World Premiere December, 2021
RHODE ISLAND P HILHARMON IC ORC HES TRA
RHODE ISLAND P HIL HARM O NI C MUSI C S C HO O L
TACO CLASSICAL SATURDAYS Tickets start at $15
LESSONS FOR EVERYONE
Enjoy elegant musical Saturday evenings at The VETS.
AMICA RUSH HOUR FRIDAYS Tickets start at $15 Early start time, shorter concert, relaxed atmosphere. Perfect for families.
2021-22 SEASON
Highlights include works of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin and many others!
• Voice, Piano, French horn, Clarinet, Percussion, Violin, Electric & Acoustic Guitar & more! • Composition • Suzuki Instruction • Music Therapy
ENSEMBLES YOU’LL LOVE • • • • • •
Youth Orchestras Chamber Music Wind Ensembles Big Band Jazz Combos Rock Bands
BABIES & YOUNG CHILDREN
Classes such as Music Together® and Rhythm Kids® are designed to enhance the musical potential of young children.
tickets.riphil.org 401.248.7000
riphil.org/musicschool 401.248.7001
THE MAGIC IS BACK Director’s Welcome.........................................................................................................................................................5 Company Roster................................................................................................................................................................7 The Nutcracker...................................................................................................................................................................8 Creative Team......................................................................................................................................................................11 Company Bios......................................................................................................................................................................16 Donors and Sponsors.....................................................................................................................................................22 Community Engagement...........................................................................................................................................27 FBP School..............................................................................................................................................................................28
Above: David DuBois as Drosselmeyer, Cynthia Van Pelt as Clara On The Cover: Mamuka Kikalishvili as The Nutcracker. Photos by Ian Travis Barnard. Original Nutcracker graphic design by Dusty Produce/Joshua Brown. Playbill design and layout by Dylan Giles.
3
There for you wherever you are. VISIT OUR RESTAURANTS
-
ENJOY TAKEOUT
-
SHOP OUR CHEF-DRIVEN MARKET
100% EMP L O W NO Y E E ED
CASTLE HILL | 22 BOWEN’S | THE MOORING | BAR ‘CINO BOAT HOUSE | TRIO | HEMENWAY’S | WATERMAN GRILLE AVVIO | SMOKE HOUSE | IRON WORKS | PAPA RAZZI | LA VECINA and our latest, FOODLOVE MARKET in Middletown, RI
NEWPORTRESTAURANTGROUP.COM
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome to The Nutcracker! At this magical time of the year, I am so delighted to welcome you and your family to this magnificent new production of the timeless holiday tradition of The Nutcracker! The show you are about to see is the result of the work of hundreds of artists, collaborators and crew, all of whom have dedicated their talents to bringing this production to the stage and the clever new choreography by Yury Yanowsky to life. For more than a year, their tireless creativity, ingenuity and imagination has helped create this dazzling new production for you, and I could not be more proud of this team. Kathleen Breen Combes
Director We are also delighted to welcome you to Nutcracker’s new home at The Vets. This is a magnificent venue that we have loved for many years, and we are so grateful to the management of The Vets led by General Manager Dan Schwartz, the IATSE Local 23 crew, and our production team who have worked tirelessly to make this holiday dream a magical reality.
The Nutcracker is a story of boundless innocence and childlike wonder, something that we could all use a bit of after the challenges of the last year. As you immerse in the magical storytelling by Festival Ballet’s incredible resident company and our children’s cast, I hope you will leave inspired to move others in your community this holiday season with love, compassion, and hope for a bright future ahead. Now we invite you to sit back and enjoy the performance as the magic of The Nutcracker sweeps you away!
5
KATHLEEN BREEN COMBES DIRECTOR
Kathleen Breen Combes initially joined Festival Ballet Providence as Executive Director in August 2019, after an illustrious career as a principal dancer with Boston Ballet. Originally from Rockville Centre, NY, Breen Combes received her early training from the Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique, the HARID Conservatory, and The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet before joining the Washington Ballet in 2000. She joined Boston Ballet in 2003, was promoted to second soloist in 2005, soloist in 2007, and to principal dancer in 2009, originating numerous roles by prominent choreographers, as well as performing title roles in a large variety of classical and neo-classical works. As one of Boston Ballet’s leading dancers, Breen Combes was hailed by The New York Times as a “ballerina of colossal scale and boldness”. She was awarded the Lefkowitz Award for Special Achievement at the New York International Ballet Competition at Lincoln Center in 2003, and was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine in 2007. Breen Combes 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 in 2012, and was invited to perform at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. Her versatile repertoire includes principal roles in the classical repertoire along with works by Wheeldon, Forsythe, McGregor, Ekman, Yanowsky, Pickett, Robbins, Kylián, and Balanchine. She originated the title role in Jorma Elo’s Carmen, as well as Close to Chuck and Break the Eyes, and has worked exclusively with William Forsythe, originating roles in Playlist and Pas/Parts among many others. Alongside her performing career, Breen Combes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Management and a Graduate Certificate in Non-profit Management from Northeastern University. She worked within the Development and Artistic Administrative Departments while at Boston Ballet as well as serving as 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. Breen Combes was appointed Director of Festival Ballet Providence in January 2021, and brings her extensive background, both artistically and administratively, to re-invigorate and inspire the Providence community. Her goals for the company include presenting world class art and creating an innovative, accessible and inclusive organization that will bring ballet to the forefront of the cultural landscape of Providence and beyond.
