Grand Rapids Ballet presents The Nutcracker Experience

Nutcracker the

presented by

experience

featuring

DECEMBER 18-27, 2020 Grand Rapids Ballet School’s Maya Olthouse; photo by Scott Rasmussen

1

THANK YOU, SUPPORTERS! SEASON SPONSOR James & Mary Nelson

PROGRAM SPONSOR Meijer

LIVE MUSIC SPONSOR

David Armbrecht & Sally Kotani SPONSORS Steve Frykholm | Jeff & Xuesi Li Gurney | Melissa & Mike Lojek Admir & Brooke Lugonjic | Brent & Sonia Sundberg | John & Christine Willig The John & Kathy Pleune Charitable Trust

BE A PART OF THE ART Would you or your company like to support the arts in West Michigan?

Contact Executive Director Glenn Del Vecchio at glennd@grballet.com or 616.454.4771 x14 to learn more today!

2

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MESSAGE Welcome to The Nutcracker Experience—a new presentation of Grand Rapids Ballet’s beloved production—with choreography by Val Caniparoli.

Nothing will stop The Nutcracker from filling our hearts with joy, not even a pandemic that has disrupted live performances across the world.

In a nutshell (no pun intended), I am so proud of what we have been able to accomplish: to bring The Nutcracker to life despite unprecedented challenges.

What you will see on screen is the culmination of months of planning, shooting, and editing. SALT Creative Production Studio has been our partner through this process, and I would like to thank Sloan and Jenna Inns for their creative energy and expertise to create this film with us.

They have also created a wonderful behind the scenes look at the numerous talented individuals that help bring this production to the stage every year, as well as a glimpse into the movie magic employed in The Nutcracker Experience.

I also want to thank Grand Rapids Symphony for continuing our partnership, amidst new safety protocols and the challenge of recording the music before we danced to it.

Nutcracker season is one of my favorite times of year, and I’m so grateful we have been able to find a way to continue this tradition for our community. Ballet is an art form that reaches back hundreds of years, and we have a responsibility to continue that tradition and to inspire new generations of audiences, dancers, and musicians. Thank you for joining us to experience the magic of the performing arts!

And finally, thank you to our amazing family of donors, who have sustained our mission and committed to the future of Michigan’s only professional ballet company. We would not be able to produce world-class ballet without them.

Thank you especially to the leadership of our presenting sponsor, Meijer, and to James and Mary Nelson, our Moving Beyond 2020|21 season sponsors.

To learn more about the rest of our virtual season and how you can become a part of the future of Grand Rapids Ballet, please visit grballet.com.

Thank you for your support of Grand Rapids Ballet, and I hope you enjoy the program; we had a wonderful time making it. On behalf of the entire organization, we wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season!

Sincerely,

James Sofranko, Artistic Director 3

PROGRAM NOTES GRAND RAPIDS BALLET presents

THE NUTCRACKER EXPERIENCE James Sofranko, Artistic Director

Original Story E.T.A. Hoffmann (translation by Michael Auer) Choreographer Val Caniparoli Composer Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky Set & Production Designers Chris Van Allsburg & Eugene Lee Lighting Designer Paul Miller Costume Designer Patricia Barker Executive Producer Glenn Del Vecchio First Performed December 11, 2014 DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids, Michigan This program was created, performed, and recorded on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabek (Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi) People of the Three Fires.

Video Production Partner

4

CASTING Young Clara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maya Olthouse Herr Drosselmeier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Attila Mosolygo Dream Clara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julia Turner Nutcracker Prince . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nathan Young Snowflakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katie Aaberg Haley Baker

Ingrid Lewis Celeste Lopez-Keranen

Sarah Marley Madison Massara

Yuka Oba-Muschiana Claudia Rhett

Gretchen Steimle Sofia Striegl Sugar Plum Fairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yuka Oba-Muschiana Cavalier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Josue Justiz Spanish Chocolate . . . . . Gretchen Steimle Branden Reiners

Ingrid Lewis James Cunningham Arabian Spice . . . . . . . . . . Adriana Wagenveld Ednis Gomez Chinese Tea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steven Houser Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isaac Aoki Nigel Tau

Matthew Wenckowski Nathan Young French Pastilles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Celeste Lopez-Kerenan

Sarah Marley Madison Massara Russian Cavier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isaac Aoki Nigel Tau

Matthew Wenckowski Dew Drop Fairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Marley Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . Haley Baker Avery Held Ingrid Lewis

Celeste Lopez-Keranen Madison Massara

Alexandra Meister-Upleger Yuka Oba-Muschiana

Claudia Rhett Maeve Sentner Gretchen Steimle

Logan Valasquez Adriana Wagenveld 5

DANCERS COMPANY

6

Isaac Aoki

James Cunningham

Ednis Gomez

Yuko Horisawa

Steven Houser

Josue Justiz

Sarah Marley

Madison Massara

Alexandra Meister-Upleger

Yuka Oba-Muschiana

Emily Reed

Branden Reiners

Gretchen Steimle

Nigel Tau

Julia Turner

Adriana Wagenveld

Matt Wenckowski

Nathan Young

DANCERS APPRENTICES

Akira Bischoff

Ingrid Lewis

Celeste Lopez-Keranen

Claudia Rhett

Emily Sipnick

Logan Velasquez

Gavin Nicholson

Learn more about your favorite dancers at grballet.com/dancers.

Dancer headshots by Isaac Aoki.

TRAINEES

Katie Aaberg

Haley Baker

Maeve Senter

Sofia Striegl

Avery Held

Todd Lani

7

THANK YOU, DONORS! ROND DE JAMBE $10,000+ Wege Foundation James & Mary Nelson Beusse & Porter Family Foundation Meijer PNC Bank Spectrum Health Daniel & Pamella DeVos Foundation Rosemary & David Good Family Foundation Wes & Judy Harpold J. Lee* & Susan B. Murphy Foster Swift Forest Hills Foundation Jon & Carol Muth James H. Schindler Valerie B. Nelson Amway Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation The Catholic Foundation Mary Yurko & Mark Gurney DEGAGE $5,000-9,999 Joy DeBoer Tim & Juliet Kraal Sally Kotani & David Armbrecht Lynn & Stuart White The Baldwin Foundation Dean & Sheri Estes Marilyn Titche Norris Perne & French Patrick McConeghy A.K. Rikks Varnum Steelcase Keller Foundation Brent & Sonia Sundberg TENDU $2,500-4,999 Jim Shafer & Leah Voigt Karlis & Anda Vizulis Mary Loupee John Nienhuis & Jerry Nardin Robert Beasecker & Erika King Giselle & Peter Sholler Experience Grand Rapids Grand Valley State University Honigman Wolverine Worldwide Founders Brewing Co. PLIE $1,000-2,499 Andrea Jeane Darling John Hunting Twink Frey Luis Tomatis & Gretchen Minnhaar* Leslie Dickinson Charles Behler Lynn & John O’Donnell Patti & Karl Betz Donald J. Bruggink Jeff & Theresa DeVries John Petrovich & Lorraine Miles Steve Frykholm Michael & Beth Kling Meredith Ervine Admir & Brooke Lugonjic Al & Pam McQueen Dale & Mary Schriemer Darcy J. Dye J.C. Huizenga Independent Bank Jeff Gurney & Xuesi Li Gurney Tamara Reeves Kirk & Jennifer Wiley Mary & Richard Panek Brian & Susan Lennon Meg & Greg Willit Melike Winkworth Till & Bernice Peters Win & Kyle Irwin Dickinson Wright Jonathan & Kelly Opdyke Crowe LLP Michael & Deecy Smith Charlevoix County Community Foundation Joan Dykstra Marcus & Helle Haw

8

Michael & Tina Kanis Ian Hunter Mimi Cummings Robert Oracz & Dave Schmidt Jeff & Margaret Beusse The Korff Foundations John & Gwen Varineau Don & Ellen Arlinsky Steffany Dunker & Jay Harsevoort Jack & Marcia Hall David & Nancy Field Warner Norcross + Judd Angela & John Wagenveld Elizabeth Tinney Donley Laurie A. Griffith Admir & Brook Lugonjic Jim & Carol Pike Joan Dubois Leisel Meijer James & Cynthia Sofranko Glenn Del Vecchio Mary Frey Dr. Jerome Winslow Thomas Aaberg John McGarry Julie & Phillip Croll Mira & Teri Jourdan John & Kathleen Pleune Tom & Lisa Reehorst Sandra & Kenneth Upleger Anda Vizulis Scott & Kate Rasmussen JETE $500-999 Sean Patterson Peter & Carroll Perez Deane & Norman E. Horne John & Penelope Collins Connor Verkerke Daniel & Sabrasue Miller Frederick A. Bogaert Michael & Melissa Lojek Nicholle Costello Rob & Kelly Knecht The Brooks Family Mark & Diane Sevald Thomas & Patricia Macholan David Leonard Elizabeth Welch & Brian Schwartz Rebecca Lemon Pat & Bill Waring Patricia Nevala Paul Howland & Amna Seibold Thomas & Patricia Macholan Christine & Peter Albertini John & Penelope Collins Todd & Robin Hoppe Milt &Barbara Rowher Piroska Szabo Susan Murphy Thomas &Jan Morie Eric Bouwens Baird Foundation Family Foundation De Priest Lois DeBoer James Delapa Azlan Ezaddin Pamela Hoppe Mike Horrigan Arend &Nancy Lubters James Owens Carol Pike Douglas & Patricia Klein SAUTE $250-499 Marcella Beck Kathleen & Ken Nelson James R. & Norma Jean McCormick Jo Kidd Peter M. Turner Thomas Moore & Jan Winters Tom & Melissa Aaberg Mary Appelt Urs & Martha Waldvogel Brenda S. Teegardin Catherine B. Haney Frances Hall Matthew & Kara Taylor Wallson & Rebecca Knack

Brewery Vivant The Mitten Brewing Company City Built Brewing Company Arend & Nancy Lubbers Cynthia Conway Denise Overbeek Douglas & Anne Poortenga Dr. Mark & Lorraine Newberry James & Bonnie Scarlett Jeff & Anita Avery Lori Reineke, Ph.D. Mike & Mary Yoak Milt & Barbara Rohwer Thomas J. & Marcia Haas Rhonda Huismann Henry Matthews & Timothy Chester The Leonard & Eileen Newman Fund of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation Peter & Carroll Perez Hank& Leisel Meijer Kris Vydareny Sue DeJonge Anthony Barnes Aaron Nienhuis Jeffrey & Grace Johnston Alexis Boyden Michael & Michele Kopinksi John & Nancy Bailey Margaret Idema Melissa Massara Andrea Montgomery Tom & Barbara Webber Michael & Amorena Wojciakowski Anna Ellerbroek John & Kristine Fox Tom Genson Rod Hathaway Melissa Lichtenwalter Karen & Gary Paul Anthony Schmuker Sandra Wojczynski Daniel & Sabrasue Miller RELEVE $100-249 Dana & Mary Nell Baldwin Timothy & Cynthia Schad Curtis & Constance Jones Doug Coulter & Pamela Hoppe Ghayas & Joy Uddin Henry Matthews & Timothy Chester Janice R.F. Snyder Gloria Yff Scott & Rebekah Wierenga Nancy Bailey Abby Dilley Bari Johnson Michael & Nancy Dodge Ann Houser & Nancy Field Arthur & Gail Besteman Barbara O. Fisk Christine & Peter Albertini Clarice Geels Douglas & Patricia Klein Douglas & Rachel VanStrien Frank Kwiatek & Karen Maczuga Glen & Betsy Borre Susan Wold Thomas & Alexis Boyden Heather Monroe Thomas A. Wysocki Roy Brown Catherine Southwick Greg Carnevale & Diane Mahon Harvey & Phyllis Gendler James & Mary Kay Wemple Jean Enright Jennifer McManus & Matt Borgula Joan Wilson JoAnn Abraham Joe & Linda Kirpes John R. Martino Jerry & Cheryl Bentley Julie Otterbein Karl & Joanna Van Harn Vander Mill Cider Laura Kozminski Linda Campbell Thompson Mark Chancey & Thomas Owens

THANK YOU, DONORS! Nancy Yagiela & Peter Spring Revs. Maurice & Sara Fetty Robert Heidenreich Chris Musil & Elizabeth McCarthy Musil Kathleen S Ponitz Adam McKeague Kevin J. Patterson Ben Tobar Sally Kotani & David Armbrecht Curtis & Constance Jones Laurie Iciek Greg & Leah Hooks Nancy Yagiela & Peter Spring Michael & Michele Kopinski John & Cheryl Tully Linda & Jonathon Damon Revs. Maurice & Sara Fetty Harvey &d Phyllis Gendler Nancy & Richard Court Robert Schwartz Stephen & Martha Holmgren Maureen Hale Amy L. Charles Bettegail Shivelly Mary L. Forman Marilyn E. Heiss Ron & Jeanne DeWaard Dr. Geoffrey Lam, Dr. Robyn Sackeyfio & Sophie Lam Dr. James E. & Kathleen S. Ponitz Eugene Bego Karlis & Anda Vizulis Tamara Steil John Chapin Diane Meister Jim Houser David Abbott Leslie Bellavance Kelly Bishop Pauline Eade-Sheppard Carolyn Frank Linda Griggs Randall Hoekstra Katherine Ireland Nils & Lara Kessler Susan Larson Richard Lewis Douglas Meijer Peter Meijer Richard Neidhard Kathleen Nelson Chad Niederhuth Susan Rehrer James Rekucki Matthew Tau Karalyn Tresh Dr. Edward P. Van Wesep Kaylen Williams Ralph & Abigail McCarty Katherine Van Soest Eric Stone Lisa Choate Mary Sumners Joanne Bent Amber Buys Gary Crispin Jane Hazle Robyn Richardson Darryl Varda Brad Geal Mercedes Alvarado Susan Kendall Sarah & Gillian Jacques Heather Pavletic Meredith Soddy Linda Thompson Carol & Eric Bogerd Artists Creating Together Jenny Ashbay Kim Rook Martha Escobar Lisa Lewis Luis Avila Janet Barclay Michael & Carol Betz Robert Burgess Joel & Janis Carpenter Joan Chee Haijin Choi

Amy Clement Megan Coakley Katherine Cox Kathleen DeBruyn Heather Erickson Kim Ervine Odmar Filho Dennis & Leslie Hess Martha Holmgren Bruce Kleinwassin Jerry Kraisinger Steven Lesniak Marla Marsala Kristin Mayer Kathryn McCabe Ron & Paula McPhee Lena Meijer Caroline Mitchell Jennifer Montgomery Stephanie Naito Lynn Needle James O’Connor Cameron & Gow O’Keefe & Litzenburger Judith Palmer Bradley Parks Carl Plantinga Susan Popma Daniel Powers Susan & Doug Pretty Rebecca Ruppert Eric Schellenberger Lisa Schellenberger Annette Severson Anne Shonk Mark Siegrist Marc Sinykin Timothy Streb Jacinda Swanson Jeffrey & Emily Tornblom Nancy Turner Alex & Hanna Tuzzolino Mark Warner Jacquelyn Watson Andrew Weller Lizzie Williams Jordan Hill FRIEND $50-99 Janelle Berger Kay Courtney Ann J. Wuerthele Suzanne K. Jones David H. Smith Camilla J. Martin Carilon & Jim Carr Dr. & Mrs. James K. Watkins James Baldwin Katherine Marie Northrup Kathleen M. Laidlaw Kathy Freeman Marvin Yamaguchi Mary Ruzicka-Savage Michael & Brigitte Merk Mike & Gig Gamaggio Ms. Piroska Szabo & Gerd Pfeifer Paul & Barbara Slack Rosanne Fitzgerald Susan Hall-Balduf Sydney Edlund Terence Frixen Tom & Margy Jones Rosemary Bennett Les Neuman Carol Dawe Mary Lou Smith Shellie Jeffries & Tony Kroes Rick and Barbara Gossett Melissa Bush & Scott Dittenber Nancy M. Noel Judith Kemph Tom and Lois Dykstra Jim Carr Paula Gaylord Phillip and Julie Croll Glen and Betsy Borre Dianne Garone In Memory of Bob Wepman Elizabeth J. Crosby Tim Pietryga

Ron Stacilauskas Gregory Sanial Amy Viergutz David & Robin Kieft Joel Armstrong Steven Depolo Julie Eilenberg Lynn Armstrong Laurie Bird Cannon-Melton Family Marcia McEvoy Madden Joy Swidwa Emily Davis Karen Grace Garrett Anderson Sarkozy Ardith Alison Bernstein Carol Carlson Laurie Clary Melisa Hubka Donald and Janice Damuth Phoebe Davis Alexis Drabek Donna Ferraro Cynthia Fertenbaugh Suzanne Haag Elizabeth Hages Katelyn Hanley Semelbauer Shirley Harris Nikki Ippel Susan Jackson Lori Jacobs Marley Jolly DeLaine Klar Nancy Knauss Elliott Kolacki Ghislaine Kruit Wendy Lappenga Terrel Lefferts Carol Lewis Diane Lindberg Melissa Marsh Wendy Marty Wendy Mask Haley Meijer John Mogor Carole Mueller-Brumbaugh Linda Nelson Carine Nguyen-Roure Stephanie Phelps Melody Reed Jill Reider Kerry Rowe Janice Slotten Julie Smith Deborah Snider Justin & Kathleen Sobecki Laura Stahl Linda & Bob Steimle Amber Stout Marie E. Waalkes John White Robert Wolford Noel Young John and Louise Edison Anne M. Benson IN MEMORY OF Rebecca Woods Cyndi Ruffer Joseph Aaron Wojczynski Clare D. Snyder Robert Wepman Carilon Carr Dr. Luis Tomatis Clare D Synder John Tully Sally Seven

Be a part of the art!

To make a gift, please contact Executive Director Glenn Del Veccio at 616.454.4771 ext. 14 or glennd@grballet.com.

9

Attila Mosolygo, Director

DANCE DOES YOUR CHILD GOOD. From beginner to advanced ages 3-19, our students receive the nurturing instruction of our professional teaching faculty to develop a thorough knowledge of technique, the invaluable skill of self-discipline, and a lasting love of dance.

Elements from the French, Italian, and Russian ballet techniques are incorporated into our wellrounded curriculum, giving your child a versatile and extensive dance education.

Second semester starts 1.25.21. Email school@grballet.com for more info.

CLEAN IS IN OUR AIR As part of our continued dedication to keeping our students, dancers, guests, and staff safe, we have installed Plasma Air International bipolar ionization equipment in the HVAC systems in Meijer-Royce Center for Dance, Grand Rapids Ballet School, and Peter Martin Wege Theatre.

Bipolar ionization has proven to be an extremely effective pathogen mitigation strategy in the fight against COVID-19 and is in wide use in hospitals such as Boston Children’s Hospital and Johns Hopkins. It is also widely used in public gathering spaces such as airports and casinos.

LEARN MORE > PLASMA-AIR.COM/HOW-IT-WORKS 10

GRAND RAPIDS BALLET SCHOOL MOVING WITH PARKINSON’S CLASS Because there is no cure for this chronic and progressive disorder, many patients turn to therapy to maintain some degree of independence—and we’re here to provide it in a less traditional, more holistic way. This doesn’t feel like a doctor’s office; even though you’re at home online (for now), it’s invigorating and restorative while providing you with a true sense of community.

It’s so much more than an exercise class.

LEARN MORE > GRBALLET.COM/GRBS-PARKINSONS

ADULT BALLET CLASSES Ballet classes focus on technique, core strengthening, and muscle conditioning. Studies have proven that a ballet dancer is just as strong as a football player. Why? Because in ballet, all of your muscles are actively engaged in movement, providing you with greater flexibility while also exercising the brain. Beyond that, you build self-confidence, grow artistically, and relieve stress, too.

Classes for both beginner and intermediate available in-person or online.

LEARN MORE > GRBALLET.COM/GRBS-ADULTCLASSES

11

MEET THE MAGIC MAKERS CHRIS VAN ALLSBURG

SET & PRODUCTION DESIGNER Van Allsburg is one of America’s most innovative picture book creators. He has twice received the Caldecott Medal (for The Polar Express and Jumanji) as well as a Caldecott Honor for his very first book, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. He has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children’s literature, among other honors.

EUGENE LEE

SET & PRODUCTION DESIGNER Lee received BFA degrees from the Art Institute of Chicago and Carnegie Mellon University, an MFA from Yale Drama School and three honorary doctorates. He has won Tony Awards for Candide, Sweeney Todd, and Wicked, as well as the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design. He has been the production designer for Saturday Night Live since 1974.

VAL CANIPAROLI CHOREOGRAPHER Val Caniparoli is one of the most sought-after American choreographers contributing to the repetories of more than 45 companies throughout the world. He is most closely associated with San Francisco Ballet, his artistic home for over 40 years.

Caniparoli has worked with The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera and Symphony, Chicago Lyric Opera, as well as with San Francisco’s esteemed American Conservatory Theater.

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY

COMPOSER (1840-1893) Tchaikovsky is widely considered the most popular Russian composer in history. Acclaim came readily in 1875 with his composition Symphony No. 3 in D Major. In 1876, he completed the ballet Swan Lake as well as the symphonic fantasy Francesca da Rimini.

His collective body of work constitutes 169 pieces, including symphonies, operas, ballets, concertos, cantatas, and songs. Among his most famed late works are the ballets The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.

E.T.A. HOFFMAN AUTHOR (1776-1862) Hoffman was a Prussian Romantic author of fantasy and horror, a jurist, composer, music critic, draftsman, and caricaturist. His stories form the basis of Jacques Offenbach’s famous opera The Tales of Hoffmann, in which Hoffmann appears as the hero. He is also the author of the novella The Nutcracker & The Mouse King, on which the famous ballet is based. The ballet Coppélia is based on two other stories that Hoffmann wrote, while Schumann’s Kreisleriana is based on Hoffmann’s character Johannes Kreisler. Hoffmann’s stories were very influential during the 19th century, and he is one of the major authors of the Romantic movement.

12

find your prince

Proud sponsor of Grand Rapids Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker

13

LIGHTS, CAMERA,

MAGIC!

Grand Rapids Ballet School Director Attila Mosolygo and student Maya Olthouse; photo by Scott Rasmussen

By John Ferraro, Company & Facilities Manager With our theaters dark this year, we needed to find another way to bring the holiday magic of The Nutcracker to the families of West Michigan.

To paraphrase Nelson Mandela: “We never fail; we either succeed or we learn.� This year we did both.

First, we established protocols for safety and we instituted cleaning and sanitizing regimens for our facilities at Peter Martin Wege Theatre and Meijer-Royce Center for Dance.

We divided the dancers into small, exclusive groups of two to five people and we began to rehearse, in separate studios, via Zoom throughout the day. It was beginning to come together.

The dancers learned to perform the beloved choreography of Val Caniparoli wearing masks and everyone was admirably diligent maintaining safety and sanitization protocols.

When it finally came the time to film this unique production with our amazingly talented video partners at SALT Creative Production Studio, it may not have been the same energy that normally accompanies the opening of The Nutcracker, but it was most certainly exciting.

14

We laid out nearly 1,000 feet of cable connecting computers, four cameras, switchers, and audio. We designed lighting specifically for filming which is very different than lighting for a live performance.

The dancers learned how to put themselves in the story and stay in the moment even though the choreography may have been out of order and broken into short little sections they did over and over. As I sat behind a camera for a week of filming, I watched the dancers adapt, adjust, and rise to the challenge—as dancers do—to make the best production possible. Their commitment and determination was inspiring.

With a skeleton film crew, masked and distanced from the dancers, they were able to perform on stage with their pod mates without masks so we could capture all the emotion in their faces.

Movie magic brings the scale and splendor of The Nutcracker Experience to life on our small stage.

Through all the trials and challenges, we learned new ways to do things, new techniques, and technologies that will undoubtedly serve us well in the future even when things are ‘”back to normal.”

That is the gift of The Nutcracker Experience this year. The things we are learning and the skills we are developing as a company and individually so we can continue to bring ballet, our passion and our mission, to the people who support Grand Rapids Ballet.

Enjoy and happy holidays!

Company dancer Sarah Marley; photo by Scott Rasmussen

15

Passion.

It starts with an education focused entirely on your growth — as a thinker, a problem-solver, and as a person.

By the time you graduate, you will have knowledge, confidence, and a clear path moving forward.

More importantly, you’ll be part of a community that’s prepared to give, to create, to make a difference — qualities that are as timeless as The Nutcracker.

GVSU Senior Dance Recital

gvsu.edu 16

That’s the Laker Effect.

OUR UNSTOPPABLE 2020|21 SEASON CONTINUES!

MARCH 26-28, 2021

unparalleled

collective force The world’s most celebrated and in-demand choreographers come together to stage their ballets and create new works, contributing to a performance that will truly be an immersive tour de force. In addition, Artistic Director James Sofranko will present an exciting new work featuring the music of Michigan-based cellist Jordan Hamilton.

Penny Saunders Danielle Rowe Adam Hougland Jennifer Archibald

Amy Seiwert Edwaard Liang Katarzyna Skarpetowska Trey McIntyre

Yuka Oba-Muschiana photo by Ray Nard Imagemaker

Single program “tickets” now on sale for only $15! grballet.com/2021season

BECOME A VOLUNTEER TODAY! When life gets back to “normal,” we’re going to need your help bringing the joy of ballet to the people of West Michigan. Join En Pointe, a group of volunteers committed to lifting the human spirit through the art of dance. To learn more about the benefits of membership or to join, contact Errol Shewman, Guest Services Manager, at 616.454.4771 or guestservices@grballet.com.

LEARN MORE > GRBALLET.COM/VOLUNTEER

May we see more of each other socially?

/grballet

/grapidsballet

/grapidsballet 17

OUR UNSTOPPABLE 2020|21 SEASON CONTINUES!

APRIL 30-MAY 2, 2021

jumpstart: on film Sponsored by Rosemary & David Good Family Foundation

Choreographed by the dancers of Grand Rapids Ballet, this innovative program will also provide them the unique opportunity to explore a completely new layer of creativity and expression: filmmaking.

We sincerely thank our season video partner, Salt Creative Production Studio, for their mentorship and guidance.

undeniable

Video Production Partner

Matthew Wenckowski photo by Ray Nard Imagemaker

Single program “tickets� now on sale for only $15! grballet.com/2021season

GRAND RAPIDS BALLET STAFF COMPANY Artistic Director James Sofranko Executive Director Glenn Del Vecchio Marketing Director Michael Erickson Production Stage Manager Mellissa Slack Costume Shop Manager Ronald Altman Costumer Katie VanKlompenberg Company/Facilities Manager John Ferraro Box Office Assistant Julie Lesniak Artistic Coordinator/Ballet Master Dawnell Dryja-Black Asst. Ballet Master Steven Houser Guest Services Manager Errol Shewman Pianist Lonnie Ostrander Margi Derks Peterson PRODUCTION Lighting Designer Matt Taylor Production Electrician Glenn Gould Production Carpenter Ben Knudstrup

18

Crew Carlos Aguilar Holly Bartman Casey Chervenka Stephan Dowhan David (Dansir) McCullough William (Oddy) Odykirk David Pedersen Liam Regan Marc Savage Tara Shingola SCHOOL Director & Junior Company Director Attila Mosolygo Curriculum Coordinator Mindy Mosolygo Administrator SarahJean Bos Faculty Jimmy Cunningham Jillian Gasper Kate Matlack Claire Millard Yuka Oba-Muschiana Taryn Ortega-Furgeson Nicole Reehorst Kara Taylor Jessica Winter-Troutwine Adriana Wagenveld Pianists Ryan Blok Mark Moran Lonnie Ostrander Night Receptionist Mary-Ann Carpenter

GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY John Varineau Conductor *VIOLIN Christina Fong, Associate Concertmaster Eric Tanner, Principal 2nd Patricia Kates | Linda Nelson VIOLA Leslie VanBecker, Principal Barbara Corbató, Assistant Principal

TROMBONE Christopher Houlihan, Principal TIMPANI David Hall, Assistant Principal PERCUSSION William H. Vits, Principal David Hall, Assistant Principal HARP Elizabeth Wooster Colpean, Principal

CELLO Alicia Eppinga, Principal Andrew Laven, Assistant Principal

KEYBOARD • Helen Lukan

BASS Mark Buchner

International Sound Services, Inc. Recording Engineer Jean-Yves Munch

FLUTE/PICCOLO Christopher Kantner, Principal

Music Director Marcelo Lehninger Chair George H. & Barbara A. Gordon Associate Conductor John Varineau Chair Maggie Coleman President & CEO Mary Tuuk Vice President & General Manager Aaron Doty Assistant Vice President of Artistic Operations Julie Nystedt Production Stage Manager Kyle Viana Personnel Manager Erich Peterson Principal Librarian Sarah Bowman Peterson Operations Coordinator Larissa Fall Assistant Librarian Lenore D’Haem

OBOE Alexander Miller, Assistant Principal ENGLISH HORN Kathleen Gomez CLARINET Michael Kornacki, Assistant Principal Joel Schekman BASS/E-FLAT CLARINET Joel Schekman BASSOON Brigid Babbish, Assistant Principal HORN Richard Britsch, Principal Erich Peterson, Assistant Principal Mary Beth Orr TRUMPET Charley Lea, Principal George Goad

* Strings are listed in alphabetical order after the titled chairs • Supplemental musicians

LEARN MORE > GRSYMPHONY.ORG

19

[

[ONE CLICK

YOU’RE ALL CAUGHT UP MOBILE APP

20