RISE SHOWCASE
November 2, 2025
BALLET
Sofia Abenanty
Gonzalo Espinoza
Jackie Nash-Gill
Kim Marsh
Mila Makaroff
Randi Workowski
DANCE ELECTIVES
Bethany Hemmans
Elaine Hoxie
Heath Gill
Lexi Toye
Mares Sanchez
Patrick Ingram
RISE TEACHING ARTISTS
Brittany Lebida
Dion DiDonna
Gina Hatch
Jazlyn Ruiz
Robert Kelley
Shawn Lowe
Welcome to the 2025 RISE Fall Showcase
Relevé Inspiring Student Excellence (RISE) elevates students’ experiences in the world of professional dance. Through partnerships with Central Florida middle and high schools featuring Performing Arts or Magnet Dance Programs, RISE creates meaningful opportunities for aspiring dancers to grow, train, and prepare for arts-related careers.
Tonight’s talented young performers have dedicated countless hours of hard work and passion to reach this moment. Over the semester, students completed 30 hours of intensive training led by industry professionals focused on technique, choreography, and professional readiness, and observed Orlando Ballet’s professional company in rehearsal at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre (HOBC).
This fall, we introduced Student Choreography Breakout Sessions for those with a deeper interest in storytelling through movement. Guided by their Teaching Artists and a custom Student Choreography Workbook, participants developed or refined original works—some of which are featured in tonight’s performance.
We were also honored to welcome Heath Gill, Orlando Ballet’s Company Rehearsal Director, who led a special session for our student choreographers. His new work, Confronting Genius, will premiere this season at Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center, alongside Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and Mark Godden’s Angels in the Architecture (March 27–29, 2026).
Special thanks to the Orlando Ballet Faculty and guest artists Bethany Hemmans and Lexi Toye, who led this afternoon’s dance workshops and inspired our students through their artistry and mentorship.
We hope you enjoy this evening’s presentation and join us in celebrating the creativity, discipline, and passion of our RISE students. Please join us again on April 12th for the Spring RISE Showcase, featuring new schools performing to live accompaniment by the Orlando Youth Chamber Ensemble.
SHANE BLAND Head of Community Enrichment
RISE SHOWCASE
STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHY
ST. CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL
CARE ABOUT US
CHOREOGRAPHY
Skyler Forbes • Maya Mejias
Xavier Ruales • Aubrey Winter
Valentina Garcia • Analiese Ramos
Julianne Asplen • Jiana Gonzalez
Makaela Lozada • Milani Santana-Torres
Camila Casillas • Mar’Kiya Chavers
Ryonna Newson • Hailey Paulino
Alisson Sandoval • Jazalyn Santos
Valeria Santucci • Jacqueline Dombo
Barbara Marquez Barrios
Isabella McKinley
Hannah Rodriguez Vasquez • Ivan Torres
Madison Trent
MUSIC
They Don’t Care About Us - Michael
Jackson
DANCERS
Skyler Forbes • Maya Mejias
Xavier Ruales • Aubrey Winter
Valentina Garcia • Analiese Ramos
Julianne Asplen • Jiana Gonzalez
Makaela Lozada • Milani Santana-Torres
Camila Casillas • Mar’Kiya Chavers
Ryonna Newson • Hailey Paulino
Alisson Sandoval • Jazalyn Santos
Valeria Santucci • Jacqueline Dombo
Barbara Marquez Barrios
Isabella McKinley
Hannah Rodriguez Vasquez • Ivan Torres
Madison Trent
WOLF LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL
CHOREOGRAPHY
Aidan Schrepfer
MUSIC
Money, Money, Money by ABBA
DANCERS
Aniston Allen • Lilly Antunez
Lucy Colclasure • Robre’yona Ferguson
Jem Heers • Aidan Schrepfer
Kyri Trawczynski
OLYMPIA HIGH SCHOOL LAST TIME
CHOREOGRAPHY
Nika Gomez
MUSIC
Last Time I Seen The Sun
DANCERS
Nika Gomez
WEKIVA HIGH SCHOOL CONSTELLATIONS
CHOREOGRAPHY
Anjalisa Vazquez
MUSIC
Constellations - Jade LeMac
DANCERS
Anjalisa Vazquez
RISE SHOWCASE
STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHY
WOLF LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
GET OUT
CHOREOGRAPHY
Robréyona Ferguson
MUSIC
Me & U - Tems
DANCERS
Aniston Allen • Lilly Antunez
Kelsey Coachman • Lucy Colclasure
Star Davis • Robre’yona Ferguson
Jem Heers • Aidan Schrepfer
Leyla Torres • Kyri Trawczynski
WEKIVA HIGH SCHOOL
SO MY DARLING
CHOREOGRAPHY
Kelsey Hall
MUSIC
So My Darling - Rachel Chinouriri
DANCERS
Kelsey Hall • Nyla Barfield
UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL UNTITLED
CHOREOGRAPHY
Emma Roberts
MUSIC
Thule - Travis Lake
Oblivion - Grims
DANCERS
Sophia Aspitia • Bailey Carlisi
Maliah Castillo-Canova • Giselle Colon
Mikaela De La Rosa • Ariana Jordan
Jescelly Miranda-Silvagnoli
Hannah Mounts • Haleina Nguyen
Emayla Padillam Brooke Piper
Cameron Powers • Daisy Roman
Amelie Row • Angelys Ruiz
Aaliyah Turpin • Gabriella Vidal
Scarlett Wanzer • Emma Roberts
RISE SHOWCASE
WOLF LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
LIVE LIFE OFF THE WALL
CHOREOGRAPHY
Jazlyn Ruiz
MUSIC
Off the Wall by Michael Jackson
Remixed by AjaxStriker
SYNOPSIS
This piece is a jazz-style choreography set to a disco/ funk remix. Smooth and high energy moments, with references to Soul Train in the piece.
DANCERS
Aniston Allen • Lucy Colclasure • Star Davis
Robre’yona Ferguson • Jem Heers • Aidan Schrepfer • Leyla Torres Kyri Trawczynski
RISE SHOWCASE
OLYMPIA HIGH SCHOOL
MOVEMENTS
CHOREOGRAPHY
Dion DiDonna
MUSIC
Lamentation
SYNOPSIS
We all create. And we create in our individual ways, weaving our stories together with others to create all the beautiful threads that hold this world of ours together.
DANCERS
Pamela Alcauter • Mayara Barbosa Alves Neves
Nashley Bautista • Isabella Nicole Buendia
Yasmim De Oliveira Cardoso Nogueira
Marina Fernandes • Marlena Kate Franklin
Nika Gomez • Kayla Erika Gordon • Evelyn Lin
Aliyah Nantumbwe Nakanjako • Khloe Adina Nelthropp
Sofia Prepo Recchiuti • Valentina Rosales Morales
Mila Rosa Wilhemina Van Alphen
Valentina Villanueva Acevedo • Maliah Vincent
Sarah Yapur Torres • Adriana Zoobi
RISE SHOWCASE
WEKIVA HIGH SCHOOL BRACE
CHOREOGRAPHY
Brittany Lebida
MUSIC
“The Winner Is” & “First Push” by DeVotchKa & Mychael
Danna
SYNOPSIS
The piece was created based on the idea of support. The dancers were a large part of the creation process, and each had unique ideas of what support meant to them. The piece is uplifting with themes of friendship and strength.
DANCERS
Nyla Barfield • Stori Bradford • Abigail Cherizard
Eliana Edouard • Kelsey Hall • Jazmine Kish
Juleyla Lopez • Desiree Matos • De’Audre McGowan
Kimani Miller • Dia’ree Sanders • Natalie Sterling
Sarah Torres • Gabrielle Valentine • Anjalisa Vazquez
Krisara Walker
RISE SHOWCASE
DR. PHILLIPS HIGH SCHOOL
MARSHMELLOW WINTER
CHOREOGRAPHY
Gina Hatch
MUSIC
Radio City Music Hall Orchestra & Singers
SYNOPSIS
This piece is a Rockett-Style production complete with 38 dancers and props.
