Dance Victoria 2024/25 Season - Royal Winnipeg Ballet's "Nutcracker"

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PRESENTATION SPONSORS

Nutcracker

CANADA’S ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET + VICTORIA SYMPHONY Nov. 29, 30 + Dec. 1, 2024 • 7:00 pm Nov. 30 + Dec. 1, 2024 • 1:00 pm Running time (including intermission): 124 minutes

Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Nutcracker. Photo: Daniel Crump

The Royal Theatre is located on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen peoples, also known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live, create, and perform on this territory.

Royal Winnipeg Ballet Casting *All casting subject to change CLARA’S FRIENDS Olivia Koppanyi (Nov 29, 30E)/Maggie Weatherdon (Nov 30M, Dec 1), Brooke CLARA Thomas (Nov 29, 30M, Dec 1M) / Taisi Amanda Solheim (Nov 29) / Julianna Tollasepp (Nov 30E, Dec 1E), Julianna Generoux (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Maggie Generoux (Nov 29, 30E) / Jenna Burns Weatherdon (Nov 30E) / Kyra Soo (Dec 1E) (Nov 30M, Dec 1), Myles Mackesy (Nov 29) / Felix Jinga (Nov 30M, Dec 1) / Liam YOUNG CLARA Saito (Nov 30E), Cleighden Butler (Nov 29, Aylin Contreras-Diaz (Nov 29, 30E) / 30E) / Park Long (Nov 30M, Dec 1) Olivia Koppanyi (Nov 30M, Dec 1) Cohen Brownlee, Sara Chen-Mack, Maren Davis, Elle De Melo, Olivia Issel, Abby CLARA’S PARENTS Elizabeth Lamont (Nov 29) / Jaimi Deleau Minter, Julia Trudel (Nov 30M, Dec1) / Katie Saito (Nov 30E) THEIR PARENTS Stephan Azulay (Nov 29) / Tymin Keown Jenna Burns (Nov 29, 30E,) / Katie Saito (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Joshua Hidson (Nov (Nov 30M, Dec 1) 30E) / Peter Lancksweerdt (Dec 1E) Jaimi Deleau (Nov 29) / Katie Bonnell

ACT I

- The Christmas Party -

HER GRANDMOTHER Katie Bonnell (Nov 29, Dec 1E) / Amanda Solheim (Nov 30, Dec 1M) DIETER Ava Bond (Nov 29, Nov 30E, Dec 1M) / Vera Andrew (Nov 30M, Dec 1E) FRITZ Liam Saito (Nov 29) / Cleighden Butler (Nov 30M, Dec 1) / Park Long (Nov 30E) JOSEPHINE, CLARA’S AUNT Maggie Weatherdon (Nov 29) / Kyra Soo (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Jaimi Deleau (Nov 30E) / Amanda Solheim (Dec 1E) EDOUARD, JOSEPHINE’S FIANCÉ Peter Lancksweerdt (Nov 29) / Logan Savard (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Marco Lo Presti (Nov 30E) / Michel Lavoie (Dec 1E)

- The Battle CLARA, DIETER, THE NUTCRACKER PRINCE, AND: THE MOUSE KING Park Long (Nov 29) / Liam Saito (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Tymin Keown (Nov 30E) / Marco Lo Presti (Dec 1E)

HIS ARMY OF MICE Taisi Tollasepp, Belle Shier, Katrina Ouellette, Grace Frazer-Sneddon (Nov 29, Nov 30E, Dec 1E) / Paige Irwin (Nov 30M, Dec 1M), Avalon Craske, Olivia Koppanyi (Nov 29, 30E) / Aylin Contreras Diaz (Nov 30M, Dec 1), Charlie Ankersen (Nov 29, 30E) / Sofia Cuevas (Nov 30M, Dec 1), Bianca Aceves Jeffrey, Brinley Cathrine, (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Brooke Thomas (Nov Everest Hutchings, Bayley Lance, Ava 30E, Dec 1E), Bianca Aceves Jeffrey, Timmermans Charlie Ankersen / Park Long (Nov 29) / Marco Lo Presti (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / SOLDIERS Tymin Keown (Nov 30E, Dec 1E), Joshua Peter Lancksweerdt (Nov 29, 30E) / Hidson (Nov 29)/ / Aidan Vaudreuil (Nov Marco Lo Presti (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / 30M, Dec 1) / Logan Savard (Nov 30E), Tymin Keown (Dec 1E), Joshua Hidson Felix Jinga (Nov 29) / Myles Mackesy (Nov 29, Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Cleighden (Nov 30M, Dec1M) / Rafe Perry (Nov 30E, Butler (Nov 30E) / Liam Saito (Dec 1E), Dec 1E), John Carlson (Nov 29, Nov 30M, John Carlson, Aidan Vaudreuil, Felix Jinga, Dec 1) / Timothy Gaulke (Nov 30E) Rafe Perry, Myles Mackesy, Timothy BEAR Paige Irwin BUTLER Timothy Gaulke (Nov 29, Nov 30M, Dec 1) Felix Jinga (Nov 30E) MAIDS Grace Frazer-Sneddon, Avalon Craske

DROSSELMEIER, CLARA’S GODFATHER FAIRY TALE CHARACTERS: Clara, the Prince, Tymin Keown (Nov 29) / Stephan Azulay (Nov 30, Dec 1M) / Joshua Hidson (Dec 1E) EVIL SORCERER Cleighden Butler (Nov 29, 30E) / Liam JULIEN, HIS NEPHEW Saito (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Park Long Saneatsu Abe (Dec 1E) THE NUTCRACKER PRINCE …AND BATS Marco Lo Presti (Nov 29) / Peter Lancksweerdt (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Michel Katrina Ouellette, Belle Shier, Courtney Lavoie (Nov 30E) / Logan Savard (Dec 1E) Yun, Sofia Cuevas (Nov 29, 30E)/Aylin Contreras Diaz (Nov 30M, Dec 1)

Gaulke, Lucie Andrew, Jade Hayre, Avery Mason, Zoe White

- The Magical Forest – CLARA, THE PRINCE AND SNOWFLAKES Elizabeth Lamont (Nov 29) / Katie Saito (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Amanda Solheim (Nov 30E, Dec 1E), Katie Bonnell (Nov 29, 30M, Dec 1M)/Jaimi Deleau (Nov 30E, Dec 1E) Brooke Thomas, Kyra Soo (Nov 29, Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Katie Saito (Nov 30E, Dec 1E), Belle Shier (Nov 29, 30, Dec 1M) / Julianna Generoux (Dec 1E), Jenna Burns, Maggie Weatherdon (Nov 29, Nov 30M, Dec 1) / Courtney Yun (Nov 30E), Taisi Tollasepp, Olivia Koppanyi (Nov 29, 30E) / Aylin Contreras-Diaz (Nov 30M, Dec 1), Paige Irwin (Nov 29E, Nov 30E, Dec 1E) /

There will be one 20-minute intermission

Grace Frazer-Sneddon (Nov 30M, Dec 1M), Revere Poe, Taytm Teskey, Emily Sykes, Katrina Ouellette, Avalon Craske, Sofia Mila Van Brandt Cuevas, Charlie Ankersen (Nov 29, 30E) / London Vik Bianca Aceves Jeffrey (Nov 30M, Dec 1) WALTZ OF FLOWERS AND PAS DE HAZEL QUATRE Aidan Vaudreuil Jenna Burns (Nov 29, Nov 30M, Dec 1) / Amanda Solheim (Nov 30E) HIS CUBS Myles Mackesy (Nov 29) Liam Saito (Nov enelope Allen-Seamone, Parker Armitage, 30M, Dec 1) / Joshua Hidson (Nov 30E) Anna Bell, Yvette Belton, Lucy Blackman, Elizabeth Burger, Isadora Del Alcazar, Lise Maggie Weatherdon (Nov 29, Nov 30M, Dunbar, London Earnshaw, Lou Foster, Dec 1M) / Katie Saito (Nov 30E, Dec 1E) Emma Griffith-Rawlins, Mylene Higgins, Michel Lavoie (Nov 29) / Logan Savard Emily Leahy, Harlequin Nott, Sophia Ricci, (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Felix Jinga (Nov 30E) Halo Scutt, Everly Tytula, Claire Zhao / Peter Lancksweerdt (Dec 1E) REINDEERS Aisha Annala, Zephyria Esmaria, Teagan Jones Evelyn Trudel

Brooke Thomas (Nov 29, Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Taisi Tollasepp (Nov 30E, Dec 1E) Rafe Perry (Nov 29, Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Cleighden Butler (Nov 30E) / Marco Lo Presti (Dec 1E)

SPANISH Jaimi Deleau (Nov 29, Nov 30) / Kyra Soo (Dec 1M) / Maggie Weatherdon (Dec 1E) Julianna Generoux (Nov 29) / Taisi Tollasepp (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) / Brooke Thomas (Nov 30E) / Katie Bonnell (Dec 1E) ARABIAN Katie Bonnell (Nov 29) / Katie Saito (Nov 30M, Dec 1M) Julianna Generoux (Nov 30E) / Brooke Thomas (Dec 1E) Stephan Azulay (Nov 29) / Joshua Hidson (Nov 30M, Dec 1M), Marco Lo Presti (Nov 30E) / Tymin Keown (Dec 1E) CHINESE Taisi Tollasepp (Nov 29) / Elizabeth Lamont (Nov 30M, Dec 1) / Jenna Burns (Nov 30E)

RUSSIAN Elizabeth Lamont (Nov 29, Nov 30E) / - The Kingdom Amanda Solheim (Nov 30M, Dec Kyra Soo (Nov 29) / Katie Bonnell (Nov 1M)/Jaimi Deleau (Dec 1E) CLARA, THE PRINCE, AND 30, Dec 1M) / Julianna Generoux (Dec 1E) Timothy Gaulke (Nov 29) / Myles Park Long (Nov 29) / Aidan Vaudreuil (Nov DROSSELMEIER WITH: Mackesy (Nov 30M, Dec 1) / Rafe Perry 30M, Dec 1) / Tymin Keown (Nov 30E) (Nov 30E) SUGAR PLUM FAIRY Cleighden Butler (Nov 29) / Felix Jinga Aylin Contreras-Diaz, Grace FrazerKatie Saito (Nov 29) / Kyra Soo (Nov 30) / (Nov 30M, Dec 1) / Aidan Vaudreuil (Nov Jaimi Deleau (Dec 1M) / Amanda Solheim Sneddon, Olivia Koppanyi, Katrina 30E) Ouellette, Belle Shier (Nov 29) / Avalon (Dec 1E) Craske (Nov 30, Dec 1), Courtney Yun GIGUE ANGELS (Nov 29) / Sofia Cuevas (Nov 30, Dec 1), Drosselmeier with Sugar Plum Fairy Lucetta Berry, Sophia Bisson, Dianne Charlie Ankersen, Paige Irwin (Nov 29), Burger, Isabel Cabral, Alina Fialko, Addison Bianca Aceves Jeffrey (Nov 30, Dec 1) GRAND PAS French, Emma Jordan, Hyobin Lee, Lauren Lefebvre, Stella McGrath, Lucy Pritchard,

ACT II

About the Work Royal Winnipeg Ballet Artistic Director: André Lewis Choreography: Galina Yordanova, Nina Menon & RWB Artistic Staff Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Costume Design: Paul Daigle Scenic Design: Brian Perchaluk Lighting Design: Michael J. Whitfield

The Nutcracker Ballet Premiere: December 18, 1892, Imperial Marinsky Theatre (St. Petersburg, Russia).

PRODUCTION CREW Head Carpenter: Rob Mravnik Head Flyman: Doug Kiddell Lighting Director: Scott Henderson Tour Electrician: Jarret Borodenko Head of Props: Will Medwick Head of Wardrobe: Diana Miller Wardrobe Assistant: Kristina Maitland Head of Audio: Greg Rekus

About the Royal Winnipeg Ballet The heart of dance in Canada and the world, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet teaches, creates and performs, enriching lives through the power of exceptional dance. With the leadership of Artistic Director & CEO André Lewis, versatility, technical excellence and a captivating style have become the trademarks of the RWB, qualities that have garnered both critical and audience acclaim. The RWB’s superlative

standards keep the Company in demand across North America and beyond. In addition to the Company, the RWB is home to the RWB School, consisting of both the Professional Division, our internationally renowned training centre for aspiring professional dancers and dance teachers, and the Recreational Division, which is Winnipeg’s largest dance school for all ages, levels, and interests.

CANADA’S ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED PATRONAGE OF Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., O.Q., C.D., Governor General of Canada Founders: Gweneth Lloyd & Betty Farrally Artistic Director Emeritus: Arnold Spohr, C.C., O.M. Founding Director, School Recreational Division: Jean Mackenzie Founding Director, School Professional Division: David Moroni, C.M., D.Litt, (h.c.)

