Atlanta Ballet: Midwinter Dreams, February 2023

ATLANTA BALLET

Atlanta Ballet dancers Mikaela Santos and Keaton Leier. Photo by Kim Kenney.

cover: Atlanta Ballet dancers Emily Carrico and Denys Nedak.

Photo by Rachel Neville.

Our

Advertise with Encore and reach a targeted group of performing arts lovers.

ENCOREATLANTA.COM

PUBLISHER Brantley Manderson brantley@encoreatlanta.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR ATLANTA

Donna Choate donna@encoreatlanta.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR CHARLOTTE Hila Johnson hila@encorecharlotte.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Robert Viagas robert@encoreatlanta.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Tamara Hooks tamara@encoreatlanta.com

DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Jennifer Nelson jennifer@encoreatlanta.com

ENCORE ATLANTA is published monthly by B2 MEDIA, LLC. P.O. Box 1377 | Columbus, Georgia 31902 Phone 678-837-4004

BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS

CONTACT

Donna Choate 678-778-1573

donna@encoreatlanta.com

Hila Johnson 305-978-2922

hila@encorecharlotte.com

Copyright © 2023 Encore Atlanta. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Encore Atlanta is a registered publication of B2 Media, LLC. The publisher shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical errors, or errors in publication. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication.

As one of the region’s largest Marketing Solutions Providers, Communicorp handles everything from print to digital to emerging technologies like clickable print or eCommerce storefronts. We guide clients through the maze of new marketing technologies and methodologies with a unique approach that always looks beyond yesterday’s solutions. Based in Columbus, GA, Communicorp is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aflac. To learn more about our award-winning solutions, visit Communicorp.com.

audience is your audience.

February 10-12, 2023

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Gennadi Nedvigin

With the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra Conductor, Jonathan McPhee

Love Fear Loss

Music to the songs of Édith Piaf

Choreography by Ricardo Amarante

Staging Assistance by Eduardo Perumy

Lighting Design by Joseph R. Walls

Live Piano Accompaniment by Western-Li Summerton

Concerto Grosso

An Atlanta Ballet Premiere

Music by Francesco Geminiani on a theme by Arcangelo Corelli

Choreography by Helgi Tomasson

Staging by Rory Hohenstein

Costume Design by Sandra Woodall

Lighting Design by David Finn

Snowblind

Inspired by Edith Wharton’s novella, Ethan Frome

An Atlanta Ballet Premiere

Choreography by Cathy Marston

Scenario by Cathy Marston and Patrick Kinmonth

Music by Philip Feeney, arrangement of works by Arvo Part, Arthur Foote, Amy Beach and Feeney’s original compositions

Scenic and Costume Design by Patrick Kinmonth

Lighting Design by Jim Ingalls

Lighting Supervision by Nicole Pearle

Classical Symphony

Music by Sergei Prokofiev

Choreography by Yuri Possokhov

Staging by Gennadi Nedvigin

Staging Assistance by Angela Agresti

Costume Design by Sandra Woodall

Lighting Design by David Finn

COMPANY BALLET REPETITEURS

Angela Agresti, Rory Hohenstein, Eduardo Permuy

CHOREOGRAPHER-IN-RESIDENCE

Claudia Schreier

DEAN OF THE CENTRE FOR DANCE EDUCATION

Sharon Story

THE COMPANY

Jessica Assef, Nadyne Bispo, Severin Brotschul, Emily Carrico, Michael Caye, Anastasia Cheplyansky, Dylan Clinard, Catherine Conley, Larissa Dal’Santo, Georgia Dalton, Thomas Davidoff, Darian Kane, Brooke Gilliam, Sujin Han, Jessica He, Airi Igarashi, Erik Kim, Benjamin Kuefler, Saho Kumagai, Sojung Lee, Jordan Leeper, Guilherme Maciel, Sergio Masero, Juliana Missano, Miguel Angel Montoya, Denys Nedak, Carraig New, Patric Palkens, Hui Wen Peng, Ángel Ramírez, Evelyn Robinson, Kaitlin Matree Roemer, Mikaela Santos, Anderson Souza, Fuki Takahashi, Kelsey Van Tine, Ashley Wegmann, Spencer Wetherington, Luiz Fernando Xavier

ATLANTA BALLET 2

Santiago Bedoya, Georgie Grace Butler, Ephraim Fowler, Avery Jarrard, Breanna Faith Justus, Emmanuel López, Mayu Nakayama, Emma Sophia Robinson, Estefania Ontanilla, Samantha Schuermann, Gianna Horton-Sibble, Paxton Speight, Emanuel Talongo, Covin Washington

Dorothy Moses Alexander - Atlanta Ballet Founder, 1929 - 1960

Robert Barnett - Artistic Director Emeritus, 1961 - 1994

John McFall – Artistic Director, 1994 - 2016

Atlanta Ballet 2 courtesy of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education

Scan QR Code to View Casting

G E N NADI NE DVIGIN ( Ar tistic Director), in Februar y 2016 , was named

G E N NADI

NE DVIGIN ( Ar tistic Director), in Februar y 2016 , was named

Atlanta Ballet’s fourth artistic director in the Company’s then 87-year history. Nedvigin, born in Rostov, Russia, began his training at age 5. At 10, he was accepted into the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Upon graduating, he joined Moscow Renaissance Ballet, as a soloist, before he was invited to dance with Le Jeune Ballet de France in Paris. In 1997, while on tour in the U.S., San Francisco Ballet (SFB) Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson offered Nedvigin a soloist contract. After three years, he was promoted to principal dancer. While at SFB, Nedvigin won the International Competition’s Erik Bruhn Prize (1999). He has also received three Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (2001, 2010 and 2017). Along the way, Nedvigin was fortunate to work with many world-renowned choreographers. In addition to his dancing career, Nedvigin also taught master classes and staged ballets in the U.S. and abroad before becoming an artistic director. Recently, Nedvigin sat on juried panels at the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, the International Ballet Competition held in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Youth America Grand Prix. Under Nedvigin’s guidance, Atlanta Ballet has established the Academy training program, which includes a top-tier performance ensemble, Atlanta Ballet 2, representing his commitment to training for the next generation of professional dancers.

GENNADI NEDVIGIN (Artistic Director), in February 2016, was named Atlanta Ballet’s fourth artistic director in the Company’s then 87-year history. Nedvigin, born in Rostov, Russia, began his training at age 5. At 10, he was accepted into the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Upon graduating, he joined Moscow Renaissance Ballet as a soloist before he was invited to dance with Le Jeune Ballet de France in Paris. In 1997, while on tour in the U.S., San Francisco Ballet (SFB) Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson offered Nedvigin a soloist contract. After three years, he was promoted to principal dancer. While at SFB, Nedvigin won the International Competition’s Erik Bruhn Prize (1999). He has also received three Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (2001, 2010 and 2017). Along the way, Nedvigin was fortunate to work with many world-renowned choreographers. In addition to his dancing career, Nedvigin also taught master classes and staged ballets in the U.S. and abroad before becoming an artistic director. Recently, Nedvigin sat on juried panels at the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, the International Ballet Competition held in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Youth America Grand Prix. Under Nedvigin’s guidance, Atlanta Ballet has established the Academy training program, which includes a top-tier performance ensemble, Atlanta Ballet 2, representing his commitment to training for the next generation of professional dancers.

Atlanta Ballet’s fourth artistic director in the Company’s then 87-year history. Nedvigin, born in Rostov, Russia, began his training at age 5. At 10, he was accepted into the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Upon graduating, he joined Moscow Renaissance Ballet, as a soloist, before he was invited to dance with Le Jeune Ballet de France in Paris. In 1997, while on tour in the U.S., San Francisco Ballet (SFB) Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson offered Nedvigin a soloist contract. After three years, he was promoted to principal dancer. While at SFB, Nedvigin won the International Competition’s Erik Bruhn Prize (1999). He has also received three Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (2001, 2010 and 2017). Along the way, Nedvigin was fortunate to work with many world-renowned choreographers. In addition to his dancing career, Nedvigin also taught master classes and staged ballets in the U.S. and abroad before becoming an artistic director. Recently, Nedvigin sat on juried panels at the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, the International Ballet Competition held in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Youth America Grand Prix. Under Nedvigin’s guidance, Atlanta Ballet has established the Academy training program, which includes a top-tier performance ensemble, Atlanta Ballet 2, representing his commitment to training for the next generation of professional dancers.

TOM WEST (Executive Director)

assumed his role as Atlanta Ballet’s

TOM WEST (Executive Director)

assumed his role as Atlanta Ballet’s

Executive Director at the top of the 2021 | 2022 Season. West’s career in arts management spans for more than 20 years including leadership roles at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and American Film Institute. An actor and theatre director by training, West received a Master of Arts in arts administration from American University and began his career in arts management at the Kennedy Center in 1997, where he rose to the serve as Vice President of Development, overseeing all fundraising programs for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and leading the effort to fund a remount of Balanchine’s Don Quixote. In 2007, West served as Vice President of Development for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. From 2010-2021, West served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, where he championed the development of new programs to provide bridges to the film industry for under-represented storytellers in Hollywood. West also served on AFI’s senior leadership team, shaping organizational strategy for the Institute’s filmmaker training programs and working with major studios developing on targeted diversity initiatives, as well as its strategy for weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. West established the AFI National Council in 2011, a community of philanthropists from across the United States who serve as champions for excellence in the art of film and opportunities for the next generation of great storytellers.

Executive Director at the top of the 2021 | 2022 Season. West’s career in arts management spans for more than 20 years including leadership roles at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and American Film Institute. An actor and theatre director by training, West received a Master of Arts in arts administration from American University and began his career in arts management at the Kennedy Center in 1997, where he rose to the serve as Vice President of Development, overseeing all fundraising programs for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and leading the effort to fund a remount of Balanchine’s Don Quixote. In 2007, West served as Vice President of Development for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. From 2010-2021, West served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, where he championed the development of new programs to provide bridges to the film industry for under-represented storytellers in Hollywood. West also served on AFI’s senior leadership team, shaping organizational strategy for the Institute’s filmmaker training programs and working with major studios developing on targeted diversity initiatives, as well as its strategy for weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. West established the AFI National Council in 2011, a community of philanthropists from across the United States who serve as champions for excellence in the art of film and opportunities for the next generation of great storytellers.

TOM WEST (Executive Director) assumed his role as Atlanta Ballet’s Executive Director at the top of the 2021 | 2022 Season. West’s career in arts management spans more than 20 years, including leadership roles at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and American Film Institute. An actor and theatre director by training, West received a Master of Arts in arts administration from American University and began his career in arts management at the Kennedy Center in 1997, where he rose to serve as Vice President of Development, overseeing all fundraising programs for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and leading the effort to fund a remount of Balanchine’s Don Quixote. In 2007, West served as Vice President of Development for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. From 2010-2021, West served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, where he championed the development of new programs to provide bridges to the film industry for under-represented storytellers in Hollywood. West also served on AFI’s senior leadership team, shaping organizational strategy for the Institute’s filmmaker training programs and working with major studios developing targeted diversity initiatives, as well as its strategy for weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. West established the AFI National Council in 2011, a community of philanthropists from across the United States who serve as champions for excellence in the art of film and opportunities for the next generation of great storytellers.

S HARO N S TO RY (D ean of the C entre for D ance Education) joined Atlanta Ballet after a professional dance career that spanned more than 20 years and included tenures with Joffrey Ballet, the School of American Ballet, Stars of New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and 10 years with Boston Ballet. Her Boston Ballet tenure included international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. In 1996, along with her role as ballet mistress, Story became dean of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education (Centre), which has grown to become one of the largest dance schools in the nation. The Centre is nationally recognized for its programs and community initiatives. Under Story’s direction, the Centre achieved accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). She serves on the board of directors for NASD. In 2021, Story received Atlanta Ballet’s Dorothy Alexander Award. She received the 2015 Women Making a Mark Award from Atlanta Magazine and was featured in the Arts ATL Legacy Series 2018. Story is committed to providing a noncompetitive atmosphere and access to dance education that is shaped by the community’s needs, is innovative and inspires the commitment and excellence that are the trademarks of Atlanta Ballet.

S HARO N S TO RY (D ean of the C entre for D ance Education) joined Atlanta Ballet after a professional dance career that spanned more than 20 years and included tenures with Joffrey Ballet, the School of American Ballet, Stars of New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and 10 years with Boston Ballet. Her Boston Ballet tenure included international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. In 1996, along with her role as ballet mistress, Story became dean of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education (Centre), which has grown to become one of the largest dance schools in the nation. The Centre is nationally recognized for its programs and community initiatives. Under Story’s direction, the Centre achieved accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). She serves on the board of directors for NASD. In 2021, Story received Atlanta Ballet’s Dorothy Alexander Award. She received the 2015 Women Making a Mark Award from Atlanta Magazine and was featured in the Arts ATL Legacy Series 2018. Story is committed to providing a noncompetitive atmosphere and access to dance education that is shaped by the community’s needs, is innovative and inspires the commitment and excellence that are the trademarks of Atlanta Ballet.

SHARON STORY (Dean of the Centre for Dance Education) joined Atlanta Ballet after a professional dance career that spanned more than 20 years and included tenures with Joffrey Ballet, the School of American Ballet, Stars of New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and 10 years with Boston Ballet. Her Boston Ballet tenure included international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. In 1996, along with her role as ballet mistress, Story became dean of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education (Centre), which has grown to become one of the largest dance schools in the nation. The Centre is nationally recognized for its programs and community initiatives. Under Story’s direction, the Centre achieved accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). She serves on the board of directors for NASD. In 2021, Story received Atlanta Ballet’s Dorothy Alexander Award. She received the 2015 Women Making a Mark Award from Atlanta Magazine and was featured in the Arts ATL Legacy Series 2018. Story is committed to providing a noncompetitive atmosphere and access to dance education that is shaped by the community’s needs, is innovative and inspires the commitment and excellence that are the trademarks of Atlanta Ballet.

