New Orleans Ballet Association - 2023 Program

EXECUTIVE

EDITORS Jenny Hamilton Maxwell Bolton

PUBLISHING EDITOR Topher Danial

PRODUCTION MANAGER Rosa Balaguer

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Meghan Rooney

ART DIRECTOR Ali Sullivan

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Brooke LeBlanc Brooke@MyNewOrleans.com

CEO Todd Matherne

The 2022-23 New Orleans Ballet Association program is produced for the New Orleans Ballet Association by Renaissance Publishing, LLC

New Orleans Ballet Association 935 Gravier St., Suite 800, New Orleans, La 70112 504-522-0996 www.NOBAdance.com

Copyright 2022 New Orleans Ballet Association and Renaissance Publishing, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. © New Orleans Ballet Association

ON THE COVER: (from top, counterclockwise)

Ronald K. Brown, Grace PHOTO BY JULIETA CERVANTES

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo PHOTO BY SASCHA VAUGHAN

State Ballet Of Georgia PHOTO COURTESY OF STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA MOMIX in Alice PHOTO BY SHAREN BRADFORD

Welcome to NOBA’s 50th Season of Bringing Dance to Life!

We welcome you back to the theater for the first full season of performances since the 2018-19 season! The extraordinary challenges over the past two years have illuminated more than ever the power of dance and movement to heal and bring people together. In October, we warmly welcome the artists from Kyiv City Ballet, whose fortitude and talent have been a voice of peace and hope amid a greater struggle. Three of New Orleans’ favorite companies—Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and MOMIX—return with new programs that continue to push the boundaries of the art form. Closing the season, we have been honored to work with two other U.S. cities to make possible the debut of the national company of the country of Georgia, accompanied by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

With partnerships grounded in a common mission, collaboration and trust, we begin the 31st year of serving the community through our tuition-free programs for ages 4-80+. Ever evolving to meet the needs and demands of our families, the early childhood program was expanded this year to fill a critical need, and our students continue to receive unprecedented training and opportunities to work with some of the dance world’s most esteemed artists, like choreographers Trey McIntyre and Darrell Grand Moultrie. We invite you to our annual Nutcracker Suite production and the more than 50 concerts across our neighborhood centers this year!

Celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Oscar J. Tolmas Dance for

Parkinson’s Program, we are launching Championing Movement, a series of Parkinson’s Disease focused educational and movement-based workshops designed to reach under-resourced and rural communities throughout Southeast Louisiana. This program is an example of NOBA’s ongoing commitment since the establishment of the Senior Dance Fitness Program in 2008 to using dance to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens.

The progress we have made as an organization is due to many people’s tireless effort, compassion and dedication. We remain so grateful to the Board of Directors, BRAVO (Ballet Resource And Volunteer Organization), Men and Women of Fashion, donors and our staff for their leadership and extraordinary belief and investment.

To every one of you—our audience members, subscribers, volunteers and partners—we express our deepest thanks for sharing our vision and passion. Let’s celebrate as we unite in the sheer joy of dancing!

Dottie Belletto Chair, Board of Directors Jenny Hamilton Executive Director

A Message from New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell

On behalf of the City of New Orleans, I congratulate the New Orleans Ballet Association on another fabulous season of world-renowned dance and on 31 years of partnership with the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) and the City of New Orleans.

We remain proud to work with the leadership of NOBA and NORD to provide an internationally renowned program that offers unprecedented opportunities for our families.

The NORD/NOBA Center for Dance meets our families in the neighborhoods where they live, touching the lives of over 29,000 participants with free tuition programs valued at over $8.5 million dollars—that’s a true investment in this community. Beginning at the age of 4, a child can enter the doors of NORD centers throughout this community and receive the highest quality training needed to pursue a career in dance or any field.

Senior citizens continue to receive the health and wellness benefits of NOBA’s Senior Dance Fitness Program, begun in 2008 at three NORD sites, and adults have open access weekly to master teaching artists. The dedication of the staff and faculty to our families is unparalleled, and I thank the many funders for their extraordinary generosity and belief in this innovative program.

We look forward and are committed to expanding this award-winning partnership as we strive to meet the needs of our families through the power of dance and movement.

Sincerely, LaToya Cantrell Mayor, City of New Orleans

“The dedication of the staff and faculty to our families is unparalleled...”

–Mayor LaToya Cantrell

Board of Directors

CHAIR

Dottie Belletto

VICE CHAIRS

Monique Gougisha Doucette Cynthia LeBreton Pamela M. Williams

SECRETARY Chad Berg

TREASURER Cathy M. Green

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR John M. Duck

LIFETIME MEMBERS

Jacquelyn B. Clarkson M. Cecile Gibson Henrietta Ramirez Hall Bernard M. Jaffe MD Dr. E. Ralph Lupin* Nancy O’Connell* Phyllis M. Taylor Janee M. Tucker Betty Wisdom*

MEMBERS

Charlotte Bollinger

Tiffa Boutté

Guy P. Brierre

Stephanie Burks

Jacquee Carvin

Sandra Stage Chaisson Gregory Curtis Rosalyn Ditta Terry A. DuFrene

Ann Duplessis

Elizabeth Ellison-Frost Steven A. Friedman

Laurie Guimont Guillaume Teresa Guzzetta

Carmen L. LaBrie-Brown MD

Mary Lakey

Henry M. Lambert

Theron Lewis Willis A. Lovell

Carlos F. Mickan

Max Moreno

Camille Patti Holly S. Popham

Toni Van Zandt

Constance Willems

*deceased

1. (sitting, l to r) Cathy Green, Laurie Guimont Guillaume, Mary Lakey (standing, l to r) Tiffa Boutté, Dr. Bernard Jaffe, Sandra Stage Chaisson

2. (sitting, l to r) Stephanie Burks, Dottie Belletto (standing, l to r) Pamela Williams, John Duck, Charlotte Bollinger

3. (sitting, l to r) Max Moreno, Steve Friedman (standing, l to r) Holly Popham, Camille Patti, Teresa Guzzetta, Jacquee Carvin

4. (l to r) Andy Lovell, Cynthia LeBreton, Toni Van Zandt, Gregory Curtis

StaffEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jenny R. Hamilton

BOX OFFICE/AUDIENCE SERVICES Wanda W. Fulton

CENTER FOR DANCE/ EDUCATION Millette White Lin Corey Melancon Jaelyn Robinson Celeste Mercadel, Intern DEVELOPMENT/EVENTS Francesca Martin Chris Frerichs

TECHNICAL/WARDROBE Joan Long

MARKETING/ PUBLIC RELATIONS

Maxwell Bolton PETERMAYER FINANCE

Hymel & Ready CPAs

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Lauren Faustermann PHOTOGRAPHY

Jeff Strout TECHNOLOGY Courant

VIDEOGRAPHY Bruce France

1 3 4

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

New Orleans Ballet Association

Founded in 1969, the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) cultivates understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of dance through performance, education and community service. NOBA’s dynamic programs position it as a leading dance and service organization throughout the region and a unique, national model dedicated solely to dance.

IN 2022-23, NOBA WILL . . .

PRODUCE

50+ extraordinary concerts featuring over 2,000 artists

9 dance companies as artists in residence

80+ pre-professional students in performance on local and national stages

2 arts healing programs at 5 locations – Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson’s Program and the Senior Dance Fitness Program; plus the brand-new CHAMPIONING MOVEMENT Project which, through a series of Parkinson’s Disease focused educational and movement-based workshops, will reach under-resourced and rural communities throughout Southeast Louisiana

TRAIN

2,000 students ages 4-80+

PROVIDE

100+ weekly tuition-free classes and activities at up to 20 neighborhood sites

tuition-free dance classes and activities annually

contact hours with participants of education programs

30+ local artists’ employment and professional development

ENRICH

33,000 dance enthusiasts through more than 5,500 services

New Orleans Ballet Association 935 Gravier Street, Suite 800 New Orleans, LA 70112

T (504) 522-0996

F (504) 595-8454

www.NOBAdance.com

Follow us @nobadance on

1: NOBA Early Childhood ballet students at Gernon Brown Rec Center PHOTO BY MILLETTE WHITE LIN

2. Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson’s Program participants enjoy a class at Pontiff Gym in Metairie PHOTO BY MILLETTE WHITE LIN 3. MOMIX in Alice PHOTO BY SHAREN BRADFORD

Season of Dance 2022-23

Marking their first performances in the U.S., the exemplary dancers of Ukraine’s Kyiv City Ballet , amid a greater struggle, are a “voice of resistance” ( National Geographic ) on the global stage, bringing light and joy in the darkness to audiences worldwide. On February 23, the company unknowingly took what would be one of the last flights out of Ukraine for a longplanned tour. They have since not been able to return home and have been sheltered by France, performing throughout the country and in Europe. In a show of support and solidarity with these artists, audiences will be uplifted by their talent and sheer determination to continue through such vast adversity.

“Brown is a formidable choreographer whose spiritual blend of contemporary dance with African and Afro-Cuban forms has made him one of the most important dance artists of his generation – or, really, any generation.”

For over 30 years, Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE has deeply moved audiences worldwide with masterfully created dances that are “richly expressive and endlessly kinetic” ( The New York Times) performed by superbly articulate dancers. “No major choreographer has worked harder to bring spiritual awareness to the human heart than Ronald K. Brown. His dances concern our struggle to find love and connection, where compassion alone can ease the grueling physical journey of life” ( The Washington Post ). Following their sold-out performances in 2017, the company returns to New Orleans to move audiences once again.

For “the funniest night you will ever have at the ballet” ( The Sunday Times, UK ), don’t miss the long-awaited return (last presented by NOBA in 2010) of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo in a hilarious new program. Since 1974, this lovable all-male ballet company has been a major dance phenomenon throughout the world, performing parodies of ballet classics from Swan Lake to Les Sylphides en pointe and in tutus to contemporary masterpieces – all with awe-inspiring virtuosity. Expertly blending humor with extraordinary athletic artistry, The Trocks are “a guaranteed hoot for people who know nothing of ballet and an absolute must for those who think they know the originals,” proclaims the Sydney Star Observer.

““Touring the States for the first time with a range of ballets makes an important global statement. It demonstrates the resilience of the Ukrainian people.”

Ivan Kozlov, Artistic Director

Kyiv City Ballet SAT | OCT 22, 2022 | 7:30PM | Mahalia Jackson Theater

Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE

FRI | NOV 4, 2022 | 7:30PM & SAT | NOV 5 | 7:30PM | Freda Lupin Memorial Hall, NOCCA

“This is a company that brings its audience PURE JOY”

The Seattle Times

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo SAT | JAN 28, 2023 | 7:30PM | Mahalia Jackson Theater

The New York Times

PHOTO COURTESY OF KYIV CITY BALLET

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER DUGGAN

PHOTO BY ZORAN JELENIC

MOMIX: Alice SAT | MAR 11, 2023 | 7:30PM | Mahalia Jackson Theater

Known internationally for presenting works of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty, MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists under the direction of Moses Pendleton that has been dazzling New Orleans audiences to sell-out crowds since 1993. Travel down the rabbit hole MOMIX-style with Pendleton's newest creation, ALICE, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland. As Alice’s body grows and shrinks and grows again, Pendleton’s dancers extend themselves by means of props, ropes and other dancers. A feast of visual splendor and creative movement, ALICE reveals that nothing in MOMIX’s world is as it seems.

State Ballet of Georgia

SAT | APR 22, 2023 | 7:30PM | Mahalia Jackson Theater

Making its New Orleans debut (one of only four cities nationwide), the State Ballet of Georgia, the acclaimed national company of the former Soviet republic, tours internationally yet is not often seen in the United States. Accompanied by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, this rare evening features two of GeorgianAmerican choreographer George Balanchine’s greatest masterpieces, Serenade and Concerto Barocco. Using traditional Georgian music, the rousing finale is a work created for the company by Yuri Possokhov, the Ukraineborn dancer and international choreographer. “The sheer polish of the men is striking” ( The New York Times ).

The Nutcracker Suite

SUN | DEC 4, 2022 | 3PM and 6PM Dixon Hall, Tulane University

Experience the magic of Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday adventure in a special one-hour production perfect for the entire family. From an enchanting party, a dramatic battle and dancing dolls to a whimsical journey to the Land of Sweets, this magical tale is uniquely brought to life by over 200 participants ages 6-80+ of NOBA’s tuition-free programs for youth and senior citizens from the greater metropolitan area.

Spring Concert

SUN | MAY 21, 2023 | 7PM

Dixon Hall, Tulane University

This inspirational evening of dance showcases the remarkable talent and accomplishments of our young artists, performing new works by renowned local and guest artists.

Summer Concert

FRI | JULY 28, 2023 | 7PM

Freda Lupin Memorial Hall, NOCCA

Join us for a special concert of works created and set by the esteemed artists of Complexions Contemporary Ballet and more during the heralded summer intensive.

PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

“A triumph of imagination, illusions, and special effects.” The Wonderful World of Dance

“Remarkable dancers...a ballet company unlike most others.” The Washington Post

PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

PHOTO BY SHAREN BRADFORD

PHOTO COURTESY OF STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA

By now, Kyiv City Ballet’s story is welldocumented. The day before Russia invaded Ukraine, the company boarded a plane to France for a two-week national tour. That flight would be one of the last out of the country. No one knew. No one was prepared. By the time Kyiv City Ballet settled in Paris, they were unexpected war refugees. Unable to return home, the dancers of KCB found themselves on an impromptu European tour and booked on their first ever tour of the United States, letting their artistry symbolize the resiliency of the Ukrainian people, their strength, their humor, their perseverance against the odds and their refusal to be anything but themselves.

During this debut in America, the company has performed for sellout crowds and to spectacular reviews. KCB also sold out dates across Europe,

revealing the international support for Ukraine through a company whose mission is to “bring joy to audiences through ballet.” This history-making tour is one of those extraordinary moments when art blasts light into the encroaching shadow of darkness, and audiences are here for it. The dancers in KCB possess exquisite technical precision not only in ballet, but in the muchlauded “Men of Kyiv”, one of two other captivating pieces slated for performance at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.

“New Orleans is no stranger to resilience and artistic excellence,” says NOBA Executive Director Jenny R. Hamilton. “And we believe Kyiv City Ballet will find they hold a special place in our hearts and in our esteem. We look forward to hosting this extraordinary company on their first American tour.”

gems of dance art."

York

IVAN KOZLOV ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Ivan Kozlov is a former premier of the Mariinsky Theater, the National Opera of Ukraine, The St. Petersburg Eifman Ballet and International Ballet Theater. He graduated from the Kyiv State Choreographic School in 2000 and subsequently was invited to join the Eifman Ballet. After working there for two years, he joined the ballet of the National Opera of Ukraine as a principal dancer. From 2007 to 2010, he had the honor of working with the Mariinsky Theater as the leading principal dancer. During his career, Kozlov has performed leading soloist parts in nearly the entire classical repertoire of ballet, as well as in numerous gala concerts. Kozlov is a laureate of many ballet competitions, including the Serge Lifar International Competition (2002, Silver Medal) and the X Moscow International Competition (2005, Silver Medal). After finishing his career as a performer, Kozlov founded the Kyiv City Ballet. He uses his knowledge as one of the young leaders in ballet to create performances of the highest caliber. From 2020-2021 Kozlov was a professor of dance at the Belgrade Dance Institute and a guest ballet master at the National Theater of Serbia.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KYIV CITY BALLET

RONALD K. BROWN / EVIDENCE

4 & 5, 2022 | 7:30PM NOV 5, 2022 | 2PM Special Community Matinee Freda Lupin Memorial Hall, NOCCA

The mission of EVIDENCE, A Dance Company is to promote understanding of the human experience in the African Diaspora through dance and storytelling and to provide sensory connections to history and tradition through music, movement and spoken word, leading deeper into issues of spirituality, community responsibility and liberation.

For 37 years, EVIDENCE has deeply moved audiences worldwide with masterfully created dances that are “richly expressive and endlessly kinetic” ( The New York Times) performed by superbly articulate dancers. Based in Brooklyn, New York, EVIDENCE focuses on the seamless integration of traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word. Through work, EVIDENCE provides a unique view of human struggles, tragedies and triumphs. Brown uses movement as

a way to reinforce the importance of community in African American culture and to acquaint audiences with the beauty of traditional African forms and rhythms. He is an advocate for the growth of the African American dance community and is instrumental in encouraging young dancers to choreograph and to develop careers in dance.

EVIDENCE now tours to some 25 communities in the United States and abroad. The company has traveled to Cuba, Brazil, England, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa and Canada to perform, teach master classes and conduct lecture/demonstrations for individuals of all ages. EVIDENCE brings arts education and cultural connections to local communities that have historically lacked these experiences. Annually the company reaches an audience of more than 25,000.

The Equality of Night and Day PHOTO BY QUINN B. WHARTON

Breathtaking and life-sustaining and hopeful .” -The Boston Globe

RONALD K. BROWN FOUNDER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Ronald K. Brown (Founder/Artistic Director), raised in Brooklyn, NY, founded EVIDENCE, A Dance Company in 1985. He has worked with Mary Anthony Dance Theater, Jennifer Muller/The Works as well as other choreographers and artists. Brown has set works on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Jeune Ballet d’Afrique Noire, Ko-Thi Dance Company, Philadanco, Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, Ballet Hispánico, TU Dance and Malpaso Dance Company.

He has collaborated with such artists as composer/designer Omotayo Wunmi Olaiya, the late writer Craig G. Harris, director Ernie McClintock’s Jazz Actors Theater, choreographers Patricia Hoffbauer and Rokiya Kone, and composers Jason Moran, Arturo O'Farrill, Meshell Ndegeocello, Robert Een, Oliver Lake, Bernadette Speech, David Simons and Don Meissner.

Brown is the recipient of the 2020 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award. His other awards and recognitions include the AUDELCO Award for his choreography in Regina Taylor’s awardwinning play Crowns , two Black Theater Alliance Awards and a Fred & Adele Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography in the Tony® Award winning Broadway and national touring production of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess , adapted by Suzan Lori Parks, arranged by Diedre Murray and directed by Diane Paulus.

Brown was named Def Dance Jam Workshop 2000 Mentor of the Year and has received the Doris Duke Artist Award, NYC City Center Fellowship, Scripps/ADF Award, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts Choreographers Fellowship, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, United States Artists Fellowship, a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award, Dance Magazine Award and The Ailey Apex Award.

Brown is Co-Artistic Director of RestorationART Youth Arts Academy Pre-Professional Training Program / Restoration Dance Youth Ensemble and a member of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society.

Grace PHOTO BY JULIETA CERVANTES | COURTESY OF FISHER CENTER AT BARD

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo was founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts for the purpose of presenting a playful, entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody form and en travesti. The Trocks, as they are affectionately known, first performed in the late-late shows in Off-Off Broadway for small audiences who appreciated the iconoclastic humor of it all, and by mid-1975, their loving knowledge of dance, their comic approach and their commitment to the notion that men can, indeed, dance en pointe without falling flat on their faces, was already garnering attention beyond the Company’s New York home.

Since those beginnings, the Trocks has been established as a major dance phenomenon throughout the world, with their numerous tours being both popular and critical successes. Revered by ballet aficionados

as well as the uninitiated—those who don’t know a plié from a jeté—the Trocks have been called by the Sydney Star Observer “a guaranteed hoot for people who know nothing of ballet, and an absolute must for those who think they know the originals.”

The original concept of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo has not changed since its inception: it is a company of professional male dancers performing the full range of the classical ballet and modern dance repertoire, while incorporating and exaggerating the foibles, accidents and underlying incongruities of serious dance. For the future, there are plans for new works; for performances in new cities, states and countries; and for the continuation of the Trocks’ original purpose— to bring the pleasure of dance to the widest possible audience. They will, as they have done for almost fifty years, “Keep on Trockin’.”

“Their technique is superb, their timing faultless and their regard for the traditions of classical ballet beyond reproach."

- The Scotsman

PHOTO BY ZORAN JELENIC

The Trocks: By the Numbers

60

Each artist in the Trocks portrays two personas (one female and one male), who dance the roles in each performance. Any given performance many have up to 60 different named characters, as well as nameless gypsies, fairies and swans.

61,859

The number of the Trocks’ travel miles in the United States, Europe and Asia last year. Multiply that distance by the numbers of dancers, and the Trocks could have sent a dancer to the moon and back...twice!

12 1⁄2

Like most ballet companies, the Trocks use a lot of pointe shoesin a season. Sizes are a little different though: Eugenia Repelskii (aka Joshua Thake), for example, needs a size 12 1⁄2 shoe, while the average ballerina wears size 7 pointe shoes.

110

Be prepared! Along with the 60 costumes they need (including some for understudies who are a different size than the lead dancer), the Trocks carry 80 pairs of earrings and 110 false eyelashes on tour, all in only fifteen cases! It takes the dancers 60 to 90 minutes to get into their makeup and costumes.

2

The Trocks have only two degrees of separation from the Queen of England, having met Prince Charles after taking part in a Royal Variety Performance in 2008. They enjoy the same proximity to both Gonzo the Great and the late Rudolf Nureyev – the company has danced with Miss Piggy and Kermit on their Muppet Babies show (and the glamorous puppet duo performed with Nureyev on The Muppet Show ).

TORY DOBRIN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Tory Dobrin has been the director of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo since 1992. He joined the company as a dancer in 1980 and performed until 1996. Dobrin trained at the Stanley Holden Dance Center in Los Angeles, the Houston Ballet Academy and Harkness Dance Center in New York. He has danced with the Dallas Ballet, Radio City Music Hall Ballet, New Jersey Ballet and American Dance Machine.

PHOTO BY ZORAN JELENIC

PHOTO BY SASCHA VAUGHAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TROCKS

BALLET OF GEORGIA

State Ballet of Georgia, a treasure of the Georgian nation, performs at home in their storied Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, site of Mikhail Fokine’s first groundbreaking choreographic achievement and host to the foreign debut of Enrico Ceccheti’s famed student Maria Perini. Perini, who astounded Georgian audiences with the first sight of Odile’s 32 fouettés in Swan Lake , eventually helped found the first classical ballet school in Georgia. With the twin influences of Russian and Italian techniques, Georgian ballet dancers and choreographers developed a faultless classical style with a unique execution that made for exhilarating performances.

Like many ballet companies at the turn of the millennium, State Ballet of Georgia faced challenges adapting to a rapidly changing world. In 2004, Nina Ananiashvili, noted as one of the greatest ballerinas in the world, stepped in as

artistic director. Ananiashvili, the first ballet dancer from the former Soviet Union invited to perform in Balanchine’s theater in New York, was both a prima ballerina for Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre and principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Ananiashvili is the only ballerina ever to have won the highest awards in all four major ballet competitions. Her passion, prestige and vision reinvigorated State Ballet of Georgia, bringing her experience on the world ballet stage to their performances and their repertory. Under Ananiashivil’s leadership, the company added exciting contemporary ballets from choreographers such as Jiří Kylián and Trey McIntyre and reimagined works from the classical repertoire. In these performances, Georgia’s pristine lineage of Russian and Italian ballet combines with Nina Ananiashvili’s innovative approach to the art to present a rare amalgam of classicism, tradition, virtuosity and invention.

Dance legend George Balanchine was GeorgianAmerican. For the New Orleans program, State Ballet of Georgia performs two of his masterworks, Serenade and Concerto Barroco. How do you see these works marrying the ballet traditions of the two nations? Do you think Georgian dancers bring something unique to the Balanchine technique because of their root connection to the choreographer?

NINA: In ballet, we Georgians are proud of two persons: George Balanchine-Balanchivadze, who completely changed the choreography and expanded the boundaries of dance in an unprecedented way, and the second, Vakhtang Chabukiani, who created the male roles in classical ballets, and who is the founder of the Georgian Ballet Company. To what I may recall, if there has been any great happiness in my career, one of them is the 1988 winter season spent at the New York City Ballet. This was the time when I was the first dancer from the former Soviet Union who was invited to the theatre and was given leading parts in Balanchine’s ballets Symphony in C, Raymonda Variations and Apollo. In 2004, when I became the artistic director of the State Ballet of Georgia, that is when I started bringing Balanchine ballets to Georgia.

This led to the fact that nowadays the State Ballet of Georgia is a highly welcome guest on the best stages of the world. At present, our company on the stage is a prime example of "Balanchine Makes You Better!” When we talk about Balanchine, we should remember that his ballet language is not only for the 20th century, but the 21st century as well. Whoever is staging a one-act ballet today, they are staging their creations according to Balanchine or trying to oppose oneself to him. Ballets of Mr. B are free from everything additional: no need for scenery, no need for elaborate costumes and no direct appropriation of any kind of national dances. Both Serenade and Concerto Barocco are classical dance in its purest form. But if we think about Balanchine as the bridge between Georgia and the United States, then we should talk about the one very important category that characterizes Balanchine’s choreography: Freedom (exactly like this—with a capital F!).

In our company, Georgian artists try to dance exactly the way as requested by the teachers sent to us by the Balanchine Trust. These are Mr. B’s great dancers in the past and great ballet masters in present: Bart Cook, Maria Calegari and Ben Huys. However, dancers of all countries end up dancing Balanchine a little differently.

State Ballet of Georgia’s engagement with NOBA is the company’s debut in New Orleans. What is the company looking forward to most about being here?

NINA: We are extremely happy that we will be having the opportunity to go on tour in this unique city where we’ll make every effort to represent our state and our Theatre at its best. I am twice as happy because I am an honorary citizen of New Orleans.

The finale, created by Ukraine-born choreographer Yuri Possokhov, features traditional Georgian music. This choice is particularly significant given the most recent Russian invasion of Ukraine and Georgia’s fight for sovereignty. Will you talk about the importance of dance as a voice for cultural identity?

NINA: The great ballerina and my beloved teacher, Raisa Struchkova, used to always tell me that in our company’s repertoire, under my directorship, there should be a ballet which will be staged on Georgian music and which will be quintessentially Georgian. It is completely amazing how my friend Yuri Possokhov, who is one of the leading choreographers of modernity, managed to convey the spirit of Georgia with the language of classical ballet.

In 2008, Russia carried out exactly the same kind of aggression against Georgia that it is now doing against Ukraine. Culture in general, and the classical art in particular, including classical ballet of course, is another weapon for us to prove our national identity on the world stage. Especially when Russia refuses to recognize Georgia and Ukraine as the independent states and Georgians and Ukrainians as the nations.

NINA ANANIASHVILI ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Nina Ananiashvili was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. At the age of 10, she began studying ballet at the Georgian State Choreographic School and entered the Moscow Choreographic School when she was 13. Ananiashvili joined the Bolshoi Ballet upon graduating in 1981. While she was a prima ballerina there, she became a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre and danced with The Royal Ballet, Houston Ballet, La Scala Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera, among others. She has performed more than 100 ballet pieces and won first prizes at several international ballet competitions. In 2004, Ananiashvili took on the responsibilities of artistic director of the State Ballet of Georgia.

She was awarded the Rustaveli State Prize of Georgia and the State Prize of Russia (Triumph). She is also a People’s Artist of Georgia and of the Russian Federation, and a recipient of the Georgian Order of Honor, Georgian Order of Excellence, and the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity by the president of Italy. In 2017, she received the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, a Japanese government honor established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. In April 2019, the prima ballerina was named as the Honorary President of Europa Nostra Georgia, the Country Representation of a Pan-European network for protecting cultural and national heritage.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STATE BALLET

GEORGIA

PHOTO BY SHAREN BRADFORD

MOMIX in Alice

MOMIX, a company of dancer-illusionists founded and directed by Moses Pendleton, has been presenting work of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty for more than 40 years. From its base in Washington, Connecticut, the company has developed a devoted worldwide following. In addition to stage performances, MOMIX has also worked in film and television, as well as corporate advertising, with national commercials for Hanes and Target and presentations for Mercedes-Benz, Fiat and Pirelli. With performances on PBS’s Dance in America series, France’s Antenne II and Italian RAI television, the company’s repertory has been beamed to 55 countries. The Rhombus Media film of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition with MOMIX and the Montreal Symphony was the winner of an International Emmy for Best Performing Arts Special. MOMIX was also featured in IMAGINE, one of the first 3-D IMAX films released in IMAX theaters worldwide. MOMIX dancers Cynthia Quinn and Karl Baumann, under Pendleton’s direction, played the role of Bluey in the feature film "F/ X2," and "White Widow," co-choreographed by Pendleton and Quinn, was featured in Robert Altman’s movie, "The Company." With nothing more than light, shadow, fabric, props and the human body, MOMIX continues to astonish and delight audiences on five continents.

Travel down the rabbit hole MOMIX-style with Pendleton’s newest creation, ALICE, inspired by Alice in Wonderland. As Alice’s body grows

and shrinks and grows again, MOMIX dancers extend themselves by means of props, ropes and other dancers.

“We don’t intend to retell the whole Alice story,” he says, “but to use it as a taking off point for invention. I’m curious to see what will emerge, and I’m getting curiouser and curiouser the more I learn about Lewis Caroll. I share his passion for photography and his proclivity for puns”.

The Alice story is full of imagery and absurd logic – before there was Surrealism, there was Alice. Alice is an invitation to invent, to let the imagination run wild. “Go Ask Alice,” sang Grace Slick in “White Rabbit” – she also said “feed your head.”

Pendleton continues, “You can see why I think Alice is a natural fit for MOMIX, and an opportunity for us to extend our reach. We want to take this show into places we haven’t been before in terms of the fusion of dance, lighting, music, costumes and projected imagery. Our puns are visual, not verbal. It’s not modern dance, it’s MOMIX – under the spell of Lewis Carroll, who was under the spell of Alice – who was still learning to spell.”

As with every MOMIX production, you never quite know what you are going to get. Hopefully, audiences will be taken on a journey that is magical, mysterious, fun, eccentric and much more. As Alice falls down the rabbit hole and experiences every kind of transformation, we invite you to follow her.

Arts

“A triumph of imagination, illusions, and special effects -The Wonderful World of Dance

MOSES PENDLETON ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Moses Pendleton has been one of America’s most innovative and widely performed choreographers and directors for over 50 years. A co-founder of the ground-breaking Pilobolus Dance Theater in 1971, he formed his own company, MOMIX, with Alison Chase in 1980, which rapidly established an international reputation for inventive and often illusionistic choreography. The troupe has been creating new work under his direction and touring worldwide for four decades.

Pendleton has also worked extensively in film, TV and opera and as a choreographer for ballet companies and special events including the Closing Ceremony of the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid in 1980, and The Doves of Peace , featuring Diana Vishneva and 50 Russian ballerinas, for the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi. He has also made music videos with Prince, Julian Lennon and Cathy Dennis, among others.

Pendleton was born and raised on a dairy farm in Northern Vermont. He received his BA in English Literature from Dartmouth College in 1971. He is an avid photographer whose work has been presented in Rome, Milan, Florence and Aspen.

Pendleton was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1977 and recipient of the Connecticut Commission on the Arts Governor’s Award in 1998. He received the Positano Choreographic Award in 1999 and the 2002 American Choreography Award for his contributions to choreography for film and television. In 2010, Pendleton received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts (HDFA) from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he delivered the commencement address. In 2021, Pendleton received the degree of Doctor of Arts, honoris causa , from Dartmouth College, his alma mater, for his lifetime contributions to the arts.

PHOTO BY SHAREN BRADFORD

Bringing Dance Into the Community

Center for Dance Celebrates 31 Years

In 1992, visionary leaders of multiple institutions — New Orleans City Council, Office of the Mayor, New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) and NOBA — united in a common goal: to touch the lives of every member of our community through dance. Through the collective vision of this dedicated group, the unique and groundbreaking partnership between the New Orleans Ballet Association and the New Orleans Recreation Department — the Center for Dance — was formed to ensure children, regardless of economic means, would have access to high quality dance instruction.

Over the past 30 years, the Center for Dance has provided more than $8.5 million of tuitionfree programming to over 29,000 people through over 75,000 classes and activities, many of whom would not otherwise have the opportunity to study this art form. The program has garnered national recognition and awards along the way, including the Coming Up Taller Award by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts and others.

Starting/originating with just 30 students at one NORD site, the program has grown to now serve nearly 2,000 participants ages 4-80+ each year at up to 20 sites in partnership with NORD and other community organizations. Weekly, more than 100 tuition-free classes and activities are offered by a professional faculty who bring a wealth of knowledge, care and experience. Participants study ballet, hip hop, modern, West African, jazz, conditioning, dance fitness and other movement forms. These classes are regularly filled to capacity on a first come, first-served basis, and if a child has a specific need, the Center for Dance provides shoes, leotards and tights. Pre-Professional students ages 7 and up receive additional intensive

training and classes by world-renowned dancers and choreographers through the Master Artist Series at Lyons Rec Center and at Tulane University; internships; advanced summer training locally; scholarships to study at prestigious national summer programs; deeply discounted tickets ($5) for Main Stage performances through The Helis Foundation Ovation Program and more.

In 2008, NOBA, at the request of NORD, expanded its reach in the community by providing participants ages 55 and up a Senior Dance Fitness Program. This year, the Center for Dance proudly continues to grow, including the expansion of the Early Childhood Dance Program for ages 4–5.

In addition, this fall marks the return of NOBA’s St. Bernard After-School Ballet Program. Since its inception in 1995 through a partnership between NOBA, Chalmette Refining, LLC, and the St. Bernard Parish School Board, the program has fulfilled thousands of dance dreams, and this school year will again provide instruction twice a week in the beautiful dance studios of the Chalmette High School Cultural Arts Center, which also houses the program’s performances.

For a packed house of family and friends, students ages 4–80+ take part in fully produced performances with costumes, professional stage management and lights at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall and NOCCA’s Lupin Hall as well as presentations at each partner site. The pre-professional students annually receive opportunities for advanced study and guest artist residencies in addition to invitations to perform throughout the community and appear on regional and national stages and venues such as New York City’s Joyce Theater and Plaza Hotel, Kennedy Center and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT, CHERYL GERBER, PROTOCOL PHOTOGRAPHY, MILLETTE WHITE LIN, AND ALICE PASCAL ESCHER

“NOBA is honestly the best program in New Orleans offered to children of all ages. I have been repeatedly amazed with how welcoming they are and how wonderful and inclusive of a community they have built around dance.”

– Center for Dance Parent

“Access to NOBA’s programs is so important to me and my family because I can be active and do what I love for no cost, which is such a blessing.”

– Center for Dance Student

Dance & Arts Healing Through Generations

Year after year, NOBA continues its commitment to delivering inclusive, accessible and transformative dance and arts healing activities for over 2,000 participants ages 4-80+ through more than 5,500 free classes in a variety of dance forms. Ongoing collaborations with an expanded network of partners, such as the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD), New Orleans JCC, Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation, Dillard University, Tulane University, Xavier University, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), The Willow School and other area K-12 schools through the national Kennedy Center Partners in Education program, continue to increase NOBA’s capacity to deliver positive health outcomes and support vibrant, creative communities.