DANCERS
Madelynn Brown Davis • McKinzie Brown Davis
Khloe Davis-Randolph • Mariah Mcfarlande Enelus
Jah’Nyah Hall Francis • Lara Goncalves • Jah’Nyah Hall
Yelani Hill • Faith Gant Jonathas
Antonio Williams Jones • Nova Kondo-Coccia
Chloe Leon • Arianna Lesperance
Azariah Lewis-McLennan • Nehemyah Morgan Marley
Morgan Marotta • Kendall Marotta • Kemarae Mayers
Kimani Cooper Motta • Karla Romero Nunez
Noor El-helw Tamimi • Deriah Bridges Thompson
Andre Roche • NaKai Jessup • Hasana Williams
Madison Yu • Kennedi Anderson • Eva Baez
Cameran Bailey • Emma Brady Fitzpatrick • Claire Atwell
Fabiana Ocque Centeno • Piper Allen • Olivia Anderson
Selene Bogart • Makayla Fraizer
Valentina Grijalva Cruz • MaKhari Lozeille
RISE SHOWCASE
ST. CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL
SOLITUDE
CHOREOGRAPHY
Shawn Lowe
MUSIC
Run - Ludovico Einaudio & I Virtuosi Italiani
DANCERS
Alisson Sandoval • Analiese Ramos • Aubrey Winter
Barbara Marquez Barrios • Camila Casillas
Hailey Paulino • Hannah Rodriguez Vasquez
Isabella Mckinley • Ivan Torres • Jacqueline Dombo
Jazalyn Santos • Jiana Jiji Gonzalez • Julianne Asplen
Madison Trent • Makaela Lozada • Mar’Kiya Chavers
Maya Mejias • Milani Santana Torres • Ryonna Newson
Skyler Forbes • Valentina Garcia • Valeria Santucci Xavier Ruales
UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL
MILITANTS
CHOREOGRAPHY
Robert Kelley
MUSIC
43214 (2016 Remix) by Michael Wall
SYNOPSIS
Through Dance Improvisation, the piece plays with elements of structure and flow. Composed of 3 sections it utilizes components of a phrase that was created through collaboration between the UHS dance students and choreographer.
DANCERS
Yashira Acevedo • Alessandra Alvarez • Jaylene Arriaga
Sophia Aspitia • Peyton Baillow • A’mi Banfield
Gabriella Barnes • Gabriele Bihag • Olivia Campbell
Bailey Carlisi • Maliah Castillo-Canova • Sophia Castro-Cortez
Lyric Chaffin • Charlotte Christiansen • Giselle Colon
Giselle Cruz • Mikaela De La Rosa • Camille Dos Santos
Katherine Fehl • Alexis Fernandez • Kimberly Fernandez
Nia Foster • Edaimy Garcia • Mykol Garzon-Zambrano
Aniyah Gonzalez • Amirah Hafid • Mariana Hernandez
Madison Hipp • Mia Ho Rivas • Mariah Hodge • Arianna Jackson
Ariana Jordan • Morgan Mayes • Kymorah Mcclain
Jescelly Miranda • Danellys Molina • Alyssa Morales
Hannah Mounts • Naomi Myles • Reilani Myles • Karlyss Nazario
Haleina Nguyen • Naomi Otero • Emayla Padilla • Citlaly Perez
Katalina Perez • Janelle Pham • Brooke Piper • Cameron Powers
Ariana Restrepo • Yanescia Rivera • Emma Roberts
Daisy Roman • Adriana Romero • Franchelys Rosario
Amelie Rowe • Angelys Ruiz • Analyssa Saintilus
Katherine Sanchez Vena • Carly Smith • Lily Smith Palacio
Connor Stevens • Aaliyah Turpin • Lorena Ventura
Gabriella Vidal • Scarlett Wanzer
ORLANDO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Jonathan Ledden Private Investor
VICE PRESIDENT
Jayne Willis DNP, RN UCF College of Nursing
TREASURER
Jean Grono-Nowry Massey Services, Inc.