ANGELA AGRESTI (Company Repetiteur) grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she began her training at the Jordon College Academy of Dance. In high school, she transferred to North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) for ballet where she worked closely with mentor Anna-Marie Holmes. After UNCSA, Agresti went on to dance with Cincinnati Ballet for one season before moving to Amsterdam to be in Het Nationale Ballet (Dutch National Ballet) where she danced for eight years. While at Het Nationale Ballet, she danced a mix of classical ballets, Balanchine works, Hans van Manen repertoire, contemporary and neoclassical works, along with new creations. Agresti has been featured in William Forsythe’s Second Detail, Alexei Ratmansky’s Don Quichot, Shen Wei’s Sacre du Printemps, and other notable ballets, such as The Dream, Paquita and Swan Lake. During her time dancing in Amsterdam, Agresti gained experience as a choreographic assistant for multiple choreographers’ stage, film and festival works. She traveled to Riom, Switzerland, assisting works by Juanjo Arques and Peter Leung for the Origen Cultural Festival. She also worked with Peter Leung on the first-ever virtual reality ballet titled Nightfall. Since returning to the U.S. in 2018, Agresti has been teaching, coaching and rehearsing dancers at the collegiate, pre-professional and professional levels. She held positions at Butler University and Anderson University, and as a company ballet teacher and rehearsal assistant at Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre. In 2018, she assisted Annabelle Lopez Ochoa in the making of Tulips and Lobster for Kansas City Ballet and re-staged the work for the company the following season. She holds certifications in the ABT National Training Curriculum for levels Pre-Primary through Level 5 and has received Basi Pilates teacher training for mat Pilates and reformer. She is certified as an integrative nutrition health coach and holds a Nonprofit Management Certificate from the University of California Irvine. Agresti is looking forward to working with the wonderfully talented dancers and artistic team of Atlanta Ballet led by Gennadi Nedvigin.

RORY HOHENSTEIN (Company Repetiteur) was born in Washington D.C., where he began dancing at the age of 6. Hohenstein furthered his training from the age of 12 at the Kirov Academy of Ballet. At 17, he joined Le Jeune Ballet de France in Paris. In 2000, he joined San Francisco Ballet as a member of the corps, being promoted to soloist in 2006. In 2008, he moved to New York joining Christopher Wheeldon’s company, Morphoses, performing in its home seasons at New York City Center and at Sadler’s Wells in London. He spent a season dancing with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company before joining the Joffrey Ballet in 2011, where he continued to be a leading artist with the company through the 2018/19 season. Some personal highlights include dancing the roles of Romeo in Krzysztof Pastor’s Romeo & Juliet, Riff in Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story Suite, Levin in Yuri Possokhov’s Anna Karenina and in Wayne McGregor’s Eden/Eden. This is Hohenstein’s third season as company repetiteur at Atlanta Ballet.

EDUARDO PERMUY (Company Repetiteur) was born in Cuba, where he began his training at the age of 7 at Laura Alonso’s ballet school Per-Danza, later joining the National Ballet School of Cuba and finishing at Miami City Ballet School under the tutelage of Nancy Raffa. At the age of 17, Permuy started his professional career with Miami City Ballet as an apprentice and he went to enjoy a career of 18 years also dancing for American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Joffrey Ballet, Ballet West, Smuin Contemporary Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and appearing as guest artist with a few others. During this time, his repertoire included most of the classics and a vast number of ballets from the Balanchine repertoire, ranging from corps to principal roles. He also had the opportunity to perform ballets from Gerald Arpino, Robert Joffrey, Jiří Kylián, Kurt Joss, John Cranko, Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, Twyla Tharp, Helen Picket, Nicolo Fonte, Antony Tudor, Ulysses Dove, Michael Smuin, Val Caniparoli, Alberto Alonso,

Benjamin Millepied, Leonide Massine, and Amy Seiwert. Throughout his career, Permuy feels blessed to have learned from figures like Nancy Raffa, Fernanado Bujones, Martha Bosh, Sir Anthony Dowell, Christopher Carr, Eddie Villella and Clinton Luckett. In 2021, he joined Cleveland Ballet as a director of repertoire, where he had the opportunity to not only perform ballet master duties but also was able to return to the stage as a character dancer, performing the roles of Don Quijote in the ballet by the same name and Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker. This is Permuy’s first season with Atlanta Ballet and he’s looking forward to bringing his experiences to the Company and to keep learning and growing under the direction of Gennadi Nedvigin and his team.

CLAUDIA SCHREIER (Choreographer-in-Residence) has choreographed, directed and produced for dance, opera and film across the U.S. and internationally. She has been commissioned by Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Vail Dance Festival, Juilliard Opera, ABT Studio Company and New York Choreographic Institute and will premiere new works for San Francisco Ballet and Richmond Ballet in 2023. Schreier has created three works for Atlanta Ballet: First Impulse, named a 2019 Standout Performance by Pointe Magazine; Pleiades Dances (2021); and Fauna (2022). In October 2022, in collaboration with the Cathedral Choir Society, Atlanta Ballet performed excerpts of Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette at the Washington National Cathedral, choreographed by Schreier. In 2021, she released Force of Habit, a film commissioned by Guggenheim Works & Process and co-presented by Atlanta Ballet. She has contributed to programs at the White House, Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, including the Kennedy Center Honors. Her work is the subject of two documentaries, including PBS’s Emmy Award-winning “Dancing on the Shoulders of Giants” (Capital Region). She is a recipient of the Princess Grace Award, Toulmin Fellowship at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU, Lotos Prize, and Suzanne Farrell Dance Prize.

LARISSA DAL’SANTO Chapecó, Brazil

SEVERIN BROTSCHUL Glen Arbor, Michigan

JESSICA ASSEF Sáo Carlos, Brazil

NADYNE BISPO Santos Coast of Sáo Paulo, Brazil

EMILY CARRICO Lexington, Kentucky

MICHAEL CAYE Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

ANASTASIA CHEPLYANSKY Saratoga, California

DYLAN CLINARD High Point, North Carolina

CATHERINE CONLEY Chicago, Illinois

GEORGIA DALTON Columbus, Ohio

THOMAS DAVIDOFF Lincoln, England

BROOKE GILLIAM Boulder, Colorado Special thanks to Brooke’s Pas de Deux Society patron, the Yee Family Charitable Fund.

SUJIN HAN Seoul, South Korea Special thanks to Sujin’s Pas de Deux Society patron, the Corps de Ballet.

JESSICA HE Rancho Cucamonga, California Special thanks to Jessica’s Pas de Deux Society patrons, Vanessa & Robin Delmer.

AIRI IGARASHI Gunma, Japan

DARIAN KANE Lincoln, California Special thanks to Darian’s Pas de Deux Society patrons, Adrienne & Scott Hardesty.

ERIK KIM Dallas, Texas

BENJAMIN KUEFLER Stow, Massachusetts

SAHO KUMAGAI Sapporo, Japan

Chungju, South Korea

Jamestown, New York

Special thanks to Jordan’s Pas de Deux Society patrons, Elaine & Erroll Davis.

Sáo Paulo, Brazil

Madrid, Spain

Special thanks to Sergio’s Pas de Deux Society patron, Katherine Scott

Cali, Columbia

Special thanks to Miguel’s Pas de Deux Society patrons, Bonnie & Terry Herron.

Odessa, Ukraine

Special thanks to Denys’ Pas de Deux Society patron, Frank Holt.

CARRAIG NEW

Juneau, Alaska

Highland, Michigan

Manila, Philippines

Special thanks to Mikaela’s Pas de Deux Society patron, Danna Sanders

Trinidad, Cuba

Santo Angelo, RS, Brazil

Special thanks to Anderson’s Pas de Deux Society patron, the Corps de Ballet

Yokohama, Japan

Special thanks to Fuki’s Pas de Deux Society patron, the Yee Family Charitable Fund.

Naples, Florida

Shamong, New Jersey

Special thanks to Ashley’s

SPENCER

WETHERINGTON

Bridgeton, New Jersey

Atlanta Ballet photos courtesy of Charlie McCullers and Kim Kenney.

LUIZ FERNANDO XAVIER São Paulo, Brazil

PATRIC PALKENS Boston, Massachusetts

HUI WEN PENG Taichung, Taiwan

EVELYN ROBINSON Tyler, Texas

SOJUNG LEE

JORDAN LEEPER

KAITLIN MATREE ROEMER

GUILHERME MACIEL

SERGIO MASERO

JULIANA MISSANO

Lloyd Harbor, New York

MIGUEL ANGEL MONTOYA

DENYS NEDAK

ÁNGEL RAMÍREZ

MIKAELA SANTOS

ANDERSON SOUZA

FUKI TAKAHASHI

KELSEY VAN TINE

ASHLEY WEGMANN

Pas de Deux Society patron, Ms. Jan P. Beaves.

artistic & production team

RICARDO AMARANTE (Choreographer, Love Fear Loss) is known for creating classical and neo-classical ballets filled with impassioned choreography, successfully taking the audience on emotional rollercoasters. His training began in Brazil and he completed his studies at the National Ballet School Cuba and English National Ballet School. He danced with the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet, Le Jeune Ballet de France, and Royal Ballet of Flanders. He performed all the major classical repertoire and worked closely with choreographers including Christopher d’Amboise, William Forsythe, Marcia Haydee, Hans van Manen, Jiří Kylián, Nicolo Fonte, and Jorma Elo to name a few. Ricardo developed his choreographic interest with Royal Ballet of Flanders in Belgium creating numerous one-act ballets. He participated in the New York City Ballet’s Choreographic Institute, was the commissioned choreographer for Genée International Ballet competition by the Royal Academy of Dance, nominated for the Rolex Mentor and Protege initiative choreographer, and received the French Foundation of Dance award for his ballet Love Fear Loss. The past seven years Amarante has worked as guest choreographer and artistic associate for Astana Ballet where he created numerous ballets including his full-length Giselle. The same time he has created and re-staged his ballets for Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Idaho, Ballett Dortmund, Compañia Nacional de Danza Madrid, The Cuban National Ballet, The National Opera Ukraine, Abay State Opera and Ballet Theatre, Estonian National Ballet, Vanemuine Ballet, English National Ballet School, Royal Ballet School Antwerp, and Palucca University of Dance Dresden.

HELGI TOMASSON (Choreographer, Concerto Grosso) Helgi Tomasson (Choreographer, Concerto Grosso), one of the most venerated classical dancers of his generation, concluded his 37th and final season as Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer of San Francisco Ballet in 2022. Born in Iceland, he danced with Harkness Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, and New York City Ballet, where he distinguished himself as a dancer of technical purity, musicality, and intelligence. Tomasson assumed leadership of SF Ballet in 1985. Under his direction, SF Ballet became a company widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Tomasson balanced devotion to the classics with an emphasis on new works, cultivating frequent collaborations and commissions with choreographers such as William Forsythe, Christopher Wheeldon, Alexei Ratmansky, Trey McIntyre, Cathy Marston, and Mark Morris, among many others. He choreographed more than 50 works for the Company, including full-length productions of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet (taped for Lincoln Center at the Movies’ Great American Dance), Giselle, and Nutcracker (taped for PBS’s Great Performances). He conceptualized the 1995 UNited We Dance festival, in which SF Ballet hosted 12 international companies; the 2008 New Works Festival, which included 10 world premieres by 10 acclaimed choreographers; and 2018 Unbound: A Festival of New Works. Tomasson has also connected SF Ballet to the world, through co-commissions with American Ballet Theatre, The Royal Ballet, and Dutch National Ballet; and major tours to Paris, London, New York City, China, and his native Iceland. In 2020, Tomasson received the San Francisco Arts Medallion, created by the Museum of Performance + Design to recognize those individuals whose leadership, action, and generosity have benefited the cultural life of the San Francisco Bay Area.

CATHY MARSTON (Choreographer, Snowblind) is an award-winning choreographer, artistic director and Clore Cultural Leadership Fellow. After education in Cambridge, she spent two years at the Royal Ballet School, before launching a successful international career now spanning over twenty-five years. She will become Director of Ballett Zürich, Switzerland, in August 2023. Marston’s great gift is to join artistic dots, creating form for stories, emotions and ideas. As Associate Artist of the Royal Opera House (20022007), she interpreted Ibsen and Shakespeare in Ghosts and before the tempest…after the storm, as well as many other short works. During her sixyear tenure directing the Bern Ballett, Switzerland, (2007-2013) she developed her unique approach to narrative in works such as Juliet and Romeo and Ein Winternachtstraum. Since 2013, receiving commissions from companies all around the world, she continues to offer new perspectives to old narratives, for example in Mrs Robinson (her adaptation of Charles Webb’s “The Graduate”), Snowblind (inspired by Edith Wharton’s “Ethan Frome”), Charlotte Bronté’s Jane Eyre, DH Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover and John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Likewise, she offers unusual perspectives in her biographically-inspired works, The Cellist, Victoria and Witch-hunt Ever-more widely recognised for her distinctive style of dance-drama, she won the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Best Dance Production for Victoria (Northern Ballet), the UK National Dance Award for The Cellist (The Royal Ballet), The Suit (Ballet Black) and has been short-listed for both the Olivier Awards and National Dance Awards for several other works including Jane Eyre and Victoria (Northern Ballet). In 2020 the International Institute for Dance and Theatre awarded her their prize for Excellence in International Dance. Marston has also embraced the digital stage: The Cellist, Victoria and other short works have been live streamed to cinema/TV and are available on DVD/digital platforms. Her film works include Bertha (Joffrey Ballet), Switchback (Ballet Unleashed) and Drift in which she performs herself. Her works have been commissioned and staged around the world for companies such as The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, Northern Ballet, English National Ballet, Cuban National Ballet, Danish Royal Ballet, Ballet Black, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and many more. She has also founded two project based companies: The Cathy Marston Project (UK) and Compagnie La Ronde (Switzerland).

ULRIK BIRKKJÆR (Stager, Snowblind) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and studied at the Royal Danish Ballet School. He joined The Royal Danish Ballet in 2005 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2009. As a guest artist he appeared with the National Ballet of China, The Lithuanian Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet and The Inoue Ballet in Tokyo. In 2014 he was knighted by the Queen of Denmark. In 2017 he joined San Francisco Ballet as a Principal dancer and retired 5 years later in 2022. Back in Copenhagen in 2020 he founded a dance festival called København Danser, presenting international dance in Copenhagen. Working as a stager he mounted La Sylphide by August Bournonville on San Francisco Ballet in 2022 and staged Cathy Marston’s Snowblind in America and Europe in 2022 and 2023.