Artistic Director & CEO André Lewis, C.M., O.M., M.S.M. Executive Director Elena Tupyseva Company Artists Stephan Azulay Elizabeth Lamont Alanna Mcadie Jaimi Deleau Peter Lancksweerdt Michel Lavoie Katie Bonnell Joshua Hidson Marco Lo Presti Katie Saito Liam Saito Amanda Solheim

Julianna Generoux Tymin Keown Emilie Lewis Park Long Logan Savard Kyra Soo Brooke Thomas Taisi Tollasepp Maggie Weatherdon Felix Jinga Myles Mackesy Rafe Perry Aidan Vaudreuil

Jenna Burns Cleighden Butler Associate Artistic Director Tara Birtwhistle

School Director Stéphane Léonard

Principal Conductor Julian Pellicano

Ballet Masters Caroline Gruber Jaime Vargas

Principal, Recreational Division Nicole Kepp

Principal, Professional Division Suzanne Andre

Director, Anna McCowan-Johnson Aspirant Program Vanessa Léonard

Director, Teacher Training Program Johanne Gingras

Stage Manager Candace Jacobson* Paige Lewis

Victoria Symphony MUSIC DIRECTOR Christian Kluxen PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR Sean O’Loughlin ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR Giuseppe Pietraroia

FLUTE Arin Sarkissian, Principal Emily Nagelbach Paul Hung

VIOLIN Terence Tam, Concertmaster Christi Meyers, Assistant Concertmaster Cory Balzer Kimberley Durflinger Michele Kwon Julian Vitek Misako Sotozaki Bennett Chiu Tyson Doknjas Misako Sotozaki

OBOE Michelle Feng, Principal Russell Bajer

VIOLA Kenji Fusé, Principal Stacey Boal Kay Cochran

HORN Alana Despins Mike Oswald Sam McNally Dan Moses

CELLO Brian Yoon, Principal Hannah Craig Joyce Ellwood

Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Nutcracker. Photos: Daniel Crump

BASS Malcolm Armstrong, Principal Darren Buhr

CLARINET David Boutin-Bourque Jennifer Christensen BASSOON Anne Marie Power Elizabeth Gowen

TRUMPET David Michaux, Acting Principal

TROMBONE Riccardo Del Castello Michel Wade Amaya Sydor TUBA Takumi Hayashi TIMPANI Julian Juen PERCUSSION Jacob Valchef HARP Annabelle Stanley CELESTE Kim Bartczak ORCHESTRA MANAGER Eric Gallipo OPERATIONS MANAGER Mark Sutherland LIBRARIAN Misako Sotozaki, Principal

Children’s Ensemble (Local Students)

Children’s Ensemble Sponsor:

CAST A Nov. 29 Evening, Nov. 30 Evening, Dec. 1 Matinee DIETER: Ava Bond PARTY GIRLS: Sara Chen-Mack, Maren Davis, Abby Minter, Julia Trudel PARTY BOYS: Cohen Brownlee, Elle De Melo, Olivia Issel MICE: Brinley Cathrine, Everest Hutchings, Bayley Lance, Ava Timmermans MOUNTIES: Lucie Andrew, Jade Hayre, Avery Mason, Zoe White

POLAR BEARS: Parker Armitage, Anna Bell, Yvette Belton, Lucy Blackman, Isadora Del Alcazar, Lise Dunbar, London Earnshaw, Lou Foster, Emma Griffith-Rawlins, Sophia Ricci, Halo Scutt, Claire Zhao

PARTY BOYS: Cohen Brownlee, Elle De Melo, Olivia Issel

REINDEER: Aisha Annala, Zephyria Esmaria, Teagan Jones, Evelyn Trudel

MOUNTIES: Lucie Andrew, Jade Hayre, Avery Mason, Zoe White

ANGELS: Alina Fialko, Addison French, Emma Jordan, Hyobin Lee, Stella McGrath, Emily Sykes, Mila Van Brandt, London Vik

POLAR BEARS: Penelope Allen-Seamone, Parker Armitage, Anna Bell, Elizabeth Burger, Lise Dunbar, Emma Griffith-Rawlins, Mylene Higgins, Emily Leahy, Harlequin Nott, Sophia Ricci, Halo Scutt, Everly Tytula

CAST B

REINDEER: Aisha Annala, Zephyria Esmaria, Teagan Jones, Evelyn Trudel

Nov. 30 Matinee, Dec. 1 Evening DIETER: Vera Andrew PARTY GIRLS: Sara Chen-Mack, Maren Davis, Abby Minter, Julia Trudel

Fourteen local dance studios are represented by the students in the Children’s Ensemble: Victoria Academy of Ballet, Protégé Dance Project, Vertical Performing Arts, Steps Ahead Dance Studio, Pacific Dance Centre, Karen Clarke Dance Studio, Allegro Performing Arts Centre, Westshore Dance Studio, Elevate Dance Centre, Pirouette

MICE: Brinley Cathrine, Everest Hutchings, Bayley Lance, Ava Timmermans

ANGELS: Lucetta Berry, Sophia Bisson Dianne Burger, Isabel Cabral, Lauren Lefebvre, Lucy Pritchard, Revere Poe, Taytm Teskey

Dance Studio, Ballet Victoria Conservatory, Dance Unlimited Performing Arts, Revolution Dance Collective, and West Coast Academy of Performing Arts.

A huge thank you to the Children’s Ensemble parents and family members who assisted backstage.

Left: Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Nutcracker. Photo: David Cooper. Right: Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Nutcracker. Photo: David Cooper

DANCE VICTORIA CHILDREN’S REHEARSAL COORDINATOR: Ursula Szkolak

Nutcracker Kids Donors Thank you to the many local donors who contributed to the 2024 Nutcracker Kids program: (As at November 22, 2024) DE = Dance Is For Everyone program

Left: Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Nutcracker. Photo: David Cooper. Right: Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Nutcracker. Photo: Michelle Blais

Nutcracker Kids Campaign Chairs:

Anonymous x 11 Nicole Ardiel Mavis Begg Sylvia Bews-Wright Paul & Sharon Bundon Trudy David Christina Drake Susan Edwards Debbie Fayad DE Kit Filan Irene Fizzell Mark & Diana Gillis Sean Guist Isabel M. Hansen Harbour City Kitchens Jane Heyman Leslie Hogya Susan K.E. Howard Crystal Hudson Sylvia Jarvis Dr. Whitney Laughlin Luke & Kate Martha Macdonnell Jennifer MacLeod DE Lynda Malpass

Now in its 19th year, Dance Victoria’s Nutcracker Kids ticket access program supports local children and families facing barriers to attendance with free tickets to Nutcracker through partnerships with local community organizations.

Christina McCarthy Pat McGuire Kevin Mills Vikram Misra & Lyn Ashley DE Avril Nagel David & Mandy Niddrie Roy Nikaido Jean Orr DE Jenny Reid Rotary Club of Victoria-Saanich Christina Saunders DE Kenneth Seidman Sheridan Scott & David Zussman, In Honour of Harlow & Jane Hollis Senga Simpson Gail Squire Iris Thomson-Glen DE Jane Tice Stephanie Ustina Amanda Vasilakopoulos Terry Vatrt DE Josephine & Frederick Wigmore Merrie-Ellen Wilcox & Christopher Butterfield Victoria Wray

With the generous support of these donors and you, together we can make Christmas bright for lots of Nutcracker Kids! A big thank you to Julie Rust and Greg Phillips of Rust Phillips Group | Engel & Völkers.

Sell your home. Support Dance Victoria.

Choose a DFH realtor below and mention Dance Victoria when you buy or sell your property. Ten percent of the realtor’s commission helps bring the World’s Best Dance to our community.

Maureen Vincent

Gary Sims

maureenvincent68@gmail.com 250-656-0131

homes@garysimsvictoriahomes.ca 250-881-4117

Rosemary Tulett Unlicensed Assistant

250-891-4465

John Melvin john@johnmelvinproperties.ca 250-477-7291

Terry Moore

Katie Wilson

Unlicensed Assistant

tlmoore@shaw.ca 250-477-7291

Dorothee Friese

dorothee@shaw.ca 250-477-7291

katie@dfh.ca 778-677-0982

DANCE VICTORIA Board of Directors

Staff

Dance Victoria Studios

President: Colette Baty Vice President: Brendan Ralfs Treasurer: Sarah Millard Secretary: Marlon Murr Directors: Kemi Craig, Linley Faulkner, Joost Pelt, Philip Pierce, Carrie Smart, Emily Zeng

Executive Director: Gillian Jones General Manager: Dayna Szyndrowski Development & Operations Manager: Shireen McNeilage Marketing Manager: Anne-Sophie Cournoyer Production Manager: Holly Vivian Community Engagement Manager: Larissa Sharma Artist Programs & Studio Manager: Kiera Shaw Graphic Design: Rayola Creative Advertising Sales: Bonnie Light Advertising

111 – 2750 Quadra St. Victoria, BC V8T 4E8 P: 250-595-1829 F: 250-590-7209 info@dancevictoria.com

Dance Victoria wishes to thank its many donors and volunteers.

SUGAR PLUM PARTY

ORCHESTRA

NUTCRACKER KIDS CAMPAIGN CHAIRS

CHILDREN’S ENSEMBLE

VENUE

HOTEL

PUBLIC SECTOR

Dance Victoria acknowledges the support of the Royal and McPherson Theatres Society for our Nutcracker Kids ticket campaign.

Dance Victoria’s Chrystal Dance Fund and Endowment Fund are held at Victoria Foundation.

Dance Victoria is a proud member of the CanDance Network and the Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture.