Cincinnati Ballet - New Works Series

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TA B L E O F CO N T E N T S Cincinnati Ballet

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LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP

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CASTING

SEASON SPONSORS PRODUCTION SPONSORS

THE KAPLAN NEW WORKS SERIES CINCINNATI BALLET LEADERSHIP NEW WORKS CREATIVE TEAM CINCINNATI BALLET PRINCIPAL DANCERS BIOS COMPANY ROSTER

32 CHOREOGRAPHER Q & A— THE KAPLAN NEW WORKS SERIES

37 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 39 CINCINNATI BALLET STAFF 40 DONOR HONOR ROLL

COVER PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY FEATURING MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI PHOTOGRAPHY BY HIROMI PLATT FEATURING SIRUI LIU & MICHAEL MENGDEN, CLOCKWISE, CHOREOGRAPHY BY MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI

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ADVISOR IN OHIO AS RANKED BY BARRON’S*

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LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP Cincinnati Ballet

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DEAR LOVER OF NEW ARTISTIC HORIZONS,

HE KAPLAN NEW WORKS SERIES is certainly a fitting production to be our first of 2021. If we ever needed new possibilities, new impressions, new ideas, it is certainly now. We are all slowly coming out of our collective hibernation, cautiously optimistic for what this new year might bring.

This Season’s New Works had been scheduled for last fall but was postponed due to pandemic restrictions. I am so pleased we were able to work with some amazing choreographers to share these thought-provoking works with you during this unusual season. The past year has been one of upheaval and reflection for so many, certainly for our artform as well. Each of the five choreographers created works that are personal to them. They address topics including female empowerment and racial and gender equity, as well as finding balance and acceptance in times of instability.

Our art form is poetic and abstract, so each artist’s expression is unique to their own lens and experience. The messages created by the movement will not necessarily be literal, but hopefully, your own life stories will find a place to resonate in the physical expressions witnessed on stage. Some works may provide solace, others may provoke dialogue. Our hope is all these works will challenge our way of thinking and inspire conversations about our intersections with each other and the world. That through the power of dance, we may find our way into a future filled with mutual respect and understanding.

Your ever-hopeful Artistic Director,

VICTORIA MORGAN The Sue & Bill Friedlander Artistic Director

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AT THE OTTO M. BUDIG ACADEMY WE BELIEVE THE POWER OF DANCE CAN SHAPE YOUNG LIVES Our goal is to deliver the joy of dance to the center of each student’s personal development as a foundation for their future success. Our programs thoughtfully transport students from creative movement to pre-professional ballet training and allow them to unleash potential that proves impactful and powerful in all aspects of their lives. If you’re ready to discover what dance can do for you and your family, there’s a home for you here.

Come join us!

FOR THE YOUNG DANCER

CHILDREN’S DIVISION

Creativity, Confidence and Capacity Through Dance Ages: 2 -7

Placement based on age No dance experience necessary!

FOR THE ASPIRING DANCER

MAIN DIVISION Where Futures Take Flight

Ages: 8 and up Placement based on experience Eight levels to fit every student

FOR THE APPRENTICE DANCER

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION Investing In Career Potential

Placement by Invitation Only Performance focused training alongside Main & Second Company

FOR THE ADULT DANCER

ADULT DANCE & FITNESS DIVISION Ages: 18 and up Flexible class offerings for both the experienced and novice dancer Available on a drop-in basis, pre-registration not required

CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE? READY TO ENROLL? HERE’S WHERE TO START Talk to us: 513.562.1111 Email us: cbacademy@cballet.org Explore our website: cballet.org/academy Visit us: 1555 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH

LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP Cincinnati Ballet

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DEAR FRIEND OF CINCINNATI BALLET,

am so pleased to share The Kaplan New Works Series, a collection of cutting-edge world premieres, as our first production of 2021. The new year brings new opportunities for innovation. In just four months, the Company will move to its new home in Walnut Hills. The Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance will allow us to reach new heights in the artform and expand the reach of our mission to enrich, expand, and excel in the art of dance through performance, a high-caliber academy, and impactful education and community engagement. The 57,000-square-foot Dance Center with nine studios will open this June. 2021 will certainly be a historic year for Cincinnati Ballet.

2020 was a challenging year, but you stuck with us. We are so very grateful for the unwavering support of our patrons and donors who kept all of Cincinnati Ballet engaged and able to deliver the beauty of dance on multiple platforms. Many of you enjoyed our socially-distanced, in-person performances—Ballet in the Park and Cincinnati Made. Then perhaps, your family shared our first-ever broadcast production of Cincinnati’s holiday favorite, The Nutcracker at Home presented by Frisch’s. Now, experience New Works on our digital platform and join us later in the Season for in-person offerings, including a free outdoor performance at Seasongood Pavilion at Eden Park in May. While this Season has been different, it has demonstrated our resilience and commitment to providing dance in local and global communities. It has also demonstrated how important dance is to you and we couldn’t be more thankful.

Sincerely,

SCOTT ALTMAN President & CEO

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AT CINCINNATI BALLET, WE BELIEVE EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF DANCE IN MEANINGFUL AND PERSONAL WAYS. Our community programs are signatures of our commitment to removing barriers and providing access to the magic of dance performance and education to individuals throughout the greater Cincinnati region.

CincyDance! is a free program serving thousands of second and third grade students each year through creative movement residencies, ballet classes and scholarship opportunities. Select participants receive lifetime scholarships to the Otto M. Budig Academy each year.

In partnership with Cincinnati Children’s

Ballet Moves is designed to foster a love of dance and creative expression for individuals with specific needs through dance and creative movement.

COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES From the stage of Music Hall to local schools and community centers, Cincinnati Ballet makes the magic of live performance available to our community through Community Night Performances, Sensory-Friendly Performances and our In-Step program.

Photography: Hiromi Platt and Angie Lipscomb

CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE? Contact us: 513.562.1124 or education@cballet.org

Explore our website: cballet.org

2020–2021 SEASON SPONSORS Cincinnati Ballet

2020–2021 SEASON PRESENTERS

MARGARET & MICHAEL VALENTINE

OFFICIAL SPORTS MEDICINE PROVIDER

SEASON LIVE MUSIC SPONSOR

SUSTAINABILITY SPONSOR

ADDITIONAL SEASON SUPPORT

EST. 1947

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PRODUCTION SPONSORS Cincinnati Ballet

PRESENTING SPONSOR

THE KAPLAN FOUNDATION CHOREOGRAPHY SPONSORS

KAREN F. MAIER AND DELANE STARLIPER

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LOIS COHEN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HIROMI PLATT, FEATURING MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI & CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR, SWIVET , CHOREOGRAPHY BY ANDREA SCHERMOLY

THE KAPLAN NEW WORKS SERIES

World Premiere CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Taylor Carrasco MUSIC Are You Having Any Fun? by Elaine Stritch, People Will Say We’re In Love by Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, An American in Paris/S’Wonderful/I’ve Got Rhythm by MGM Studio Orchestra and Johnny Green, Send in the Clowns by Frank Sinatra

Cincinnati Ballet

REGARDS

LIGHTING DESIGN Sharon Huizinga COSTUMES PROVIDED BY Cincinnati Ballet Costume Shop

WUNDERKAMMER World Premiere CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Dana Genshaft MUSIC Original music and arrangement by Kamran Adib, excerpts from ‘Wonder’ by Galamatias, ‘The Whole Universe Wants to be Touched’ by Nils Frahm LIGHTING DESIGN Sharon Huizinga COSTUME DESIGN Dana Genshaft COSTUME EXECUTION Cincinnati Ballet Costume Shop

AIN’T I A WOMAN World Premiere CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Melissa Gelfin De-Poli MUSIC Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op.18 by Rachmaninoff LIGHTING DESIGN Sharon Huizinga COSTUMES PROVIDED BY Cincinnati Ballet Costume Shop

BALANCE World Premiere CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Helen Pickett MUSIC Kyoko’s House (“stage blood is not enough”) by Philip Glass LIGHTING DESIGN Sharon Huizinga COSTUMES PROVIDED BY Cincinnati Ballet Costume Shop

PURSUIT World Premiere CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Jennifer Archibald MUSIC Peter Gundry, “Völur”; Mediæval Bæbes, “Pearl”; Keith Kenniff, “Sometimes”;

Jonna Jinton, “Winter’s Lullaby” LIGHTING DESIGN Sharon Huizinga COSTUME DESIGN Noelle Wedig-Johnston and Jennifer Archibald COSTUME EXECUTION Cincinnati Ballet Costume Shop

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#CincyArtsResilient With audience and performance limitations still ongoing, your gift to the arts matters more than ever. It ensures that music, art, theater, dance and festivals keep our region vibrant for years to come.

GIVE TODAY.

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CASTING

CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Taylor Carrasco

Samantha Griffin, Samantha Riester, Daniel Baldwin, Taylor Carrasco, Daniel Wagner

Cincinnati Ballet

REGARDS

WUNDERKAMMER CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Dana Genshaft

Minori Sakita, Bella Ureta, Arcadian Broad, Marcus Romeo

AIN’T I A WOMAN CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Melissa Gelfin De-Poli

Jacqueline Damico Amador, Nikita Boris, Melissa Gelfin De-Poli, Maizyalet Velázquez, Luca De-Poli, Michael Mengden

BALANCE CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Helen Pickett

Matthew Griffin

PURSUIT CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Jennifer Archibald

Melissa Gelfin De-Poli, Christina LaForgia Morse, Sirui Liu, Luca De-Poli, David Morse, Joshua Stayton

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HIROMI PLATT, FEATURING MAIZYALET VELÁZQUEZ & JOSHUA STAYTON, SWIVET, CHOREOGRAPHY BY ANDREA SCHERMOLY,

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A PROUD SPONSOR OF CINCINNATI MUSICAL ARTS

C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T L E A D E R S H I P THE SUE & BILL FRIEDLANDER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Cincinnati Ballet has experienced tremendous growth and success under the leadership of Victoria Morgan, now in her 24th season. In 2008, Morgan took on the role of executive leader, serving as both the Artistic Director and CEO. Under her leadership, after years of growing deficits, the company stabilized its finances, built a $13 million endowment fund (today at $14.5 million), created an operating reserve, presented several million-dollar capital projects, and expanded the Otto M. Budig Academy and Community Engagement programming. In 2017, with the arrival of Scott Altman, Victoria became a full-time Artistic Director, giving her the opportunity to focus exclusively on artistic excellence.

During her tenure at Cincinnati Ballet, Morgan choreographed numerous one-act and full-length ballets, including world premieres of King Arthur’s

Camelot, the new Nutcracker and her revised choreography for Cinderella. Morgan was instrumental in fundraising efforts to secure support for Cincinnati Ballet’s iconic nine-studio brand new facility, scheduled to open in June 2021. With Cincinnati Ballet’s administrative and artistic team, Morgan responded to COVID-19 in a creative and science-based way, enabling Cincinnati Ballet to safely present one of the nation’s first ballet performances—with an audience! It took place outdoors at the Procter & Gamble Pavilion in September 2020.

Prior to coming to Cincinnati Ballet, Morgan was resident choreographer for the San Francisco Opera and a Principal Dancer for San Francisco Ballet and Ballet West. She served on numerous boards including Dance USA, Dance Magazine, the NEA evaluation panel, and was a judge for several International Ballet Competitions. Morgan graduated Magna Cum Laude with an M.F.A. from University of Utah and was honored as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement in 2009.

Cincinnati Ballet

VICTORIA MORGAN

SCOTT ALTMAN

PRESIDENT + CEO

Scott Altman joined Cincinnati Ballet as President & CEO in September 2016. Under his visionary leadership, Cincinnati Ballet has reached many noteworthy milestones, including its first $10 million operating budget, a dynamic new logo and brand identity, record-breaking ticket sales, the new Family Series, and expanded community and education programs. To accommodate this incredible growth, Altman launched a capital campaign to construct a new, larger, state-of-the-art ballet center. The $31 million dollar project is nearing complete funding and the Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance is on track to open in summer 2021 in Walnut Hills. During his tenure, Altman has been honored for two consecutive years

by Cincinnati Magazine in its Cincinnati 300— a compilation of the city’s top 300 executives, and currently serves on the Board of DanceUSA

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY

as Executive Managers Council Chair as well as Trustee on the Board of Ohio Citizens for the Arts.

Altman brings with him nearly three decades of experience in nonprofit administration and performing arts. Prior to his roles in administration, Altman enjoyed a 20-year career as a professional opera singer and performed 40 opera roles internationally. He has held leadership positions at Arizona Opera and Opera New Jersey, and just prior to coming to Cincinnati Ballet he was Executive Director of Ballet West. During his tenure, Ballet West experienced phenomenal expansion, including growth in ticket sales, a vastly expanded touring schedule, robust growth in donor development, and the construction of a new building. He is an alumnus of the Manhattan School of Music and the State University College at Purchase. Altman attended Stanford University’s Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders, was a Utah Business 2016 CEO of the Year Honoree and is a three-time recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Citation of Excellence Award.

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C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T L E A D E R S H I P Cincinnati Ballet

CARMON DELEONE MUSIC DIRECTOR

Carmon DeLeone, Music Director of Cincinnati Ballet for over 50 years and Conductor Laureate of The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and The Middletown Symphony, has served as Conductor and Host of the Family Concert Series at New York’s Carnegie Hall and has conducted orchestras in Germany, England, Luxembourg, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Under his leadership, The Illinois Philharmonic was twice named “Illinois Orchestra of the Year.” He has composed many original scores for the ballet. His best-known work, Peter Pan, is frequently performed nationally and overseas. As Assistant, and later Resident Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, DeLeone served on

its staff with Music Directors Max Rudolf, Thomas Schippers, Walter Susskind, and Erich Kunzel. He was also selected by Maestro Erich Leinsdorf to participate in an intensive master conducting seminar at Lincoln Center. He possesses a wide range of musical interests and is experienced in both the classics and jazz, whether leading his own “Studio Big Band” from the drum set or playing the French horn in both idioms. Maestro DeLeone made his New York conducting debut with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at City Center, and his Carnegie Hall debut with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. DeLeone is a recipient of the Post-Corbett Award and most recently was awarded the esteemed MacDowell Medal by the Cincinnati MacDowell Society. His very popular weekly radio show, Sunday Morning Music Hall, can be heard on WDJO-FM 99.5 & 107.9 and AM 1480.

SUZETTE BOYER WEBB

DIRECTOR OF SECOND COMPANY

Suzette Boyer Webb joined Cincinnati Ballet in 1979. As a Principal Dancer, under the direction of David McClain, Frederic Franklin, and Ivan Nagy, she danced classical and contemporary roles in works by choreographers Frederic Franklin, Ivan Nagy, George Balanchine, Ruth Page, Peter Anastos, John Butler, Sir Kenneth McMillian, Ben Stevenson, James Truitte, Lester Horton, and Vincente Nebrada.

Upon her retirement from Cincinnati Ballet, Webb served on the Dance Division faculty at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

There, she was awarded The Outstanding Adjunct

Teacher of the Year award.

As the Director of Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company – CB2 and Young Performers Ballet Master, Webb has been instrumental in providing technical and artistic learning opportunities to the CB2 and Academy dancers in various Cincinnati Ballet productions, including the highly successful Cincinnati Ballet Family Series. Webb has choreographed numerous works for the Cincinnati Ballet Second Company. She has staged many ballets, including children’s roles for Victoria Morgan’s The Nutcracker, in Cincinnati; Anchorage, Alaska; at the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C.; and at the at the Detroit Opera House.

Webb has worked nationally as guest teacher, adjudicator and panelist.

CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR BALLET MASTER

Cervilio Miguel Amador trained with the Vo c a t i o n a l B a l l e t School in Camagüey, Cuba and National Ballet School of Cuba. He danced with the National Bal-

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let of Cuba as a corps de ballet dancer and corifeo (demi-soloist) before joining Cincinnati Ballet in 2004 as a Soloist. He was promoted to Senior Soloist in 2005 and Principal Dancer in 2006 and has danced numerous lead roles in full-length ballets throughout his extensive career at Cincinnati Ballet, including Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, King

C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T L E A D E R S H I P on Cincinnati’s Music Hall as part of the renowned light show and has been invited three times to dance at the Titas Command Performance Gala in Dallas, Texas, among several of the top ballet dancers in the world. He is currently a Ballet Master of Cincinnati Ballet and Co-Artistic Director/Founder of Moving Arts Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Ballet

Arthur in King Arthur’s Camelot, Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Peter in Peter Pan. He has also had several new works created on him by esteemed contemporary choreographers such as Adam Hougland, Jennifer Archibald, Ma Cong, and Victoria Morgan. In 2014, Amador was invited to perform at Lumenocity on a balcony suspended

DALE SHIELDS BALLET MASTER

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, Coppélia, Night Shadow, The Moor’s Pavane, and many original works. She

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY

served as Principal Ballet Mistress for Ballet Internationale, assisting with the 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, Alexei Ratmansky, David Bentley, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Amy Seiwert, among others.

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NEW WORKS Cincinnati Ballet

REGARDS World Premiere CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Taylor Carrasco MUSIC Are You Having Any Fun? by Elaine Stritch, People Will Say We’re In Love by Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, An American in Paris/S’Wonderful/I’ve Got Rhythm by MGM Studio Orchestra and Johnny Green, Send in the Clowns by Frank Sinatra LIGHTING DESIGN Sharon Huizinga COSTUMES PROVIDED BY Cincinnati Ballet Costume Shop

PROGRAM NOTES

Thank you to my parents for supporting my queer artistic voice from a young age, and to my sister for being my first and best friend. Thank you to Dale Shields, my in-studio eyes by proxy, and to my dancers who feel more like family. Thank you to Victoria Morgan, for trusting me and allowing me the space to express all facets of myself. Thank you to my partner, Gabriel, for listening to countless hours of brainstorming. Finally, thank you to the Cincinnati Ballet audience. This is an extremely personal work, and I am grateful that we are able to open our hearts to each other, especially in these difficult times.

CREATIVE TEAM

TAYLOR CARRASCO

CHOREOGRAPHER & COMPANY DANCER

Taylor Carrasco is a corps de ballet member at Cincinnati Ballet. He trained with the New Mexico Ballet Company and School of American Ballet and has taken summer intensives with Boston Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. He joined Cincinnati Ballet Second Company in the 14–15

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Season and was promoted to Apprentice for the 15–16 Season. With the company, he has performed works by Ji í Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Trey McIntyre, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and more. He was recently the recipient of the MacDowell Artist Grant from the Cincinnati MacDowell Society, and given the opportunity to choreograph for Cincinnati Ballet’s 2018 and 2019 The Kaplan New Works Series. Carrasco is extremely proud to be a part of the Cincinnati Ballet Family.

NEW WORKS

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Sharon Huizinga has been a lighting designer, programmer, and educator for over 20 years, living and working around the world and in many different areas of our industry.

She has just relocated to Cincinnati after living in Amsterdam for the last four years where she was up to various things including working for the Dutch National Opera & Ballet, for ETC as the Field Project Coordinator for Northern Europe, lecturing for the Academy voor Theatre en Dance Amsterdam and Yrgo School Gothenburg, and designing lighting, projection, and scenery for multiple European/Russian tours with Deva Premal & Miten.

There were also American and Canadian chapters that included lots of lighting design for theatre and dance, some Olympics and Paralympics, some NYC and Broadway, some Detroit Auto show, one tiny house built, and (sigh) Lighting Director for the Home States Ball at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration.

Touring Credits include Designs for Diana Krall, Jesse Cook, Lighting Direction for Norah Jones, Ballet British Columbia, more technical things for Cirque Du Soleil, some production management, some years as a booking agent covering US/Can/Mexico and enough experience on the promoter’s side to know that those guys work really hard.

She is currently head of the MFA lighting program at University of Cincinnati’s CCM.

Cincinnati Ballet

SHARON HUIZINGA

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NEW WORKS Cincinnati Ballet

WUNDERKAMMER World Premiere CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Dana Genshaft MUSIC Original music and arrangement by Kamran Adib, excerpts from ‘Wonder’ by Galamatias, ‘The Whole Universe Wants to be Touched’ by Nils Frahm LIGHTING DESIGN Sharon Huizinga COSTUME DESIGN Dana Genshaft COSTUME EXECUTION Cincinnati Ballet Costume Shop

Special thanks to Dores Andre for inspiring me to manifest the zebra world. You are a ‘real life’ zebra, thank you for always standing out in the most extraordinary ways.

PROGRAM NOTES

A tiny little fairytale about love, acceptance, and permission.

CREATIVE TEAM DANA GENSHAFT CHOREOGRAPHER

Dana Genshaft was born in Moscow, Russia. She received her training at the Kirov Academy of Ballet and L’ecole Opera de Paris.

Genshaft danced as a Soloist with The San Francisco Ballet from 2000 through 2015, performing numerous works by Petipa, Balanchine, Forsythe, Wheeldon, Ratmansky,

SHARON HUIZINGA

LIGHTING DESIGNER

See page 19.

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McGregor, and Morris, among others. Genshaft began choreographing in 2015 and creating original works for The New York Choreographic Institute, The San Francisco Ballet Trainee Program, The American Ballet Theater Studio Company, SFDanceworks, Idaho Ballet, and The Washington Ballet. Currently Genshaft is a faculty member of The San Francisco Ballet School and the recipient of the 2018 Princess Grace Award for Choreography.

NEW WORKS

World Premiere CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Melissa Gelfin De-Poli MUSIC Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op.18 by Rachmaninoff LIGHTING DESIGN Sharon Huizinga

Cincinnati Ballet

AIN’T I A WOMAN

COSTUMES PROVIDED BY Cincinnati Ballet Costume Shop

PROGRAM NOTES A vision of equality. A collaboration of humanity. A world of positivity in difference rather than judgment and hatred to those who are not as we are.

We continue to stand up for, fight for, hope for unity. We question: How? When? Where?

I am in awe of the beauty that every person involved in the creation of this piece brought to the process and the finished product.

Thank you dancers! Thank you costume designers and wardrobe, thank you lighting designer extraordinaire, thank you Victoria for your eyes and ears during the rehearsal period and for the incredible opportunity to use my voice in movement. The care, the respect and the collaboration of different humans to bring this piece together is the true beauty behind it.

CREATIVE TEAM MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI

CHOREOGRAPHER & COMPANY DANCER

See page 27.

SHARON HUIZINGA

LIGHTING DESIGNER

See page 19.

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NEW WORKS Cincinnati Ballet

BALANCE World Premiere CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Helen Pickett MUSIC Kyoko’s House (“stage blood is not enough”) by Philip Glass LIGHTING DESIGN Sharon Huizinga COSTUMES PROVIDED BY Cincinnati Ballet Costume Shop

PROGRAM NOTES BALANCE was created entirely on Zoom: Matthew in the Cincinnati Ballet studios learning the choreography from me in my apartment in Philadelphia, PA. BALANCE is a journey solo, a dive into the continual negotiation of life’s concepts of balance, physically and emotionally. When we do find our balance, we dance our way through life.

I would like to thank Cervilio Amador for wonderful collaborative studio work, and the entire Cincinnati Ballet team. Everything was expertly organized. It was a pleasure to work with all of you. Thank you Victoria.

CREATIVE TEAM

HELEN PICKETT

CHOREOGRAPHER

Helen Pickett, native of San Diego, CA, and new co-director of the Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Summer Dance School Program, has created over 40 ballets, in 15 years, in the U.S. and Europe. The Crucible, her newest full-length Scottish Ballet, which premiered at Edinburgh International Festival, 2019, won two awards, UK Theatre Critics Award and the Herald Angel Award. While resident choreographer for Atlanta Ballet, 2012–2017, she was named Best Choreographer in 2014, for The Exiled, and in 2015, her first full-length ballet, Camino Real. Dutch National Ballet has commissioned Pickett’s new full-length production, slated 2023. Commissions in 2021 include American Ballet Theatre, Cincinnati Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. In 2020, Pickett choreographed a

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new dance film series called Home Studies, created entirely on Zoom. Three of her films from The Shakespeare Cycle, her new 10-part dance film series, created in September/October, will be featured in a PBS special. Helen has choreographed for: Boston Ballet (6), Royal Ballet of Flanders, Ballet West (2), Dance Theatre of Harlem, Semper Oper/Dresden Ballet, Vienna State Opera, Scottish Ballet (3), Pennsylvania Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Alberta Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Atlanta Ballet (4), Washington Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (2), Louisville Ballet (2), Ballet X, Smuin Ballet(2), Oklahoma City Ballet(2), and Sacramento Ballet. In addition, she choreographed Les Troyens for the Chicago Lyric Opera, and, in London, an evening length, multi-media musical, Voices of the Amazon.

In addition to Pickett’s contemporary ballet choreography, she has collaborated, as a choreographer and actress, with installation video artists

NEW WORKS and filmmakers, including Eve Sussman, Toni Dove, and Laurie Simmons. Pickett danced with Ballet Frankfurt (director, William Forsythe) from 1987–1998, and performed with the New York theater company Wooster Group (director, Elizabeth LeCompte) for five years. In addition to guest teaching in universities in the United States and Norway, Pickett created the workshop Choreographic Essentials. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in 2011 from Hollins University. In 2016, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate

for her contribution to the arts and named Visiting Distinguished Artist for The University of North Carolina School of the Arts. In May 2020, Pickett created and produced Creative Vitality Jam Sessions, a YouTube talk show that not only highlights extraordinary dance and theater artists but also supports and builds an inclusive, equitable dance community. To date, 55 sessions! Helen is represented by Kristopher McDowell, Rhizome Arts Consulting. www.helenpickett.com

SHARON HUIZINGA

LIGHTING DESIGNER

See page 19.

513.562.1111 cballet.org/academy

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Cincinnati Ballet

BE EMPOWERED BE CONNECTED • BE INSPIRED BE ENERGIZED • BE BOLD Cincinnati Ballet’s Étoile brings together women throughout Cincinnati to connect, network, celebrate, and support each other through exclusive events and interactions with today’s outstanding female choreographers, dancers, designers, and community leaders.

ÉTOILE AFFILIATES Deborah Brant Heather Britt Renee Combs Kristin Fishbaugh Arielle M. Goldberg Kathryn Harsh*

Becky Hogya Daphne Jurgensen* Betsy LaMacchia Karen F. Maier Jill McGruder Mindy McLaughlin

Jenny Mottier Valerie Newell Kathy O’Brien Maribeth S. Rahe Diane M. Rumpke* Rosemary Schlachter

Renee Schuler Susan Tew Therese Tobler Michelle Ziegler

É TOILE ASSOCIATES Lisa Damico Kelly M. Dehan

Caprice Gilpin Linda Greenberg

Kris Attema Lauren Beckert Breanne Romeo Bovara Sarah Brown Tanya Cornejo Andrea D. Costa Judy Dalambakis* Jennifer Damiano Meagen Springer Deck Connie Dow

Sarah Frank Fogarty Melinda Gardner Jodi Geiser Camille Healy Minette Hoffheimer Theresa Hooker Tonya Hurst Marcy Kanter Susan Krott Deborah Livingston*

Renee Nierman Kreeger Martha Ragland

Lisa Sampson* Tamara Weik, ASID

ÉTOILE MEMBERS Lynn Langmeyer Laura R. Lucas Joselyn Michelle Pfeil Marilyn Porcino Julia Poston Tracey Puthoff Yvonne Reissig Carole Rigaud Keke Sansalone Susan Shelton

INTERESTED IN JOINING ÉTOILE?

Contact Sarah Templeton Wilson at stwilson@cballet.org *A Special Thank You to Our Étoile Committee Members Announcing our 2020-2021 Sponsored Choreographer Heather Britt!

2020 - 2021 ÉTOILE SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR

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Maizyalet Velázquez • Photography: Aaron M. Conway

Jen Stein Katrina Trimble* Faith C. Whittaker,

Partner with Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Ronna Willis Laura Woods Jennifer Knight Zelkind

NEW WORKS

World Premiere CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Jennifer Archibald MUSIC Peter Gundry, “Völur”; Mediæval Bæbes, “Pearl”; Keith Kenniff, “Sometimes”;

Jonna Jinton, “Winter’s Lullaby”

Cincinnati Ballet

PURSUIT

LIGHTING DESIGN Sharon Huizinga COSTUME DESIGN Noelle Wedig-Johnston and Jennifer Archibald COSTUME EXECUTION Cincinnati Ballet Costume Shop

CREATIVE TEAM JENNIFER ARCHIBALD CHOREOGRAPHER

Jennifer Archibald is the founder and Artistic Director of the Arch Dance Company and Program Director of ArchCore40 Dance Intensives. Archibald has choreographed for the Atlanta Ballet, Ailey II, Ballet Memphis, Kansas City Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, and worked commercially for Tommy Hilfiger, NIKE, and MAC Cosmetics as well as chart-listed singers and actors. She was appointed as the first female Resident Choreographer in Cincinnati Ballet’s 40-year history. This season she has created works for Cincinnati Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, Ballet West, Sacramento Ballet, and Stockholm’s Balletakademien and will create new works for Oregon Ballet Theatre, Richmond Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet, BalletX, and National Ballet of Canada in 2021. She was the acting Movement Director for Michael Kahn’s The Oresteia at the Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Archibald’s works have been performed at venues including New York’s City Center, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Aaron Davis Hall, Jacob’s

Pillow Inside|Out Stage and Central Park’s Summerstage Mainstage. Archibald was awarded a Choreographic Fellow for Ailey’s New Directions Choreography Lab under the direction of Robert Battle. She is a Choreographic Winnings recipient by the Joffrey Ballet. Archibald choreographed Seven, a biographical work about Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee, which was commissioned

by St. Louis based MADCO Dance Company.

Arch Dance Company’s Chasing Shadows was remounted for Dallas Black Dance Theater for their 2018/19 season. She was also the 2018–19 recipient for the CUNY Dance Initiative Residency.

Archibald is currently an Acting Lecturer at the Yale School of Drama and was appointed as Guest Faculty Lecturer to develop the Hip Hop dance curriculum at Columbia/Barnard College. Archibald is also a guest artist at several universities including Fordham/Ailey, Purchase College, Princeton, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of South Florida, Goucher College, Columbia College Chicago, Miami New World School of the Arts, South Carolina’s Governor’s School of the Arts, Ailey Fordham, Boston Conservatory, and Point Park.

SHARON HUIZINGA

LIGHTING DESIGNER

See page 19.

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C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T Cincinnati Ballet

Victoria Morgan

THE SUE & BILL FRIEDLANDER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

ARTISTIC STAFF Carmon DeLeone

Suzette Boyer Webb

MUSIC DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF SECOND COMPANY

Cervilio Miguel Amador

Dale Shields

BALLET MASTER

BALLET MASTER

THE COMPANY PRINCIPALS Melissa Gelfin De-Poli

Sirui Liu

FIRST SOLOISTS Edward Gonzalez Kay

Minori Sakita

Maizyalet Velázquez

SOLOISTS David Morse

Marcus Romeo

Joshua Stayton

CORPS DE BALLET Daniel Baldwin Arcadian Broad Taylor Carrasco Jacqueline Damico Amador Luca De-Poli

Abbey Gonzalez Kay Matthew Griffin Samantha Griffin Christina LaForgia Morse

Michael Mengden Samantha Riester Bella Ureta Daniel Wagner

NEW DANCERS Blair Bagley

Gabrielle Collins

Jace Pauly

APPRENTICES Alyssa Manguiat

Nikita Boris

SECOND COMPANY: CB2 Nicolas Bierwagen Erin Blair Megan Carnuche Kara Covaleski

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Jackson Fort Thompson McNeilly Jhaelin McQuay Isabelle Morgan

Taylor Nichols Daniel Panameno Aubree Recker Anthony Rhee-Reynoso

P R I N C I PA L D A N C E R B I O S PRINCIPAL DANCER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | JOINED CINCINNATI BALLET IN 2014

Melissa Gelfin De-Poli began her ballet training with Lisa Collins Vidnovic at Metropolitan Ballet Academy and continued with Barbara Sandonato and Andrea Long-Naidu at Barbara Sandonato School of Ballet. She joined the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre in 2009, under the direction of Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens, and was awarded a National Training Scholarship with ABT. Prior to dancing with Cincinnati Ballet, Gelfin De-Poli danced for Orlando Ballet II and Orlando Ballet Company from 2011 to 2014 and was a finalist in the 2014 Jackson International Ballet Competition. Gelfin De-Poli joined Cincinnati Ballet as a New Dancer for the 2014–2015 Season and was promoted to Corps De Ballet in February of 2015. She was promoted to Senior Soloist in 2017 and Principal Dancer in 2018. As a dancer with Cincinnati Ballet, Gelfin De-Poli’s repertoire includes classical and contemporary works by Septime Webre, Yuri Possikov, Victoria Morgan, Val Caniparoli, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Nicolo Fonte, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Adam Hougland, and Ma Cong. She has danced Principal roles in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in Wonderland) and The Wizard of Oz, Victoria Morgan’s The Nutcracker, King Arthur’s Camelot, and Romeo and Juliet, Kirk Peterson’s Coppélia and Swan Lake, George Balanchine’s Rubies and Serenade, Devon Carney’s The Sleeping Beauty and originated roles in Penny Saunders Nannerl, Myles Thatcher’s Anamoly, Andrea Schermoly’s Swivet and several works by Jennifer Archibald. Gelfin De-Poli most recently debuted her world premier Clockwise in Cincinnati Ballet’s 2019 The Kaplan New Works Series and choreographed and performed a solo work in the inaugural 2018 Female Choreographic Initiative Festival hosted by Houston Ballet. During the summer months, Gelfin De-Poli performs and tours with Moving Arts Company.

Cincinnati Ballet

MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI

SIRUI LIU

PRINCIPAL DANCER | SHANGHAI, CHINA | JOINED CINCINNATI BALLET IN 2011

Sirui Liu trained at Shanghai Dance School affiliated to Shanghai Theater Academy from 2000 to 2007 and went on to the Shanghai Dance College of Shanghai Theater Academy for four years. The desire to expand her dance horizons upon graduation led Liu to Cincinnati Ballet, for which she left her school and family in China. Liu won a gold medal competing in senior group of ballet of the Ninth Taolibei National Dance Competition in China in 2009 and the gold medal of senior group of Beijing International Ballet Invitational in China in 2010. Liu was invited to perform in Night of Ballet Gala in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia in June 2016. Sirui competed in 2014’s USA International Ballet Competition, progressing to the third and final round. Liu was named one of the Top 25 Dancers to Watch in 2017 by Dance Magazine. She has danced several Pas de Deux including Black Swan, Don Quixote, Esmeralda, Diana and Acteon, Le Corsaire, Paquita, and Coppelia. She has also performed principal roles such as Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Waltz girl in Balanchine’s Serenade, Tall girl in Balanchine’s Rubies, The Chosen One in Rite of Spring, Pas couple in Minus 16, amongst other ballets. Liu has also worked with internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Yuri Possokhov, Kirk Peterson, Trey Mcintyre, Alejandro Cerrudo, Ohad Naharin, Annabelle Lope Ochoa, Nicolo Fonte, Garrett Smith, Justin Peck, Septime Webre, Jennifer Archibald, Ma Cong, Travis Wall, and more. Liu is the co-owner of Improvedance and Active Royale.

She was named a Cincinnati Ballet Soloist for the in 2015 and promoted to Principal Dancer in 2017.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY

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C O M PA N Y R O S T E R Cincinnati Ballet

PRINCIPALS

MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI

SIRUI LIU

CHINA | 2011

PENNSYLVANIA | 2014

FIRST SOLOISTS

EDWARD GONZALEZ KAY CUBA | 2017

MINORI SAKITA MARYLAND | 2019

MAIZYALET VELÁZQUEZ PUERTO RICO | 2007

SOLOISTS

DAVID MORSE

NORTH CAROLINA | 2016

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MARCUS ROMEO PENNSYLVANIA | 2017

JOSHUA STAYTON OHIO | 2019

C O M PA N Y R O S T E R Cincinnati Ballet

CORPS DE BALLET

DANIEL BALDWIN

ARCADIAN BROAD

TAYLOR CARRASCO

JACQUELINE DAMICO AMADOR

LUCA DE-POLI

ABBEY GONZALEZ KAY

MATTHEW GRIFFIN

SAMANTHA GRIFFIN

CHRISTINA LAFORGIA MORSE

SOUTH CAROLINA | 2017

FLORIDA | 2019

FLORIDA | 2014

PENNSYLVANIA | 2008

FLORIDA | 2017

NORTH CAROLINA | 2015

MICHAEL MENGDEN TEXAS | 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY

NEW MEXICO | 2015

FLORIDA | 2017

SOUTH CAROLINA | 2014

SAMANTHA RIESTER INDIANA | 2015

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C O M PA N Y R O S T E R Cincinnati Ballet

CORPS DE BALLET

BELLA URETA

DANIEL WAGNER

WASHINGTON | 2017

CALIFORNIA | 2020

NEW DANCERS

BLAIR BAGLEY MICHIGAN | 2020

GABRIELLE COLLINS CONNECTICUT | 2020

JACE PAULY

WASHINGTON | 2020

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C O M PA N Y R O S T E R Cincinnati Ballet

APPRENTICES

ALYSSA MANGUIAT

NIKITA BORIS

OHIO | 2020

NEW JERSEY | 2020

CB2

NICOLAS BIERWAGEN

JACKSON FORT

TAYLOR NICHOLS

ERIN BLAIR

THOMPSON MCNEILLY

DANIEL PANAMENO

MEGAN CARNUCHE

JHAELIN MCQUAY

AUBREE RECKER

KARA COVALESKI

ISABELLE MORGAN

ANTHONY RHEE-REYNOSO

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION

SARAH BERGLUND

JULIA GUNDZIK

SIOBHAN NICKELL

LEAH BLATT

ETHAN HILEMAN

JORDAN NOBLETT

ADALHI CORN

EDWARD KIDD

SCOTT REED

MATHIEU DEHOORNE

JACY KLEIN

ANNA ROESLER

MICHAEL DUNCAN

NATALIE MARSHALL

ISA SALAS

HAILEY FLANAGAN

RAMSAY MILLER

LARISA TUTTLE

KAYLA FRENCH

EMILIE MULLANEY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY

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Cincinnati Ballet

CHOREOGRAPHER Q & A KAPLAN NEW WORKS SE

Creating ‘New Works’ for an Extraordinary Time

BY NICOLE DOLL

C

INCINNATI BALLET HAS LONG HAD A

commitment to supporting artists in the creation of new work. In fact, each new season typically opens with The Kaplan New Works Series at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater. This season, the pandemic forced us to pivot to alternative programming in the Fall. Our artistic staff remained resolute that New Works— such an important platform for the Company and the artform—must be produced during the 2020– 2021 Season. With strict pandemic health and safety restrictions in place, it was an ambitious undertaking. However, as with so much during these unusual times, Cincinnati Ballet collectively took a deep breath and dove into the work. Our dancers and choreographers created five world premieres via both in-person and online rehearsals, and the production was recorded using multiple cameras at the Jarson-Kaplan Theater for a familiar, yet all together new, experience. Cincinnati Ballet Resident Choreographer Jennifer Archibald debuts Pursuit; choreographer and former San Francisco Ballet soloist Dana Genshaft shares her new work, WunderKammer; internationally-renowned choreographer Helen Pickett premieres BALANCE; Cincinnati Ballet principal dancer and choreographer Melissa Gelfin De-Poli debuts Ain’t I a Wom-

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an; and Cincinnati Ballet corps de ballet artist and choreographer Taylor Carrasco premieres Regards.

We interviewed these talented and resilient choreographers about their pieces and how they create in this extraordinary moment in time. Here is a sampling of these conversations.

What are you communicating with your piece for The Kaplan New Works Series?

JENNIFER ARCHIBALD: It’s a play on power. It’s a play on the fearlessness and the sexual power of the madams of the 19th century. A lot of the madams of the 19th century had some of the highest wages of American women at that time. A lot of them funded irrigation and roadbuilding projects, and they provided their employees with healthcare. They were these brazenly public women. Even if you didn’t agree with their life choices, they were able to gain power and control of their womanhood and moved through society in this non-apologetic way.

TAYLOR CARRASCO: I decided to go the gay, queer route because that is how I identify and there have been a lot of voices like mine that have not been heard. Luckily, I’ve been given a platform. So, when I was thinking about how I wanted to explain that voice, I started gravitating towards Broadway

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HIROMI PLATT FEATURING SIRUI LIU, CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR, AND MARCUS ROMEO, CLOCKWISE , CHOREOGRAPHY BY MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI

music, because when I thought about, it is an art form that has a lot of gay men involved in it, but if you look at the subject matter of a lot of Broadway works, they’re not extremely inclusive of gays.

You’re probably not going to be lead male unless you’re strong and masculine and fawning after a beautiful woman. I wanted to juxtapose telling a story from my heart about my queerness against something that is also intrinsically queer but doesn’t always support the community in the way that I would want it to. I wanted to give people like me a space to feel like themselves.

MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI: I am exploring the voice of intersection. Intersections of equality for the voices of minority groups. Humans whose voices have been silenced, whose being has been hushed because of gender, race, religion. But more importantly, I hope to address “the how.” How can we put away the blocks of judgment between us and race, as one.

DANA GENSHAFT: My piece is about fantasy. Fantasy is the bridge our minds make when it is reaching for “knowing.” When we don’t know, we often create fantasies to make sense of the world. In fantasies, we create objects of desire, but also of fear.

The instability of the future lent itself to the desire to self-soothe with fantasy. The more I looked at that idea, the more I realized it had a very dark side. Dreams can often become nightmares, and nightmares can become pleasant when we decide to not run from the object of fear. This piece is about acceptance of the things that are unknown, strange, or don’t fit into society, that somehow don’t have a place in the logical, “real” world. A space that has room for monsters and demons, a space that allows them to become my friends. More anecdotally, I

was looking for a fabric pattern that could represent a world that is not commonplace or ordinary. I stumbled on zebra print on Amazon, and it reminded me of one of my best friends. We have an inside joke about how she is a “zebra” because she always stands out. I thought it would an interesting pattern to embody a fantasy world, and my homage to all the incredible people who often feel misunderstood because, really, they are so extraordinary.

Cincinnati Ballet

A—T H E ERIES

H E L E N P I C K E T T: BALANCE is a journey solo, a dive into the continual negotiation of life’s on and off balance, physically and emotionally. What do we choose to carry or relinquish? In the solo, there is a chair and the image of the world printed on a carpet. Is that carpet the small/interior world, and the room, the large/exterior world? Or vice versa?

How can we move fluidly between both worlds?

When we do find our balance, we dance our way through life.

Have pandemic restrictions limited your creativity or challenged it in new ways?

JENNIFER ARCHIBALD: There’s something very intimate and vulnerable that happens when you are choreographing and the pandemic has not allowed for that to happen, and I don’t think creating on Zoom will ever allow that to happen. As for being in more than one place at a time, I travel extensively, choreograph on multiple companies, and work in academia, so virtual has allowed all those gigs to happen at the same time. But I’m a lot happier when I am in front of my dancers.

HELEN PICKETT: Well, as I am an independent choreographer, I have been at home, isolating, since March 12, 2020. My choreography work for 2020 was gone. So this period of time has been all about re-imagining creativity, so much so that I created an intimate one-on-one talk show called Creative Vitality Jam Sessions that highlights the re-imagining of art and supporting and building a more equitable dance community. I have had 55 guests to date, and I need to get Victoria [Morgan] on the show! Yes, there have been challenges, but mostly it has been a huge information gathering period of time.

MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI: Restrictions due to the pandemic have definitely posed challenges. There are strict rules with the number of dancers allowed on stage at one time, certain dancers having to partner together due to cohabiting, social distancing must be kept during choreography, and masks must be worn. But these have worked to create ideas that are specific to this time.

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Cincinnati Ballet

Yo u r N a m e Here

...just a few more steps Now is your chance to be part of our historic move to 1801 Gilbert Avenue.

This summer, Cincinnati Ballet will open the Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance and we invite you to join our exclusive 1801 Campaign as a donor.

Want to make a gift? Visit https://move.cballet.org/join-the-movement/.

All 1801 Campaign donors will be invited to our grand opening celebrations in September 2021.

Please contact Sarah Templeton Wilson at stwilson@cballet.org or 513-562-1103.

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CHOREOGRAPHER Q & A

TAYLOR CARRASCO: A lot of my dancers know me so well and they trust me so much and I have so much trust in them, that I feel like we created it together. I am also so appreciative of our Ballet Master, Dale Shields. She’s incredible; She’s been my eyes by proxy through this process. As a dancer in my piece as well, I haven’t always been able to step back and watch and she has a deep understanding of my movement style and can break it down and help others achieve it as well. She also understands what I am trying to say with the piece, so she’s been integral to getting it to where it is.

DANA GENSHAFT: I am still very much in the moment when I create, maybe even more. My perspective has changed figuratively and literally. I’m looking at a screen now, making choices based on a two-dimensional surface, that I perceive to be three-dimensional. Normally, that would not feel like a smart approach, but because these ballets are presented on screen, it actually has worked.

The challenge is communication, not having the ability to actually touch another body, to feel how a step should evolve.

JENNIFER ARCHIBALD: For me, the connection between the dancers, transmitting that energy in the studio is super important and that is kind of stripped away in this process. For me, I had to look at the phrase work in a 360-degree angle, in the sense of how I am choreographing because I’m not in the room. For example, how are they holding their hands, how is the partnering going, how is the phrase work going to work from beginning to end. You have to look at your work from a different lens.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of digital productions?

HELEN PICKETT: Film has always held great interest for me. I acted and studied acting in New York after my professional dance career. Film, the art of making it, is an immensely beautiful world, full of as much detail as dance. Endless possibilities. Live theater will always carry that ephemeral, emotion-

al magic; the interaction with the sensory system is unmatchable.

DA N A G E N S H A F T: The drawbacks are that most of us who dance are stepping into new territory working with the digital medium. The technology is new, everyone is learning something in the process, and there are certainly kinks. Creatively, it is a shift as well. We have to better understand how to enhance the audience’s experience through a new medium. One benefit to screen dance is that the audience gets to see angles and proximity not often possible from a live performance. The camera can also travel or zoom closer to the action on the stage and offer multiple views. Although the magic of live performance can never be replaced, screen dance can be engaging, entertaining, and certainly immersive. With film, or screen dance, we can educate our audience through the lens.

What are your hopes for the rest of 2021? For the artform?

MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI:

My hope is that we never lose our love, our drive, and our passion for this artform. That no matter what the obstacles these times present us with, we will come back with renewed appreciation for our profession.

DA N A G E N S H A F T: I hope to give my friends really, really long hugs. I am proud of the dance world to have finally recognized the injustices that have long been prevalent in our art form. I hope and believe that the efforts for equity and representation continue to become a reality, reflected in our dance companies and worldwide.

Doors don’t just open, you have to push them open.

I believe we are at a place collectively where the doors have blasted open, and it’s messy with debris.

We are collectively on new ground now that we are here. It is less about what there is to say, and more about what there is to gain by listening. I am trying to listen more these days, making room for others, making room for the part of myself that I have taught to silence.

HELEN PICKETT: A friend of mine recently said this is not a time for hope, but action. I am in action for this beautiful and strong community of dance. I am ready to give my strength and help make sure it will thrive into the next iteration.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HIROMI PLATT FEATURING MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI & CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR, WHEN I STILL

NEEDED YOU, CHOREOGRAPHY BY HEATHER BRITT

Cincinnati Ballet

Creation often comes from working with “dancers in the moment.” How has social distancing changed that dynamic?

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Joel Stone

T. Quinn

VICE CHAIR/TREASURER

CHAIR

Amy Bixel Debbie Brant Christopher Brown Fran Carlisle Smokey Clay David Cook Judy Dalambakis Jennifer Damiano

Jerry Ewers Kristin Fishbaugh Sarah Frank Fogarty Paul Frodge Jodi Geiser Linda Greenberg Bruce Halpryn Ken Heldman

Keke Sansalone SECRETARY

Cynthia E. Henderson Lydia Jacobs-Horton Daphne Jurgensen Andrea Costa Laden Peter Laffoon Mark McAndrew Megan McCarthy-Wolf Katy Moeggenberg

Cincinnati Ballet

2020–2021 TRUSTEES

Emerson Moser Alex Muñoz Alexandra Ollinger, CFP Jim Papakirk Marty Ragland Jennifer Stein Faith Whittaker Jennifer Knight Zelkind

SUSTAINING TRUSTEES Michael Bailes Bernie Calogne Sheila Claire Cohen Joseph Dehner Connie Bergstein Dow Sandra A. Eisele, MD, MBA Joselyn Hall Kathryn Harsh

Dr. Edmond Hooker Beth Levy Leon Loewenstein Madelynn Matlock Larry McGruder Skip Merten Cathy Nwankwo Marilyn Osborn

Julie Richardson Kitty Strauss Rosenthal Morleen Rouse Diane Rumpke Tom Schiff Beth Snyder Christina Sprecher Brett Stover

Mary Talbott Heather Theders Pamela F. Thompson, CFA Serena Tsuang Kelly Vanasse M. Catherine Vernon Gary West Barbara Weyand

TRUSTEES EMERITUS Kelly Brown Laura Brunner Trish Bryan Otto M. Budig, Jr. Nancy Clagett William Cordes

Lynn Good Shelly Sherman Greene Lorrence Kellar Charles MacDonnell Richardson McKinney Tom Neyer

Carol Duane Olson Paul Ose Melody Sawyer Richardson Michael Rozow James Sammarco

Kathleen Selker Rhonda Sheakley Russell Shelton Julie Shifman Linda Smith Ronna Willis

HONORARY TRUSTEES Craig F. Maier

Rhoda Mayerson

FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Otto M. Budig, Jr.

Lorrence Kellar

Pamela F. Thompson, CFA

Dianne Dunkelman

Scott Altman Michael Bailes Deborah Brant

Kelly Brown Joe Carolin* Joe Dehner

James A. Miller Robert A. Pitcairn, Jr. Jack Rouse

Rhonda Sheakley Russell Shelton Joel Stone

PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT

TREASURER

SECRETARY

*Ex Officio

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

C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T S TA F F Victoria Morgan

PRESIDENT + CEO

ADMINISTRATION + FINANCE Joe Carolin

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE + CFO

DEVELOPMENT Sara Pomeroy

VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPY

Sarah Templeton Wilson

Missie Santomo

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Tiffany Whitcomb

Courtney Hatter

CONTROLLER

VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Tom Parrish

DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Mary French

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DATA SERVICES

Rachel Hinger

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EVENTS

Stacey Rich, CPA

STAFF ACCOUNTANT

Tyler Parker

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT + CEO

Ramsey Houston

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE ARTISTIC TEAM

Dena D’Andrea

COMPANY MANAGER

Gene Waldron SECURITY

ARTISTIC Carmon DeLeone MUSIC DIRECTOR

Suzette Boyer Webb

DIRECTOR OF SECOND COMPANY

Cervilio Miguel Amador BALLET MASTER

Dale Shields

BALLET MASTER

Michael Chertock

REHEARSAL PIANIST / ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

Youngwon French

PIANIST COORDINATOR

Angelika Bonyhati-Kovacs James Hart Phillip Roberts PIANISTS

Ingrid Fridenmaker

PARENT COORDINATOR

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

MARKETING Nicole Doll

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING + BRAND STRATEGY

Dan Wood

VIDEOGRAPHER

Katie Daly

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

PATRON EXPERIENCE + COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Tom McLaughlin

VICE PRESIDENT OF PATRON EXPERIENCE + COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Carolyn Guido Clifford DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION + COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Louanna Wyatt

PATRON ENGAGEMENT SUPERVISOR

Jess Broering Candice Handy Christina Meadows MandaLynn Moore Gwendolyn Sims Pam Taylor

PATRON ENGAGEMENT OFFICERS

OTTO M. BUDIG ACADEMY + EDUCATION Ginger Johnson

VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMY + EDUCATION

Sarah Hairston Berkley ACADEMY DIRECTOR

THE SUE AND BILL FRIEDLANDER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Carolyn Guido Clifford DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION + COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Michael Meuché

MASTER ELECTRICIAN

Danny Schultz

PROPERTY MASTER

Zack Grubbs

Jonathan Chevalier

Maura Korn

Derek Lee

ACADEMY PRINCIPAL STUDENT SERVICES MANAGER

Kara Louis

YOUTH PROGRAMS MANAGER

Elizabeth Metz

ACADEMY REGISTRAR

Donna Anderle Rosa Compostella Isabele Elefson Kerry Enders Donna Grisez Julia Gundzik Jessica Harris Sasha Hart Julius Jenkins Dawn Kelly Karen Kurelis Alyssa Manguiat Lizzy Moeller Christina LaForgia Morse David Morse Jennifer Rutherford Amy Seiwert Shauna Steele Kyle Stevenson Claire Wyatt ACADEMY + EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS

Cincinnati Ballet

Scott Altman

ASSISTANT CARPENTER ASSISTANT ELECTRICIAN

Jasmine Cosma

NKU STAGE MANAGEMENT INTERN

ATHLETIC TRAINERS Kelly Jo Rodrigo Carolyn Meder

COURTESY OF MERCY HEALTH ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE

Ivy Bayer

PUBLISHER

Amanda Boyd Walters

DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL OPERATIONS

Brittany Dexter

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Stephanie Youngquist

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR P.O. Box 14487 Cincinnati, OH 45250 Phone (513) 421-4300 Subscriptions (800) 846-4333 CincinnatiMagazine.com

PRODUCTION Melinda Dobson

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

Carissa Gandenberger STAGE MANAGER

Noelle Wedig

WARDROBE SUPERVISOR

Laura Hofmann

FIRST WARDROBE ASSISTANT

Jackie Andrews

SECOND WARDROBE ASSISTANT

James Geier

WIG MASTER AND MAKEUP ARTIST

Scott Berkley

MASTER CARPENTER

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DONOR HONOR ROLL Cincinnati Ballet

FOUNDERS CIRCLE Larry A. & Rhonda Sheakley

Margaret & Michael Valentine

DIRECTORS CIRCLE Trish & Rick Bryan Lois & Philip Cohen Loretta Motz Cook & David Cook

Sue & Bill Friedlander Lynn & Brian Good

Bruce M. Halpryn & Chas W. Riebe Debby & Jim Mason

Dianne & J. David Rosenberg* Dianne Dunkelman & Peter Schwartz

ARTISTIC CIRCLE Lauren Hannan Shafer

Karen F. Maier & Delane Starliper

Martha & Nick Ragland

Keke & Tony Sansalone

CHOREOGRAPHERS CIRCLE Anonymous Donald Beck & Dr. Lawrence Eynon Deborah & Jody Brant Kristin & Chris Fishbaugh

Sarah Frank Fogarty & Timothy Fogarty Paul & Michelle Frodge Cynthia E. Henderson Daphne & Jason Jurgensen

Peter Laffoon & John Fowler Lynn & Daniel Langmeyer Madelynn & Raymond Matlock Maria & Jim Papakirk

Moe & Jack Rouse Mary Ryland Solveiga Rush Trust Jen & John Stein John Webb & Suzette Boyer Webb

PRINCIPAL Anonymous in Memory of Blanche Frisch Maier Amy & Michael Bailes Amy Bixel Mary Ann & John Boorn Sarah & Christopher Brown Daniel Cifuentes Dr. Smokey Clay & Mr. Chris Southard Paula & Marc Comisar

Jennifer & Robert Conklin Cindy & Bob Conway Judy & Chris Dalambakis Ms. Susan Domonkos Nancy Finke Arna & Bobby Fisher Carole Giuliani Linda & Gary Greenberg Suzanne & Frank Hall Mrs. Robert Hasl Kenneth Heldman & Felicia Zakem

Anne R. Ilyinsky Barbara & Larry Kellar Levinson Estate Anne & Craig F. Maier Emerson & Mitzie Moser Barbara K. Myers Jack & Alexa Oliver Alexandra H. & Cole Ollinger Tom Schiff Susan & Russell Shelton Julie & Steven Shifman

Dr. Michael & Mrs. Debbie Snyder John F. Steele, Sr. Lisa & Joel Stone Gary & DeeDee West Faith C. Whittaker, Partner with Dinsmore & Shohl Christine & John Willig Megan McCarthy & Steve Wolf Jennifer Knight Zelkind

SOLOIST Elizabeth Barber, in honor of Travis Maier Amy Barhorst Elaine & David Billmire Sue & Ben Blaney Kelly & Tim Brown and Family Cindy Crilley

Jennifer & M. Vito Damiano Noel Julnes-Dehner & Joe Dehner Martha Mehl Dornette Michele Finch Joselyn Michelle Pfeil Anne Heldman

Margaret & Edmund Hess Theresa & Eddie Hooker Larry & Jill McGruder Karen & William McKim Sara & Alex Muñoz Susan Murray Kathy O’Brien

John Pape Reick-Mitrisin Family/ Murrplastik Systems Gayle & Bill Sherman John U. Tan Barbara Weyand Dr. Karen Zaugg, Ph.D.

*Funds held at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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DONOR HONOR ROLL

Anonymous Kate & Bill Baumann Chris Bergman & Stacey Devlin Marianna Bettman Bob & Jane Bohinski Otto M. Budig Lanthan & Louise Camblin Amy Heisel & Joe Carolin Cynthia Chua Renee Combs Kristin & David Coppage Maureen & John Doellman

Karen Petrosky & Brad Dunn Pamela & Robert Edmiston Arielle M. Goldberg Barbara & Dr. Jack Hahn Kathryn & Keith Harsh Manabu & Nami Hashimoto Maureen Heekin Rob & Genita Heidenreich Becky Hogya Kathleen & Doug Jenkins Carole & Brad Kindem* Andrea Costa Laden

Joanie & Lou Lauch Drs. Lynn & Lizbie Lin Lewis & Marjorie Daniel Foundation David Martin Tom & Margaret Osterman* Kim Pollock & Wendy Turner Maribeth & Martin Rahe Diane & William J. Rumpke, Jr. Rosemary & Mark Schlachter Mr. Neil Hoover & Mr. Shawn Scott

Justin & Lisa Shafer Susan & David Smith Valerie L. Newell & Timothy Smith Susan & John Tew Daniel Truxillo Christopher & Nancy Virgulak Roger & Jennie Wade Jo Ann Wieghaus Judy & Joe Williams Ronna & Dr. James B. Willis Charlie Wright & Lora Zinoviev

Cincinnati Ballet

CORPS

ARABESQUE Lisa & Scott Altman Mr. Robert Amott & Ms. Janice Flanagan Tim & Mary Anne Anderson William Aronstein Lauren Beckert James & Laura Blair Edwin Brott Jacklyn Bryson Chris & Jessica Cicchinelli Ken Cohen Dr. Robin Cotton & Cynthia Fitton Brian & Kelly Daley Lisa & Richard Damico Mark & Louis Dauner Kelly M. Dehan Cynthia & Stephen DeHoff Shirley Duff Alan Fleischer Barbara & Ashley Ford Sean & Lori George Andrea GeorgopoulosStraus Ralph P. Ginocchio

Mr. Clifford Goosmann & Ms. Andrea Wilson Catherine Hamilton Mary & Howard Helms Ms. Minette Hoffheimer William Housh Steven & Esther Johnson Linda & James Jurgensen Heidi Jark & Steven Kenat Rick & Kristina Klein Michael & Renee Kreeger Frances & Craig Lindner Becky & Thomas Long Mary Lutz Raymond McNeil & Kathleen Compton Susan Brenner & Steven Mombach Mr. & Mrs. Scott Muhlhauser Marilyn & Paul Porcino Ellen Rieveschl

Linda Siekmann Caprice Smith Dee & Tom Stegman Carol Talbot Nydia C. Tranter

Tamara Weik Glen Wright* Jeff & Tonya Yetter

*Funds held at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HIROMI PLATT FEATURING CINCINNATI BALLET DANCERS, AS I STARE AT DUST, CHOREOGRAPHY

BY DAVID MORSE

41

DONOR HONOR ROLL Cincinnati Ballet

TENDU Anonymous (3) Lois & Ken Allen Mark & Elizabeth Anderson Dr. Sarah Corathers & Mr. James Anthony Kris Attema Carolyn Barham Bonnie & Charles Bensonhaver Cheryl & David Bernstein Dorothy Blatt Gifford Blaylock & Anne Reed Ruth Bley William Borek & Evelyn Joseph Neil Bortz Breanne Bovara Michael & Stephanie Brough Cincinnati Financial Corp.

Nancy R. Clagett Sheila Cohen Thomas Cook Susan Cranley Aaron & Bobbi Crary Julie Crozier Dr. Michael Curran & Dr. Manisha Patel Meagen Deck Diana’s Dancewear Connie & Buzz Dow June Endicott

Tom & Debbie Flanagan Mary & Christopher French Mary & James R. Gardner Melinda Gardner Judith & Samuel Gilardi Paulette Gillig William J. Gracie & Daniel Fairbanks Bill & Christy Griesser James Gronefeld Ham & Ellie Hamilton Hansen Family Charitable Fund Valerie & Dr. Martin Haskell Ms. Camille Healy Jane Hopson Susan & Kristopher Hull Gordan Hullar & Doris Holzheimer Tonya Hurst Beth Hutchison Steven & Sarah Jent Gayle & Donald Jones Moya M. Jones Marcy & Mark Kanter Tanya Cornejo & Aaron Kellenberger Katherine D. Kinsworthy Katie & Cameron Kitchin Mary Ann & Jeff Knoop Susan Krott Carol L. Kruse

Susan & Richard Lauf Anne Lawrence Rick & Christine Lefever Deborah Livingston Phil & Laura Lucas Jodi Magee Cynthia C. Mason Louise & Steven Mason Tom & Nicole Massey Sean & Linda McCrary Janet McDaniel Leslie Mcintosh Karen McLaughlin Jeff & Lori Miller Mary Miller Michael Miller Steven I. Monder Jackie & Jeff Montgomery Benjamin & Katherine Ohlander Randall & Marianne Olson Charitable Fund Carol & Bob Olson Dr. Nan L. Oscherwitz Chris & Rachael Palermo Alice Palmer Bronwyn Park Sid & Sara Pomeroy Julia W. & Daniel Poston Tracey & William Puthoff Irene & Daniel Randolph Family

Yvonne Reissig Brian Rhame Carole & Edwin Rigaud RUGiving2?* Kitty & Dick Rosenthal Kathy & Josh Sands Alexandra Santomo Lorraine & Jerry Schlagheck Barbara Seiver Dee Shaffer Ari Shifman Chip & Susan Skidmore Jeff Smith & Laura Hopson Philip Smith Elizabeth A. Snyder Erin & Shane Starkey Elena Stein Mary Stein Katie & Tony Strike Gregory & Kristine Sturgeon Jennifer Thompson Delayne & Ben Thornburg Katrina Trimble Ron & Ginger Warner Chad & Betsy Warwick Wynn & Jerry White Laura Woods Carol & William Woods John Yacher Vladimir & Aziza Yun Marcy & Bob Ziek

THIRD POSITION Anonymous Darren & Sage Accardo Sarah Alkire Lisa Allgood Carlos Alonzo & Leticia Ortega Julia Anixt & Scott Hassell Chris & Kristen Banocy Roseanne Barone-Wirth Bettye Beaumont Justin Benoit & Stefanie Woolridge Benoit John & Helene Bentley Robert & Pamela Bosley Barabara Brewer

James Brown & Judith Masset-Brown Chris Campagna & Jodi Wyett Onassis A. Caneris MD Ruth Neuenschwander & Ernest Cavin Allison Chandler Marvin Collins Susan & Donald Crain Karl Dahlquist Angela Dealy Tiffany & Michael Domet M. Patricia & T. Patrick Donnelly Barbara Doviak Hugh & Anne Driscoll

Kara Dugan & Family Greta Elenbaas Kari & David Ellis Kay Ellis Susan & Patrick Farrell Risa & Stephen Feagins Thomas Fey Henry & Jaclyn Frondorf Jill Grisco Donna Grisez Molly L. Grogan Daniel Gruber Guy Guckenberger Jennifer Hadtrath & Diane Jezierski Brian Harte & Krystyna

Orlowski Carol Joy Haupt Deb Heidt Larry & Maggie Herms Pamela Heydt Kathleen Hileman Bridget & Brian Hoffman Martha & John Holland Nancy Horwitz Stephen Hrebenach Patricia Joseph Geoff & Betsy Keenan Ms. Carol Kerr Daniel & Katherine Kiley Mary & John Kmet Pete & Heather Kopf Tammy & Joe Kremer

Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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DONOR HONOR ROLL

Janet Schultz & Russell Lascelles Kyle Lemoi Catherine Linnemann Anne Lovell Timothy Luebbert & Joy O’Dell Mr. Edward Maj Kurt Matthys Diane Meyer Leota Meyers David & Julie Miller Jodi M. Geiser Nancy Mitchell Jerry & Susan Moore Steven Morgan & Emily Crosby Morgan Mark Morse & Lisa Murtha Mary Lou Motl Larry & Leslie Newman

M. Clare Oestreicher Kris Orsborn Bill & Jill Palmore Barbara Wagner & William Partin Nancy Phelan Lorie Phillips Mary Magner & Joseph Preston Pamela Reilly Edward & Barbara Rider Cynthia Robertson Karen Robinson Burton Roehr Stephen Rogers Robert Russ & Annette Walker-Russ Santagata Family Janet Sarran Carol & Thomas Schaber Julie & Charles Scheper

Jody Schissler, In Honor of Annabelle Adams Gretchen Serota Anne Sesler Stu & Stephanie Shroyer John & Ruth Sikorski Mrs. Barbara B. Simon Arthur & Inger Slavin Linda & Nicholas Spadaccini Eric & Jennifer Spieser Paul H. Spitz Laura & Chan Stevens John & Melanie Stuckenschneider Brandon & Sara Swinehart Dominique & Sarah Tardivon Amy & Bill Thaman Gretlyn Thomas

Barbara Timmins Tom & Torey Torre James & Susan Troutt James & Katie Turner Susan & Randy Wade Murphy Gene & Marla Waldron Jonathan & Lauren Wall Larry Warren & Diane Schoeffler-Warren William Watterson & Melissa Richmond Debbie & Dick Westheimer Andrew Wise & Elizabeth Barone Wise Dr. & Mrs. Robert Wubbolding Jennifer Young Lisa & Lockwood Zaring

Cincinnati Ballet

THIRD POSITION

*Funds held at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Covenant-First Presbyterian Church Organ Festival Presenting Todd Wilson, organist Recital is free and open to all.

Sunday, March 7, 2021 – 4 PM covfirstchurch.org

FOLLOW US @CINCINNATIMAGAZINE

Covenant-First Presbyterian Church 717 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 621-4144

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SATURDAYS 6:30PM ON CET SUNDAYS 8:30PM ON CET ARTS Join Barbara Kellar as she showcases performing artists and cultural leaders from the Greater Cincinnati community.

www.CETconnect.org

Emmy Award Winner Regional - Interview/Discussion Program

DONOR HONOR ROLL

Anonymous (2) Elisa Abes & Amber Feldman Christopher A. Ahlquist Sally Alexander Nathan & Megan Alley Omar Almakki Jane S. Anderson Paul Anderson Brenda Anthony Peter & Christie Armstrong Dr. Paule Asch Gary & Constance Ault John Back Alyce Bailey-Thomas Ms. Jamie Baker-Prewitt James Baldwin Richard & Donna Barasch Lisa Bardill Henrietta Barlag Gregory Bell Hank Bendel & Jennifer Gardner Brian & Katherine Benton Jeremy & Mary Beth Berberich Anne Maddox & John Berninger Pam Biederman Annette & John Bloomstrom Steve Bogner Aaron & Sandra Boothby Phyllis Bossin & Robert Strauss Russel Branan Meredith Briski Todd & Joy Brock Darrell & Sandra Brooke Ms. Charlotte Brooks Neal Brower Marian & Albert Brown Pamela Brown Ryan Brown & Elizabeth Stockton Tommy Brown & Anapao Dass Cynthia & Matthew Bruestle Margaret S. Bryson Tim Burroughs & Angela Lorts Karen Busche

John Butz Debbie Campbell Stephanie Campbell Matthew & Amy Carley Sandra Carpenter Tom & Mary Catalanotto Manuel & Bobbie Ceja Burak & Gulen Cevik Anne Charles Mark & Jennifer Chast Will & Betsy Chickering Jane Clarke Judy Conrad Shawn Coons Judith Cornett Chris & Ann Corrado Emily Craun Mary Croog Candace Crouse James & Linda Crozier Zenda S. Davenport Annette & Jean-Robert de Cavel Lois Deitschel David & Susan Deye Karen Deye & Heather Black Rita DiBello Liam & Lisa Dolan Emilie & David Dressler* Brandon & Rachelle Druffel Janet & Joe Dubinski Jonathan & Gina Duncan Catherine Dunlay Robert Eberhardt & Nikki Smith-Eberhardt Sandra A. Eisele, MD, MBA Andrew & Rebecca Elrod Tricia Eltonhead Dusan Encinger & Patricia Rolon Tomas & Sara Espina Amy Eyers Mark & Nancy Farrell Jason Faulkner & Theresa Tran John & Meredith Ficks Maureen Firestone Danny & Shelley Fischer Matt Flaherty & Jane DiMillo Janice Forte

Denerius Foster & Jassonlyn Dass Judith B. Francis Laurel Frank Nan Franks Anne & James Frecka William French & Jamie Rogers Kenneth Frey Joe Fugazzi Mark Gandenberger Sandra Gans Eli Garcia & Mandy La Guardia Greg & Jessica Gates Amy & Brian Gath Kathryn Gibbons Mr. Jerry Gilden Nancy Gilman Susan Glas Bethe Goldenfield Dr. Pete Goodwin Michael & Lynn Groh Jing Guo & Cui Cui Ron & Annie Hamilton Joseph Hampel Sarah Corlett Donna Harris Terry Miller Becky M. HayesHeckman Mike Hazenfield & Christine Heubi Chris Heckman & Kristen Myers Herbert Hedgecock Chris & Suzanne Hendriksen Florette Hoffheimer Jeremy Holtgrave & Amy Magnus Zachery & Sarah Horton Sandra Houck Steve & Ashley Hruby Mindi Huber Christopher Hughes Amy Ruschulte Laura Hurley Susan Jackson Louise & Bruce Jewett Cheryl Johnson Randy & Jan Johnson Daniel Jones Tony & Rose Kappesser

Michael & Danya Karram James Kaya Eric & Ellen Keller Scott & Frances Keller Leslie D. Ketchum Gary & Eileen Kilday Jay Kincaid & Helen Black Dennis King Kathryn Kipp Gail Kist Annette & Chuck Klein Kimberlee Kleshock Philip & Elizabeth Knollman John Koehler Austen Koehn Leslie Korbee Anna Gudmundsdottir & Kristinn Kristinsson Robert Kristman Judy Kroeger Joe Krumm Mary & John Kuempel Leonard Laforgia Cara LaMond Chris & Rebecca Laney Kathy Larson Marc & Lauren le Roux Susan Lennert Patricia Leo Kathy & David Leugers Teresa Leugers Linda B. Liebau Brandon Lindsay & Maya Shahani Todd & Angela Lipscomb Riverwalk--Bob & Diane Little Linnea Lose Daniel & Jennifer Luegering Tricia & Douglas Lynn Gina L. Maccarone Jennifer & Michael Maegly Dr. James L. Mahon Mark Mammel & Sharon Edelson-Mammel Carolyn Mapes Alan Margulies & Gale Snoddy Morita Marmo Randall & Katy Martinez

Cincinnati Ballet

SECOND POSITION

*Funds held at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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DONOR HONOR ROLL Cincinnati Ballet

SECOND POSITION Vicky Mary James May The Sophia C. McAllister Fund of Vanguard Charitable Kyle & Katie McCarthy William McClung & Laura Lanier Dodie McDow & Alison Norris Larry & Katy McHenry Kevin & Molly McKean Kristin Mckee Beth Mengden Justine Meyer Megan Meyer Monica M. Miles E. Huxley & Ariel Miller John B. Miller Susan Minton William & Mary Moran John H. Morgan David Morris Mark & Susan Moskowitz Regine Moulton Mark Murnan Mary Murray Patricia Murray Michael Nauman & Eline Bauwens Jeremy Neff & Karla Ruth Elizabeth Niese Hiroko Nishiyama Matt Noerpel & Dana Kuhnline Edward Nolan Cora Ogle Mary Ohlinger-Pray Jennifer Owens

David & Amanda Pallada Michael & Stacey Palmer Nilesh Patel & Avani Modi Jami & Jeffery Pelini Kit & James Petricone T. Stephen & Lynn Phillips Marian & Robert Pitcairn Drs. Michael Privitera & Marcia Kaplan Charles Quinn & Cristina Tarango Theresa Reeder John & Christina Relford William & Mary Reinert Denise Renner Pat Ressler Morgan & Mindi Rich Laura Riley Helmut & Stavra Roehrig Maryanne Rohan David & Priya Rolfes Charitable Fund Ms. Margaret Rolfes Amanda Romanello Louise & Gary Roselle Bettina Hason Ross Barbara & Victor Roth Mary Rust Robert & Penelope Rybinski Doug & Kathi Sacha Catharine B. Saelinger Andrew Sakiewicz & Naomi Hollander Michele Sandler Michelle Santangelo Rene Saran & Rochisha Narayan Martha & Lee Schimberg Jerry Schneider

Keven E. Shell & Sandra L. Wittman-Shell Kyle & Emily Shuemake Eli Shupe Jr. & Toby Ruben Barry Siegel Jacqueline Mack & Dr. Edward Silberstein Jane Simon Cameron & Mary Catherine Simoneau Stephen & Melissa Skavlem John Slawter Jay & Joanne Smale Eleanor Small Adrienne A. Smith Gary & Janet Sogar Randi & Alan Solomon Peggy Somoza Diane Spitznagel Kayla Springer Arun Sreeranganathan & Sreeja Parameswaran Cherry & Robert Staab James Stapleton & Elizabeth Shaughnessy Heather Steckel Susan & Joseph Stevens Mark & Karen Stewart Karen Stewart Valerie & Howard Stone Marianne Schwab & George Stricker Ramzi & Sheila Takieddine Olga Tamayo Lee Taylor & Krystal Smith Lindsay Taylor

Sari Thoman James L. Thompson Pamela F. Thompson Tim & Massiel Tope Renee Townley Mark & Serena Tsuang William Tucker Andrew & Anne Tung Brian Venable & Michele Lehmkuhl Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Ventura Joan Verchot Diane C. Wallace Jason & Helen Webb Jamie Welshhans John White & Caroline Sanchez Thomas & Carol Wick Beverly Williams Edward Williams Justin & Susan Williams Grace Williams Brian Willwerth & Dorothea Langsam Estate of Gene M. Wilson Robert & Judy Wilson Joseph & Deborah Winterhalter Carole Winters Michael Wozniak & Ellen Reinstatler Mary Wyett Meagan Yee Thomas & Helen Yocum Christine Zevon Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Zierolf Judi Zimmerman Zou’s Family

Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

46

DONOR HONOR ROLL

Christina V. Allen Tamara Arays Christy Backley Jacqueline Baker Pascha Barnwell Annie & James Bolf Dawn & Douglas Bruestle Melanie & Michael Bruno Angelia & Gary Butterbaugh Cristina & Francesco Carone Maria Carver Kevin Cole Robert Corgan Kim Corney Chris & Sara Cox Regina Daily Meggan & Carlos De Jesus Louise DeGraaf Carl Denneson Elisabeth Dewitt Charlotte Fedders Kathy Fidishun Alicia & Aaron Friedman Stephanie & Tom Fulton Barbara & Michael Gehrig Nan Genther Ken Germain Greg Gibson Evangelina C. Giron Scott Goodfellow Madeleine Gordon Allison & Wade Gowen Megan Haber Erma M. Hagan Natalie Hayslett Judith Hobbs

Anthony McIntire & Robert C. Hodges Anne & Matthew Horne Kristen Houston Kathleen & Theodore Hunter Carley Riley & Dave Hutten Kirby & Grant Ingram Kenneth Jordan Harriet L. Kaufman Jody Yetzer & Alexander Kayne Ruby Khoury Elysse Kidder Cheryl M. Klink Jacqueline Kopser Victoria A. Kuhlman Susan G. Kulick Patti Lang Darcy Lei Betsy Leigh Janet & Irwin Light William Magato Carl Marquette Lauren & Adam McClain Karen & Chuck Miller Mary O’Connor Marybeth O’Connor Linda A. Olinger Beth A. Palm Marian Paola Waltke Paulding Linda Petrosky Faith Pittinger Nicholas Puncer Kevin Reynolds Mary Rich Brenda & Robert Rolf Bob Roth Gabriella Scacchetti Talitha Schulte

Cindy Scovanner Kira Knight & Brian Selander George Sherrill Lise Sigward Karen Sim Aaron Smith Dana & Charles Stevenson Merrie Stillpass Edmund Strauss Hannah & Mark Taphorn David A. Tekamp Brenda & Brian Templeton Juliana & William Tobler Annelly Torres Amber L. Turner Dianne Von Handorf

Kelly & Todd Voskuhl Ann Wainscott Christy & Lawrence Walter Michael W. Webb Marilyn & Mark Wendling Amy Whitling Elaine Williams Janie Winburn Sarah Workman Krystal Ying Nick & Michelle Ziegler Ellen Zipperstein Jeff & Lisa Zupp

Cincinnati Ballet

FIRST POSITION

Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you to the donors whose gifts we received by December 29, 2020. 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 Development Coordinator, Courtney Hatter, at chatter@cballet.org or (513) 562-1117.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HIROMI PLATT FEATURING CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR, WHEN I STILL NEEDED YOU, CHOREOGRAPHY BY HEATHER BRITT

47

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PRIMARY CARE FOR THE UNIVERSE OF YOU

BUSINESS CIRCLE Cincinnati Ballet

$100,000 +

$50,000-$99,999

EST. 1947 $25,000–$49,999

$10,000–$24,999

$5,000–$9,999

$1,500–$4,999 Cincinnati Wine Festival, Inc.

Horan

Huntington Bank

Murrplastik Systems Inc

PNC Bank

$500–$1,499 Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey

Cincinnati Financial Corp.

Diana’s Dancewear

Hixson Architecture Engineering Interiors

49

F O U N DAT I O N , G OV E R N M E N T, & INSTITUTIONAL DONORS Cincinnati Ballet

$100,000+

$50,000–$99,999

The Kaplan Foundation Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees

$15,000–$49,999 Daniel & Susan Pfau Foundation

Duke Energy Foundation

Peter T. Joseph Foundation

The Linnemann Family Foundation

Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

$5,000–$14,999 Charles Scott Riley III Foundation

Crosset Family Foundation

Joni Herschede Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Mueller Family Foundation

Oliver Family Foundation

The Warrington Foundation

$500–$4,999 The Alpaugh Foundation

The Andrew Jergens Foundation

Dance USA The Gershuny Foundation

The Saenger Family Foundation

ARTSWAVE PARTNERS Cincinnati Ballet acknowledges the following Partner Companies, Foundations, and their employees who generously participate in the Annual ArtsWave Community Campaign at the $100,000+ level. Your support helps make our community vibrant and connects people all across our region through the arts. Thank you!

P&G Fifth Third Bank and the Fifth Third Foundation GE Aviation Western & Southern Financial Group Cincinnati Bell PNC Greater Cincinnati Foundation

The Kroger Co. The Cincinnati Insurance Companies Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Macy’s Great American Insurance Group

Enquirer Media The Thomas J. Emery Memorial Ohio National Financial Services The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees

U.S. Bank Duke Energy Cincinnati Business Courier The E.W. Scripps Company and Scripps Howard Foundation Cincinnati Reds

Thank you to our Business Circle, foundation, government, and institutional donors who supported us through cash and in-kind contributions received by December 29, 2020. 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 Development Coordinator, Courtney Hatter, at chatter@cballet.org or (513) 562-1117.

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Nancy F. Walker Memorial

SCHOLARSHIPS Classical Vocal and Instrumental Divisions

© Van Cliburn Foundation

Kasey Shao 2020 High School Scholarship Winner

VIRTUAL AUDITIONS

Materials due March 21, 2021 ELIGIBILITY

High School and College Juniors and Seniors

in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio; Dearborn County in Indiana; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties in Kentucky APPLY matineemusicalecincinnati.org

$50,000

TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE