’s second season with the Company.
Charlotte Nash
Charlotte Nash is from Sammamish, WA. She trained at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and San Francisco Ballet School. In 2016 she joined Houston Ballet II. During this time, she performing soloist roles in Stanton Welch AM’s Brigade and Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra as well as George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante. In 2017 she joined BalletMet 2 and enjoyed dancing with the company in ballets like Balanchine’s Rubies, Gerard Charles’ The Nutcracker, and Edwaard Liang’s Dorothy and the Prince of Oz. Her repertoire with the company includes soloist roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Balanchine's Serenade and contemporary reps by Viktor Plotnikov, Ilya Kozadaev, Yury Yanowsky, and others. This is Charlotte’s second season with Festival Ballet Providence.
@charlott3nash
18 // Festival Ballet Providence
@leaper_vanharn
Joseph Van Harn received his dance training at Grand Rapids Ballet School from 2001 to 2014 under the direction of Attila and Mindy Mosolygo, Amanda Smith-Heynen, and Patricia Barker. As a student, he performed frequently with Grand Rapids Ballet Company, including in Balanchine’s The Prodigal Son and Gordon Pierce-Schmidt’s Jack the Ripper, and he toured extensively within the state of Michigan, including The Nutcracker at the Detroit Opera House. Joseph graduated in 2018 from the University of Oklahoma with a B.F.A. in Ballet Pedagogy and a B.A. in Professional Writing. At OU, he performed in works by Trey McIntyre, Uwe Scholz, Austin Hartel, Ilya Kozadayev, Michael Bearden, and Jock Soto, and he toured with the OU School of Dance to Oklahoma City and Benicàssim, Spain. His repertoire with FBP includes Swan Lake, Spring Pas de Deux, Louisa Mejeur’s Three Little Pigs, and Viktor Plotnikov’s Coma. This is Joseph’s second season with the Company.
Linnea Wahle
Originally from upstate New York, Linnea began training in multiple styles of dance in 2008 on Cape Cod at Atlantic Coast Academy of Dance under the direction of Tanya and Coby Vincent. She remained at the studio throughout her high school career, performing in The Nutcracker as well as the role Swanilda in Coppelia in 2016. Throughout her high school career, she was able to assist all-star dancers from So You Think You Can Dance at competitions and conventions. After high school she attended Festival Ballet’s Summer Dance Intensive and started her first year with the company as a trainee. This is Linnea’s third season and her first as a Company dancer.
» C O M PA N Y D A N C E R S
Joseph Van Harn
Melissa Wong
Melissa Wong began her training in her hometown of Portsmouth, OH at En’Lair Ballet Theatre School and later at BalletMet Columbus Dance Academy and the University of Akron Dance Institute. From 2008-2012, she continued her training at Pioneer Valley Ballet in Easthampton, MA, and the Five College Dance Department. In 2012, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Smith College. Prior to joining FBP as a trainee, she studied at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy. Melissa has attended summer programs with BalletMet Columbus, Northern Ballet Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Festival Ballet Providence. Melissa is also a co-director of the RI Women's Choreography Project. In her spare time she works as an assistant for The Blank Space Collection, plays on a recreational tennis team, and volunteers for Amenity Aid. This is Melissa's seventh season with the Company.
Eugenia Zinovieva
@genieinessence
Eugenia was born in Moscow, Russia, and moved to the United States at a young age. She trained at the Boston Ballet School under the direction of Margaret Tracey, University of North Carolina School of the Arts high school program under the direction of Ethan Stiefel, and SLK Ballet under the direction of Sara Knight. Throughout her school career, she also competed in rhythmic gymnastics. She completed summer programs at ART of Marseille Forsythe Workshop, the Harid Conservatory, Boston Ballet, and the Academie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monaco. Eugenia joined FBP in 2012. Throughout her professional career, she has also appeared with the National Choreographers’ Initiative, Quixotic Cirque Nouveau, North Atlantic Dance Theater, the Kansas City Dance Festival, Tony Williams Ballet, and Staten Island Ballet. Her repertoire includes principal roles in works by Mark Diamond, Mihailo Djuric, George Balanchine, Viktor Plotnikov, Yury Yanowsky, and Christopher Wheeldon. Eugenia is also a co-director of the RI Women’s Choreography Project. This is her eighth season with the Company.
42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 19
» Season Guest Dancers Alexander Akulov
Alexander Akulov was born in Krasnodarskiy Krai, Russia. He was selected to study at the Vaganova Academy of Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. Upon graduation from the academy, he joined the St. Petersburg State Ballet of Jacobson as a soloist. He moved to the United States and joined Festival Ballet Providence where he danced for six years. At Festival Ballet, Alexander performed the works of George Balanchine, Antony Tudor and Agnes DeMille and danced all the major classical ballets and had many contemporary roles created on him. In 2011 he moved to Toulouse, France working with Jacopo Godani, Johann Inger and Stijn Celis and dancing ballets by Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato and Benjamin Millipied.
@alexander.akulov
In 2015 Alexander joined the Staatsballett Berlin, where he worked with director and choreographer Nacho Duato. He has also worked with Ohad Naharin, creator of the “Gaga’ technique and numerous other emerging choreographers. Notable repertoire include: Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle, The Nutcracker Prince, Prince Desiree in Sleeping Beauty, Balanchine’s Who Cares?, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Tarantella, Kylian’s Petit Mort, Duato’s White Darkness, Naharin’s Secus, Inger’s Walking Mad, Plotnikov’s Coma. Upon returning to the US in 2019, Alexander works with different companies as a freelance artist and guest dancer.
Jennifer Ricci
Jennifer, of Johnston, RI, is a graduate of Rhode Island College. She trained with Winthrop Corey and Christine Hennessy, becoming a member of Festival Ballet as a teenager. Her principal roles include Arabian, Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker; Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Cinderella; Neapolitan, Pas de Trois and Big Swan in Swan Lake; Snow White; Princess Elena in Firebird; Mina in Dracula; Prelude and Seventh Waltz in Les Sylphides; Giselle. Jennifer has performed leading roles in Esmeralda, Djuric’s Upon Dark, Magnificat, Loose Ends, Quartet for the End of Time, The Sleeping Beauty, Con Amore, Robbins' 2 & 3 Part Inventions, Balanchine’s Rubies, Pelzig’s The Princess and the Pea, Antony Tudor’s The Leaves Are Fading, Plotnikov’s Coma, Carmen, The Widow’s Broom, Princess Budur in Eldar Aliev’s A Thousand and One Nights, Scheherazade, Gypsy Queen in Don Quixote, Colleen Cavanaugh’s Schumann Songs; Jennifer premiered as Marguerite Gautier in Gianni Di Marco’s Lady of the Camellias and Juliet in Ilya Kozadayev’s Romeo and Juliet . In 2006, she premiered Mr. Djuric’s Dancing by Ear at the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival. In April, 2011, she toured with FBP to the Belgrade International Dance Festival. This is Jennifer's twenty-ninth season with the Company.
» Apprentices Jessica Alvarez
Born and raised in Arizona, Jessica started her dance training at Master Ballet Academy under the direction of Slawomir and Irena Wozniak. Here she performed various roles in productions such as The Nutcracker, Carmen, Paquita, Chopin’s Suite, Prokofiev’s Classics, Swan Lake, and Don Quixote. Jessica has also worked with contemporary choreographers such as Natasha Louis, Dana Metz, Chehon Wespi-Tschop, and Dominik Olechoswki. Throughout her dance career, Jessica received training and scholarships at various intensives. Upon graduating, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career as a commercial dancer with Bloc LA Talent Agency. When not performing, Jessica serves as a judge for National Dance Competitions in addition to teaching ballet to students throughout the country. This is Jessica's second season as an apprentice with the Company.
Alban Costello
Ethiopian by birth, Alban Birhanu Costello began his ballet education at the age of 8. While at Southold Dance Theatre under the directorship of Erica Fischbach, Mr. Costello was awarded a full merit scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts at the age of 15. There he trained under Susan Jaffe, Misha Tchoupakov, Jared Redick, Ilya Kozadayev and others while working with world renowned choreographers such as Goyo Montero and Helen Pickett. Alban placed within the top three competitors for at numerous Youth America Grand Prix competitions from Denver to New York. He also was chosen as one of two UNCSA representatives who attended the 2019 Prix de Lausanne Choreographic Workshop. Alban is looking forward to his first season with FBP.
20 // Festival Ballet Providence
Kailee Felix grew up in the small town of Swansboro, North Carolina, where she started her career at Swansboro Dance Studio. At the age of 10, she performed with Carolina Ballet in their productions of Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and La Sylphide. In 2013, Kailee continued her training at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy, where she performed a variety of classical repertory. In 2016 she joined Festival Ballet Providence as a trainee. This is Kailee’s fourth season and her second as an apprentice with the Company.
