James Sofranko, Artistic Director
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Yuka Oba-Muschiana and Josué Justiz, photo by Damion Van Slyke
APRIL 22-24 & APRIL 29-MAY 1, 2022 | PETER MARTIN WEGE THEATRE
1
2
THANK YOU, SEASON SUPPORTERS! SEASON SPONSORS | JAMES & MARY NELSON PROGRAM SPONSOR | MARY YURKO & MARK GURNEY
Beusse & Porter Family Foundation
THE RUTLEDGE
MEDIA PARTNERS
BE A PART OF THE ART Would you or your company like to support the arts in West Michigan? Contact Development Director Julie Lesniak at juliel@grballet.com or 616.454.4771 x22 to learn more today!
3
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MESSAGE Dear Friends, Thank you for joining us for the final program of our 2122 season, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Serenade. It has been an eventful season, which happily saw our return to live performances in the fall, a successful run of The Nutcracker in December, a kickoff to our 50th Anniversary with Cinderella at DeVos Performance Hall in February, and a community collaborative Jumpstart in March. I am pleased that we have been able to do so much, even on the heels of the pandemic that upended our operations, and we have you, our audiences, to thank for that success! Christopher Stowell’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream offers a fresh new take on the classic Shakespeare tale, and I am so excited for Grand Rapids Ballet to be the first company outside of Oregon Ballet Theater (where it was created) to perform it. Not only does Stowell incorporate bravura technical dancing and lush pas de deuxs into this production, but he also tells the story with clarity, blending theatricality and humor with his musically sensitive choreography. The professional company members are joined on stage with students of the Grand Rapids Ballet School, so this production is a treat for the whole organization! Opening the program is Serenade, a plotless ballet created in 1934 by George Balanchine, widely considered the father of American ballet. Serenade is a gift to all dancers and dance lovers, and it is a masterpiece of movement blended perfectly with Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings. I have seen Serenade hundreds of times, interpreted by dozens of companies and hundreds of dancers, and I don’t think I will ever tire of it. I am so glad to be presenting it now, as a part of our 50th Anniversary, as a sign of our commitment to present the best of classical ballet from the past, as well as looking forward into the future. As Michigan’s only professional ballet company we have a responsibility to keep the art form alive and well, and to continually introduce new generations of dancers and audiences to the joy of ballet. This summer, while the dancers are on break, our staff will be hard at work preparing for our recently announced 22-23 season, which is full of world premieres and favorites. The season includes a new full-length Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by myself, that will premiere in February 2023 at DeVos Performance Hall with the Grand Rapids Symphony. If you are already a subscriber, thank you, and if not, please consider supporting us with a subscription that guarantees you seats at every program and provides the best discounts and exclusive subscriber-only events. I wish you all a wonderful summer, and I look forward to seeing you again next fall at Grand Rapids Ballet! Sincerely, James Sofranko, Artistic Director
4
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM PROGRAM NOTES GRAND RAPIDS BALLET presents
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Oregon Ballet Theatre World Premiere October 13, 2007 Keller Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Grand Rapids Ballet Premiere April 22, 2022 Peter Martin Wege Theatre
Choreographer Christopher Stowell
Scenery and Costumes Sandra Woodall Scenery and costumes courtesy Oregon Ballet Theater
Music By Felix Mendelssohn
Lighting Design Michael Mazzola, recreated by Matthew Taylor
Music Arranged By Niel DePonte
Staged By Anne Mueller and Steven Houser
CHRISTOPHER STOWELL | CHOREOGRAPHER
Christopher Stowell, Associate Artistic Director at The National Ballet of Canada, is the son of Kent Stowell and Francia Russell, and was born in New York City and received his training at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and the School of American Ballet. In 1985, he joined San Francisco Ballet where he danced for 16 years, appearing in theatres throughout the world including the Paris Opéra Ballet, New York’s Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre. As a Principal Dancer, Mr. Stowell performed leading roles in the full-length classics Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, La Fille mal Gardee and Othello, and had roles created for him by Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson, as well as contemporary choreographers including Mark Morris, William Forsythe and James Kudelka. An established interpreter of the George Balanchine repertoire, Mr. Stowell appeared in almost every Balanchine ballet performed by San Francisco Ballet. In 2003, Mr. Stowell was named the Artistic Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT), a position he held until 2012. During his tenure Mr. Stowell made significant additions to OBT’s repertoire, bringing to Portland works from some of the world’s most celebrated choreographers, including Fredrick Ashton, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe, Paul Taylor, Helgi Tomasson, James Kudelka, Christopher Wheeldon and Lar Lubovitch. Mr. Stowell has taught and coached in San Francisco, New York, Japan, China and across Europe. He has created works for San Francisco Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Diablo Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet as well as the New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute. He has also staged the works of George Balanchine, Mark Morris and Christopher Wheeldon. In addition to serving as Ballet Master and Assistant to the Artistic Director at San Francisco Ballet for the 2014/15 season, he recently worked in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Beijing and Copenhagen, and created his first work for Los Angeles Ballet and his first film for the San Francisco Dance Film Festival. In 2017, Mr. Stowell joined The National Ballet of Canada as Associate Artistic Director. In this role, he oversees the Artistic staff, teaches, coaches and stages works for the company and works closely with Karen Kain in realizing her vision for the National Ballet. Mr. Stowell is a member of the creative team for Ms. Kain’s new production of Swan Lake which will premiere in June 2020. 5
SERENADE | PROGRAM NOTES
Serenade
Choreographer George Balanchine | © The George Balanchine Trust Music Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Serenade in C for string orchestra, Op. 48, 1880) Staged By Rebecca Metzger Costume Design Karinska Ballet Master Dawnell Dryja Costumes Constructed By Ronald Altman and Brennan Smith Lighting Matthew Taylor This performance of Serenade, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine® Style and Balanchine® Technique. World Premiere: June 10, 1934, School of American Ballet (White Plains, New York) March 1, 1935, American Ballet (New York, New York) BALANCHINE is a Trademark of The George Balanchine Trust
GEORGE BALANCHINE CHOREOGRAPHER
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, George Balanchine (1904-1983) is regarded as the foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet. He came to the United States in late 1933, and the School of American Ballet was founded in 1934. In 1948, New York City Ballet was born and Balanchine served as its ballet master and principal choreographer until his death in 1983. A major artistic figure of the twentieth century, Balanchine revolutionized the look of classical ballet. Taking classicism as his base, he heightened, quickened, expanded, streamlined, and even inverted the fundamentals of the 400-year-old language of academic dance. This had an inestimable influence on the growth of dance in America. Although at first his style seemed particularly suited to the energy and speed of American dancers, especially those he trained, his ballets are now performed by all the major classical ballet companies throughout the world.
6
Balanchine’s more than 400 dance works include Serenade (1934), Concerto Barocco (1941), Symphony in C (1947), Orpheus (1948), The Nutcracker (1954), Agon (1957), Symphony in Three Movements (1972), Stravinsky Violin Concerto (1972), Vienna Waltzes (1977), Ballo della Regina (1978), and Mozartiana (1981). He also choreographed for films, operas, revues, and musicals.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Christopher Stowell’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Synopsis A GARDEN PARTY Hippolyta and Theseus host a lavish celebration of their marriage. Entering the garden from the wedding tent, the guests decide to entertain each other with a play where they might learn of love in all its variety. Props in hand, they slip into a land that lies between reality and fantasy. IN A MAGICAL WOOD THE PLAY BEGINS The ancient forest glimmers with woodland creatures–fairies, too, but mortal eyes can’t see them. A band of zany performers comes and goes; Oberon, the King of the Fairies, quarrels with Titania, his Queen, over possession of a Changling Boy; and toy mortal couples dash through the woods-Hermia and Lysander, exuberantly in love; and Helena, pursuing Demetrius who yearns only for Hermia. The mischievous Puck and his Peaseblossom tease the actors lightheartedly. DEEPER IN THE GOSSAMER WOOD
BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON Oberon and Titania reconcile with newfound understanding, reaching a deeper ideal of love and restoring harmony to the world.
Approximate performance length is two hours, including a 20-minute intermission.
OUT OF RESPECT FOR YOUR FELLOW PATRONS AND THE DANCERS, PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY OR VIDEO DURING THE PERFORMANCE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
Yuka Oba-Muschiana and Josué Justiz, photo by Damion Van Slyke
While the mortal couples carry on their quest for love, Oberon and Titania continue their quarrel. King Oberon commands that Puck marshal Cupid’s magic to aid Helena’s plight and to trick Titania into falling in love with a donkey. But Puck’s efforts misfire and chaos ensue. Sensing that such discord is upsetting the balance of the world, Oberon orders Puck and Cupid to set things right.
7
DANCERS COMPANY
Isaac Aoki
James Cunningham
Ednis Gomez
Yuko Horisawa
Steven Houser
Josué Justiz
Zach Manske
Sarah Marley
Alexandra Meister-Upleger
Yuka Oba-Muschiana
Nigel Tau
Julia Turner
Madison Massara
Branden Reiners
8
Matthew Wenckowski
Nathan Young
Emily Reed
Adriana Wagenveld
APPRENTICES
Haley Baker
Talia Lebowitz
Ingrid Lewis
Claudia Rhett
Spencer Waldeck
Learn more about Grand Rapids Ballet’s dancers at grballet.com/dancers. Dancer headshots by Isaac Aoki and Jessica Meldrum.
TRAINEES
Katie Aaberg
Mackenzie Davis
Todd Lani
Sofia Striegl
Fiona Dorr
Avery Held
9
10
11
Yuka Oba-Muschiana and Josué Justiz, photo by Damion Van Slyke.
GRAND RAPIDS BALLET IS CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF LIFTING THE HUMAN SPIRIT THROUGH THE ART OF DANCE.
Yuka Oba-Muschiana, photo by Ray Nard Imagemaker.
SCAN TO DONATE!
12
GRBALLET.COM/GRB50
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION OUR PLEDGE
Grand Rapids Ballet is dedicated to expanding the experience of world-class dance and artistic excellence. Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee, comprised of board members, staff, and dancers, is committed to examining our efforts, seeking out all voices in our community, and creating actions to be a more inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible cultural organization.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT As a first important step in our ongoing mission for social justice, Grand Rapids Ballet would like to recognize the People of the Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potowatomi peoples on whose land we are gathered. The Three Fires People are indigenous to this land which means that this is their ancestral territory. The Grand Rapids Ballet is built on native land. As such, we are guests on their land, and one way to practice Right Relations is to develop genuine ways to acknowledge the histories and traditions of the people who originated here first, who are still here, and who tend to the land always. As we take this step, we understand that there are many more ahead as we continuously advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community.
13
OCT. 14-162022 & 21-23, 2022 OCT. 14-16,
PETER MARTIN WEGE THEATRE
DEC. 9-11 & 16-18, 2022
DEVOS PERFORMANCE HALL
FEB. 17-19, 2023
DEVOS PERFORMANCE HALL
MARCH 24-26, 2023
PETER MARTIN WEGE THEATRE
APRIL 21-23 & 28-30, 2023
PETER MARTIN WEGE THEATRE
14
GRBALLET.COM/2022-23-SEASON
2022-2023 SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS A Midsummer Night’s Dream features Shakespeare’s comedic tale of whimsy and love choreographed by Christopher Stowell with music by Felix Mendelssohn. The performance also includes George Balanchine’s classic ballet Serenade, with music by Tchaikovsky.
Sarah Marley, photo by Ray Nard Imagemaker
SEASON SUBSCRIBERS RECEIVE GREAT BENEFITS!
THE BEST SEATS for the best price, plus discounts on additional individual tickets, HALF-OFF tickets to the holiday favorite, The Nutcracker, EARLY ACCESS to seats before they go on sale to the general public, FLEXIBILITY with worry-free exchanges throughout the season, and INVITATIONS to special GRB events.
SUBSCRIBE BY MAY 15 TO UNLOCK SAVINGS!
15
16
Grand Rapids Ballet Company dancers in Serenade Choreography by George Balanchine 17 © The George Balanchine Trust
18
19
Featuring Coffee Roasted by
616.608.3052
208 Grandville Ave SW • Grand Rapids
20
wegetyou.com
APRIL 29 8:00 PM & APRIL 30 8:00 PM
The BeauTy of
SPRING Orchestra Sponsor
Series Sponsor
Richard and Helen DeVos
Guest Artist Sponser
Edith I. Blodgett Guest Artist Fund
MAY 13 7:30 PM & MAY 14 7:30 PM
Concert Sponsor
ORDER TICKETS
Tickets as low as
$18
Series Sponsor
TODAY 616.454.9451 x 4 | GRSymphony.org
21
WHERE CURIOSITY BECOMES CONFIDENCE Deep in the woods of northern Michigan, disciplines merge and unbreakable bonds form. Interlochen Arts Camp won’t just help your students grow into better artists – it will transform the course of their future. Summer programs for every young artist GRADES 3-12 | BEGINNER TO ADVANCED | 1-6 WEEKS
22
interlochen.org/camp
23
24
ADULT BALLET CLASSES Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings Visit grballet.com/adult for more information.
25
26
GRAND RAPIDS BALLET STAFF COMPANY Artistic Director James Sofranko Executive Director Glenn Del Vecchio Marketing Director Jessica Meldrum M.S. Development Director Julie Lesniak Production Stage Manager Megan Marie Thompson Costume Shop Manager Ronald Altman Costume Shop Assistant Nancy Greiner Company/Facilities Manager John Ferraro Artistic Coordinator/Ballet Master Dawnell Dryja Black Asst. Ballet Master Steven Houser Trainee Program Teacher Cynthia Sofranko Guest Services Manager Errol Shewman Box Office Manager Melissa Anderson Box Office Associate Marie Braun Social Media Coordinator Katie Aaberg Pianists Ryan Blok, Justin Gray, Margi Peterson
Cunningham, Steven Houser, Jillian Gasper, Nicholas Gray, Katherine Koning, Sarah Marley, Kate Matlack, Yuka Oba-Muschiana, Taryn Ortega-Furgeson, Nigel Tau, Jessica Winter-Troutwine Pianists Ryan Blok, Idalmira Lopez, Mark Moran Receptionists Mary-Ann Carpenter, Audrey Walker, Arianna Wisniewski PRODUCTION CREW Production Carpenter Andrew Steers Production Electrician Matt Taylor Asst. Production Electrician Glenn Gould Production Properties Ben Knudstrup Projectionist Marc Savage Assistant Stage Manager Maragaret Peterson
SCHOOL Director & Junior Company Artistic Director Attila Mosolygo Curriculum Coordinator Mindy Mosolygo Administrator SarahJean Bos Faculty Melanie Anderson Brossiet, James
Grand Rapids Ballet’s Virtual Season, in partnership with SALT Creative Production Studio, offers a unique perspective to our performances, streaming digitally from anywhere. You are invited to tune in and enjoy Grand Rapids Ballet’s Virtual Season when it fits your schedule. Explore the other benefits below: scan to learn more!
- Stream our virtual programs multiple times while available. - Enjoy the remaining Virtual Season for only $18. - Subscribers will receive access to performances for two weeks.
27
THANK YOU, SUPPORTERS! Arabesque | $25,000+ Gina Ang & John Mitchell Forest Hills Public Schools Foundation Meijer, Inc. James & Mary Nelson Rosemary & David Good Family Foundation Wege Foundation Mary Yurko & Mark Gurney
Elizabeth Tinney Donley Glenn & Kirsten Del Vecchio Joan DuBois Meredith Ervine Sheri & Dean Estes Donna Ferraro David & Nancy Field Steve Frykholm Jeff & Xuesi Li Gurney Huizenga Community Trust John Hunting Rond de Jambe $10,000+ inFaith Community Foundation Beusse & Porter Family Mira & Teri Jourdan Foundation Junior League of Grand Rapids Douglas Coulter & Pamela Kathleen Laidlaw Hoppe Admir & Brooke Lugonjic PNC Bank Thomas & Patricia Macholan The Rutledge Pam McQueen Spectrum Health Aaron & Joy Nienhuis John & Christine Willig Jerry Nardin & John Nienhuis Norm & Jan L. Palm Dégagé | $5,000+ Till & Bernice Peters David Armbrecht & Sally Kotani John & Lorraine Petrovich Baldwin Foundation Jim & Carol Pike Foster Swift Collins & Smith Scott & Kate Rasmussen Frey Foundation Tamara Reeves Helle & Marcus Haw Milton & Barbara Rohwer Margaret Idema James Schindler ITC Jack & Susan Smith Mary Loupee James & Cynthia Sofranko Patrick M. McConeghy The Korff Foundation John & Kate McGarry Kenneth & Sandra Upleger Susan B. Murphy Doug Van Doren & Colleen Carol Muth Mahon-Van Doren John & Lynn O’Donnell Anda & Karlis Vizulis Robert Oracz & David Schmidt Leah Voigt & Jim Shafer Mary & Richard Panek Angela & John Wagenveld Brent & Sonia Sundberg Kirk & Jennifer Wiley Marilyn Titche Jerome Winslow Stuart & Lynn White Jeté | $500+ Tendu | $2,500+ Mary Appelt Robert Beasecker & Erika King Tod Babick Marcella Beck Marc & Patricia Baer Karl & Patti Betz Baird Foundation, Inc. Joy DeBoer John & Penelope Collins Kathy & Keith Golinski Donald & Deborah Cress Grand Rapids Community Phillip & Julie Croll Foundation Michael & Lori Curley Beth Jabin De Priest Family Foundation Wallson & Rebecca Knack James P. Delapa Lisa & Richard Lewis Abby Dilley Michael & Melissa Lojek Kenneth Doss Jonathan & Kelly Opdyke Darcy J. Dye John & Kathy Pleune Fidelity Charitable PNC Foundation Mary & Donald Forman The Catholic Foundation Keith & Kathy Golinski Kevin Toler Marilyn & Kenneth Goodson Catherine Haney Plié | $1,000+ Deane Horne Thomas & Melissa Aaberg Paul & Amna Howland Leslie Abdoo Earle & Kyle Irwin Ellen Arlinsky Kelly & Rob Knecht Jeffrey & Margaret Beusse Laura Kozminski James & Donna Brooks Jerry Kraisinger Donald Bruggink Susan Lani James Burr Brian & Susan Lennon
28
Arend & Nancy Lubbers Leslie Bellavance Tamie Maehara Joanne Bent Edgar & Wendy Marty Michael & Carol Betz Timothy Chester & Henry Eric & Carol Bogerd Matthews Eric Bouwens Norma Jean & James McCormick Alexis & Thomas Boyden Stephanie Naito Janet Brockway Patricia Nevala Roy Brown Mary Witte & Dale Schriemer Aaron & Sarah Burgess Schwab Charitable Anthony Burns Piroska & Gerd Szabo Amber Buys Cheryl Tully Patricia Cannon Darryl & Jane Varda Greg & Diane Carnevale Steve & Cheryl Wonch Joe Chamberlin Frank Woods John Chapin Amy Charles Sauté | $250+ Joan & Kock-Seng Chee Jeff & Anita Avery Brad & Lisa Choate Elizabeth Crosby Haijin Choi Sue & Dave DeJonge Megan Coakley Stephen J. & Rosalind Ebrom Nancy & Richard Court Azlan Ezaddin Katherine Cox Kristine & John Fox Gary & Nancy Crispin Tom & Mark Genson Jonathan & Linda Damon Rod & Amy Hathaway Carol Dawe Asuka & Michael Horrigan Kathleen DeBruyn Douglas & Patricia Klein Ron & Jeanne DeWaard Susan Larson Michael & Nancy Dodge Kim McCoy Matisen Douglas Diane Mills Louise Edison Andrea Montgomery Ronald & Catherine Ehlert Thomas & Jan Moore Anna Ellerbroek Ken & Kathleen Nelson Heather Erickson James Owens Kim Ervine Bradley Parks Maurice & Sara Fetty Lori Reineke Marilyn Field Eva Habetinova & Gregory J. Rosanne Fitzgerald Sanial Jens & Martha Forsberg James & Bonnie Scarlett Carolyn Frank Mark Siegrist Jeffrey & Sheila Frank Jacinda & Robert Swanson Brad Geal Randoulph & Brenda Teegardin Clarice Geels Dan Terry Harvey & Phyllis Gendler Nancy Turner David & Kellene Giese Peter Turner Ryan Goosen John & Gwendolyn Varineau Beth Graalman Annette Weaver Linda & Frank Griggs Tom & Barbara Webber Robert Guldi Scott & Rebekah Wierenga Susan Hall-Balduf Charles & Judy Winslow Robert Heidenreich Sandy & Jim Wojczynski Marilyn Heiss Ann Wuerthele David & Susan Hoekema Thomas Wysocki Randall & Carol Hoekstra James Houser Relevé | $100+ Ian Hunter David Abbott Laurie Iciek Eric Adams Sarah & Gil Jacques Bonnie M. & William Altman Curtis & Constance Jones Mercedes & Marisa Alvarado Suzanne Jones Mark Amenta Judy Jongsma Jenny Ashbay Lora & Kevin Keller John & Nancy Bailey Judith Kemph James & Elizabeth Bakeman Nils & Lara Kessler Michael Baker Bruce Klein-Wassink Dana & Mary Nell Baldwin Frank & Karen Kwiatek James Baldwin Geoffrey & Robyn Lam Anthony & Gwen Barnes Melissa & Mark Lichtenwalter
Karen Maehara John Martino Bob Maxam Shawn & Kathryn McCabe Diane Meister Richard Merrill Daniel & Sabrasue Miller Caroline Mitchell Theresa Mond Deborah Moore National Christian Foundation Richard Neidhard Mark & Lorraine Newberry Katherine & Karen Northrup Mike Norton Sheila O’Brien Andrea N. Oosterhouse Julie Otterbein Judith & Bradley Palmer Sean Patterson Karen & Gary Paul Heather Pavletic Glen Peterson Carl Plantinga Susan Rehrer Robyn Richardson George & Heidi Roberts Rebecca Ruppert Eric Schellenberger Danella Schroeder Robert & Jacinda Schwartz Bettegail Shively Anne Shonk Janice Slotten Janice Snyder Thompson & Linda Southwell Catherine Southwick Peter & Nancy Spring Eric Stone Timothy Streb Steve & Mary Sumners Matthew Tau Matthew & Kara Taylor John Throop Jeffrey & Emily Tornblom Michael & Karalyn Tresh Karl & Joanna Van Harn Katherine Van Soest Stan Vander Roest Marian Vanderwall Diane & Edgar A. VanWesep Kristy VanWingerden Kris & Whitney Vydareny Pat & Bill Waring Rick & Jacquelyn Watson Andrew Weller Lizzie Williams Joan Wilson Susan Wold Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Wonder Gloria Yff Betty & David Zylstra Friend | $1+ Lisa Andersson Paula Aoki Lynn Armstrong
Elizabeth Baker Mayumi Balfour Carlee Barton Anne Benson Jane Ann Benson Jerry & Cheryl Bentley Alison Bernstein Kevin & Pamela Beswick Dennis Bierlein Laura Bird Laurie Bird Linda Campbell Thompson Susan Carlson Jane Ellen Chamberlin Laurie Clary Jamie Colen Kay Courtney Mary Abbott Cumming Sarah Daily Donald & Janice Damuth Emily & Adam Davis Mackenzie Davis Steven DePolo Kathryn Dobrezelewski Mary Donovan Corey Drake Joshua Duggan Ryan Duncan Sydney Edlund Julie Eilenberg Deirdre Fagan Mary Fausone Kayne Ferrier Elizabeth Fitzharris Matt & Kris Flak Mary Caroline Frey Paula & John Gaylord Carolina Gil-Ortegan Rick & Barbara Gossett James & Karen Grace Tom & Margaret Graham Teresa Haggerty Kate Hanley Paula Harris Carolyn Heines Nik & Kristi Henderson Misty & Jeff Hendricks Christine Henries-Zerbe Melisa Hubka Natalie Jackson Lori Jacobs Michelle & Tony Jeffries Shellie Jeffries Grace Johnston Julian & Judith Joseph Liz Kattner Susan Kendall Thomas & Ellen Kent Shelby Kibler Robin Kieft Ashley Kimble Raymond King Bonnie Knopf Juliet & Tim Kraal Arthur Kroon Keverne Lehman Sean & Rebecca Lemon
Steven Lesniak Diane Lindberg Mary Ann Adams Kay Losey Stephanie Burr Terry & Marcia Madden Carilon Carr Melissa Marsh Molly Irwin Charles Melissa Massara Dianne Hillman Garone Kristin Mayer Susan Graalman Marla McDonald Wes & Judy Harpold Michael & Brigitte Merk Norman E. Horne Melissa Mitchell Gabriela Iriarte Sarah Mitchell Margy Jones Edith Mitko Todd Lani Kayla Morrish Al McQueen Christine Nawrocki Emily Reed Anneliese Neff Len Robinson Network for Good Cyndi Ruffer Nancy Noel Ronald Savage Michael Noga Kim Schmidt Ken & Tammy Norris Sally Seven Susana Peralta Pauline Eade Sheppard MaeLeigh Perry Clare D. Snyder Cindy Peterson John Tully James & Stephanie Phelps Julia Turner Tim & Pamela Pietryga Robert Wepman Jeralyn & Rhett Pinsky Stephen Wert Harriett & Dan Reehorst Joe Wojczynski Jill Reider Rebecca Woods Patricia Reiter Mary Jo Richard Be a part of the art! To Ramona Rogers make a gift, please contact Maggie Rolicheck Development Director Julie Kim Rook Lesniak at 616.454.4771 ext. Elizabeth Rossi 22 or Frederick Royce juliel@grballet.com. Alan & Margaret Ryan Mary Savage Sandra Scheuber Harley & Tracy Schwartz Valerie Shavell Mary Lou Smith Susan Smith Grant & Deborah Snider Justin & Kathleen Sobecki Ron & Catherine Stacilauskas Elizabeth Staggs Tamara Steil Regina Steimle Richel Stocker James & Karen Stokes Kathleen Striegl Patty Sumners Joy Swidwa Charissa Talsma Maggie Tracey Linda Turrentine Amy Viergutz Arjana Vizulis David & Marie Waalkes Jill Walsh Barbara Wepman John & Mary White Kaylen Williams Nancy Wilson Melike Winkworth Michael & Mary Yoak Amy Young IN MEMORIAM/ IN HONOR OF
29
30
Scan to read a more complete history!
2007 | Meijer-Royce Center for Dance
2000 | GRB Finds Permanent Home
1991-92 Season | Professional Dancers Contracted
1987 | Charthel Arthur Artistic Director
1983 | Summerfest Program Expanded
1973 | Operational & Executive Management Established
1972 | Nonprofit Corporation Formed
2000-2010 | Artistic Director Gordon Peirce Schmidt & Associate Artistic Director Laura Berman
1997 | 25th Anniversary Silver Season
1988 | Grand Rapids Ballet School Formed
1987 | “Civic” Removed From Title
1987 | Cinderella at Civic Theatre
1973 | GRB Moves Locations
1972 | Established partnership with Grand Rapids Public Schools
1960s | The Spirit of Ballet is Born
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
2022 | 50th Golden Anniversary
2020-Present | COVID-19 Pandemic
2018-Present | James Sofranko Artistic Director
2016-Present | Penny Saunders Resident Choreographer
2012 | Present-Day Junior Company Established
2010-17 | Patricia Barker Artistic Director
2009-10 | Adaptive Dance Program Established
2021 | Named Creative Business of the Year
June 2019 | Record-Breaking Festival Performance
2017-Present | School Continues to Grow
2014 | Nutcracker Reimagined
2012 | Attila Mosolygo Junior Company Artistic Director
2010 | Dance Immersion Program Created
2009-Present | Glenn Del Vecchio Exective Director
EXPLORE OUR TIMELINE
31
JUNE 24 - JULY 17 AUGUST 12 - 28
PLUS HOT CABARETS! SONG DIARIES LIVE
with
A COUPLE
TONY desare strong belts JULY 22 | 7:30 PM
SEPTEMBER 2 | 7:30 PM
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! SC4A.ORG/THEATER THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 PERFORMANCE SERIES SPONSORS! DIAMOND
George Stoutin
GOLD GOLD Ruoff Mortgage
32
Nancy + Doug Padnos • Gina + Kevin Bognar Kevin Putnam of 5 Star Real Estate + Joseph Blodgett, MD
PLATINUM
Wade Rouse + Gary Edwards Cathy + Clark Carmichael
SILVER
SILVER
Macatawa Bank • Huntington Bank Lakeshore Allergy PC • Cunningham Daltman Attorneys at Law National Endowment of the Arts
WE LOVE OUR EN POINTE VOLUNTEERS! Mary Ackert Lisa Allen Betsy Bakeman Mary Nell & Dana Baldwin Phyllis Ball Richard & Kathy Benoit Cheryl Bentley Tanya Bernes Donna & Roger Betten Adrianne Braun Thomas & Barbara Brege Mary Carol Brouwer Roy Brown Julie Bukrey Timothy Bunchman & Norma Maxvold Robyn Carlson Pam Clark Anna & Brandon Conner Family Bonnie Conway Nicki Costello Kay Courtney Gary Crispin Bill & Heidi Dani Daniels Family
Robert Diamond & Sheila Kinney Veronica Dubois Joan Dykstra Rosalind Ebrom Julie Eilenberg Patricia & Carl Falkenstern Robin & David Gast Barbara Groat David & Karen Hadsall Marcia & Jack Hall Kathleen Hansen Abby Harrison Lawrence B. & Rosie Haywood Carol & Greg Heath Cynthia Hibler Janelle Hill Stephanie Hughes Aimee Jarchow Susan Jennelle Ronald & Sandra Jones Sharon Karam Judith Kiebler Ray King Jr. Brian & Susan Lennon Family
Melissa Lojek Salvador, Sarah, Amadeo & Celeste Lopez-Keranen Carla Ludwig Kris, Joni, Elizabeth, Emily & Erin Mauren Yvette & Dennis McClain Family Jacky McGill Katie McNinch Robert Mieras Heather Monroe Carole Mueller Brumbaugh Cindy Napolitan Wayne & Brigitte Nelson Steve & Stephanie Nicklow Raeanne Niemer Gary & Karen Paul Mary Quiroz Robert “RJ” Regan Beth Rice Pauline Sandoval Kim, Chris, Clare, Seth, & Paul Schellenberg David Schmidt & Robert Oracz
Richard Schwallier Pamela & Paul Schweitzer Jim Schafer Carol Sinke Paul & Barbara Slack William C. Spagnuolo Mary Sumners Corsair Switzerlord Yuichi & Hiroko Takagi Elaine Teat Mark & Heidi TenElshof Randy & Joanne Terrian Leslie VanBecker & Ed Clifford Colleen Mahon, Douglas & Aidan Van Doren Joyce Walker Jim & Connie Winter- Troutwine Wolbert Family Cheryl & Steve Wonch Noel Young
To join En Pointe, a group of volunteers committed to lifting the human spirit through the art of dance, contact Errol Shewman, Guest Services Manager, at 616.454.4771 or guestservices@grballet.com. GRBALLET.COM/VOLUNTEER
keeping your
advertising
EN POINTE since 1999.
mediaplacepartners.com
33
JUNIOR COMPANY 2022-23 SEASON
First row: Luke Skrycki, Emily McCarty, Ella Fix, Elise Peters, Elle Boehringer, Vivian Mosolygo, Violette Cooper, Samantha Storms, Minka Dunahee, Elliot Schulz, Second row: Caleb Oldenberg, Gwen Sumners, Allison Skwarek, Fiona Overdevest, Emma Christy, Grace DeJonge, Morgan Snider, Ellery Dahl, Lyric McPhee, Christopher Karhunen, Third row: Edwin Klein, Madelyn Bird, Adelina Berzins, Grace Heins, A’Marri CannonMelton, Clare Nicklow, Gabrielle Shook, Hannah Jo Ten Elshof, Isabel Case, Fourth row: Bre’asia Rosado, Mia Storteboom, Maya Olthouse, Elin Escobar Forsberg, Micah Jones, Nina Richardson, Serafina Wagenveld, Fifth row: Alexandra Hodge, Anna Sumners, Alyssa Pitsch, Liam Dunahee, Olivia Borgula, Violet Ottenwess, Hailee Jarchow, Not pictured: Evangeline Czurak, Reese Graalman, Lucia Jacques, Zooey Kraemer, Phoebe Oldenberg, Aleksandra Theule, Mariana Topie, Eliana Tucker.
OCT. 28-30, 2022
MARCH 10-12 & 18-19, 2023
GRBALLET.COM/2022-23-SEASON 34
Attila Mosolygo, Director
SUMMER 2022 INTENSIVES GRBS students, photo: Jessica Meldrum
2022 SUMMER CAMPS GRBALLET.COM/SCHOOL
35
GRAND RAPIDS BALLET SCHOOL BOASTS BENEFITS OF ITS MOVING WITH PARKINSON’S PROGRAM DURING PARKINSON’S AWARENESS MONTH In recognition of Parkinson’s Awareness month taking place throughout the month of April, Grand Rapids Ballet School (GRBS), the educational branch of Grand Rapids Ballet, is slated to host a special Moving with Parkinson’s event on Tuesday, April 26 at 11 a.m. Moving with Parkinson’s is a dance therapy class for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) geared towards mobility that was created in the 2009-10 season when the organization established its Adaptive Dance Program, which boasts the therapeutic power of dance. GRBS offers both a Moving with Parkinson’s class and Explorer Dance, a beginner-level ballet class that emphasizes balance, coordination, and creative expression for children with disabilities. Through a passion for helping people to enhance their everyday life experiences, Attila Mosolygo, the Grand Rapids Ballet School Director, has continued growing the program over the past decade. After receiving extensive training through the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dance for PD Program, Mosolygo brought the curriculum back to Grand Rapids to share this powerful learning opportunity with individuals in the West Michigan community. “Moving with Parkinson’s is immensely beneficial to the community; it’s something that needs to be out there,” said Mosolygo. “Our program offers a creative outlet. What we do in our classes is to try to change the dancers’ perceptions of what movement is and the intention behind the movement. By changing the intention behind the movement, their movement changes.” The Moving with Parkinson’s program is based on the idea that people with PD can benefit from the insight, technique, and methods used by dancers to guide their bodies and minds. The weekly classes strive to increase coordination, balance, flexibility, and strength through music and movement. Making Moving with Parkinson’s even more impactful, through an ongoing partnership with the Parkinson’s Association of West Michigan, GRBS is able to offer these weekly classes free of charge throughout the year at the Meijer-Royce Center for Dance in downtown Grand Rapids as well as satellite classes at Evergreen Commons in Holland. “There’s something about music and movement that changes their perspective,” said Mosolygo. He explained that he often uses visualization to help guide his classes. “Visualize a tree moving and bending,” he described. He then asks the participants to create that movement with their bodies. “Having everyone tap into their creative side makes this class as beneficial as it is.” Among the many physical benefits of participation in Moving with Parkinson’s, the dancers often also find solace in the comradery built during the classes. It offers people a chance to connect with others who are going through a shared experience. “The idea of isolation and dealing with Parkinson’s is eased a bit because you’re not doing it alone,” explained Mosolygo. “Our class creates a social element and it becomes a support group to keep each other motivated.” One current student, Sharon Schuster-Craig, shared “The Moving with Parkinson’s class helps me walk with a more even gait; improves my balance; strengthens cognitive skills and provides a muchneeded social outlet.” Another student, Mary Brubaken, who has been taking the class for eight years says it’s one of the most positive activities she has participated in. “It lets me slow down, forget the challenges I face each day, and enjoy being mindful of that moment,” she reflected. “Attila is a wonderful teacher and the piano music adds to the joy of being part of something freeing. It is a special part of my week.” To cap Parkinson’s Awareness Month, GRBS is hosting a special event on Tuesday, April 26 at 11:30 a.m. to welcome current participants and those who are interested in joining the program. The event will include coffee and donuts and will lead into the weekly Moving with Parkinson’s class that starts at 11:45 a.m. Also happening on April 20, Mosolygo will lead a 15-minute demonstration at Evergreen Commons to share details about the program. Enrollment for Moving with Parkinson’s is available online with classes taking place every Tuesday morning in Grand Rapids and every Wednesday afternoon in Holland. The GR classes take place throughout the calendar year, while the Holland classes take a break over the summer. 36 By Marketing Director Jessica Meldrum M.S.
GRBALLET.COM/PARKINSONS
The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare Gloria by Brandon Jacob Jenkins The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Music & Lyrics by William Finn Book by Rachel Sheinkin The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
gvsu.edu/theatre
Theatre at Grand Valley 2022/23 Season
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Jan. 2022)
37
presents
APRIL 29 - MAY 22
grct.org/tickets
JUST ANNOUNCED: THE 2022-23 SEASON Visit grct.org/season97 to see the exciting lineup and purchase your tickets today!
GRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE 38
30 N DIVISION GRAND RAPIDS 616.222.6650
39
40
41
42
THE RUTLEDGE
A NEW CLASSIC Elegant Industrial Event Venue in The Heart of The City The Rutledge 120 Ionia Ave SW Grand Rapids, Michigan
TheRutledgeGR.com info@TheRutledgeGR.com 43 @TheRutledgeGR
Babatunji Johnson – Alonzo King LINES Ballet
THE NATION’S LARGEST STAGE FOR THE ARTS WGVU.ORG 44