6
FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
KATHLEEN BREEN COMBES Director
YURY YANOWSKY Artistic Curator
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON
LETICIA GUERRERO
Rehearsal Coaches Company Dancers
AZAMAT ASANGUL
KATHERINE BICKFORD
KOBE ATWOOD COURTNEY DAVID DuBOIS
KIRSTEN EVANS
MAMUKA KIKALISHVILI MOISÉS MARTÍN
BRENNA DiFRANCESCO
ALEX LANTZ
TARA McCALLY
ANNA LISA WILKINS
KAILEE FELIX EMILY LOVDAHL
JOSEPH VAN HARN
NINA YOSHIDA
EUGENIA ZINOVIEVA
Apprentices FIONA KIRKLAND
AUDREY LUKACZ
ANDREW PLAYFORD
Trainees ATHINA ALIMONOS
ISABELLE BROWNE
MADELINE GLINSKI
JULIANA GODLEWSKI
ALEXANDRA JONES VICTORIA REILLY
KIRA KELLY CLARKE
ALEXA KEARNAN MARIA ROGLER
ANNIKA GRACE WEIDEMANN
MIKAELA GUIDICE GIANA MELUCCI
RACHEL SCHULTZ HANNAH WOOD
Administrative Staff MARISSA PARMENTER Director of Dance Education DYLAN GILES Director of Marketing, Box Office LISA McGUIRK FBP School Registrar VALERIE COOKSON BOTTO Director of Community Engagement KELLY SOARES Production Manager TARA FEURY Office Manager JENNIFER DAVIS Physical Therapist
7
World Premiere December 17, 2021 Veterans Memorial Auditorium Providence, Rhode Island Music: PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY Choreography: YURY YANOWSKY Rehearsal Coaches: CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON, LETICIA GUERRERO, ZENAIDA YANOWSKY Director of Dance Education: MARISSA PARMENTER Children’s Cast Coordinator: SARA BROWNELL Lighting Design: BRANDON STIRLING BAKER Set Design: PETER HORNE Costume Design: JUDANNA LYNN Nutcracker and Mouse King Mask Design: ERMINIO PINQUE Technical Directors: JOHN GONDA, BEN PHILLIPS Stage Manager: CHRISTINE REDIHAN Assistant Stage Manager: KELLY SOARES Wardrobe Supervisors: JOHNNY CAGNO, EMILY LOVDAHL, BRIAN SIMONS, Artistic Consultant: CHU LING Magic Consultant: MARVELOUS MARVIN
8
FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
SYNOPSIS ACT I The eccentric and mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer prepares toys and gifts for the children in eager anticipation of Christmas Eve and his favorite party of the year. This year, he is working on a special toy, a handsome Nutcracker doll for his beloved niece Clara. Snowflakes swirl through the chilly evening air as guests arrive at the Silberhaus home for a grand holiday party. Herr Drosselmeyer, the parents and children all dance merrily while enjoying the holiday festivities. Drosselmeyer entertains the children with magic tricks and toys from his enchanted bag, along with two spectacular panda bears and life-sized dancing dolls. Filled with holiday delight, Drosselmeyer gives the special Nutcracker doll to Clara and she is taken with the charming toy soldier. Clara dances with the doll until her brother, Fritz steals and breaks it. Drosselmeyer graciously repairs it as the party culminates in a grand dance with all of the guests. The Silberhaus family goes to bed, but curious Clara, with memories of the evening’s festivities still swirling in her head, sneaks downstairs, finds her Nutcracker under the glowing tree, and falls asleep. When the clock strikes midnight Clara has a strange dream. The windows, walls, and furniture suddenly begin to grow before her eyes. Just then, a hoard of mice, led by a wicked and intimidating Mouse King, burst forth into the parlor. The Nutcracker grows into a full size soldier and comes to Clara’s aid along with an impressive army of toy soldiers and Cavalry. A great battle ensues, and the Nutcracker is injured by the Mouse King. Clara, seeing the Nutcracker in distress, takes her shoe and throws it at the Mouse King, distracting him just long enough for the Nutcracker to slay him. Clara is terrified thinking the Nutcracker had been killed, but suddenly he reappears, transformed to a handsome Prince. Grateful for Clara’s courageous act, the Nutcracker leads her on a magical journey into an enchanted forest, blanketed in glittering snow. They are met by the Snow Queen and King along with darling snow fairies who lead them through a glittering forest of dancing snowflakes swirling in the night sky as the magical evening continues... INTERMISSION
ACT II Clara and the Nutcracker Prince arrive at the Land of Sweets. They are met by dancing Angels, Sweets from across the land, and the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier who oversee the enchanted land. They ask Clara and the Nutcracker how they came to the land, and the travelers retell the battle story. For their bravery, Clara is given a beautiful crown and the Nutcracker Prince a medal. In celebration, the Sweets dance for their honored guests and Mother Ginger, accompanied by her darling Polichinelles, fill the room with joy. A majestic and regal dance from the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier brings their visit to a close. The Sweets bid farewell and Clara clings to her Nutcracker Prince as Herr Drosselmeyer appears and tells her it is time to return home. Alone again in the familiar parlor, Clara wakes up with her beautiful Nutcracker doll still cradled in her arms. Everything in the home is as it once was, until Clara notices a sparkling tiara still resting upon her head. As dawn breaks on Christmas Day, Clara wonders, was it a dream or was it real?
9
Delta Dental of Rhode Island is proud to support Festival Ballet Providence
deltadentalri.com
CREATIVE TEAM YURY YANOWSKY CHOREOGRAPHER
Yury Yanowsky’s robust career as a Principal Dancer with the Boston Ballet spanned over two decades. Yanowsky frequently performed as an international guest artist, most notably with The Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Prague, National Ballet of China, and Pennsylvania Ballet. He was also a participant in numerous International Ballet Galas. Known for his bravura technique and stage presence he was hailed for his versatility in both classical and contemporary works. Yanowsky won First Prize at the Prix de Lausanne and the Silver medal at the Varna and U.S. International Ballet Competitions. He trained with Carmen Delgado de Robles, Anatol Yanowsky, and the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Yury’s passion for choreography began early in his dancing career and over the past decade he has had the opportunity to showcase his work around the world. He has been commissioned to create new works for Boston Ballet, Boston Ballet 2, Bundes Jugend Ballet, Jacobs Pillow Gala, Atlanta Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Kansas City Ballet, Portland Ballet, and Festival Ballet Providence. In 2015, he was awarded the Choreographic Prize at the prestigious Erik Bruhn Competition and his ballet Smoke and Mirrors for Boston Ballet was named “Best in Dance for 2016” by The Arts Fuse and hailed as a “visual and choreographic masterpiece”. In 2018 he founded Dance YaNOWsky, a small touring company dedicated to his vision. Yanowsky is focused on creating new works that are relevant and reflective of today’s society, oftentimes using unique collaborations to enhance his works. Yanowsky has served as Movement Consultant for American Repertory Theatre and as Movement Director for The Boston Lyric Opera. He is a frequent teacher at Boston Ballet, Boston Arts Academy, and Centro Coreographico Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. When not choreographing, Yury remains on the Dance Faculty at Harvard University. In 2020 Yanowsky was named Artistic Curator of Festival Ballet Providence.
