ETERNAL
DESIRE
Alexandra Meister-Upleger and Nathan Young in Sofranko’s Ballade; photo by Jade Butler
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FEBRUARY 14-16 & 21, 2020 | PETER MARTIN WEGE THEATRE
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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MESSAGE Welcome to Eternal Desire, our first program of the new year. Dance speaks volumes beyond language, and what subject better to explore through movement than our common human desire to love and be loved. I am proud that three of the five works on this program are world premieres created specifically for Grand Rapids Ballet. First, November from choreographer Danielle Rowe whose impressive background includes Nederlands Dans Theater, Australian Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, is a powerful work examining the struggle and loss of control that comes with love. Second, Romeo and Juliet Balcony Pas de Deux portrays the classic scene of Shakespeare’s famous star-crossed lovers, with soaring music by Sergei Prokofiev and new choreography from myself. Romeo and Juliet is one of my favorite ballets and it was a dream come true to create this work with the dancers. The third is also a world premiere of mine, A Dreamer, inspired by the life and work of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. Hawking was on a lifelong quest for understanding of our universe, and despite his battle with ALS which left him physically disabled for most of his life, he became one of the most brilliant minds of our time. He inspired millions around the world to keep searching for answers, and I too have been inspired. A Dreamer is my tribute to him and his ability to overcome the odds. Read more about him on page 15. Rounding out the program is Give Me, a duet created by Resident Choreographer Penny Saunders for our annual fall Gala this past year, and the return of last season’s immensely popular Wild Sweet Love from world renowned choreographer Trey McIntyre. Thank you for joining us and experiencing Grand Rapids Ballet. Our entire staff works hard to bring the world’s best ballet to your doorstep and the dancers come from all over the world to perform this repertoire. We are proud to bring world-class art to our city, and we thank you for your ongoing support. I hope you will join us March 6-8 for Jumpstart, our platform for new and experimental works, and April 24-May 3 for the Grand Rapids Ballet premiere of Christopher Stowell’s classic and humorous A Midsummer Night’s Dream with gorgeous sets and costumes, paired with Balanchine’s masterpiece Serenade. I look forward to seeing you again soon here at the ballet!
James Sofranko, Artistic Director 4
PROGRAM NOTES GIVE ME
“Love Choreography Music Costumes Lighting Design Premiere
is Love” Penny Saunders Louis Armstrong (Songwriters: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Oscar Hammerstein) Ronald Altman & Penny Saunders Matthew Taylor 10.18.19 Grand Rapids Ballet Season Gala
NOVEMBER
(world premiere) “Love is not something that weak people do. Being a romantic takes a hell of a lot of hope.” —Phoebe Waller Bridge Choreography Danielle Rowe Music Sergei Prokofiev & Max Richter Lighting Design Matthew Taylor Costume Design Danielle Truss Part One: Intermingled stories of people finding and dealing with the turbulent nature of love. Rain: A man succumbs to love. He must be willing to be truly vulnerable in order to genuinely experience the depths of true love. Part Two: To relinquish control and love completely and deeply is a gift. Despite the hurt that may come as a result, surrendering to one’s truth, is to live!
ROMEO & JULIET BALCONY PAS DE DEUX
(world premiere) Choreography James Sofranko Music Sergei Prokofiev Costume Design Ronald Altman Lighting Design Matthew Taylor Balcony courtesy of Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. intermission
A DREAMER
(world premiere) “My name is Stephen Hawking—physicist, cosmologist, and something of a dreamer. Although I cannot move and I have to speak through a computer, in my mind I am free.” Choreography James Sofranko Music Phillip Glass, String Quartet No. 5; Ludwig van Beethoven, String Quartet No. 15, op. 132, “Heiliger Dankgesang” Musicians Eclectic String Music Ensemble (ESME) Costume Design Brennan Smith Lighting Design Matthew Taylor
The world premiere of A Dreamer is underwritten by Marcus and Helle Haw. Live music for A Dreamer is underwritten by David Armbrecht. Produced with permission from the Estate of Stephen Hawking. intermission
WILD SWEET LOVE
Choreography Staging Costume Design Original Lighting Lighting Recreation Costume Construction Music Premiere 5
Trey McIntyre Ilana Goldman Trey McIntrye Steve Odehnal Matthew Taylor Brennan Smith & Danielle Truss Queen, Lou Reed, Robert Flack, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, The Partridge Family, Felix Mendelssohn, and The Zombies 3.27.07 Sacramento Ballet
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DANCERS COMPANY
Isaac Aoki
James Cunningham
Ednis Gomez
Yuko Horisawa
Steven Houser
Josue Justiz
Sarah Marley
Madison Massara
Alexandra Meister-Upleger
Yuka Oba-Muschiana
Emily Reed
Branden Reiners
Gretchen Steimle
Nigel Tau
Julia Turner
Adriana Wagenveld
12 Matt Wenckowski
Nathan Young
APPRENTICES
Emily Barrows
Akira Bischoff
Audra Cockrell
Yuri Rogers
Emily Sipnick
Logan Velasquez
Celeste Lopez-Keranen
Learn more about your favorite dancers at grballet.com/dancers. Dancer headshots by Isaac Aoki.
TRAINEES
Sienna Clark
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Maeve Senter
Bailee Columber
Sophia Stefanopoulos
Emily Kayser
Ingrid Lewis
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STEPHEN HAWKING & HIS THEORY OF EVERYTHING Born in Oxford, England, in 1942, Professor Hawking broke new ground on the basic laws which govern the universe, including the revelation that black holes have a temperature and produce radiation, now known as Hawking radiation. At the same time, he also sought to explain many of these complex scientific ideas to a wider audience through popular books, most notably his bestseller “A Brief History of Time.” “If, like me, you have looked to the stars He was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge and tried to make sense of what you see, University, was awarded the you too have started to wonder Commander of the Most Excellent what makes the universe exist.” Order of the British Empire (CBE) — Stephen Hawking in 1982, and was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. He was the recipient of numerous awards, medals and prizes, including the Copley Medal of the Royal Society, the Albert Einstein Award, the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, the Fundamental Physics Prize, and the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award for Basic Sciences. He was a Fellow of The Royal Society, a Member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences. He achieved all this despite a decades-long battle with motor neuron disease, with which he was diagnosed while a student, and eventually led to him being confined to a wheelchair and to communicating via his instantly recognizable computerized voice. His determination in battling with his condition made him a champion for those with a disability around the world. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most brilliant minds, he was known throughout the world for his contributions to science, his books, his television appearances, his lectures, and through biographical films. Hawking died on March 14, 2018 and his ashes were interred at Westminster Abbey, near the graves of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. 15
THE 2019-20 SEASON IS FAR FROM OVER! 16
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THANK YOU, DONORS! $10,000+ Wege Foundation James & Mary Nelson Beusse & Porter Family Foundation Meijer PNC Bank Spectrum Health Daniel & Pamella DeVos Foundation Rosemary & David Good Family Foundation Wes & Judy Harpold J. Lee* & Susan B. Murphy Foster Swift Forest Hills Foundation Jon & Carol Muth James H. Schindler Valerie B. Nelson Amway Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation The Catholic Foundation Mary Yurko & Mark Gurney $5,000+ Joy DeBoer Tim & Juliet Kraal Sally Kotani & David Armbrecht Lynn & Stuart White The Baldwin Foundation Dean & Sheri Estes Marilyn Titche Norris Perne & French Patrick McConeghy A.K. Rikks Varnum Steelcase Keller Foundation John & Christine Willig $2,500+ Jim Shafer & Leah Voigt Karlis & Anda Vizulis Mary Loupee John Nienhuis & Jerry Nardin Robert Beasecker & Erika King Giselle & Peter Sholler Experience Grand Rapids Grand Valley State University Honigman Wolverine Worldwide Founders Brewing Co. $1,000+ Andrea Jeane Darling John Hunting Twink Frey 20
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Be a part of the art! To make a gift, please contact Executive Director Glenn Del Veccio at 616.454.4771 ext. 14 or glennd@grballet.com.
INTERCONNECTED Interlochen
Deep in the woods of northern Michigan, arts collide and unbreakable bonds form. An experience at Interlochen Arts Camp won’t just make you a better artist—it will transform the course of your future.
Programs for every young artist grades 3-12.
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Passion.
It starts with an education focused entirely on your growth — as a thinker, a problem-solver, and as a person. By the time you graduate, you will have knowledge, confidence, and a clear path moving forward. More importantly, you’ll be part of a community that’s prepared to give, to
GVSU Senior Dance Recital
gvsu.edu 23
create, to make a difference. That’s the Laker Effect.
March 14, 2020 | 7:30 PM March 15, 2020 | 2:00 PM Betty Van Andel Opera Center
AN OPERA BY DERRICK WANG
TICKETS $50 General Admission STUDENT TICKETS $5 Student I.D. Required
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the 40th season
THEATRE AT GRAND VALLEY
201920SEASON 2019 - 2020
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM SEP 27–OCT 6
Sunday, Oct 20, 3:00pm COMMUNITY CHOIR CONCERT Fountain Street Church
Saturday, Nov 30, 7:30pm & Sunday, Dec 1, 3:00pm SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS with EMBELLISH The Basilica of St. Adalbert
Sunday, Dec 15, 7:30pm MESSIAH SING-A-LONG Trinity Lutheran Church
Sunday, Apr 26, 3:00pm SOUNDS OF SPRING with CCGR ALUMNI
WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST NOV 15–24
WORKING FEB 7–16
THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD MAR 27–APR 5
The Basilica of St. Adalbert
Friday, Jun 5, 7:30pm VOICES OF RESURRECTION Frauenthal Theater, Muskegon
For more Information visit 26
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GVSU.EDU/THEATRE
Spectrum Health Medical Group is proud to be the preferred orthopedic provider for the Grand Rapids Ballet. We know how important it is to overcome a sudden injury—whether you’re a professional ballet dancer or someone who just dances to your own beat. It’s the reason we offer convenient, same-day care from our top orthopedic specialist. Spectrum Health Medical Group Orthopedic Urgent Care 4100 Lake Drive, Suite 300 Grand Rapids, MI 49546 616.267.7000 Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.—Call ahead to reserve your spot. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.—Walk-ins welcome Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—Walk-ins welcome
Improve health, inspire hope and save lives.TM 27
GRAND RAPIDS BALLET SCHOOL We believe strongly in the therapeutic power of dance. That’s why we work to bring dance to the community through strategic partnerships and programs. By Danielle Nelson for Grand Rapids Business Journal Holland Home is partnering with the Grand Rapids Ballet School to offer ballet classes at its Raybrook campus starting in October, once per week, over the course of the next year. The 45-minute “Moving with Parkinson’s” dance class is geared toward residents with Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. “The benefits of the class are dance, movement, flexibility, balance, strength,” Alisha Van Epps, fitness manager and personal trainer at Holland Home said. “All of those are things that people with Parkinson’s can really benefit from increasing. What is really nice about the dance piece of it is that not only they can incorporate the physical activity, like exercise, but there are also cognitive aspects. There is live music and the instructor does a nice job incorporating emotional expression and then there is a social interaction piece, as well. So, it is not just an exercise class.”
READ FULL ARTICLE & LEARN MORE > GRBALLET.COM/GRBS-PARKINSONS
GRAND RAPIDS BALLET SCHOOL ADULT CLASSES BALLET classes focus on technique, core strengthening, and muscle conditioning. Studies have proven that a ballet dancer is just as strong as a football player. Why? Because in ballet, all of your muscles are actively engaged in movement, providing you with greater flexibility while also exercising the brain. Beyond that, you build self-confidence, grow artistically, and relieve stress, too. Classes for both beginner and intermediate available. PILATES is an innovative and safe system of mind-body exercise that builds strength without excess bulk, creates a sleek toned body, and helps alleviate back pain. All you need to get started is a yoga mat and comfortable clothing. Beginners welcome!
LEARN MORE > GRBALLET.COM/GRBS-ADULTCLASSES
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Attila Mosolygo, Director
DANCE DOES YOUR CHILD GOOD. From beginner to advanced ages 3-19, our students receive the nurturing instruction of our professional teaching faculty to develop a thorough knowledge of technique, the invaluable skill of self-discipline, and a lasting love of dance. Elements from the French, Italian, and Russian ballet techniques are incorporated into our well-rounded curriculum, giving your child a versatile and extensive dance education.
LEARN MORE > GRBSCHOOL.COM
March 13-15 & 21-22, 2020 | Peter Martin Wege Theatre | grballet.com/jrco-aladdin 29
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When people love what they do, you feel it, because it matters to them. From the 31,000+ people who are Spectrum Health, to the talented performers at the Grand Rapids Ballet, working in rhythm improves well-being and brings communities together.
Improve health, inspire hope and save lives.TM
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CHOREOGRAPHER PROFILES JAMES SOFRANKO is currently in his second season as Artistic Director of Grand Rapids Ballet, following an 18-year career as a soloist with the San Francisco Ballet. Originally from Cincinnati, he received his training at The Harid Conservatory and also The Juilliard School where he received his BFA in dance. At San Francisco Ballet, he performed around the world and worked with leading choreographers including William Forsythe, Mark Morris, Christopher Wheeldon, Paul Taylor, Yuri Possokhov, and more. He also starred in the Broadway touring company of Twyla Tharp’s Movin’ Out with music by Billy Joel. In 2012 he co-founded DanceFAR (Dance For A Reason), an annual benefit performance and after-party that brings the San Francisco Bay Area dance community together to support the work of the Cancer Prevention Institute of California. In 2014, he formed a contemporary repertory company in San Francisco, SFDanceworks. The company has presented works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Nacho Duato, Lar Lubovitch, José Limón, Christopher Bruce, and world premieres by Penny Saunders, Danielle Rowe, Dana Genshaft, and James Sofranko. His first season at Grand Rapids Ballet featured numerous company premieres from choreographers such as Alejandro Cerrudo, Trey McIntyre, George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Penny Saunders, and Nicolas Blanc. He choreographed three works on the company, including Two Tangos and The Sweet By and By, which were recently performed at the company’s first ever appearance at Frederick Meijer Gardens amphitheater. PENNY SAUNDERS, originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, graduated from the Harid Conservatory in 1995, and began her professional career with The American Repertory Ballet under the direction of Septime Webre. She went on to dance with Ballet Arizona, MOMIX Dance Theater, Cedar Lake Ensemble and in 2004 she joined Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. In 2011, Saunders won the International Commissioning Project which launched her choreographic career, creating pieces for Hubbard Streets’ main and second company, Cincinnati Ballet, Whim W’Him, BalletX, Tulsa Ballet 2, SFDanceworks, Neos Dance Theater, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Owen Cox Dance Group, among others. Saunders is honored to be the Resident Choreographer at The Grand Rapids Ballet where she recently completed her first full length work, The Happy Prince and Other Wilde Tales, that focused on the life and fairy tales of Oscar Wilde. Saunders has received support from The New York City Ballet Choreographic Commissions Initiative, participated in The National Choreographers Initiative and was the recipient of the 2016 Princess Grace Cho-reographic Fellowship. In the 2018-2019 season, she is excited to be collaborating with The Royal New Zealand Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Ballet Idaho, Seattle Dance Collective, The Grand Rapids Ballet, and SALT Contemporary Dance in residency at The University of Utah. 34
DANIELLE ROWE Born in Adelaide, Australia, Danielle Rowe trained at the Australian Ballet School before joining the Australian Ballet in 2001, where she danced for ten years as a Principal. In 2011, Danielle left Australia to join Houston Ballet and in 2012 moved again to join the prestigious Nederlands Dans Theater. Rowe has performed in a large variety of works and worked intimately with many acclaimed choreographers, notably Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, Crystal Pite, Wayne McGregor, Paul Lightfoot, Sol Leon and Alexander Eckman. In early 2015, Danielle made her choreographic debut with Margarie & Thomas for Nederlands Dans Theater’s SWITCH program. She then relocated to San Francisco later that year, where she continued her choreographic career. Her works include untitled with Garen Scribner for DanceFAR (2015), For Pixie for SFDanceworks (2016/17), O for Berkeley Ballet Theater (2017), And Here We Are for Diablo Ballet (2018) and Adam’s Key for Grand Rapids Ballet (2018).
TREY MCINTYRE was born in Wichita, Kansas, and trained at North Carolina School of the Arts and Houston Ballet Academy. In 1989, he was appointed Choreographic Apprentice to Houston Ballet, a position created especially for him, and in 1995 he became the company’s Choreographic Associate. He has worked for more than 25 years as a freelance choreographer, producing more than 100 pieces during the span of his career so far. McIntyre is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Choo San Goh Award for Choreography, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Society of Arts and Letters, two personal grants for choreography from the National Endowment for the Arts, and is a United States Artists Fellow. His works have been performed by companies around the world including Stuttgart Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Queensland Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, New York City Ballet, BalletX, The Washington Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. In 2005, McIntyre founded his dance company, Trey McIntyre Project (TMP), based in Boise, Idaho. The company was a tremendous critical success and was lauded for its innovative business model. In 2014, the company transitioned towards new artistic ventures, reducing greatly its efforts in dance, focusing currently on the feature-length documentary, Gravity Hero. A renowned photographer, McIntyre’s photographs have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and Sunset Magazine and he was commissioned by the U.S. Forest Service to create a series of photographs to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. He is currently working on two books of photography. 35
2020-21 season announcement coming soon...
ABOUT ECLECTIC STRING MUSIC ENSEMBLE ESME is an acoustic string band exclusive in West Michigan in blending classical music training with popular music to create a live performance experience that is accessible to students and music lovers of different ages and varied tastes. The group makes regular appearances at Grand Rapids high schools throughout the year, performing workshops and clinic concerts with the students. During these concerts the student orchestras perform with ESME using written orchestral arrangements of their music. The group has conducted residencies at Aquinas College, The Hillsdale String Festival and with the nationally renowned young musicians training program “Project 440� run by Philadelphia Orchestra musician Joseph Conyers. The group also performs at concert and social venues, art galleries, movie theaters and popular bar/restaurants in Grand Rapids. ESME recently released their first CD album which includes their original cover/mash-up arrangements of music ranging from Bach, Beethoven and Ravel to Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Led Zeppelin. ESME band members have performance and composition degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, University of Michigan and the Curtis Institute of Music and include members of The Grand Rapids Symphony and The Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. The band was formed in Grand Rapids in the summer of 2015.
LEARN MORE > ECLECTICSTRINGMUSICENSEMBLE.COM 36
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WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY CLASSICAL MUSIC for EVERYONE
Introducing Sujari Britt
Friday • March 13 • 7:30 pm Frauenthal Theater • Muskegon
Florence Price Dances in the Canebrakes Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto no.1 William Grant Still Symphony no.1 “Afro-American”
Tickets start at $25
Mardi Gras in Muskegon Friday • April 17 • 7:30 pm Frauenthal Theater • Muskegon
Celebrate the spirit of Mardi Gras with a night of hot New Orleans jazz. The good times roll with music of New Orleans natives like Fats Domino, Mahalia Jackson and Louis Armstrong. Join in the festivities as this party transforms into an unforgettable Mardi Gras celebration—with the amazing Byron Stripling leading the parade!
Tickets start at $29
Tickets are going fast! Get yours today.
231.726.3231
westmichigansymphony.org 39
STEP INSIDE A WORLD OF
PURE IMAGINATION
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! MARCH 10 – 15, 2020 DEVOS PERFORMANCE HALL
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GRAND RAPIDS BALLET STAFF COMPANY
Artistic Director James Sofranko Executive Director Glenn Del Vecchio Marketing Director Michael Erickson Production Stage Manager Mellissa Slack Costume Shop Manager Ronald Altman Company/Facilities Manager John Ferraro Box Office Manager Kelly Herremans Artistic Coordinator/Ballet Master Dawnell Dryja Black Asst. Ballet Master Steven Houser Guest Services Manager Errol Shewman Pianist Lonnie Ostrander Margi Derks Peterson
SCHOOL
Director & Junior Company Director Attila Mosolygo Curriculum Coordinator Mindy Mosolygo Administrator SarahJean Bos
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Faculty Jimmy Cunningham Lara Faucher Jillian Gasper Kate Matlack Gina McFadden Claire Millard Yuka Oba-Muschiana Taryn Ortega-Furgeson Nicole Reehorst Kara Taylor Jessica Winter-Troutwine Pianists Ryan Blok Kenneth Creager Idalmira Lopez Mark Moran Lonnie Ostrander Margi Peterson Night Receptionists Mary-Ann Carpenter Julie Lesniak
PRODUCTION CREW
Asst. Stage Manager Margaret Elise Petersen Production Electrician Glenn Gould Production Properties Ben Knudstrup Production Audio Sam Johnson Lighting Design Matthew Taylor Production Carpenter Andrew Steers Projectionist Marc Savage
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FRIDAYS AT 9:00PM ON WGVU PBS 35.1 / 52.1
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