1 - 4,
Mona Dermatology is a proud season partner of the Cincinnati Ballet.
LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP
DEAR FRIEND OF CINCINNATI BALLET,
Thank you for joining us as we conclude our 2024–2025 season with a captivating and emotionally resonant triple bill. This program showcases the distinct choreographic voices of Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, David Morse, and Alexander Ekman, each off ering a compelling exploration of storytelling through movement.
We begin the evening with the regional premiere of Delmira by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. This powerful work is inspired by the life and poetry of Delmira Agustini, one of Latin America’s trailblazing modernist poets. Ochoa translates Agustini’s passion, vulnerability, and artistry into mesmerizing movement, weaving symbolic imagery into a dance that feels both intimate and timeless.
From there, we transition to David Morse’s Our Story, a deeply introspective and cinematic piece that contemplates one of history’s darkest moments—the Holocaust. Morse approaches this work with striking sensitivity, exploring the profound impact of remembrance and our shared responsibility to honor the past. This evocative piece asks us to look inward, to acknowledge our collective humanity, and to consider the lessons that history continues to teach us.
We conclude the evening with Alexander Ekman’s Cacti, a brilliantly clever and self-aware take on contemporary dance. Playful, theatrical, and often laugh-out-loud funny, this work pokes fun at the art form’s more exaggerated tendencies while celebrating its beauty and complexity. Ekman’s sharp wit and inventive staging promise an experience unlike any other.
Together, these three works form an unforgettable evening of dance—one that delights, challenges, and moves us in unexpected ways. Whether through poetic expression, refl ection, or humor, each piece off ers a unique perspective on the world around us.
This season’s success would not have been possible without you—our incredible audience. Your unwavering support, enthusiasm, and love for this art form fuel everything we do. Whether you’ve been with us for years or are joining us for the fi rst time, we are profoundly grateful to have you as part of our Cincinnati Ballet family.
While we celebrate the culmination of this extraordinary season, we are also looking ahead with excitement. Next season promises to be just as bold, beautiful, and moving, with new works, beloved classics, and unforgettable performances that continue to push the boundaries of dance. We invite you to join us once again as we embark on another thrilling journey of artistic discovery with Cincinnati Ballet.
CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR Artistic Director
A proud sponsor of the musical arts
2024 –2025 SEASON SPONSORS
MARGARET AND MICHAEL VALENTINE
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
DIRECTOR’S VISION SPONSORS
James Crosset
Bartlett and Vicky & Rick Reynolds
Craig & Lucy Joffe
Steven & Esther Johnson
Jennifer & Vito Damiano
DELMIRA SPONSORS
Jen & John Stein
Barbara K. Myers
Ladislas & Vilma Segoe Family Fund
The Victoria Morgan Women’s Choreographer and Artist Fund
Charles Scott Riley III Foundation
CACTI SPONSOR
Donald Beck and Dr. Lawrence Eynon
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
OUR STORY SPONSORS
Jody & Debbie Brant
Leslie & Connie Dow
Linda & Gary Greenberg
Fred & Patti Heldman Charitable Fund of GCF
Gloria Lipson & Dr. Lou Gottlieb
Dianne & J. David Rosenberg
Alice Schneider
Gina & Jonathan Blatt
Bret & Alison Caller
Shelly Gerson & Jeff Zipkin
Alana Gerson-Levi & Ariel Levi
Joel & Lisa Stone
Sarah & David Wise
Joshua & Chrissie Blatt
Ariella & Andrew Cohen
Jack & Kay Geiger
Aida & Chase Kohn
Karen Meyer & Rick Michelman
Sherri & Adam Symson
Amy Susskind Weiskopf & David Weiskopf
Linda & Andy Berger
Julie & John Cohen
Philip & Sheila Cohen
Jim & Meredith Friedman
Diane & Carl Iseman
Sylvia Shor
John & Tiffany Whitcomb
Felicia Zakem & Ken Heldman
ACADEMY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
With a mission to enrich lives, inspire excellence, and cultivate community through the power of dance, Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy serves the greater Cincinnati area through world-class dance education programs and unparalleled student performance opportunities.
CHILDREN’S CLASSES
Ages 2 – 7
Introductory classes in ballet and creative movement designed to inspire a lifelong love of dance.
Preparatory through advanced
ADAPTIVE DANCE
Ages 4 and up
CB Moves, developed in collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s, fosters a love of movement and creative expression for individuals with physical and
TRAINING DIVISION
Photography: Angie Lipscomb
Photography: Mikki Schaffner
Photography: Angie Lipscomb
Professional Training Division | Photography: Aaron M. Conway
OUR STORY PARTNERS
PHOTOGRAPH
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Since 1927, ArtsWave has been the primary way to fund Cincy’s arts. Gifts from ArtsWave Members are invested in nearly every neighborhood and town across the Cincinnati region, supporting arts organizations like Cincinnati Ballet that create a vibrant economy and a connected community.
Become a member today and discover what we can do, together.
CINCINNATI BALLET LEADERSHIP
CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Cervilio Miguel
Amador is the Artistic Director of Cincinnati Ballet.
Cervi is an artist and transformative fi gure in the dance world. He trained at the Vocational Ballet School in Camagüey, Cuba and the National Ballet School of Cuba before joining the National Ballet of Cuba, where he advanced to Corifeo (demi-soloist). In 2004, he joined Cincinnati Ballet as a Soloist, and in 2006, he was promoted to Principal Dancer, becoming one of the youngest in the company’s history.
Over his 16-year career with Cincinnati Ballet, Cervi performed world premieres by choreographers such as Victoria Morgan, Adam Hougland, Travis Wall, Val Caniparoli, Jessica Lang, and Luca Veggetti. He also served as a union delegate for over a decade. Cervi has performed worldwide as a guest artist and taught at various schools. He staged works for Victoria Morgan and Jennifer Archibald and judged prestigious ballet competitions, including UBC, YAGP, and VKIBC.
After retiring as Principal Dancer in the 2019-2020 season, Cervi transitioned to the role of Rehearsal Director, where he focused on coaching and mentoring dancers both inside and outside the studio. He co-founded Moving Arts and served as its Artistic Director from 2018 to 2023. He also collaborated with Cincinnati Opera, performed in Lumenocity, and was featured in an Emmy award-winning PBS documentary about his journey from Cuba.
In September 2023, the Cincinnati Ballet Board appointed Cervi as Interim Artistic Director. In this capacity, he planned repertoire for upcoming seasons, commissioned new works, and collaborated with the leadership team to shape his artistic vision. Cervi has been instrumental in fostering community partnerships and broadening the reach of the art form both locally and internationally. He was a fi nalist for the 2024 CreativeOhio Champion Advocacy Award in the Artist Champion category. The Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees appointed Cervi as permanent Artistic Director in December 2024.
DEBORAH S. BRANT PRESIDENT AND CEO
The Board of Trustees appointed Deborah S. Brant President and CEO of Cincinnati Ballet in March 2024. For many years, Brant has fostered a deep and meaningful relationship with Cincinnati Ballet and has been one of the organization’s biggest supporters. Brant is the former Chair of the Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees and The Cincinnati Ballet Foundation and led the capital campaign committee that secured funding to construct the 62,000-squarefoot, $32 million Cincinnati Ballet Mar-
garet and Michael Valentine Center for Dance in Walnut Hills.