LETICIA GUERRERO REHEARSAL COACH
A native of Venezuela, Ms. Guerrero received her early training at the Keyla Ermecheo Ballet School in Caracas. She has performed with numerous companies including Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas, Metropolitan Ballet of Caracas, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Michigan Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theatre, Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre and Cadence Dance Project. She has created leading roles in ballets in Gianni Dimarco’s El Amor Brujo, Schéhérazade and Azucar, Plotnikov’s Carmen, The Widow’s Broom,Loof and Let Dime and Coma, De Bouteiller’s Romeo and Juliet and FBP’s 2006 premiere of Don Quixote. Other leading roles include Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Rubies, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, Tarantella, Who Cares?, Pelzig’s The Princess and the Pea, Swan Lake and Eldar Aliev’s A Thousand and One Nights. Ms. Guerrero 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 Providence Mayor David Cicilline awarded a Citizens 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 new role as Ballet Mistress with the Company, and as a faculty member with FBP School where she continues to pass on her knowledge to a new generation of dancers.
11
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON REHEARSAL COACH
Christopher Anderson began his training in Colorado at the Arvada Center for the Arts with Howard Kanobe and Lynelle Mossholder. At age 14, Anderson trained with internationally renowned teacher and pedagogue Marika Besobrasova at the Academie de Danse Classique de Princesse Grace in Monaco before training at North Carolina School of the Arts under the guidance of Duncan Noble. He completed his training at San Francisco Ballet School under the direction of Richard Cammack. His teachers were Henry Berg, Christine Berring, Richard Cammack, Lew Christensen, Zola Dishong, David Howard, Gabriel Septienne, Michael Smuin, Larissa Sklyanskaya, and his mentor Anatole Vilzak. Upon completing his education, Anderson danced for sixteen years at San Francisco Ballet, working his way through the ranks, dancing numerous roles and working with many internationally acclaimed choreographers and artists. Anderson has performed the works of George Balanchine, David Bintley, Christopher Bruce, Val Caniparoli, William Forsythe, Jacques Garnier, James Kudelka, Jiri Kylian, Anna Laerkesen, Mark Morris, Jerome Robbins, Deitmar Seyferrt, Paul Taylor, Glen Tetley, Helgi Tomasson and Stanton Welch. He has also danced in many of the classics including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo & Juliet, Giselle, La Sylphide, Chopinyana, and The Nutcracker. After his time with San Francisco Ballet, Anderson danced internationally in Europe as a Principal Guest Artist. He joined Alberta Ballet under the direction of Mikko Nissinen where he worked three years as a principal dancer. During his time with Alberta Ballet, he danced the works of George Balanchine, Jorma Elo, Jean Grande-Maitre, Emily Molnar, Rudi Van Danzig, Edmund Stripe, and Christopher Wheeldon. Anderson taught in numerous dance programs, seminars and summer programs including Boston Ballet School where he worked as a faculty member for 16 years before joining the Festival Ballet School in 2020. In addition to his work with BBS, Anderson also taught Boston Ballet company class regularly and was the Ballet Master for the Battle Scene in Mikko Nissinen’s production of the The Nutcracker.
ZENAIDA YANOWSKY REHEARSAL COACH
Zenaida Yanowsky is a former Principal of The Royal Ballet. She joined the Company as a First Artist in 1994 and was promoted to Soloist in 1996, First Soloist in 1999 and Principal in 2001. She retired from the Company in 2017. Yanowsky was born in Lyon and raised in Spain. She trained with Anatol Yanowsky and Carmen Robles. After winning a silver medal at Varna in 1991 she joined Paris Opera Ballet. Further awards included gold medals at the 1993 European Young Dancers Competition and the 1994 Jackson International Ballet Competition. She performed leading roles in the classical, dramatic and contemporary repertories, and created roles for and worked with choreographers including Mark Baldwin, Kim Brandstrup, Christopher Bruce, Siobhan Davies, Nacho Duato, Mats Ek, Flemming Flindt, William Forsythe, Javier De Frutos, Jiří Kylián, Cathy Marston, Ashley Page, Alexei Ratmansky, Liam Scarlett, Glen Tetley, Twyla Tharp, Will Tuckett and Christopher Wheeldon (including Mother/Queen of Hearts (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) and Paulina (The Winter’s Tale for The Royal Ballet). Yanowsky features in the short dance films Duet and The Sandman (Channel 4) Riot at the Rite and The Dying Swan documentary (BBC). She has collaborated with Tuckett to create work for the Whitechapel Gallery and Tate Modern. Her many awards include Outstanding Female Performance (Classical) at the 2016 National Dance Awards for Elizabeth and the Grishko Award for Best Female Dancer at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards 2017.
12 FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
BRANDON STIRLING BAKER LIGHTING DESIGN
Brandon Stirling Baker is an award-winning lighting designer working internationally in the areas of dance, opera and theatre. Baker has worked with a diverse group of visual artists, directors, composers and choreographers including Justin Peck, Savion Glover, Shepard Fairey, Sufjan Stevens, Jamar Roberts, William Forsythe, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Bryce Dessner, Daniel Buren, George Condo, Pam Tanowitz, Alonzo King, Damian Woetzel, Karl Jensen, Marcel Dzama, Stephen Powers, Michelle Dorrance, Benjamin Millepied, Caleb Teicher, and James Ortiz. His lighting can be seen internationally in the repertories of New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, Berlin Staatsballet, Miami City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Houston Ballet, Semperoper Dresden, Opera Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance, Los Angeles Dance Project and many others. Since 2010, Baker has been a frequent collaborator with Tony Award winning choreographer Justin Peck. Born in Victoria British Columbia, Canada, of British parents, now resident in the United Kingdom. Following a Quixotic education, attended McGill University in Montreal, then the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, Peter ventured into the world of the theatre. He began as an Assistant Designer working at: Stratford Shakespearean Festival (Canada), The Shaw Festival, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and On and Off Broadway in New York. In the 1970’s and 80’s he became a renowned realize of stage works of several artists. (Maurice Sendak, Earl Staley, Jim Dine). During this period he also was teaching at the National Theatre School in Montreal and several guest assignments Canadian and US Institutions.
