Greeting from the Artistic Director
With great pleasure, I welcome you to Festival Ballet Theatre’s Giselle. It is always a joy to see old friends and to see new faces in our audience. We are honored to have the incomparable Gillian Murphy dance the demanding title role with Cory Stearns as the irresistible Albrecht. These principal dancers with American Ballet Theatre share their art with Orange County audiences in performances you are certain to remember for a lifetime! This is Festival Ballet’s 26th season, founded as a nonprofit organization in 1988. The ballet company has developed into Southern California’s preeminent professional ballet company, consistently providing top quality dance productions. •
Our season’s opening program, Firebird and Texture of Time, highlighted both the classical and contemporary sides of Festival Ballet, and showcased the extraordinary talents of choreographers Nikolai Kabaniaev and Josie Walsh, along with Walsh’s composer husband, Paul Rivera, Jr. and Jim Doyle, an Academy Award winner who designed the set and multi-media effects.
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In December, we were once again honored to perform The Nutcracker at Irvine Barclay Theatre. The fourteen, sold-out performances of our annual family-friendly (and affordable) production of the beloved holiday classic featured six renowned guest artists who appeared in select performances.
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In August we will present our seventh annual Gala of the Stars, which has become a much-anticipated event in southern California. Several of ballet’s most heralded dancers will gather here to perform carefully chosen classical variations and contemporary dances for your enjoyment. Last year’s performers left the audience on their feet, and we hope to see you on August 15 for another spectacular evening. Check our website to keep informed about related events and opportunities.
We thank you for attending this performance of Giselle and hope you will join us again soon.
Salwa Rizkalla
Festival Ballet Theatre Under the direction of Salwa Rizkalla since its founding in 1988, Festival Ballet Theatre has become one of Southern California’s most vibrant and accomplished professional ballet companies. Celebrating 25 years of artistic service to Orange County, FBT is dedicated to presenting works that epitomize the artistry of professional-quality ballet, offering cultural awareness of dance through educational programs, and nurturing a creative environment for some of our county’s most talented dancers. Boasting a roster of impressive, up-and-coming talent; the company’s productions feature internationally acclaimed guest artists from prestigious companies, such as American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, the Kirov Ballet, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet. Festival Ballet Theatre strives to enrich the experience of Orange County’s dance audience by highlighting the work of world-renowned guest and resident choreographers. With reverence to masterpieces of the past and a clear focus on developing future tours de force, FBT presents a varied repertoire of full-length classical ballets, including The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, as well as contemporary works by some of the nation’s most sought-after choreographers. FBT was also the bid winner of Ballet Pacifica’s Assets Auction, purchasing the dissolved company’s names, sets, costumes and photography archive in order to preserve these treasures for FBT and the Orange County dance community. Aspiring to the heights of artistic excellence, Festival Ballet Theatre simultaneously attracts the best in professional dance to its home base while sending its own dancers out as artistic ambassadors to the nation. FBT’s significant work has been recognized with a 2001 Arts Orange County Award for Outstanding Arts Organization of the Year.
Synopsis
Giselle
History - Giselle first premiered in Paris on the 28th of June 1841. With music by Adolphe Adam, choreography by Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli, and libretto by Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Theophile Gautier, it was the greatest ballet of its time. Deeply dramatic and equally as tragic, Giselle is a beacon of ballet’s romantic era, a true classic that has not only endured but thrived for generations. Act 1 - The curtain rises to reveal a small country village bordering the vineyards of the Rhine. Villagers pass by as they hurry off to harvest the last of the grapes before the Wine Festival. Giselle’s cottage stands quietly until Hilarion, a gamekeeper, appears to knock on the door to call on the girl he loves, but he is interrupted. Albrecht, Duke of Silesia, arrives with his squire, Wilfrid, and enters the cottage opposite Giselle’s. He emerges moments later dressed as a peasant, submits his disguise to the squire’s inspection, and dismisses him. Hilarion has witnessed the exchange from his hideout behind Giselle’s cottage and is puzzled, for he, like Giselle, knows this man only as Loys, a fellow peasant. Albrecht, anxious to see Giselle, knocks on the cottage door. Giselle answers and gladly comes out to dance with him although his advances are spoiled by her shyness. Albrecht, intent on winning her heart, swears his eternal love, but Giselle is uncertain. She decides to put his vow to the test as she plucks the petals of a daisy in a game of he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not only to discover that he loves her not. Disappointed, she throws the flower to the ground, but Albrecht retrieves it, slyly discards a petal, and claims the last petal proves his love. Giselle is consoled and they continue to dance. Hilarion is overcome by envy and intrudes upon the two lovers as he emerges from his hiding place, protesting that he, not Albrecht, truly loves Giselle. A quarrel ensues and Hilarion’s suspicions are deepened as Albrecht instinctively reaches for the sword, which, as a nobleman, he is accustomed to wearing. Giselle is distraught by the encounter and callously dismisses Hilarion, assuming he is merely jealous. The villagers return and join Giselle in a dance to celebrate the festival. Giselle’s mother, Berthe, wrought with worry, interrupts the festivities and reminds Giselle of the fragile condition of her heart and the dangers of overexerting herself. She is struck by a momentary vision of her daughter’s death and her afterlife as a Wili, doomed to dance forever, even in death. In the distance, a horn sounds and Albrecht recognizes that it is coming from the hunting party of the Prince of Courland. Albrecht hastily departs and the Prince’s entourage enters to present the prince and his daughter, Bathilde. Giselle and her mother offer the royalty what humble hospitality they can and Bathilde gives Giselle a gold necklace when she discovers that they are both engaged to be married. After the royal party retires, the villagers continue to celebrate and proclaim Giselle Queen of the Wine Festival. Once again, Hilarion interrupts, determined to expose Albrecht as an impostor. He emerges from Albrecht’s cottage with a hunting horn and sword, further proof of his nobility. Albrecht denies the charges, but Hilarion blows the hunting horn and the royal party returns. When faced with Bathilde, Albrecht admits that they are betrothed to each other and takes Bathilde’s hand. Giselle, shocked by the discovery of Albrecht’s betrayal, becomes mentally unstable and reaches for his sword, but Hilarion quickly intervenes. Giselle’s mother is helpless as she watches her daughter go mad. In one last desperate attempt Giselle reaches for Albrecht and dies, broken-hearted, in his arms. Act 2 - The second act opens upon a clearing in the forest near Giselle’s grave. At midnight it becomes the dominion of the Wilis, women who died of unrequited love, and their restless spirits haunt the small glade each night. Unable to find rest for their broken hearts, they dance from midnight to dawn, trapping any man who enters their domain and forcing him to dance to his death. Myrta, Queen of the Wilis, appears to summon the spirits so as to initiate Giselle into their sisterhood. Hilarion arrives, in search of Giselle, and meets his fate at their hands. Albrecht, likewise, appears to visit the grave of his beloved and is trapped by Myrta who commands him to dance to his death. Giselle emerges from her grave and pleads with her sisters on Albrecht’s behalf, but it is of no use. They have been condemned, but somehow, Albrecht finds strength in Giselle’s ensuing love. They dance together until the clock strikes four in the distance. The Wilis are forced to vanish as dawn approaches and Giselle rejoices that Albrecht has survived. Although she longs to stay by her lover’s side, she must retire to her grave and Albrecht remains, alive but in despair.
Giselle  Presents
Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 pm Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 pm Irvine Barclay Theatre â—? Cheng Hall Choreography: Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot Artistic Director: Salwa Rizkalla Music: Adolphe Adam Lighting Designer & Stage Manager Karyn Lawrence
Set & Prop Construction Pro Scenery
Artistic Assistant Elizabeth Farmen
Costume Coordinator Alisa Ziebarth
Repetiteur Salwa Rizkalla Elizabeth Farmen, Askar Kettebekov, Marlene Hall
Company Photographer Dave Friedman
Production Coordinator Mark Blake Costume Design & Construction Barbara Vieuretta, Donna Dickens, Heather Lerma, Kaye Michel, Willa Bouwens-Killeen
Marketing & Communications Connie Jankowski Graphic Designer Marianne Hales Program Designer Marilyn Wiederin
Casting subject to change. The taking of photographs or use of recording devices is strictly prohibited.
Giselle Giselle .................................... Gillian Murphy* Albrecht ................................. Cory Stearns The Prince of Courland ....... Chuck Johnston Princes Bathilde ................... Elizabeth Farmen Berthe, Giselle’s Mother ...... Stella Viorica Hilarion .................................. AJ Abrams Wilfrid..................................... Askar Kettebekov ACT I Giselle’s Friends .................. (3/22, 7:30) Mariana Carrillo, Marie Fuchigami, Andrea Guite, Natalie Matsuura, Jennah Pendleton, Skye Schmidt, Emily Villa, Tiffany Yamasaki (3/23, 2:00) Megan Ely, Marie Fuchigami, Gillian George, Olivia Harrigan, Natalie Matsuura, Jennah Pendleton, Skye Schmidt, Tiffany Yamasaki Peasant Pas De Quatre ....... (3/22, 7:30) Megan Yamashita, Johnny Almeida (Adagio), Nicole Vitale, Guzman Rosado (3/23, 2:00) Michelle Lemburg, Johnny Almeida (Adagio) Clara Mason, Guzman Rosado Courtiers................................ Willa Bouwens-Killeen, Makaela Wiederin Peasants ................................ Elle Brewster, Kathleen De Nicola, Bella Hoy, Dayna Wiederin Julian Hinjoso, Blake Olson, Chesney Thompson, Peter Viviani Little Village Children .......... (3/22, 7:30) Sage Bolar, Renee Castonguay, Alice Danci, Sarah Grant, Elise Newen, Bianca Wajack, Krystina Wilson, Pallas Ziebarth (3/23, 2:00) Sage Bolar, Renee Castonguay, Alice Danci, Sarah Grant, Allison Langston, Elise Newen, Bianca Wajack, Krystina Wilson INTERMISSION ACT II Myrta ...................................... (3/22, 7:30) Gillian George (3/23, 2:00) Tara Gusman Moyna .................................... (3/22, 7:30) Andrea Guite (3/23, 2:00) Jennah Pendleton Zulma ..................................... (3/22, 7:30) Natalie Matsuura (3/23, 2:00) Mariana Carrillo The Wilis ................................ (3/22, 7:30) Jessica Arnold, Mariana Carrillo, Rachel Deng, Megan Ely, Marie Fuchigami, Olivia Harrigan, Michelle Lemburg, Anya Lydon, Clara Mason, Hanah McCaig, Jennah Pendleton, Alysa Reinhardt, Skye Schmidt, Emily Villa, Nicole Weber, Makaela Wiederin, Kaeli Wilson, Tiffany Yamasaki (3/23, 2:00) Jessica Arnold, Rachel Deng, Megan Ely, Marie Fuchigami, Andrea Guite, Olivia Harrigan, Michelle Lemburg, Anya Lydon, Clara Mason, Natalie Matsuura, Hanah McCaig, Alysa Reinhardt, Skye Schmidt, Emily Villa, Nicole Weber, Makaela Wiederin, Kaeli Wilson, Tiffany Yamasaki * Peter S. Diggins Associates, 133 West 71st Street, New York, New York 10023, arranged this appearance by Gillian Murphy.
Guest Artists Raised in Florence, South Carolina, Gillian Murphy began her ballet training at the age of three in Belgium and continued her ballet classes at the age of five in South Carolina. After training in South Carolina as a member of the Columbia City Ballet, she continued her studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Under the tutelage of Melissa Hayden she danced principal roles in several of the school's ballet productions including The Nutcracker and George Balanchine's Concerto Barocco, Western Symphony, Tarantella and Theme and Variations. In 1994, at the age of 15, Murphy was a finalist at the Jackson International Ballet Competition. In 1995, she was awarded the Prix de Lausanne Espoir after performing the final round at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. In 1996, she was a YoungArts Winner in Dance/Ballet (Level I); YoungArts is the core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. In 1998, she was honored with a Princess Grace Foundation-USA grant. The Princess Grace Foundation awarded her its highest honor, the Statue Award, in 2009. Murphy has appeared as a guest artist in Japan, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Canada and throughout the United States. She made her debut with the Mariinsky Ballet in March 2008, dancing Odette-Odile in Swan Lake. Other guest appearances include the Royal Swedish Ballet, the Kiev Ballet and the 2009 world premiere of a new production of The Nutcracker, directed and choreographed by Ethan Stiefel for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Murphy joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in August 1996, was promoted to Soloist in 1999 and Principal Dancer in 2002. Her repertoire with the Company includes Polyhymnia in Apollo, Nikiya and Gamzatti in La Bayadère, the Ballerina in The Bright Stream, Cinderella in Cinderella, Swanilda in Coppélia, Medora and Gulnare in Le Corsaire, Kitri in Don Quixote, Titania in The Dream, the Accused in Fall River Legend, second girl in Fancy Free, Lise in La Fille mal gardée, the pas de deux Flames of Paris, Grand Pas Classique, Myrta in Giselle, His Memory and His Experiences in HereAfter, the Queen of Hearts in Jeu de Cartes, Known By Heart pas de deux, Manon in Lady of the Camellias, Lescaut's Mistress in Manon, the Sugar Plum Fairy in Kevin McKenzie's The Nutcracker, Desdemona in Othello, Other Dances, Hagar in Pillar of Fire, Raymonda in Raymonda, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (Romeo's Farewell to Juliet), Princess Aurora and the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, OdetteOdile in Swan Lake, Sylvia in Sylvia, the first and third movements in Symphony in C, the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, and the ballerina in Theme and Variations, and leading roles in Allegro Brillante, Bach Partita, Ballet Imperial, Ballo della Regina, Baroque Game, Birthday Offering, Paul Taylor's Black Tuesday, The Brahms-Haydn Variations, Clear, Désir,Diversion of Angels, Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes, Duets, Études, From Here On Out, Gong, In the Upper Room, Meadow, Les Patineurs, Piano Concerto #1, Pretty Good Year, Push Comes to Shove, Sinfonietta, Les Sylphides, Symphonie Concertante and featured roles in Company B, The Elements, Overgrown Path and Without Words. She created Clara in Alexei Ratmansky's The Nutcracker and leading roles in Glow-Stop, Kaleidoscope, One of Three, Rabbit and Rogue, Thirteen Diversions and Within You Without You: A Tribute to George Harrison. Murphy danced Odette-Odile in the ABT telecast of Swan Lake and also appeared in the ABT telecast of Le Corsaire. Other television
credits include the Washington Opera's Die Fledermaus and, in November 2010, an appearance on the series "Gossip Girl." During November 1999, she also participated in the Melissa Hayden Project, part of the Balanchine Foundation's video series filming dancers, who worked with George Balanchine, teaching their roles to young performers. The Foundation filmed Hayden teaching Murphy the pas de deux from Stars and Stripes and Donizetti Variations. Murphy was seen in the feature film Center Stage and also appeared in the sequel, Center Stage 2: Turn It Up. Murphy is a charter member of Stiefel & Stars and directed a training program for young dancers, Dreamcatchers, on Martha's Vineyard. Ms. Murphy's performances with American Ballet Theatre are sponsored by Charlotte and MacDonald Mathey. Born on Long Island, New York, Cory Stearns began his classical training at Seiskaya Ballet with Mme. Valia Seiskaya. At fifteen, he participated in the Youth America Grand Prix and was offered a full scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in London. During his training there, he performed in Madrid, Moscow, Milan and Germany. His principal roles included principal roles in Mark Annear's Mendelssohn Concerto, Kenneth Macmillan's Concerto, Kirk Peterson's Eyes That Gently Touch, Robert Hill's Piano Concerto #2, and Barry Moreland's Fearful Symmetries. In March 2004, Stearns appeared with Kylie Minogue in her music video Chocolate. Upon graduating from the Royal Ballet School with honors, he received, for the second year, the Dame Ruth Railton Award for excellence in dance. Stearns joined American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company in September 2004, the main Company as an apprentice in January 2005 and as a member of the corps de ballet in January 2006. He was appointed a Soloist in January 2009 and a Principal Dancer in January 2011. Stearns repertory with the Company includes The Awakening Pas de Deux, Solor in La Bayadère, a featured role in Brief Fling, the Ballet Dancer in The Bright Stream, Her Prince Charming in Cinderella, Conrad in Le Corsaire, Basilio and Espada in Don Quixote, Oberon in The Dream, a leading role in Études, Kaschei in Firebird, Albrecht in Giselle, Grand Pas Classique, Her Lover in Jardin aux Lilas, Armand Duval in Lady of the Camellias, Beliaev in A Month in the Country, His Friend in The Moor's Pavane, The Nutcracker Prince in Alexei Ratmansky's The Nutcracker, Onegin in Onegin, a Carnival Dancer in Othello, Romeo and Paris in Romeo and Juliet, the Terrestrial in Shadowplay, Prince Désiré, the Celtic Prince and a Fairy Knight in The Sleeping Beauty, Prince Siegfried and von Rothbart in Swan Lake, James in La Sylphide, The Poet in Les Sylphides, Orion and Apollo in Sylvia, Prospero in The Tempest, leading roles in Allegro Brillante, Duo Concertant, Everything Doesn't Happen at Once, The Leaves Are Fading and Theme and Variations and roles in The Brahms-Haydn Variations, Citizen, Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes, Duets, In the Upper Room, Overgrown Path, Rabbit and Rogue, Symphony in C and Thirteen Diversions. Stearns created roles in From Here On Out, One of Three, Piano Concerto #1 and Private Light. Stearns won the 2009 Erik Bruhn Prize for best male dancer. Mr. Stearns' performances with American Ballet Theatre are sponsored by Charlotte and MacDonald Mathey.
Dancers AJ Abrams is a native of Long Beach, California. AJ has trained throughout the United States at such schools as Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and School of American Ballet. At age 19, he was discovered by Mark Bush and began his professional career at Ballet Austin under the direction of Stephen Mills. His credits with Ballet Austin include original works by Stephen Mills such as Hamlet, a featured role in the ballet Touch, and The Taming of the Shrew. He performed a solo role in Septime Webers’ Fluctuating Hemlines and principal roles as the Sugar Plum Cavalier in The Nutcracker, Albrecht in Giselle, and the principal male in Balanchine’s Who Cares? He is currently a member of the Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles and Festival Ballet Theatre. Freelance credits include Aurora’s Wedding Pas De Deux and The Bluebird Pas De Deux in The Sleeping Beauty, the principal male in George Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie, and original works by choreographers Josie Walsh and Jamal Story. Mr. Abrams has performed in musicals, videos and movies. Most recently, he performed in a music video for Florence and the Machine directed by David LaChapelle. Johnny Ferrerira de Almeida was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he trained at the Bolshoi Ballet School. From 2009-2011 he danced with the Brazilian Conservatory Youth Ballet Company, performing in many festivals including the Joinville International Dance Festival. Johnny then joined the Brazilian Ballet Company where he danced many soloist and principle roles including Siegfried from Swan Lake, the Prince from The Nutcracker, Blue Bird from Sleeping Beauty, and many others. Johnny is currently in his first year as a studio company member with the Gelsey Kirkland Ballet in New York City. Mariana Carrillo was born in Eagle Pass, Texas in 1995. She was raised in San Jose del Cabo, BCS and started her basic dance training at age four in, "Estudio del Angel" with Luciano Gomez. In 2006, she joined "Danza Tellez" and trained ballet and jazz with Lourdes Téllez. Ms. Carrillo has trained at several summer intensive programs including, Pirouetteando, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Southland Ballet Academy. Since 2011, Mariana takes seminaries with Christina Lyon who has choreographed some pieces for her. In August 2012 she moved to Austin Texas to continue her training at Ballet Austin. Today she continues her training in California at Southland Ballet Academy under the direction of Salwa Rizkalla and Christina Lyon.
Marie Fuchigami, born in Japan, began her ballet training at the age of four. In 2005, she moved to the U.S and started training with Salwa Rizkalla at Southland Ballet Academy. Marie has received several awards such as placing in the Top 12 at Youth America Grand Prix Semifinals. She was invited to the Jose Carreño Summer Intensive and the trainee program of The Joffrey Ballet. She also trained at Ballet West in the summer of 2013. Gillian George has been dancing at Southland Ballet Academy, under the direction of Salwa Rizkalla, for three years. She has spent summers dancing at well-respected ballet schools such as American Ballet Theater New York, The Royal Ballet, Houston Ballet, the School of American Ballet and Boston Ballet on full-scholarship. This summer Gillian will attend the San Francisco Ballet School, also on full-scholarship. In October she was invited to train for two weeks on scholarship with the graduate class at the Royal Ballet School. Gillian will compete in the Youth America Grand Prix finals in April. Tara Gusman has achieved many honors, titles and awards throughout her 10 years of training, finalist at Youth Grand Prix Nationals, Teen Miss Dance of America 2004, Dance Masters of America; and National Training Scholar for ABT. At age 16, Tara was offered a full scholarship to ABT and an apprenticeship with Washington Ballet. She has performed as a lead ballet dancer in the popular film Step Up; and has danced in Le Corsaire with ABT and various other ballets. She has worked with Florence and the Machine and performed on the hit TV show, Dancing with the Stars, as part of an ensemble feature dance. Natalie Matsuura is a third year BFA candidate in Dance Performance and Choreography at UCI. She trained with Southland Ballet Academy and Festival Ballet Theatre from the age of 6 and furthered her studies with summer programs at the Kirov Academy of Washington DC, ABT Orange County, the Rock School for Dance Education, and as a member of Lisa Naugle’s September 2013 DTM2 Dance Ensemble performing in collaboration with the University of Rome Tor Vegata’s Masters program in Sonic Arts. Natalie has worked with choreographers and master teachers such as Yury Fateyev, Viktor Plotnikov, and Jodie Gates and her achievements include the William J. Gillespie Scholarship in Ballet Studies at the University of California, Irvine (Fall 2013), the YoungArts Merit Award (2011), LA Music Center Spotlight Awards Semi-Finals (2010, 2011), and Top 12 in Classical and Contemporary regional categories of Youth America Grand Prix (2009-2011).
Dancers Jennah Pendleton has been dancing at Southland Ballet Academy since age three and later joined FBT II in 2011. Since then, she has danced soloist roles in The Secret Garden, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and more. She has trained at multiple summer programs around the country including that of Houston Ballet Academy and Ballet West. Jennah is currently a senior in high school and while her ultimate goal is to pursue a career in ballet, she is also passionate about modern art, literature, and film.
Nicole Vitale was born in Fountain Valley, California. She danced at Classical Ballet Academy, Southland Ballet Academy and joined The Washington School of Ballet in 2009. She has received training at ABT sites in New York City and Orange County, California; as well as San Francisco Ballet, Washington Ballet and Kaatsbaan intensives. She was awarded 2nd Place in the San Francisco Youth America Grand Prix competition. Vitale has danced in a variety of roles with The Washington Ballet: in Anna Marie Holmes’ Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker, The Great Gatsby, Romeo and Juliet and Twyla Tharp’s When Push Comes to Shove. Her repertory also includes Balanchine’s Concerto Borocco and Four Temperaments.
Guzman Rosado attended the International School of Dance, Scaena, (Spain) under the direction of Carmen Roche, and the School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York, where he learned men’s Balanchine technique, partnering and choreography. He has won several competitions, including the International Competition of Dance in Coruna, Spain and in Torrelavega, Spain. He is a freelance dancer, appearing as a principal dancer with prestigious companies in the United States and Europe, including BodyTraffic in Los Angeles. He has appeared with Companhia Portuguesa de Bailado Contemporáneo (CPBC) in Portugal, The Miami City Ballet, among others. He teaches classical and contemporary ballet at private studios and at Loyola Marymount University.
Tiffany Yamasaki started her training at Southland Ballet Academy at the age of six. She became a member of FBTII in 2007 and a FBT company member since 2010. Tiffany has participated in many competitions and has performed with Festival Ballet Theatre as a soloist and in corps roles in The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, and Coppelia. Tiffany currently attends CSU Long Beach, and is on her second year working towards a dance major and a major in kinesiology.
Skye Schmidt has trained at SBA since the age of four and joined FBT in 2012. She has performed as a soloist and corps member in numerous Festival Ballet Theatre productions including The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, The Secret Garden, Alice in Wonderland, and Firebird. In 2011 she performed in the award-winning piece Oops in Youth America Grand Prix's inaugural tour. Skye placed in the top 12 in both classical and contemporary categories at Youth America Grand Prix regional 2012. She has furthered her dance training by attending summer intensives, including Houston Ballet. Skye is currently attending the University of California, Irvine.
Megan Yamashita attends Orange Coast College. She has been at Southland Ballet Academy, under the direction of Salwa Rizkalla, since the age of three. Some of her accomplishments include garnering Second Place in the Junior Division at the 2007 Youth America Grand Prix International Competition in Faenza, Italy; Semifinalist in classical as well as non-classical dance at the 2008 Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards, with honorable mention in classical dance. Yamashita is also a grand prize winner of 2008 Orange County Performing Arts Center’s “Tomorrow’s Stars at the Center” in classical dance discipline.
Emily Villa was raised in Seal Beach, California. She has trained with Southland Ballet Academy since she was a teenager. She is currently attending UCI as a dance major. She has danced with Festival Ballet Theatre in various productions including The Nutcracker, Firebird, Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia.
Character Dancers Elizabeth Farmen attended the University of California, Irvine, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 2007. Farmen received the Disney Creative Arts Scholarship and the Amanda Borad Dance Scholarship in 2001, as well as a full dance scholarship funded by Mr. William Gillespie. She has danced at the Irvine Barclay Theatre for the National Choreographic Initiative and was semi-finalist for the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards in 2000 and 2001. Farmen began her dance training in 1989 with Salwa Rizkalla at Southland Ballet Academy and was a member of Festival Ballet Theatre for eight years.
Askar Kettebekov received his dance training from the National Ballet School of Kazakhstan and graduated from the National University of Kazakhstan with a degree in ballet pedagogy and choreography. After graduation, he joined the National Ballet Theatre of Kazakhstan and performed with the company for eight years as a soloist, after which he joined Moscow Festival Ballet. Kettebekov also danced with the Ballet Theatre of Boston, Tulsa Ballet and the San Diego Ballet. Kettebekov is a faculty member at Southland Ballet Academy. His professional repertoire includes The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote and the role of Rothbart in Swan Lake.
A native of California, Charles Johnston has called Festival Ballet Theatre his home since 1994. He has since danced all the lead character roles in the Company’s classical repertoire. Johnston continues to guest and has performed character roles with ABT, New York City Ballet and The Royal Ballet. A former teacher of dance and drama, he has studied with Frederic Franklin in New York; Michael Panaieff in Los Angeles; and Lila Zali, founder of the former Ballet Pacifica, in Orange County.
Stella Viorica, a former principal dancer with National Bucharest Opera of Romania, has been featured in a variety of roles from classical ballets including Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, La Fille Mal Gardee, Giselle, Les Sylphide and Sleeping Beauty, as well as numerous contemporary works. Viorica is a graduate of the State Academy of Ballet of Romania where she was trained in a comprehensive ballet program of nine years. Among other wonderful teachers she had the opportunity to study under Yury Umrihin of the Vaganova Institute. Viorica is a faculty member of Southland Ballet Academy.
2013-2014 FBT Trainees
Festival Ballet Theatre is proud to present the members of FBT Trainees, a junior company of student dancers with outstanding potential. Through FBT Trainees, Festival Ballet Theatre secures a talented base of dancers, offers performance opportunities “at home” and nurtures the stars of the future to a professional career in dance. Front line (left to right): Makaela Wiederin, Megan Ely, Clara Mason, Olivia Harrigan Back line (left to right): Michelle Lemburg, Sydney Danci, Andrea Guite, Laurel Martinez
A Special Thanks to Our Volunteers Festival Ballet Theatre thanks all of the parents and volunteers who are integral to the success of this presentation of Giselle. We appreciate all the time and energy you have put into fundraising, costumes, donations, marketing and development. Your efforts are truly priceless in allowing Festival Ballet Theatre to provide this beloved classic. A special thanks to the Parent Level Coordinators: Vanessa Burns, Ellen Johnson, Bonnie Lemburg, Heather Lerma, Marrieta Merito, Jessica Neumann, Dominique O’Donnell, Sydney Simpler, Monique Smith, Monica Suh, Abril Turner, Stephanie Vervanich and Annie Werle
A Special Thanks to Our Donors Festival Ballet Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generosity of individuals, businesses and foundations for their contributions to our programs. DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE $10,000+ Anonymous Salwa & Sabri Rizkalla UNDERWRITER $5,000 – $9,999 Anonymous Good Gracious! Lisa Ann & Tom Lydon Katrina & Roger Vogel William Lyon Homes CHOREOGRAPHER $2,500 – $4,999 Anonymous Discount Dance Supply Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Foundation
SOLOIST $500 – $999 Anonymous AireRite Airconditioning & Refrigeration Christine & Tom De Nicola Wendy & Howard Grant Mary Ho Diane & Wayne Kopit Mother’s Market & Kitchen Pulmonary Care & Sleep Associates Lydia Ringwald Teri & Chris Schmidt Seta Tchekmedyian Tina & Alex Wilson Beverly & Edward Youssoufian
ARTIST $250 – $499 Becky Lew Photography Vicky & Mark Blake Willa Bouwens-Killeen Mary Ellen Bowman MaryAnn & Matthew Carroll Diana Casey Denise & Homa Daravi Ann Drew Kelly Given Wendy & Daniel Harrigan Karen & Thomas Hersh David & Teri Neumann Pueblo Trading Company, Inc. Joanna Weiss APPRENTICE $100 – $249 In Memory of Janann Strand Joan Coats Michael K. Yamamoto
PRINCIPAL $1,000 – $2,499 Anonymous Shey & Dennis Castonguay Ike Properties, Inc. The Image Center Rosanna & Patrick Minns Nikki & Dennis Repp The Waterfront Beach Resort
For information or to join our list of donors, please visit FestivalBallet.org or call 714.962.5440
Festival Ballet Theatre Board of Directors Salwa Rizkalla, President Willa Bouwens-Killeen, Treasurer
Lisa Yamashita, Vice President
Cathleen Hunter, Secretary Doris Bailey, Member at Large
Festival Ballet Theatre Guild Chairs Christine De Nicola, President Teri Schmidt, Grants
Kathryn Weber, Boutique Chair Sandy Mason, Hospitality Chair
Alisa Ziebarth, Volunteer Chair
Festival Ballet Theatre Advisory Board Tom Lydon Katherine Ahn, DDS
Curtis Holdsworth Mike Lemburg
AUGUST 15 Internationally Acclaimed Guest Artists
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FOUNTAIN VALLEY 714.962.5440
9527 Garfield Ave., Fountain Valley, CA 92708
IRVINE 949.757.1936
710 Roosevelt, Irvine, CA 92620
SouthlandBallet.com
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CHARACTER
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MODERN
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JAZZ