Ballet has been central to Brant’s life since childhood in Akron, Ohio, where she began lessons at age 9. She stopped dancing after high school and began studying American Studies and Art History at Brandeis University. She went on to create a successful fundraising career that included work in Washington, D.C., and New York City as a fundraiser and grants writer for The Kennedy Center | National Symphony Orchestra, as well as a fundraising consultant for New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company,
CINCINNATI BALLET LEADERSHIP
and Jacob’s Pillow, among others. Brant moved to Cincinnati in 1998 where she continued as a fundraising consultant for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Prospect House, and the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Philanthropy is a family tradition, one Brant learned from her parents and grandparents who were themselves dedicated volunteers. In addition to her tireless philanthropic work for Cincinnati Ballet, Brant is also a former Board Chair of the Mayerson JCC, Jewish Federation
of Cincinnati, and Most Valuable Kids of Cincinnati, Inc. (MVK) and is currently a Trustee of The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati and CreativeOhio. Brant is a past recipient of The Cincinnati Enquirer ’s Women of the Year Award, the 2021 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Cincinnati Chapter, And Volunteer of the Year Award from the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.
DALE SHIELDS REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Dale Shields trained at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Butler University before joining Indianapolis Ballet Theatre where she rose to principal dancer under artistic director George Verdak. Shields performed principal roles in productions including Giselle , The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coppélia, Night Shadow, The Moor’s Pavane, and many original works. She 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, Amy Seiwert, among others.
CARLOS QUENEDIT REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Carlos Quenedit is an accomplished artist renowned for his captivating performances in classical and contemporary ballet productions. During his career, Carlos was principal dancer with several companies including San Francisco Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Houston Ballet, as well as Principal Guest Artist with the Joffrey Ballet, and Soloist
with the National Ballet of Cuba. He has graced the stage in a wide array of principal roles, including Albrecht in Helgi Tomasson’s Giselle , Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, and Basilio in Tomasson/Possokhov’s Don Quixote. His repertoire extends to the works of iconic choreographers, including George Balanchine pieces such as Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux , Divertimento No. 15 , and Jewels and Jerome Robbins’ In the Night (2nd movement) and Dances at a
CINCINNATI BALLET LEADERSHIP
Gathering as the Purple Boy. Quenedit has also collaborated with worldrenowned choreographers such as Helgi Tomasson, Yuri Possokhov, Christopher Wheeldon, and William Forsythe and danced in notable productions such as Jean de Brienne in Rudolf Nureyev’s
Raymonda Act III and Ashly Page’s Guide to Strange Places. Throughout his career, Carlos Quenedit has graced stages at venues worldwide, from San Francisco War Memorial Opera House to the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
YOSHIHISA ARAI REHEARSAL DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR
SECOND COMPANY – CB2
Yoshihisa Arai began his Ballet training in Japan. In 2005, Arai began training with the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London. While he was a student, Arai performed in works by Sir David Bintley, Sir Frederick Ashton, and Sir Kenneth MacMillan with The Royal Ballet and he was a Finalist of the Prix de Lausanne in 2007. Upon graduation, Arai joined Northern Ballet in Leeds. In 2011, Arai transferred his career to the United States and joined Tulsa Ballet. In 2012, Arai joined The Joffrey Ballet Chicago under the leadership of Ashley Wheater MBE, where he performed countless principal and corps roles in worldrenowned classical, contemporary, and original works by exceptional choreographers like Gerald Arpino, George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Alexander Ekman, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Douglas Lee, Edwaard Liang, Lar Lubovitch, Cathy Marston, Wayne McGregor, John Nuemeier,
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Krzysztof Pastor, Justin Peck, Yuri Possokov, Jerome Robbins, Liam Scarlett, Stanton Welch, and Christopher Wheeldon. As a choreographer, Arai has created several new works for The Joffrey Ballet, as well as a world premiere with Colorado Ballet. He has also choreographed a new Appalachian Spring for The Joffrey Ballet Studio Company in collaboration with the Illinois Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Arai has been invited to create a world premiere in collaboration with Berlin-based composer, designer, and Tony Award-winning choreographer, Christopher Wheeldon and Alondora de la Parra, founder and conductor of Festival PAAX GNP in Mexico. Arai joined Cincinnati Ballet as a Rehearsal Director of Cincinnati Ballet and Director of Second Company – CB2 in 2023. Since then, Arai has staged Prelude in collaboration with the CSYO and Poetry In Motion for CB2, choreographed Don Giovanni and La Traviata with Cincinnati Opera in 2024 and has a new creation slated for summer 2025.
DIRECTOR’S VISION: NO BOUNDARIES
DELMIRA
CHOREOGRAPHER Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
COMPOSER Juan Pablo Acosta
STAGER Melody Mennite
COSTUME DESIGNER Mark Eric
SCENIC AND LIGHTING DESIGNER Christopher Ash
CO-LIGHTING DESIGNER Solomon Weisbard
LIGHTING ADAPTATION Trad A Burns
World Premiere: September 21, 2023, by Houston Ballet in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center in Houston, Texas.
Costumes and Scenery courtesy of Houston Ballet
OUR STORY
CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHER David Morse
COMPOSERS Steve Reich, Luc Ferrari, Arvo Pärt
SCENIC DESIGNER Samantha Reno
COSTUME DESIGNER Noelle Wedig-Johnston
LIGHTING DESIGNER Trad A Burns after Tony Tucci
World Premiere: May 13, 2022, by Cincinnati Ballet in the Aronoff Center for the Arts, Cincinnati, Ohio
CACTI
CHOREOGRAPHER, SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER Alexander Ekman
COMPOSERS Franz Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert Symphony in D Minor, “Death and the Maiden”: IV. Presto by Franz Schubert, arranged by Andy Stein.
ENSEMBLE The Opus 76 Quartet, Keith Stanfield + Zsolt Eder, violins; Ashley Stanfield, viola; Daniel Ketter, cello TEXT AND VOICE OVER Spenser Theberge
STAGER Ève-Marie Dalcourt and Samuel van der Veer
LIGHTING DESIGNER Tom Visser
LIGHTING ADAPTATION Trad A Burns
World Premiere: February 25, 2010; Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (the Hague, The Netherlands)
Costumes and Scenery courtesy of Tulsa Ballet
DELMIRA
CHOREOGRAPHER Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
COMPOSER Juan Pablo Acosta
STAGER Melody Mennite
COSTUME DESIGNER Mark Eric
SCENIC AND LIGHTING DESIGNER Christopher Ash
CO-LIGHTING DESIGNER Solomon Weisbard
LIGHTING ADAPTATION Trad A Burns
PROGRAM NOTES
Delmira tells the tragic yet empowering story of Uruguayan poet Delmira Agustini. She defied the cultural standards of the early 1900s Latin America. In a literary world dominated by men, Agustini brought female desire and sexuality to the forefront through innovative verses in her modernist works. She boldly pushed boundaries through her poetry; however, her husband Enrique Job Reyes only perceived Delmira’s poetry as a hobby. That, combined with a new love interest in Argentinian author Manuel Ugarte, led Delmira to become the fi rst woman in Uruguay to ask for and be granted a divorce. Tragically, her life was cut short by her own ex-husband when she was just 27 years old. In the ballet, Delmira’s short life is told through the imagery of her own poetry.
ANNABELLE LOPEZ OCHOA
CHOREOGRAPHER
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa is a prolifi c, award-winning, and sought-after choreographer that has created more than a hundred ballets for 84 dance companies around the world such as the Dutch National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, English National Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, Queensland Ballet, Scapino Ballet, Miami City Ballet and New York City Ballet to name a few. A versatile choreographer, Lopez Ochoa’s wide-ranging body of work includes short conceptual pieces, fulllength narratives, and dance fi lms. Since 2019, Annabelle is the program director of the Contemporary Ballet Summer pro-
gram of the School at Jacob’s Pillow.
Annabelle is one of the world’s busiest choreographers (a quote Dance Magazine 2016) as well as one of the very few female choreographers who excels in narrative ballet. She has successfully created 14 narrative ballets to date such as “FRIDA,” “Coco Chanel, the life of a fashion icon,” “Doña Peron,” “Callas, La Divina,” “A Streetcar named desire.” In April 2025, Annabelle premiered a brand-new full-length version of Carmen for Miami City Ballet.
Annabelle is delighted to take on the position of resident choreographer at Dortmund Ballet from the season 2025/26, a position that she will share with Edward Clug.
DELMIRA
JUAN PABLO ACOSTA
COMPOSER
Juan Pablo Acosta is a composer, musical director, arranger, producer, and performer. He has composed six major ballets for renowned companies, including Houston Ballet (USA), Miami City Ballet (USA), Alberta Ballet (Canada), BFDA (Colombia), Ballet Nacional Dominicano (Dominican Republic), and Ballet Metropolitano de Medellín (Colombia).
He holds a Bachelor of Music with a focus on classical guitar and a Master’s in Latin and Caribbean Music from the University of Antioquia, where he earned cum laude distinction for his research.
MELODY MENNITE STAGER
Melody Mennite is a Principal dancer formerly with Houston Ballet, sought after Choreographer, and Mentor/Director for leaders in the dance industry. She frequently appears as an actress in fi lm and tv. Melody is currently a dancer in the creation based company Vitacca Ballet. Ms. Mennite has graced the cover of Dance Magazine, Pointe magazine, and Dance Europe and is celebrated as the Audrey Hepburn of ballet due to her dynamic acting and a predisposition for comedic roles. Some of her classical Principal roles include Odette/Odile, Aurora, Kitri, Sugar Plum Fairy, Cinderella, Manon, Juliet, The Sylph in Bournanville’s La Sylphide, Nikya in La Bayadere. During Melody’s professional career she has originated roles in ballets by choreographers Christopher
In 2020, he was nominated for a Latin Grammy with Los Cumbia Stars. For over two decades, Acosta served as musical director and composer for Ballet Folklórico de Antioquia (BFDA) and Los Cumbia Stars, leading over 1,000 performances across 20 countries.
His work extends to the world of tango, having composed for acclaimed artists such as Argentine singer Marcelo Tommasi, the Pan American Symphony Orchestra, F-31, and Orquesta Típica Reducida. He also created the score for the tango ballet Naciste Vos, performed in the United States, Dominican Republic, and Colombia.
Wheeldon, Justin Peck, Stanton Welch, Ben Stevenson, Christopher Bruce, Jorma Elo, Cathy Marston, Paul Taylor, Aszure Barton, Nicole Fonte, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Garret Smith as well as others. Dancing and choreographing on film has earned her awards for several fi lms, including a feature for her in the best short fi lm category from Festivus Film festival, in the fi lm Self Sabotage and for her fight choreography in the fi lm Bryan. Aside from creating new commissions and restaging her choreography, Melody has most recently accepted the position of Festival Artistic Director with Ballet Alliance and looks forward to mentoring Artistic Directors and member companies, programming the festival, and monitoring emerging choreographers and their works for the next three years of Ballet Alliance.
DELMIRA
MARK ERIC COSTUME DESIGNER
Mark Eric is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and now resides in New York City, where he designs costumes and made-to-order creations. After years of designing in the New York City fashion industry, he discovered his passion for costuming and started his eponymous studio MARK ERIC design in 2017, where he focuses on designing and styling for the stage.
Mark Eric has designed costumes for a diverse roster of choreographers including: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Amy Hall
CHRISTOPHER ASH
Garner, Sidra Bell, Gustavo Remírez Sansano, Lauren Lovette, Andrew McNicol, Jamar Roberts, Robert Battle, Rennie Harris and Marguerite Donlon to name a few. He has costumed works for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theater, Houston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Ballet Hispánico among others and is excited to share his designs with a Cincinnati Ballet for the fi rst time.
MARKERICdesign.com @MARK ERICdesign
SCENIC AND LIGHTING DESIGNER
Philadelphia-based Designer and Filmmaker, Christopher Ash works across Theatre, Opera, Dance and Film. His work has been recognized for 15 awards.
Dance credits include: Delmira (Houston); Maria Callas (Municipal de Santiago); Mad’Moiselle, Buscando e Juan , Doña Peron (Ballet Hispanico); Francis Footwork (CoisCéim Dance Tour); Rivers, Harlem Night Song (National Dance Institute - NYU Skirball); Wuthering Heights (Charlotte Ballet).
Broadway credits include: New York, New York , Sunday in the Park with George, Saint Joan,Network, The Prince of Broadway, The Crucible and On the Town.
Theatre credits include: I Want Absolute Beauty (Ruhrtriennale Bochum); Mijn Lieve Gunstelling (International Theatre Amsterdam); Rock & Roll Man (Off Broadway); Cost of Living, Choir
Boy, The Garbologists, Sweat, Having Our Say (Philadelphia Theatre Company); The Lost Colony (Roanoke Island); The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night Time (All-For-One); Future Breath (Science Gallery Dublin).
Opera designs include: Fanny and Alexander (La Monai/ De Munt); William Tell (Opera Lausanne); Dead Man Walking (The Met); Don Giovanni (Opéra national de Paris); The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahogany (Festival Aix); Exterminating Angel (The Met & Salzburg); La traviata (Houston Grand Opera).
Film credits include: Letter to our Children (Resonance Works); My Patina, No Regrets: a Piaf Affair, Feast (Bearded Ladies Cabaret); The Nearness of You (Martha Graham Cracker); Hours (Nichole Canuso Dance Company); Rose: a true story and song (Guggenheim); Fishtown Hoops (Matt & Ione Saunders); Covid 1999, Inside Us (Ill Doots); Some Kind of Universe (Playmakers Repertory Company).
OUR STORY
CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHER David Morse
COMPOSERS Steve Reich, Luc Ferrari, Arvo Pärt
SCENIC DESIGNER Samantha Reno
COSTUME DESIGNER Noelle Wedig-Johnston
LIGHTING DESIGNER Trad A Burns after Tony Tucci
PROGRAM NOTES
This work is dedicated to all the victims who suffered at the hands of Nazi brutality. No words are precise or powerful enough to describe the unimaginable times they lived through—loss of life, families ripped apart, displacement, human misery, but also extraordinary bravery, kindness, and heroism showed by so many in the face of the ultimate tribulation. ‘Our Story’ is a living memorial; both a look back into the wretched maw of evil and a call to action that we might each root out a bit of hate within ourselves and more deeply appreciate the humanity of our neighbors.
—David Morse
DAVID MORSE CHOREOGRAPHER
David Morse is a choreographer, teacher, and musician. Before joining the faculty of Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy, he danced for six seasons as a soloist with Cincinnati Ballet. He previously spent eight seasons with Charlotte Ballet, after training under Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Darleen Callaghan, Mark Diamond, Patricia McBride, and Kathryn Moriarty. During his performing career, he danced featured roles in the works of George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Dwight Rhoden, and Twyla Tharp, as well as a broad range of classical repertory.
As a choreographer, David’s works have been performed nationwide by professional companies, universities, and pre-professional programs, earning recognition through various awards and accolades. He has twice participated in the New York Choreographic Institute, creating new works on dancers of New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet. He has also choreographed
for Ballet Academy East and Point Park University.
As Artistic Collaborator at Cincinnati Ballet, David has created several new ballets for the company, including Our Story, a one-act work commissioned in partnership with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center as a commemorative tribute to Holocaust victims.
Since 2023, he has served as Principal of Cincinnati Ballet’s Professional Training Division and was recently promoted to Academy Principal. He has been honored with nominations for the Rolex Mentor Protégé Arts Initiative and the Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship.
An accomplished pianist, David has worked as an accompanist for Cincinnati Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, The Chautauqua Institution, and Regional Dance America, among others. He has also worked with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Academy East, Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, and New York City Ballet.
OUR STORY
NOELLE WEDIG-JOHNSTON COSTUME DESIGNER
Noelle Wedig-Johnston is an experienced and highly acclaimed costume designer with an extensive career spanning theater, opera, ballet, and fi lm. Specializing in costume creation, design, and production management, she has worked for prominent companies such as The Know Theatre, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, The Cincinnati Opera, and The Nashville Ballet. Her work has earned critical praise, including recognition for her striking designs in productions like Neverwhere and The Handmaid’s Tale (Know Theatre).
Noelle’s designs have been showcased in prestigious publications such as American Theatre Magazine and The Cincinnati Enquirer, and her work was featured
TONY TUCCI
in World Stage Design. Notable accolades include multiple nominations and awards, such as the Broadway World Cincinnati nomination for Narnia (2024) and Best costumes for Beauty and The Beast (2014). She earned a fellowship from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she earned her MFA in Fibers.
In addition to her design work, Noelle has contributed to educational and community-driven projects, such as The Big Pig Gig and ArtWorks, and SCAD. Her expertise in fabric design, combined with her passion for theater and visual storytelling, has made her a sought-after designer and technician across diverse performance genres.
ORIGINAL LIGHTING DESIGNER
Designer for Ballet Austin for 35 years, lighting designer/ director for Ben Stevenson’s Texas Ballet Theater, Bruce Wood Dance. Recently designed Flemming Flindt’s Phaedra for the Mariinsky Theatre in Vladivostok Russia, Bernstein’s Mass at the Long Center and a new production of Cinderella, choreographed by Ben Stevenson for the National Ballet of China. Designed for Washington Ballet, Houston Dance Salad, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Colora-
do Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet West, Cirque Ziva-Golden Dragon Acrobats, Royal Danish and Swedish Ballets, Hong Kong Ballet, Ballet Caracas, Christopher Bruce’s Kingdom- Geneva Ballet, Flemming Flindt’s Caroline Mathilde and Lucifer’s Daughter-Royal Danish Ballet. Tucci designed for musical theater, including Austin productions of Damn Yankees, Carousel, West Side Story, Annie, Gypsy, Jesus Christ Superstar, Music Man, Oklahoma, A Chorus Line, Carousel, Sound of Music.
OUR STORY
TRAD A BURNS
LIGHTING DESIGN AND ADAPTATION
Since 1989, Trad has been designing scenery and lighting professionally for theatre, dance, and amusement parks. Recent credits include the World Premier of Oklahoma City Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Don Quixote for Kansas City Ballet, Romeo & Juliet for Orlando Ballet, The Wizard of Oz for Hong Kong Ballet, Into the Woods , Midsummer Night’s Dream for Great Lakes Theatre, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure for The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World & Disneyland Park, as well as World premiere ballets for Ma Cong, Andrea Schermoly and Marika Brussel.
Over the years, Trad has created world-premier works for such notable choreographers as Trey McIntyre, Val Caniparoli, James Kudelka, Edwaard Liang, Annabelle Lopez Ocha, Kenneth Tindall, Matthew Neenan, Adam Hougland, Garrett Smith, Jessica Lang, Ale-
jandro Cerrudo, Kirk Peterson, Nicola Fonte, Donald Byrd, Jodie Gates, Gina Patterson, Amy Seiwert, Ma Cong, Andrea Schermoly, Jennifer Archibald, Penny Saunders, Stephanie Martinez, Septime Webre, Devon Carney, Victoria Morgan, Robert Curran, James Sofranko, and Darrell Grand Moultrie.
As theatre designer, Trad’s designs have been see at New York Theatre Workshop (NYC), The Public Theatre (NYC), La Mama ETC (NYC), HERE (NYC), Classic Stage Company (NYC), North Shore Music Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Public Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Cedar Point, Valleyfair, Knott’s Berry Farm, Kings Island, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Japan, Disney Sea, Disney Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines, Universal Studios Florida and Japan, Woodstock Ice Productions and The Family of Charles M. Schulz.
CACTI
CHOREOGRAPHER, SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER Alexander Ekman
COMPOSERS Franz Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert Symphony in D Minor, “Death and the Maiden”: IV. Presto by Franz Schubert, arranged by Andy Stein.
ENSEMBLE The Opus 76 Quartet, Keith Stanfield + Zsolt Eder, violins; Ashley Stanfield, viola; Daniel Ketter, cello
TEXT AND VOICE OVER Spenser Theberge
STAGER Ève-Marie Dalcourt and Samuel van der Veer
LIGHTING DESIGNER Tom Visser
LIGHTING ADAPTATION Trad A Burns
PROGRAM NOTES
In Cacti, Alexander Ekman turns his keen eye upon the scene that birthed him: contemporary dance itself. A gleeful and knowing parody of the art form’s greater excesses, Cacti is an affectionate, pointed, and often hilarious deconstruction of the affectations of dance.
Sixteen dancers stand, seemingly trapped, on oversized Scrabble tiles. While a string quartet plays and spoken recordings give tongue-in-cheek narration of the action, the dancers run, fall, writhe, and try to escape their invisible prisons; eventually—and this is the important bit—they each acquire a cactus. But what does it all mean?
Ekman has written: “This work is about how we observe art and how we often feel the need to analyze and ‘understand’ art. I believe that there is no right way and that everyone can interpret and experience art the way they want. Perhaps it’s just a feeling that you can’t explain or perhaps it’s very obvious what the message is.
“Cacti was created during a period of my life where I was very confused and upset every time someone would write about my work. I did not find it fair that one person was going to sit there and sort of decide for everyone what the work was about. I have stopped reading my reviews, but still question this unfair system mankind has created.
“While creating Cacti, for the first time I had the chance to create a work with musicians in the studio, which was a new way of working for me. Together with a string quartet, we created a rhythmical game between dancers and musicians which became the score for the work.
“Cacti demands high concentration both from dancers and musicians, which makes it very exciting to observe. I have always been fascinated by human capability during highest concentration and our way of acting in a state of emergency.”
—Notes courtesy of Alexander Ekman
ALEXANDER EKMAN
CHOREOGRAPHER
Alexander Ekman is a Swedish dancer and choreographer resident in Stockholm Sweden. He is known internationally for his work with many dance companies around the world. Ekman has become known as the dance world’s own “l’enfant terrible” Ekman has created pieces mainly for Opera houses and Theatres dance companies around the world. He also directs fi lms, music videos as well as live performances
in pop up locations and Museums. Ekman is known for his fast paced captivating works. One of his main talents is his sense for timing, witty humour and clever transitions. He aims to create work which the majority can relate to, human problems and situations. Since 2006 he has fully devoted his time creating pieces which both entertain and question the observer. He aims to transform the atmosphere in the theatre and to surprise the audience. Ekman has created 55 works to date, many of which are performed
CACTI
around the world by renowned dance companies such as Netherlands Dance Theater, Paris Opera Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Göteborg Danskompani, Joff rey Ballet among many others. In
2024 Ekman was invited to direct and choreograph the performance segment during the opening ceremony of the Paralympic games in Paris 2024, France.
THE OPUS 76 QUARTET ENSEMBLE
The Opus 76 Quartet, established in 2017, has swiftly become a leading force in classical music, earning acclaim from Gramophone, The Strad, and Bachtrack for their compelling performances, innovative programming, and dedication to education. Hailed as “Kansas City’s Premier String Quartet” by The K.C. Independent , the ensemble—Keith Stanfield, Zsolt Eder, Ashley Stanfield, and Daniel Ketter—has made a signifi cant impact with performances across the U.S., including their Carnegie Hall debut, praised by Gramophone as “a fi ne refl ection of their five-year journey from regional emergence to national recognition.”
Renowned for their extensive discography, the Quartet has recorded the complete Beethoven cycle and works by Brahms, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Dvořák, and Schubert. Their recording of Mozart’s Six Quartets Dedicated to Haydn for Kansas Public Radio earned
international acclaim in several musical journals.
The Opus 76 Quartet has an established history of working with ballet companies, collaborating with the Kansas City Ballet, the Oklahoma City Ballet and now the Cincinnati Ballet for their 2025 season. They have performed alongside distinguished artists, including pianist Ramona Pansegrau, violist Paul Neubauer and clarinetist David Krakauer.
Beyond the stage, their Music Making Minds initiative brings music education to underserved communities. As Artists-in-Residence at The Midwest Trust Center and Educators-in-Residence at the Youth Symphony of Kansas City, they continue to shape the next generation of musicians.
With upcoming international performances and their Opus 76 Signature Series , the Quartet remains dedicated to delivering world-class artistry while deepening their commitment to ballet collaborations and innovative musical storytelling.
SAMUEL VAN DER VEER STAGER
Samuel van der Veer is a freelance performance artist from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where he graduated from Codarts University for the Arts.
From 2020 to 2024, Samuel was a dancer with Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), working with both world renowned and emerging choreographers on a wide variety of original creations and existing repertoire.
Now embarking on a freelance career; Samuel stages works for choreographers Alexander Ekman and Edward Clug, is a guest teacher at contemporary dance programs, and has assisted creation processes, most recently with Jermaine Spivey.
In addition to his dance career, Samuel is a composer and digital artist, composing music for contemporary dance and theatre, and reimagining dance and music through digital multimedia.
Mikki Schaffner
CACTI
ÈVE-MARIE DALCOURT
STAGER
Ève-Marie is a multi-faceted artist from Montreal, Canada. She has danced 3 years with the Nederlands Dans Theater II, performing all over the world the works of Alexander Ekman, Leon&Lightfoot, Marco Geocke, Iohan Inger and Felix Landerer. Eager to support and facilitate new initiatives and artistic voices, she decided in 2019 to become a freelance artist, allowing her to take part in various productions with the Korzo Theater, Klever Dance Creatives, Juliano Nunes, Diego Tortelli, Antonin Rioche, Julian Nicosia and Imre & Marne van Opstal.
She is also known to perform in galas around the world with her dance partner and best friend Toon Lobach. On top of maintaining the development of her career as a dancer, she was entrusted with the role of assistant and repetitor for both Alexander Ekman and Juliano Nunes, allowing her to stage pieces on the the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Swedish Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin and the Birmingham Royal ballet. She has been invited to teach various workshops in Japan, Korea, Italy, The Netherlands, Mexico and New York. Ève-Marie aspires to keep evolving in becoming a facilitator for movement, communication and initiative in the dance industry.
TOM VISSER LIGHTING DESIGNER
Born into a theatrical family, Thomas Visser grew up in the Irish countryside. Visser began working on musical theatre productions at the age of 18 and before moving into contemporary dance collaborations at age 24. Visser has worked with renowned performing arts companies including Nederlands Dans Theater, The Royal
Ballet, Paris Opera, The Norwegian National Ballet, Les Ballet de Monte-Carlo, The Royal Swedish Ballet, Joff rey Ballet and Sadlers Wells to name a few. Visser has created original lighting designs for choreographers including Alexander Ekman, Johan Inger, Crystal Pite, Stijn Celis, Medhi Walerski, Lukas Timulak and Joeri Dubbe. Since 2016, Visser has started creating his own projects including art installations and interactive media.
THE COMPANY
PRINCIPAL
MELISSA GELFIN (SHE/HER) PENNSYLVANIA | 2014
ALEJANDRO OLIVERA (HE/HIM) CUBA | 2023
KATHERINE OCHOA (SHE/HER) CUBA | 2022
MAINE CHERNJAVSKY JAPAN | 2023
SIRUI LIU (SHE/HER) CHINA | 2011
RAFAEL QUENEDIT (HE/HIM) CUBA | 2021
CHANDLER PROCTOR (HE/HIM) NORTH CAROLINA | 2021
FIRST SOLOIST SOLOIST
MARCUS ROMEO (HE/HIM) PENNSYLVANIA | 2017
MAIZYALET VELÁZQUEZ (SHE/HER) PUERTO RICO | 2008
STAYTON (HE/HIM) OHIO | 2019
JOSHUA
THE COMPANY
CORPS DE BALLET
NIKITA BORIS (SHE/HER) NEW JERSEY | 2020
AMANDA DE JESUS PÉREZ DUARTE (SHE/HER) CUBA | 2023
GRIFFIN (SHE/HER) NORTH CAROLINA | 2016
CARRASCO (HE/HIM) NEW MEXICO | 2015
LLONNIS DEL TORO CINTRA (HE/HIM) CUBA | 2022
HUNSBERGER NEVADA | 2024
(SHE/HER) FLORIDA | 2023
NEW YORK | 2023
(HE/HIM) AUSTRALIA | 2023
(HE/HIM) CALIFORNIA | 2019
TEXAS | 2016
SAMANTHA
TAYLOR
KIRSTEN
SASHA CHERNJAVSKY
THOMAS DILLEY
JHAELIN MCQUAY
TATIANA MELENDEZ
MICHAEL MENGDEN (HE/HIM)
THE COMPANY
CORPS DE BALLET
SIMON PLANT (HE/HIM) AUSTRALIA | 2022
(SHE/HER) WASHINGTON | 2017
NEW DANCERS
FISK (HE/HIM) MONTANA | 2024
APPRENTICE
MUHAMMAD (SHE/HER) MISSOURI | 2022
ABDUR-RAHMAN (HE/HIM) NEW YORK | 2024
(SHE/HER) MASSACHUSETTS | 2023
(SHE/HER) CALIFORNIA | 2024
OHIO | 2023
JOSHUA
BELLA URETA
SIMONE
ANNIE FITZPATRICK
MIA SCHLOSSER
SALOMÉ TREGRE (SHE/HER)
NASRULLAH
The Artists of Cincinnati Ballet are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.
Larry, you will be missed.
This season, Cincinnati Ballet celebrates the life and impact of one of our greatest supporters – Larry Kellar. For 50 years, Larry gave his heart and soul to the Company helping transform the organization into a cornerstone in our community’s arts scene. May his memory be for a blessing; an indelible testament to a purpose-driven life.
SECOND COMPANY – CB2
CIARÁN BARLOW ( HE/HIM) PENNSYLVANIA | 2024
AMBER HARPER ( SHE/HER) OHIO | 2023
ISABEL BORGES ( SHE/HER) LOUISIANA | 2024
ISABELLE LAPIERRE ( SHE/HER) OHIO | 2024
CRISTIAN PONDER TEXAS | 2025
ANGELINA DE LA NUEZ ( SHE/HER) OHIO | 2024
ZANDER MAGOLNICK ( HE/HIM) TEXAS | 2024
MADISON TAYLOR ( SHE/HER) TEXAS | 2024
MADELINE HALKOS GEORGIA | 2024
MOTLEY ( HE/HIM) GEORGIA | 2023
NICHOLAS
2024–2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2024-2025
GO VERNING BOARD
Emerson Moser CHAIR
Smokey Clay
David Cook
Andrea Costa
Judy Dalambakis
Zahki Davis
David Freitas
Jodi Geiser
Michael Bailes
Bernie Calonge
Fran Carlisle
Sheila Cohen
Connie Dow
Sandra Eisele
Jerry Ewers
Kathryn Harsh
Edmond Hooker
Daphne Jurgensen
Kelly Brown
Laura Brunner
Trish Bryan
Otto Budig
Nancy Clagett
William Cordes
Faith Whittaker VICE CHAIR
Rico Grant
Linda Greenberg
Kateri Moll Haskett
Patti Heldman
Lydia JacobsHorton
Marcie Kinney
2024–2025
Beth Levy
Leon Loewenstein
Madelynn Matlock
Larry McGruder
Skip Merten
Alex Munoz
Cathy Nwankwo
Jim Papakirk
Joselyn Pfeil
Julie Richardson
Kristin Fishbaugh TREASURER
Jeanie Knuth
Peter Laffoon
Kei Lawson
Jack Miner
Shekhar Mitra
Alexandra Ollinger
SUSTAINERS
Kitty Rosenthal
Morleen Rouse
Diane Rumpke
Keke Sansalone
Tom Schiff
Beth Snyder
Chris Sprecher
Brett Stover
Mary Talbott
Heather Theders
2024–2025
Sarah Frank-Fogarty
Lynn Good
Lorrence Kellar+
Charles MacDonnell
Richardson McKinney
Tom Neyer
Carol Duane Olson
Jen Stein CHAIR
Debbie Brant
Jennifer Damiano
Joe Dehner
* Ex Officio + In Memoriam
Lisa Riccardi SECRETARY
Lisa Sampson
Todd Schild
Joel Stone
Toilynn O’Neal Turner
Brenden Zenni
Brandon Zureick
Pamela Thompson
Serena Tsuang
Kelly Vanasse
Catherine Vernon
Gary West
Barbara Weyand
George Wilkinson
E MERITI
Paul Ose
T. Quinn
Melody Sawyer
Richardson
Michael Rozow
James Sammarco
Kathleen Selker
2024–2025 FOUNDATION BOARD
Madelynn Matlock TREASURER
Kristin Fishbaugh
Jodi Geiser
Emerson Moser
Alex Munoz
T. Quinn
Rhonda Sheakley
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Rhonda Sheakley
Russell Shelton
Shelly Sherman
Julie Shifman
Linda Smith
Ronna Willis
Kelly Brown SECRETARY
Joel Stone
Joe Carolin*
Craig F. MaierRhoda Mayerson+
CINCINNATI BALLET STAFF
Debbie Brant PRESIDENT AND CEO
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCE
Joe Carolin VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AND CFO
Melissa Santomo CONTROLLER
Tiffany Whitcomb, SHRM-SCP VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Tyler Parker SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND BOARD LIAISON
Chuck Beatty DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
Mary French ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DATA SERVICES
Thomas E. Johnston, CCI, CHI™ INTERPRETER
ARTISTIC
Dale Shields
Carlos Quenedit REHEARSAL DIRECTORS
Yoshihisa Arai REHEARSAL DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR SECOND COMPANY – CB2
Allison Evans YOUNG PERFORMERS COACH
Nicholas Motley
Angelina de la Nuez
Madison Taylor REHEARSAL ASSISTANTS
Angelika BonyhatiKovacs
Brian Cashwell
Janet Langhorst
Ted Seaman BALLET ACCOMPANISTS
PHILANTHROPY
Adrijana Kowatsch VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPY
Katharine Nemeth MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER
Emma Naberhaus DONOR RELATIONS MANAGER
MARKETING AND BRAND STRATEGY
Nicole Doll VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND BRAND STRATEGY
Louanna Wyatt ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PATRON EXPERIENCE
Nicholas Peltz SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND CONTENT MANAGER
Dan Wood VIDEOGRAPHER
Kennedy Dudley MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Pam Taylor
PATRON EXPERIENCE SUPERVISOR AND MARKETING PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Eline Bauwens
Brandi Botkin
Ja’Nay Brown
Reed Carter
Butch Hamm
Lauren Huston
Jennifer Laubach
Natalie Lindsey
Brian Miller
Camden Scarborough PATRON EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATES
OTTO M. BUDIG ACADEMY AND EDUCATION
Ginger Johnson VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMY AND EDUCATION
David Morse ACADEMY
PRINCIPAL, PTD DIRECTOR
Christina LaForgia
Morse RESIDENT FACULTY
Elizabeth Metz
REGISTRATION SERVICES MANAGER
Jackie Smith STUDENT SERVICES MANAGER
Sierra Severt
ACADEMY OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Cervilio Miguel Amador
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Sirui Liu ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, ENSEMBLE
Kate Stark
CB MOVES COORDINATOR
Kimberley Stewart CINCYDANCE COORDINATOR
Kelly Daley
Emily Schau YOUNG PERFORMERS COORDINATORS
Frankie Bennett
Courtney Keesee
Iliana Rich STUDENT EXPERIENCE REPRESENTATIVES
Donna Anderle
Oliver Arana
Nikita Boris
Ja’Nay Brown
Rosa Compostella
Jackie Courchene Spayd
Jacqueline Damico Amador
Kiersten Edwards
Isabele Elefson
Kerry Enders
Megan Flynn
Jeri Gatch
Sienna Glaze
Donna Grisez
Sasha Hart
Ayako Hasebe Lloyd
Nicole Hershey
Julius Jenkins
Mary Kamp
Kara Louis
Daimy McInroe
Mae Miller
Victoria Morgan
Patty Pille
Simon Plant
Carlos Quenedit
Jennifer Rutherford
Rowan Salem
Joshua Stayton
Cassidy Steele
Shauna Steele
Rose Sunila
Daniel Wagner
Sierra Wilkerson
Michelle Ziegler ACADEMY AND EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS
PRODUCTION
Brian R Sherman VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION
Carissa Gandenberger
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Dena D’Andrea COMPANY MANAGER
Brooke Arthur COSTUME MANAGER
Morgan Piper ASSOCIATE STAGE MANAGER
Laura Hofmann WARDROBE SUPERVISOR
Cherl Beyersdoerfer FIRST WARDROBE ASSISTANT
Jackie Andrews SECOND WARDROBE ASSISTANT
Gabe Horan HEAD CARPENTER
Kevin Barth HEAD OF PROPERTIES
Chanelle Dau Pino HEAD ELECTRICIAN
Emily Hetzer ASSISTANT ELECTRICIAN
Maddi Myer
CCM LIGHTING INTERN
Michael Hamburg
CCM STAGE MANAGEMENT INTERN
SPORTS MEDICINE
Kelly Jo Rodrigo, MS, LAT, ATC
Liz Ebbeler, MPA, ATC COURTESY OF TRIHEALTH AND BEACON ORTHOPEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE
ARTISTIC EMERITI
Victoria Morgan ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITA
Carmon DeLeone
MUSIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS
DONOR HONOR ROLL
FOUNDER
Anonymous
Susan Brenner & Steven Mombach
Trish & Frederick Bryan
Manuel Chavez
David W. Cook & Loretta Motz Cook+
Dianne Dunkelman & Peter Schwartz
Sarah Frank Fogarty & Timothy Fogarty
Donald Beck & Dr. Lawrence Eynon
Debbie & Jody Brant
Bret & Alison Caller
Lucy Chu
Jennifer & Bob Conklin+
James Crosset
Judy & Chris Dalambakis
Kelly M. Dehan & Rick Staudigel
Laura E. Dickey
Susan Domonkos
Lynne S. Friedlander
Lynn & Brian Good
Linda & Gary Greenberg
Fred & Patti Heldman
Stephanie L. Hogue
Christy & Terry Horan
Barbara & Larry Kellar+
Elizabeth & John LaMacchia
Anne & Craig F. Maier
Sherie Marek & Family
Debby & Jim Mason
Merten Family
Betsy & Peter Niehoff
Halle & T. Quinn
Julie & John Richardson
Dianne & J. David Rosenberg
Kitty & Dick Rosenthal
Andrew Schwartz
DIRECTOR
Connie & Buzz Dow
Harry J. & Linda Fath
Jodi M. Geiser & James Miller III
Barbara & Guy Hild
Lucy & Craig Joffe
Steven & Esther Johnson
Peter & John Laffoon
Jeffrey & Jody Lazarow & Janie & Peter Schwartz Family Fund
Anonymous (2)
Bernard & Pamela Barbash
Eileen W. & John Barrett
Gina & Jonathan Blatt
Robert Brant & Julie Rose
Kelly Brown & Family
Dr. Smokey Clay
Noel Julnes-Dehner & Joe Dehner
Helen Dupree
Kristin & Chris Fishbaugh
Kristine & David Freitas
Lauren Hannan Shafer
Steve & Melissa
Schwartz
Larry A. & Rhonda Sheakley
Julie & Steven Shifman
Jacqueline Sifri
Jennifer & John Stein
Margaret & Michael Valentine+
Ginger & David Warner
Barbara M. Weyand
Nancy & David Wolf
Gloria Lipson & Dr. Lou Gottlieb
Karen F. Maier & Delane Starliper
Leslie & Timothy Maloney
Madelynn & Raymond Matlock
Barbara K. Myers
Nick Ragland
Keke & Tony Sansalone
Alice Schneider
PRINCIPAL
Kathryn & Keith Harsh
Kateri Moll Haskett
Julia & Robert Heidt
Paul & Debbie Heldman
Javier & Sally Hernandez
Sandra & Steve Joffe
Peggy & Gary Johns
Amy & George Joseph
Jeanie Knuth
Marsha & Brad Lindner
Martha & Carl Lindner
Frances & Craig Lindner
Danyel & Adam Mayerson
Lauren & Jimmy Miller
Emerson & Mitzie Moser
Mary Lou Motl
Sara & Alex Muñoz
Kristen & Scott Oyler
Anne & Charles Pierce
Bryan & Michelle Preston
Courtney & Eric Ragland
John & Lisa Riccardi
Bill & Lisa Sampson
Rosemary Schlachter
Ronnie & John Shore
Dr. Peter & Sandy Stern
Barbara & Ronald Stern
William & Therese Tobler
Barbara Turner
Susie Tweddell
Kelly & Guy Vanasse
Gary & Diane West
Kelley & Brandon Zureick
Lorraine & Jerry Schlagheck
Gayle & Bill Sherman
Valerie L. Newell & Timothy Smith
Amy & Bill Thaman
Heather & Jonathan Theders
Elizabeth Warner & Laurent
Huguenin
Faith C. Whittaker
Jo Ann Wieghaus
Christine & John Willig
Megan McCarthy & Steve Wolf
DONOR HONOR ROLL
SOLOIST
Anonymous
Sarah J. CherotAbercrombie & Daniel Abercrombie
Michael & Amy Bailes
Scott Berkley & Sarah Hairston
Berkley
Elaine & David Billmire
Sue & Ben Blaney
H. Joshua & Chrissie
Blatt
Betsy & Robert Brokamp
Bernie & Mary Kay Calonge
Tracy D. Cheever
Daniel Cifuentes
Ariella & Andrew Cohen
James Anthony & Dr. Sarah Corathers
Andrew & Linda Berger
Marianna B. Bettman
Paula & William Cordes
Aaron & Bobbi Crary
Jennifer & M. Vito
Damiano
Maureen & John Doellman
Martha & Stuart
Dornette
Vallie & Rodney Geier
Kay & Jack Geiger
Shelly Gerson & Jeff Zipkin
Ann & Jeff Gibson
Arielle M. Goldberg
Diane & Jerry Govert
Beth & Louis Guttman
Frank Hall
Linda Holthaus
Theresa & Eddie Hooker
Jacklyn & Gary Bryson
Michael Cioffi
Jane Hopson
Kevin & Lisa Jackson
Elaine Jaeger
Susan B. Kelleher
Kathy Kelly
The Kereiakes Family
Zofeen Khan
Chase & Aida Kohn
Katherine & Robert Lawrence
Drs. Lynn & Lizbie Lin
David L. Martin
Rick Michelman & Karen Meyer
Brian Dozer & Jack Miner
Anu & Shekhar Mitra
Susan Murray
Patricia & H.C. Niehoff
Jack & Alexa Oliver
Joseph A. & Susan E. Pichler
CORPS
Andrea Costa
Jennifer & Eric Dauer
John & Julie Cohen
Philip & Sheila Cohen
Greta Elenbaas
Jack Fogarty
Tom Fogarty
Bradley & Amy Resch
Vicky & Rick Reynolds
Jack Rouse
Todd Schild & Sarah Weiss
Adam & Sherri
Symson
Susan & John Tew
Pamela F. Thompson
Elizabeth B. Vollmer
Amy Susskind Weiskopf & David Weiskopf
George & Kathy Wilkinson
Ronna & Dr. James B. Willis
David & Sarah Wise
Sally & Anthony Woodward
Jaclyn & Brenden Zenni
A.T. Folger, Jr.
Claire Frank
Ralph P. Ginocchio
Ricardo Grant
Christy & Bill Griesser
DONOR HONOR ROLL
Elizabeth Lovett Grover
Margaret Hess
Emmy Hobson
Sally Kelsall
Susan & Andrew Krott
Kei & Shannon
Lawson
Rick & Christine Lefever
Anonymous
Jackie & Mike Alf
Lois & Ken Allen
Victoria & Peter Alpaugh
Jeanette Altenau
William Aronstein
Carrie & Michael Barron
Erica Bayoneto Armstrong
Bonnie & Charles Bensonhaver
Andria Berry
Shan Bhati
Kristina M. Blum
Nick & Kristin Bohlke
Becky & Thomas Long
Cassie & Lachlan McLean
Carol Duane Olson & Bob Olson
John Pape
Marilyn & Paul Porcino
Lori Rappold
Julia J. Sawyer
Michael K. Marshall & Rhoda Schneider
Anthony Khaskelis & Tatyana Skorobogat
Jay & Joanne Smale
Jennifer & Chad Taylor
THIRD POSITION
Phyllis Bossin & Robert Strauss
Robert Broderick
Selker
Charlotte Brooks
Gary & Angelia
Butterbaugh
Debbie Campbell
Jane Clarke
Kristin & David Coppage
Madison & Yvonne
Cuffy
The Patel-Curran
Family
Lisa & Richard Damico
Kate Costlow & John D’Amore
IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES
Mark & Louis Dauner
April & Harry Davidow
Cynthia & Stephen DeHoff
Amy & Andrew DeWitt
Steven J. Dreyer
Joyce Elkus
Jessica Eno-Idem
Barry & Sandy Feist
Michele Finch
Evelyn & Marc Fisher
Ashley & Bobbie Ford
Thomas & Janice Forte
Hillary Weidner
John & Tiffany Whitcomb
Dr. Karen Zaugg
Nick & Michelle Ziegler
Tamela & Tim
Zimmerman
Michael Frabetti
Judith B. Francis
Gregory Frey
Meredith & James
Friedman
Tedd & Sherri
Friedman
Charlotte & Robert Goering+
Mr. Clifford Goosmann & Ms. Andrea Wilson
Madeleine Gordon
VitaMarie & Marc
Greenberg
Jo & Byron Gustin
Ham & Ellie
Hamilton
Cincinnati Ballet is delighted to provide elementary schools in the greater Cincinnati area with FREE residency experiences sure to inspire your students to move and to develop an appreciation for the art of dance.
Focus: Second Grade
Available: September -
The CincyDance! program starts in the classroom using a combination of physical education curriculum and dance training to activate a student’s desire to express themselves through movement. Following the residency, students are invited to audition for scholarships to continue their training at Cincinnati Ballet.
Focus: Pre-K
Available: January - April
The CincyDance! Pre-K program activates a student’s imagination while introducing them to the joy of creative movement and ballet. Students will explore locomotor movement, balance and other key coordination skills with highly skilled Cincinnati Ballet teaching artists.
Photography: Hiromi Platt
DONOR HONOR ROLL
Rob & Genita Heidenreich
Kenneth Heldman & Felicia Zakem
Karlee Hilliard
Robert Hodges & Anthony McIntire
Nancy Hollingsworth
Beth Hudepohl
Lara & Ronnen Isakov
Carl & Diane Iseman
Brenda Jones
Steve Kallmeyer
Kristin & Carl Kalnow
Tsvetoslava Karaivanova
Heidi Jark & Steven Kenat
Mary Ann & Jeff Knoop
Meg & Chris Kohnen
Carol Louise Kruse
Janet Schultz & Russell Lascelles
Susan & Richard Lauf
Michelle Leder
Marion & John Leibold
Dr. Suzanne Lekson
Amanda Louis
Amy Magenheim
Alan Margulies & Gale Snoddy
Kim & Barbara McCracken
Janet McDaniel
Leslie Mcintosh
Raymond McNeil & Kathleen Compton
Michelle & Dave Meyer
Linda & Jim Miller
Amanda Nelson
Larry & Leslie Newman
Cheryl & Roy Newman
Penny & Stephen Pomeranz
Julia W. & Daniel Poston
Catherine Power
Carol & Steven Reubel
Ellen Rieveschl
Susan & John Roberts
Jean S. Robson
David & Priya Rolfes
Elyse M. Roth
Judith L. Roth
Missie & Art Santomo
Janet & Bill Sarran
Julie & Charles Scheper
Barbara Seiver
Kathy Selker
Jacob Shifman & Laura Houston
John & Ruth Sikorski
Susan & David Smith
Elizabeth A. Snyder
Dr. Michael & Mrs.
Debbie Snyder
Linda & Nicholas Spadaccini
Diane Spitznagel
James Stapleton & Elizabeth Shaughnessy
Mary M. Stein
Emily Stowe
Marianne Schwab & George Stricker
Tiffany Sykes
Claire & Zachary
Tempel
Tom & Torey Torre
Christopher & Nancy Virgulak
Barbara Wagner & William Partin
Kate K. Wagner
Angela White & Amahle WhiteDragon
Michael G. Williams
Anne Warrington Wilson
Blythe & Tyler Winslow
John Yacher
Susan & Don Zaunbrecher
Dr. Nancy Zimpher
Diana V. Adams
Jennifer Ahoni
DONOR HONOR ROLL
Kate & Bill Baumann
John & Helene Bentley
Anne Maddox & John Berninger
Robert & Pamela Bosley
Andrew Boviak
Chris Bowling
Edwin Brott
Vicki & Allan Calonge
Jochen Cammin
Diane Carney
Jesse Cornelius
Candace Crouse
Kevin J. Crowley
Regina Daily
Sarah E. Dial
Cynthia Dozier
Kurtis B. Finch
SECOND POSITION
Kenneth Frey
Mark Gandenberger
Mary & James R. Gardner
Judith & Samuel Gilardi
Alexander Glaser & Stephanie Ikedo
William J. Gracie & Daniel Fairbanks
Teresa & Michael Haught
Bridget & Brian Hoffman
Becky Hogya
Dr. Nelson D. Horseman
Benjamin Houck
Sandra Houck
Laura Hurley
Randy & Jan Johnson
Patricia Joseph
Jan & Jay Kalagayan
Mary & John Kmet
Patrick & Jutta
Lafley
John Lanier & Jane Garvey
Katie & Rob Magenheim
Barry Morris
Bob Oestreicher
Alice Palmer
Julianne Pekel
Kathleen Polivka
Cathy Ramstetter
Carter Randolph
Jennifer & Brad
Reed
Louise & Gary
Roselle
Martha & Lee Schimberg
Keven E. Shell & Sandra L. Wittman-Shell
Jennifer & Woody Sherwood
Jackie Mack & Ted Silberstein
Mrs. James Simon
Phillip & Rosalind
Smith
Nancy & Jeffery Stambough
John U. Tan
Marcia & Robert Togneri
Meg Walters
Chad & Betsy Warwick
Beverly Williams
Kathryn & Anthony Woods
Thomas & Helen Yocum
Susan & Jeff Zakem
Marcy & Bob Ziek
BUSINESS CIRCLE
$ 100,000+
$50,000–$99,999
$25,000–$49,999
$10,000–$25,000
$5,000–$9,999
$2,500–$4,999
$1,000—$2,499
Thank you to our Business Circle, Foundation, Government, and Institutional donors who supported us through cash and in-kind contributions received by the print deadline. The above donor pages represent the information available at the time of print. If you find that you are listed incorrectly or we did not recognize you appropriately, we apologize and want to include you. Please contact our Donor Relations Manager, Emma Naberhaus, at enaberhaus@cballet.org or (513) 562-1136.
FOUNDATION, GOVERNMENT, AND INSTITUTIONAL DONORS
$ 100,000+
$50,000–$99,999
Kaplan Foundation
H.C.S. Foundation
$15,000–$49,999
Building Healthy Lives Foundation
Cincinnati Parks Foundation
Sutphin Family Foundation
Edelweiss Foundation
Gardner Family Foundation
Joni Herschede Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati
Williams Foundation
Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation
$5,000–$14,999
Andrew Jergens Foundation
Bailey Lamson Family Trust
Chemed Foundation
Crosset Family Foundation
Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation
Jack J. Smith Jr. Charitable Trust
Jewish Home of Cincinnati, Inc.
Jewish Federation Cincinnati
Morgan Judd Memorial Fund
Ladislas and Vilma Segoe Family Foundation
Mueller Family Foundation
Ohio Holocaust & Genocide Memorial & Education Commission
$1,000—$4,999
Parkinson Support and Wellness
The Lubrizol Foundation
Charles Scott Riley III Foundation
Wyler Family Foundation
Elder High School
Unnewehr Foundation
The Saenger Family Foundation
Andrew Howe Scholarship Foundation
Bahl Family Foundation
OFFICIAL IT PARTNER OF CINCINNATI BALLET
OFFICIAL SPORTS MEDICINE PARTNER
ARTSWAVE PARTNERS
Cincinnati Ballet acknowledges the following partner companies, foundations and their employees who generously participate in the annual ArtsWave Campaign at the $100,000+ level.
P & G
Fifth Third Bank and Fifth Third Foundation
GE Aerospace altafiber
Cincinnati Children’s
Hospital Medical Center
The Cincinnati Insurance Companies
Great American Insurance Group
The H.B. E.W. F.R Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, N.A Trustee
Western and Southern Financial Group
Cincinnati Open
Cincinnati Reds
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Duke Energy
*Listed in order of size of donation
The EW Scripps Company and Scripps Howard Foundation
The Enquirer Greater Cincinnati Foundation
The Kroger Co. Messer Construction
National Endowment for the Arts