Since its inception over five years ago, the Oscar J. Tolmas Dance for Parkinson’s Program has reached a total attendance of nearly 6,000 people through free, specialized, ongoing weekly classes and special outreach activities that empower people with Parkinson’s disease to creatively explore movement and live music, all in a safe, welcoming and fun environment. Classes are modeled after the Mark Morris Dance Group’s internationally renowned Dance for PD® program and take place twice weekly during the mornings at two locations – Mondays in Metairie at Pontiff Gym and Wednesdays in New Orleans at the JCC.

Most recently, NOBA was awarded a grant from the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s to launch a brand-new community building and outreach project entitled CHAMPIONING MOVEMENT which, through a series of Parkinson’s Disease focused educational and movement-based workshops, will reach underresourced and rural communities throughout Southeast Louisiana.

Michelle Lane, a Jefferson Parish resident, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s over 20 years ago at the age of 31 and now serves as local Parkinson’s support group leader and advocate. “After inviting NOBA to present a Dance for Parkinson’s sample class

at our support group, I realized this program would be a hit with the Parkinson’s community. If there is anything that sidelines you, exacerbates your sense of constriction and inhibition, it is Parkinson’s. If there is anything that calls for expression, movement and liveliness, it is dance. The class is not only physically therapeutic but often gives us a psychological boost. People struggling with movement and speech because of the disease say the sessions are liberating, providing a new way to express themselves.”

Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and at the request of NORD for the development of crucial programming for seniors, NOBA’s Senior Dance Fitness Program launched at St. Bernard Rec Center in 2008 and continues to positively impact the lives of countless participants ages 55 and over. Currently offered twice a week at three centers, this completely free program includes stretching, cardio and dance set to fun music;

“NOBA’s Senior Dance Fitness program brings together a true cross section of New Orleans people who might never meet in other circumstances. It reinforces community and establishes friendships. We are seniors encouraged to get out, make friends, move and learn new things. That’s better than any medicine!”

– NOBA Senior Dance Fitness Participant

Senior Dance Fitness participants perform in a Neighborhood Concert Series performance at Lyons Rec Center

PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

dance workshops with visiting Main Stage artists; performance opportunities; social events; discounted tickets to select Main Stage performances and more! For many participants, the Senior Dance Fitness Program is more than just fun. The program equips them with the ability to combat chronic health conditions through active measures such as reducing stiffness, arthritis pain, respiratory problems, blood sugar levels, blood pressure and losing weight. In addition, others share that involvement in the Senior Dance Fitness Program helps break isolation and form

friendships and social support networks.

NOBA’s relationships and residency work with Main Stage companies and artists regularly produce unique experiences for community members to be moved in body, mind and spirit. During the fall and spring, NOBA also offers open drop-in classes to adults and teens in ballet, modern and other dance forms. Taught by master guest artists and NOBA instructors, these sessions provide participants the opportunity to enhance their dance skills or explore dance and movement for the very first time.

“Dancing is POWER for the person with Parkinson’s. It promotes self-determination and living the best life that you can have. It’s purposeful fun—it’s lengthening my life and holding back the advancing symptoms of Parkinson’s.”

-Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson’s Program Participant

1. NOBA alumna and intern Celeste Mercadel assists with a Dance for Parkinson’s presentation as part of the Gulf Coast Parkinson’s Symposium in Slidell, Louisiana

PHOTO BY MILLETTE WHITE LIN

2. A ballet class at Tulane University PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

3. Attendees at the Louisiana Parkinson’s Conference participate in an interactive Dance for Parkinson’s session

PHOTO BY MILLETTE WHITE LIN

4. Ballet Hispánico artist Mariano Zamora leads a master class for students of The Willow School

PHOTO BY MILLETTE WHITE LIN

When School is Out, Dance is in!

NOBA’s tuition-free programs for youth extend beyond the school year into a kaleidoscope of summer dance and fitness camps in partnership with NORD and other community organizations. Led by a faculty of passionate and highly qualified local and visiting artists, these summer sessions engage body and mind through health education related activities that foster life skills such as self-confidence, teamwork, discipline, focus and commitment. Motivated students ages 7 to 18 may also audition for NOBA’s summer intensives, which provide opportunities to study and perform with top dance artists.

ADVENTURES IN DANCE THREE-WEEK DAY CAMP for up to 40 children ages 7–12 of all experience levels is held in the NORD/NOBA Center for Dance Studio at Lyons Rec Center in June. This comprehensive, popular camp offers:

• Daily classes in different styles of dance technique including ballet,modern, hip hop, jazz, West African dance, Brazilian dance and more

• Educational activities in nutrition, health, dance history, sewing, craft arts, arts integration and literacy

• A children’s dance book for each participant to add to their home library

• Nutritious breakfast and lunch

• Fully costumed culminating studio performance for family & friends

JUNE TWILIGHT CAMPS PREPARATORY DANCE PROGRAM for ages 4–18 of all experience levels offers evening technique classes in ballet, modern, West African dance, hip hop and more at partner sites.

JUNE MASTER ARTIST SERIES INTENSIVES by audition for ages 12-18 bring master artists from all over the country for week-long technique and repertory sessions, culminating with a showcase for family and friends.

THREE-WEEK JULY DAYTIME INTENSIVE by audition for ages 12-18 provides rigorous training with prestigious guest faculty, culminating in a fully produced concert at NOCCA’s Freda Lupin Memorial Hall.

THREE-WEEK JULY EVENING INTENSIVES by audition for ages 7–18 feature local and visiting guest artists and foster an emphasis on building technical proficiency, confidence and self-expression through classes in conditioning, ballet, modern and other dance genres. Family and friends are invited to a special culminating showcase at the conclusion of the three-week intensive.

“There is no other program like NOBA… phenomenal instructors and staff, a super inviting and supporting atmosphere, opportunities to train under performers from renowned dance companies from around the world, and pure joy in your child’s eyes!” – Parent

Summer Programs for Youth

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT AND MILLETTE WHITE LIN

NOBA Master Artist Series

Through NOBA’s year-round Master Artist Series, talented and aspiring young dancers receive innovative and unprecedented opportunities to learn, perform and be mentored by world-renowned artists from some of the top companies in dance, including Ballet Hispánico, San Francisco Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Joffrey Ballet and many more. NOBA students have performed throughout the community and in major theaters with some of the most recognized names in the industry, such as Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Limón Dance Company, Parsons Dance and Martha Graham Dance Company.

Cuban-born Eduardo Vilaro, Ballet Hispánico Artistic Director and CEO, has had a relationship with NOBA since the 1980s—first as a star dancer with Ballet Hispánico, and later with the acclaimed Chicago dance troupe Luna Negra, which he founded and directed for a decade. “Over the years, NOBA has been consistent in developing training that instills the excellence and artistry needed for our field. I only put the best of dance on my stage, and NOBA is the best of what a community organization can bring to our young people,” Vilaro proclaims.

In February 2022, Ballet Hispánico Associate Artistic Director Johan Rivera selected a cast of nine NOBA Pre-Professional Program students to learn excerpts from Danse Creole, a work choreographed by the late Geoffrey Holder inspired by the Caribbean style and rhythms of Trinidad and the influence of European colonization on the island. The students performed the work during their Spring Concert and as part of NOBA’s Neighborhood Concert Series. NOBA’s young artists are savvy enough to recognize and appreciate the rarity and value of these kinds of experiences. In the words of a recent NOBA alumna, “I love that NOBA’s programs are diverse and allow each student equal opportunities. It challenges us and facilitates relationships with artists around the country, which is essential to our training and future!”

For NOBA students, summer is prime time to tune-in, be challenged and think and dance “outside the box” with some of the industry’s most notable artists. In June 2022, we welcomed Dance Heginbotham Artistic Director John Heginbotham and hip hop dance artist, choreographer and 2016 Bessie Award winner Ephrat Asherie for one-week intensives. During July

2022, the annual three-week Summer Intensive featured a star-studded roster of visiting and local faculty, including internationally acclaimed choreographer Trey McIntyre, 2021 Guggenheim Fellow in Choreography and Waheed Works Artistic Director Tommie-Waheed Evans and artists

Amber Mayberry and Roderick Phifer, and culminated with a concert performance at NOCCA’s Freda Lupin Memorial Hall. In addition to rigorous, top-rate dance instruction, summer students are encouraged to develop versatility and expand knowledge of dance and cultures across the globe. As Evans shares, “NOBA is a very special place...I’ve been able to come back since my last residency in 2016 to see the students grow into strong and confident artists and human beings! As a young dancer, my mom sacrificed so much for me to be able to have the training that I needed to achieve my dreams. I only wish we would have known about a tuition-free program like NOBA that makes it possible for youth to train with leaders in the dance field such as Trey McIntyre, Ronald K. Brown and Eduardo Vilaro. This kind of access and exchange truly facilitates success!”

As one student offers, “It is important for me to participate in the summer intensive as a year-round student because it helps me keep my technique sharp, so that I don’t slack off during the summer. It also helps me to make closer bonds with my classmates. I’ve learned that it’s not always about competing with your peers, but about growing together as a whole and making special connections with your fellow performers and instructors.”

Evans’ stunning work featured in the Summer Concert, Bodies as Site of Faith and Protest, was originally created in 2016 as part of Evans’ Master of Fine Arts in choreography thesis project at Jacksonville University and was later restaged in 2018 on Dallas Black Dance Theatre. While resetting the piece on NOBA 2022 Summer Intensive students, Evans shared that he and the dancers were “entering in through the embodiment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘We Shall Overcome’ speech and the ‘We Shall Overcome’

“I love that NOBA’s programs are diverse and allow each student equal opportunities. It challenges us and facilitates relationships with artists around the country, which is essential to our training and future!”

– NOBA Alumna

freedom song that was sung during that time.” During the intensive, he and the students picked apart those pieces and researched the Civil Rights Movement. Evans adds, “Something that I told the NOBA dancers was that our goal during the intensive was to bring all those moments in history forward to include and address more recent unfortunate events that have happened. Something that really got unlocked here in New Orleans was that we recognized that a lot of young kids were a part of the Civil Rights Movement, and that in recent years with George Floyd, Tamir Rice and

so many others, it’s still young people who are a driving force to make a difference. I’ve learned things during this process here with the dancers that haven’t happened in other places, and that really touches my heart. I am incredibly proud of the work the NOBA dancers have done to get to this place to understand that we can create change with our art. It’s not always about going out on the streets and protesting, and it’s not always about signing a petition, but we can say this statement about all these things through our bodies and ultimately change people’s minds.”

“NOBA is a very special place...I’ve been able to see the students grow into strong and confident artists and human beings. As a young dancer, I only wish I would have known about a tuition-free program like NOBA that makes it possible for youth to train with leaders in the dance field…this kind of access and exchange truly facilitates success!”

– Tommie-Waheed Evans, Summer Intensive Visiting Master Artist, 2021 Guggenheim Fellow in Choreography, and Waheed Works Artistic Director

1. Kennedy Simon and students perform work by Trey McIntyre in the 2022 Summer Concert PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

Guest artists Amber Mayberry and Roderick Phifer perform during the 2022 Summer Concert PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

NOBA Summer Intensive students rehearse Tommie-Waheed Evans’ Bodies as Site of Faith and Protest PHOTO BY MILLETTE WHITE LIN

Guest artists Roderick Phifer assists student Johriyan Phillips during a Summer Intensive class PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

Kennedy Simon and NOBA Summer Intensive students in rehearsal

BY MILLETTE WHITE LIN

Ephrat Asherie & NOBA students after a Summer Intensive showcase PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

Scarlett Mitchell-Yang and NOBA Summer Intensive students during a technique class with Tommie-Waheed Evans PHOTO BY MILLETTE WHITE LIN

Trey McIntyre leads a Summer Intensive rehearsal PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

Dance Heginbotham Artistic Director John Heginbotham leads a Summer Intensive class PHOTO BY MILLETTE WHITE LIN

Johriyan Phillips and students perform work by Tommie-Waheed Evans during the 2022 Summer Concert PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

Ballet Hispánico Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro with NOBA students Kennedy Simon (left) and Anna-Marie Ledet (right)

BY JEFF STROUT

NOBA Faculty

Madyson

Barbain began her dance training at Art In Motion Dance Academy and graduated from Warren Easton and NOCCA with honors in academics and dance. She received additional dance training at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York and earned a double major in dance and kinesiology from Tulane University.

Barbain is an Artivism Dance Company member and has performed with KM Dance Project as well as with musical artists and in festivals throughout the New Orleans area. Barbain joined the NOBA faculty in 2021 and also serves as a dance instructor at Art In Motion Dance Academy. Dance is her heart and passion.

Carly Sistrunk

Bourgeois started training at age three at Sandra Dottolo’s Dance Etc. By 11, she was taking instruction in classical ballet and competed in regional and national competitions in various genres of dance until 2011. Bourgeois began her

dance teaching career in 2005 and in 2012 began assisting with the Loyola University New Orleans’ Ballet Preparatory Program. She has performed with D’Project, Inc. and Storytellers Dance Project and toured nationally and internationally with Komenka Ethnic Dance and Music Ensemble. Bourgeois joined the NOBA faculty in 2013.

Bethani Pete Collins hails from Crowley, Louisiana. Her love of dance began at the age of two under Pamalor Joseph and Pasgwa Washington at PJ’s Dance/Art School. In 2011, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and her training continued at The Ailey School in New York City, Urban Bush Women Summer Leadership Institute and American Dance Festival. In 2015, Collins began working alongside her Mentor Dollie Eaglin (Rivas) at Audubon Charter School and in that same year joined the NOBA faculty. She currently teaches dance and cheer at Grace King High School and John Q. Adams Middle School in

Metairie. Collins is dedicated to enthusiastic and dynamic teaching as a means of creating and nurturing a lifelong love of the arts.

April Dayok earned a Bachelor of Arts in dance from Point Park University. After relocating to New York, she danced with Becky Radway Dance Project, Counter Tides Dance, Mark Dendy Dance and Theater Projects, and worked with the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dance for PD® program and for Pamela Quinn (dancer), Parkinson’s patient and movement specialist for Parkinson’s Disease patients). Dayok has toured nationally and internationally with Lightwire Theater and has performed locally with Mélange Dance Company and ELLEvate Dance. She began working with NOBA in 2017 and is an instructor for NOBA’s Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson’s Program at the New Orleans JCC and in Metairie at Pontiff Gym.

Aline Neves de Souza-Myers, a native of Brazil, holds a degree in physical education from the Universidade Castelo Branco and is a graduate from Escola Estadual de Danças Maria Olenewa of the Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro. She performed and toured with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus as a dancer and an aerialist. De Souza-Myers has danced and choreographed for Komenka Ethnic Music and Dance Ensemble, performing nationally and internationally. She has served as the local rehearsal director for Center for Dance student projects with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, Parsons Dance and Limón Dance Company and is the founding and lead instructor for the Senior Dance Fitness Program. De Souza-Myers completed the prestigious School of American Ballet’s National Visiting Fellows Program in 2019-20, serves as the director for The Nutcracker Suite and Spring Concert productions and joined the NOBA faculty in 2007.

Aline de Souza-Myers with students preparing for Nutcracker

PHOTO BY COREY MELANCON

Alice Pascal Escher is an associate professor of dance in the Newcomb Dance Program, Tulane Department of Theatre and Dance, and was the founder and artistic director of the Newcomb Dance Company for 35 years. Escher is a native of Baton Rouge, where she studied ballet with Elisa Minet Fuchs. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Florida State University and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from Temple University and is a Certified Movement Analyst (CMA). Escher has been instrumental in the development of the dance major program at Tulane. She enjoys teaching in the Center for Dance Pre-Professional Program and is constantly inspired by the energy, enthusiasm and dedication of the students and staff.

Kelly Harp Haber began dancing in Monroe, Louisiana, with Twin City Ballet. Haber studied modern dance at Louisiana Tech University while earning her degree in elementary education and later received a Master of Education at Vanderbilt University. She danced with Encore Ballet Company in Madison, Mississippi. Haber taught all levels with Ballet Mississippi while serving as director of the lower school. For many years, she brought dance and movement regularly to The Blake, a senior living home. Haber joined the NOBA faculty

in 2016 and is an instructor for NOBA’s Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson’s Program at the New Orleans JCC and in Metairie at Pontiff Gym. Her additional education includes workshops and advanced training in Dance for PD® at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, New York, as well as with Donna Newman-Bluestein to bring dance to people with Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Chelsea Knipp originally from Houston, Texas, began her ballet training with Houston Repertoire Ballet. She also trained with Tulsa Ballet. She is a Tulane University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in dance and a Bachelor of Science in psychology. Knipp was awarded the Jill Karp Prize in Dance Performance from Tulane University. She began working with NOBA in 2018.

Millette White Lin acquired a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from the University of New Orleans. She formerly danced with Sandra Organ Dance Company, Michele Brangwen Dance Ensemble, Ballet Hysell and Ballet Apetrei. Lin received training from the Atlanta Ballet Center for Dance Education, Joffrey Ballet School, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, NOCCA and Apetrei Dancenter and has taught at the New Orleans Dance Academy, Body Expressions Center of Performing Arts, the Conservatory of Ballet Aviv, Main Street Dance and Activity Center and Apetrei Dancenter. She began working with NOBA as a teaching artist in 2010 and now serves as education manager. Under Lin’s leadership, NOBA’s Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson’s Program was created in 2017, modeled after the internationally renowned Dance for PD® program.

NOBA instructors are honored following a neighborhood concert series performance

PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER

NOBA instructors and alumni Catherine Woodfox and Brittney Williams-Reese with NOBA parents Jeanna and Darryl Barrett at the NOBA Gala PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

NOBA instructor Aline de Souza-Myers teaches a Brazilian dance class PHOTO BY MILETTE WHITE LIN

NOBA Faculty

Corey Melancon, a native of New Orleans, graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and earned a Master of Arts in liberal arts studies from Rutgers University. She has studied at prestigious dance institutions including the Martha Graham Institute in New York City, Trinity Laban Dance Conservatory in London and PARTS in Brussels, Belgium. Melancon is also a member of Dance Masters of America and a former board member of The Junior Philharmonic Society of New Orleans. She attends the annual Martha Graham Teacher Workshop in New York City and shares her passion for teaching ballet and classic modern Graham technique with several local studios. Melancon joined the NOBA faculty in 2019.

Celeste Mercadel is a senior at Xavier University of Louisiana where she is in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in public health with a double minor concentration in mass communication and sociology. Mercadel works as a National Institute of Health research assistant and holds several leadership positions on campus at Xavier. This year she joins NOBA as an intern, assisting with its brand new “Championing Movement” Dance for Parkinson’s project and other intergenerational programs. As a NORD/ NOBA Center for Dance alumna, Mercadel is elated to be able to give back to her community through dance. In the future, Celeste plans to practice dance/movement therapy and become a champion of minority health through naturopathic medicine.

Jaelyn Robinson began her formal dance training with NORD/NOBA Center for Dance at the age of 11. During this time, she was selected by top artistic directors for performances projects both locally and abroad with acclaimed dance companies such as Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Parsons Dance, Limón Dance Company, Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Robinson acquired her Bachelor of Arts in public policy at Louisiana State University in 2021 and has since devoted her time to community projects and teaching. She began working with NOBA in 2022, and this season will lead after-school youth dance classes and serve as Outreach Coordinator for its brand new “Championing Movement” Dance for Parkinson’s project, developing and implementing a series of community-building and outreach activities for under-resourced and rural areas in Southeast Louisiana.

Tai Ashley Teamer began dancing at the age of two and has studied with the NORD/NOBA Center for Dance, The Willow School, NOCCA and New Orleans Dance Academy. She has trained with artists from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Hispánico, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Teamer received a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Loyola University New Orleans and a Master of Arts in arts administration from the University of New Orleans. She has received local and national training in movement programs for aging populations of all mobility levels and joined the NOBA faculty in 2013.

NOBA Gernon Brown students with Carly Bourgeois backstage at Nutcracker

PHOTO BY COREY MELANCON

“We love NOBA because it is such a comprehensive and strong program, and the instructors are knowledgeable and welcoming. The approach to teaching is inclusive and celebrates diversity, which is important to us!” – Parent

NOBA Faculty

Tia Teamer is a graduate from Loyola University New Orleans, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in mass communication with a focus in broadcast journalism. While at Loyola, Teamer was a member of the Golden Eyes Dance Team and participated in many other student organizations. She received a Master of Higher Education from the University of New Orleans, during which time she served as an assistant coach for the university’s Starlettes dance team. Teamer has studied with Chloe Arnold and teaches tap classes across the New Orleans area. She is the lead tap instructor and assistant director of Spotlight Dance Company and began working with NOBA in 2018.

Brittney

Williams-Reese, a native New Orleanian, began her formal dance training at the NORD/NOBA Center for Dance. She has also studied at New Orleans Dance Academy, NOCCA, Dance Theatre of Harlem and The Ailey School. Williams-Reese has worked with choreographers including Daniel Catanach, Monique Moss, Nanette Ledet, Joya Powell, Rebecca Stenn and Eduardo Vilaro. In 2009, she received her Bachelor of Arts in natural science from Fordham University and is currently pursuing a Master

of arts administration from the University of New Orleans. As an educator, WilliamsReese focuses on the connection between the art of dance and the science of movement. She joined the NOBA faculty in 2012.

Catherine Woodfox, a native of New Orleans, grew up training in the NORD/NOBA Center for Dance and at a very young age was selected for special performance projects both locally and abroad with top dance companies such as Martha Graham Dance Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Parsons Dance. While studying as a dance major at Belhaven University, Woodfox had the opportunity to visit and direct a performance at a local church in South Korea. She joined the NOBA faculty in 2022 and is grateful and thrilled to begin a new journey with her longtime dance family.

Donald Williams (Master Artist in Residence), a Chicago native, became a member of Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1977 and ended a 27-year career with the company as premier danseur in 2004. Known for his versatility, Williams’ repertoire encompasses ballet, jazz, African and contemporary idioms. As a principal guest artist, Williams has performed with London’s Royal Ballet at Covent Garden and International Ballet Festival in Cuba and has starred in many other international galas. He has worked with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Dances Patrelle and Fugate/Bahiri Ballet NY, creating critically acclaimed, original roles with them. Williams made his film debut in The Cotton Club, starred in numerous award-winning films, and has made television appearances and commercials. In 1998, Williams made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award winning musical Ragtime. In 2000, he was guest artist in the New York City Ballet/Dance Theatre of Harlem collaboration for the Diamond Project, dancing the principal roles in Robert Garland and Robert

LaFosse’s Tributary and Balanchine’s Agon He was featured in the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera and most recently with Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular at the Venetian Resort and Casino. Williams’ teaching credits include company teacher for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Celine Dion: A New Day, Nevada Ballet Theater and Contemporary West Dance Theater, among others; school instructor for Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Ailey School, Ballet Academy East (NYC) and The Rock Center for Dance (Las Vegas); and guest teacher for Marymount College, Florida State University and Tulane University, among others. He was also personal trainer for Keanu Reeves for the film Devil’s Advocate. Williams began working as a Master Artist-in-Residence with the Center for Dance Pre-Professional Program in 2013.

Donald Williams with NOBA alum and current Ballet Hispánico dancer Cori Lewis PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

Corey Melancon with a Summer Intensive student PHOTO BY MILETTE WHITE LIN

NOBA instructor Bethani Pete Collins leads a West African dance class PHOTO BY MILETTE WHITE LIN

BRAVO

Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization

Welcome to BRAVO! It is our sincere pleasure to invite you to join an amazing group of volunteers who help to shape our culturally rich, unique and diverse city by supporting the New Orleans Ballet Association’s incredible award-winning, worldrenowned programs and world-class dance presentations. As the major fundraising arm of NOBA, BRAVO (the Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization), provides tremendous, necessary support through fundraising initiatives and volunteer service to ensure NOBA may continue offering splendid dance programming and invaluable—tuitionfree—instruction. Together, BRAVO and NOBA proudly contribute to the cultural enrichment and arts access for our community.

With over 50 years of service to the Greater New Orleans area and beyond, NOBA is dedicated to producing and presenting some of the most preeminent dance in the world on its Main Stage at the Mahalia Jackson Theater and in partnership with NOCCA; employing 30+ local artists; and inspiring dancers of all ages. The 2022-23 season of dance resonates with New Orleans’ spirit of resiliency and imagination, from international ballet treasures Kyiv City Ballet and State Ballet of Georgia, to the magic and humor of MOMIX’s Alice , the ever popular antics of the Trocks and the soulful and thought provoking works of Ronald K. Brown | EVIDENCE. There is truly a performance for everyone!

Furthermore, NOBA’s internationally recognized and nationally award-winning Center for Dance program, which began over 30 years ago through a partnership with NORD (New Orleans Recreation Department), has grown from a small youth dance program at one center to serve individuals ages 4-80+ with its completely tuitionfree, accessible and inclusive dance education and health/wellness movement programs at up to 20 local partner centers. Many of NOBA’s young students would not have the chance to study this art form if not for NOBA.

As a BRAVO member, you will be invited to join us not only for general membership meetings at beautiful homes and restaurants, but for special events, mingling with Main Stage artists, the celebrated annual BRAVO Gala scheduled for May 18, 2023, and the glamorous Men and Women of Fashion’s Prix d’Elegance Luncheon and Fashion Show on March 15, 2023, from which BRAVO is honored to again receive the event proceeds. You will also have the opportunity to partake in fundraising campaigns for NOBA’s programs, such as BRAVO’S Nutcracker Legacy Fund, which maintains and supports new costumes and props for NOBA’s annual The Nutcracker Suite , featuring 200+ Center for Dance youth and Senior Dance Fitness participants. We already have new ideas planned to increase participation and build exciting initiatives!

In my first year as BRAVO President, my goal is to engage our strong and passionate existing base with creative and exciting activities while encouraging a well-rounded, diverse group with new members of all ages and varied talents and skillsets. With so much to look forward to this season, and your direct role through NOBA on the community’s artistic tradition, I hope you will consider joining our outstanding group.

I am honored to serve alongside the many incredible volunteers of BRAVO. Please email bravo@nobadance.com or call the office at (504) 522-0996 x208 for more information. I hope to see you at our meetings!

BRAVO

extends its deep appreciation to the 2022-2023 Sustaining Members.

Deborah Alciatore-Empey

Natasha Alveshire

Barbara Ballard

Lou Bartolo

Lisa Baudot

Penny Baumer

Dottie Belletto

Donna Kay Berger

C.J. Blanda

Charlotte Bollinger

Tiffa & Kerry Boutté

Stephanie & Ryan Burks

Renee Carrere

Jacquee Carvin

Sandra Stage Chaisson

Tia Crowley

Gregory Curtis

Henson Davis

Gayle Dellinger

Lynette & Terry DuFrene

Dr. Charles & Mrs. Diane Dupin

DeAnna duPont

Marlene Duronslet

Kathleen Edmundson

Marian & Larry Gibbs

Joanna Giorlando

Vanessa Guidry-Whipple

Laurie Guimont Guillaume

Teresa Guzzetta

Gwendolyn Hager

Jenny Hamilton

Donna Hamsher

Sandra & Russ Herman

Janie Kahn

Morris Kahn

Lana Konrad

Cynthia & Robert LeBreton Rusty Levy

Jamie Manders, DDS & James M. Riopelle, MD

Dr. Robert & Mrs. Beverly Matheney

Gail Barnes McKenna

Jane C. Miller

Kathleen Mix

Max Moreno

Suzanne Parker

Dr. Byron & Mrs. Suzanne Scott

Julie & Larry Stokes

Janée M. Tucker

Toni Van Zandt

Sunae Villavaso

Cathie Weinstein

Dr. Lawrence & Mrs. Joan Zaslow

*Members as of September 28, 2022

Laurie Guimont Guillaume, BRAVO President

BRAVO Officers: (back to front, l to r): Sara Lewis, Sylvia Vellino, Nicole Ferrier; Beverly Matheney, Stephanie Burks, Erica Washington, Suzanne L. Parker, Sandra Herman; Sandra Stage Chaisson, Laurie Guimont Guillaume, Gail Barnes McKenna, and Gerri Valene. Not pictured: Nadia Alhashimi, Taryn Christine Brown, Renee Carrere, Jacquee Carvin, Teresa Guzzetta.

PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

BRAVO’s Annual Gala

For over 30 years, BRAVO, the Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization, and its dedicated members have organized some of the community’s most anticipated annual galas and fundraising events to raise much-needed operating support for NOBA’s programming. NOBA extends its sincere gratitude to all BRAVO members, and especially the incredible chairmen, who have offered countless hours, hard work, creativity, and boundless support to continually create such memorable events.

Kicking off last season’s Gala events, on May 3, 2022, Benefactor Dinner Chairs Charlotte Bollinger and Gregory Curtis welcomed patrons to the exclusive dinner sponsored by the Windsor Court Hotel. BRAVO was honored to have Governor John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Hutto Edwards and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Cher Taffaro Nungesser serve as Honorary Chairs, and it extends its gratitude to Mayor LaToya Cantrell and City Council members Eugene Greenand Lesli Harris for their attendance. The spectacular evening, which honored NOBA Immediate Past Board Chair John Duck for his incredible contributions and dedication to NOBA, began with a cocktail reception in Le Salon with live entertainment by T-Ray The Violinist. Shifting to the Chinoiserie Ballroom, the evening continued with a gourmet pairing of Chateau d’Esclans wines and a three course Spanish inspired menu befitting of the theme, “The Wedding Banquet

of Dulcinea,” in tribute to American Ballet Theatre’s upcoming Don Quixote performances—marking the first time in nearly 50 years that the company would perform in New Orleans. The evening closed with raucous applause as guests witnessed record-breaking live auction bidding with packages by the incredibly generous Windsor Court Hotel and Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, the latter of which also provided patrons with beautiful gifts to take home.

The celebrations continued on May 13, 2022, as BRAVO, NOBA, and Co-Chairs Sandra Herman and Laurie G. Guillaume, welcomed guests to the annual Gala event. The Achieve the Impossible evening—a tribute to the extraordinary 30 years of community service by the Center for Dance—evoked the imagination and optimistic spirit of Don Quixote with stunning spring floral centerpieces in purple, green, orange, and blue hues by Dunn and Sonnier Antiques and Florals, complemented by hand-crafted paper flowers by BRAVO member Tiffa Boutté. The night began with a cocktail hour that joined a generous array of libations with a red carpet entrance and fun photo booth pictures. Students of NOBA’s Center for Dance then led guests into the ballroom and through the magnificent paper flower arch entrance for the seated dinner, during which the students also performed an exciting program for patrons. Guests enjoyed an exquisite menu by the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, dancing to music by Julio y César, a silent auction, and more.

1: Mehdi Natanzi, Laurie Guimont Guillaume, Sandra and Russ Herman

2: Charlotte Bollinger, Windsor Court Executive Chef Vlad Kogan, Gregory Curtis

3: Bernard Bagert, Jr., Renea and John Duck

4: Sandra Chaisson, Tiffa Boutté, Stephen Sonnier, Deborah Alciatore-Empey

5: (standing, l to r) Edgar Alexis, Sandra G. Thomas, Councilmember Eugene Green, Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Stacey Martin, Virgil Duplessis, Steve Martin (seated, l to r) Lisa Alexis, Dottie Belletto, Hon. Jacquelyn B. Clarkson, Ann Duplessis

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

Prix d’Elegance Awards Luncheon

On March 15, 2023, one of the year’s most prestigious giving events takes its choice cause to the catwalk for the 50th anniversary celebration of the annual Men and Women of Fashion Prix d’Elegance Luncheon and Fashion Show in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel. Each year, the Men and Women of Fashion organizations honor 20 individuals in our community who exemplify unique personal style as well as excellence and generosity through business, civic and charitable endeavors. Additionally, two honorees — one man and one woman from the memberships of both organizations — are inducted into the Hall of Fame for their sustained contributions to Men and Women of Fashion and upholding the groups’ mission.

This year’s event will be chaired by Kathy Pastorek, who remarks, “I am honored to be chairing the 50th Anniversary Prix d’Elegance. It is always a special event where the Best Dressed men and women of New Orleans are honored for their style and service, and attendees are able to make a difference in the lives of children, funding dance opportunities which might never have been an option. Our stellar honorees will impress as much as will the fabulous and fun fashions! This celebration is one not to miss!”

Each year, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., nearly 700 top business and community leaders mix-and-mingle at a champagne reception and also enjoy an upscale silent auction, a raffle, a savory three-course lunch and a performance by students of the Center for Dance. Women of Fashion Board Chair Sandra Chaisson shares, “The Prix d’Elegance Luncheon award recipients are not only stylish but also provide charitable service and community involvement in the Greater New Orleans area. Our event showcases our Men and Women of Fashion recipients and a fantastic fashion show generously produced by Rebecca Nordgren of Chatta Box and Jeff Chouest of Jeff’s Haberdashery.” Men of Fashion President Ray Seamon adds, “It’s been an honor to have served on the Men of Fashion board for the past several years and as president. NOBA and BRAVO continue to exceed our expectations as we push harder each year to raise the financial bar. I look forward to encouraging our board to continue support and for future creations of new, innovative concepts to elevate support. Even as we mark our 50 years in the community, I know the best is still yet to come.”

For Women of Fashion President Tiffa Boutté, the event has always proven giving back is fashionable. “I always look forward to the gorgeously bright colors and fashions. We are overjoyed to honor and highlight our incredible honorees and local luminaries whose trend-setting fashions and philanthropic endeavors have remained constant through five decades.” Of the event’s goals, she adds, “On behalf of our dedicated and gracious volunteers of the Men and Women of Fashion, I am proud that through this event we can help NOBA provide so many incredible opportunities and spread joy to the children of our community through their premier, tuitionfree dance education programs.”

With signature New Orleans style and generosity, this year’s Prix d’Elegance Awards Luncheon will again showcase the Men and Women of Fashion’s fashion-forward brand of giving back. For more information about attending or donating to this event, please contact the NOBA office at 504-522-0996 x208 or fmartin@nobadance.com

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

Men of Fashion Board Members and Officers: (first row, l to r) Steven Trotter, Joey S. DiFatta, Leon L. Giorgio, R.K. Hoddinott, III, Bobby Asaro (second row, l to r) Kenneth Rubenstein, Michael Hecht, Murray Valene (third row, l to r) Carl Panebiango, Leo Palazzo, Jeff Chouest, Jr., Roger Javier, Todd Murphy, Kenneth Pickering

Women of Fashion Officers and Board (back to front, l to r): Donnell Zeringue, Debbie Buchler, Gail Barnes McKenna, Penny Baumer, Teresa Guzzetta, Toni Becnel, Sandra Herman; Kathleen Mix, Laurie Guimont Guillaume, Rhonda Eckholdt, Kathy Pastorek, Sandra Stage Chaisson, Tiffa Boutté.

Mark Romig, Suzanne L. Parker, Rebecca Nordgren, Jeff Chouest, Jr. Carl Panebiango, Sandra Chaisson

Chad Berg, Teresa Guzzetta, Debbie Alciatore-Empey, Wendy Rodrigue Magnus

Lee Giorgio, Kern and Dottie Reese

Joey DiFatta, Dianne Breaux, Gerri Valene, Jason Giles

Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Gregory Curtis with Center for Dance students

Stephen Sonnier, Kathy Singleton, Jamie Moreau, Leo Palazzo

Ronald and Natasha Lamarque

Institutional Investors

The New Orleans Ballet Association gratefully acknowledges the following contributions received between July 1, 2021, and September 28, 2022. Due to the limitations of space, we unfortunately are not able to acknowledge all supporters. Please know that each and every gift is equally appreciated. We make every effort to ensure an accurate listing. Should you find an error, please contact the Development Office at 504-522-0996 or fmartin@nobadance.com. Thank you!

*Contributions include the value of both cash and in-kind gifts.

PREMIERE CIRCLE ($100,000+)

Ballet Resource And Volunteer Organization (BRAVO)

Foxmor, LLC

Friends of NORD, Inc.

Hyatt Regency New Orleans Lois & Lloyd Hawkins, Jr. Foundation

Louisiana Economic Development Men of Fashion New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund United States Department of Veterans Affairs United States Small Business Administration Women of Fashion

PRINCIPALS ($50,000-$99,999)

The Helis Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Patrick F. Taylor Foundation

UNDERWRITERS ($25,000-$49,999)

Adams & Reese, LLP Arts Council of New Orleans Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA Louisiana Division of the Arts Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust The Pamela and Warner Williams Charitable Fund Windsor Court Hotel

BENEFACTORS ($10,000-$24,999)

Capital One Charlotte Bollinger through the Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana Chalmette Refining David B. Workman Fund

Elms Mansion and Jessica Serrano Goldring Family Foundation | Woldenberg Foundation

Greater New Orleans Foundation/ GiveNOLA Day

Henri & Terence Hall Charitable Fund

Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry MaggieGeorge Foundation Newcomb Dance Program, Tulane University Department of Theatre and Dance

NOCCI

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc.

New Orleans Theatre Association Ogletree Deakins

Pan-American Life Insurance Group Parkinson’s Foundation Renaissance Publishing, LLC RYCARS, Inc.

South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts USA International Ballet Competition— Jackson, MS

LEADERS ($5,000-$9,999)

Chatta Box Boutique—Rebecca Nordgren Clayton-Royer Family Fund

Dunn & Sonnier Antiques and Flowers

The Ella West Freeman Foundation

Exxon-Mobil Fund of the Greater New Orleans Foundation

The Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation

Jeff’s Haberdashery—Jeff Chouest, Jr. Liberty Bank

RosaMary Foundation United Way of Southeast Louisiana

PARTNERS ($2,500-$4,999)

Chateau d’Esclans

The Gaudet Fund of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana Jefferson Parish Department of Parks and Recreation Microsoft Philanthropies

New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Mellon Foundation

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts

Strout Photography

ASSOCIATES ($1,000-$2,499)

Belle Chasse Marine Transportation— Lana W. Konrad

Bernard Bagert, Jr.—The Bagert Law Firm

Blake Jones Law Firm

Blessings and Hope Fund managed by The Pinebelt Foundation

Briquette & New Orleans Creole Cookery Corporate Lighting & Audio

Ellen Macomber Fine Art & Textiles

Faustermann Designs

FELLOW - Menswear

Gregor Fox, Camille Patti, Dottie Belletto

Jennifer F. Green, Councilmembers Eugene Green and Lesli Harris, Shawn Lindsey

PHOTO S BY JEFF STROUT

Fidelity Bank Gallery Rinard

Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

Harrah’s Community Support Grant— Councilmember Jay H. Banks and Harrah’s New Orleans Casino

J. Edgar Monroe Foundation

Keesler Federal Credit Union New Orleans Pelicans

Omega Production Resource, LLC Stella Jones Gallery

United Way Tocqueville Society

Van der Linden Family Foundation

SUSTAINERS ($500-$999)

Alex Berger Foundation—Donna Kay Berger

Burkedale Foundation

Guastella Institute of Permanent & Corrective Cosmetics

Joyce LaPorte Fine Art

Louisiana Seafood

Robert G. & Sharon N. Weilbaecher Family Foundation

CONTRIBUTORS ($100-$499)

About Face of New Orleans

Antoine’s Restaurant

Audubon Dermatology Ballin’s, LTD Basic’s Underneath Fine Lingerie | Swim & Gym Café Degas

Champion Graphics, Inc. Charvet’s Garden Center

Dominique Giordano Jewelry Design English Turn Golf and Country Club Hilton Riverside New Orleans John’s Tuxedos

Kendra Scott

Le Visage

Longue Vue House and Gardens

Lush Magnolia, Modern Flower Preservation Metairie Small Animal Clinic

New Orleans Museum of Art New Orleans Silversmiths Ogden Museum of Southern Art Palm Village Mandeville, A Lilly Pulitzer Store Peaces by Theon Wilson

Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group Ramsey’s Diamond Jewelers

River Parish Maintenance, Inc. Rock ‘n’ Bowl/Ye Olde College Inn Royal Sonesta New Orleans

Saying Kids—Jennifer Amedee

Lee Giorgio, Melanie Cannatella, Vanessa and Chad Berg

Gregory Curtis, Bethany and Steve Friedman

PHOTO S BY JEFF STROUT

Individual Donors

NOBA extends its gratitude to its generous donors. The following contributions were received between July 1, 2021, and September 28, 2022. Due to the limitations of space, we unfortunately are not able to acknowledge all supporters. Please know that each and every gift is equally appreciated. We make every effort to ensure an accurate listing. Should you find an error, please contact the Development Office at 504-522-0996 or fmartin@nobadance.com.

Thank you!

*Contributions include the value of both cash and in-kind gifts.

ETOILES ($10,000+)

Dottie Belletto

Chad and Vanessa Berg Charlotte Bollinger Ryan and Stephanie Burks

Gregory Curtis

Mr. and Mrs. John M. Duck

John (Gregor) M. Fox and Camille Patti Mr. and Mrs. Terence E. Hall Jenny R. Hamilton and Ewell Smith

Russ and Sandra Herman Leo and Dana Palazzo Phyllis M. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Casey Willems Mr. and Mrs. Warner Williams Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Zaslow

PLATINUM CIRCLE ($5,000-$9,999)

Tiffa and Kerry Boutté

Jacquee J. Carvin

Mr. and Mrs. Joel T. Chaisson, II Kerry Clayton and Paige Royer

Jay H. “Timber” and Peggy Floyd Larry and Marian Gibbs Leon (Lee) L. Giorgio Hon. Henry Lambert and Mr. Carey Bond

Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Mickan Murray and Gerri Valene

CHOREOGRAPHERS

($2,500-$4,999)

Deborah Alciatore-Empey Penny L. Baumer

Henry Bernstein

Barry and Dianne Breaux

Terry and Lynette DuFrene Steven and Bethany Friedman Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Gilbert

Cathy Green

Teresa Guzzetta Cynthia and Robert LeBreton Max Moreno

Suzanne L. Parker

Michael Phillips

PATRONS ($1,000-$2,499)

Natasha Alveshire

Laura F. Ashley

Thaddeo Babiiha Mrs. Walda Besthoff Dr. David Boudreaux and Mr. Richard Nesbitt

Taryn Christine Brown

Gayle B. Dellinger

Richard DiCarlo

Rosalyn Ditta and Rusty Gaudé

DeAnna duPont

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Falk Betsie Gambel

Joanna Giorlando Monique Gougisha and Jason Doucette James Guilbeau

Laurie Guimont Guillaume

Kathleen Hebert

Bernard M. Jaffe, MD Roger Javier J. Bart Kelly, III Ms. Susan L. Krinsky

Mary Lakey

Simon Levitsky

Jamie Manders, DDS and James M. Riopelle, MD Steve and Ellen Manshel Dr. Robert and Mrs. Beverly Matheney Dr. Warren and Mrs. Gail McKenna Dr. Jane C. Miller and Mr. Bruce Miller

Jeffrey Pounds

Hon. and Mrs. Kern A. Reese Sally Richards Matt and Cam Rinard Mark E. Schneider and Michelle Charvet Gregory and Betty Speyrer Carol Stone

Iam Tucker

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

Gregory Curtis, Sunae Villavaso, Davon Barbour

Conny and Casey Willems, Debbie Alciatore-Empey

Russell Baker, Tyra Barabino-Baker, Anissa Barabino, Larry Barabino

Pam Williams, Monique Doucette, Margarita Bergen

Gail and Warren McKenna, Charlotte Bollinger, Janee M. Tucker

Ana Gershanik, Max Moreno, Betty Speyrer

Sylvia Vellino, Taryn Brown, Nadia Alhashimi, Sara Lewis

Anna and A.J. Tusa

Hon. Janis van Meerveld

Dr. George Van Wormer

Raymond and Lisa Washington

Anna Ruth Williams

BENEFACTORS

($500-$999)

Thomas Alfonso

Judge Dale Atkins

Judge Roland Belsome

C.J. Blanda

Dr. Carmen LaBrie Brown and Mr. Maurice Brown

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Canizaro

Jeff Chouest, Jr.

Gail Marie Dennis

Mr. and Mrs. Robert DiCianni

Brandon Dutreix

Dr. Gregory and Mrs. Rhonda Eckholdt

Justin Ehrenwerth

Dr. Jerry and Mrs. Carolyn Fortino

Mr. Billy Gaudet

Gwendolyn C. Hager

Donna Hamsher

Jessica Marasco Illes

Dr. Don Kern

Megan Kiefer

Derrick LeBeouf

Pamela Halter Lupin

Tina Messina

Rebecca Nordrgren

Marcella Pallais

Raven Palmer

Jennifer Rareshide

Dr. Wanda Robinson

Cynthia Quintanilla

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schenk

Dr. Byron and Suzanne Scott

Janée M. Tucker

Kristen van Meerveld

Maurer Van Voorthuysen

Toni Van Zandt

Sylvia Vellino

Erica Washington

SUSTAINERS ($250-$499)

Stephanie Abadie

Jennifer Amedee

Cynthia Aucoin

Chip and Dr. Laura Badeaux

Jennifer Banquer

Lou James Bartolo

C. Devon and Toni Becnel

Terese Bennett

JoAnn Bohm

Anne Borgen

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Breck

Elizabeth Broekman

Susan Broussard

Simone Bruni Michelle Butler

Kerri Callais

Dr. Keith Capone

Frederick W. and Kathy M. Christian

Dr. Jane Clayton

Dr. Candace Cutrone

Dr. Marcia Davila

Joey DiFatta

Yolanda Doucette

Heidi Dugan

Ann Duplessis

Ronald Durnford

Dr. Blackwell Evans, Jr.

Nicole Ferrier

Wanda W. Fulton

Mary Frances Gardner, MD Cathy Glaser

Valerie M. Grubb

Hon. Vanessa Guidry-Whipple

Carol V. Hall

Mr. and Mrs. Rob Hinyub Diane Hollis

Lisa Keleher

Sonia Kenwood

Kathleen Kilgore

Marie La France

Carolyn Landwerlin

Wayne and Joyce W. Laporte

Sara Lewis

Theron Lewis

Kathleen N. Mix

Edna Moore

Margaret Montgomery-Richard

Jamie Moreau

Patrick Murphree

Connie Nagim

Debra and Wayne Neveu

Nell Nolan and Robert Young

Dr. and Mrs. Marvin Opotowsky

Sophia Pappas

Susan Perlis

Nina Rabito Pugh

Da’Vine Randolph

Joycelyn Reynolds

Patty Riddlebarger

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Rubenstein

George Rudoff

Ann Salzer

Marie-Agnes and Manon Scialfa

Laura Scott-Williams

Kathy Singleton

Julie Stokes

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tassin

Linda Thurman

LaVerne Saulny Toombs

Heather Tucker

Jessica Watts

Alan Weinstein and Cathie Choppin Weinstein Lauren Welch

Mr. and Mrs. D. Brent Wood

Dr. and Mrs. Mark Workman

CONTRIBUTORS

($100-$249)

Jennie Allee-Walsh

Roderick Alvendia

Judy Arceneaux

Charlene Avocato

Davon Barbour

Kiki Barnes

Dr. Toya Barnes-Teamer Dawn Barrios

Lisa Baudot

John Norris, Kerry Clayton, Paige Royer, Ashlye Keaton, Joel Scilley

Hector and Mayra Pineda, Helen Flammer, Raul Fonte

Anabelle Lopez Ochoa, Ballet Hispánico Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro, Penny Baumer, Kathleen Mix

Terry Dufrene, Warner Williams

Catherine Woodfox, Klervaé Stinson

Cynthia LeBreton, Lele Wood, Jamie Moreau

Carl Panebiango, Nicole Ferrier, Murray Valene

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

Susan Benedetto

Peggy Boardman

Robin Brandenburg

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Breaux

Patricia Burke

Steve and Claudia Campbell

Melanie Cannatella

Renee Carrere

Teresa Ann Case

William Clark

Hon. Jacquelyn B. Clarkson and Mr. Arthur Clarkson, Jr.

Donna Cohen

Terri Santa Coloma

Dr. and Mrs. Hugh Collins

Delores Crosbie

Marie Dahleh

Paula Davis

Patricia Dorn Ellen Dornier

Cathy Dunn-Maffei

Marlene Duronslet

Giselle Eastlack

Janis Eckert

Virginia Eckholdt

Marguerite Erwin

Barbara Ewell

Lauren Faustermann

Kathleen Favrot

Jane Gerson

Lois B. Gioe

KaTrina Griffin

Jessica Hack

Katherine Hakenjos

William Harris

Valarie Hart

Jennifer Hayes

Sondra Jenkins

Tina Jones

Dr. Andrew King Alice E. Kraemer

Diane LaPlace

Lee Leming

Juan and Martine Linares

Kim Long

Pat Macaluso

Joel Mague

Dr. Joyce Mathison

Sue McNabb

Ronald and Cindi Mistrot

Tonia Moore

Donna Reed Mountain

Todd Murphy

Dr. Lynne Neitzschman

Robin O’Bannon

Mr. and Mrs. Chris O’Sullivan Nicole Packer

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pastorek

Jovanna Paulson

Christine Perrin Holly Popham

Lizzie Uddo Randol

Justin A. Reese

Debra Moran Reimonenq

Elizabeth Ryan Lori Samaha

Susan Sanborn

Linda Schaumburg

Helen Schneidau

Carol Short Mary Sigrist

David R. Silvers, MD

Joan Soboloff

Kayne Stewart

Judith Taylor

Ghyslaine Thelin

Maryflynn Thomas

Mr. and Mrs. Randy Tingstrom

Pierre Walker

Fay Wartelle

Jeaneen White Erik Williams

Joann B. Wisdom

Donnell Zeringue

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

Dana Palazzo, Christine Perrin, Marian Gibbs

Chateau d’Esclans angel serving Melanie Cannatella at the Benefactor Dinner

Gloria Wagner Gifford representing Chateau d’Esclans wines

Valerie Grubb, Liz Broekman

Sandra Herman, ABT Principal Dancer Herman Cornejo, Laurie Guimont Guillaume

Sandra Chaisson, Stephen Sonnier, Martine Linares

COMMEMORATIVE GIVING

In Honor of Dottie Belletto

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schenk

In Honor of Mary Burger Gayle Dellinger

In Honor of John Duck Mr. Bernard Bagert, Jr.

In Honor of Rosalyn Ditta Gaudé Jay H. “Timber” and Peggy Floyd

In Memory of Dr. Don Guzzetta

Ms. Dawn Barrios

Ms. Charlotte Bollinger through the Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Breck Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Canizaro

Ms. Donna Carbajal

The Carvin and Leone Families Mr. Frederick W. Christian and Mrs. Kathy M. Christian Mr. and Mrs. John Duck

Ms. Jenny R. Hamilton and Mr. Ewell Smith Cynthia and Robert LeBreton Mr. and Mrs. David Miller Ms. Suzanne L. Parker Ms. Toni Van Zandt

In Memory of Dr. Tammy M. Gilbert Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gilbert

In Honor of The McHugh Family Gayle Dellinger

In Honor of Terry Ratin Gayle Dellinger

In Honor of Karlee Stewart Katrina Griffin

In Honor of Conny Willems Ms. Barbara Ewell

In Honor of Pamela Williams Ms. Charlene Avocato

NUTCRACKER BENEFACTOR $1,000+

Jacquee Carvin

Sandra and Russ Herman Gerri and Murray Valene

LAND OF SWEETS LEGACY $500-$999

Stephanie and Ryan Burks

Donna Hamsher

SUGARPLUM $250-$499

Penny Baumer

C.J. Blanda

Taryn Christine Brown

Sandra Stage Chaisson Joey DiFatta, Jr. Teresa Guzzetta

Joanna Giorlando Janée M. Tucker

Julie Stokes

SNOWFLAKE DONORS $100-$249

Deborah Alciatore-Empey

Lou James Bartolo

Susan Benedetto

Donna Kay Berger Tiffa Boutté

Joyce Burton Renee Carrere

Kathy M. Christian Gayle Dellinger in honor of Mr. and Mrs. John Smitherman

Lynette and Terry DuFrene Marian Gibbs

Gwendolyn Hager

Deborah Harkins

Dr. Warren and Mrs. Gail McKenna in honor of Nicole Williams Cynthia and Robert LeBreton

Sara Lewis

Martine Chaisson Linares

Suzanne Parker

Byron and Suzanne Scott Janée M. Tucker

Erica Washington Pamela Williams

Joann B. Wisdom Joan Zaslow

CANDY CANE DONORS $50-$74

Cathy Green

Carol Hall

Diane Hollis

HOLIDAY BOW DONORS $25-$49

Margarita Bergen

Melissa Mason Gordon

Martine Chaisson Linares Jamie Moreau

Raven Palmer

Anna and A.J. Tusa

Sylvia Vellino Donnell Zeringue

HOLIDAY BOW DONORS $10-$24

Natasha Alveshire

Dottie Belletto

Yolanda Doucette

Jerry Embree

Lois Gioe

Valerie Grubb

Triness Kuhn

Beverly Matheney

Holly Popham

Kathy Singleton

Sonda Stacey

Jim Walpole

*Nutcracker Legacy Fund donations received between July 1, 2021, and October 3, 2022

BRAVO Members Virginia Eckholdt, Gwen Hager, Debbie Alciatore-Empey, Jane Miller, Jim Walpole; Joann Wisdom

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

Gayle Dellinger, Laura Badeaux

Invest in the Future

Your investment in NOBA’s programs directly touches the lives of all those whom we serve. With your support, we will continue (1) to fulfill our vital role in the international dance community by presenting, producing and commissioning dance and providing resources to artists and (2) to sustain our nationally recognized education, health and wellness programs of over 5,500 annual tuition-free activities by a phenomenal faculty of local and guest artists.

GIFTS OF ANY AMOUNT TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

$20 will supply a pair of ballet or tap shoes to a child $50 will provide a student’s full uniform of leotard, tights and shoes $200 underwrites the cost of a new costume for The Nutcracker Suite

SUSTAINING GIFTS

Become a NOBA Monthly Sustainer and join the growing number of supporters who have generously decided to make easy, convenient and automatic monthly gifts of any amount that provide a sound foundation for each season and for NOBA’s future.

PRESENTERS CIRCLE CLUB GIFTS

Join the Presenters Circle Club and help us keep world-class dance on New Orleans’ stages. Presenters Circle Club includes those donors who contribute a minimum of $1,000 toward the annual campaign, separate from other designated funds or campaigns. Members receive VIP parking and invitations to exclusive events as well as the VIP Wine Intermission Receptions at Main Stage performances at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.

MEMORIAL/IN HONOR OF GIFTS

Whether a gift in memory of a friend or a loved one or a commemoration of a birthday, anniversary, graduation or an important milestone, these gifts are a wonderful way to pay tribute to those whom we hold dear. NOBA will send a beautiful card to the honored person or family notifying them of your thoughtfulness.

BRAVO

The Ballet Resource And Volunteer Organization is a powerful force of nearly 200 who “FUN-raise” for NOBA. Find out how you can become involved on page 40.

GIFTS IN-KIND

Help us reduce our costs through the donation of non-cash gifts delivered in the forms of goods, services or expertise. Some examples include office supplies; bottled water and healthy snacks for students; art, jewelry and accessories, or restaurant gift certificates for silent auctions or raffles at BRAVO’s fundraising events and pro bono services such as catering, photography or graphic design.

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP

Demonstrate your company’s commitment to the community and boost your marketing efforts with a winning sponsorship. NOBA offers a variety of special benefits for our corporate partners, and opportunities are available at many levels.

MATCHING GIFTS

The impact of your gift to NOBA may be doubled or possibly tripled! Many companies sponsor matching gift programs that will match any charitable contributions made by their employees, retirees and/or spouses.

PLANNED GIFTS

A planned gift represents the ultimate gift from one’s estate, including simple bequests in one’s will, charitable remainder trusts, unitrusts, charitable lead trusts and gifts of insurance. These gift vehicles offer attractive benefits that might include an income for life for the donor

or a designated beneficiary, a significant charitable tax-deduction or the ability to reduce the taxable portion of one’s estate while having the satisfaction of making a charitable gift. NOBA recommends you speak with your financial advisor to develop the best method that will complement your estate’s needs.

NAMING OPPORTUNITIES AND ENDOWMENT

Your gift can keep giving through major gifts in your name to a capital campaign for bricks and mortar, commissions of new artistic works, dedicated scholarships for youth programs, and investments in NOBA’s endowment held at the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

GIFTS OF STOCK

NOBA gratefully accepts gifts of stock valued at any amount. Often times, a gift of appreciated stock may significantly reduce your capital gains tax while creating a larger charitable deduction.

AMAZONSMILE GIFTS

When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to your designated favorite charitable organization—no fees and no extra cost to you. You can visit AmazonSmile and select NOBA online, or you can find ‘AmazonSmile’ in the Settings on your Amazon Shopping app and follow the instructions there to designate NOBA to receive proceeds from your Amazon purchases. Through the AmazonSmile Charity List, you can shop items and send direct to NOBA’s identified needs.

Please help us continue our work and efforts to make sure that dance remains a vital part of the cultural fabric of this great city. For more information or to make your donation, contact us today at 504-522-0996 or fmartin@nobadance.com.

NOBA Center for Dance family attends a performance through The Helis Foundation OVATION Program.

“There’s no place like NOBA! We believe we have the best nationally award winning organization right here in the City of New Orleans. We are dedicated to donating and supporting NOBA’s tuition-free programs ranging from children to senior classes. We love that NOBA always delivers the best world class dance companies from around the world. We are committed to continue to make an impact on the present, while shaping our future by investing in NOBA.” —RYCARS Construction, LLC