PROUDLY PRESENTS
BODYTRAFFIC CHRISTENSEN PERFORMANCE HALL on The Madeline Janis Courter Stage
JANUARY 30, 2024 7:30PM Graciously Sponsored By
JAMES AND SUSEN BERG & DOROTHY AND SETH HEMMING
BODYTRAFFIC
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Tina Finkelman Berkett ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Guzmán Rosado COMPANY MEMBERS: Katie Garcia, Pedro Garcia, Alana Jones, Tiare Keeno, Ty Morrison, Joan Rodriguez, Jordyn Santiago REHEARSAL DIRECTOR: Tiare Keeno INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Jennifer Sade PRODUCTION and TOUR MANAGER: Dora Quintanilla EDUCATION and OUTREACH MANAGER: Julie Opiel DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR: Chelsea Alexander COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Emma-Rose Allen TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Michael Jarett ARTIST REPRESENTATION: Margaret Selby, Selby/Artists Mgmt 212.382.3260 • mselby@selbyartistsmgmt.com www.BODYTRAFFIC.com
A Million Voices
CHOREOGRAPHY: Matthew Neenan MUSIC: Performed by Peggy Lee; composed by Robert Sour & Una Mae Carlisle, Johnny Mercer & Harold Arlen, C. Farrow, Irving Berlin, Mike Stoller & Jerry Leiber, Adrian Zing & Benny Goodman, Arthur Hamilton LIGHTING DESIGN: Burke Wilmore COSTUMES: BODYTRAFFIC PERFORMERS: Katie Garcia, Pedro Garcia, Alana Jones, Tiare Keeno, Ty Morrison, Joan Rodriguez, Guzmán Rosado, Jordyn Santiago PREMIERE: The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beverly Hills, CA, 2018 A Million Voices is inspired by the inimitable Peggy Lee, who was a pioneer in the art of "persona." Her legendary music, which was created in response to the political climate of her time, spurs us to embrace the passion of living even in the darkest of times. This work was made possible in part by the Made in Wickenburg Residency Program at Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts with funding from the RH Johnson Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Wellik Foundation, WESTAF, and Benner-Nawman.
SNAP
CHOREOGRAPHY: Micaela Taylor MUSIC: James Brown ORIGINAL MUSIC and SOUND EDITING: SHOCKEY LIGHTING DESIGN: Burke Wilmore COSTUME DESIGN: Kristina Marie Garnett - KAART KAART GALLERY PERFORMERS: Katie Garcia, Pedro Garcia, Alana Jones, Tiare Keeno, Ty Morrsion, Joan Rodriguez, Jordyn Santiago PREMIERE: The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beverly Hills, CA, 2019 Inspired by the ethnically diverse yet isolating crowds of Los Angeles, SNAP recognizes the loneliness that pervades the search for acceptance but does not submit to it. Its eccentric intensity/vitality enlivens a sense of individuality, urging audiences to “snap out of” social pressures to conform and to celebrate what it means to find a home within yourself. This work was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. General Operating Support was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation SNAP was made possible with lead support by: Renae Williams Niles & Greg Niles, Allen, and Anita Kohl Charitable Foundation, The Norris and Debra Bishton Foundation, Pat & Carol Kinsella, and Catharine & Jeffrey Soros. SNAP’s costumes were generously underwritten by Harold I. Huttas & Scott A. McPhail in honor of Renae Williams Niles’ birthday.
Bloquea’o
CHOREOGRAPHY: Joan Rodriguez ORIGINAL MUSIC: Pedro Osuna FEATURING: SUUVI (cello) and Luis Conte (percussion) ENGINEERING: Noah Hubbell VIDEOGRAPHER: Erick Wayne LIGHTING DESIGN: Michael Jarett COSTUME DESIGN: Márion Talán de la Rosa PERFORMERS: Katie Garcia, Pedro Garcia, Alana Jones, Tiare Keeno, Ty Morrison, Joan Rodriguez, Guzmán Rosado, Jordyn Santiago PREMIERE: The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beverly Hills, CA, 2023 Using the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis as its backdrop, Bloquea’o calls on and admires the persistence of the human spirit to create a home when it is taken away. Rodriguez’s synthesis of Folklorico and contemporary influences epitomizes what it means to carry home with you wherever you go. Osuna’s original music is a dichotomic composition of both disruption and harmony, blending traditional Cuban rhythms, Yoruba chants, historical phone calls and broadcasts, and sounds of La Habana streets. Throughout the piece, sweeping connections encourage us to lead with love in our continuous quest for humanity. The musical composition was made possible in part by a co-commission from Festival Napa Valley. Thank you to Sheila del Bosque and Luis Conte for their invaluable musical guidance.
ABOUT BODYTRAFFIC BODYTRAFFIC uses the creative spirit of its Los Angeles home as a backdrop for delivering performances that inspire audiences around the globe to simply love dance. Since its founding in 2007 by Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett, the company has held fast to its mission of championing contemporary dance, educating audiences, and inciting positive change. Its goal is simple: get the world moving. A forward-thinking company, BODYTRAFFIC is not one driven by a single choreographic voice. It aims to endorse established and new voices and be a home for an eclectic range of styles and perspectives that tell vital stories. By commissioning renowned choreographers, including Kyle Abraham, Ohad Naharin, Hofesh Shechter, Victor Quijada, Arthur Pita, Fernando Magadan, and Micaela Taylor, it cultivates opportunities for artists to fully embody their creative practice and conceive new, contemporary pieces. BODYTRAFFIC has performed for sold-out audiences at prestigious theaters and festivals around the world in more than 30 American states and 20 countries. In 2015, the Obama administration selected BODYTRAFFIC as its cultural ambassadors to Israel and Jordan through DanceMotion USA, a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the US State Department. This opportunity expanded and deepened the company’s commitment to cross-cultural exchange while simultaneously honing BODYTRAFFIC artists’ abilities to create safe spaces for creativity and cultural exchange worldwide. Mirroring the global reputation of its home Los Angeles, BODYTRAFFIC also served as cultural ambassadors to South Korea, Algeria, and Indonesia.
BODYTRAFFIC inspires and uplifts its community and beyond through its education and outreach programs. Focusing on supporting the whole dancer, it provides programs ranging from youth-focused intensive training and master classes to professional development for established artists that encourage their growth by nurturing their unique identities. Through these programs, the company has touched over 50,000 lives from diverse backgrounds. Challenge, passion, empathy, inclusion, and growth are at the heart of everything BODYTRAFFIC does. It seeks to elevate dance beyond an art form to a mode of exploration and celebration of ideas and spirit through movement. Because, after all, without movement, nothing changes.
BODYTRAFFIC.com
BIOGRAPHIES ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP
TINA FINKELMAN BERKETT (Artistic Director) Tina is an influential dance leader and community builder, producing original, compelling repertoire and sharing a new vision of dance across the U.S. and around the world. Tina grew up in New York City, attending Stuyvesant High School of Math and Science and graduating summa cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University, with a double major in Mathematics and Economics. Her love of dance was ignited by her teacher and mentor, Michele Cuccaro Cain. Tina’s professional dance career began at Aszure Barton & Artists, a distinguished contemporary dance company, where she quickly became a featured dancer and then Barton’s assistant, teaching both in the U.S. and abroad. A true highlight of Tina's career was being a founding member of Mikhail Baryshnikov's Hell's Kitchen Dance and touring internationally alongside Mr. Baryshnikov himself. Tina began her interest in arts administration when she served as the company's dancer liaison. In 2007, Tina relocated to Los Angeles and launched BODYTRAFFIC with Lillian Barbeito. Now serving as the company's sole Artistic Director, Tina is focusing on re-envisioning and revitalizing BODYTRAFFIC. With her deep commitment to taking the company to new heights, she is curating and discovering exciting choreographers and programming challenging programs that audiences enjoy, seeing incredible dancers doing their best work. Tina would like to acknowledge her family for serving as her greatest sources of love and inspiration: her parents, Guzmán, Jack, and Sofia. GUZMÁN ROSADO (Associate Artistic Director) Guzmán started dancing at age 15 at Scaena, the International School of Dance of Carmen Roche in Madrid, on a scholarship sponsored by the Ministerio de Cultura de Madrid. After graduating from the Royal Conservatory of Dance of Madrid, Guzmán joined Ballet Joven de Carmen Roche, where he performed a wide variety of classical and contemporary roles. In 1998, he was offered a scholarship to attend the School of American Ballet in New York. After his time at SAB, Edward Villella invited him to dance with the Miami City Ballet. From 2002 to 2007, Guzmán danced with Companhia Portuguesa de Bailado Contemporâneo and Companhia Nacional de Bailado in Lisbon. In 2007, with André Mesquita and Teresa Alves da Silva, Guzmán co-founded Tok’Art, a cultural platform creating dance and film works. He has performed extensively as a guest dancer and collaborated on film projects throughout Europe. Guzmán stayed committed to developing and honing his skills as a filmmaker and editor, leading him to create a film production company in Spain in 2021. Since then, he has produced, filmed, and edited several feature films and shorts that have gained attention and won several awards around the world. Guzmán joined BODYTRAFFIC in 2012 as a dancer and became Associate Artistic Director in 2020. As BODYTRAFFIC’s resident filmmaker, Guzmán has been able to merge his passion for dance and film, creating and collaborating with vibrant communities of artists from all over the globe. Making films that share the influential force of dance with the world is one of his greatest honors.
CHOREOGRAPHERS MATTHEW NEENAN began his dance training at the Boston Ballet School. He later attended the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts and the School of American Ballet in New York. From 1994-2007, Matthew danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet where he was also named Choreographer in Residence. Matthew’s choreography has been featured and performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet, BalletX, The Washington Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Ballet West, Ballet Memphis, Milwaukee Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, Ballet Met, Oklahoma City Ballet, Juilliard Dance, New York City Ballet’s Choreographic Institute, Sacramento Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Indiana University, Opera Philadelphia, and LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts (NYC), among others. He has received numerous awards and grants for his choreography from the National Endowment of the Arts, Dance Advance funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Choo San Goh Foundation, and the Independence Foundation. Matthew has been honored to receive the New York City Ballet’s Choreographic Institute’s Fellowship Initiative Award and fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. In 2005, Matthew co-founded BalletX with fellow dancer Christine Cox and is now the resident dance company at the prestigious Wilma Theatre. JOAN RODRIGUEZ (Choreographer & Performer) was born in La Habana, Cuba, where he graduated from the Escuela Nacional de Arte with the “Best Graduate of the Year” award. His professional career began with DanzAbierta, and he went on to join Malpaso Dance Company. He became a political refugee in 2017 and relocated to Arizona, where he focused on creating, teaching, and producing multimedia projects. He has also served as a Guest Artist in Residency for universities and arts centers throughout the U.S. and has received awards in several dance competitions. In 2019, he joined Parsons Dance and choreographed an original work for the company as part of the 2019 GenerationNow fellowship program. Throughout 2020 and 2021, Joan has focused on freelancing in dance, teaching, and videography. Joan is currently on his second season with BODYTRAFFIC in Los Angeles. He