PETER HORNE
SET AND COSTUME DESIGN Peter Horne is an experienced theatre designer having worked in opera and ballet and drama for companies such as Houston Grand Opera, Grand Ballet Canadien, Houston Ballet. He has had extensive experience as technical and production director for Glyndebourne. It was during the late 1980’s and 90’s that he became a respected Technical Direction and Production Director. An achievement earned after many years of making and managing the major craft areas, Props, Costumes and Scenery. The appointments at Houston Grand Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Glyndebourne Festival and Touring Opera, were the pinnacle of his administrative theatre career. During this period Peter took time to design several productions for Drama, Opera and Ballet. (Texas Opera Theatre, Skylight Opera in Milwaukee, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Seattle Rep, Bellport Playhouse, Houston Ballet, of note are the 6 Nutcracker productions, Les Grand Ballets Canadien, BalletMet , Atlanta Ballet, Washington Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Slovak National Ballet, plus the realization of the Sendak Nutcracker for Pacific Northwest Ballet and Atlantic Films. Life at the easel has been an interrupted one. Several times Peter took time off from his theatre career to focus on his painting and drawing. The seascape always fascinated him, so he sought a location of peace and began to paint for several weeks and sometimes longer. His series of 12 Cape Cod paintings were done over a year in the late 70’s. These were his first proper sales. Since then he has had exhibitions in New York, at Glyndebourne, Martha’s Vineyard and Provincetown. He is now semi retired so that he can focus on painting full time. He lives in Camber in East Sussex with his partner and Oscar our Border Terrier.
13
JUDANNA LYNN COSTUME DESIGN
Judanna Lynn has designed costumes for most of the major dance companies in the United States including New York City Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the Philadelphia Ballet. Other credits include the costumes for Ballet de Santiago, Festival of the Lion King, for the opening of Disney’s Theme Park in Hong Kong; Houston Ballet’s highly acclaimed productions of Don Quixote, Dracula and Cleopatra; the musical Lyle for Charles Strouse; The Hartford Stage/Old Globe Theatre’s production of Tintypes; the musicals Once On This Island for the Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis, Hats! and Tin Pan Alley Rag for the Cleveland Playhouse. Judanna formerly danced with San Francisco Opera Ballet and was a resident costume designer of The Juilliard School. She is also a painter whose work has been seen at the Rizzoli and Miniatura Galleries in New York City, the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Art and in private collections.
ERMINIO PINQUE
NUTCRACKER AND MOUSE KING MASK DESIGN Erminio Pinque is the founder and artistic director of BIG NAZO, an international performance group and creature-making studio in Providence. Originally from New York, he has lived in Providence since receiving his BFA in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design, where he now teaches a course in creature creation.
CHU LING
ARTISTIC CONSULTANT Having flourished in the dance world for 40 years, Chu Ling is an internationally recognized award-winning artist. Starting off her career in China and Japan Ms. Chu relocated to the United States in 1996, where two years later she founded the Chu Ling Dance Academy, which quickly became established as a vibrant arts space. Since arriving, her works have been performed in Seattle, New York and Boston and her academy has excelled in training a new generation of dancers, and they have performed in notable events across Boston such as First Night Boston and the Boston Arts Festival. Having a philosophy of using dance to celebrate cultural differences and to open up new horizons, Ms. Chu puts personal development at the core of her teachings, and this has been utilized by the Boston Ballet School, Curry College, Lesley University, Wellesley College and Harvard University, where she has taught regularly. Chu Ling is a member of the FBP School faculty.
MARVELOUS MARVIN MAGIC CONSULTANT
Marvin Novogrodski is pleased to assist Yury with magic and circus ideas in this year’s Nutcracker. Marvin, a former dancer/actor with Providence’s Everett Dance Theatre has been integrating magic and circus arts for years under the guise of Marvelous Marvin doing educational shows for elementary schools.
EMERALD CITY THEATRICAL WARDROBE SUPERVISORS
For several years Johnny Cagno and Brian Simons of Emerald City Theatrical, have serviced New England theater. From high schools, middle schools, and professional theater, These two talented designers have provided thousands of beautiful costumes for local and out of state productions. This fantastic duo is dedicated to bringing the finest in theatrical costume rentals and design services to the surrounding arts communities. Brian and Johnny would like to thank the many incredible programs and individuals who support, cultivate, and encourage their talents. Many thanks and love to their moms, for they would not be where they are today without them.
14 FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
MARISSA PARMENTER
DIRECTOR OF DANCE EDUCATION Marissa Parmenter took over as Director of Dance Education of Festival Ballet Providence in 2020, after a dance career brought her around the world, granting her the opportunity to perform with a variety of professional companies and collaborate with leading choreographers in a wide array of dance styles. During her seven years with Festival Ballet Providence (2002-2006, 2014-2017), Ms. Parmenter performed many notable principal and soloist roles both in classical and contemporary ballets. Beyond her work in Providence, Ms. Parmenter has also danced as a full-time artist and guest performer with numerous companies including Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montreal, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, BalletMet Columbus, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance, and Boston Ballet. Ms. Parmenter has had the honor of dancing in new creations by renowned choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, James Kudelka, Mauro Bigonzetti, Edwaard Liang, Dominic Walsh, and Viktor Plotnikov, in addition to performing iconic works by seminal choreographers including Christopher Wheeldon, Jiri Kylian, George Balanchine, Sir Frederick Ashton, Jean-Christophe Maillot, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Amy Seiwert, and Darrell Grand Moultrie. In 2008, she was selected to perform at the prestigious festival Les Étés de la Danse in Paris and subsequently appeared in Quelques Pas a Paris, a documentary about the festival directed by Ezra Belotte-Cousineau. Ms. Parmenter is also an accomplished choreographer whose original work has been performed at Festival Ballet Providence School, Wheaton College, and Hollins University. She has been highlighted by featured articles in Pointe and Dance Magazine and has received both the Caroline Newhouse and Sono Onsato awards for artists in higher education. Ms. Parmenter trained at Boston Ballet, José Mateo Ballet Theatre, and London Studio Centre under Margaret Barbieri. She earned her M.F.A. from Hollins University in 2014 in association with the American Dance Festival, Frankfurt Conservatory of Performing Arts, and the Forsythe Company. From 2014-2018, Ms. Parmenter directed Festival Ballet School’s Summer Dance Intensive and furthered the professional company’s growth as Development Director from 2015-2020. In addition to leading the faculty and curriculum at Festival Ballet Providence School, she is currently an Associate Professor of Dance at Boston Conservatory at Berklee College and serves on the Dean’s Faculty Advisory Committee for curriculum development.