artistic & production team

YURI POSSOKHOV (Choreographer, Classical Symphony) danced for 10 years with the Bolshoi Ballet, performing leading roles in the company’s classical and contemporary repertoire. While performing, Possokhov studied choreography and ballet pedagogy at the State College of Theatrical Arts. He was a principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet for two years before joining the San Francisco Ballet (SFB) as a principal dancer in 1994. During his 12 years dancing with SFB, he began choreographing. Upon retirement from dancing, he joined SFB’s artistic staff as choreographer-in-residence. He has choreographed over 15 ballets for SFB and continues to create new works for the company. Possokhov also choreographs for companies worldwide. For the Bolshoi Ballet in 2015 and 2017—A Hero of Our Time and Nureyev—full length ballets that received the prestigious Benois de la Danse Prize, established by the International Dance Union. Anna Karenina, premiered in 2019 as a co-production of Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet and the Australian Ballet. His most recent full-length ballet, The Seagull, premiered with the Bolshoi Ballet in the summer of 2021. He is a frequent guest choreographer with Atlanta Ballet. His most recent production for the company was The Nutcracker in 2018. Learn more at yuripossokhov.com

DAVID FINN (Lighting Designer, Concerto Grosso & Classical Symphony) began his professional career as a lighting designer at age 16, working for puppeteer Burr Tillstrom — “Kukla, Fran and Ollie.” His design credits for dance include works for such renowned choreographers as Sasha Waltz, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Merce Cunningham, James Kudelka, José Limón, Helgi Tomasson, Liam Scarlett, Yuri Possokhov and Dana Reitz, as well as for leading international companies. Finn was the resident lighting designer for Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project from 1993 to 2000. His opera work includes projects for the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera, Paris Opera, La Scala Milan, Salzburg Festival and many others. Finn has designed the Cirque du Soleil shows ZED in Tokyo, and R.U.N. and Michael Jackson ONE in Las Vegas. Recent projects include the world premieres of The Flying Dutchman for the Metropolitan Opera, The Seagull for The Bolshoi Ballet, Symphonie MMXX for Sasha Waltz and The Berlin Ballet, and Anna Karenina for the Joffrey Ballet. Upcoming plans include Lohengrin for The Bolshoi Opera & the Metropolitan Opera, Antony and Cleopatra for the San Francisco Opera, Cinderella for The Royal Ballet, and Summer and Smoke with choreographer Cathy Marston for ABT and the Houston Ballet.

PATRICK KINMONTH (Set and Costume Designer, Snowblind) is an internationally acclaimed director, set and costume designer for opera, photography and dance. Having made his opera-directing debut in 2008 with Madama Butterfly for Cologne Opera, he has since directed and designed numerous productions across Europe. Kinmonth’s sets and costumes have graced more than 30 opera and dance productions, including Robert Carsen’s La traviata, Wagner’s Ring and Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. In his capacity as director and designer, Kinmonth enjoys collaborating with such artists as choreographers Fernando Melo, Pontus Lidberg and Cathy Marston. Recent and current dance creations include Jane Eyre with Marston for Northern Ballet, Kinder des Olymp with Melo for Lucerne and Don Quixote with Aaron S. Watkin for Semeroper Ballet, Dresden. Kinmonth achieved international prominence as Arts Director of British Vogue and subsequently as curator of exhibitions of photographs by Mario Testino: Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery and Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace. In 2016, he curated VOGUE 100: A Century of Style at the National Portrait Gallery, London, and directed the British Fashion Awards at the Royal Alert Hall. Kinmonth was awarded Wall Street Journal’s 2012 Innovator of the Year Award for his unrestricted creativity and multiple talents as a set designer, director, painter, author decorator and exhibition curator. In the world of dance, his most recent works have seen him collaborate once again with Marston on Reconsidering Mrs. Robinson for San Francisco Ballet and Summer and Smoke for Houston Ballet.

BEN RAWSON (Associate Lighting Designer, Concerto Grosso) is an Atlanta-based Lighting Designer for Theatre, Opera, and Dance, member USA 829. Theatrical/Opera design work can be seen at The Alliance Theatre, Michigan Opera Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Atlanta Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Theatrical Outfit, Actors Express, Aurora Theatre, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, 7 Stages, and Synchronicity Theatre. Dance design work includes collaborations with choreographers Ana Maria Lucaciu, Troy Schumacher, Danielle Agami, and Claudia Schreier as well as with Atlanta Ballet, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre, BalletCollective, Fly On A Wall, Staibdance, Bluebird Uncaged, Proia Dance Project, and Emily Cargill and Dancers. Ben has also worked across the country as an Associate & Assistant Lighting Designer for San Diego Opera (CA), The Alliance Theatre (GA), Berkshire Theatre Festival (MA), Atlanta Opera (GA), Utah Opera (UT), Atlanta Ballet (GA), and Playmakers Repertory Company (NC). Benrawsondesign.com

WESTERN-LI SUMMERTON (Pianist, Love Fear Loss, Concerto Grosso & Snowblind) is a pianist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Born in Bellingham, Washington, Summerton has studied with renowned pianists throughout the Pacific Northwest including Judith Widrig, Ralph Markham, Kenneth Broadway, Anita King, Jean-David Coen,and Hwakyu Lee; as well as compositional studies with Renee Favand-See and Kenji Bunch. Summerton has performed in various solo, chamber, choral, and orchestral settings, including Mendelsohn’s two piano arrangement of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Bodyvox, and The Portland Ballet’s production of Stravinsky’s The Firebird Summerton has an extensive history in collaboration between music and dance. He has played for many companies across the country, including The Portland Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, NW Dance Project, Alonzo King LINES Ballet and United Ballet Theatre. In 2021, Summerton was invited to play classes for Royal Danish Ballet and Hungarian National Ballet. In 2022, he made his debut performance with Atlanta Ballet, performing in Claudia Schreier’s Pleiades Dances. He currently serves as the Company Accompanist/Music Administration Coordinator for Atlanta Ballet. Summerton holds a Bachelor of Music in piano performance with a minor in business from Portland State University.

JOSEPH R. WALLS (Lighting Designer, Love Fear Loss, Beauty and the Beast) recently designed Dwight Rhoden’s Catching Feelings at Pacific Northwest Ballet and Ethan Stiefel’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and Giselle at American Repertory Ballet. Walls created a new design for Orlando Ballet’s Nutcracker and Jorden Morris’ Moulin Rouge® - The Ballet. Walls designed Dana Genshaft’s Orpheus for The Washington Ballet exclusively created for Marquee TV. In addition, he has designed the lighting for numerous original works with choreographers who include Jessica Lang, Trey McIntyre, Ethan Stiefel, John Heginbotham, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Dana Genshaft, Andrea Miller, Yury Yanowsky, Ricardo Amarante, Gemma Bond, Dwight Rhoden, Sophie Laplane, Juliano Nunes, and Claudia Schreier. Internationally, Walls works with STEPS of Panama. With support from the U.S. Embassy he designed Marlyn Attie’s Crush at the National Theatre of Panamá. Walls was nominated for the prestigious Premios Escena award for best lighting design for his international design work. He also recently designed the weeklong celebration with Pope Francis – The World Youth Day. Other design collaborations include those with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Ballet West, The Washington Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Utah Metropolitan Ballet, staibdance, Inland Pacific Ballet, Spartanburg Ballet, Chautauqua Dance, The Charlotte Ballet, Roswell Dance Theatre, Komasnsé Dance Theater and Sundance. www.jwallsdesign.com

SANDRA WOODALL (Costume Designer, Concerto Grosso & Classical Symphony) has designed sets and costumes at San Francisco Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Georgian National Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, the State Opera Ballet of Austria, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Houston Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Project, Singapore Dance Theatre, National Ballet of Finland and throughout the world with choreographers including Val Caniparoli, Jorma Elo, Trey McIntyre and Michael Smuin. Ms. Woodall’s artwork has been shown in exhibitions at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Connecticut, the San Francisco Museum of Performance and Design, and Wearable Art in 2011 in Hong Kong. She was previously a Fulbright scholar at Taiwan National University of the Arts. She has designed many productions in Taiwan and China, including 2009’s stadium-scale opening for the Deaf Olympics and the 100th anniversary celebration of Taiwan National Day, as well as scenic and costume design for Winter Journey by Wan Fang and the upcoming eight-hour production of AGO, directed by Stan Lai in Beijing.

JONATHAN MCPHEE (Conductor) Is Music Director Emeritus for Boston Ballet after 29 years as music director. Currently Music Director for Lexington Symphony, his recent guest appearances include engagements in New York, Tokyo, Houston, and Indianapolis. McPhee has served as conductor for The Royal Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, National Ballet of Canada, The Australian Ballet, Den Norske Ballet in Norway and Royal Danish Ballet, among others. During the 2020-2021 season he was artist-in-residence at Boston University and guest conducted the orchestra there last season. Mr. McPhee’s works as an arranger and composer are published by Boosey & Hawkes, Inc. and Schott Music. His edition of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and The Firebird are the only authorized reduced orchestrations of these works. His adaptation of Wagner’s Ring Cycle premiered to rave reviews. Mr. McPhee’s recordings of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with the Boston Ballet Orchestra, are available on iTunes. McPhee received his Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music from the Royal Academy of Music and University of London, and a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from The Juilliard School.

Officers

Nancy Field, J.D., Chair

Barbara S. Joiner, Vice Chair

Juan Carlos Urdaneta, Treasurer

Jan Beaves, Secretary

Elizabeth Adams, Immediate Past Chair

Lynda B. Courts, Chair Emeritus

Trustees

Emily C. Baker

Ron Breakstone

Ginny Brewer

Chris Carlos

Dr. Meria Carstarphen

Lynn Cochran-Schroder

Cynthia Crain, Ed.D.

Lavona S. Currie

Vanessa Delmer

Yelena Epova, CPA

Nigel Ferguson

Jacqueline Flake

Amy Gerome

Matthew Hartnett

Lindsay R. Hill

Joyce Houser, Ph.D

Tharon Johnson

Kathleen Knous

Araya Mesfin, CFP

Taylor Meyer, CFA

Linda Morris

Gennadi Nedvigin*

Rachel Lee Phipps

Katherine Scott

Kristen Manion Taylor

Pam Wakefield

Tom West*

Advisory Council

David M. Barnett

Mark R. Bell, Ph.D.

Harvey Coleman

Elaine E. Davis

Erroll B. Davis

Anne-Laure Desjonquères

F. Javier Diaz

Raoul “Ray” Donato

Jake Evans

Linda Nau Givens

Robert L. Green

Allegra Lawrence-Hardy

Susan S. Kettering

Allen Maines

Santiago Marquez

Juan Mejia

Allen W. Nelson

Eric Robbins

Arden Rowland

Laura Turner Seydel

Rebecca Christian Smith

Andrew Staunton

Anat Sultan-Dadon

Marius Hechter

Dov Wilker

Allen Yee

Sonjia Waller Young

Honorary Board

Margaret Carton

David Crosland

Kenneth R. Hey

Wade Hooper

J. David Hopkins

Bill Huber, CPA

Michael Jones

Sloan Kennedy-Smith

Edward Krugman

Amanda Shailendra

Michelle Sullivan

Trustees Emeriti

Lynda B. Courts

Lavona Currie

Karen Vereb

Patti Wallace

Lifetime Board

Jane Dean

Carole Goldberg

Joseph Prendergast

Deen Day Sanders

Corps de Ballet Board

Marius Hechter, Chair

Jane Dean

Kimberlyn Daniel

Jacqueline Flake

Joanne Chesler Gross

Caroline Jeffords

Corrie Johnson

Amy Nelson

Gailen Rosenberg

Sharon Silvermintz

Dottie Smith

Marsha Taylor

Doug Weiss

Preston Wilson, Jr.

*Ex-Officio

board of trustees

ATLANTA BALLET ORCHESTRA

Jonathan McPhee, Conductor

VIOLIN

Lisa Morrison

Concertmaster

Sally Gardner-Wilson Assoc. Concertmaster

Linda Pinner Principal Second

Martha Gardner

Patti Gouvas

Patrick Ryan

Angèle Sherwood-Lawless

Lee Taylor+

Elonia Varfi

Rafael Veytsblum

Ying Zhuo

VIOLA

Joli Wu Principal

Josiah Coe

Shadwa Mussad

Kristeen Sorrells

CELLO

Charae Krueger Principal

Hilary Glen+

Mary Kenney

Alexis Lee

CONTRABASS

Adam Bernstein

Principal

Sam Dugo

FLUTE

Jeanne Carere Principal

Kelly Via

OBOE

Erica Howard Principal

Alexandra Shatalova Prior

CLARINET

Katherine White Principal

Greg Collins+

BASSOON

Amy Pollard Principal

Dan Worley

HORN

Jason Eklund Principal

Eric Hawkins

Amy Trotz

Richard Williams

TRUMPET

Kevin Lyons+ Principal

John Morrison Co-Principal

Greg Holland

TROMBONE

William Mann

Acting Principal

Richard Brady

TUBA

Don Strand Principal

PERCUSSION

Mike Cebulski Principal

Karen Hunt

Jeff Kershner

TIMPANI

Scott Douglas Principal

HARP

Nella Rigell Principal

* 1-Year Appointment + Leave of Absence

ANNUAL FUND DONORS

Atlanta Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following individuals whose generous annual contributions were received during the period of December 1, 2021 – December 1, 2022. If you find that we did not recognize you appropriately, we apologize. For corrections, please contact us at advancement@atlantaballet.com.

THE CHOREOGRAPHER’S CIRCLE

Recognizes exceptional gifts of $10,000 and above

DIAMOND $100,000+

Anonymous

Chris Carlos & Family

Katherine Scott

SAPPHIRE $50,000+

Anonymous

Ms. Nancy Field & Mr. Michael Schulder

EMERALD $25,000+

Elster Foundation

Karen L. Rose

PEARL $20,000+

Ms. Jan P. Beaves

Bonnie & Terry Herron

Barbara & Eric Joiner

Kathleen & Kirk Knous

The Rogers Family Foundation

OPAL $15,000+

James J. Andrews in honor of Jill M. Voznick

Mr. & Mrs. Richard W. Courts II

Lavona S. Currie

Elaine & Erroll Davis

Vanessa & Robin Delmer

Mr. William F. Snyder

Pam & Paul Whitacre

AMETHYST $10,000+

Anonymous (3)

Elizabeth and Howell Adams III

Emily C. Baker

Mr. Robert J. Barnett

Ginny & Charles Brewer

Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen & Mr. David

Heleniak

Mrs. Lynn Cochran-Schroder & Mr. Bill Schroder

Cynthia Crain, Ed. D. & Dwight Lee, Ph.D.

Yelena Epova

Nigel Ferguson

Jacqueline Flake & David Dase

Joyce Houser, Ph.D.

Klein Foundation

Taylor & Brad Meyer

Allen W. Nelson & Caroline B. Gottschalk

Heather & Bill Preston

Danna Sanders

Stephanie & Austin Stephens

Greer & Alex Taylor

Kristen Manion Taylor & Jason Taylor

The Yee Family Charitable Fund

Pam Wakefield

THE DANCER’S CIRCLE

Recognizes generous gifts up to $10,000

GRAND JETÉ $7,500+

Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence W. Davis

Mr. Tomislav Dizdar

Adrienne & Scott Hardesty

TOUR JETÉ $5,000+

Anonymous

Dr. Harold J. Brody & Mr. Donald E. Smith

Mr. Richard Delay & Ms. Francine Dykes

Mr. Daniel E. Gaylord & Ms. Marilyn Altman

Joanne & Alex Gross

Steve, Susan & Grace Hauser, in memory of Armantine Groshong

Kenneth & Colleen Hey

Frank Holt

Mariana Laufer

Carole & Nelson Marchioli

Linda & Don Morris

The Mortimer Family

Karen Vereb & Bud Blanton

Mr. Robert A. Yellowlees

ASSEMBLÉ $2,500+

Anonymous

Diana & Miguel Arteche

Lucy & Henry Bush, in honor of Lavona S. Currie

Mr. & Mrs. Jerome M. Cooper

Mr. Mark du Mas

Laura Grabeman

James Honkisz & Catherine Binns

Laurie & John Hopkins

Dr. Leslie & Mrs. Marilyn Kelman, in honor of Darcy & Rachel Denneen

Vaughn Linder, in honor of Richard & Lynda Courts

Gino & Belinda Massafra

Mr. & Mrs. Larry Pelletier

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ratonyi

Dr. & Mrs. Mark Silverstein

Sharon Story, Julien & Kim Kenney

Jeff & Catherine Tucker

Irma J. Turnipseed

Sonia P. Witkowski

Allen W. Yee

GLISSADE $1,000+ Anonymous (3)

Mr. & Mrs. Martin P. Bennett

Lindsay & Evan Borenstein

Peter Boucher

James A. Brennan, M.D.

Dr. & Mrs. William Brinkman

Sara & Alex Brown

Mr. Michael E. Carroll & Mr. Paul Alberto

David Cofrin & Christine Tryba-Cofrin

Harvey & Paquita Coleman

Robert Paul Dean & Robert Epstein

Kevin & Demi Doyle

Lauren & Rick Elliott

Doug & Florida Ellis

Brad Foresythe

Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Goddard

Dr. Marvin Goldstein

Richard Goodjoin & Kelvin Davis

Marius Hechter

Lisa & Forrest Hibbard

Mr. Douglas Hopkins

Mr. J. David Hopkins

Holland & Ceci Johnson

Mrs. Peter G. Kessenich, Sr.

Edward Krugman & Jill Pryor

Leigh Anna & Steven Lang

Ms. Doreen M. Lewis

Linda L. Lively & James E. Hugh III

Caroline Montojo

Ms. Sandra Noecker, in memory of Edwin Story

Sara & Cody Partin

Zakiya & William Rice

Dr. Robert & Gail Riesenberg

Lovette Russell, in honor of Maddie Hardy

Ashley & Drew Scott

Manda & Jeremy Shankel

Toreya Shea

Beverly & Dianne Shlapak

Matt Simon

Anne M. Spratlin

Mr. Tarek Takieddini

Mr. Robert J. Taylor IV, in honor of Kathleen Knous

The Kang Family

The Tillman Family

Dr. Peter & Mrs. Beverly Thomas

Dr. Kirsten Travers-UyHam & Mr. John J. UyHam

Ms. Karen Trujillo

Mrs. Julie Turner-Davis & Mr. John Davis

Eric & Chan Voiles

Kristann M. Voyles

Harriet H. Warren

Betsy Wash

Tom & Judie Wilhite

Ted & Whitney Woodward

Where authentic Christian mission and academic excellence aren’t mutually exclusive

RELEVÉ $500+

Anonymous (2)

Nina Allen

Ms. Tracie Arnold

Hope Barrett

Susan Bass & Thomas Bradford, in honor of Marsha Taylor

Herb & Lisa Bastin

Patty Slick Beem

Mr. & Mrs. Sean Bowen

Sandra & David Burgess

Carol Comstock & Jim Davis

John Condo

Deborah Dalton

James Datka & Nora DePalma

Mr. Joseph Dawsey III

Dr. Catherine Dekle & Dr. Keith Mannes, in memory of Vielka Del Carmen Sheppard

Ashleigh Dobrin, in loving memory of Mel Dobrin

Mr. & Ms. Rolston A. Dyer

Antoinette J. Earley & William L. Green

Elaine Eaton

Tricia & Chris Ekholm

Dytre Fentress & Stephen Rann

Cole & Zachary Ferguson-Cogdill

Kathryn & Patrick Gaul

Christine A. Gilliam

Ms. Marguerite Hallman

Mr. & Mrs. Tim Harben

Virginia Hepner & Malcolm Barnes

Michal & Jack Hillman

Vicki Hooten

Ms. Katherine Horton

Dorothea & Robert Jeffrey

Jean Gatton Jones

Eric Larson

Allan & Vaneesa Little

Jeanie & Albert Marx

Mimi Maslia

Mr. William McClain

Mr. & Mrs. Eugene F. Meany

Terri & Stephen Nagler

Miho & Gennadi Nedvigin

Dick & Dixie Olson

Mrs. Debby Overstreet

Erin Perez

Grace Pownall & Ron Harris

Margery & Dan Reason Family Fund

Dr. & Mrs. William M. Scaljon

Sharon & David Schachter

Teena Stern

Dr. Michael & Mrs. Francoise Szikman

Roberta Taylor & James Hill

Marie Tetzlaff

Johnny Thigpen & Clay Martin, in honor of Tricia Ekholm

Alan & Marcia Watt

Tom West

FOUNDATION, CORPORATE & GOVERNMENT DONORS

Atlanta Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following corporations, foundations, and government agencies whose generous annual contributions were received during the period of December 1, 2021 – December 1, 2022.

$100,000+

The Home Depot Foundation

Lettie Pate Evans Foundation

PNC Financial Services Group

The Molly Blank Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

The Thalia & Michael C. Carlos Foundation

The Thalia N. Carlos & Chris M. Carlos Foundation

$75,000+

The Shubert Foundation

$50,000+

City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs

John H. & Wilhelmina D. Harland Charitable Foundation

The Imlay Foundation

$25,000+

Bobbie Bailey Foundation

Cox Enterprises

Fulton County Arts Council

The Kettering Family Foundation

The Morgan Family Fund

Southern Company Gas Foundation

Mark & Evelyn Trammell Foundation

Warner Brothers Discovery

$20,000+

Arrow Exterminators

Georgia Council for the Arts

JBS Foundation

The Ray M. & Mary Elizabeth Lee Foundation

$15,000+ Google

$10,000+

Chick-fil-A, Inc.

National Endowment for the Arts

Publix Super Markets Charities

$5,000+

Massey Charitable Trust

Price Gilbert, Jr. Charitable Fund

$2,500+ Anonymous

$1,000+

Lindsey Treadaway, Realtor, Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices

Lois & Lucy Lampkin Foundation

$500+

Dana Foundation

Atlanta Ballet is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also received support from its partner agency, the National Endowment for the Arts. Major funding is provided by the Fulton County Commission under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council, and major support is provided by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

THE PAS DE DEUX SOCIETY

Members of the Pas de Deux Society have made an additional gift to underwrite support for an individual dancer.

Jan P. Beaves

Dr. Harold J. Brody & Mr. Donald E. Smith

Atlanta Ballet Corps de Ballet (2 dancers)

Lynda Bradbury Courts

Elaine & Erroll Davis

Vanessa & Robin Delmer

Adrienne & Scott Hardesty

Bonnie & Terry Herron

Frank Holt

Kathleen & Kirk Knous (2 dancers)

Danna Sanders

Katherine Scott

The Yee Family Charitable Fund

THE DOROTHY ALEXANDER LEGACY SOCIETY

Individuals who have included Atlanta Ballet in their long-term estate plans through bequests and other deferred-giving arrangements.

Madeline & Howell Adams, Jr.

C.D. Belcher

Cynthia Crain

Mrs. Lynn Cochran-Schroder

Patty & Marc Dash

Mrs. Daphne Moore Eitel

Melodi Ford

Brad Foresythe

Joyce Houser, Ph.D.

Mrs. Audrey B. Morgan

Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Morgan

Elizabeth Morgan Spiegel

John K. Palmisano & Stephen A. Williams, III

Katherine Scott

Marianne Stribling

presents

February 18 – 19, 2023

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Artistic Director

Gennadi Nedvigin

Dean Centre for Dance Education

Sharon Story

Music by Léo Delibes

Conceived & Choreographed by Bruce Wells

Staged by Serena Chu

Scenic Design by Ryan Sbaratta

Lighting Design by Joseph R. Walls

Costume Design by Altanta Ballet Costume Shop

Narrated by Amelia Fisher

Performed by Atlanta Ballet 2

Atlanta Ballet 2 and Beauty and the Beast children’s cast courtesy of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education

Academy Rehearsal Assistants

Anna Penny, Natalya Vyashenko

Long ago, a handsome young Prince lived in a magnificent castle. Though he enjoyed a life of riches, he was rude and unkind to his subjects. One fateful day, an older beggar woman approached him. Because his heart was cold, the selfish Prince turned the poor woman away. To the Prince’s surprise, the woman then transformed into a beautiful Enchantress. She put a curse on the Prince for his ugly behavior, turning him into an equally ugly beast. The Enchantress’ curse could only be broken by one thing—a true love’s kiss.

Today, in a nearby village, there is a beautiful young girl named Belle who lives with her father, a merchant in town. A vain and selfish huntsman named Gaston often visits this small village, always followed by adoring women. However, Gaston has eyes for Belle. He attempts to woo Belle, but she has no interest in him. As Belle’s father prepares to leave the small village for the markets of the big city, Belle requests that he bring her back a rose, and they bid farewell.

Along the way, Belle’s father loses the path to the city, but remembers his daughter’s wish for a rose. He stops to pluck a single rose from a garden just outside a weathered castle when the Prince, now a Beast, confronts him. Belle’s father begs for his life, pleading that he must return to his daughter. The Beast then negotiates the merchant’s release in exchange for his daughter. “It must be your daughter’s decision,” demands the Beast, who gives the old man a chest of gold before sending him on his way.

The merchant returns to the village. There he tells the story of his encounter with the Beast. Everyone is horrified except for Belle, who is determined to fulfill her father’s commitment to the Beast. With a heavy heart, the merchant returns to the rose garden with Belle.

They meet the Beast, and Belle agrees to stay in her father’s place. The Beast gives two bags of gold to the merchant before he takes his leave. The Beast then commands his court to prepare for the evening’s ball. First, they must decide upon a beautiful gown for Belle. When the Beast returns, Belle hesitantly accepts a dance with him. Embarrassed by his appearance, the Beast calls for a performance for Belle and disappears.

Interrupting the performance, Gaston enters the garden with Belle’s father and demands that Belle leave with him. Gaston becomes hostile when Belle refuses, and the Beast returns to protect her. Gaston and the Beast begin to fight. Gaston pulls out a pistol and shoots the Beast. Belle’s heart is so touched by the Beast’s bravery that she kisses him. With only a few breaths of life left in him, the curse is lifted, and the Beast magically transforms back into the handsome Prince he had once been.

The couple lives happily ever after.

Atlanta Ballet 2 dancers are selected from all over the world and represent the artistic vision of Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin. These young individuals are dancers who have arrived at a defining point in their transitions to becoming professional dancers. They receive individual classes and coaching from esteemed faculty mentors. The intense level of training, opportunities to rehearse with the Atlanta Ballet company, and the experiences of their own performances help mold the young artists’ awareness of the high expectations demanded of professional company members.

Visit centre.atlantaballet.com/atlanta-ballet-2 to learn more about Atlanta Ballet 2. Atlanta Ballet 2 photo by Kim Kenney.

Pictured above left to right: Will Giannuzzi, Mayu Nakayama, Santiago Bedoya, Estefania Ontanilla, Avery Jarrad, Giannna Horton-Sibble, Ephraim Fowler, Paxton Speight, Breanna Faith Justus, Lucas Labrador, Emanuel Talongo, Georgie Grace Butler, Covin Washington, Emma Sophia Robinson, Emmanuel Lopez, Samantha Schuerman, Stephen Myers

artistic & production team

BRUCE WELLS (Choreographer) is an internationally acclaimed choreographer who began his career with George Balanchine’s New York City Ballet. Following this, he was the resident choreographer for Connecticut Ballet, Boston Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. In addition, Mr. Wells’ ballets appear in the repertories of The Australian Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem, Atlanta Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Ballet Idaho, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Milwaukee Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Nevada Dance Theater and Kansas City Ballet. Mr. Wells has taught for the schools of Boston Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater, City Ballet School of San Francisco, the Vancouver Ballet Society in British Columbia, Jacob’s Pillow, Kansas City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

ATLANTA BALLET COSTUME SHOP (Costume Designer) is currently comprised of six people: Colleen McGonegle – costume director; Susan Carter – costume technician and construction supervisor; Chloé Gervais – costume technician; Abby Parker – costume technician, shoe, and wardrobe manager; and Abby Dupree Polston – costume technician and patternmaker; Maddie Simmons - costume technician. Collectively they bring over 80 years of costuming experience to Atlanta Ballet, with each person bringing their own unique and valuable skill set. During Gennadi Nedvigin’s tenure with Atlanta Ballet, the costume shop has supervised costumes for 48 ballets for the Company, building 20 of those shows from scratch. Given Nedvigin’s vision to bring new works to Atlanta, the costume shop has also constructed costumes from brand new designs for three to four world premieres a season. Recently the costume shop has designed costumes for Claudia Schreier’s Pleiades Dances, Paquita, and Bruce Wells Atlanta Ballet 2 productions of Beauty and the Beast and The Swan Princess.

AMELIA FISCHER (Narrator) is a professional actor, director and fight choreographer based in Atlanta, Georgia. She has worked for theatres in Washington, D.C. to Washington state, including seasons with Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Georgia Shakespeare, Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Classical Theatre Company, Shakespeare Walla Walla and Houston Shakespeare Company. Here in Atlanta, Fischer has performed with Theatrical Outfit, Alliance Theatre, Horizon Theatre, Theatre Buford, Essential Theatre and Theatre Emory. As a voiceover artist, she has voiced several anime characters for Sentai Filmworks, including Jibril in “No Game No Life.” Fischer is proud to have earned her M.F.A. from the University of Houston’s Professional Actor Training Program and her B.A. from Coastal Carolina University, and to have trained with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance.