NEW WORKS CREATIVE TEAM

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 Season and was promoted to Apprentice for the corps de ballet mem- 15–16 Season. With the company, he has perber at Cincinnati Bal- formed works by Ji í Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Trey let. He trained with McIntyre, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and more. He the New Mexico Ballet was recently the recipient of the MacDowell ArtCompany and School of ist Grant from the Cincinnati MacDowell Society, American Ballet and has tak- and given the opportunity to choreograph for Cinen summer intensives with Boston Ballet, Ballet cinnati Ballet’s 2018 and 2019 The Kaplan New Chicago, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. He joined Works Series. Carrasco is extremely proud to be a Cincinnati Ballet Second Company in the 14–15 part of the Cincinnati Ballet Family.

SHARON HUIZINGA

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.

crafting memorable culinary events and delivering healthful family meals directly to your door

WUNDERKAMMER

World Premiere

CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Dana Genshaft

MUSIC Wonder by Galamatias, The Whole Universe Wants to be Touched by Nils Frahm arranged by Kamran Adib 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, 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.

SHARON HUIZINGA

LIGHTING DESIGNER See page 19.

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

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.

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 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

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

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

Lisa Damico Kelly M. Dehan ÉTOILE ASSOCIATES

Caprice Gilpin Linda Greenberg Renee Nierman Kreeger Martha Ragland Lisa Sampson* Tamara Weik, ASID

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

Sarah Frank Fogarty Melinda Gardner Jodi Geiser Camille Healy Minette Ho eimer Theresa Hooker Tonya Hurst Marcy Kanter Susan Krott Deborah Livingston* Lynn Langmeyer Laura R. Lucas Joselyn Michelle Pfeil Marilyn Porcino Julia Poston Tracey Putho Yvonne Reissig Carole Rigaud Keke Sansalone Susan Shelton Jen Stein Katrina Trimble* Faith C. Whittaker,

Partner with

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP Ronna Willis Laura Woods Jennifer Knight Zelkind

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

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

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.