SARA CLARKE
CHILDREN’S CAST COORDINATOR A Connecticut native, Sara Clarke received her formative training from Wendy Fish-Lawrence and David Lawrence at Connecticut Concert Ballet. During high school, she was also a member of Hartford-based modern dance company, dancEnlight, under the direction of Lorelei Chang. Sara 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 main-stage productions. In 2017, Sara spent the summer with Boca Ballet Theatre where she was fortunate to perform in David Parson’s The Envelope. Sara has also performed with Lake Erie Ballet, appearing as a soloist in The Nutcracker and their black box gala: Matters of the Heart.
15
COMPANY DANCERS
Learn more about the dancers by scanning this code with your smartphone.
AZAMAT ASANGUL
Joined: 2017 Hometown: Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic @danseur01 About Me: I graduated from Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in 2010. Love traveling, reading and listening to music. My favorite roles I have danced at FBP are The American by Christopher Wheeldon, Smoke and Mirrors by Yury Yanowsky and Don Quixote (suite).
KATHERINE BICKFORD Joined: 2015 Hometown: Miami, FL @kjjbickford
About Me: My all time favorite Nutcracker role is corps snowflake; I love being part of a magical wintry storm! When I’m not dancing, I spend as much time as I can hiking, and snowy hikes are my favorite.
KOBE ATWOOD COURTNEY Joined: 2021 Hometown: Powhatan, VA @kobe.Courtney
About Me: They started with Richmond Ballet’s “Minds in Motion,” and continued to train at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet School. Interests include choreographing, and spending time with their cat, Natsuki. They believe in mixing traditional dance with new/relevant stories, that represent our world now.
BRENNA DiFRANCESCO Joined: 2011 Hometown: Seekonk, Mass. @Brendifran
About Me: I joined FBP School in high school and joined the company as a trainee the following year. My favorite role was the soloist from Christopher Wheeldon’s The American, it has a lot of jumps and the music is beautiful. I love to travel and go on adventures with my dog.
DAVID DuBOIS
Joined: 2015 Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL About Me: David’s favorite moments on stage were the times shared with his wife Kristy Anne DuBois. But his current favorite role is being a Father to their son Davey.
16 FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
KIRSTEN EVANS
Joined: 2010 Hometown: Seekonk, Mass. About Me: Kirsten was born in Providence and trained at FBP School before joining the Company at age 18. Favorite roles at FBP include Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Calliope in George Balanchine’s Apollo, the principal role in Christopher Wheeldon’s The American, and Mikaela in Viktor Plotnikov’s Carmen.
KAILEE FELIX
Joined: 2016 Hometown: Swansboro, NC About Me: I trained with Gelsey Kirkland Academy where I performed one of my favorite roles, The Wedding Procession by Leonid Yakobsen. My favorite role I’ve performed at FBP is Rubies by George Balanchine. I love sea turtles and spent my summers volunteering at my local aquarium in NC.
MAMUKA KIKALISHVILI Joined: 2019 Hometown: Poti, Georgia @ mamuka_kikalishvili
About Me: I completed my ballet training at the V. Chabukiani
Tbilisi State Ballet School and joined State Ballet of Georgia in 2012. I then joined Hong Kong Ballet in 2014 and Boston Ballet 2016-2018. I also train & compete in Martial Arts competitions.
ALEX LANTZ
Joined: 2012 Hometown: Rockford, IL About Me: Alex graduated from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and joined the Winnipeg Company in 2010. Lantz then came to Festival Ballet in 2012, some of his favorite roles include: Siegfried in Swan Lake, Don Jose in Viktor Plotinikov’s Carmen, and performing in Wheeldon’s The American.
EMILY LOVDAHL Joined: 2018 Hometown: Racine, WI
About Me: I began my formal ballet training at 13 with Marc Darling and Linda Bennett. Before joining FBP, I danced with Nevada Ballet Theatre. My favorite ballet to perform is Balanchine’s Serenade I also enjoy designing, sewing, yoga, Pilates, and traveling.
17
MOISÉS MARTÍN Joined: 2021 Hometown: Reus, Spain @moisesmartincintas
About Me: I was born in Reus, Spain, raised in Zaragoza and trained at Escuela Municipal de Danza and the Estudio de Maria de Ávila. I’ve danced professionally for over twenty years with San Francisco Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Compañia Nacional de Danza and Atlanta Ballet.
TARA McCALLY
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Houston, TX @Tara.McCally About Me: Tara graduated from Feijoo Ballet School under the direction of Lorena and Lorna Feijoo, as well as Nelson Madrigal. In 2021 she won Grand Prix at Dance Open America. She is thrilled to be dancing with Festival Ballet Providence, the artistic staff and dancers are truly a daily inspiration!
JOSEPH VAN HARN Joined: 2018 Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI @leaper_vanharn
About Me: I’m a performing arts professional with international experience in stage performance and festival operations. I’m inspired by J Dilla, Herman Cornejo, and Massimo Vignelli. When I’m not dancing I love repairing bicycles, drawing transportation maps, and eating delicious Jamaican food.
ANNA LISA WILKINS
Joined: 2020 Hometown: East Longmeadow, Mass. @aaannalisa.wilx About Me: I graduated from Indiana University in 2019 (go Hoosiers!) and am also a certified Pilates instructor. My favorite role with Festival Ballet has been Dewdrop, and I’m excited to perform it again this year!
NINA YOSHIDA
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Madison, NJ @ninaballerina98 About Me: Nina Yoshida trained with Gelsey Kirkland in NYC. Her favorite roles are Lead Bacchanal in Lavrovsky’s Walpurgisnacht and Eternal Spring pas de deux in Yakobson’s Rodin. She is pursuing a BA in dance performance and is a certified yoga teacher.
18 FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
EUGENIA ZINOVIEVA
Joined: 2012 Hometown: Boston, Mass., (originally from Moscow) @genieinessence About Me: I trained at the Boston Ballet School and North Carolina School of the Arts before coming to Festival Ballet Providence as a trainee. Growing up, I also competed nationally as a rhythmic gymnast!
GUEST ARTISTS AKIRA BISCHOFF
Akira Bischoff, born in Missoula, Montana trained at Western Ballet Theatre. Akira furthered his education at Project Ballet and the School of American Ballet, graduating from San Francisco Ballet School. Akira then joined the Grand Rapids Ballet and joined Joseph Gatti’s United Ballet Theatre during his second season with GRB. He is currently working with George Birkadze and Ashley Ellis for their new project, the Classical Training Program.
RICARDO RHODES
Ricardo Rhodes was born in Boston, Massachusetts where he trained at the Boston Ballet.Ricardo was accepted to the Sarasota Ballet in 2007 and promoted to Principal in 2012. He has performed many principal roles which include ballets such as La Fille Mal Gardée, Symphonic Variations, Les Patineurs, Birthday Offering, Scènes de Ballet, Monotones II, The Dream, Stars and Stripes, Apollo, Diamonds, Emeralds, Rubies, Serenade, Allegro Brillante, Theme and Variations, Who Cares? among others.
APPRENTICES FIONA KIRKLAND
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Millburn, NJ @fi.ona.k
About Me: I trained at Gelsey Kirkland Academy, and Ballet Academy East before becoming a trainee at Cincinnati Ballet. My favorite roles have been Waltz Girl in Serenade, corps in Concerto Borocco, and the 2nd pas girl in Continuing Points by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. I love photography, sailing, and films!
AUDREY LUKACZ
Joined: 2020 Hometown: Portsmouth, NH @audreylukacz
About Me: I graduated Butler University with a B.A. in Dance Pedagogy in 2019. Since joining Festival Ballet Providence in 2020, I have been fortunate enough to perform both world premieres and classical works. Fun fact, I’m the face behind FBP’s social media accounts!
ANDREW PLAYFORD
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
About Me: I began my training in Grand Rapids and later attended Indiana University, where I received a Bachelor of Science in Ballet with an Outside Field in Environmental & Sustainability Studies. Favorite ballets performed include Balanchine’s Faust and Serenade.
19
TRAINEES ATHINA ALIMONOS
MIKAELA GUIDICE
RACHEL SCHULTZ
About Me: In 2018, I completed my training at Massachusetts Academy of Ballet. During this time I had the opportunity to grow as a dancer through performing roles from a variety of ballets, including Swan Lake, one of my favorites.
About Me: Mikaela received her training in Boston Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program and Houston Ballet’s Professional Program. After graduating high school in 2020, she joined Orlando Ballet II. Her favorite ballets she has performed include Balanchine’s Serenade and Stanton Welch’s Brigade.
About Me: Rachel graduated from Indiana University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Ballet and Arts Management. Then went on to dance with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s Graduate program. Her favorite role she danced is the principle girl in Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante.
Joined: 2018 Hometown: Hadley, Mass. @athinamarinaaa
ISABELLE BROWNE Joined: 2021 Hometown: Denver, CO
About Me: I trained at American Ballet Theatre NYC, Ellison Ballet School, Bolshoi Ballet School Moscow, and Colorado Ballet Academy. I spent two years with Colorado Ballet and performed Serenade with Vail International Dance Festival, my favorite role thus far. KIRA KELLY CLARKE
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Santa Monica, CA @kira.kelly.clarke
About Me: Kira’s favorite moments on stage so far were dancing Swanhilda and Sugar Plum Fairy, and she is excited by the contemporary repertoire at FBP. Her favorite genre of art is surrealist. Kira is studying Imagination & Computer Science at Brown University. MADELINE GLINSKI Joined: 2021 Hometown: Malvern, PA @madelineglinski
About Me: Madeline fell in love with ballet at an early age and spent most days since then at the studio. Her dream role is “Juliet” in Romeo and Juliet. She loves the music, story and especially her character for the strong emotions expressed throughout the ballet. JULIANA GODLEWSKI
Joined: 2021 Hometown: San Clemente, CA @lifeofjuj
About Me: It seems that wherever I go, cats seem to follow. At every new apartment that I moved into to, my roommate adopts a cat or we take in a street cat. Where I go they follow…
20 FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Norfolk, Mass. @mikaelaguidice
ALEXANDRA JONES
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Brownsburg, IN @alexluvs2dance
About Me: Before joining Festival Ballet, Alexandra trained for 4 years under Carla Körbes, Kyra Nichols, Sarah Wroth, Michael Vernon, Sasha Janes, & Christian Claessens. She is a recent graduate of Indiana University, and is also a nationally certified EMT! ALEXA KEARNAN
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass. @alexakearnan
About Me: Alexa danced with Greater Milford Ballet in Mendon Massachusetts before coming to Festival Ballet Providence. She is excited to join the company with amazing dancers and choreographers. GIANA MELUCCI Joined: 2021 Hometown: Novi, MI @gichipeachy
About Me: Giana first fell in love with dance when he performed the role of Fritz in the Nutcracker at 12 years old. Years later, he has never lost that love, and is grateful and excited to be performing with Festival Ballet Providence in the 2021-22 season. MARIA ROGLER
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Boston, Mass.
About Me: I studied at Dance Explosion from the ages of 4-18 in many different dance styles. I also trained at the International Ballet Academy of Norwell for 6 years with Cosmin and Melinda Marculetiu, and attended many Summer Intensives at FBP.
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Carmel IN @ rachel_grace11
ANNIKA GRACE WEIDEMANN
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Glenwood Springs, CO @agweidemann
About Me: My favorite role that I have danced is the title role in Carmen and my favorite ballet is George Balanchine’s Serenade. HANNAH WOOD
Joined: 2021 Hometown: Westminster, MD @Hannah_elisebeth
About Me: After graduating from Carroll County Dance Center in Maryland, Hannah continued her training at Balletmet in Ohio. Her favorite roles/repertoire include Myrtha from Giselle, Gamzatti from La Bayadere, Who cares?, Serenade and Edwaard liang’s Tributary.
Nonprofit, local journalism for Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts
DONORS AND SPONSORS In the wake of COVID-19, hundreds of donors stepped forward, offering gifts of support including donating ticket value from cancelled performances. The list of generous individuals and foundations below reflects gifts made over a 20-month period, from Jan. 1, 2020 through Aug. 31, 2021.
$10,000+ The Champlin Foundation Alica Berresheim and Davide Dukcevich Dave and Jenay Evans Florence Family Fund Gail Higgins Fogarty Fogarty Foundation Judy Barrett Litoff The Miriam Hospital The Nordson Corporation Foundation Eve and Jon Rounds Rhode Island Commerce Rhode Island Foundation Rhode Island State Council on the Arts June Rockwell Levy Foundation Seven Stars Bakery United Way of Rhode Island University Orthopedics, Inc. Alan and Marie Weiss $3,000-$9,999 Joan Abrams Colleen Cavanaugh City of Providence Department of Art, Culture, Tourism Delta Dental of Rhode Island Emma Clydge Hodge Memorial Fund Anne Earle Stanley and Merle Goldstein The High Point University Fund Jennifer Kiddie Donald and Mary McClure Linda McGoldrick Richard and Marianne Moscicki Amy Nash Joseph Nauman Jane S. Nelson Amy and Kevin Orth Providence Tourism Council Mary and Guy Van Pelt Kitty and Don Wineberg Toots Zynsky
22 FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
$1,500-$2,999 Jane Bromberg Bank Newport Bank RI James Baird John and Susan Combes Ana Elena Coronel Gretchen Dow Simpson Diane and VG Gooding Margaret Howland Jana Hicks Jagoe Linda and Harold Kushner Pawtucket Credit Union People for Bikes Foundation Laurine Ryan Perry Santina Siena Mary Tsangarakis
$500-$1,499 Buonaccorsi Family Sarah Ambler Anonymous (x4) Cathie Behrend John Bevany PJ and Jennifer Breen Kip and Judith Brott Karyn and Ben Campbell Philip, Anne and Maia Carty April and Jeffrey Chase-Lubitz Melody Davis Ruth Davis Donna De Poalo Orest Fedan Pedro Felzenszwalb Alan Fortier Carol Friscia Claudia Gregoire Erica Guatieri Nancy Iredale Jean L Keith Paula and Rick Keogh Mary F Kesson Thomas King Druid Partners Phillip and Audrey Kydd Linda Lee Leahy Denise Leclair Peter S Lovdahl Mary Lovdahl Kristen Westmoreland and Duncan Maio Mary Ballard Malhotra Gail and Glenn Mangurian Faye Maris Jeremy May Gene Moran Pamela Nelson Erskine Meg and Bob Nibbi
Stephen J. O’Rourke Georgeanne Roe Paula Rooks Alan and Sally Ross Richard Saltzman The Scott Family Foundation Brett Smiley and James DeRentis Starkweather and Shepley Insurance State of Rhode Island General Assembly Louise Swanson Karl Van Harn Lorraine Vekens The Miranda Fund
$250-$499 Christine Altieri Roberta Andreozzi Anonymous (x8) Tom Aquino Neil and Cheryl Bartholomew Chris Batty Patricia A Biasuzzi Linnell Bickford Lisa Bignwey Antonia Bryson Natalya A Buckler Dan and Jennifer Bungert Meredith Carlone Demetria J Carr Richard Carriere Maia Carty Cheryl Cavalconte Steven and Linda Cohen Wendy Colesano The Corey family Jennifer Davis Mihailo Djuric Nikki Downes-Martin Ronnie Golden Engle Pamela Erskine Sandra Fishbein Patrice Franko and Sandy Maisel Susan Friedman Lavinia Gadsden Jennifer Galipeau Louis Giancola Cynthia and Steve Giles Doree Goodman Katherine Hart Richard Jacobs Sharon Jennings Kirsten Kenney John Lam and John F. Ruggieri David Lantz Christine LeCompte Erika Pandolfini Lee Margaret Lo Christine MacKinnon
23
$250-$499, continued Elizabeth and George Maxted Warren McGoldrick Lisa LaDew and Bill Morris Victoria M. Murray Dara Nicole Patrick and Patricia Nugent Margot Parsons Jill Pearlman Kurt A. Raaflaub and Deborah Boedeker Maureen A Robbins Jennafer Rose Wendy and John Roworth
$100-$249 Rena Abeles Larry and Elizabeth Allen Neil Amper
Anonymous (x21) The Aultman family LeeShonel Ayala Mary and Warner Bailey Sarah and Alan Baines Ian and Ting Barnard Laura Barnes Sue Beddow Bel Canto Scholarship Fund Aviv Ben-Yosef Rita Benenati Ethan Biederman Deborah Boedeker and Kurt Raaflaub Maureen and Mike Brackett Marcia Braganca Eric Breen James and Mary Breen Kathleen Breen Combes Becca Briggs Susan Brouillette Josh, Amy, and Carter Cabrera Roger N. Carlsten Martha Carter Amy Chase Richard Citrin Judith Clark Christine and Richard Clarke Lawrence Cohen Kate Colby Valerie Cookson-Botto Johanna Corcoran Frank Correia Karen Corsano and Dan Williman Sandra Jennings Eshima Line Daems Eleanor Davis Maria DeAngelis Elizabeth Debs Paula DeYoung Jim DiFrancesco Elizabeth Donabedian Michaela Donnelly Wendy Drumm 24 FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
In Honor of Eve Rounds The Schmults Family Gloria Shafaee-Moghadam Kathleen Shannon Monica Simal Ksenia Stojkovic Barbara Sturtevant Jinen Thakkar William Tifft and Ellen Bruzelius Catherine Vitalo Kimberly Winslow Dr. and Mrs. Charles Wong
Susan Duffy Terry Dwyer Cemal and Jan Ekin Tony Estrella and Jennifer Madden Paul Evans Ron Evans Julie Fajardo Feagles family Mark Fleisher Ray and Phoebe Fogarty Tiffany Foster Donald Foster Marilyn Franklin and Scott Close Sarah Gaines Lindsay Gallo Meghan Geary Elizabeth Gibson Gayle L Gifford Christine Gilbert Symone Gilbert Elizabeth Goddard Karen and Greg Gomer Diane Gooding Bob Grant Amy Gravell Alicia and Peter Graves Marcy Gregory Judith and Stephen Gregiry Stephen Gregory Lisa Guillette Deborah Hallett Erica Hardy Sheena Harper Kiana Harris Kath Hartsell Sarah and Marc Hathorn Christopher Riely and Ingrid Heilke Linda Hennessey Steven and Audrey Hirsch Phil Holberton Cynthia C. Hughes Willliam Humphreys and O’rya Hyde-Keller Michel Issa Luke and Marisa Jackson Petra Jenkins Roxann Johnson-Nance
Diana Jones Henry and Lori Kaden Shirley Kayne Ellen Kellner Daniel Kertzner Jessie and Jim Kingston Madeline Klein Caroline Klivans and Pedro Felzenszwalb Norman Krasner Alexandra Krauss Sherry Kriss Nancy Krohngold Peter Lafreniere Jayne and Marc Lampert Sally E Lapides Nancy Lerner Mark Levesque Theresa Lewis Thomas Lewis Nancy LIttle Robert MacDonald and Jennifer Greenwood Karen and Dennis Mahoney Jody Mahr Mark Mandell Alita Marks Kevin Patrick Martin Bryan Matluk Roberta Matuson Mary McAndrew Susan McCalmont Mary McClure Frederick McMillen Kevin Mejeur Patt Mello Ann and Stephen Metcalf The Meyers Family Laura Michel Katharine Middleton Mr. and Mrs. John Murray Marilyn Netter Theodore Orson Kevin and Amy Orth Jack and Sandy Owens Calvin Oyer Andrea Palmer Marygail Parker In Memory of Richard Parker Ellen Parkinson
