WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
Exit12 Dance Company and all of our collaborators and partners thank you for joining us tonight at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial Park for our first Stories of War performance of dance, theater, and spoken word in Albuquerque, NM, the place where I was born and raised, and where my dance training and career began.
We’re especially proud to share two special works this evening: one by Festival Ballet Albuquerque and another by Keshet Dance. I performed with Festival’s Director Patricia Dickinson for many years when I was a young dancer, and started choreographing under her mentorship before moving east. Keshet has been a strong partner of ours, and was our presenting partner when we did a New Mexico-wide project in 2021 along with New Mexico Arts where we hosted workshops in Albuquerque and Silver City, and shared a livestream performance through NMPBS.
My inspiration to serve also began in New Mexico as my grandfather served in the US Army in Korea and many of my family members served in the other branches Tonight I would like to dedicate this performance to my Uncle Louis Giannini, a proud veteran of the US Air Force. I remember admiring my uncle leaving for Kirkland in his uniform as well as visiting him on base and getting to sit in some of the planes he worked with. Uncle Louie passed this month, and we lift up his memory tonight through music and dance
The experiences of those who serve, and the lasting impact of that service on their families, are as complex as they are profound. These stories are often difficult to put into words, but as you will see tonight, movement, music, and storytelling have a powerful way of making them felt and understood.
Our hope is that you leave tonight with two truths in your heart: first, that the struggles faced by members of the military community deeply matter and they can be met with compassion, understanding, and real solutions.
And second, that caring for our physical and mental wellbeing is vital, and one of the most meaningful ways we can do that, together, is through the healing power of the arts. Together, we all strive to heal, to educate, and to advocate through art, creating space for empathy, connection, and transformation.
Thank you and enjoy the evening,
ROMÁN BACA
Artistic Director and Co-Founder Exit12 Dance Company
Photo: Stacy Pearsall
STORIES OF WAR
OH, BACA!
SOMETIMES, SILENCE
WOMAN IN A CAR IN FALLUJAH
CONFLICT(ED)
PURPLE FINGERPRINTS
MEMOIR CHACO
Baca, USMC
Dance Company Artists
Choreography: Angela Scimonelli, Army Mom
Music: Paul Scimonelli, US Marine Band (Ret )
Román Baca, USMC
Baca, USMC
Dominic Guerra and Christo McMaster Music: Robert Mirabal
Choreographer: Jock Soto
FESTIVAL BALLET ALBUQUERQUE
TARRION (EXCERPT) ........Company Dancers: Sonia Bologa, Laura Orozco Garrett, Juliana Gorena
Company Apprentices: Kamila Rojas, Téa Woodland
Rehearsal Director: Elysia Pope
Choreographer: Ana Lopes Aréchiga
Composer: Zachariah Julian
KESHET DANCE COMPANY
ABSURDITY OF WAR
WHIMS OF WAR AND ROMANCE
I’M NEW HERE
ODYSSEY
Román Baca, USMC
Choreography: Román Baca, USMC
Music: Jesús Daniel Hernández, US Army and Michael Bard
Baca, USMC
Choreographed by: Andrew Harper, Air Force Son
Music by: Terry Callier, Gil Scott Heron, and Jamie Woon
STORIES OF WAR
EXIT12 DANCE COMPANY
Román Baca
Co-Founder and Artistic Director
Lisa Fitzgerald Co-Founder and Associate Artistic Director
Adrienne de la Fuente
Executive Director
Taylor Gordon Artistic Associate
Artists
Audrey Borst, Nicholas Cunha, Adrienne de la Fuente, Taylor Gordon, Édouard Gotthelf, Lisa Fitzgerald, Kasper Horton
EXIT12 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DAVE DE LA FUENTE, Ph.D. - President
MAUREEN KAPLAN - Treasurer
TAYLOR GORDON - Secretary
LIZ K. FREEMAN - Director
CALIA BRENCSONS-VAN DYK - Director
ADRIENNE DE LA FUENTE - Director
ROMÁN BACA - Director
LISA FITZGERALD - Director
EXIT12 WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A WARM THANK YOU TO:
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible individuals and organizations who made this performance possible. To Strongpoint Theinert Ranch and the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Forces, we could not have done this without you To Festival Ballet Albuquerque and Keshet Dance, thank you for sharing your artistry and support. To Taste New Mexico and the Recognition Place, thank you for making our tour special. To Anna Shawver, Rhiannon and Justin Lux, Tyler Walker, and Jasmine Chavez, thank you for love and warm hospitality. To the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, the New Mexico VA, and Horses for Heroes, especially Rick and Nancy, thank you for your support.
STORIES OF WAR
EXIT12 DANCE COMPANY
ROMÁN BACA
Artistic Director, USMC Iraq War Veteran
Román Baca is a classically trained ballet dancer, choreographer, and military veteran whose career bridges the worlds of performing arts and military service. In 2001, compelled by a profound commitment to protect the defenseless, he paused his artistic pursuits to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, serving honorably as a machine-gunner and fire-team leader during combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq during the Iraq War.
Following his deployment, Mr. Baca returned to the arts and co-founded Exit12 Dance Company, using dance as a transformative vehicle to tell the stories of veterans, civilians, and families impacted by war. His choreographic works interrogate the human experience of conflict, fostering empathy and understanding across diverse communities. Mr. Baca also leads workshops and lectures at schools, universities, organizations, and veterans’ centers nationwide, inspiring critical conversations about the profound impact of war through the power of dance and artistic expression.
Mr. Baca earned his BA in Performing Arts, cum laude, from St. Mary’s College of California and was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to pursue an MFA in Choreography at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, UK, where he graduated with Merit
Currently, Mr. Baca is a PhD Candidate at York St. John University (UK), where his research investigates the role of the performing arts within military communities. His expertise in arts and recovery programming led him to work as a consultant with The Drive Project, where he led on Bravo 22 a Royal British Legion-funded Recovery through the Arts initiative and contributed to a pioneering arts and recovery pilot program with the UK Ministry of Defence. He has also spearheaded projects for the Soldiers’ Arts Academy C.I.C. and served on the leadership team that delivered the inaugural UK Veterans Art Festival in partnership with the 2019 UK Invictus Trials
Mr. Baca’s leadership and artistic contributions have been widely recognized. He is a 2024 Scholar with the George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program and the recipient of numerous accolades including a 2020 scholarship to York St. John University, the 2019 Fulbright Association’s Selma Jeanne Cohen Dance Lecture Award, a 2017–2018 US-UK Fulbright Postgraduate Award, a 2018 HillVets Nomination, induction into the 2015 New York State Veterans’ Hall of Fame, and the 2014 Art and Healing Network Award. He has further distinguished himself as a fellow with Veterans in Global Leadership, The Mission Continues, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
STORIES OF WAR
EXIT12 DANCE COMPANY
LISA FITZGERALD
Associate
Artistic Director, Artist
Lisa Fitzgerald is an international ballet dancer, educator, and choreographer originally from Massachusetts. She graduated from the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts' professional ballet training program and went on to perform with Connecticut Ballet, Ballet Theatre Company, Sarah Berges Dance, Ballet Ambassadors, and for renowned choreographers in New York City and London.
As co-founder of Exit12 Dance Company, Ms. Fitzgerald was a driving force in orienting Román Baca’s return to the arts to aid his reintegration into civilian life following his military deployment to Iraq, and to help others find healing through the transformative power of the arts. As a military spouse and professional dancer, Lisa saw that dance could help amplify military voices, foster empathy, and build community among veterans, service members, and their families What started as a deeply personal endeavour became a mission that continues.
As an educator, Ms Fitzgerald has taught for leading organizations including the Mark Morris Dance Group, Ballet Theatre Company, Regal Ballet London, West London School of Dance, Pineapple Dance Studios, Danceworks London and London Ballet Classes. She has choreographed and staged both original and classical ballets for youth and pre-professional programs, prepared students for elite ballet competitions, and served as a teaching artist committed to making dance accessible to underserved communities
Ms. Fitzgerald graduated summa cum laude from St. Mary’s College of California with a BA in Performing Arts She holds certification in the first three years of professional ballet pedagogy from the Bolshoi Ballet Teacher Certification Program and is currently pursuing her MA in Education (Dance Teaching) with the Royal Academy of Dance in London, UK, where her dissertation research explores Exit12’s community dance practice with military-affiliated participants.
STORIES OF WAR
EXIT12 DANCE COMPANY
ADRIENNE DE LA FUENTE
Executive Director, Artist
Adrienne de la Fuente is a seasoned dance artist, leader, and arts advocate whose dedication to the transformative power of movement has shaped her dynamic career with Exit12 Dance Company. Since joining Exit12 in 2010, Adrienne has been a driving force within the company performing in powerful, socially engaged works and leading workshops that connect civilians, veterans, and military families across the United States and internationally. Her deep commitment to Exit12’s mission has seen her rise through the organization’s ranks: she was named Company Manager and Rehearsal Director in 2016, became a Board Member in 2018, and was appointed Executive Director in 2024
Through her artistic and administrative leadership, Adrienne has helped elevate Exit12’s role at the intersection of dance and military experience, amplifying stories of service and sacrifice through choreography and performance. The daughter of a former Army Captain, she has explored the military’s influence on her family and community with increasing urgency particularly after the loss of her cousin, a U.S. Marine and Afghanistan War Veteran, to a drug overdose in 2022. This tragedy has deepened her resolve to harness dance as a tool for healing and dialogue.
Originally from California, Adrienne trained under Richard Gibson and Zory Karah at the Academy of Ballet and with Fran Spector Atkins at SpectorDance, where she also performed as a company member. She appeared in Figures in the Dust, a critically acclaimed work inspired by John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. After relocating to New York City for college, Adrienne continued her dance studies at The Ailey School while earning her B.A. in French Studies and Philosophy with a minor in Spanish from Fordham College at Lincoln Center
Beyond Exit12, Adrienne has danced with the JUNTOS Collective, Brooklyn Ballet, and numerous New York-based choreographers, cultivating a diverse performance portfolio that spans classical ballet to contemporary and socially engaged dance Her parallel career in organizational leadership includes serving as Chief Operating Officer of Private Prep, an educational services company headquartered in NYC, where she applied her strategic and operational expertise to support student success nationwide.
STORIES OF WAR
EXIT12 COMPANY ARTISTS
AUDREY BORST
Artist
Audrey Borst is originally from Berkeley, California, and trained in ballet and modern dance at the San Francisco Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem and Alonzo King LINES Ballet and danced for Sarah Bush Dance Project, Peninsula Ballet, and the Oakland Ballet School. Since graduating from Alvin Ailey on scholarship she has danced with companies such as Jamal Jackson Dance, Dance-Lab New York, Julia Gleich Dance, Brooklyn Ballet, and The Love Show, performing works by Darshan Bhueller, George Balanchine, Antony Tutor, and Jeremy McQueen and can be seen in the musical Francois and the Rebels at the Public Theater by Jamie Cepero.
NICHOLAS CUNHA
Artist
Nicholas Cunha is a singer, dancer and actor currently based in New York City A graduate of the University of Toronto, he joined the Conservatory at Circle in the Square Theater on Broadway (KPOP, Fun Home, Once On This Island, Oklahoma!) as an apprentice and has gone on to star in Macbeth and Spring Awakening Nicholas has also performed as a guest artist of New York City Ballet at NY City Center, David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center as a classical voice soloist (Cherubini's Requiem), Paper Mill Playhouse, and the Shaw Festival as an actor in On Your Feet and White Christmas respectively. A truly international champion of the arts, Nicholas is represented by CESD Talent in New York
EDUARD GOTTHELF
Artist
Ed Gotthelf is a trained actor, singer and dancer who studied at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. He went on to work professionally in the UK before moving to the US. Favorite credits include- National Tours: Chicago The Musical (Fred Casely), An American in Paris (Henri Baurel Understudy), South Pacific (Henry) Regional: Newsies (Race), Les Miserables (Marius), Nice Work If You Can Get It. Ed is very excited to share the work of Exit 12 and feels honored to be able to tell such a meaningful message.
STORIES OF WAR
EXIT12 COMPANY ARTISTS
KASPER HORTON Artist
Kasperthesaint is an artist and creative force whose work spans music, dance, and philosophical exploration. As a multifaceted creator, he brings deep reflections on personal growth, spirituality, and the transformative power of pain into purpose. His dancing takes him all around the world, allowing him to connect with diverse cultures and expressions of movement Kasperthesaint's artistic output also extends to music, where his reflective soundscapes delve into themes of self-discovery and creative alchemy. His creative endeavors come together to inspire others to find their own rhythm in life, both in art and in thought.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO MAKE A DONATION TO EXIT12
TODAY
STORIES OF WAR
DEDICATION
LOUIS GIANNINI SR.
written by his daughter Ginevra Giannini
My dad was born May 23, 1949. He died March 7, 2026. He served his career in the air National Guard at Kirtland Air Force Base, proud to be a “Taco” as they called themselves. He served in Desert Storm and countless deployments around the world. My dad was a devout Catholic. Always putting God, family, and country first. And in that order. My mom and him were married for 50 years and together for 55 He had my brother and I and four grandchildren He was never without a smile or story to tell He was never short of love, kindness, compassion, or forgiveness. If you were one of the few he gave a nickname to, you were definitely really special to him. The loss of my dad is so devastating, and he is going to be greatly missed by those who loved him. He was truly the best of us all.
STORIES OF WAR
PRESENTING PARTNERS
ABOUT EXIT12 DANCE COMPANY
Exit12 started in 2007 as a way for a former professional ballet dancer turned US Marine Iraq War Veteran to reconnect and heal post deployment to Fallujah in 2005, by turning war stories into conversation-provoking performances. Exit12 has reached over 10,000 military-connected individuals and 70,000 civilians with its programming and has grown into a dynamic 501(c)3 non-profit organization that engages the military community in the arts to aid recovery and improve health and wellbeing
Learn more at www.exit12danceco.org
ABOUT CREATIVE FORCES
Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the U S Department of War and Department of Veterans Affairs that seeks to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for military and veteran populations exposed to trauma, as well as their families and caregivers.
Learn more at: https://www arts gov/initiatives/creative-forces
ABOUT STRONGPOINT THEINERT RANCH
Strongpoint Theinert Ranch (STR) is a retreat and gathering place in the mountains and open prairies of New Mexico, created to support active-duty service members, veterans, their families, and Gold Star families Designed as a space for both physical and mental strengthening, STR offers participants the opportunity to decompress, reconnect, and navigate life’s challenges together through shared experiences, meaningful activities, and time immersed in nature. At its core, the Ranch is about restoring connection to self, to others, and to the bonds formed through service.
STR was founded in memory of 1LT Joseph J. Theinert, who was killed in action on June 4, 2010, while serving as a platoon leader in Afghanistan. After Joe’s death, his parents, Dr. Francis “Doc” Kestler and Chrystyna Kestler, were deeply committed to continuing his legacy of caring for his soldiers. Their time spent with Joe’s platoon following deployment revealed the profound importance of veterans having space to be together in a relaxed, supportive environment where healing can occur organically Recognizing the potential of their New Mexico property, the Kestlers envisioned it as a place where veterans, families, and Gold Star families could gather, reflect, and heal.
Since 2016, Strongpoint Theinert Ranch has quite literally been built by veterans for veterans Each group that spends time on the property contributes to a hands-on project that enhances the Ranch for future participants, fostering a shared sense of ownership, purpose, and stewardship. This collective investment not only strengthens the land itself but reinforces the enduring values of service, teamwork, and care for one another that define the Strongpoint Theinert Ranch community.
STORIES OF WAR
PRESENTING PARTNERS
ABOUT FESTIVAL BALLET ALBUQUERQUE
Festival Ballet Albuquerque premiered in May 2010, with a Gala Choreographer’s Showcase featuring nationally known choreographers Mel Tomlinson, Robbie Mackey, and Matthew Diamond, as well as New Mexico choreographers Patricia Dickinson, Judy Czelusniak, Dara Beckley, Krista King Doherty, “Shuga” Shane Montoya, Julie Cobble and Trey Pickett Over the years, FBA has commissioned additional works by Jock Soto (former New York City Ballet icon), Vladimir Conde Reche, Alex Ossadnik, Beth Griffin, Dominic Guerra, Natalee Bartlett, and many others.
FBA’s first thirteen years of operation have been fast-paced and groundbreaking with performances including collaborations with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra (The Firebird, 2010), New Mexico Philharmonic (Peter and the Wolf, (2011-2019), and the Figueroa Project (The Soldier’s Tale, The Firebird, Creation of the World, George Balanchine’s Serenade, and the filmed version of The Soldier’s Tale with the Santa Fe Symphony) Additionally, she gained permission from the Balanchine Trust to perform Valse Fantasie under the direction of NYCB star Zippora Karz. Patricia has also choreographed The Merry Widow for Opera Southwest.
Please visit: https://www.festivalballetabq.org/
ABOUT KESHET DANCE
Housed at the Keshet Center for the Arts in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and founded in 1996 by Shira Greenberg. The heart of our organization is Keshet Dance Company, a core group of professional dance artists, who creatively feed and are fed by three intersecting program areas: Education and Engagement, encompassing classes and performances for all ages and abilities, the Ideas and Innovation Community, a business resource center and residency-based makerspace for arts entrepreneurs, and Arts and Justice Initiatives, including dance programming within juvenile prisons, field-wide data & research collaborations, systems-change policy advocacy, and community connectivity.
Please visit at: https://keshetarts org/dance-co/