continues pursuing his creative ambitions in community spaces and with students and developing his craft, choreographing in a variety of environments for professional dance companies, live theater productions, and television and film. MICAELA TAYLOR is a professional dancer/teacher/choreographer from Los Angeles, CA, where she trained at Marat Daukayev School of Ballet and Los Angeles County High School of the Arts. She graduated from Cornish College of the Arts and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance, 2014. She has worked and performed with BODYTRAFFIC, Ate9 Dance Company, Zoe Scofield, Camille A. Brown, and Kate Wallich. Her choreographic passion led her to found Los Angeles-based contemporary dance company The TL Collective in 2016. Her individual movement style of Hip Hop combined with contemporary technique has led her to find a new way for people to move, which is best described as Contemporary/Pop. Alongside the launch of The TL Collective, Taylor has been commissioned to choreograph and teach for LA Contemporary Dance Company, AMDA College, Springboard Danse Montreal, MoveNYC, Cal State Long Beach, and Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre. Her work has been presented at Gelsey Kirkland Performing Arts Center, ACE Hotel, Raymond Kabaaz Theatre, Grand Performances, and Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. She is the recipient of the Inaugural EMERGE Choreographic Award and has choreographed for Gibney Dance Company. Micaela’s commission for BODYTRAFFIC has been awarded a New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project grant, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
PERFORMERS KATIE GARCIA is originally from Miami, Florida, and graduated from The Juilliard School in 2017. She also trained at New World School of the Arts, Dance Town Studios Miami, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Springboard Danse Montréal. After graduation from Juilliard, she was a member of Parsons Dance for two and a half years and performed in her own collaborative works. Katie has taught master classes at such institutions as Yale University, New York University, Akron University, Florida State University, and Hunter College. In pursuing her passion for community outreach, she participated in GLUCK and TAP for Life, programs allowing her to perform in NYC and Miami hospitals and wellness centers. In 2016, she orchestrated a project in Botswana, where she taught dance and special education movement therapy classes for children. She has also presented her co-produced dance films with Joan Rodriguez at the Blacktinx Dance Festival, Solo Due Dance Festival, Dumbo Dance Festival, and at an NYC art gallery with mixed media artist Anna Khachatryan. PEDRO GARCIA began his studies at the National Conservatory of Lisbon, working with teachers including Mikahall Zavialova, Irina Zavialova, Catarina Moreira, and José Luís Vieira, among others. In 2014, he won the 3° prize at Tanzolymp Competition in Berlin. He received his diploma in 2015 and continued on to earn a degree from School Superieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower. Pedro joined the junior ballet Rosella Hightower DNSP3 for one year and then went on to join the Ballet Nacional de Marseille, where he worked with Emio Greco and Pieter C. Scholten until 2018. In 2019, he joined Companhia Portuguesa de Bailado Contemporaneo, under the direction of Vasco Wellenkamp. Most recently, Pedro has worked with choreographers Nelia Pinheiro and André Mesquita, and joined Quórum Ballet for one season, where he worked with Daniel Cardoso and Lior Tavori. ALANA JONES is a Houston native. She is a founding member of Vitacca Dance Project under the direction of Kelly Ann Vitacca and trained under Ballet Master Phillip Broomhead while attending the High School of Performing and Visual Arts. In 2014, Alana was accepted on scholarship and trained with American Ballet Theatre and Dance Theatre of Harlem. After that, Alana was accepted on scholarship to SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, where she received her BFA. While at Purchase, she was invited into the ballet concentration, where she performed and studied works by George Balanchine, Norbert De la Cruz, Michelle Ulerich, and Colby Damon. She has also trained with Ballet X, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance, and Arts Umbrella. Alana earned her BFA and began her professional career with Visceral Dance Chicago. TIARE KEENO received her BFA from The Juilliard School in 2016. While at Juilliard, she worked with choreographers Camille A. Brown, Kyle Abraham, Kate Weare, and Brian Brooks. She also performed repertoire by Jíri Kylián and Twyla Tharp, as well as lead roles in Martha Graham’s Dark Meadow and José Limón’s Missa Brevis. After graduation, Tiare was a company member of Nevada Ballet Theatre and worked in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. She attended Springboard Danse Montreal, where she performed works by Aszure Barton, Spenser Theberge, RUBBERBAND Dance Group, and Kidd Pivot. She has been a faculty member of FRESH Dance Intensive in Canada and is currently a member of Share the Movement, an organization aiming to increase diversity in the professional dance community through educational and financial support to young BIPOC artists. In 2017, Tiare moved to Macau, China, to appear in a cirque show with MGM’s ScenoPlus Productions. Upon returning to the US, she performed in Al Blackstone’s Freddie Falls in Love at The Joyce Theater. Tiare joined BODYTRAFFIC in 2019.
TY MORRISON is from the greater Boston area and has dedicated 13 years of his life to versatile dance training at The Gold School Dance Art under the direction of Rennie Gold. Ty received a BFA in Contemporary Dance from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee on full scholarship. During his time at The Boston Conservatory, he worked with and performed works by such acclaimed choreographers as Darrell Moultrie, Catherine Coury, Bradley Shelver, Adrianne Hawkins, and Martha Nichols. Immediately after graduation, he was featured in on-site dance film productions with choreographers Roderick George, Ashley Lindsay, and Antonio Brown. He has had the honor of being a guest artist with The Limón Dance Company and an active artist with a little house dance company. JOAN RODRIGUEZ was born in La Habana, Cuba, where he graduated from the Escuela Nacional de Arte with the “Best Graduate of the Year” award. His professional career began with DanzAbierta, and he went on to join Malpaso Dance Company. He became a political refugee in 2017 and relocated to Arizona, where he focused on creating, teaching, and producing multimedia projects. He has also served as a Guest Artist in Residency for universities and arts centers throughout the U.S. and has received awards in several dance competitions. In 2019, he joined Parsons Dance and choreographed an original work for the company as part of the 2019 GenerationNow fellowship program. Throughout 2020 and 2021, Joan has focused on freelancing in dance, teaching, and videography. Joan is currently on his second season with BODYTRAFFIC in Los Angeles. He continues pursuing his creative ambitions in community spaces and with students and developing his craft, choreographing in a variety of environments for professional dance companies, live theater productions, and television and film. JORDYN SANTIAGO is from North Carolina and is a Los Angeles-based dancer and choreographer who studied at The Dance Theatre of Jacksonville before continuing to train throughout the US and in Israel and Europe. She has danced for Ate9, Freemove Dance, tedted Performance Group and Mg+artists. In 2021, Jordyn performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in a production of the opera Prism, under the direction of Beth Morrison Projects. She has toured as a backup dancer with the Los Angeles band Half Alive in a piece choreographed by The JA Collective and has created new works with Bryan Arias for the Arias Company. Along with choreographers Dana Wilson, Ebony Williams, and Christopher Scott, she appeared in the recent film production of In The Heights. Jordyn has taught at highly respected institutions and collectives like Peridance Capezio Center, Brickhouse, and The University of the Arts. Most recently, she was a guest artist with Ate9 in its premiere of Joy at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.
Save the Date! BIG ARTS 45TH ANNUAL BENEFIT MARCH 22, 2024 Lavish pre-show buffets & open bars followed by post-concert desserts, dancing, drinks & more in the Malone Family Sculpture Garden!
THE DOO WOP PROJECT featuring stars of Broadway’s smash hits Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!
Benefit Sponsorship Opportunities PRESENTING SPONSORS ($10,000)
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COMING UP AT BIG ARTS TWISTED PINE February 3, 8:00PM Rooted in bluegrass, their music has garnered widespread critical acclaim for its boundary-defying virtuosity that draws from jazz, pop, indie folk and funk.
YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS ON TOUR February 4, 3:30PM 2024 Classical Circle Producing Sponsors Ed and Virginia Stringer 2024 Classical Circle Leadership Supporters David Huggin & Ken Nees
ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS WIND ENSEMBLE February 8, 7:30PM 2024 Classical Circle Producing Sponsors Ed and Virginia Stringer 2024 Classical Circle Leadership Supporters David Huggin & Ken Nees
Meet Our Supporters Thank you to our loyal donors. Your support is needed now, as never before. PREMIERE Gustav & Vibeke Christensen Leslie Fleischner Florida Department of State Ken Nees Jim & Gaye Pigott Bob & Kathy Wiesemann
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Bill & Shelley Greggs Lois Gries Buzz & Mary Jo Griffin Kathy & Alan Grundei Richard & Jane Guelich Lyder & Charlene Gulbrandsen John & Betty Gundersdorf Roberta Gutwein George & Audrey Hagerman Ella Hall Miriam Pepper Gloria Hammersley Gene & Jo Hardy Karen Bush Havrilla Dale & Suzette Heeres Susan Marie Herrmann Linda J. Hooper Libby & Rob Hoops Richard & Stephanie Huddleston Janet Hurley Louise Huyck Don & Stefanie Irwin Andrew & Teresa Jacob John & Lana Jacobs Bob & Amy Johnson Paul & Janet Johnson Norm Johnston Thomas J. Juedes Petra & Wolfgang Kaiser Stanley & Jo Ann Katz Jack Kennedy Mally Khorasantchi John & Wendy Kindig Candy & Steve Klare Carl Knight Mark & Kristen Koelmel Susan Kolson Julian Korn Jack & Cathy Kozik Kathy Kuck
FRIEND Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Erich Pfanzelt Thomas LaFond Dr. Allen & Wendy Pois Melissa Laidlaw & Menashe Ben-David Isabella Rasi Linda Laird Marianne Nyhan Ravenna Virginia & Tim Lattner Debra & David Ray Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Lawrence James Reynolds Annie Layman Jan Rice Ann Lindberg Rob & Debbie Rizzo Karen Holder & Randy Lisk Carlos & Mary Roche Maryann L. Loh Carol & Bill Rosenberg Gary & Margot Long Margaret Ross Howard Lorsch & Tracy Dwyer Carolyn Ruff David & Kelly Lowden Jolene & Kooroush Saeian David & Jackie Lurio Di Saggau Janet MaGirl Mr. & Mrs. Peter Saltz Marla Manning Michael Samet & Elissa Karasin-Samet Joan M. Martyn Pat Santucci, M.D. Pamela M. Mascio David Scheiber John & Jennifer Masters Laurence & Jeanie Schiffer Roy & Judith McCloskey John & Lisa Schmidlin John & Janet McLaughlin Craig & Lynn Schneider Dana Mehlig Bob & Caren Schoen Michele Messenger Steve & Laurie Schulz Sarah Ashton & Jim Metzler Walter & Betsy Schuman Eleanor Miller Michelle Schweber Rene & Margarethe Miville Debbie Scray Joseph & Linda Mondelli Mr. Terry See & Mrs. Theresa Shea-See Mike & Debbie Morgan Mr. Juan Serret & Mrs. Karen Serret Mary Beth & Scott Morrison Jack & Karen Shaw Drs. John & Gwendolynn Newman Sally & Dwight Shelton Randall & Marilyn Niehoff Bradford Shingleton Fred C. Nordstrom Joseph Shuster & Barbara Bazzone Mr. & Mrs. John L.S. Northrop Karen Shutway Jim & Barbara O’Hare Cathy Simon Bruce & Catherine Odlaug Dennis & Brooke Simon Tom & Barbara Olson Anonymous Carl Ordemann Joyce & Joe Sirkin Enid Packard Ellen Smiley & David Bollinger Jim & Nancy Patterson Jon & Kathryn Sternburg Mica Pennington Priscilla Stevens Nathan Perkins Betsy Sugerman Dr. Anjanette Stoltz & Mr. Anthony Bango
FRIEND Dennis Sutherland Al & Monica Taylor Kathleen Taylor & Bruno Notari Lynn Thelen Kersti Thompson Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Timson Kay Trainor Karr & Joan Van Nordstrand Janice VanBuskirk Kelli Vestal Gary & Linda Vroegindewey David Waks & Sandra Teger Anne Walter Bob & Roberta Washlow James Weddell
Ina Weissblatt Lyman & Deana Welch Lynne Wesolowski Berta & Carroll Wetzel Helene Weyant Brian & Susan White Patricia Pombo Wilson Elaine & Sanford Winer Linda & Jim Winn J Pamela Weiner & James Wittenberg E. Blake Wood The Dunham Children Nancy Zeedyk Mr. & Mrs. Jeffry Zimmer
LEGACY SOCIETY Jack T. Bailey Jerry Churchill K. Ann Dempsey Elizabeth Eagleton Ruth F. Frank Roni Freer
Deborah & John La Gorce Kenneth L. Nees Don & Joyce Rice John Schork Penny Wilkinson & Dick Boehning
Please remember BIG ARTS in your estate planning.
GIFTS IN HONOR OF Chuck Bonser Donna Leahy The Dunham Family Kris Gurall Patrick Harder David and Ann Hedges George & Susan Heisler Ken Nees
Dan & Gerri Perkins Jim & Gaye Pigott Carol Rosenberg Elmer Stilbert Janet M. Strickland, P.A. Monica Taylor Ellen Whitten
GIFTS IN MEMORY OF Suzanne Crawford Blake Devitt Henry Foltz Dave Havrilla Beth Murphy Dr. Laurence Oberhill Bea Pappas
Tom Pick Paul Powers Karen Shaw Davis Thurber Ronald Glenn Wallace Pat Whitaker
IN-KIND DONORS Landgraphics Sanibel-Captiva David M. Platt, PA DONOR LIST AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2023
Become a Supporter
Gifts can be made in many forms. For information on how to support BIG ARTS and all its programs, Contact Michelle Schweber, Director of Development mschweber@bigarts.org | 239.395.0900 ext. 308
Meet Our Staff
Lena Baranova - Staff Accountant Denise Dillon - Events Assistant Marina Dowling - Office Manager Barbara Freeman - Executive Assistant Meghan Govoni - Marketing Manager Melody Hampton - Database and Information Manager Lee Ellen Harder - Executive Director Charlotte Hardt - Customer Service Associate Wendy Harriman - House Manager Aimee Harrison - Workshops Manager Richard Jones - Technical Director David Kolson - Chief Financial Officer Greg LeBlanc - Facilities and Maintenance Supervisor Kelly Lowden - Customer Service Associate Wilson McCray - Gallery Director Michelle Schweber - Development Director Olga Semreen - Staff Accountant
Meet Our Board Chair - Rene Savarise Vice Chair - Bob Wiesemann Treasurer/Secretary - David Lowden Past Chair - Don Rice Gustav Christensen Scot Congress Mike Wood
Great communities create great organizations – not the other way around. In 1979, BIG ARTS was created, by, and for the community, and owes its rich history to a small band of dedicated artists who drew inspiration from each other and from the breathtaking island beauty that infused their work with grace and authenticity. They set out to create a special gathering place where artistic and educational experiences were accessible to all. Today that vision is alive and well. With the help of our loyal donors and supporters, BIG ARTS will carry that vision forward – providing joy, inspiration and a sense of community for generations to come.
Vision
To create great arts, entertainment and learning experiences that always inspire, enrich and delight.
Mission
Provide an array of quality entertainment, arts and education programs that enrich and nurture the lives of Sanibel and Captiva residents and visitors through: • professionally led arts and enrichment classes and workshops for students of all ages • stimulating and informative lectures and group discussions with renowned national thought leaders and educators • dynamic visual and performing arts presentations of the highest caliber
INFORMATION & TICKETS:
IN PERSON: 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, Florida 33957 BY PHONE: 239.395.0900 ONLINE: BIGARTS.org