$100-$249, continued Marissa Parmenter Gary Patterson, FiscalDoctor Heidi Peterson Kevin and Pat Pettit Claudia Philbrick Shelley Poulsen Heidi Pozzo Kris Putnam-Walkerly Joseph T. Rainey Caroline F. Reed Suzanne and William Reeves Martin and Linda Reynolds Jennifer Rianna Rich family Maxine Richman Ilda Rolland and Carlos Correia Erin Rose Bettina Rounds and Robert Bonadies
In Honor of John F. Ruggieri and John Lam Russell Family Elizabeth Salahuddin Alyson Saltzman Diane Schmults Amy Schroeder Beth Sears SD Shanti Natalie Simoneau Alison Smart Heather and Bill Southwick Julia Steiny and Conrad Johnson Martha Stone Lyn Tally and Drew Riddle Roz and Joe Thomas Alfred Toselli Janet Tuffy and Lou Ciocci Susan and Ron Tyszkowski Judith Ullucci
Anna Vaccaro Laura Vandermillen John F. Ruggieri Mary Wall Nina Wang Erik Watson Katherine Weingartner In Honor Of Mr. Alan Weiss Jason and Grace Weiss Danita and Emerson Wickwire Joy Williams and Gerard LeDoux Lenke Wood Mr. and Mrs. Richard Worrell Kelly and Bruce Wotherspoon Pam Wyess Kari Yettner Michael Zabelin Dmitry Zinoviev In Honor of Miss Zinovieva Alexandra Zodhiates
Major Partners
Board of Trustees President Alan Weiss Vice President Laurine Ryan-Perry Secretary Linda McGoldrick Treasurer Erica Guatieri
Board Members Joan Abrams Judy Barrett Litoff, PhD Colleen Cavanaugh Ana Coronel Gail Higgins Fogarty Councilman John Goncalves Phillip Kydd Joe Nauman Richard Saltzman Marie Weiss Don Wineberg Ex-Officio Kathleen Breen Combes, Director 25
DES PRINTING
ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY Festival Ballet Providence programming goes far beyond the stage. In studios, classrooms, and public spaces around the region, FBP brings the transformative power of dance to the community, day in and day out, impacting over 10,000 youth in a given season.
Discover Dance FBP’s flagship engagement program is Discover Dance, which offers subsidized tickets to school groups across the region. For generations, many students experience dance for the first time in these performances, which have played to more than 100,000 youth since the 1980s. With community support, Discover Dance continues to bring meaningful dance to the community.
Festival Ballet ProviDANCE Through a multi-year partnership with United Way of Rhode Island, Festival Ballet’s new ProviDANCE program is up and running at George J. West and Frank Spaziano schools in Providence. This weekly afterschool program aims to offer valuable out of school time learning opportunities for elementary students and provide a safe space and mentorship in addition to a meaningful dance education.
Derrick Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund The Derrick Jerrell Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund funds tuition assistance for promising dance students of color with a mission to expand diversity within the classical and modern dance community. Davis, who taught at Festival Ballet from 2014-2015 and worked as a freelance dancer, choreographer, and teacher, was a bright light of sunshine to everyone at Festival Ballet. The fund recently awarded its first round of more than $5,000 total gifts to five students.
(L-R) Margaret Mashamba, Hannah Sanchez Marrero, Amaya Aileru, Melody Kydd Davis, Monique Pond, Robert Bailey V
Support from patrons like you make these programs possible. Donate today at festivalballetprovidence.org or scan this code with your mobile device. Thank you!
27
Dance dreams start here.
28 FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
Experience the difference a comprehensive and nurturing dance education can make in the lives of students of all ages. From toddlers to adults FBP School has classes for movers of all abilities.
Photo by Brooke Nash
Learn More at festivalballetprovidence.org/school
29
photo courtesy of RI Philharmonic - photographer Ray Larson
Shouldn’t all Rhode Islanders have access to the arts? The arts are more than just an important part of our state’s economy. For young people, the arts are a path to success. The arts contribute to achievement in school, particularly among disadvantaged students. For cities and towns, the arts promote civic engagement and encourage neighborhood and downtown revitalization. They make our communities more liveable. With all that’s good about the arts , shouldn’ t all Rhode Islanders be able to enjoy and participate in what our state has to offer?
That’s where we come in. Rhode Island’s investment in the arts is small (just 7/100 ths of 1% of our state’s budget). With that, we managed to reach over 1.2 million Rhode Islanders and visitors last year, including over 189,000 young people. Let’s ensure that all Rhode Islanders can benefit from the arts in the Ocean State.
Support the Arts! www.arts.ri.gov
Break a Leg Or any of the 206 bones in your body and we have you covered.
FBP Dancer Kirsten Evans Photo by Ian Travis Barnard
We have more than 60 world class physicians and the only orthopedic surgeons on the faculty of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Same and next day appointments at OrthoDIRECT
(401) 457-1500
www.universityorthopedics.com Rhode Island: East Greenwich, East Providence, Johnston, North Providence, Middletown, Providence, Portsmouth, Westerly • Massachusetts: Mansfield, North Easton, Plymouth, Raynham