2005 NCI Program

irvine

barclay theatre

www.thebarclay.org

From the Director:

Molly Lynch NCI Director

NCI Advisory Committee Anne Nutt, chair Sophie Cripe Janet Eggers Barbara Kenady Tingley Lois Osborne Barbara Roberts Sally Anne Sheridan Pam Shue

Welcome to the National Choreographers Initiative! A group of community leaders, the Advisory Committee, instigated this project to develop new dance works and to support the creative process. The Advisory Committee and I have partnered with Irvine Barclay Theatre, presenter of the program, and UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts – Dance Department, who has hosted the rehearsal time in their studios. Both organizations have graciously provided their state-of-the-art facilities for these choreographers to have a nurturing environment in which to create their work. It is vital for the health and advancement of the dance community for choreographers to have opportunities to create new dances. This Initiative brings together four outstanding choreographers, each developing a new work, and fifteen talented dancers.

Over the last three weeks of rehearsal, each choreographer brought forth their ideas and concepts, music, dance styles, and developed with the dancers a new piece to be shown this evening. The audience becomes a part of the creative process as it views these works and responds to what the artists have created. This is a unique opportunity to engage these outstanding artists in the creative process and promote the development of professional dance.

I hope that you enjoy the evening and participate in the creative process through the showing and discussion.

Elizabeth Stahr Thank you for supporting dance!

Molly

“Appalachia Stories”

by Lynne Taylor-Corbett NCI 2004

Untitled Choreography by

Christopher d’Amboise Dancers

Lauren Fagone, Gina McFadden, Candy Olsen Francisco Gella, Adam Hundt I.

Music: Arnold Schoenberg Lauren Fagone Francisco Gella Adam Hundt Gina McFadden

II.

Music: Franz Schubert Lauren Fagone Adam Hundt

III.

Music: Serge Prokofiev Francisco Gella

IV.

Adam Hundt Candy Olsen

Music: Gavin Bryars Lauren Fagone Adam Hundt

Christopher d’Amboise – (New York) was trained at the School of American Ballet, 1967-78. Mr. Balanchine invited d’Amboise to join New York City Ballet in 1978. He was promoted to principal dancer in 1984. He founded Off-Center Ballet in 1988, a contemporary chamber company. He became the Artistic Director of Pennsylvania Ballet from 1990-94 where he staged major classical repertoire, commissioned 14 new ballets, and created 12 original works. He has created over 60 ballets for companies world wide including San Francisco Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, The National Ballet (Amsterdam), Royal Ballet of Flanders (Belgium), and the New York City Ballet.

Recently, he has created work for theater including “High Society” (Christopher Renshaw, dir.), “Romeo and Juliet – the musical” (Terrence Mann, dir.) and Charles Strouse’s “You Never Know.” His play-with-dance, “The Studio,” has been workshopped in Sundance and is slated for a New York premiere in 2005. He is also commissioned to do a new work for New York City Ballet in 2006.

Untitled Choreography by

Val Caniparoli

Music Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber

Passagalia for solo violin Harmonia Artificioso Partita VI Dancers

Brittany Fridenstine, Corina Gill, Caitlin Mundth, Valerie Tellmann, Hitomi Yamada Dallas Blagg, Robert Gosnell, Eddie Mikrut, Christopher Mohnani, Daniel Salvador

followed by an INTERMISSION Val Caniparoli – (San Francisco) was born in Renton, Washington, and trained at the San Francisco Ballet School. Although he is most closely associated with San Francisco Ballet, his artistic home for over 30 years, Caniparoli has contributed to the repertoires of more than 35 companies. These include Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre, Pennsylvania Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet West, Washington Ballet, Israel Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Singapore Dance Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, State Theatre Ballet of South Africa, and Tulsa Ballet, where he is resident choreographer.

Caniparoli has also choreographed for the Chicago Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Metropolitan Opera. He has worked on several occasions with the San Francisco Symphony, most recently on the Rimsky-Korsakov opera-ballet “Mlada,” conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. Caniparoli has been the recipient of ten grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, an artist fellowship from the California Arts Council, and two awards from the Choo-San Goh and H. Robert Magee Foundation. Later this year he will choreograph American Conservatory Theater’s new production of “A Christmas Carol,” directed by Carey Perlof.

Subject Forgotten Choreography by

Luca Veggetti

Music Toshio Hosokawa

Cloudscapes - Moonlight for Sho and Accordion

Text Zeami Motokivo

Hagaromo

(1363-1444)

Dancers

Dallas Blagg Lauren Fagone Brittany Fridenstine Francisco Gella Robert Gosnell

Luca Veggetti – (Paris) was born in Bologna, Italy. He trained at La Scala Milan, and danced professionally with the London Festival Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Ballet Chicago. In 1990, Veggetti started an ongoing collaboration with stage director and designer Pier Luigi Pizzi as choreographer and assistant. He has worked in Europe’s most important theatres and created works for many companies and festivals abroad. Some of these include: Paris Opera, Ballet of the Nice Opera, Novosibirsk Ballet, Rome Opera, and National Ballet of Cuba at the International Ballet Festival in La Habana. He was the first Italian choreographer of the 20th century to be invited to create for the Kirov Ballet at the Maryinsky in St. Petersburg.

In September 2002 he was the artistic director of a dance event in the ancient theatre of Epidaurus in Greece and created the world premiere of the ballet “Emmeleia.” In 2004 he was invited

by Peter Martins to participate in two sessions for the New York Choreographic Institute workshop with New York City Ballet. In the upcoming months he will be staging Toshio Hosokawa’s latest opera “Hanjo” in Hamburg; choreographing a new piece for the Moriss Festival in the Hamptons with NYCB dancers; creating a new piece for the reopening of Fontainbleau near Paris with a group of dancers from the Paris Opera; and creating a new ballet for Cincinnati Ballet “On the Edge of Silence.”

In Passing Choreography by

William Soleau

Music Jean Correlli Lisa Gerrard

excerpts Concerti Grossi Opus 6 Sanvean

Dancers Gina McFadden Corina Gill Caitlin Mundth Candy Olsen Valerie Tellmann Hitomi Yamada

Adam Hundt Eddie Mikrut Christopher Mohnani Daniel Salvador

William Soleau – (New York) is a graduate of Amherst College. As a dancer he toured in over 30 countries while personally working with such notable choreographers as Alvin Ailey, John Butler, Antony Tudor, Toer Van Shayk, Gray Verden, Norman Walker, and Joyce Trisler. He established himself as an emerging choreographer while serving as resident choreographer and principal dancer for both Finis Jhung’s Chamber Ballet U.S.A. and Dennis Wayne’s DANCERS in New York City in the 80’s. He first gained international recognition in 1987 for his full-length work “Universe” for the Shanghai Ballet of China during its first International Shanghai Arts Festival. Mr. Soleau has created over 70 ballets on companies around the world including Ballet Austin, The Icelandic Ballet, Ballet British Columbia, Ballet de Montreal, Ballet Florida, Richmond Ballet, American Ballroom Dance Theater, Sarasota Ballet, State Street Ballet, and Louisville Ballet, among others. He presently serves as the Executive Director of the John Butler Foundation, dedicated to preserving and protecting the master works of this influential American choreographer.

Dallas Blagg received his training at the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet and the Kirov Academy of Ballet. After spending a year in the Dance Department at the University of California, Irvine, he joined the National Ballet of Canada last season as an apprentice. This is his second summer with the National Choreographers Initiative. He will be returning to Toronto next season as a member of the Corps de Ballet at the National Ballet of Canada.

Lauren Fagone, originally from Kennett Square, P.A., received her training at such programs as the School of American Ballet, Chautauqua Ballet, and the Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet. After apprenticing with North Carolina Dance Theatre in Charlotte, N.C., she attended Indiana University for two years, where she studied with Leslie Peck and Violette Verdy. Lauren joined Richmond Ballet as an apprentice in 2001, and will return for her third season as a company member this fall. Lauren has enjoyed the opportunity to perform with such a versatile and diverse company, and has most recently danced in such favorites as Mauricio Wainrot’s Now and Then, George Balanchine’s Apollo, and Colin Connor’s Streets and Legends.

Brittany Fridenstine has danced professionally with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Ballet Memphis, Burklyn Ballet, Minnesota Dance Theatre, and has performed often as a guest artist throughout the United States. She has performed works by George Balanchine, Lila York, Trey McIntyre, Mark Godden, Danny Buraczeski, Dwight Rhoden, Elise Monte, Lise Houlton, Wynn Fricke, James Sewell, and Sally Rousse. She is currently a member of James Sewell Ballet in Minneapolis and has created a dance therapy program for children with special needs.

Francisco Gella was born in Bacolod City, Philippines. He began dancing in college and graduated with a B.A. in dance from the University of Washington. He studied ballet with Hannah Wiley and Adriano Welch and modern techniques with Jim Lepore, Patricia Thomas, and Milton Myers.

He has worked with many prominent ballet and modern choreographers, including Shapiro & Smith, Dwight Rhoden, David Parson, Daniel Ezralow, Zvi Gotheiner, Shaun Hounsell, Bill Evans, Barak Marshall, Bebe Miller, Milton Myers, Ronald K. Brown, and Dominic Walsh, just to name a few.

Francisco has danced for the Philadelphia Dance Company/Philadanco; Repertory Dance Theater of Salt Lake City, U.T.; Spectrum Dance Theater of Seattle, W.A.; the Chamber Dance Company; Leaving Ground/Dance; California Ballet; and Ballet Pacifica.

Corina Gill began her dance training with the Black Mountain Dance Theatre in 1994 where she studied with Sylvia Palmer and Ahita Ardalan. In 1999, she joined San Diego Ballet where she worked with Dame Sonia Arova, Thor Sutowski, Javier Valasquez, and Robin Morgan, dancing soloist and principal roles. From there, Corina was awarded the William J. Gillespie scholarship and earned a B.A. in dance from the University of California, Irvine. While attending UCI, she had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as David Allan, Donald McKayle, Paul Vasterling, and Douglas Becker. She was one of six students chosen to travel to France to dance at the Conservatoire de Paris. Later, she joined Eliot Feld’s Ballet Tech and also made a guest appearance with Sacramento Ballet. She danced with Ballet Pacifica from 2003 to 2005. This season she will be joining State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara.

Robert Gosnell is from North Carolina. He began his training with High Point Ballet and went on to study at the North Carolina School of the Arts, School of American Ballet, The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Atlanta Ballet. He joined Nashville Ballet as an apprentice in 1999 and has been featured in ballets by David Allan, Sir Frederick Ashton, and Paul Vasterling. He is also the Youth Cast Rehearsal Master for The Nutcracker. In 2002 and 2004, Mr. Gosnell was invited to teach at the North Carolina School of the Arts for the annual North Carolina Dance Festival. In 2004, he

taught at the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association. He participated in the 2004 National Choreographers Initiative, working with Ann Marie DeAngelo, Peter Pucci, and Molly Lynch.

Adam Hundt is originally from Dayton, Ohio. He began his dance training under the direction of Barbara Pontecorvo and Jon Rodriguez. Adam attended Indiana University, studying under the faculty of Violette Verdy, Jacques Cesborn and Leslie Peck. Later he joined Hubbard Street 2, where he performed works by Robert Battle, Kristofer Storey, Harrison McEldowney, Jessica Lang, Ron de Jesus, and Lou Conte.

He consequently danced for American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey and worked with Septime Webre, Val Caniparoli and Graham Lustig. In three seasons with Ballet Pacifica, he danced leading roles in Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Stephen Mill’s The Naughty Ones, Molly Lynch’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Paul Vasterling’s Saltimbanques. He currently dances with BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio.

Christopher Mohnani is originally from Makati City, Philippines. He was a soloist and principal dancer with Ballet Manila in the Philippines and the Krasnoyarsk State Opera Ballet Theater of Russia. Now entering his 5th season with Nashville Ballet, he was Romeo in the world premiere of Paul Vasterling’s Romeo and Juliet, Dracula in the Asian premiere of Vasterling’s Dracula, Conrad in the Asian premiere of a fulllength Le Corsaire, and Prince Desire in the Tennessee premiere of a full-length Sleeping Beauty. He has performed leading roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, as well as original and contemporary ballets like Afternoon of a Faun, Rite of Spring, and Robin Hood. This is his 2nd appearance at the National Choreographers Initiative.

Chris also completed two rounds of the 6th Asia Pacific International Ballet Competition held in Japan.

Gina McFadden was a student of Sherry Moray, at the Academy of Dance Arts, near Chicago, Illinois. She went on to dance with The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, and has

performed works by Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, John Cranko, and Leonide Massine.

She danced with Ballet Pacifica for three seasons and had the privilege of performing in pieces by Choo-San Goh, George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Molly Lynch, and Jodie Gates. Performing with State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara, Ms. McFadden danced roles created by William Soleau and Robert Sund. The choreographic projects organized by Molly Lynch have always been a favorite for Ms. McFadden to participate in; she is delighted to share in this year’s National Choreographers Initiative.

Edward Mikrut returns for his sixth season with Nashville Ballet. Last season, Mr. Mikrut was featured as John Bell in Anne Marie DeAngelo’s The Bell Witch, Prince Desire in Sleeping Beauty, and Mercutio in Paul Vasterling’s Romeo and Juliet, as well as performing leading roles in Raymonda Variations and The Nutcracker. He has also danced leading roles in Paul Vasterling’s Dracula and Robin Hood, and Albrecht in Giselle. Mr. Mikrut received his B.A. from the University of California, Irvine. His film and television credits include Austin Powers, Miss Santa Claus with Angela Lansbury, Fame L.A., and numerous television commercials. This is his 2nd year with the National Choreographers Initiative.

Caitlin Mundth graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and attended the Joffrey/New School B.F.A. program under Kathryn Posin.

She was a scholarship student with David Howard, Alvin Ailey and the Paul Taylor Schools. Ms. Mundth has performed with Michigan Opera Theater, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and North Carolina Opera. She danced one season with the Charleston Ballet Theater before joining Carolina Ballet in 2002. At Carolina Ballet, Caitlin has performed a number of Balanchine’s works, as well as premiering new works by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Donald Mahler, Robert Weiss, and Damien Woetzel.

Candy Olsen is a southern California native and is very happy to be participating in NCI for the second time. She is currently in the national tour of Evita as the Tango Dancer.

Other credits include New Jersey Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, Diavolo, Momix, national tour of Phantom of the Opera, A New Day with Celine Dion in Las Vegas, performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles Opera, and the Milwaukee Symphony.

Daniel Salvador began dancing at the age of 16 under Kathryn Scarano. He finished his training at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School as a full scholarship student.

Daniel has performed with Inland Pacific Ballet, SD Prism Dance Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and most recently with Ballet Pacifica, dancing Cavalier in The Nutcracker. This fall, Daniel will be joining City Ballet of San Diego.

Valerie Tellmann, a native of Tulsa, O.K., began her dance training with the Tulsa Ballet, Lexington Ballet, and the Richmond Ballet before joining Richmond Ballet’s professional company in 2000. She thrives on the opportunity to perform and to be exposed to a variety of dance styles. Some of her notable neo-classical roles have included Mauricio Wainrot’s Now and Then, Colin Connor’s Street and Legends, and Val Caniparoli’s Djangology. Her favorite classical roles range from George Balanchine’s Who Cares and Serenade to John Butler’s Carmina Burana.

Hitomi Yamada was born in Osaka, Japan and studied at the Beijing Dance Academy and the School Of American Ballet. She has danced as a member of Ballet Pacifica, James Sewell Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Ballet El Paso, and as a guest of Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, Minnetonka Dance Theater, Chicago Festival Ballet, and Connecticut Ballet. She was a participant of the 2004 National Choreographers Initiative, and this is her second season with BalletMet. She has also danced in Dominic Walsh`s Love Interfare and Bello, Jodie Gate`s Somewhere/In Between, Ann Marie DeAnelo`s Man in White Shirt, Robert Sund`s Liaisons, Dwight Roden`s Carmina Burana, Stanton Welch`s Fire Bird, Choo-San Goh`s Unknown Territory, among others.

Monique L’Heureux (Lighting Designer) is delighted to be a part of NCI, her sixth collaboration with Molly Lynch. Monique has designed for a variety of companies including Ballet Pacifica, Jazz Spectrum, Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, Loretta Livingston and Dancers, Rhapsody in Taps, Tongue, Anjani Ambegaokar, Danza Floricanto, and O.C. Regional Ballet, among others. She has created lighting for dance festivals, including Dance Kaleidoscope, Regional Dance America, a special performance at the International Ballet Competition, and the SOLA Contemporary Dance Festival.

Her work has been seen at the Hollywood Bowl, the Pasadena Playhouse, the Mark Taper Forum, the Laguna Playhouse, and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.

Monique is also a working artist and photographer and a member of United Scenic Artists.

“Whisper on the Wind”

by Peter Pucci NCI 2004

The National Choreographers Initiative would like to thank the following individuals for their support:

Producer ($25,000)

Partner ($250 and below)

Mr. and Mrs. William Roberts

Diane Baker Douglas Dowell Cliff Faulkner and Shigeru Yaji Gillian Finley and Robert Labaree Maurice Mandel Mrs. Michael McNalley Marshall Parker Suzanne and Jack Peltason Jane and Pat Phelan Marjorie Reday Mr. and Mrs. William Shue Mr. and Mrs. Keith Swayne Karen and Gary Thorne JohnWarndahl Carol and James Hollas Peg Jordan Chris Johnson Chuck Johnston Dr. Burton Karson Lorenzo and Karen Knapp Debra Maxwell James Penrod Robert Petel Jody and Jack Pike Janice Gudde Plastino Dolly Platt Louise Ringwalt Cynthia Runstrom Richard Sneed

Director ($10,000) Frank W. Lynch Elizabeth and John Stahr Choreographer ($5,000) Sophie and Larry Cripe William Gillespie Foundation Anne B. Nutt Dancer ($2,500) Bobbi Cox Janet and Henry Eggers Mrs. Richard Steele Diana Sunshine & Bill Onderdonk Designer ($1,000) Mrs. Alan V. Andrews Alan Andrews and Molly Lynch Jane and Charlie Birmingham Linda and Kris Elftmann Kathryn Lynch and Robert McDonnell Mr. & Mrs. J. Matthew Osborne Andrew Rose George H. Russell Sally Anne and Don Sheridan Donna & Nick Shubin Barbara Kenady Tingley Dance Contributor ($500 and less)

Special Thanks

Mr. and Mrs. David Carmichael Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ehrlich Van and Helen Holland Col. and Mrs. James Hinkle Joanne and Dennis Keith Mr. and Mrs. Steve McDowell Christina Sumpter Paula Tomei and David Emmes Mr. and Mrs. William Valentine Yamamoto

David Allan Diane Diefenderfer Donald McKayle Janek Schergen Alan Terricciano Dr. Jack Giangiulio UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts - Dance Department Irvine Barclay Theatre – Board of Directors

“Modular”

by James Sewell NCI 2004

Irvine Barclay Theatre Board of Directors Kenneth S. Rohl, Chair Lisa Bhathal Vogel Garry M. Brooks Donna Brownell Bill Carpou Arlene Cheng Rosemary Cumming Tony Ellis Morgan Evans Mary Ann Gaido Samuel Goldstein Lois E. Jeffrey Sean Joyce David Murphy Rick Paikoff William H. Parker J.W. Peltason Leason Pomeroy Frank Rugani Mickie L. Shapiro Robert E. Tarlton Lynda Thomas Cheryl Trosky Judy White

“The Guy in the White Shirt”

by Ann Marie DeAngelo NCI 2004 Administration Douglas C. Rankin, President Domenick Ietto, Vice President Christopher Burrill, General Manager Karen Drews Hanlon, Dir of Communications Gary Payne, Director of Finance Luanne Bauer, Box Office Manager Jim Laird, Production Manager Peggy Magee, Patron Services Manager Kathy Vickers, Development Assistant David Walker, Asst Box Office Manager Helena Danovich, Marketing Assistant Ginny Hayward, Executive Assistant