Dara Capley Nicole
Dara Nicole, born in Sarasota, FL, began her training with Gloria Gaither in Sarasota and received full scholarships to train with Sarasota Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and Next Generation Ballet. Dara joined Nashville Ballet II for two seasons and performed soloist roles in Anne Frank, Ferdinand the Bull. Since being at Festival Ballet Providence Dara has performed soloist roles in Viktor Plotnikov’s The House of Bernarda Alba, Ty Parmenter’s Wrest, and How We Found The Stars, two roles that Mr. Parmenter created on her, as well as corps de ballet roles in George Balenchine’s Rubies, Viktor Plotnikov’s Carmen, and Mihalo Djuric’s The Nutcracker. This is Dara’s fifth season and her second season as an apprentice with the Company.
»APPRENTICES
Kailee Felix
» Trainees Athina Alimonos Athina Alimonos, of Hadley, MA, trained at East Street Ballet with Irina Vakhromeeva and continued at Massachusetts Academy of Ballet with Rose and Charles Flachs. She’s performed the lead in Paquita, Odette/ Odile in Swan Lake, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Athina was a YAGP finalist in NYC, a gold medalist at the Connecticut Classic ballet competition, and a finalist at the World Ballet Competition. She was invited to train in Moscow, Russia, at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy year round. This is Athina's second season with the Company.
Eleanor Ambler Originally from Cambridge, Massachusetts, Eleanor Ambler received her training from Fresh Pond Ballet, Boston Ballet School, Orlando Ballet School, and summer intensives at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theater in New York, and Northern Ballet. In 2016, she became a trainee with American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, New Jersey. During her two years there, she had the opportunity to perform a variety of roles with the company in The Nutcracker and originated the role of Georgiana Darcy in the world premiere of Douglas Martin’s Pride and Prejudice. This is Eleanor's second season with the Company.
Sara Clarke A Connecticut native, Sara Clarke received her formative training from Wendy Fish-Lawrence and David Lawrence at Connecticut Concert Ballet. She then continued her studies at Mercyhurst University, where she had the opportunity to perform in both classical and contemporary ballets as well as choreograph for numerous mainstage productions. In 2017, Sara spent the summer with Boca Ballet Theatre where she was fortunate to perform in David Parson's The Envelope. She has danced professionally with Lorelei Chang’s modern company, dancEnlight, and has appeared as a soloist with Lake Erie Ballet. This is Sara's second season with the Company.
» Post Graduate Program Makena Chase Originally from Goffstown, NH, Makena Chase trained at Russian Ballet Academy in Phoenix, AZ under Olga Tarasova. Makena then joined the advance training program at Cary Ballet Conservatory in Cary, NC under the direction of Mariaelena Ruiz and Heather Iler. She has performed the roles of Odette in Swan Lake, Mouse Queen and Marzipan Lead in The Nutcracker, and wedding demi in La Bayadere. While at Cary she got the opportunity to compete in both National and International competitions. She attended summer programs at Houston Ballet, American Ballet Theater NYC, Kirov Ballet Academy, and Festival Ballet Providence. This is Makena’s first season with the Company.
42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 21
The Arts Create Jobs, And Not Just for Artists
photos left to right: Kingston Chamber Music Festival; Trinity Repertory Company; The Steelyard (photo by Force 4 Photography).
The arts are an important part of the Rhode Island economy. Over 12,000 people work in our state’s arts sector, and according to Americans for the Arts, Rhode Island is third in the nation in the number of arts related businesses per capita, exceeded only by California and New York.
That’s important news for the Rhode Island economy, because when the arts are thriving, Rhode Island businesses thrive as well. The arts help keep our restaurants and parking garages full, and our retail stores busy. Local businesses employ thousands of Rhode Islanders whose livelihood depends, in large measure, on the arts. With all the economic energy that comes from an active arts community, shouldn’t Rhode Islanders build on its success?
Here’s where we come in. Rhode Island’s investment in the arts is small (just 6/100ths of 1% of our state budget), but the arts reach millions of Rhode Islanders and visitors each year, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into Rhode Island businesses. Let’s ensure that the Rhode Island economy continues to benefit from the arts.
Support the Arts! www.arts.ri.gov
22 // Festival Ballet Providence
42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 23
Hansel & Gretel
FBP Black Box Theatre
Up Close on Hope
FBP Black Box Theatre
October 12-20, 2019
November 1-10, 2019 | Program 1
The Nutcracker December 13-15, 2019
Game Changers
February 7-9, 2020 | Mixed Repertory
The Three Little Pigs
FBP Black Box Theatre
Up Close on Hope
FBP Black Box Theatre
March 14-22, 2020
March 27-April 5, 2020 | Program 2
The Sleeping Beauty May 8-10, 2020
FBP Black Box Theatre One Avenue of the Arts Providence RI 02903
220 Weybosset St. Providence RI 02903
825 Hope St. Providence RI 02906
401-421-ARTS or TheVetsRI.com
401-421-ARTS or PPACRI.org
401-353-1129 or festivalballetprovidence.org`
24 // Festival Ballet Providence
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42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 25
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26 // Festival Ballet Providence
» Choreographers
Viktor Plotnikov Resident Choreographer
Born in Kharkov City, Ukraine, Plotnikov received his training at the Kiev-Ukraine School and the St. Petersburg Vaganova Ballet Academy. From 1987 to 1990, he was a soloist with Donetsk Ballet Company in the Ukraine. Plotnikov was a principal dancer at Ballet Mississippi and Tulsa Ballet Theatre between 1990 and 1993, before joining Boston Ballet as a principal dancer in 1993, where he performed until 2006. In 1998, Plotnikov’s extensive performance career led to choreographic inspiration. Since then, Plotnikov has created original works for numerous organizations and individuals, including solos and duets performed at international gala performances and ballet competitions. He has created commissioned works for companies including Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Richmond Ballet, New Jersey Ballet and the Bolshoi Theatre. Awards include: Best Choreography at the 2005 Helsinki International Ballet Competition and at the 2007 World Ballet Competition, Orlando; Outstanding Choreography Prize at the 2006 Youth American Grand Prix; Second Prize winner of the 2007 International Choreographic Competition in Milwaukee; Best Choreography Award at the 2008 Ballet Competition in Perm, Russia; and Outstanding Choreographer Award at the 2009 Youth American Grand Prix. In 2003, FBP Artistic Director Mihailo Djuric commissioned Plotnikov to create an original version of Carmen, his first full length ballet. That success lead to numerous ensuing commissions for FBP. In 2010, Djuric named Plotnikov Festival Ballet Providence Resident Choreographer.
Milica Bijelic Guest Choreographer - The Sleeping Beauty Born in Belgrade, Milica started her training at the Lujo Davico Ballet School at age 10. From 1975-1978 she studied at The Academy of Choreography in Moscow, before joining The National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belgrade upon graduation in 1978. She quickly became a soloist, and in 1985 she was promoted to principal ballerina. There she performed a great number of principal roles in many ballets over the period of more than two decades. Awards include: the Prize of the National Opera and Ballet Theatre (1980), a Public Award of Merit (1981) for the role of Antonia in Tales of Hoffman; the Award of Distinction on the Tenth Yugoslavian Ballet Biennial (1983) in Ljubljana, a Public Award of Merit (1985) for role of Wendy in Peter Pan, The National Opera and Ballet Theatre life-achievement award (1997), a title of Deserving Artist by the Ministry of Culture of Serbia (2010), and the Association of Ballet Dancers of Serbia life-achievement award (2014). Bijelic retired from the stage in 2002 and became Ballet Mistress at Festival Ballet Providence. At the end of her tenure as Ballet Mistress, Bijelic was given a Citizen Citation by the Mayor of the City of Providence for her extraordinary efforts. Since 2013, Milica has trained young dancers in her own studio in Belgrade, as well as internationally.
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42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 27
»CHOREOGRAPHERS
Christopher Huggins Guest Choreographer - [New Work] Christopher L. Huggins is a choreographer, teacher, and former member of the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. A native of Boston, Huggins trained under Andrea Herbert Major, Danny Sloan and Martha Gray. After attending SUNY Purchase, The Julliard School, and completing a fellowship at The Ailey School, Huggins appeared as a guest artist in several dance companies in the US, Norway, and Italy. Christopher has worked as a master teacher and choreographer throughout the world. Huggins has created ballets for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Ailey II, Philadanco, Alvin Ailey, Louisiana Dance Theatre, Lulu Washington Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Broadway Dance of Tokyo and Oslo Dance Ensemble in Norway. His awards among others include the Alvin Ailey Award for Best Choreography (2002 and 2008), and Service to IABD in the Field of Dance Award from the International Association of Blacks in Dance. Huggins is the Resident Choreographer at Duke Ellington High School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. he recently set his ballet Bolero on Cape Dance Company in South Africa. Currently, he is a faculty member of the Dance Convention Tour, ASH – Artists Simply Human.
Christopher Wheeldon Guest Choreographer - Morphoses English choreographer Christopher Wheeldon is Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet. He studied at The Royal Ballet School and joined New York City Ballet in 1993. He was appointed NYCB’s first resident choreographer in July 2001 and founded Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company in 2007. Mr. Wheeldon regularly choreographs for leading international companies, including Boston Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, The Royal Danish Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet; in 2007, he became the first British choreographer to create a new work for the Bolshoi Ballet. In 2012, he collaborated with Marriott on the closing ceremony of the London Olympic Games. For the Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Wheeldon provided choreography for their productions of La Gioconda and Carmen, and he created ballet sequences for the feature film Center Stage. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his choreography of the Broadway musical Sweet Smell of Success, and received the Tony, Drama Desk, and Astaire Awards for his choreography, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for his direction and choreography of the Broadway musical An American in Paris. He was made an OBE in 2016.
Yury Yanowsky Guest Choreographer - Same Yury Yanowsky was born in Lyon, France and grew up in Madrid and Las Palmas, Spain. He began his ballet training with his parents, Carmen Robles and Anatole Yanowsky, and also studied at the National Ballet of Cuba. Yanowsky joined Boston Ballet’s corps de ballet in 1993, was promoted to soloist in 1995 and to principal dancer in 1999. In 1992, Yanowsky won first prize at the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland and the Silver Medal at Varna International Ballet Competition, and in 1994 he won the Silver Medal in the Senior Division at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. Throughout his career, Yanowsky has participated in numerous international ballet galas. Yanowsky recently won the choreographic prize at the 2015 Eric Bruhn Competition for his ballet District. In the 2015-2016 Season he commissioned world premieres for Boston Ballet, The Bundes Jugend Ballet, and The Jacobs Pillow Opening Night Gala.
28 // Festival Ballet Providence
42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 29
Eat-In
Take-Out
HOPE STREET PIZZA Restaurant & Bar Great lunches and dinners with an expanded bar and lounge! 772 Hope Street East Side 30 // Festival Ballet Providence
401-273-5955
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42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 31
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• 32 // Festival Ballet Providence
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» Company History Originally named Festival Ballet of Rhode Island (FBRI), the Company was founded in 1978 by two former Royal Winnipeg Ballet Principal Dancers, prima ballerina Christine Hennessey and her partner Winthrop Corey. The pair led the FBRI for almost twenty years, establishing it as a force in the New England dance community and one of the strongest regional companies in the country.
world premiere contemporary choreography with a newfound intimacy. Known as the "Up Close on Hope" series, these small venue programs became an immediate audience favorite. The Company now performs over 25 productions each season in the Black Box Theatre, which grows in technological advancement and pushes the boundaries of live performance each year.
As the Company grew, so too did its repertory. In the early years, Hennessey and Corey built upon their shared dream of bringing world-class dance to Rhode Island, attracting big names to stage ballets by eminent choreographers such as George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, and Arthur Mitchell (Mr. Mitchell and Ms. de Mille both personally came to set their ballets—Rhythmetron and Golden Age, respectively— on the young company). The FBRI Nutcracker quickly became a beloved tradition for the holiday season at the Providence Performing Arts Center as well as a welcomed spectacle in additional touring locations across New England.
Throughout its 41 year history, FBP has never lost sight of its roots, continuing to stage classical story ballets beloved the world over. Giselle, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Esmeralda, and The Sleeping Beauty are among the classics that FBP has performed, in addition to many works by George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Christopher Wheeldon, and a vast array of other neoclassical and contemporary choreographers.
Hennessey led the Festival Ballet until her untimely death in 1997. Hennessey’s daughter Elizabeth (a leading dancer in the company for many years) acted as Interim Artistic Director while the Board of Trustees searched for a replacement. In 1998, choreographer and dancer Mihailo "Misha" Djuric was selected to direct the Company. Djuric’s determined pursuit of artistic excellence and impish personality combined with his "tough love" approach to directing promised to boost FBRI to great heights. Djuric’s ambitious vision involved reaching broader audiences with an even more diverse repertory, mixing contemporary and classical choreography and incorporating an unprecedented number of emerging choreographers on the roster. One of Djuric's first initiatives was to bring the Festival Ballet School under the wing of the Company, establishing it as the top destination for professional ballet training in Rhode Island. The Festival Ballet School has continued to produce skilled dancers, many of whom have gone on to dance with ballet companies around the world, including Festival Ballet. In 2001, recognizing the tremendous role that the City of Providence plays in the artistic fabric of Rhode Island, the Company moved to the historic East Side of the capital city and officially changed its name to Festival Ballet Providence (FBP). That same year, FBP followed the lead of other regional dance companies around the world by constructing its own adaptable performance space, distinct in form and function from the expansive auditoriums that full-length ballets often require. The creation of a new "Black Box Theatre" in the East Side building allowed FBP to present mixed programs of
In 2003, Djuric discovered the young Viktor Plotnikov (then a principal dancer with Boston Ballet), an encounter that would later blossom into one of the most productive and artistically diverse relationships in the Company’s history. Plotnikov began choreographing for FBP that year, enrapturing the Rhode Island audience with his bold and quirky style. Plotnikov’s contemporary adaptation of Carmen as well as his captivating interpretations of Cinderella and The Widow's Broom earned him critical acclaim. In 2006, Festival Ballet received the honor of touring throughout Venezuela in the 1st Internacional Ballet del Siglio XXI Festival. In 2011, FBP was invited to perform in the Belgrade International Dance Festival, joining ballet companies from around the world (including Nederlands Dans Theater, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Royal Swedish Ballet, among others) for an event that was televised live throughout Europe. The monumental tour was sponsored by the United States Embassy. After the FBP performance in Belgrade (an all-Plotnikov program that included the world-premiere of Surrender), Djuric was awarded the "VIP Invites" Award from the Serbian Ministry of Culture, making him the first laureate to receive this prestigious honor recognizing outstanding Serbian artists working abroad. Advancing the legacy of the dedicated individuals who built its foundation with the generous backing of its supporters—corporate, foundational, public, and individual—Festival Ballet Providence proudly continues its mission: "To thrill and move our audience, dancers, choreographers, students, supporters, and staff, with art and discipline. We dance to enrich and inspire lives."
42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 33
Âť Contributors
For the period of September 1, 2018 - August 31, 2019
$10,000 + Anonymous (x2) Merle and Stanley Goldstein Jenay and David Evans Gail Higgins Fogarty June Rockwell Levy Foundation Miriam Hospital Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Alan and Marie Weiss Toots Zynsky
$3,000 - $9,999 Anonymous (x2)
Mary Lovejoy
Judy Barrett Litoff
The Nelson Corporation Foundation
Gretchen Dow Simpson and James Baird
Jane S. Nelson
Davide Dukcevich
Nordson Foundation
Emma Clyde Hodge Foundation
Providence Tourism Council
EOG Resources
Eve and Jon Rounds
Florence Family Fund
Seven Stars Bakery
Linda and Harold Kushner
University Orthopedics
John Leo
Vets Foundation
34 // Festival Ballet Providence
$1,500 - $2,999 Joan and Richard Abrams Liz Annunziata Brian Ehlers Cynthia and John Hughes Ocean State Charities
Mary and Donald McClure Amy and Robert Nash Alan and Laurine Perry Kitty and Don Wineberg Evans Capactitor
$500 - $1,499 Advanced Dental Care
Mary Tsangarakis Â
Anonymous (x3)
Duncan Maio & Kristen Westmoreland
Azamat Asangul Uulu
John and Kathleen Malmborg
Kip and Judith Brott
Faye Maris
Demetria and Stephen Carr
Janet and Tony Muri
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Victoria M. and Wallace Murray
John and Susan Combes
Amy and Kevin Orth
Orest Fedan
Part of the Oath
Gayle L. Goldin
Pearlman Charitable Fund
Jill and Larry Goldstein
Barry and Rebecca Preston
Brian Heller
Providence Performing Arts Center
David and Patricia Hopfenberg
Santina Siena MD
Hotel Dolce Villa
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Mary Kesson
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Jennifer Kiddie
Kimberly Winslow
Thomas King
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$250 - $499 Sarah Ambler
Don Lopes
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Anonymous (x2)
Karen Felix
Ann and Stephen Metcalf
Patricia & John Biasuzzi
Erica Guatieri
Narragansett Brewing Company
John Cowl
Paula and Rick Keogh
Pamela Nelson Erskine
The Croft School
Lisa LaDew and William Morris
William J. and Paula H. Rooks
Ruth Davis
Glenn Mangurian
Jim DeRentis and Brett Smiley
Brankica and Damir Mazlagic
42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 35
$1 - $249 Leon Acosta Alan Alberto Peter and Susan Allen Anonymous (x2) Murietta Araneta Marilyn Ardente Domenic Arlia Susan Ayres Boris Babic Cheryl and Neil Bartholomew Christopher Batty Heidi M. Berggren Betty Blake Thomas Bryson Janet Buckley Boris Bugalar Tom and Kerrin Callahan Pauline Caron-Ricci Caroline Castiglione Richard Chambers Sylvia Chaplain Samantha Chella Elizabeth Choquette Ed Collins Valerie Cookson-Botto Erica and Chris Corey Frank Correia Jennifer Davis Susan Devine Misha Djuric Dr. Marie Donabella-Pedlow Robert Donald Gail Donovan Nancy Dotsicas Wendy Drumm Blackbaud Abigale Evangelista Alyssa Evans In Memory of Michael Eugene Fesco Violette Falk Frank Faltus Martin Flaherty In Memory of Susan M Flaherty Cary Fleisher Stephanie Fortunato
36 // Festival Ballet Providence
Celine Fugere Lavinia Gadsden Mary Gagnon Louis Giancola Anna-Marie Giles Dylan Giles Steve and Cynthia Giles Hannah Goldberg Michael Gerhardt and Doree Goodman Alexander Gourlay Barbara Gourlay Jon Gourlay Bob and Mimi Grant Susan Griffiths Kristen Haddon David Halko Linda Hennessey Tracey Hennessey Hope Houston Margaret Howland Michel Issa Sandra Jennings Eshima Jane Johnston Melvin Jolly Saulius Kerikas Jessie and Jim Kingston Ivan Kirschner Norman Krasner Peter Lafreniere Roy Lauth Helenmary Lauth Deborah Liney Margaret Lo Peter S. Lovdahl Jessica MacLeod Charles Mahoney Nicole Maranhas Dorothy Martin Mazumder Leslie McCarthy Linda McGoldrick Lisa McGuirk Dr. Frederick H McMillen Kathy Miller Sarah Miller
Irina Mirsky-Zayas Jeanne Moore and Jose Medina In memory of Nicholas Montenegro Marilyn and Robert Moskol Nicole Muhlbauer Judith Neilson Araz Nina Jack and Sandy Owens Elizabeth Palter Saraf Rahman Mikhail Raikhline Joe Rainey Scott Redfield Jennifer Rianna Jennifer Ricci Heidi Rich Timothy Rivinus Georgeanne and John Roe Richard and Sharon Rogers Catherine J. Rose Elizabeth Rounds Mike Russo Richard A. Saltzman Debra and John Schiavone Gloria Vera Shafaee Moghadam Andrey Sivachenko Mary Sorice Theresa Staas Providence Swings Leslie Streulli Vivian Sung Shaley Teeter Gail Titus Kirill Tokmakov Celia Torrey Janet Tuffy James Turner Mary Van Pelt The Vandermillens Lorraine Vekens Mary B. Wall Ronda L. Warrener Shannon Woods Kari Yettner Dmitry Zinoviev
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42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 37
Âť In-Kind Donors Adler's Hardware Avenue N Bethany O Photography Milica Bijelic Billy's Restaurant Patricia Birkes BJ's Wholesale Blithewold Bob's Furniture Boston Ballet Boston Celtics Cafe Nuovo Caffe Itri Camilles Capezio Capriccio Castle Hill Inn Deborah Chapman Chelo's Family Restaurant Circe Citi Nails Coiffurium Dance Nelia
38 // Festival Ballet Providence
Mihailo Djuric Jenay Evans Evolve Apothecary & Spa Fitness Together Providence Gail Higgins Fogarty Fresca Gamm Theatre Jan Gendron Google Green River Silver Co. Greenwich Oyster House Hotel Dolce Villa Kitchen Bar Kreatelier La Masseria Luli Boutique Linda McGoldrick Milk Bar Newport Preservation Society Thomas Nola-Rion Bill Pinelli Pizzico Providence Performing Arts Ctr.
Rasoi Michelle Rathier Renaissance Clinique Revivial Rhody Craft Laurine Ryan Perry Skyline at Waterplace Stock Culinary Goods Stop and Shop The Safe House Trinity Brewhouse Twin Oaks University Orthopedics Chris and Lisa Van Allsburg Vets Memorial Auditorium WaterFire Marie Weiss Don and Kitty Wineberg Kimberly Winslow WPRI Toots Zynsky
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40 // Festival Ballet Providence
Âť Community Outreach Programs
IN THEATERS
Full-length field trip programs at our mainstage theaters for educational groups.
IN SCHOOLS
I n-school and afterschool programming bringing the art of dance to schools across the region.
IN THE COMMUNITY Popular workshops in libraries and other community spaces which include interactive demonstrations, crafts, and storytelling.
PHOTOS BY DYLAN GILES
Festival Ballet's innovative, youth-driven community arts program that has established itself as a model for engaging and inspiring students with in-school workshops and residencies. (Above and Right) Students at Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary School in Providence participate in a Festival Ballet residency.
Discover Dance School Bus Sponsor
Learn More about our Educational Outreach initiatives at festivalballetprovidence.org Your support makes these programs possible. Thank you! 42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 41
» Edward M. Fogarty New Works Fund Established in 2017 in celebration of the life and legacy of our friend, advocate, and tireless leader, the Edward M. Fogarty New Works Fund supports the creation of new works of art and dance. The fund honors Ed’s passion for creativity and new creations, furthering the art of dance and giving a platform to a diversity of voices within the creative community. Give today at festivalballetprovidence.org.
(L-R) Larissa Ponomarenko, Viktor Plotnikov, Ed Fogarty, Gail Higgins Fogarty
» Christine Hennessey Scholarship Fund Supporting the dreams of young dancers. Investing in the future of ballet. Established in 2015, the Christine Hennessey Scholarship Fund honors the legacy and values of the Festival Ballet co-founder, who believed education was central to the mission of Festival Ballet and the broad success of the arts in the community. The fund raises money that is critical to helping young artists achieve their dreams through tuition assistance based on financial need and artistic accomplishment. By increasing access to transformative, highquality dance education for individuals of all backgrounds, donors are helping to create and sustain a diverse and growing student population. Give today at festivalballetprovidence.org.
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» Summer Dance Intensive 2020 July 6th – August 8th, 2020
Ages 10-Pre-professional Ballet, Pointe, Variations, Men's Class, Pas de deux, Contemporary, Character, Conditioning, and Performing Opportunities
"My experience at SDI was one I'll never forget. The exceptional faculty challenged me to be a better dancer and develop my own individual artistry. The performing opportunities and unique experiences are unparalleled. I had a blast!"
— Reira Ikeda Atlanta Ballet Trainee Former SDI student
PHOTOS BY DYLAN GILES
42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 43
PHOTOS BY DYLAN GILES
44 // Festival Ballet Providence
Festival Ballet Providence School offers an enriching and transformative dance education for children, teens, and adults. From those taking their first class to advanced dancers, every student receives the finest individualized training from our experienced faculty. Vilia Putrius School Director
Lisa McGuirk Registrar
YOUNG CHILDREN’S PROGRAM (ages 1.5-8) We offer a variety of age-appropriate classes including Dance with Me, three Creative Movement and three Pre-Ballet levels for our youngest students to experience the joy of dance.
CORE BALLET PROGRAM (ages 8 - Pre-Professional) Students are exposed to a rigorous curriculum with classes in ballet technique, pointe, repertoire, variations, character dance, partnering, contemporary, modern and jazz at appropriate levels of study from the beginner to advanced level.
OPEN PROGRAM (ages 8 –18) Ballet classes for beginners and boys, plus modern and jazz classes for beginner and intermediate level students.
ADAPTIVE DANCE PROGRAM A specially crafted program designed to bring movement and expression into the lives of children with Down Syndrome.
ADULT PROGRAM (ages 14 – Adult) Open classes for various levels of adult dancers.
SUMMER PROGRAM Open Classes for students (ages 2.5 - Adult) Enriching Dance Camps (ages 8 - 12) Summer Dance Intensive (ages 10 - pre-professional)
For more information about classes and class schedules please visit festivalballetprovidence.org/school 42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 45
impact
Make y o u r
Kirsten Evans
College Prep • Grades 6-1 2 • Co-ed THE Providence Country Day SCHOOL
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PCD Class of 2010 Festival Ballet Providence Company Dancer
42nd Season, 2019-2020 // 47
SUPPORTING THE ARTS
(401)465-0417
MIKE RUSSO
CONNEC TING BUYERS & SELLERS
820 Hope Street, Providence 342 Broadway, Providence Rumford Center, 20 Newman Avenue, East Providence 1255 Reservoir Avenue, Cranston @sevenstarsbakery www.sevenstarsbakery.com