Fall Works playbill

CHARLOTTE BALLET

Raven Barkley • Nadine Barton • Juan Castellanos • Luke Csordas Isabella Franco • Sarah Hayes Harkins • Meredith Hwang • Ben Ingel James Kopecky • Sarah Lapointe • Rees Launer • Anna Mains Maurice Mouzon Jr. • Oliver Oguma • Emily Porter • Humberto Ramazzina Amelia Sturt-Dilley • Andrés Trezevant • Shaina Wire

CHARLOTTE BALLET II

Mains

SPECIAL THANKS

FALL WORKS

Charlotte Ballet would like to thank the following individuals and corporations for their generous support of Fall Works.

Presented by

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY

COMMISSIONERS & UNDERWRITERS

IN Cognito was commissioned for Charlotte Ballet by Lise and Travis Hain.

A Picture of You Falling was underwritten for Charlotte Ballet by Shannon and Daniela Smith.

There are many exciting partnership opportunities to support Charlotte Ballet’s artistic excellence. To learn more about philanthropy, contact Meg Putnam at 704.414.2783 or mputnam@charlotteballet.org

WELCOME TO CHARLOTTE BALLET’S 2022/2023 SEASON

A message from Charlotte Ballet’s Artistic Director Alejandro Cerrudo.

October 2022 marks my sixth month at Charlotte Ballet as the artistic director. Though the time has flown by, I have been able to experience so much at this organization. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing young dancers grow and refine their skills through Charlotte Ballet Academy’s programs like Summer Intensive and our professionally led classes. I’ve met the dedicated staff working behind the scenes to ensure our programs and events happen seamlessly. And I’ve cherished the experiences of Charlotte’s vibrant community, seeing the excitement around so many arts festivals and initiatives. But the thing I have been excited for the most is getting to see you again, our Charlotte Ballet family.

Thank you for joining us for our 2022/2023 Season opener, Fall Works. I cannot wait for you all to experience the emotions brought on by Crystal Pite's A Picture of You Falling and the intensity behind the movement of Helen Pickett's IN Cognito. No matter how these works unfold for you, I know you’ll leave humming the tunes of Sugar + the Hi-Lows’ renditions of Johnny Cash's greatest hits in the Charlotte premiere of Charlotte Ballet II Director Christopher Stuart’s Under the Lights. May the music and movements of tonight create new memories with your friends and family that you can cherish for years to come.

Our performances are strengthened by audience members like you. I am grateful you are here today and look forward to sharing more performances with you.

Until next time,

Alejandro Cerrudo Artistic Director

Charlotte Ballet dedicates these performances to Marie Mitchell. An avid supporter of the arts, Marie has been in attendance at every production and event for the past thirty years. In a spirit of generosity, curiosity and creativity over the years, Marie has enabled Charlotte Ballet to present more than 14 new works or internationally acclaimed master works. She had a love for the art form and for our artists, and Marie has been instrumental in shaping what Charlotte Ballet is today. She will be missed greatly.

FALL WORKS

IN COGNITO

Choreography & Concept by Helen Pickett

Music: Excerpts from Jóhann Jóhannsson, Mikael Karlsson and Joshua Rubin Stager: Traci Gilchrest Kubie Costume Design by Charles Heightchew Lighting Design by Les Dickert World Premiere: Charlotte Ballet, 2019

PROGRAM NOTES

Raven

Barkley Sarah Harkins Sarah Lapointe Shaina Wire

Juan Castellanos Luke Csordas Ben Ingel James Kopecky Maurice Mouzon Jr.

IN Cognito was commissioned for Charlotte Ballet by Lise and Travis Hain.

“…To perform without a net is ecstasy." "… To perform without focus is fatal.” - Tom Robbins, Villa Incognito

"The extraordinary writer Tom Robbins, a native of Blowing Rock, NC, and I have shared a pen pal relationship since 2014. Because the breadth of his writing and his indomitable spirit have greatly influenced my life, in general, I wrote him to ask if I could call my new ballet IN Cognito, a title inspired by his novel, Villa Incognito. He said yes. It is not the actual theme of that particular book that helped to inspire my ballet, but the recurring leitmotif of being incognito within all of his books.

As performers, we transform ourselves, assume identities, and at the same time, quite liberatingly, we show our very souls. We accept this equivocality as our reality, and this acceptance has always intrigued me. Are we hiding in plain sight? Are we searching for the place to strip ourselves of artifice so we may celebrate, and not hide at all? Do we flourish and even delight in the ambiguity of our artistic lives because of our resolute focus? These questions, and perhaps the answers, weave throughout IN Cognito. “Transformation, liberation and celebration are the themes in all of my novels.” Tom Robbins

The 60’s and 70’s costuming and décor serve to create a space to be incognito IN Cognito. I find the bright colors of these decades quite celebratory, almost performative. The set/ furniture both delineates and continually transforms the space. The unified idea of the costumes, by the brilliant Charles Heightchew, forms a central identity, and at the same time reveals undeniable individuality. The light design, by the incomparable Les Dickert, shapes the mood and the interstices of the room.

The driving nature of the music by late Oscar nominated Jóhan Jóhannsson and Mikael Karlsson, which is at times whimsical, passionate, methodical or ominous, inspires and informs the nature of the choreography.

This ballet is dedicated to Tom Robbins. Thank you, Switters." - Choreographer, Helen Pickett

FALL WORKS

A PICTURE OF YOU FALLING

Choreography by Crystal Pite Stager: Anne Plamondon Rehearsal Director: Ana Lopez Original Music: Owen Belton Text: Crystal Pite Lighting Design: Robert Sondergaard Costume Design: Linda Chow

Original Premiere: Kidd Pivot, Ottawa, Canada - June 2008

Thursday, October 7 & Saturday, October 9

Amelia Sturt-Dilley & Andrés Trezevant

Friday, October 8

Sarah Lapointe & Ben Ingel

A Picture of You Falling was underwritten for Charlotte Ballet by Shannon and Daniela Smith.

FALL WORKS

UNDER THE LIGHTS

Choreography by Christopher Stuart Music by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Music performed by Sugar + the Hi-Lows Stager: Jon Upleger Lighting Designer: Scott Theaters

Walk the Line

Cast A Cast B Ben Ingel, soloist James Kopecky, soloist

Andrés Trezavant Humberto Ramazzina James Kopecky/Ben Ingel Luke Csordas Juan Castellanos Tyler Diggs Oliver Oguma Rees Launer Maurice Mouzon Jr. Anna Mains Isabella Franco Isabella Bertelotti Nadine Barton Raven Barkley Amelia Sturt-Dilley Sarah Hayes Harkins/Sarah Lapointe Shaina Wire Meredith Hwang Jacy Klein Olivia Parsons

Ring of Fire

Cast A Cast B Ben Ingel & Sarah Lapointe James Kopecky & Sarah Hayes Harkins

Jackson

Cast A Cast B Amelia Sturt-Dilley & Rees Launer Isabella Bertelotti & Humberto Ramazzina Raven Barkley & James Kopecky Meredith Hwang & Oliver Oguma

Two Day High

Cast A Cast B Franco/Barton & Maurice Mouzon Jr. Franco/Barton & Luke Csordas Shaina Wire & Andrés Trezevant Shaina Wire & Andrés Trezevant Jacy Klein & Humberto Ramazzina Jacy Klein & Juan Castellanos

Hurt

Cast A Cast B Anna Mains, soloist Nadine Barton, soloist

James Kopecky/Ben Ingel Luke Csordas Oliver Oguma Humberto Ramazzina Maurice Mouzon Jr. Andrés Trezevant Juan Castellanos Isabella Bertelotti Sarah Hayes Harkins Sarah Lapointe Meredith Hwang Raven Barkley/Anna Mains Olivia Parsons Amelia Sturt-Dilley Nadine Barton/Isabella Franco

FALL WORKS

UNDER THE LIGHTS, continued

Folsom Prison Blues

Andrés Trezavant Humberto Ramazinna LukeCsordas Juan Castellanos Tyler Diggs Oliver Oguma Ben Ingel/James Kopecky Maurice MouzonJr. Rees Launer

I've Got You Covered

Cast A Cast B Ben Ingel & Sarah Hayes Harkins James Kopecky & Amelia Sturt-Dilley

Jackson

Cast A Cast B Amelia Sturt-Dilley & Rees Launer Isabella Bertelotti & Humberto Ramazzina Raven Barkley & James Kopecky Meredith Hwang & Oliver Oguma

Tennessee Quick

Andrés Trezavant Humberto Ramazinna Luke Csordas Juan Castellanos Tyler Diggs Oliver Oguma Maurice Mouzon Jr. Rees Launer Shaina Wire Sarah Lapointe Anna Mains Nadine Barton Jacy Klein/Isabella Franco Raven Barkley Meredith Hwang

God's Gonna Cut You Down

Cast A Cast B Ben Ingel, soloist James Kopecky, soloist

Andrés Trezavant Humberto Ramazinna James Kopecky/Ben Ingel Luke Csordas Juan Castellanos Tyler Diggs Oliver Oguma Maurice Mouzon Jr. Rees Launer Anna Mains Isabella Franco Isabella Bertelotti Nadine Barton Raven Barkley Sarah Lapointe Sarah Hayes Harkins Shaina Wire Amelia Sturt-Dilley Meredith Hwang Jacy Klein Olivia Parsons

LEADERSHIP

Alejandro Cerrudo, Artistic Director

Alejandro Cerrudo was born in Madrid, Spain. His professional career includes work with Victor Ullate Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater 2 and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC). Cerrudo became HSDC's first-ever resident choreographer in 2008 and held that position until 2018.

Cerrudo's body of work has been performed by over 20 professional dance companies around the world. Honors include an award from the Boomerang Fund for Artists (2011) and the Prince Prize for Commissioning Original Work from the Prince Charitable Trusts (2012) for his acclaimed, first evening-length work, “One Thousand Pieces.” In 2014 he was awarded the USA Donnelley Fellowship by United States Artists. Also, Cerrudo was one of four choreographers invited by New York City Ballet's Wendy Whelan to create and perform original duets for “Restless Creatures." In 2017 Cerrudo was invited by Daniil Simkin to choreograph a site- specific performance for the Guggenheim Rotunda, a Works & Process Rotunda Project commission, featuring Daniil Simkin and original costumes by Dior. Cerrudo's “Sleeping Beauty,” created with Ballet Theater Basel in 2016, was nominated as “Production of the Year” in Switzerland in the “Tanz, Jahrbuch 2016” by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung.

In 2020 Cerrudo was appointed Pacific Northwest Ballet’s resident choreographer, with that, he became the first artist in the company’s history to have the honor of holding that title. Independently, he directed and choreographed his show, "It Starts Now," which premiered 2020 at The Joyce Theater in New York. In 2022, Cerrudo was appointed artistic director of Charlotte Ballet.

Douglas Singleton, Executive Director

Doug Singleton’s passion for dance began at Spoleto Festival USA with a performance of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. After graduating from the College of Charleston, he moved to New York City and spent over five years traveling with the Ailey company. While in New York, he was the producing manager for the premiere performances of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, led by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, and worked with dance luminaries such as Judith Jamison, Masazumi Chaya, Jerome Robbins, Garth Fagan, ElisaMonte and Lar Lubovitch.

Doug joined Charlotte Ballet in 1996. Now in his 17th year as the company’s executive director, Doug has led Charlotte Ballet through a period of transformational growth and international attention. During his tenure, he has partnered with many community leaders to establish the Reach Program, allowing every child the opportunity to train for dance as a career. He also successfully completed multiple campaigns to enhance the brand and repertoire as well as established a permanent home at the Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance in the heart of Charlotte’s vibrant Uptown. During this period, Charlotte Ballet made its first-ever appearances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and the Joyce Theater in Manhattan with long awaited returns to American Dance Festival as well as Jacob’s Pillow under the artistic leadership of Hope Muir.

In 2008, he received the Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 under 40 Award and was selected to the 2008-2010 Class of the William C. Friday Fellowship of Human Relations at the Wildacres Leadership Initiative. He is currently serving on the Steering Group for the City of Charlotte’s Arts and Culture Advisory Board. He has served as a board member of the Cornelius Arts Center, founding member of Mecklenburg Executive Collaborative and the newly formed artist collaborative, VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts Center). Doug is the past board chair of Dance/ USA and has served as a board member of Cain Center for the Arts, the Choir School at St. Peters and ARTS North Carolina, advocating for public funding to support arts programming throughout the state. He has also served on the Arts & Science’s Advisory Council, the Cultural Life Taskforce as well as Knight Arts Advisory Committee, the NC Arts Council’s Grants Panel and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD. He and his wife Viki live in Charlotte and have three grown children.

Christopher Stuart, Director of Charlotte Ballet II

Christopher Stuart, originally from Sandy Hook, Connecticut, graduated in 2002 from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Following graduation, he joined Nashville Ballet, where he was featured in works by renowned choreographers. In 2018, after 16 years as a principal dancer, he was named Resident Choreographer of Nashville Ballet.

Stuart’s vast experience as a dancer and performer helped him articulate his choreographic voice through improvisation and exploration of different forms of movement. He has created works for Nashville Ballet, Ballet Arkansas, Chattanooga Ballet, National Choreographic Initiative, and, of course, Charlotte Ballet. Among his works: Under the Lights, a full-length work set to the music of Johnny Cash, which he created in 2014. And ArtsNash had this to say: “Stuart’s choreography proved to be a seamless blend of classical, modern and popular dance styles.”

Stuart first worked with Charlotte Ballet in early 2020 when he choreographed a piece for its Innovative Works repertoire show, which drew inspiration from the Mint Museum’s installation of Immersed in Light by studio DRIFT. Following the success of that collaboration, Hope Muir hired Stuart – then Resident Choreographer of Nashville Ballet – to be Program Director of Charlotte Ballet II, the Ballet’s second company, and Rehearsal Director for the main company. In summer of 2021, Charlotte Ballet appointed Stuart as interim artistic director, which he served until May of 2022 before being promoted to Director, Charlotte Ballet II.

Traci Gilchrest Kubie, Rehearsal Director

Traci Gilchrest Kubie was born in El Paso, TX and danced professionally for Hartford Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Chautauqua Ballet and Charlotte Ballet. During her 20-year career, she danced many leading roles by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, William Forsythe, Alonzo King, Mark Diamond and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. She has been a guest teacher for Alvin Ailey, The Rock School in Philadelphia and East Carolina University. She retired from Charlotte Ballet in 2011 after 16 years as a principal dancer to serve as Repetiteur for Charlotte Ballet and Charlotte Ballet II. She is an instructor with the Charlotte Ballet Academy and in addition stages ballets on Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Carolina Ballet Theatre among others. In 2009 she was celebrated by the Chautauqua Dance Circle for her “extraordinary artistry and contributions to Chautauqua Dance.”

Yarina Conners, MPA, Director of Artistic Operations

Yarina Conners began her non-profit arts management career at The Cleveland Orchestra in 2008, managing all operations of three youth choruses, in addition to working with the renowned Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. From 2010-2016, Yarina worked as Senior Operations Manager at Classical Movements, a premiere concert touring company located in historic Old Town Alexandria in Virginia. While at Classical Movements, Yarina arranged orchestral tours for The Minnesota Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She also arranged international and national tours for choral ensembles and produced an international choral festival in Washington, DC. Joining the artistic planning team at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland in 2016, Yarina served as Artistic Administrator for the programming department. Focusing specifically on the operational and administrative aspects of the presenting program, Yarina played a key role as the liaison for the artistic planning team with the various departments of The Clarice. In January 2022, Yarina joined the Charlotte Ballet as Director of Artistic Operations. Yarina emigrated from Moscow, Russia in 1994 to Cleveland, Ohio and earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2008. After spending ten years in the Washington, DC area from 2010-2020, her family relocated to Charlotte in December 2020. Yarina currently resides in South Charlotte with her family.

Ayisha

McMillan Cravotta, Academy Director

Hailing from Illinois, Cravotta’s dance career began at an early age at the Momenta Dance Company, where she trained in ballet and early American modern dance with Stephanie Clemens. On scholarship from Homer Hans Bryant, founding principal dancer at Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ayisha studied at the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center. She also trained at Maria Tallchief’s School of Chicago City Ballet, and under Bolshoi Ballet Director Asaf Messerer and Mikhail Messerer at their Soviet American Ballet School. At the age of 15, Ayisha left home to study on full scholarship at the Houston Ballet Academy. Ayisha joined Houston Ballet, under Director Ben Stevenson, in 1996. With Houston Ballet, she toured and performed in London, Hong Kong, Toronto, and at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., performing ballets by Stevenson, George Balanchine, Glen Tetley, Trey McIntyre and Lila York. Ayisha spent five seasons with Charlotte Ballet and was the first African American woman to play a principal role in the company’s Nutcracker. Her time at Charlotte Ballet also included a memorable role as Tinker Bell in Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s Peter Pan, as well as being featured in Alvin Ailey’s The River and in George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. After retiring as a professional dancer in 2007, Ayisha joined Charlotte Ballet’s marketing department. In 2011, at the invitation of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, she became principal of the Charlotte Ballet Academy. Ayisha ‘s teaching experience includes working as a dance instructor and mentor at La Salle Street CYCLE WIZ Factory of Learning and Chicago MultiCultural Dance Center. She was also a resident artist for the Arts in Medicine Program at Texas Children’s Hospital where she conceptualized, developed and led movement and music-based workshops to creatively engage pediatric cancer outpatients. In 2005, Ayisha was honored for her career achievements with an appointment as a Grand Marshal in the Chicago Defender’s 76th Annual Bud Billiken Parade. Several national dignitaries, as well as over one million Chicagoans, were in attendance. In 2007, Ayisha was inducted into the prestigious HistoryMakers national archive in recognition for her accomplishments as an African American in the Arts. A National Achievement Scholarship Finalist, Ayisha studied at Rice University and most recently at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She lives in Charlotte with husband Jeff Cravotta and their son, Luca.

CHOREOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTORS

Helen Pickett, choreographer for IN Cognito Choreographer, Helen Pickett, native of San Diego, CA, has created over 60 ballets in the U.S., U.K. and Europe. The Crucible, which premiered at Edinburgh International Festival in 2019, won the UK Theatre Critics Award and the Herald Angel Award, just had its London premiere in June 2022, and it will show at the Kennedy Center, Spoleto Festival USA and Nashville in May/June 2023. In 2020/21, Helen choreographed 12 dance films, including The Air Before Me, winning the Audience Choice Award for Screen Dance International Festival, and Hurley Burley, which was nominated for an Emmy Award. While Resident Choreographer for Atlanta Ballet, 2012 – 2017, she was named Best Choreographer in 2014 and 2015. Helen’s upcoming commissions include, Boston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Alberta Ballet, West Australian Ballet, and two new long form narratives for National Ballet of Canada and Dutch National Ballet.

Helen danced with William Forsythe’s Ballet Frankfurt from 1987-1998, and performed with the Wooster Group, director, Elizabeth LeCompte, 1998-2003. She collaborated as a choreographer and actress with the filmmakers, Eve Sussman, Toni Dove and Laurie Simmons. In 2021, Helen was co-director of the Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Summer Dance Program, and leads her think tank workshop, Choreographic Essentials. Between 2020 and 2021, Helen created and produced, 83 interviews for her YouTube talk show, Creative Vitality Jam Sessions. Helen founded, 2021, the Female Choreographer’s Big Round Table, a zoom discussion panel, with 160 women in the roster. She earned a Master of Fine Arts from Hollins University, and in 2016, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Representation: Kristopher McDowell, KMP. www.helenpickett.com

Crystal Pite, choreographer for A Picture of You Falling

In a choreographic career spanning three decades, Crystal Pite has created over 50 works for companies including The Royal Ballet, The Paris Opera Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater I, Cullberg Ballet, Ballett Frankfurt, The National Ballet of Canada, Ballets Jazz Montréal (resident choreographer 2001–04), and Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet. Pite is a Member of the Order of Canada, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Benois de la Danse, Canada Council Jacqueline Lemieux Prize, Grand Prix de la danse de Montréal, two UK Critics’ Circle Dance Awards, four Lau-rence Olivier Awards, and the 2022 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award. She began her dance career as a company member of Ballet British Columbia (Ballet BC), then William Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt, and is currently Associate Choreographer of Nederlands Dans Theater I, Associate Dance Artist of Canada’s National Arts Centre, and Associate Artist at Sadler’s Wells in London. She holds an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Simon Fraser University and is a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2002, she formed Kidd Pivot in Vancouver.

Christopher Stuart - choreographer for Under the Lights

See page 7 for biography.

Traci Gilchrest - Rehearsal Director & stager for IN Cognito

See page 8 for biography.

Anne Plamondon - stager for A

Picture of You Falling

Anne Plamondon’s dancing is characterized as captivating, fluid, gracious, versatile, and radiant. Classically trained at the National Ballet School of Canada and the Banff Centre for the Arts, Anne Plamondon graduated from the École supérieure de danse du Québec. Between 1994 and 2000, she danced with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Nederlands Dans Theater 2 and Gulbenkian Ballet, performing in works by over thirty choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, Hans Van Manen, Johan Inger, Ohad Naharin, Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon, Gideon Obarzanek aand Angelin Prejliokaj. As a freelance artist she also worked with choreographers Marcos Morau, Marie Chouinard and Ina Christel Johannessen, and collaborated with the circus company Les 7 doigts de la main. Anne has been featured in several dance films, created and performed in Red Shoes, winner of the 2010 Golden Sheaf Award at the Yorkton Film Festival and was semi-finalist at the Paris Play Film Festival for Solitude Partagée in 2020.

Between 2006 and 2015, Anne dances with Crystal Pite and her company Kidd Pivot on the works Lost Action, the solo Fault, The You Show and the duet A Picture of You Falling, winner of the Olivier Awards for outstanding achievement in dance in 2015. Anne joined RUBBERBANDance Group in 2002. Along side Victor Quijada, she quickly became the emblem of the company. She acted as co-artistic director from 2006 to 2015 and participated in the development of the RUBBERBAND Method, which she teaches internationally.

Anne makes her choreographic debut with the solo The Same Eyes as Yours (2012) created in collaboration with theatre director Marie Brassard. Since the foundation or of her company Anne Plamondon Productions in 2018, her work has been presented at the National Arts Center in Ottawa, Jacob’s Pillow, Guggenheim Museum, Live Arts in New York as well as broadcasted on CBC Arts and Télé-Québec. Most recently, she choreographed for Alberta Ballet and BJM (Ballet Jazz of Montreal).

Since 2019, Anne assumes the role of Delegate Curator of dance with the Domaine Forget International Festival and Academy. As curator, she leads the development of the vision of dance, its outreach within the organization and its region, and sits on the artistic committee. She has been teaching at the Domaine Forget Academy for almost 10 years.

Ana Lopez - Guest Rehearsal Director

Ana Lopez began her formal training at Conservatorio de Danza Diputacion de A Coruña. Upon graduating Isaac Diaz Pardo High School, she continued her training at Centro Internacional de Danza Carmen Roche. Lopez danced with Joven Ballet Carmen Roche, with Compañía Nacional de Danza 2 in works by Nacho Duato and Tony Fabre, and at Ballet Theater Munich under the directorship of Philip Taylor. From 2008 to 2019 she danced with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago where she performed works by choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, William Forsythe, Jorma Elo, Alejandro Cerrudo and many others. She was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2012, and In 2017 she was invited to perform in Daniil Simkin's Falls the Shadow, a site-specific work choreographed for the Guggenheim Rotunda and commissioned by Work & Process. Lopez has staged works by Penny Saunders and Alejandro Cerrudo in several companies and was part of the cast as dancer and Rehearsal Director of It Starts Now, which premiered at the Joyce Theater in New York on September 28, 2021.

Jon Upleger - stager for Under

the Lights

Jon Upleger began his formal training in 1997 under the direction of Petrus Bosman and David Keener at the Virginia School of the Arts. Upon graduation, he received the school’s prestigious Dean’s Award and then joined Nashville Ballet as an apprentice in 2000.

During his time at Nashville Ballet, Upleger has performed roles from such varied repertoire as Romeo in Artistic Director Paul Vasterling’s Romeo & Juliet, the Sugar Plum Cavalier in Nashville’s Nutcracker, Dracula in Vasterling’s Dracula, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle, Prince Desire in Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming in Cinderella.

Other leading roles include Stanley Kowalski in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s American premiere of A Streetcar Named Desire, Christopher Wheeldon’s Ghosts, Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort and Sechs Tanze, Twyla Tharp’s Sinatra Suite, Salvatore Aiello’s Satto, Sarah Slipper’s Ploughing the Dark, the Protagonist in Vasterling’s Firebird, Oberon in Vasterling’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Carmina Burana, Peter Pan and The Ben Folds Project and Christopher Stuart’s Under the Lights and 7 Deadly Sins. He has also had the honor of working with Christopher Bruce, Jennifer Archibald, Gina Patterson and Val Caniparoli.

After performing Upleger became a Rehearsal Director at Nashville Ballet where he taught company class, staged repertoire, helped cast ballets and most importantly coached ensemble and principal couples to ensure a sense of confidence every time they took to the stage.

While teaching at the School of Nashville Ballet Upleger helped create the Young Men’s Scholarship Program, which provides tuition-free ballet training for males age 6-18, and served as a Principal Instructor.

In September of 2021 Mr. Upleger opened the Grand Rapids School of Dance. He is happy to be back in his home state bringing the joy of dance to the Grand Rapids Community with his wife, Alexandra, and son, Hudson.

CHARLOTTE BALLET DANCERS

Raven Barkley - New York

Raven, from Bronx, NY, began dancing at age 10 at Ballet Tech, the New York City Public School for Dance. She furthered her training at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia Arts High School for Music and Art and Performing Arts, where she graduated with honors. While at LaGuardia, Raven also attended the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s (DTH) Pre-Professional Program as a scholarship student. While at DTH, Raven was selected as a featured dancer for the Scholastic Children’s book, Beautiful Ballerina by Marilyn Nelson. During the summer of 2013 and 2014, Raven performed choreography by Tony Award winner George Faison for the NYC SummerStage Performance Series. In 2015, Raven graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance with a concentration in ballet from SUNY Purchase. In 2018, Raven was recognized as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” and The Charlotte Observer’s “1 to Watch.” The following year she received the Delta Sigma Theta (Charlotte Alumnae Chapter) Outstanding Achievement in the Arts award (2019). In June 2022, Raven returned to Ballet Tech as an alumna guest artist performing the principal role in an excerpt of Marius Petipa’s Raymonda for their Kids Dance performances at the Joyce Theater (New York City). She has performed work by Bryan Arias, George Balanchine, Aszure Barton, Rena Butler, Val Caniparoli, Eliot Feld, Robert Garland, Ja’ Malik, Sasha Janes, Jiří Kylián, Jessica Lang, Arthur Mitchell, Matthew Neenan, Helen Pickett, Dwight Rhoden, and Christopher Stuart.

Nadine Barton - Florida

Nadine, born in California, received most of her classical ballet training at Artistic Dance Center of Doral in Miami. Other experiences include performing with Miami City Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet as an apprentice, Sarasota Ballet as a trainee, and Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami as a soloist. She then danced with Alabama Ballet for 5 years. Some of her favorite roles were Myrtha in Giselle, Coffee and Demi Flowers in Balanchine’s Nutcracker, and Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty. In their 2018/19 Season, Nadine was commissioned to create WATTS, a new work which the company premiered in April 2019. She’s been recognized in competitions such as the Youth American Grand Prix, where she earned Gold in 2011 semifinals; the American Dance Competition, where she won the Traditional Excellence Award for the pas de deux of Giselle Act ll; and the Honorary Fernando Bujones Excellence Award. She was also a 2012 finalist of the YoungArts organization. In the summer of 2018, she was one of 60 dancers chosen worldwide to take part in Netherlands Dans Theater’s Summer Intensive in Den Haag.

Juan

Castellanos - Pennsylvania

Juan’s dance training began in Dublin, Ireland, where he was born and continued in the U.S. at Metropolitan Ballet Academy in Jenkintown, PA, under the Direction of Lisa Collins Vidnovic. As a member of their nationally acclaimed Boys’ scholarship Program, Juan’s 11 years of study there included access to many world-class teachers and the opportunity to perform a variety of principal roles including “Prince” in Cinderella (2018), “Bluebird Pas” in Sleeping Beauty (2017) and “Puck” in A Midsummer’s Night Dream (2016), as well as soloist and principal roles in contemporary works choreographed by Jessica Lang, Sarah Mettin and Kanji Segawa. His summer studies were with the Charlotte Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Next Generation Ballet in Tampa, Fl. From 2009-2019, Juan has also appeared in various Nutcracker roles including “Nutcracker Prince” (2019) with Charlotte Ballet, “Russian” with The Moscow Ballet (2016), “Nutcracker Prince” and “Soldier Doll” with The Wilmington Ballet (2013-14) and “Fritz” with The Pennsylvania Ballet (2009-12), touring to Canada with the Company in Nov.-Dec. 2011. Juan made his Metropolitan Opera debut in July 2011 with Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet dancing a children’s role in Anna Karenina for the Lincoln Center Festival and appeared as a guest artist with Juneau Dance Theater in Juneau, Alaska. Most recently, Juan was a member of the Pre-Professional Division with Charlotte Ballet.

Luke Csordas - Pennsylvania

Luke Csordas grew up outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania where he was drawn to dance due to its ability to tell stories and ignite joy. He studied at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance where he trained with role models such as William Forsythe, Jermaine Spivey, Bret Easterling, and Jodie Gates. He is passionate about bettering his community, having served on the Student Advisory Board all four years of his undergraduate studies. While studying to receive his BFA in Dance, Luke also focused on Cinematic Arts at USC’s SCA. Intersecting dance and media, Luke hopes to achieve his goals using cinematic storytelling in order to share, listen, and encourage empathy through stories told by dancers. He is looking forward to this next chapter with Charlotte Ballet.

Isabella Franco - California

Isabella, born in Los Angeles, CA, began dancing at the age of three at the Marat Daukayev School of Ballet. She attended summer intensives on a merit scholarship at the Academie Princess Grace in Monaco and San Francisco Ballet School. She also danced in the summer programs of the School of American Ballet and Ballet Austin. Isabella was a 2016 YoungArts Finalist in Dance and was a semifinalist for the 2018 Presidential Scholar in the Arts award. She consistently placed in the top three in the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) regional semifinals, earned the Junior Grand Prix award in Los Angeles and won 2nd place in the YAGP Finals in New York. She spent two years as a Butler Fellow at Ballet Austin. Isabella joined the first company of Charlotte Ballet in 2021. Some of her favorite roles include Aurora in Matthew Hart’s Sleeping Beauty: A Fairy Tailored Classic, Rebecca West in Val Caniparoli’s Ibsen’s House, and Rena Butler’s Subliminal Tsunami.

Sarah Hayes Harkins - North Carolina

Sarah’s early dance training began at the Asheville Center of Performing Arts in Ashville N.C. Afterwards, she attended North Carolina School of the Arts in the High School Program. Sarah has an extensive performance history with a myriad of choreographers. She performed George Balanchine’s Serenade for the Tribute to Melissa Hayden and at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Swan Lake with Ballet Adriatico in Ascoli Piceno, Italy in 2005 and in the Kennedy Center Honors celebrating the career of New York City principal dancer and Charlotte Ballet Master Instructor Patricia McBride in 2014. Sarah has performed in seven world premieres by choreographer Dwight Rhoden, as well as world premieres by Helen Pickett, Myles Thatcher, Philippe Portugal, Bryan Arias, and many more. She has also performed in master works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Jiří Bubeníček, Twyla Tharp, Alonso King, William Forsythe, David Dawson, Johan Inger, Medhi Walerski, Ohad Naharin, and Jiří Kylián. Some of her favorite roles include, Choleric in Balanchine’s Four Temperaments, David Dawson’s Opus 11, the Grey Girl in Jiří Kylián’s Forgotten Land, and Lena in Christian Spuck’s Leonce and Lena.

Meredith Hwang - Maryland

Meredith Hwang grew up in Potomac, Maryland, and trained at Metropolitan Ballet Theater and Academy. At age 16, she moved to Boston to train at the Boston Ballet School where she attended for three years and was a trainee for two years. She had the opportunity to perform in Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Coppelia, and Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella with the company. She has attended summer intensives at Nashville Ballet, Carolina Ballet, School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet.

Ben Ingel - North Carolina

Ben is from Charlotte, NC and began his dance training at age 9 with Ginny Siano-Eck of Foothills Dance Conservatory in Seneca, SC and Pavel Gurevich of Boston Ballet. He then transferred to Charlotte Ballet Academy. Ben attended his freshman and sophomore year of high school at North Carolina School of the Arts and continued his training at the Boston Ballet School and the Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy. Ben has had the privilege of working with Alonzo King, Mark Diamond, Claudio Munoz, Dwight Rhoden and Twyla Tharp. Ben has performed various classical and contemporary repertoire including Ohad Nahirin’s Minus 16, Johan Inger’s Walking Mad, Jiří Kylián’s Forgotten Land, George Balanchine’s Who Cares? and Dwight Rhoden’s The Groove. Ben began his professional career with Charlotte Ballet II during the 2012/2013 Season and was promoted to the first company in the 2014/2015 Season.

James Kopecky - Illinois

Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, James grew up dancing at Dancenter North. He trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern and musical theater. After high school, James studied at Butler University under Marek Cholewa, Susan McGuire, Derek Reid, Cynthia Pratt, Tong Wang, Stephan Laurent and Michelle Jarvis. In 2010, he graduated with a BFA in Dance and was offered an apprenticeship at Ballet San Jose under the artistic leadership of Dennis Nahat. In his second season, James was promoted to Corps de Ballet. During his five years with Ballet San Jose, he was featured in a number of works including Paul Taylor’s Piazzolla Caldera, Twyla Tharp’s In The Upper Room and Jorma Elo’s Glow/Stop. Since arriving at Charlotte Ballet, James has enjoyed performing a number of pieces such as Alonzo King’s Map, Dwight Rhoden’s The Groove, Jiří Kylián’s Sechs Tanzes, Helen Pickett’s IN Cognito and Johan Inger’s Walking Mad. As a Choreographer, James has done works on Butler Ballet, Ballet San Jose School, Opera San Jose, Charlotte Ballet II and

Charlotte Ballet. This past summer, he was selected to take part in the inaugural University of Utah Ballet Choreographic Institute.

Sarah Lapointe - Maryland

Sarah trained in various genres of dance from age two to 14 at Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts. She furthered training at Baltimore School for the Arts and The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, where she was offered a full scholarship to train under the direction of Bo and Stephanie Spassoff and graduated in 2015. She attended summer intensives with Bolshoi Ballet Academy and Chautauqua School of Dance, where she was awarded with the Artistic Director Award for Overall Excellence and Faculty Award for Technical Merit. Sarah was also recognized as a National YoungArts Foundation Dance Finalist (Ballet, 2015) and received a nomination for U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts semi-finalist. She has been a guest artist with The Washington Ballet in the history breaking performance of Swan Lake featuring Misty Copeland and Brooklyn Mack. At 18, she began her professional career with Charlotte Ballet. Sarah was recognized in 2017 as Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” During her professional dance career, she went on to continue her educational studies, and in 2020 graduated summa cum laude with honors from California Baptist University with a B.S in Kinesiology. As a company member of Charlotte Ballet, she has been featured in works by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Sasha Janes, Mark Diamond, George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Dwight Rhoden, Ohad Naharin, Alonzo King, Mark Godden, Javier de Frutos, Myles Thatcher, Filipe Portugal, Bryan Arias, Jerome Robbins, Medhi Walerski, Stephanie Martinez, Helen Pickett, Christian Spuck, Val Caniparoli, Rena Butler and Crystal Pite.

Rees Launer - Idaho

Rees began his dance training with Ballet Idaho and Idaho Regional Ballet at age 12. He attended Walnut Hill School for the Arts for three years and graduated cum laude in 2016. He went on to dance with The Joffrey Ballet’s trainee program and Studio Company. During his years in training, he attended numerous summer intensives including Netherlands Dance Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Arts Umbrella, Jacobs Pillow and The Royal Danish Ballet where he was awarded the Birger Bartholin Scholarship. Rees has been a guest artist for Peoria Ballet and Idaho Dance Theatre. He began his professional career with Charlotte Ballet in 2019.

Anna Mains - Tennessee

Anna Mains grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and began her training at age eight with Centennial Youth Ballet. From 2016-2018, she danced as a Trainee with the Nashville Ballet. Anna attended summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, Arts Umbrella, and Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. She was invited to join Joffrey Ballet’s Trainee program in 2018 and was promoted to Joffrey Ballet’s Studio Company in 2019. Anna spent the last two years in Charlotte Ballet’s Second Company and danced in original works by Christopher Stuart and Rena Butler and performed the role of Lady of the Sea in Val Caniparoli’s Ibsen’s House. She was selected to participate in the 2022 National Choreographer’s Initiative and premiere works by Emily Adams and Jennifer Hart.

Maurice Mouzon Jr. - Maryland

Maurice, a Baltimore native, was first introduced to dance at age 14 and started his formal training at Baltimore School for the Arts. After graduating, Maurice continued his dance training at Purchase College State University of New York. After completing a year at SUNY Purchase, Maurice joined Charlotte Ballet II. While in the second company, Maurice had the opportunity to dance the solo in Ohad Nahrin’s Minus 16, which lead to his promotion to the first company. Maurice has also performed works by Johan Inger, Filipe Portugal, Javier de Frutos, Brian Arias, Sasha Janes, Robyn Mineko Williams and Myles Thather. He attended summer intensives with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Miami City Ballet.

Oliver Oguma - New York Oliver Oguma was born and raised in New York City. He grew up as a hip-hop dancer and Ford model before he began dancing ballet at the age of 8. He trained at The School of American Ballet, The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, The Rock School for Dance Education and San Fransisco Ballet School before returning to NYC to join American Ballet Theatre studio company. In 2014 he joined Ballet West, he danced soloist roles and also choreographed ballets for the company. In 2019 he joined Ballet de l’Opera National du Rhin in France. He has danced works of Ohad Naharin, Jiri Kylian, Alexei Ratmansky, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, and many more.

Emily Porter - Oregon

Emily Porter began her ballet career on the Oregon Coast and then continued at Marin Dance Theatre in San Rafael, California, with instruction by Margaret Swarthout. She received Youth America Grand Prix awards and attended ABT, Ballet Arizona and other summer programs. In 2019 she joined Ballet Met’s second company directed by Edwaard Liang and also danced works of Alexander Ekman and Gustavo Ramirez Sansano. In 2020 Emily joined The Joffrey Ballet’s studio company under Ashley Wheater and Jose Carayol and performed virtual works by Nicolas Blanc and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. She then proceeded to Jacobs Pillow and received the professional advancement award while dancing under Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Amy Seiwert. And now for the 2021/22 Season, Emily is honored to be dancing with Charlotte Ballet with the direction of Alejandro Cerrudo and is looking forward to the exciting performance opportunities ahead.

Humberto Ramazzina - Brazil

Humberto was born in São Paulo, Brazil and started his classical ballet training at age eight. In 2014 he joined The Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida as a freshmen. After graduating high school he joined Charlotte Ballet II where he performed for two years before being promoted to the first company. Humberto has performed in numerous works by various choreographers during his past four years in the first company.

Amelia Sturt-Dilley - Colorado

Amelia was raised in Colorado where she trained under Karen and David Samuelson. She received her high school education at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts under the direction of Michael Owen and Samuel Kurkjian. She then went on to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Juilliard School. She has attended summer intensives at schools including The Nutmeg Conservatory, Washington School of Ballet, Houston Ballet, Ballet Austin and The Paris Opera. While at Juilliard, Amelia danced in works by Monica Bill Barnes, Emery Le Crone, Darrell Grand Moultrie, William Forsythe, Twyla Tharp, Larry Keigwin, Merce Cunningham and Jessica Lange. She appeared in the 2015 Vail International Dance Festival where she performed Larry Keigwin’s Stormy Weather. As a company member of Charlotte Ballet, she has been featured in works by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Sasha Janes, Mark Diamond, David Ingram, Dwight Rhoden, Jiří Kylián, Ohad Naharin, George Balanchine, Javier de Frutos, Myles Thatcher, Robyn Mineko Williams, Bryan Arias, Filipe Portugal, Jerome Robbins, Medhi Walerski, Stephanie Martinez, Helen Pickett, Christian Spuck, Christopher Stuart, Val Caniparoli, Sal Aiello, Crystal Pite and Rena Butler.

Andrés Trezevant - Nevada

Andrés began his formal dance training at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts while also dancing with the Nevada Youth Dancer’s Company. He has attended intensives with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Nederlands Dans Theater, Chuthis. Moves, Movement Invention Project 2, the Rambert Intensive, and Springboard Dans Montreal. In 2017, Andrés was invited to join the Hubbard Street Professional Program under the direction of Alexander Wells. During his time there, he had the privilege of performing with the company in Peter Chu’s Space, In Perspective and Ohad Naharin’s Decadance/Chicago as a Guest Artist. Andrés joined Charlotte Ballet II in 2018, where he had the chance to perform the works of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Peter Chu, Mark Diamond, and Christian Spuck. In the summer of 2020, Andrés was promoted to the first company of the Ballet, and is excited for this next chapter.

Shaina Wire - New Jersey

Shaina, from Sussex County, NJ, started dancing at age 8 at Branchville Dance Centre. Shaina has attended summer intensives at The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Chautauqua Institution, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet and The Joffrey Ballet School. At age 13, Shaina was invited by Ethan Stiefel to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. When she returned to New York, she joined The Joffrey Ballet School as a trainee, and a year later was invited to join the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group under the direction of Davis Robertson. She has performed principal roles in various ballets, including Balanchine’s Serenade and Valse Fantaisie, and Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, Light Rain, Kettentanz, Suite Saint-Saens and Viva Vivaldi. Shaina had the opportunity to perform at the Florence Dance Festival in Florence, Italy and Beijing Dance Academy’s 60th anniversary.

CHARLOTTE BALLET II DANCERS

Isabella Bertellotti - California

Isabella Bertellotti is from San Diego, California and began her ballet training at age eight at Danceology Academy of Classical Ballet with Elena Baltovick. Isabella continued her pre-professional training at California Professional Ballet Program under Maxim Tchernychev, where she danced for six years until joining Tulsa Ballet as a trainee in 2020. She has attended Bolshoi Ballet Academy’s summer intensive and The Washington Ballet on scholarship. She was also a finalist at the Spotlight Awards in Los Angeles and awarded First Place at the Youth America Grand Prix and competed in the New York City Finals multiple times. Isabella is excited to begin her professional career here at Charlotte Ballet.

Izonna Chaires - New York

Izonna, from Scotia, NY, began dancing at age five at Myers Ballet School in Schenectady, NY. At age 12, Izonna continued her training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet school in Carlisle, PA, where she had the opportunity to perform roles in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ as well as Balanchine’s Raymonda Variations, and Who Cares?. Izonna was accepted into The School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York, NY at age 15 and continued there until her graduation at age 19. While at SAB, Izonna choreographed two ballets as part of the Student Choreography Workshop and performed in the school’s annual end-of-year Workshop performances. During Izonna’s years at SAB she was the recipient of an Honorary Scholarship named for Judge Judith Kaye. Izonna has attended summer programs at Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Charlotte Ballet. Izonna joined Charlotte Ballet II in 2022.

Tyler Diggs - Pennsylvania

Tyler, raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, began his ballet training at age 7 at the Metropolitan Ballet Academy under the direction of Lisa Collins Vidnovic. With the help of their Boys’ Scholarship Program, Tyler studied classical ballet, as well as contemporary and modern dance, for almost 9 years, getting opportunities to perform in works created by Kanji Segawa, Tommie Waheed-Evans, Ashley Walton, Kate Skarpetowska, and Sarah Mettin. He also got the opportunity to compete in Youth America Grand Prix for four years under the coaching of Natalya Zeiger before receiving a scholarship in the NYC Finals to attend The HARID Conservatory in Boca Raton, FL in 2017. Tyler attended HARID for his junior and senior year, receiving instruction from faculty members Alexey Kulpin and Meelis Pakri and performing in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Raymonda. After graduating from HARID in 2019, Tyler attended The Joffrey Academy of Dance’s Trainee Program on full scholarship for one year under the leadership of Raymond Rodriguez and, later, José Carayol. There, he got to perform in George Balanchine’s Who Cares?, staged by Deborah Wingert, and had the opportunity to work with choreographers Yoshihisa Arai, Tsai-Hsi Hung, Chanel DaSilva, Durante Verzola, and Pablo Sanchez to create brand new ensemble works, before receiving an offer to join Charlotte Ballet II in 2020.

Lorenzo Dunton - California

Growing up in La Verne, California, Lorenzo started his dance training at Inland Pacific Ballet Academy in Montclair, CA at the age of four. While training at IPBA he attended summer programs with Joffrey Ballet and ABT. For the ABT summer program in 2016, he was named a National Training Scholar with a Bender Foundation award. Lorenzo represented IPBA at the Youth America Grand Prix for three years, placing first in the semifinals and attending the finals in New York. In 2017 he continued his training at Canada’s National Ballet School where he graduated in 2020. While at NBS, Lorenzo was one of two NBS students selected to represent the school at the 2020 Prix de Lausanne Choreographic Workshop. He debuted in the world premiere Andante Ballabile created on the students by Mauro Bigonzetti. After graduation, Lorenzo spent a transitional year training with the San Francisco Ballet School. For the 21/22 season, he trained in the Post-Graduate program at Boston Ballet. While in Boston, he was able to perform in the main company’s production of The Nutcracker as well as performances with Boston Ballet 2 and the PG program. His favorite memory in Boston is performing in the school’s Next Generation showcase, in Jorma Elo’s One with Mozart under the direction of the Nancy Euverink. In July 2022, Lorenzo worked with the Cirio Collective, founded and directed by Jeffrey and Lia Cirio, as an apprentice. Lorenzo is excited to begin his journey with Charlotte Ballet as a Charlotte Ballet II member this season.

Pierce Gallagher - North Carolina

Pierce Gallagher is from Waxhaw, North Carolina and began training at Charlotte Ballet Academy at the age of 8. During his time in the Academy he performed in works such as eight productions of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s Nutcracker, two productions of Sleeping Beauty, two productions of Peter Pan and Mark Diamond’s The Little Mermaid. Pierce spent one season as a trainee in Charlotte Ballet’s Pre-professional division. During his time as a trainee, he had the opportunity to choreograph an original piece. Pierce has attended summer intensives at Charlotte Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the Chautauqua Institution. He has performed in works such as Sasha Janes’ Loss and excerpts of Balanchine’s Raymonda and Who Cares? staged by Patricia McBride. Pierce is very excited to begin his professional career with Charlotte Ballet.

Karsen Gresham - North Carolina

Karsen is from Charlotte, NC and grew up dancing at Charlotte Ballet Academy and Havilah Dance Company. Karsen spent 14 years as a competition dancer training in all styles and genres. As an Academy student, Karsen performed in eight seasons of Jean Pierre Bonnefoux’s Nutcracker in roles ranging from ‘Clara’ to ‘Marzipan.’ Karsen has also performed in Charlotte Ballet‘s Little Mermaid and Sleeping Beauty. This past season she performed the soloist role of the ‘Golden Vine Fairy’ in the 2022 Sleeping Beauty: A Fairy Tailored Classic. Karsen spent two years as a Trainee in Charlotte Ballet’s Pre-Professional program under the direction of Lazslo Berdo, Kati Mayo and Patricia McBride. During her time as a Trainee, Karsen was a dual enrolled CMS student and graduated high school with her Associate Degree from CPCC. Karsen has attended summer intensives at Charlotte Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Juilliard, Pittsburgh Dance Theatre and the Chautauqua School of Dance,(under the direction of Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, Patricia McBride and Sasha Janes.) Karsen has performed in works by Sasha Janes, Mark Godden, Bianca Bonner, Naimah Kioski, Kati Mayo, Emily Bowen, Kyle Shawell, Heather Ferguson, Brittany Vachon and George Balanchine. Karsen is excited to begin her career with Charlotte Ballet.

Jacy Klein - Michigan

Jacy Klein began her ballet training at the age of 5 at Brighton School of Ballet and finished her high school years at Young People’s Ballet Theatre. She trained at Cincinnati Ballet in their Professional Training Division from 2018-2021 and has had various roles in performances such as the Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Serenade, Aladdin and Swan Lake. In 2022, she was promoted from Charlotte Ballet’s Pre-Professional program to the second company. She has attended summer intensives at Atlanta Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and Grand Rapids Ballet.

Olivia Parsons - Pennsylvania

Olivia grew up in Yardley, Pennsylvania, a small town right outside Philadelphia. She began her dance training at age 7 attending ballet, jazz, contemporary, and tap classes at a local studio. At age 13, Olivia went to Ballet Technique in Hamilton, New Jersey under the leadership of Julie Caprio to focus solely on her ballet training. From there, she trained with the school of Philadelphia Ballet under Arantxa Ochoa and The Rock School for Dance Education under Bo and Stephanie Spassoff before joining Charlotte Ballet as a trainee for two years. She has attended summer intensives at Washington Ballet, The Art of Classical Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, and Chautauqua Institution. During her training, Olivia has had the opportunity to perform in Paquita, Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Don Quixote, Raymonda, and multiple of George Balanchine’s ballets including her favorites: Nutcracker and Who Cares?

Charlotte Ballet dancer and leadership headshots by Richard Israel. Crystal Pite headshot by Anoush Abrar. Helen Pickett’s headshot by Mihaela Bodlovic.

Nina Austin

Karen Breach Washington

Kobi Brinson

Jason Cagle

Christine Channels

Anna Coon

Richard Cuebas

John FitzHugh

Chair: Claire Rauscher Chair-Elect: Meghan Clithero Treasurer: Tadd Morganti Secretary: Lauren Benson

Jennifer George

Kathy Giannuzzi

Watts Hamrick

Rolfe Eldridge Hughes IV

Tom Joseph Dr. Alfred Kendrick Ashley Larkin Marissa Michaels

Lucrecia Moore

Katie Morgan Brook Muller

Alexandra Naranjo-Myrick

Keith Oberkfell Russell Raath

David Secrest Kelly Sherman

Carl Showalter

Ryan Simmons

Lara Simmons Nichols

Tracy Stouse

Chris Ullrich

Sterlin Webber

Krista Wilson Tracey Wopperer

Chair: Robin Branstrom

Founding Chair: Amy Rice Blumenthal

Monique L. Abner, MD

Dianne Chipps Bailey

Midge Barron

Pat Bechdol

Cathy Bessant

Amy Woods Brinkley

Tom Brydon

Deborah Cooper

Peggy Culbertson

Fred Dabney

Donna de Molina

ARTISTIC

Olga Faison

Jerry Fox Alex Funderburg

Selena Giovannelli

Lise Hain

Dale F. Halton

Steve Hasty

Tracey Hembrick

Cy Johnson Dr. Ed Kim Jerry R. Licari

BOARD OF ADVISORS STAFF

Alejandro Cerrudo Artistic Director

Christopher Stuart Director of Charlotte Ballet II Traci Gilchrest Kubie Rehearsal Director

Yarina Conners Director of Artistic Operations

Aaron Muhl............................................ Production Manager

Cortney Giangrossi Technical Director

Melissa Robinson Stage Manager

Jeff Emory Lighting Director

Brandy Brogden Head Electrician Kerri Martinsen Costume Shop Manager

April Woerner Wardrobe Supervisor

Jade Franks ...............................Asst. Wardrobe Supervisor

ACADEMY

Ayisha McMillan Cravotta Academy Director

Laszlo Berdo Academy Associate Director

Johanna Butow Academy Associate Director

Kati Hanlon Mayo Academy Associate Director

Amber Bennett Academy Business Manager

Patricia McBride...........................Academy Master Instructor

Tiffany Bailey Academy Front Desk Supervisor

Amalie Chase Receptionist

Makayla Walton Reception Ambassador Ciauri Watson Reception Ambassador

Academy Faculty: Laszlo Berdo, Emily Bowen, Leah Burge, Johanna Butow, Courtney Clarke, Jamie Dee Clifton, Ayisha McMillan Cravotta, Heather Ferguson, Sophie Folts, Kyle Garrison Shawell, Alissa Getz Waller, Robin Gray-Bishop, Gretchen Jax, Amber Johnson, Jenn Jones, Naimah Kisoki, Ben Kubie, Kati Hanlon Mayo, Patricia McBride, Veronica Moretti Niebuhr, Mavis Scully, Lauren Skrabalak, Tara Winston-Conrad

Dona Lumsden

Lori Collins Luski

Mark Maraffi

Michael Marsicano, Ph.D. Jane McColl

Julianne McCollum

Mike McGuire

Loy McKeithen

Susan McKeithen

Sandra McMullen Cama McNamara

ADMINISTRATIVE

Brandy Berry Milazzo

M. Marie Mitchell

Marian Nisbet

Richard Osborne John M. Phillips

Virginia Rosen Phyllis Schultz Parker Shuford Margaret Ullrich Laura Meyer Wellman

Douglas Singleton Executive Director Jamie Vadnal Executive Administrator

Philanthropy & External Relations: Meg Putnam Director of Philanthropy & External Relations Claire Lechtenberg Associate Director of Marketing & Communications

Alexandra Berg .................................. Digital Marketing Manager

Emily Robertson Ticket Operations Manager

Katelyn Johnson Grants Manager

Max Jensen Corporate and Strategic Partnerships Manager

Alysha Brown Special Events & Volunteer Manager

Aubrae Corprew Donor Engagement Manager

Facilities: Gene Bledsoe

Director of Facilities

Finance/HR: Shannon Link Director of Finance Teryl Pendergrast Accounting Manager

Nina Perez HR Coordinator

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Kimberly Pereira Director of Education and Community Engagement

Jennifer Domini Education Manager

Emma Manion Community Engagement Supervisor

Education/Community Engagement Teaching

Artists: Lorraine Crittendon, Javonne M. GbenyonSpearman, Robin Gray-Bishop, Gretchen Jax, Kiesha Jennings, Amber Johnson, Emma Manion, Ashley Suttlar Martin, Elsie Mufuka Accompanist: Freddie D. Rivera

The following individuals made special gifts of $5,000 or more last season to Charlotte Ballet’s 50th Anniversary

Anonymous (1)

Nina and James Austin

Lauren and David Benson

Dianne and Brian Bailey Langley and Philip Borneman

Barbara and Twig Branch

Kobi and Ronald Brinson Sylvia and Tom Brydon Steven and Peggy Burke Anna Coon

Christine Channels and Kevin Eliades

Lori Collins Luski Donna and Alvaro de Molina

John and Cassell FitzHugh

Fourth Ward Foundation

Patty and Alex Funderburg

Carol and Bill Gay Jennifer and Andy George John and Kathy Giannuzzi Selena and Richard Giovannelli

Lise and Travis Hain Carol and Watts Hamrick

Pamela and Stephen Hasty

Lynn and Rolfe Hughes Dr. Alfred and Toni Kendrick

Ashley and Peter Larkin Dana C. Lumsden and Kristan Adkins Brandy and Mark Maraffi

Jane and Hugh McColl, Jr. Julianne and Tim McCollum

Susan and Loy McKeithen M. Marie Mitchell Katie and Kevin Morgan Tadd and Kristy Morganti

Richard J. Osborne

Kerry and Russell Raath Claire Rauscher and David Marchyshyn Virginia Rosen Phyllis Schultz and Matthew Gromet

Natalie and David Secrest

Jane and Carl Showalter Parker and Stephen Shuford

Peggy and Pope Shuford Ryan Simmons Margaret and Chris Ullrich Krista B. Wilson

The following individuals have joined as donors this year or increased their support in celebration of Charlotte Ballet’s 50th

Clyde Alexander

Sandra S. Alexander

Anonymous (1)

Catherine and Jeff Armstrong Maria Auslander Rye and Tracy Barcott Joanna and James Boland Marcie Blong David Boraks Bonnie and Thor-Erik Borresen

Kelly Brewster Thelma S. Brooks Katherine Brown Shannon Caddell Madeline Caryl Jamie Dee Clifton and Blake Clifton Meghan and Keith Clithero

Kimberly and Jack Cobb Dick and Ellen Cockrell

Carolyn Cooper

Melanie Coyne Craig Selimotic Danforth Ann and Floyd Davis

Brad Devore Barbara Dickie

Kathleen Doman Jeanne Dowd Margo and Bruce Evans Claudia Fanning Gary Ferraro and Lorne Lassiter Lorna Flanagan Jerry Fox Eric Franco Sue Friday Kathy and David Friese Nancy Galli Elizabeth Goodson Maudelyn Greene Susan Holloway Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Hardie George Harrison Robin and Michael Hearn

Dr. Michael Hickman Erica Hwang Katherine Jakubowski Katelyn and Luke Johnson

Liz and Cy Johnson Dana and Tom Joseph Margot Kaiser Sarah J. Kennard

Maria Kenny

Dr. Jean Kois and Dr. Jose Pena Benjamin and Julie Kramer

Christian Kropac Anne Lambert and Tim Waples Patty and Chris Lambert Dane Leach Meghan and Luis Lluberas Betty Putnam Lowery Jonathan McGinnis Lucrecia Moore Mrs. Katherine Mooring Mundise Mortimer Gwynne Movius Brook Muller Murgitroyd Foundation Marie and Michael O'Callaghan

One Hope Carol Panneton Michael Parello Fern E. Paul-Aviles Elyse Pearlman

Diggie and Lee Pesakoff Thomas Ponsonby James R. Putnam Pamela and Stephen Rahn

Melissa and Steven Raphael Eric Rodriguez

Rachel Roe

Virginia and Robert Rolfes Julie Ruterbories Gabriel V. Schumacher

Kelly Sherman Tracey Stone Tracy and James Stouse David Thomas

Kathryn and Mark Thompson Krista Terrell Rebecca and Joseph Turner Betsy and George Van Allen Sally O. Van Allen Tracy and Gordie Vap Kristin Wallace Rosemary Webster Dorene Welch Laura Williams

Susan Winstead

Judy and Don Wishnek Anne and Fletcher Wright Sharon and David Wright Henry Wu Laura Young

Charlotte Ballet thanks the following individuals and organizations for helping to support Charlotte Ballet performances, programs and resilience over the last twelve months.

CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT & FOUNDATION DONORS

NEA CARES Act

Dale F. Halton Foundation

The Blumenthal Foundation

CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT & FOUNDATION DONORS continued

$10,000+

Ally Bradley LLP

Brighthouse Financial Cardea Group Charlotte Checkers CPI Security EY

Gardner Gordon Immigration Law Grant Thornton Joan H. Hanes Fund Lowe’s Mayer Brown LLP McGuireWoods Publix Charities Rodgers Showalter Construction Co. United Healthcare William L Sparks and Associates Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

$5,000+ Charlotte Radiology CWT

DeSoto Wealth Management Morgan Stanley Fifth Third Bank Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP GreerWalker LLP Premier, Inc. Shelco, LLC Shurtape Technologies, LLC Sync Storage UNCC WFAE 90.7

$2,500+ Nucor Piedmont Natural Gas Providence Anesthesiology Associates, PA

$1,000+

K&L Gates LLP

The Dickson Foundation

The Katherine & Thomas M. Belk Foundation, Inc. The Mary Lynn Phillips Scholarship Fund The Murgitroyd Foundation

$500+ Goldman Sachs Moore & Van Allen PLLC Queen City Audio Video & Appliances

SUSTAINING STAR

These individuals and foundations have made generous gifts that are providing additional weeks of work for Charlotte Ballet’s artists.

Anonymous Langley and Philip Borneman

The Bretscher Family Foundation Steven C. Burke Joseph Cartafalsa

Mr. and Mrs. James E.S. Hynes

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Renee and Hugh McColl M. Marie Mitchell

LEGACY SOCIETY

Tom Nash Elaine and Brian O’Malley Dr. Harriet G. Williams and Mr. Jerry Hagenmaier Karla A. Williams

To learn more about becoming a Sustaining Star, please contact Meg Putnam at 704.414.2783 or mputnam@charlotteballet.org

These individuals have provided for Charlotte Ballet as a beneficiary of their estate.

Monique L. Abner, MD Jan and Bob Busch Ann and Floyd Davis Barbara and Donald Bernstein Louise and Mark Bernstein Lori Collins Luski

Estate of Joan H. Hanes

Laura and Jeff Hay Eleanor D. and C. Vincent Long Jr. Charitable Trust Susan and Loy McKeithen

M. Marie Mitchell Kerry and Russell Raath Albert Rogat Darryl A. Spencer Estate of Sue Swarin Trust of Mary T. Tomlinson

The Late Lenora S. Stein Tzedakah Endowment

Vera Watson

Pat and Bill Williamson

Verna and Frank Witt

IN HONOR OR MEMORY

The following gifts have been made to Charlotte Ballet in the last 18 months in honor or memory of loved ones or friends.

In Honor of Meg Alexander Sandra S. Alexander

In honor of Joclyn Balanda William Shaia

In Honor of Dr. Jerry and Midge Barron Patty and Chris Lambert

In Honor of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride Frances and Bill Thompson

In Honor of Twig and Barbara Branch Claudia and W. Lee Fanning Judith and Fred Gregory

In Honor of Charlotte Ballet Reach and Academy Students Kelsey Smith

In Honor of Charlotte Lab School Emily Reynolds

In Honor of Tara Conrad and The Power Dancers Elizabeth Szymczyk

In Memory of Winston Patrick Conrad Tara and Michael Conrad Lisa Stransky

In Honor of Dance Teachers Everywhere Tara and Michael Conrad

In Memory of Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown Kendall Alley

In Honor of Madison Goodson Elizabeth Goodson

In Honor of Karsen Gresham Shannon Caddell Debbie Gresham

In Honor of Laura Hay Carol Panneton

In Memory of Mary Ireland Brandon and Holly Hardie

In Honor of Leo Korczynski and Ted Seymour Rachel Seymour

In Honor of Sarah Lapointe Suzanne Johnson

In Honor of Anna Mains Anonymous

In Memory of John Mayo Robert Bisanar John Bottorff Claudia Cox Patty and Alex Funderburg Patricia Graham Kari and Jonathan Halkyard Carol and Watts Hamrick Timothy Isenhower Brandy and Mark Maraffi Heather McAllister Arthur McDonald Kimberly Proudman Virginia Rosen

In Honor of Patti McBride Terrie V. Hauck

In Honor of Katie and Olivia Morgan Katherine Brown

In Honor of Virginia Rosen Sue Friday

In Honor of Phyllis Schultz and Matt Gromet Rosalind and Martin Stark

In Honor of SHEoriginals Lorna Flanagan Christina and Christian Kropac

In Honor of Kelly Sherman Marcia and Jim Sherman

In Honor of Sally S. Van Allen George Van Allen Sally O. Van Allen

In Memory of Jeanni Winston Tara and Jack Kester

In Memory of Kristin B. Young Margot Kaiser

ANNUAL DONOR SOCIETY

Artistic Director’s Society

$1,000,000 McColl/Lockwood Families

$50,000+ Patty and Alex Funderburg Lise and Travis Hain Dale F. Halton Carol and Watts Hamrick

$20,000-$49,999

Anonymous (2) Barbara and Twig Branch

Jan and Ed Brown Donna and Alvaro de Molina Olga and Jay Faison Pamela and Stephen Hasty Jane and Hugh McColl, Jr. Susan and Loy McKeithen M. Marie Mitchell Katie and Kevin Morgan Tadd and Kristy Morganti Don and Jill Olmstead Jane and Carl Showalter Parker and Stephen Shuford Shannon and Daniela Smith Leigh-ann and Martin Sprock Ann and Michael Tarwater C.D. Spangler Foundation

$10,000-$19,999

Anonymous (2) Midge and Jerry Barron Lauren and David Benson Sylvia and Tom Brydon Lisa and Ted Gardner Jennifer and Andy George Betty Jo Havens Mr. and Mrs. James E.S. Hynes Dr. Alfred & Toni Kendrick Jane and Luther Lockwood

Lori Collins Luski and Moses Luski Posey and Mark Mealy

Ms. Marian Nisbet Claire Rauscher and David Marchyshyn Sallie Scarborough Margaret and Chris Ullrich Krista B. Wilson

Grand Jeté Society

$5,000-$9,999

Anonymous Marty and Weston Andress

Nina and James Austin Lauren and David Benson Robin Branstrom Fine Art Kobi and Ronald Brinson Kathryn and Harold Brown

The Jack H. and Ruth C. Campbell Foundation Taber Cathcart Shane Chalke Christine Channels and Kevin Eliades Kimberly and Jack Cobb Cassell and John FitzHugh Carol and Bill Gay Cynthia and David Houston Maria and John Huson Ashley and Peter Larkin Hunter and Jamie McLawhorn

Brian Moynihan Razida and Tom Nash Elizabeth O’Neill Richard J. Osborne Anne and Scott Perper Kerry and Russell Raath Mr. Todd Porter and Mr. Steve Rasnick Kelli and Mike Richardson

Virginia Rosen Mark Self and Thea Moore Peggy and Pope Shuford

Kate Watlington and Kendall Johnson Karla Williams and Don Menchhofer Eugene Woods

$2,500-$4,999 Anonymous Lynn Archiopoli Kirstin Ashford Cathy and Ned Austin Kirsten Baldwin and Justin Steinschriber Lee and Alan Blumenthal

Vijay Bondada and Renuka Tyagi Mary and Charles Bowman Kobi and Ronald Brinson

Steven and Peggy Burke Jan and Bob Busch Martha Catt and Gregory Starrett Meghan and Keith Clithero Anna Coon Mr. Ron Crider Dr. Ann Dils Hope and Lance Drummond Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer and Mr. Gary Deitemeyer John & Kathy Giannuzzi Deidre and Clay Grubb

Emily and Keith Hay Kathy and Steve Horvath Lynn and Rolfe Hughes Dana and Tom Joseph Maria Kenny Eliza and Jonathan Liles

Meghan and Luis Lluberas

Vince Long and Cameron Furr Dana C. Lumsden and Kristan K. Adkins Jennifer and Eric Madara Brandy and Mark Maraffi Judy Mayo Julianne and Tim McCollum Brook Muller

Alexandra Naranjo-Myrick Elaine and Brian O'Malley

Amy and Craig Radke Carol and Robert Reimer Samantha and Kevin Salazar

Phyllis Schultz and Matthew Gromet Natalie and David Secrest Kelly Sherman Liz and Dave Shuford Ryan Simmons Viki and Doug Singleton Tracy and James Stouse

John A. Thompson, Jr., M.D. Henry and Jenny Ward Judy and Don Wishnek Mary and Jarrett Wyant Lihong Yu

$1,000-$2,499 Randy Angel

Anonymous Catherine and Jeff Armstrong Nancy and Alan Atwell

Anne and John Barry Liz and Pat Bechdol Thomas M. Belk, Jr. Barbara and Donald Bernstein

Cary Bernstein and Alan Kronovet Amy and Philip Blumenthal Bonnie and Thor-Erik Borresen Dr. Karen Breach Washington and Mr. Harry Washington Amy and Robert Brinkley Mary and Steve Bruce Donald Butler Greg and Mary Lou Cagle Jason Cagle Sallie and Derick Close Allene and Jim Cooley Deborah Cooper Cheryl DeMaio Debbie and David Enna

Jeff and Elaine Fagan

Leah Foley Martin Foley

Selena and Richard Giovannelli Bryan and Jandy Gregory

Laurie Graybeal and John Gresham

Laura Grosch and Herb Jackson Kari and Jonathan Halkyard

Martha Harbison Brandon and Holly Hardie Tricia and Donny Harrison

Laura and Jeff Hay Robin and Michael Hearn Tracey and A.D. Hembrick

Carol Hitselberger and Robert M. Petty Amanda and Todd Houser Ghazale and Andy Johnston

Jean and Carl Johnson Liz and Cy Johnson

Ginger Kemp

Ann Kimbro and Mark Smith

Linda and Hatcher Kincheloe

Mayrese and George Koraly KPB Corporation

Beverly and Mark Ladley Patty and Chris Lambert Barbara Laughlin Alison Levinson Jerry Licari Carol Lovin Jennifer Malina Jonathan McGinnis

Richard I. McHenry and Cynthia L. Caldwell

Laura Meyer and Ward Wellman Kate and David Mihalick

Reverend Barbara Miller Anna and Tom Nelson Helene Norbut Alice and Biff Ourso

Dr. Sridhar Pal and Mrs. Shilpa Patel Cheryl A. Palmer

Michael Parkerson

Robert and Cyndee Patterson

Debbie and Pat Phillips

Dale and Larry Polsky Walter Pringle James R. Putnam

Joan Rasmussen and Morry Alter Rosalind and Jerry Richardson & Family Sally and Russell Robinson Trisha and John Schwabacher

Marcia and Jim Sherman

Liz and Walker Simmons

Tamara and Cassiel Smith

Maxine and Robert Stein

John Stubbs

Pierre and Denise Sutton

Chris and Fran Teter

Judith and Gary Toman

Sarah S. Tull

Sally Van Allen Vera Watson Pam West

Marcia Whitmire

Dr. Harriet G. Williams and Mr. Jerry Hagenmaier Judith Wood Anne and Fletcher Wright Henry and Teresa Wu Barbara Yarbrough Margaret and T. Price Zimmermann

Donor society listings reflect donations made by individuals within the last 18 months to Charlotte

Ballet’s Annual Fund. They do not include contributions to capital, endowment or certain other special campaigns and events.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg.

MEDICAL STAFF

The following individuals provide professional medical services for Charlotte Ballet.

Medical Director: Dr. Jerry Barron

Physician’s Assistant: Isaac Stappas, PA-C

Physical Therapists: Heather Osborne DPT, Claire Redmon DPT, LSVT BIG

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Sports Psychologist: Dr.Joanne Perry, Ph.D. Hand Specialist: Dr. Brandon Valentine

Primary Care Internist: Dr. Michael Friedland Physiatrist: Dr. Heather Havlik

Charlotte Ballet greatly appreciates in-kind services provided to our company.

Blumenthal Performing Arts Charlotte Athletic Club Deloitte Consulting LLP

Gardner Gordon Immigration Law Greg Ott Center for Physical Therapy and Sports Performance

McGuireWoods LLP Novant Health Pepsi Bottling Ventures Pilates Body Shaping QC Catering

Queen City Audio Video & Appliances WFAE

Photo by Jeff Cravotta.

Charlotte Ballet is supported, in part, by the Infusion Fund and its generous donors.

Multimillion Dollar Commitment City of Charlotte

$1.5 million and above Bank of America

C.D. Spangler Foundation / National Gypsum Company John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Trane Technologies

$600,000 – $1 million

Albemarle Foundation

Atrium Health Barings Duke Energy Honeywell JELD-WEN, Inc.

Ally Financial

LendingTree Foundation

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Novant Health Red Ventures Truist

$300,000-$600,000

The Centene Charitable Foundation Childress Klein Properties Coca-Cola Consolidated Deloitte EY

The Gambrell Foundation Moore & Van Allen PwC Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. Rodgers Builders Wells Fargo

Up to $300,000

Fifth Third Bank Foundation For The Carolinas Deidre and Clay Grubb Leslie and Michael Marsicano Jane and Hugh McColl

Nucor Corporation PNC Bank

Premier, Inc. Jane and Nelson Schwab

NUTCRACKER

December 9-23, 2022

Belk Theater INNOVATIVE WORKS

February 3-25, 2023

Center for Dance PETER PAN

April 21-30, 2023

Knight Theater

CHOREOGRAPHIC LAB

June 9-17, 2023

Center for Dance