Cincinnati Ballet - Little Mermaid 2024

Mona Dermatology is a proud season partner of the Cincinnati Ballet.

Make curiosity part of your world.

EDNU

elcome, young adventurers, to the magical world beneath the waves! Prepare to dive into an exciting Under the Sea Adventure as you explore the Aronoff Center for the Arts. As a brave explorer, you must navigate through all the levels of the ocean. Your mission? To journey through each floor discovering hidden treasures. Don’t forget to collect a shiny sticker as proof of your bravery and skill! Let's make unforgettable memories together on this thrilling underwater expedition!

Orchestra Level

Balcony Level

STATION 7

STATION 3-6

STATION 1 -2

Loge Level

Balcony Level

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CINCINNATI

CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES

SECOND

BOARD

CINCINNATI

LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP

WELCOME FANS OF BALLET,

Hello and welcome to our annual production of the Family Series: The Little Mermaid! I am so excited to share this production with all of you in my new role as Rehearsal Director/Second Company – CB2 Director. My name is Yoshihisa Arai, I am honored to be part of the Cincinnati Ballet family, and enjoying getting to know all of you and this incredible city! I joined Cincinnati Ballet this season after a successful career as a professional ballet dancer and choreographer, most recently in Chicago where I retired at the end of the 2022–2023 Season as principal dancer. This season, I have embraced my role mentoring the talented Second Company – CB2 dancers you will see on stage today. The Second Company consists of 10 up-and-coming dancers who have been invited to train with us for up to two years. CB2 dancers are afforded the opportunity of training and performing alongside our Main Company artists, in productions such as this season’s Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, and Jewels. But the Family Series is designed to be their moment to shine as these dancers perform principal and soloist roles. These young, talented dancers also participate in community performances and events throughout the region. In addition to our CB2 dancers, you will also see dozens of students from the Otto M. Budig Academy performing in The Little Mermaid—from students in our esteemed Professional Training Division to young dancers who are performing in a professional production for the very first time. I have so many memories of my childhood in Japan where I began my dance training. It was so much fun to be able to perform with my friends who also loved the art form as much as I did. And for our CB2 and Professional Training Division dancers, I have been in their shoes as well. When I was a teenager, I left Japan and moved to the United Kingdom to train at the Royal Ballet School in London. I remember those days of honing my skills, working tireless hours refining my technique, with the ultimate goal of becoming a professional dancer. I am so honored now to have the opportunity to share my experiences and offer guidance to the next generation of dancers. As you enjoy this production of The Little Mermaid, I ask you to clap often and loudly for these young artists who have worked so many hours to bring joy to all of you.

We invite you now to experience this classic, beautiful story about family, love, perseverance.

YOSHIHISA ARAI

Rehearsal Director | Second Company – CB2 Director

A proud sponsor of the musical arts

LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP

DEAR FRIEND OF CINCINNATI BALLET,

Welcome to our annual Family Series: The Little Mermaid! In addition to being a joyous and entertaining interpretation of the popular story, the performance you are about to enjoy will also teach you a lot about ballet. If you’ve never experienced ballet before, you are in for a treat. Ballet is an art form created by the movement of the human body. It is theatrical, which means it is performed on stage with sets and costumes and in front of an audience. During this performance of The Little Mermaid, the audience will head under the sea and meet a young mermaid who longs to experience what it is like to be human. Along the way, you will meet her father and family, before she heads to the surface and meets and falls in love with a kind prince. So how can ballet dancers in pointe shoes dance like mermaids? It is through the magic of costuming and choreography that dancers can become mermaids! The Family Series is special because, unlike the rest of our productions, it includes narration. As you may be new to ballet, we want to make it easy for you to follow along with the story. While the dancers perform, you will also hear accompanying narration, explaining the plot unfolding before your eyes. It is meant to make The Family Series the perfect introduction to ballet. At just an hour in length, the Family Series is also designed with younger children’s shorter attention spans in mind. Another unique aspect of the Family Series is who is dancing on stage. Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company – CB2 and Professional Training Division, as well as dozens of children from our Otto M. Budig Academy are performing The Little Mermaid. The Family Series highlights the up-and-coming talent of the Second Company, Trainees, and PTDs. We also want children to see themselves on stage and how much fun ballet can be; Academy students as young as 8 years old are part of the cast. If you did not get a chance before you found your seats in the theater, I encourage you to enjoy the engaging and educational games and activities in the lobby. Our sincere hope is that children come away from this performance comfortable with the artform and excited to learn more.

Enjoy the performance!

Sincerely,

DEBBIE BRANT President and CEO

INVEST ENGAGE INNOVATE LEAD

Grantee Spotlight: CINCINNATI BALLET

Two of Cincinnati Ballet’s principal dancers, Sirui Liu and Rafael Quenedit, performing Diamonds from George Balanchine’s Jewels. Image credit: Rachel Neville

Investing state and federal dollars, the Ohio Arts Council funds and supports quality arts experiences for all Ohioans to strengthen communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

Learn more about our grant programs and resources, find your next arts experience, or connect: OAC.OHIO.GOV.

2023-2024 SEASON SPONSORS

The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation is a proud season partner of Cincinnati Ballet

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

CHOREOGRAPHY SPONSORS

JODI GEISER AND JAMES MILLER III

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

THE LITTLE MERMAID

CHOREOGRAPHY, LIBRETTO, AND MUSIC ARRANGEMENT

Pamela Robinson-Harris, Principal Rehearsal Director for Ballet West and Peggy Dolkas, Artistic Director for Placer Theatre Ballet

MUSIC Léo Delibes, selections from “Sylvia” and “La Source”

STAGING Suzette Boyer Webb

SCENIC DESIGN Michael Andrew Currey

COSTUME DESIGN David Heuvel

LIGHTING DESIGN Michael Korsch

STAGE MANAGER Morgan Piper

Premiered on April 14, 2012, Capitol Theatre, Salt Lake CIty, Utah

Scenery and Costumes courtesy of BALLET WEST Adam Sklute, Artistic Director

ACT I

SCENE 1

In the undersea palace of the Sea King where all the undersea creatures play.

SCENE 2

In the Little Mermaid’s private garden where she dreams her statue is a handsome prince.

SCENE 3

Five years later in the Sea King’s palace—now the Little Mermaid can also swim to the surface.

SCENE 4

On the surface of the ocean as a storm begins to brew and a prince is in trouble.

ACT II

SCENE 5

On the beach after the Little Mermaid has saved the Prince and a young maiden and her friends discover him.

SCENE 6

In the lair of the Sea Witch where the Little Mermaid begs for help.

SCENE 7

On the beach—the Little Mermaid finds her legs and the Prince finds the Little Mermaid.

SCENE 8

The Prince is introduced to a Princess from a neighboring kingdom and is told they must wed.

SCENE 9

Returning to the lair of the Sea Witch where the Mermaids are determined to save their sister.

SCENE 10

On the beach—the Little Mermaid is proven eternally good and pure.

CINCINNATI BALLET LEADERSHIP

CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR INTERIM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

The Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees appointed Cervilio Miguel Amador Interim Artistic Director in September 2023. A skilled artist, entrepreneur, and change agent for the world of dance, Amador received his education and training from the Vocational Ballet School in Camagüey, Cuba, and the National Ballet School of Cuba. He danced with the National Ballet of Cuba as a Corps de Ballet dancer and then as a Corifeo (demi-soloist) before joining Cincinnati Ballet in 2004 as a Soloist. In 2006, Amador was promoted to Principal Dancer, becoming one of the youngest Principals in the history of the Company. He remained a Principal for 15 years and performed in a number of world premieres by renowned choreographers Victoria Morgan, Adam Hougland, Travis Wall, Val Caniparoli, Jessica Lane, Luca Vegetti, and many more. Amador also represented Cincinnati Ballet dancers as a union delegate for more than 10 years. After retiring as a Principal Dancer in the 2019–2020 season, he transitioned

to Rehearsal Director for Cincinnati Ballet and participated in the Cincinnati Ballet Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Task Force leading sustainable change for dancers now and future artists.

Amador is very proud to be a part of the vibrant Cincinnati arts community. Over the years, he has collaborated with Cincinnati Opera, performed in the wildly popular Lumenocity events, and since 2018, also served as the Artistic Director/Co-Founder of Moving Arts. Amador was also honored to participate in an Emmy award-winning PBS documentary that chronicled his story of defecting from Cuba to pursue his love of dance.

During his professional career, he has also performed as a guest artist in productions and galas all over the world as well as teaching for numerous schools. He has staged pieces for Victoria Morgan and Jennifer Archibald and judged several international ballet competitions such as Universal Ballet Competition (UBC), Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), and Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition (VKIBC).

CINCINNATI BALLET LEADERSHIP

DEBBIE BRANT PRESIDENT AND CEO

The Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees named Deborah S. Brant Interim President and CEO of Cincinnati Ballet effective January 2024. She will assume the role from Scott Altman, who after more than seven years as the organization’s administrative leader, announced his departure at the end of the calendar year. For many years, Brant has fostered a deep and meaningful relationship with Cincinnati Ballet and has been one of the organization’s biggest supporters. Brant is the current Chair of The Cincinnati Ballet Foundation, former chair of the Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees, and led the capital campaign committee that secured funding to construct the 62,000 square foot, $32 million Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance in Walnut Hills.

Ballet has been an important part of Brant’s life since her childhood in Akron, Ohio. She started ballet lessons at age 9, beginning a life-long love of the artform. Brant stopped dancing in high school before attending Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she studied American Studies and Art History. She went on to create a successful fundraising career that

included work in Washington, D.C., and New York City as a fundraiser and grants writer for The Kennedy Center | National Symphony Orchestra, as well as a fundraising consultant for New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Jacob’s Pillow, among others. Brant moved to Cincinnati in 1998 where she continued as a fundraising consultant for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Prospect House, and the Art Academy of Cincinnati. As much as Brant loves the arts, she also values the Cincinnati community. Philanthropy is a family tradition, one Brant learned from her parents and grandparents who were themselves dedicated volunteers. In addition to her tireless philanthropic work for Cincinnati Ballet, Brant is also a former Board Chair of the Mayerson JCC and Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and Member of the Board and Executive Committee for Most Valuable Kids of Cincinnati, Inc. (MVK). Brant is a past recipient of The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Women of the Year Award, the 2021 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Cincinnati Chapter, and Volunteer of the Year Award from the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI BALLET LEADERSHIP

DALE SHIELDS REHEARSAL DIRECTOR

Dale Shields trained at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Butler University before joining Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, where she rose to principal dancer under Artistic Director George Verdak. Shields performed principal roles in productions including Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coppelia, Night Shadow, The Moor’s Pavane, and many original works. She served as Principal Ballet Mistress for Ballet Internationale, assisting with the

YOSHIHISA ARAI

original choreography of full-length ballets by Artistic Director Eldar Aliev and worked alongside Irina Kolpakova in staging many well-known classics. Accepting Artistic Director John McFall’s invitation to join Atlanta Ballet as Ballet Mistress gave her the opportunity to assist in mounting numerous full-length productions. She assisted on works by inspiring national and international choreographers including Alexander Ekman, Helen Pickett, Twyla Tharp, Liam Scarlett, David Bentley, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Amy Seiwert, among others. She is now in her third season with Cincinnati Ballet.

REHEARSAL DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR SECOND COMPANY – CB2

Yoshihisa Arai began his ballet training at the International Ballet Academy in Japan before he was accepted to The Royal Ballet School in London in 2005. After graduating with honors and receiving the Achievement Award in 2008, Arai joined Northern Ballet in Leeds, UK, under the direction of David Nixon CBE and Ballet Mistress Yoko Ichino. He began his professional career performing in many original ballets by David Nixon. In 2011, Arai joined Tulsa Ballet where he performed works by William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Douglas Lee, and Edwaard Liang. The following year Arai joined The Joffrey Ballet Chicago under the leadership of Ashley

Wheater MBE. As a choreographer, Arai created several successful new works for The Joffrey Ballet such as Boléro, Élégie, and Afternoon Watch, which premiered at The Lyric Opera House and Auditorium Theater in Chicago. He has also choreographed a new Appalachian Spring for The Joffrey Ballet Studio Company in collaboration with the Illinois Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. In 2023 Arai choreographed and directed his first mini chamber opera Cåraboo: A Chamber Opera , composed by James M. Stephenson and librettist Matt Boresi and performed by International Chamber Artists. Arai joins the leadership team as a Rehearsal Director of Cincinnati Ballet and Director of Second Company – CB2.

CINCINNATI BALLET LEADERSHIP

CARLOS QUENEDIT GUEST REHEARSAL DIRECTOR

Carlos Quenedit is an accomplished artist renowned for his captivating performances in classical and contemporary ballet productions. During his career, Quenedit was principal dancer with several companies including San Francisco Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Houston Ballet, as well as Principal Guest Artist with the Joffrey Ballet, and Soloist with the National Ballet of Cuba. He has graced the stage in a wide array of principal roles, including Albrecht in Helgi Tomasson’s Giselle , Romeo in Romeo & Juliet , and Basilio in Tomasson/Possokhov’s Don Quixote . His repertoire extends to the works of iconic choreographers,

including a variety of George Balanchine pieces, Jerome Robbin’s In the Night (second movement), and Dances at a Gathering as the Purple Boy. Quenedit has also collaborated with worldrenowned choreographers such as Helgi Tomasson, Yuri Possokhov, Christopher Wheeldon, Alicia Alonso, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, and Liam Scarlett, and danced in notable productions such as Rudolf Nureyev’s Raymonda Act III and Ashly Page’s Guide to Strange Places. Throughout his career, Quenedit has graced stages at venues worldwide, from San Francisco War Memorial Opera House, The Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center to Sadler’s Wells and the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, among others.

ALLISON EVANS YOUNG PERFORMERS COACH

Allison Evans is a Cincinnati native. She grew up studying and performing a variety of dance styles including Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, and Ballet among others. Her passion for performing and storytelling led her to pursue acting and singing in addition to dance. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre performance from Northern Kentucky University in 2013, where she performed as a member of the Musical Theatre Tour Troupe and the NKU Dance Troupe in addition to performing

mainstage productions. During her time at NKU she also received the Uptown Arts internship, where she had the opportunity to help teach music, acting, and dance classes. Evans has worked for several professional and regional theatre companies as both a performer and choreographer and has been teaching for 17 years. She loves working with children of all ages and sharing her passion for dance and theatre through teaching and choreographing. She joined Cincinnati Ballet in 2023 as the Young Performers Rehearsal Coach.

ACADEMY ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

BLANCA HUERTAS-AGNEW ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Blanca HuertasAgnew began her training in Puerto Rico under the tutelage of her mother, Blanca E. Cortés. She later joined Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico as an apprentice and became a member of the corps de ballet under Lolita San Miguel’s direction. Later, she joined Ballets de San Juan, where she earned the title of Principal Soloist under the direction of Ana García. During her career, she had the opportunity to perform a wide array of classical, neoclassical, and contemporary repertoires. Some of her lead roles include Lise in La Fille Mal Gardée, Swanhilda in Coppélia, Princess Tsarevna in The

DAVID MORSE

Firebird, and Myrtha in Giselle. While with Ballets de San Juan, she performed Balanchine’s repertoire with lead roles in Balanchine’s Apollo (Polyhymnia) and Who Cares? Additionally, she appeared as a guest dancer with Ballet Municipal de San Juan under the direction of her father, Victor Huertas. Her professional career allowed her to perform not only in her native Puerto Rico but also throughout the United States, Central America, South America, and Europe. HuertasAgnew was most recently the Dance Program Director at Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts and Design. She joins Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy as Academy Director in January 2024.

PRINCIPAL, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION

David Morse is a teacher, choreographer, and musician.

Prior to joining the Otto M. Budig Academy faculty, he danced for six seasons as a soloist with Cincinnati Ballet. After training under Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Darleen Callaghan, Mark Diamond, Patricia McBride, and Kathryn Moriarty, he danced eight seasons with Charlotte Ballet. In his time there he danced numerous featured roles in the works of George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Dwight Rhoden, and Twyla Tharp as well as much of the classical repertory. His choreography has been performed throughout the United States

by professional companies, universities, and pre-professional schools, and has been recognized by various awards and accolades. Morse has twice participated in sessions at the New York Choreographic Institute where he created new works on dancers of New York City Ballet and School of American Ballet. Morse has also created new works at Ballet Academy East and Pointe Park University.

In his time at Cincinnati Ballet, Morse created several new works on the company. Most recently he was honored to create Our Story in partnership with the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center. This one act ballet was a commemorative tribute to the victims of the Holocaust.

ACADEMY ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

From 2018 to 2022, Morse served as Director of Cincinnati Ballet’s Collegiate Intensive, a partnership between Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy and the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Morse was honored to be nominated for the Rolex Mentor Protégé Arts Initiative’s 2014–2015 cycle. Additionally, he has been nominated for the Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship.

Also an accomplished pianist, Morse has served as a ballet class accompanist

for Cincinnati Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, The Chautauqua Institution, and Regional Dance America. He has also played as a guest accompanist for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Ballet Academy East, University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, and New York City Ballet. During the COVID-19 pandemic Morse served as the founding principal accompanist for the online ballet class platform @worldwideballetclass.

CREATIVE TEAM

PAMELA ROBINSON-HARRIS CHOREOGRAPHER

Pamela RobinsonHarris has served as Rehearsal Director for Ballet West for 20 years as well as the Company’s Interim Artistic Director from 2006 to 2007. Her career began with the Cleveland Ballet, followed by the State of Alabama Ballet in 1982 and Ballet Mississippi in 1984. RobinsonHarris joined Ballet West in 1985, advancing to Principal in 1988. During her career, Robinson-Harris performed in some of the most prestigious theaters in America, performing principal

PEGGY DOLKAS CHOREOGRAPHER

Peggy Dolkas was born in Auburn, California, and studied under Sheila Humphreys, former Soloist and Ballet Mistress of The Royal Ballet of London. She then studied at Canada’s National Ballet School earning the acclaimed Peter Dwyer Scholarship Award and the Christopher Ondaatje Ballet Prize. Upon graduation in 2000, she went on to dance for The National Ballet of Canada. During this time, she was chosen to represent Canada’s up-andcoming talent in an exclusive performance for His Royal Highness, King Charles III. In 2003, Dolkas joined Ballet West and was promoted to Soloist performing a multitude of principal rolls including Aurora, Giselle, Odette/Odile, and Juliet, in the world premiere of Jonas Kåge’s Romeo and Juliet . Dance

roles in most major classical works, including those of George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Sir Frederick Ashton, and Ben Stevenson. Robinson-Harris, together with Associate Director of Ballet West II, Peggy Dolkas, co-choreographed three ballets for Ballet West’s Family Series— The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. She also reworked major sections of Ballet West’s productions of The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Giselle, and has choreographed for Ballet West II and the Ballet West Academy Professional Trainee Division.

Magazine named her one of the “Top 25 Dancers to Watch” in 2007. Nevada Ballet Theatre invited Dolkas to become Ballet Mistress, assisting James Canfield, Cynthia Gregory, and other prestigious répétiteurs, as well as collaborating with Cirque du Soleil. In 2015, Dolkas joined the Ballet West Artistic Staff as Associate Director of Ballet West II, where she assisted in the staging of major ballets by John Cranko, Marius Petipa, Jirí Kylían, George Balanchine, Ben Stevenson, et. al, for the main company. Dolkas’s choreographic achievements include being awarded “Best Choreographer by The Salt Lake City Arty’s (2009), Best Choreography by the Youth America Grand Prix (2010) and the SLC’s Arts Festival Dance Commission Award (2018). In addition, she has co-choreographed

CREATIVE TEAM

three original full-length productions with Pamela Robinson-Harris as part of the Ballet West’s Family Series: The Little Mermaid (2012), Aladdin (2013), and Beauty and the Beast (2016), which she also re-staged for Cincinnati Ballet and Longview Ballet Theatre.

Most recently, she has been teaching for Sacramento Ballet and Northern California Dance Conservatory, and has been the Artistic Director/Choreographer for Placer Theatre Ballet’s 2021 and 2022 seasons of The Nutcracker.

SUZETTE BOYER WEBB STAGER

Suzette Boyer

Webb has enjoyed a 45year association with Cincinnati Ballet. As a Principal Dancer, under the direction of David McClain, Frederic Franklin, and Ivan Nagy, she danced classical and contemporary principal roles in works by choreographers Frederic Franklin, Ivan

Nagy, George Balanchine, Ruth Page, Peter Anastos, John Butler, and more. Upon her retirement from the stage, she served on the Dance Division faculty at the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music and directed the CCM Preparatory Dance program. While at CCM, Webb was awarded The Outstanding Adjunct Teacher of the Year award.

Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and TriHealth have teamed up to transform orthopedic care in the Greater Cincinnati region by offering break-through advancements in the quality, affordability, and accessibility of superior orthopedic care.

The partnership supports over 30 high schools, universities, club programs, professional teams and is proud to now be the Official Sports Medicine Partner of the Cincinnati Ballet.

CREATIVE TEAM

After CCM, Webb served as Director of Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company – CB2 and Young Professional Rehearsal Director. Webb provided technical and artistic learning opportunities to the CB2 and Academy dancers in Cincinnati Ballet productions, including the highly successful Cincinnati Ballet Family Series. Besides directing the Family Series, she served as stager for the Ballet

West productions of Snow White and currently for Little Mermaid . Webb has choreographed and staged for both Cincinnati Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet Second Company, including numerous works in association with the Cincinnati POPS, Cincinnati Opera, and The May Festival Chorus. Webb continues to work regionally and nationally as a stager, choreographer, guest teacher, adjudicator, and panelist.

MICHAEL ANDREW CURREY SCENIC DESIGN

Michael Andrew Currey is currently the Director of Production for Ballet West, a position he has held since 2009. He left briefly to assume the position of Executive Director of California Ballet in San Diego from January 2018 to May 2019.

While at Ballet West, Currey was instrumental in fundraising efforts for that company’s $3 million campaign to produce a new Nutcracker. He also oversaw the design and construction of the $32 million Jessie Eccles Quinney Ballet Centre, Ballet West’s home in downtown Salt Lake City, completed in 2015.

In an over 35-year career in theatre, Currey has served in leadership roles at

DAVID HEUVEL COSTUME DESIGN

David Heuvel has been associated with Ballet West since 1979. Apart from his work for Ballet West, he has designed and built costumes nationally

The Joffrey Ballet, New York City Opera, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse and others. A San Diego native, Currey was on the staffs of San Diego Opera, San Diego Civic Light Opera (Starlight), and Moonlight Amphitheatre before moving east to further his career.

Recent design credits include lighting designs for Pygmalion (Salt Lake City) and Ballet West, and scenic designs for several productions at Ballet West, including Helen Pickett’s Games, and the Family Series productions of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. Currey currently serves at the Technical Advisor for the Gerald Arpino Foundation, and as a production consultant for several national ballet companies.

and internationally, including Ballet Du Nord (France), Singapore Ballet, Washington Ballet, Carolina Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, Atlanta Ballet, and Richmond Ballet.

SECOND COMPANY – CB2

ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

Yoshihisa Arai

REHEARSAL DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF SECOND COMPANY – CB2

Annie Fitzpatrick

Giovanny Garibay

Kannen Glanz

Amber Harper

James Jobson-Larkin

Eileen Kim

Ramsay Miller

Allison Evans YOUNG PERFORMERS COACH

Nicholas Motley

Gavin Nicholson

Salomé Tregre

OTTO M. BUDIG ACADEMY

ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

Blanca Huertas-Agnew ACADEMY DIRECTOR

SECOND COMPANY – CB2 TRAINEES

David Morse PRINCIPAL, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION

Fiona Allen

Ciarán Barlow

Anna Doggett

Brianne Falanga

Andrew Fung

Noah Gnes

Frankie Bennett

Gianna Brace

Sanaa Brown

Engler Gonzalez

Charlotte Gularson

Elizabeth Jacobson

Helen Jardon

Caroline Love

Fiona Murphy

PTDS

Claire Daley

Jenna Daugherty

Madeline Flythe

Taylor Petrowski

Jenna Renfield

Sierra Severt

Elizabeth Swisher

Madison Taylor

Anneliese Welsh

Katie Stuckenschneider

Julianna Varner

Catherine Voorhees

ANNIE FITZPATRICK (SHE/HER) MASSACHUSETTS | 2023

AMBER HARPER (SHE/HER) OHIO | 2021

RAMSAY MILLER (SHE/HER) ILLINOIS | 2020

GIOVANNY GARIBAY (HE/HIM) WASHINGTON | 2023

JAMES JOBSON- LARKIN (HE/HIM) NEW YORK | 2023

NICHOLAS MOTLEY (HE/HIM) MARYLAND | 2023

SALOMÉ TREGRE (SHE/HER) OHIO | 2021

KANNEN GLANZ (HE/HIM) WYOMING | 2023

EILEEN KIM (SHE/HER) ILLINOIS | 2023

GAVIN NICHOLSON (HE/HIM) FLORIDA | 2023

FIONA ALLEN OREGON | 2022

BRIANNE FALANGA NEW YORK | 2022

ENGLER GONZALEZ COLORADO | 2023

HELEN JARDON NEW HAMPSHIRE | 2022

CIARÁN BARLOW TEXAS | 2022

ANDREW FUNG HAWAII | 2023

CHARLOTTE GULARSON MARYLAND | 2022

CAROLINE LOVE TEXAS | 2022

ANNA DOGGETT MISSISSIPPI | 2022

NOAH GNES CALIFORNIA | 2023

ELIZABETH JACOBSON CALIFORNIA | 2022

FIONA MURPHY VIRGINIA | 2022

ANNELIESE

June 17 – 28 and July 8 – 19, 2024

Ages 9 – 14

Summer Dance Workshop

June 3 – 7, June 10 – 14 and July 29 – August 2, 2024

Ages 8 – 11

Kids Dance Camp

June 3 – 7, June 10 – 14 and July 29 – August 2, 2024

Ages 4 – 8

TAYLOR PETROWSKI COLORADO | 2022

ELIZABETH SWISHER OHIO | 2022

JENNA RENFIELD CALIFORNIA | 2022

MADISON TAYLOR TEXAS | 2023

SIERRA SEVERT OHIO | 2021

WELSH MICHIGAN | 2022

FRANKIE BENNETT INDIANA | 2023

CLAIRE DALEY OHIO | 2023

KATIE STUCKENSCHNEIDER GEORGIA | 2023

GIANNA BRACE TENNESSEE | 2023

JENNA DAUGHERTY KENTUCKY | 2023

JULIANNA VARNER NEW YORK | 2023

SANAA BROWN FLORIDA | 2023

MADELINE FLYTHE OHIO | 2023

CATHERINE VOORHEES OHIO | 2023

UNDER THE SEA WORD SEARCH

Can you find all of the words in the list to the right ?

ANSWER KEY ON PAGE 46

IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES

Cincinnati Ballet is delighted to provide elementary schools in the greater Cincinnati area with FREE residency experiences sure to inspire your students to move and to develop an appreciation for the art of dance.

Focus: Second Grade

Available: September - December

The CincyDance! program starts in the classroom using a combination of physical education curriculum and dance training to activate a student’s desire to express themselves through movement. Following the residency, students are invited to audition for scholarships to continue their training at Cincinnati Ballet.

Focus: Pre-K

Available: January - April

The CincyDance! Pre-K program activates a student’s imagination while introducing them to the joy of creative movement and ballet. Students will explore locomotor movement, balance and other key coordination skills with highly skilled Cincinnati Ballet teaching artists.

Joel Stone CHAIR

Sergio Arreola

Fran Carlisle

Smokey Clay

David Cook

Andrea Costa

Judy Dalambakis

Zahki Davis

Michael Bailes

Bernie Calonge

Sheila Cohen

Connie Dow

Sandra Eisele

Jerry Ewers

Kathryn Harsh

Edmond Hooker

Beth Levy

Debbie Brant

Kelly Brown

Laura Brunner

Trish Bryan

Otto Budig

Nancy Clagett

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

2023–2024 GO VERNING BOARD

Emerson Moser VICE CHAIR

Sarah Frank Fogarty

Jodi Geiser

Rico Grant

Linda Greenberg

Kateri Moll Haskett

Patti Heldman

Kristin Fishbaugh TREASURER

Lydia Jacobs-Horton

Marcie Kinney

Peter Laffoon

Megan McCarthy-Wolf

Jack Miner

Shekhar Mitra

2023–2024 SUSTAINERS

Leon Loewenstein

Madelynn Matlock

Larry McGruder

Skip Merten

Alex Muñoz

Cathy Nwankwo

Jim Papakirk

Joselyn Pfeil

Julie Richardson

Kitty Rosenthal

Morleen Rouse

Diane Rumpke

Keke Sansalone

Tom Schiff

Beth Snyder

Chris Sprecher

Brett Stover

Mary Talbott

2023–2024 E MERITUS

William Cordes

Lynn Good

Lorrence Kellar+

Charles MacDonnell Richardson McKinney

Tom Neyer

Carol Duane Olson

Paul Ose

Melody Sawyer Richardson

Michael Rozow

James Sammarco

Kathleen Selker

2023–2024 FOUNDATION BOARD

Jen Stein INTERIMCHAIR Madelynn Matlock TREASURER

Debbie Brant

Jennifer Damiano

Joe Dehner

Kristin Fishbaugh

Emerson Moser

Alex Muñoz

Rhonda Sheakley

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Craig F. Maier

Rhoda Mayerson+

* Ex Officio + In Memoriam

Faith Whittaker SECRETARY

Katy Moeggenberg

Alexandra Ollinger

Alandes Powell

T. Quinn

Lisa Riccardi

Toilynn O’Neal Turner

Brenden Zenni

Heather Theders

Pamela Thompson

Serena Tsuang

Kelly Vanasse

Catherine Vernon

Gary West

Barbara Weyand

George Wilkinson

Rhonda Sheakley

Russell Shelton

Shelly Sherman

Julie Shifman

Linda Smith

Ronna Willis

Kelly Brown SECRETARY

Joel Stone

Joe Carolin*

THE COMPANY

PRINCIPALS

Melissa Gelfin De-PoliSirui LiuAlejandro Olivera Rafael Quenedit

FIRST SOLOISTS

Chandler ProctorMinori SakitaMaizyalet Velázquez

SOLOISTS

Maine Chernjavsky

Katherine Ochoa

Nikita Boris

Taylor Carrasco

Sasha Chernjavsky

Luca De-Poli

Thomas Dilley

CORPS DE BALLET

Samantha Griffin

Jhaelin McQuay

Tatiana Melendez

Michael Mengden

NEW DANCERS

Marcus Romeo

Joshua Stayton

Amanda de Jesus Pérez Duarte

Caroline Perry

Simon Plant

Bella Ureta

Lenai A. Wilkerson

Llonnis del Toro CintraJulia Gundzik

APPRENTICES

Simone MuhammadScott Reed

SECOND COMPANY – CB2

Annie Fitzpatrick

Giovanny Garibay

Kannen Glanz

Amber Harper

James Jobson-Larkin

Eileen Kim

Ramsay Miller

Nicholas Motley

Gavin Nicholson

Salomé Tregre

The Artists of Cincinnati Ballet are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.

CINCINNATI BALLET STAFF

Debbie Brant PRESIDENT AND CEO

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

Joe Carolin VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AND CFO

Melissa Santomo CONTROLLER

Tiffany Whitcomb, SHRM-SCP VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Tyler Parker SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND BOARD LIAISON

Laura Linneman FINANCE (SPECIALIST) AND ACADEMY COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Chuck Beatty DIRECTOR OF EVENTS

Mary French ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DATA SERVICES

Thomas E. Johnston, CCI, CHI™ INTERPRETER

ARTISTIC

Dale Shields REHEARSAL DIRECTOR

Carlos Quenedit GUEST REHEARSAL DIRECTOR

Yoshihisa Arai REHEARSAL DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR SECOND COMPANY – CB2

Allison Evans YOUNG PERFORMERS COACH

Angelika Bonyhati-Kovacs

Brian Cashwell

Janet Langhorst

Ted Seaman

BALLET ACCOMPANISTS

PHILANTHROPY

Adrijana Kowatsch VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPY

Katharine Nemeth MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER

Payton Field DONOR RELATIONS MANAGER

Ilona Piaskowy INDIVIDUAL GIVING MANAGER

MARKETING AND BRAND STRATEGY

Nicole Doll VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND BRAND STRATEGY

Louanna Wyatt ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PATRON EXPERIENCE

Nicholas Peltz SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND CONTENT MANAGER

Dan Wood VIDEOGRAPHER

Eli Frances SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Pam Taylor PATRON EXPERIENCE SUPERVISOR AND MARKETING PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Francine Kellar MARKETING INTERN

Ja’Nay Brown

Reed Carter

Butch Hamm

Sam Johnson

Ethan Mann

Lisa Malsom

Brian Miller

Da’Shawn Mitchell

Neehar Phadke PATRON EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATES

OTTO M. BUDIG

ACADEMY AND EDUCATION

Ginger Johnson VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMY AND EDUCATION

Blanca Huertas-Agnew ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Maura Korn STUDENT SERVICES MANAGER

Elizabeth Metz REGISTRATION SERVICES MANAGER

David Morse

PRINCIPAL, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION

Carolyn Guido Clifford EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Sirui Liu ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, ENSEMBLE

Cervilio Miguel Amador INTERIM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Kate Stark CB MOVES COORDINATOR

Kelly Daley

Emily Schau

Wynn White YOUNG PERFORMERS COORDINATORS

Donna Anderle

Oliver Arana

Ja’Nay Brown

Alison Cole

Rosa Compostella

Jacqueline Damico Amador

Kiersten Edwards

Isabele Elefson

Kerry Enders

Jackie Engelkamp

Jeri Gatch

Donna Grisez

Julia Gundzik

Sasha Hart

Nicole Hershey

Andrew Hubbard

Helen Jardon

Julius Jenkins

Mary Kamp

Eileen Kim

Tina LaForgia Morse

Sirui Liu

Kara Louis

Daimy McInroe

Mae Miller

Victoria Morgan

Shane Ohmer

Patty Pille

Carlos Quenedit

Jennifer Rutherford

Rowan Salem

Maggie Silverstein

Joshua Stayton

Cassidy Steele

Shauna Steele

Kimberley Stewart

Rose Sunila

Brittany Taylor

Rebecca Walther

Michelle Ziegler

Missy Lay Zimmer

ACADEMY AND EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS

Frankie Bennett

Iliana Rich

Sierra Severt STUDENT EXPERIENCE REPRESENTATIVES

PRODUCTION

Brian R Sherman VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION

Carissa Gandenberger PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

Dena D’Andrea COMPANY MANAGER

Brooke Arthur COSTUME MANAGER

Laura Hofmann WARDROBE SUPERVISOR

Cherl Beyersdoerfer FIRST WARDROBE ASSISTANT

Jackie Andrews

SECOND WARDROBE ASSISTANT

Scott Berkley MASTER CARPENTER

Kevin Barth PROPERTY MASTER

Chanelle Dau Pino MASTER ELECTRICIAN

Mary Comtois ASSISTANT ELECTRICIAN

James Geier WIG AND MAKE-UP CONSULTANT

Morgan Piper ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Abigail Fluck CCM LIGHTING INTERN

SPORTS MEDICINE

Kelly Jo Rodrigo, MS, LAT, ATC COURTESY OF TRIHEALTH AND BEACON ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE

ARTISTIC EMERITI

Victoria Morgan ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITA

Carmon DeLeone MUSIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS

Fran and Dan Bailey

DONOR HONOR ROLL

Eileen and John Barrett

Trish and Frederick Bryan

David W. Cook and Loretta Motz Cook +

Dianne Dunkelman and Peter Schwartz

FOUNDER

Lawrence E. Eynon MD and Donald Beck

Linda and Harry Fath

Susan Friedlander +

Linda and Gary Greenberg

Debby and Jim Mason

Lane and Skip Merten

Anonymous

Debbie and Jody Brant

Susan Brenner and Steven A. Mombach

Susan Domonkos

Connie and Leslie Dow

Kristin and Chris Fishbaugh

Arna and Bobby Fisher

Sergio Arreola

Amy and Michael Bailes

Bonnie and Charles Bensonhaver

Sue and Ben Blaney

Kelly J. Brown

Fran and Wayne Carlisle

Jennifer Conklin

Andrea Costa

Bobbi and Aaron Crary

James Crosset

Judy and Christopher Dalambakis

Laurie and John Acklen

Pam and Bernard Barbash

Marianna B. Bettman

Elaine and David Billmire

Jane and Robert Bohinski

James H. Brun

Mary Kay and Bernardo Calonge

Daniel Cifuentes

Paula and William Cordes

Cindy Crilley

Jennifer W. Dakers

Lisa and Richard Damico

Halle and T. Quinn

Dianne and J. David Rosenberg

Kitty and Richard Rosenthal

Rhonda and Larry Sheakley

Delane Starliper and Karen F. Maier

DIRECTOR

Sarah Frank Fogarty and Timothy Fogarty

Jodi M. Geiser and James Miller III

Arielle Goldberg

Suzanne and J. Frank Hall

Kateri Moll Haskett

Patti and Fred Heldman

Christine and Terence Horan

Lydia Jacobs-Horton and Jeff Horton

John and Peter Laffoon

Elizabeth and John LaMacchia

Megan McCarthy and Steve Wolf

Mitzie and Emerson Moser

Barbara K. Myers

PRINCIPAL

Joseph Dehner and Noël Julnes-Dehner

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Heidt

Cynthia E. Henderson

Sally D. Hernandez

Peggy Johns

Barbara Kellar and Larry Kellar +

Dr. Khurram and Zofeen Khan

Jeffrey and Jody Lazarow

Martha and Carl Lindner

Maureen and John Doellman

Martha and Stuart Dornette

Kristine and David Freitas

Frances and Craig Lindner

Anne and Craig Maier

Madelynn and Raymond Matlock

Jack Miner and Brian Dozer

Anu and Shekhar Mitra

Mary Lou Motl

Valerie L. Newell and Timothy Smith

Lisa M. Riccardi

Alice Schneider

SOLOIST

Kristin and Carl Kalnow

Anne and Dean Kereiakes

Katherine and Robert Lawrence

Jennifer and John Stein

Susan and John Tew

Heather and Jonathan Theders

Judith B. Titchener +

Margaret and Michael Valentine

Vallie and Rodney Geier

Lauren Hannan Shafer

Karlee Hilliard

Theresa and Edmond Hooker

Jane Hopson

Esther and Steven Johnson

Daphne and Jason Jurgensen

Christine and Rick Lefever

David Martin

Stacey and Mark Miller

Susan Murray

Susan and Joseph Pichler

Penny and Stephen Pomeranz

Martha and Nick Ragland

Amy and Bradley Resch

Kristen and Scott Oyler

Julie and Steven Shifman

Lisa and Joel Stone

Brian L. Tiffany and Jerry S. Ewers

Dr. William and Therese Tobler

Gayle and William Sherman

Rick Staudigel and Kelly M. Dehan

Susie Tweddell

Kelly and Guy Vanasse

Diane and Gary West

Faith Whittaker

Jo Ann Wieghaus

Michael G. Williams

Rachel and Luke Robinson

Jack Rouse

Dawn and Robert Schiff

Susan and Russell Shelton

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Schlagheck

Barbara M. Weyand

Kathy and George Wilkinson

Ronna and James Willis

Ann B. Wissman

DONOR HONOR ROLL

CORPS

Ruth E. Bley

Jacklyn and Gary Bryson

Otto M. Budig Jr.

Louise and Lanthan Camblin

Tracy D. Cheever

Michael L. Cioffi

Ariella and Andrew Cohen

Renee Combs

Paula I. Comisar

Kathleen A. Compton and Raymond C. McNeil

Anonymous (2)

Lois and Ken Allen

Jane S. Anderson

John Back

Carolyn Barham

Carrie and Michael Barron

Neil Bortz

Charlotte Brooks

Angelia and Gary Butterbaugh

Peggy Dossman

Greta Elenbaas

Jennifer and Ron Erdmann

Jack Fogarty

Tom Fogarty

Valerie Folger

Claire Frank

Ralph Ginocchio

Ricardo Grant

Bill and Christy Griesser

Jessica Hall

Margaret and Edmund Hess

Sally Kelsall

Marcene Kinney

Jeanie Knuth

Joanie and Louis Lauch

Lizbie and Lynn Lin

Carol and Robert Olson

Lois and Steve Oyler

John Pape

Marilyn and Paul Porcino

Jennifer and Jake Ragland

Rosemary and Mark Schlachter

Linda Siekmann

THIRD POSITION

Debbie Campbell

Shannon and Lee Carter

Kristin and David Coppage

Sarah Corathers and James Anthony

Robert Corgan

Natalia Cristo

Madison and Yvonne Cuffy

Michael Currey

Jennifer and Vito Damiano

Mark Dauner

Zahki Davis

Cynthia and Stephen DeHoff

Amy and Andrew DeWitt

Brian A. Doyle

Joyce Elkus

Gale D. Snoddy and Alan L. Margulies

Debbie and Michael Snyder

Dee and Thomas Stegman

Mary Kate Vanderglas

Nancy and Christopher Virgulak

Christine and John Willig

Jennifer Yeung and John Gould

Karen Zaugg Ph.D.

Merry Ewing

Evelyn and Marc Fisher

Barbara and Ashley Ford

Courtney Fox

Michael Frabetti

Lynne S. Friedlander

Catherine Hamilton

Eloise and Howard Hamilton

Amy Hanley

DONOR HONOR ROLL

Genita and Rob Heidenreich

Becky Hogya

Beth Hudepohl

Valerie Jacobs

Elaine Jaeger

Brenda Jones

Steven Kenat and Heidi Jark

Carol L. Kruse

Kristin and Tom Lamarre

Susan Lauf

Geoffrey Leder

Becky and Thomas Long

Sean Luther

Anne Maddox and John Berninger

Sherie Marek

Emily Mathews

Sophia McAllister

Kim and Barbara McCracken

Jill and Larry McGruder

Cassie and Lachlan McLean

Emily and Steven Morgan

Holly and Mike Mott

Leslie and Larry Newman

Mardie and Robert Off

Alexandra and S. Cole Ollinger

Nan L. Oscherwitz

Sandy and Gregg

Pancero

Maria and James

Papakirk

Patel-Curran Family

Kathy Perry

Joselyn Pfeil

Alandes Powell

Alexandra and Andrew Quinn

Beth Plummer

Ellen Rieveschl

Carole and Edwin Rigaud

Jean S. Robson

Priya and Dave Rolfes

Elyse M. Roth

Judith Roth

Janet and William Sarran

Julie and Charles Scheper

Thomas Schiff

Martha and Lee Schimberg

Janet Schultz and Russell Lascelles

Marianne Schwab and George Stricker

Stephen Schwartz

Elizabeth Shaughnessy and James Stapleton

Joanne and John Smale

Susan and David Smith

Paul Spitz

Diane M. Spitznagel

Elena Stein

Sandra Stern

John U. Tan

Amy and William Thaman

Pamela F. Thompson

Rob Thornton

Heather and Andrew Vecellio

Elizabeth B. Vollmer

Barbara Wagner

Kim A. Walker

Tiffany and John Whitcomb

Angela J. White

Andrea Wilson and Clifford Goosmann

Anne Warrington Wilson

John Yacher

Jody Yetzer and Alexander Kayne

Jaclyn and Brenden Zenni

DONOR HONOR ROLL

SECOND POSITION

Janice M. Amatulli

Pamela Ashmore

William Banks

Helene and John Bentley

Pam Biederman

Dawn and Douglas Bruestle

Onassis A. Caneris

Anne Charles

Phil and Katharine Clayton

Lisa Cohen

Kate Costlow and John D’Amore

Candace Crouse

Patricia and William Culp

Regina and Dan Daily

April and Harry Davidow

Thomas M. Deutsch

M. Patricia and T. Patrick Donnelly

Barbara Doviak

Kenneth Frey

Mary Ann Gardner

Judith and Samuel Gilardi

William Gracie

Beverly Grant

Pamela Heydt

Bridget and Brian Hoffman

Nelson Horseman

Francy Hughes

Laura Hurley

Kara and Guido Jackson

Jan and Randy Johnson

Isabel Jones

Patricia Joseph

Misty Keeton

Crystal L. Kendrick

Kathryn E. Kipp

Mary and John Kmet

Stephen Lord

Laura and Phil Lucas

Janet McDaniel

Lori and Jeff Miller

Roberta and Neal Montour

Christine Moran

Alice Palmer

Patricia and Michael Rozow

Gabriella Scacchetti

Vivian and Jim Schwab

Barbara Sferra and Herbert Robinson

Sandra Wittman-Shell and Keven Shell

Philip Smith

*Funds held at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Linda and Nicholas Spadaccini

Robert W. Strauss and Phyllis G. Bossin

Jennifer and Chad Taylor

Claire and Zachary Tempel

Torey and Tom Torre

Elizabeth and Chad Warwick

Gregory and Deborah Wright

Lisa Zaring

Michelle and Nick Ziegler

Marcia and Robert Ziek

Robert and Lindsay Zierolf

Tamela and Tim Zimmerman

Betsey Zinn

Thank you to the donors whose gifts we received by January 29, 2024. The above donor pages represent the information available at the time of print. If you find that you are listed incorrectly or we did not recognize you appropriately, we apologize and want to include you. Please contact our Donor Relations Manager, Payton Field, at pfield@cballet.org or (513) 562-1136

Supporting the Ballet Makes Our Hearts Dance

When you give to ArtsWave, you support 150+ arts organizations throughout the year that make thousands of concerts, shows, exhibitions, public art and experiences like BLINK® happen!

Thank you to our Business Circle, Foundation, Government, and Institutional donors who supported us through cash and in-kind contributions received by January 29, 2024. The above donor pages represent the information available at the time of print. If you find that you are listed incorrectly or we did not recognize you appropriately, we apologize and want to include you. Please contact our Donor Relations Manager, Payton Field, at pfield@cballet.org or (513) 562-1136.

ACADEMY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy serves the greater Cincinnati area through world-class dance education programs and unparalleled performance opportunities. Whether students aspire to dance as a profession or pursue it as a personal passion, we believe dance training allows them to unleash potential that proves impactful in all aspects of their lives. Led by nationally recognized faculty, our guiding principles are to teach, challenge, and inspire the whole student to achieve their

CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH DANCE PROGRAMS

Enrollment based on age with beginning and progressing levels

Designed to inspire a lifelong love of dance, the Academy’s Children’s and Community Divisions offer entry-level and advancing classes in creative dance, ballet, and a wide array of

Ages 8 – 18

Enrollment based on experience with an accelerating curriculum

Our highly regarded ballet training, coupled with well-rounded

ADAPTIVE DANCE PROGRAMS

Ages 4 – Adult

Placement determined by student support resources

Cincinnati Ballet’s CB Moves program, developed in partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Department of Physical Therapy, fosters a love of dance and creative expression for students with specific needs.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION

Ages 16 and Up Enrollment by invitation

For students on the cusp of careers in dance, the Professional Training Division provides dancers with a full-day immersive training program and opportunities to perform alongside Cincinnati Ballet’s professional Company.

Photography: Hiromi Platt

Photography: Angie Lipscomb

Photography: Angie Lipscomb

Photography: Aaron M. Conway

FOUNDATION, GOVERNMENT, AND INSTITUTIONAL DONORS

$50,000–$99,999

The Kaplan Foundation

$ 100,000+ $15,000–$49,999

Bailey Lamson Family Trust Building Healthy Lives Foundation

Chemed Foundation Crossett Family Foundation

The Edelweiss Foundation

Andrew Howe Scholarship Foundation Charles Scott Riley III Foundation

Louise Taft Semple Foundation Oliver Family Foundation

Thomas J. Emery Memorial Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

Joni Herschede Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Morgan Judd Memorial Fund

$5,000–$14,999 $1,000–$4,999

Ez and Lynn Housh Family Foundation Innovative Worthy Projects Foundation

Lewis and Marjorie Daniel Foundation

National Endowment for the Arts Parkinson’s Support and Wellness

Peter T. Joseph Foundation

Nabama Foundation Willow Hill Foundation

Cincinnati Ballet acknowledges the following partner companies, foundations and their employees who generously participate in the annual ArtsWave Campaign at the $100,000+ level.

P&G

Fifth Third Bank and Fifth Third Foundation

altafiber

GE Aerospace

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

The Cincinnati Insurance Companies

Western & Southern Financial Group

Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation

Cincinnati Business Courier

Cincinnati Reds

Duke Energy

The E.W. Scripps Company and Scripps Howard Foundation

The Enquirer | Cincinnati.com

Great American Insurance Group

Greater Cincinnati Foundation

The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Trustee

The Kroger Co.

Messer Construction Co.

PNC U.S. Bank

EXPLORE CINCINNATI BALLET

MEET THE ARTIST

Cincinnati Ballet is pleased to offer Meet the Artist, a pre-performance discussion series connecting audiences to select dancers, choreographers, and members of the creative team who bring our performances to life. Admission to Meet the Artist is included in your ticket to the current production.

ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Throughout the year Cincinnati Ballet offers dynamic and interactive experiences to deepen your love of the art form. This season, we are pleased to present family-friendly activities at the Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance, including Trick or Treat at The Ballet and Nutcracker Sampler. Please check cballet.org for details.

BALLET & BEER

Ballet & Beer is an event series providing an insider’s view into Cincinnati Ballet while enjoying drinks, light bites, and socializing. This season we will host these happy hour–style events at the new Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance in Walnut Hills. Due to space limitations for the rehearsals, advanced reservations are necessary. Events include a cash bar.

COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE SERIES

Cincinnati Ballet is excited to open the Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance to the community for an inviting introduction to ballet and dance performance. These performances are designed to welcome new audiences to dance through accessible storytelling, relatable themes, fun choreography, and community partnerships. Join us at the new Center for Dance on select Sunday afternoons with your family and friends for these hour-long performances.

VOLUNTEER

Cincinnati Ballet offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. Get involved and support Cincinnati Ballet while meeting new people and learning more about ballet. Volunteering for Cincinnati Ballet is fun, educational, and a great way to support the arts. Volunteers are vital in supporting the mission of Cincinnati Ballet.

PUZZLE ANSWERS

UNDER THE SEA WORD SEARCH

Can you find all of the words in the list to the right ?

SEA WITCH

LOBSTER CRAB

MERMAID

PRINCE

CLAM SEAHORSE

CORAL BOAT SHELL

KING FISH

BECAUSE SCHOOL YEAR SUCCESS STARTS WITH A SUMMER OF FUN.

Our beautiful 60-acre campus provides the perfect setting for your child to be an explorer, an athlete, an actor, an inventor. Our CCDSummer camps are filled with creative and fun opportunities that promote growth, encourage discovery, and instill a strong sense of self for children ages 18 months through grade 8. Country Day is The Place To Be this summer.

Thursday, May 9th, 2024 8:00 -10:00 PM

Aronoff Center for the Arts

Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration event, featuring performances from every division of Cincinnati Ballet, including a special alumni performance by former principal dancer and current Interim Artistic Director Cervilio Miguel Amador!

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

AT THE ARONOFF CENTER FOR THE ARTS

FOOD AND BEVERAGES are available at various lobby locations throughout the Aronoff Center. For many performances, a selection of the concessions we sell, including most drinks, may be taken into the theater. Our concessions staff and ushers can indicate whether or not you may take your snacks and beverages into the theater.

ALL RESTROOMS in the Aronoff Center are accessible to people with disabilities. Restrooms in the Procter & Gamble Hall are located in the side corridors on both sides of the lobbies (except Balcony—restrooms located on the north side of the lobby only).

COAT CHECK can be found on the street level of the Aronoff Center.

IF YOU LOSE AN ITEM while attending an event at the Aronoff Center, check with one of our ushers before leaving the building. If they are unable to locate the item, call the Security Desk at (513) 977-4128 during regular business hours, 9:00 AM5:00 PM, Monday-Friday.

YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR RECYCLING effort is appreciated! Blue or silver recycling containers are located near every concession stand. If you don’t want to keep your program, you may recycle it in the program bins in the lobby at the Aronoff Center.

PLEASE NOTE

THE LOBBY at the Aronoff Center opens one hour prior to curtain and you may enter the theater 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance.

LATE SEATING is at the discretion of the Front of House Manager. For many events, there may be a seating hold for latecomers. These holds vary in length depending on the show. Should you need to leave the auditorium during the performance, re-admittance and seating will also be at the discretion of the house manager.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO of Cincinnati Ballet performances is strictly forbidden.

SMOKING

IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED at The Aronoff Center.

FREE TOURS OF THE ARONOFF CENTER are available for groups up to 50 people and are typically offered Monday – Friday between the hours of 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, pending theater availability. Weekend or early evening tours also may be possible and can be discussed with a representative. The Aronoff Center tour lasts approximately one hour. To schedule a tour, call (513) 977-4117, ext. 3 and leave a message with the date(s) and time(s) you are interested in attending. An Aronoff Center representative will respond within 2 business days.

ACCESSIBILITY

All theaters and meeting spaces within the Aronoff Center are accessible to patrons with physical disabilities. Once inside the building, all levels are accessible by elevator. The Jarson-Kaplan Theater is equipped with one elevator for patron use. Automatic accessible doors are located on the south end of the building near Sixth and Walnut Streets.

A COURTESY WHEELCHAIR IS AVAILABLE upon request on a first-come, first-served basis for patrons needing assistance from the lobby to their seats. Patrons can ask any staff member or volunteer usher for assistance.

ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES for the hearing impaired are available at the coat room in the lobby of the Jarson-Kaplan Theater. These assistive listening devices operate on an infra-red system and are not compatible with other frequency-based units.

ACCESSIBLE SEATING is available in all theaters for patrons not able to transfer out of their wheelchairs or with other seating needs. Please contact the Ticket Office at (513) 621-2787 in advance to discuss your needs.

SERVICE ANIMALS are always welcome at the Aronoff Center in order to accommodate patrons with disabilities.

For more information about Cincinnati Ballet please visit our website www.cballet.org, call (513) 621-5282, or visit us at 1801 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Celebrating the Cincinnati Ballet

PNC is honored to be the presenting sponsor of the Cincinnati Ballet's 60th Diamond Anniversary Season.