From the Artistic Director: Welcome to the fifth annual National Choreographers Initiative! This project originated with a group of community leaders, the Advisory Committee. The committee and I have partnered with Irvine Barclay Theatre, who presents the showing and serves as our fiscal agent, and the Claire Trevor School of the Arts – Dance Department, who provides the studios for all of the rehearsals.
Molly Lynch NCI Artistic Director
The initiative brings together four choreographers, each developing a new work of their choosing. This year, sixteen professional dancers from around
NCI Advisory Committee Bobbi Cox Sophie Cripe Diane Diefenderfer Helen Holland Joanne Keith Molly Lynch Anne B. Nutt Lois Osborne Barbara Roberts Sally Anne Sheridan Pam Shue Barbara Tingley
the country join them to collaborate on these new works presented this evening. It’s important for the health and advancement of the dance community for choreographers to have the opportunity to create new work. It’s exciting to see how far we have reached and the effect of this project not only on our local community but also across the nation. Since 2004, NCI has invited 16 choreographers to creat new work. Twelve of those works have been developed further and have been performed in the U.S. and abroad. We have also engaged the talents of 51 dancers representing 16 different dance companies. This is a unique opportunity to engage these outstanding artists in the creative process and promote the development of professional dance. I
Special Thanks
Aaron Cota videographer and YouTube video
Dave Friedman photographer
Follow NCI online:
www.youtube.com/ncidance www.nchoreographers.org
hope you will join the process through our discussion with the choreographers at the end of the evening. Thank you for supporting dance!
“Shortened Suite” (originally to be titled “Five Piece Suite”)
Choreography by
Lighting Design Music
Dancers
Edmund Stripe Monique L’Heureux Marc Mellits “Exposed Zipper” “Trans Fatty Acid’s Rein” “Mara’s Lullaby” “Mechanically Separated Chicken Parts” performed by Real Quiet
Dubraskha Arrivillaga Nancy Richer Kristin Scott Valerie Tellmann Joe Bunn Christopher Butler Jason Linsley Kristopher Wojtera
Edmund Stripe is currently in his 7th year as ballet master with Alberta Ballet. Born in Enfield, North London, and trained at the Royal Ballet School, he was a soloist with Ballet Gulbenkian (Portugal) and principal dancer with London City Ballet. From 1987 to 1997, Mr. Stripe was principal dancer and choreographer with West Australian Ballet and was appointed ballet master there in 1998. In 2000, he became ballet master of Singapore Dance Theatre, moving to Alberta Ballet in 2002. An award-winning choreographer, Mr. Stripe has created over 30 major works for many international ballet companies. In Canada, his work outside of Alberta Ballet, has been seen in collaborations with Calgary Opera and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Following the success of his works, Unquiet Light and Swelter, for Alberta Ballet, Mr. Stripe presented Alice in Wonderland, his first full-length work for the company in March 2006; and was commissioned to create their new Nutcracker to premiere in November 2008. In September 2008, he is returning to Singapore Dance Theatre to restage his Piano Concerto No.2, Opus 102 as part of that company’s 20th anniversary celebration.
“SoCal Sketch #1” Choreography by Lighting Design Music
Amy Seiwert Monique L’Heureux Karl Jenkins “Adiemus Variations 1-4”
“SoCal Sketch #2” Choreography by Lighting Design Music
Dancers
Amy Seiwert Monique L’Heureux Karl Jenkins “Requiem,” “Lacrimosa” Adrienne Benz Jamie Dee Lauren Fagone Kelly Ann Sloan Christian Broomhall Brent Cannons Ted Keener Eddie Mikrut
*** Intermission ***
Amy Seiwert, originally from Cincinnati, was a principal dancer with Sacramento Ballet before joining Smuin Ballet in 1999, where she was recently appointed choreographer- in-residence. An active choreographer with work in the repertory of Robert Moses’ Kin, Ballet Austin, Smuin Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, and American Repertory Ballet, she also directs im-ijre, a contemporary ballet company that collaborates with artists from other disciplines in the Bay Area and is committed to experimental work from a classical base. She was named one of “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine in 2005 and has received the Gerbode Foundation’s Emerging Choreographer grant. In 2006 she was invited by Peter Martins to participate in the New York Choreographic Institute where she worked with dancers from the New York City Ballet.
“Expressions of Leaning into the Light” Choreography by
Emery LeCrone
Lighting Design
Monique L’Heureux
Music
Michael Gordon “Light is Calling” Felix Mendelssohn “Duet, Op. 38, No. 6” David Lang “Child: V. Little Eye”
Dancers
Jamie Dee Dubraskha Arrivillaga
Jason Linsley Joe Bunn
Kelly Ann Sloan
Ted Keener
Valerie Tellmann
Eddie Mikrut
Emery LeCrone, originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, began her dance training at The Greensboro Ballet at the age of six. She attended several summers at the School of American Ballet on scholarship and continued her dance training at the North Carolina School of the Arts with legendary teachers such as the late Melissa Hayden. Post graduation, in 2005, she joined The North Carolina Dance Theater where she performed in works such as Balanchine’s Serenade, Faust, and the Stravinsky Violin Concerto, as well as director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s Carmina Burana. Miss LeCrone began choreographing at the age of fourteen and received an award for her work, Pulling to Break, at The Chautauqua Summer Gala in 2006. The piece, subsequently, became part of the repertoire of North Carolina Dance Theatre II during the 2006-07 season. This summer Miss LeCrone was a member of faculty and choreographed for the North Carolina Dance Theatre Summer Intensive. She returned to Greensboro to restage Pulling to Break on members of The New York City Ballet for Greensboro Ballet Gala Stars at Night. Since moving to New York in August 2007, Miss LeCrone has performed for Christopher Wheeldon’s company Morphoses, as well as The Lincoln Center Institute, Ballet Neo, and The New Chamber Ballet. Most recently, her choreography premiered in the Ballet Builders 2008 showcase.
“French Twist” Choreography by
Lighting Design Music
Ma Cong Monique L’Heureux Hugues Le Bars
Dancers
Adrienne Benz
Christian Broomhall
Kristin Scott
Kristopher Wojtera
Lauren Fagone
Christopher Butler
Nancy Richer
Brent Cannons
******* Followed by a discussion with Molly Lynch, Ma Cong, Emery LeCrone, Amy Seiwert and Edmund Stripe
Previously with the National Ballet of China, Ma Cong joined Tulsa Ballet in 1999. Ma studied at the Beijing Dance Academy, where he received a full scholarship and graduated with honors. He has worked with choreographers and teachers from the Royal Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and the Cuba National Ballet. Ma has danced and performed a number of important leading roles and has also appeared as an international guest artist. As a choreographer, in the spring of 2006, he was invited to perform his choreography, Melodia, at the Pesaro International Choreographic Festival Grand Gala and at the Miami International Festival Gala. Also in 2006, he was named one of the “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine for both dancing and choreography. Ma has created several ballets for Tulsa Ballet, including the new Carmina Burana for Tulsa Ballet’s 50th Anniversary celebration. He was invited by Ballet Met to create a new work for their 30th Anniversary celebration. He has created two pieces for Ballet Des Moines and works for Tulsa Ballet II and Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education. In May 2007, he was named by Oklahoma Magazine as one of the state’s “40 under 40.” In April 2008, he won two awards at the 21st Century Choreographic Competition.
Artist Biographies Dubraskha Arrivillaga was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She trained at the Escuela de Ballet Clásico with Nina Novak. She has danced with Ballet Nacional de Caracas Teresa Carreño, Ballet Nuevo Mundo, and Ballet Contemporáneo de Caracas. This is her sixth season with Eugene Ballet Company, under the direction of Toni Pimble. Adrienne Benz was born in Vernon, New Jersey. She trained at Theatre Arts Dance Academy with Elaine Kudo. She also studied three summers with American Ballet Theatre in New York City. She is currently going into her sixth season with Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio. Adrienne won the Princess Grace Foundation award in 2006. This is her 2nd year with NCI. Christian Broomhall was born in Columbus, Ohio. He trained at the Ballet Met academy under David Nixon and Yoko Ichino. He has danced with Ballet Met and Northern Ballet Theatre in Leeds, England. He will be starting his first season with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in August. Joe Bunn was born in New Heaven, Connecticut. He trained at Suitland High School Visual Performing Arts, Dance Institute of Washington, Dance Theater of Harlem and with Suzanne Ferrell. He has a B.F.A. from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia and has danced with Suzanne Ferrell Ballet Company and American Repertory Ballet. In August he will be joining the Slovenia National Ballet as a soloist.
Christopher Butler was born in Guam. He trained at Bodyarts Dance Studio with John Grensback and at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet with Marcia Dale Weary. He has danced with Ballet Austin II. He is currently dancing with Nashville Ballet, under the artistic direction of Paul Vasterling. Brent Cannons was born in Plymouth, Michigan. He trained with Stefan Wenta and at the Danse Conservatory in San Juan Capistrano. He has danced with Ballet Pacifica, California Riverside Ballet, and Francisco Martinez Dance Theatre. He is beginning his third season with the Los Angeles Ballet, under the artistic direction of Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary. Jamie Dee was born in Orange, California. She trained at the West Coast Conservatory of Ballet and danced with Orange County Regional Ballet with Kristen Potts. She has participated in summer programs at American Ballet Theatre in New York, and Cleveland/San Jose Ballet. She has danced with American Repertory Ballet, was a guest artist with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company and Raiford Rogers Modern Dance. She is in her seventh season with Ballet Met under the direction of Gerard Charles.
Lauren Fagone was raised in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She received her dance training while attending summer programs at School of American Ballet, Chautauqua Festival Ballet, and at Indiana University. She has danced with North Carolina Dance Theatre and Chautauqua Ballet. She is in her eighth season with Richmond Ballet, under the artistic direction of Stoner Winslett. This is her fourth year with NCI. Ted Keener was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts (high school graduate), Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet, and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (BSOF Ballet and Business). He has danced with Richmond Ballet and Sacramento Ballet. He will be starting his first season at Smuin Ballet in August. Jason Linsley was born in Roseville, California. He trained at Sierra Dance Academy with Jean Fulton, Deane Dance Center with Nolan T’Sani and Barbara Crockett, Pacific Northwest Ballet School under the direction of Francia Russell. He has danced with Sacramento Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. He is currently in his eight season with Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah, under the artistic direction of Adam Sklute. Eddie Mikrut was born in Kenoshu, Wisconsin. He trained with Paula Morgan, David Allan, Donald McKayle, Elaine Thomas, and Diane Diefenderfer. He has a B.A. from the University of California,
Irvine. He is in his tenth season with Nashville Ballet, under the artistic direction of Paul Vasterling. This is his fifth year with NCI. Nancy Richer was born in New York City, New York. She trained at the Ballet Academy East with Darla Hoover, Peter Frame, Lourdes Lopez and Francis Patrelle. She attended the San Francisco Ballet school on a merit scholarship. She has danced with San Francisco Ballet (as a student) and Oregon Ballet Theatre. She is in her second seaon with Los Angeles Ballet, under the direction of Colleen Neary and Thordal Christensen. Kristin Scott was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She trained at the Fort Wayne Ballet with Michael Tevlin and Judy Jacob, and at Indiana University with Violette Verdy, Leslie Peck, Jacques and Virginia Cesbron. She is in her ninth season with American Repertory Ballet, under artistic direction of Graham Lustig. Kelly Ann Sloan was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. She studied at the New Jersey School of Ballet and attended summer intensive programs at American Ballet Theatre. She has a B.S.O.F. from Indiana University in ballet and journalism. She has danced with the Cincinnati Opera and the Cincinnati Ballet for five years. She is currently going into her third season with the Los Angeles Ballet, under the direction of Colleen Neary and Thordal Christensen. This is her second year with NCI.
Valerie Tellmann was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She trained at the Tulsa Ballet, Lexingotn Ballet, and Richmond Ballet with Malcolm Burn,Arnott Madder and Jerry Schwinder. She is in her ninth season with Ricmond Ballet, under the direction of Stoner Winslett. This is her fourth year with NCI. Kristopher Wojtera was born in Gdansk, Poland. He trained at the National Ballet School in Gdansk, Poland. He has danced with the Polish National Theatre in Warsaw and Columbia City Ballet. He is in his fifth season at the Louisville Ballet, under artistic director Bruce Simpson. This is his third year with NCI. Monique L’Heureux is an award winning lighting designer who has been working in the field of dance for two decades. Ms. L’Heureux’s recent projects include lighting for: Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet, Charles Moulton’s Ball Passing piece in Fall for Dance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center; The Motion Picture and Television Fund event featuring Chita Rivera and Dick van Dyke, Shirley MacLaine, Hugh Jackman, Catherine ZetaJones, Jennifer Hudson, and many others; Festival Ballet Theatre; and Dance Peninsula. She had her first solo photography exhibit at the Carl Broderick Gallery in Laguna Beach this year. Her dance design credits include lighting design for over forty companies at the National Festival of Regional Dance America, held at the Benedum in Pittsburgh last year, and a special performance at the International Ballet Competition. She has also designed for Dance Kaleidoscope, SOLA, Backhausdance, Anjani Ambegaokar, Media City Ballet, Jazz Spectrum, Rhapsody in Taps, and Danza Floricanto, among others. Her theatre design credits include lighting for the summer season at the Hollywood Bowl, the Pasadena Playhouse, the Dallas Theatre Center, and the Laguna Playhouse, among others. Monique is a member of United Scenic Artists.
Molly Lynch (Artistic Director) is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of California, Irvine. She is the founder and artistic director of the National Choreographers Initiative, an internationally known project to nurture the development of new choreography. Ms Lynch served as the artistic director for Ballet Pacifica from 1988-2003. During her tenure, she established Ballet Pacifica as Orange County’s leading professional dance company and one of the area’s top performing arts organizations. Among her innovative trademark programs was the Pacifica Choreographic Project. Under Ms. Lynch’s direction, the company worked with forty choreographers, premiered more than forty new ballets and restaged some of America’s most beloved classics by George Balanchine, Antony Tudor and Choo San Goh. Ms. Lynch has choreographed over 22 concert and story ballets, 6 children’s ballets and a full-length production of The Nutcracker. Ms. Lynch recently created new ballets for Nashville Ballet, BalletMet (Columbus, Ohio), and Dance Collage (Hermosillo, Mexico). In 1992, Ms Lynch was given the esteemed Outstanding Alumnus award from UCI and was named one of OCMetro Magazine’s Ten Women Who Make A Difference. She received the Red Cross’ Clara Barton Cultural Arts Award and the Boy Scouts of America Women of Excellence award in 1996, and in 2001, she was presented the Choo San Goh Award for Choreography. In the fall of 2007 she received the Outstanding Arts Organization Award for her National Choreographers Initiative from Arts Orange County and this past April received the Irvine Barclay Theatre’s prestigious Jade Award.
The National Choreographers Initiative would like to thank the following individuals for their support of the 2008 Initiative:
Producer Mr. and Mrs. William Roberts Director Bobbi Cox Frank W. Lynch Choreographer Mr. and Mrs. Larry Cripe William Gillespie Anne B. Nutt Mr. and Mrs. John Stahr Mrs. Richard Steele Dancer Paul Blank Mr. and Mrs. Henry Eggers The Robinson Foundation Michelle F. RohĂŠ Designer Mrs. Alan V. Andrews Alan Andrews and Molly Lynch Diane Diefenderfer and David Hanlon Paula Tomei and David Emmes Frome Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Van Holland Joanne and Dennis Keith Ed Moen and Janek Schergen Mr. & Mrs. J. Matthew Osborne Don and Sally Anne Sheridan Diana Sunshine and Bill Onderdonk Dance Contributor Dr. Michael Bear Beverly and David Carmichael Mr. and Mrs. Sam Goldstein Dr. Burton Karson James G. Konrad Kathryn Lynch and Robert McDonnell Mr. and Mrs. Carl Neisser Marshall Parker Ann and Dick Sim Chris Sumpter Mr. and Mrs. Keith Swayne Mr. and Mrs. Jack Tingley
Partner Diane Baker William Bardens Laurie and Bart Brown Edith Corbin Bronny Daniels Debbie Davis Dawidoff Family Roger du Plessis Mrs. Paul Faranda Cliff Faulkner and Shigeru Yaji Roberta Fox Gillian Finley and Robert Labaree Mary and Andrew Franklin Fred and Jeanne Golding Judi Gorski and Rod Harron Rowell and Pinky Greene Glenn Highland James and Carol Hollas Christine Johnson Bill Keiser Lorenzo and Karen Knapp James Joseph Koller Grace and Don Laffoon Maureen and Maurice Mandel Debra Maxwell Mrs. Michael McNalley Dale Merrill John and Margi Murray Marica Pendjer and John Miller James Penrod Robert Petel Jane and Pat Phelan Janice Gudde Plastino Dolly Platt Patricia Ringstad Louise Ringwalt Cyndi and David Runstrom Timothy Saunders Bruce and Jan Scherer Jack and Katy Schoellerman Mr. and Mrs. Nick Shubin Mr. and Mrs. William Shue Jackie Smiley Liz Stillwell Gary and Karen Thorne John Warndahl Max Weismair Mary Vensel White Carol and Kent Wilken
Past NCI choreographers
Irvine Barclay Theatre Board of Directors Patricia J. Murphy, Chairman
2007 Melissa Barak Frank Chaves Edwaard Liang Jerry Opdenaker 2006 Ron De Jesus Graham Lustig Charles Moulton Gina Patterson 2005 Val Caniparoli Christopher d’Amboise William Soleau Luca Veggetti 2004 Ann Marie DeAngelo Peter Pucci James Sewell Lynne Taylor-Corbett 2004-2008 dancers from: American Repertory Ballet BalletMet Ballet Pacifica Ballet West Carolina Ballet Eugene Ballet Hubbard Street Dance Chicago James Sewell Ballet Kansas City Ballet Los Angeles Ballet Louisville Ballet Nashville Ballet National Ballet of Canada Richmond Ballet Smuin Ballets State Street Ballet
Francisco Ayala Arlene Cheng Mark Coyle Bobbi Cox Rosemary Cumming Ginny Davies Tony Ellis Morgan Evans Robert Farnsworth Nohema Fernández Mary Ann Gaido Sam Goldstein Kurt Hagel Skip Johnson DeeDee Jones Sean Joyce Michael A. Kerr Alyce Nelson Rick Paikoff William H. Parker Leason Pomeroy Ryan Rieches Mickie L. Shapiro Gary Singer Robert E. Tarlton Cheryl Trosky Lisa Bhathal Vogel Ex Officio Beth Krom Mayor, City of Irvine
Michael V. Drake, M.D. Chancellor, UCI
Administration Douglas C. Rankin, President Domenick Ietto, Vice President Christopher Burrill, General Manager Karen Drews Hanlon, Dir of Communications Gary Payne, Director of Finance Luanne Bauer, Box Office Manager Helena Danovich, Marketing Assistant Ginny Hayward, Assistant to the President Jim Laird, Production Manager Brianna Sparks, Assistant Box Office Manager Jeff Stamper, Assistant Production Manager
IRVINE
BARCLAY THEATRE
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