SECRETARY
Angie Jernigan Orlando Health — Jewett Orthopedic Institute
DIRECTORS
Margaret Shan Atkins Independent Corporate Director
Sandor Bondorowsky Total Media Productions, Inc.
Jaleh Benner The Scout Guide Orlando
Meredith Cook Scientia Global Consulting
M.C. Cravatta Foley & Lardner, LLP
Jennifer Curry Siemens Energy
Ekta Desai Schenkel Shultz Architecture
London Ott City of Orlando
Keri Holliday PNC Private Bank
Eric Horner
Eric Horner Interiors
Andrew Howell Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Kelley Irby Orlando Magic
John A. “Skip” Kirst Jr. Collado Real Estate
Diane Kuhl Development Consultant
Keith Lashley HKS Architects
Krista Ledden Community Volunteer
Jennifer Lowndes Holland & Knight
Erich S. Maschhoff Truist
Geanne Share Community Volunteer
Richard J. Skaggs USF Credit Union
Yadhira Sollberger Community Volunteer
Robert Suchor Truist
Colte Suggs É poque, Inc.
Lisa Westlake Independent Corporate Director
David Withee J.P. Morgan
Vonda Wright, MD, MS Precision Longevity
EX-OFFICIO
Jorden Morris Artistic Director
Bradley Renner Executive Director
Rebekah Essick Co-Chair Orlando Ballet Ambassadors
Kara Howell Co-Chair Orlando Ballet Ambassadors
Lizette Valarino Chair, Amigos del Orlando Ballet
FOUNDERS
Barbara Riggins
Kip Watson
Patti Watson Walsh
ORLANDO BALLET STAFF
ARTISTIC
Jorden Morris Artistic Director
Lisa Thorn Morris .............................................................................................................................. Associate Artistic Director
Heath Gill ........................................................................................................................................................... Rehearsal Director
Darren Bartolo Company Pianist
Amado Bobadilla Company Pianist
Angelyn Chen Company Pianist
ADMINISTRATIVE
Bradley Renner Executive Director
Katherine Fabian .............................................................................................................................................. Managing Director
Carlos Vicente.............................................................................................. Interim Director, Marketing & Communications
Laurel Hayward Director of Institutional Giving
Kim Sydebrant Controller
Alyssa David Director of Events
Melinda Rutland Major Gifts Officer
Helen Preston Individual Giving Officer
Noelle Park Individual Giving Manager
Richard Elo Facilities Manager
Patrick Ingram ...................................................................................................................... Manager, Group Sales & Ticketing
Maureen Walsh ......................................................................................................... Manager, Marketing & Communications
Mal Clark Graphic Designer
Jamie Gillies Retail Specialist
Noelle Malfa Marketing Coordinator
Juliet Marcus Coordinator, Ticketing Concierge & Consumer Insights
Jackie Nash Gill Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
Bekki Tyler Accounting Specialist
Francis Mihm Philanthropy Coordinator
PRODUCTION
John Beaulieu
Director of Production
Cecilia de Erausquin Production Stage Manager
Alex German Company Manager & Assistant Stage Manager
Eddy Frank Fernandez Costume Director
Norelis Dean Wardrobe Supervisor
Gina Makarova OBS & Community Enrichment Wardrobe Coordinator
Ani Boer ...................................................................................................................................................................... Shoe Manager
EDUCATION
Chris Alloways-Ramsey Director of Education
Jenny Logus School Administrative Manager
Victoria Sarau Sr. Manager of Educational Operations
Shane Bland Head of Community Enrichment
Amyia Burrell Head of Young Dancer Program
Gonzalo Espinoza ......................Assistant to the School Director, School Choreographer, & Principal OBII Teacher
Natasha Glos .............................................................. Principal Teacher, Repetiteur for the Academy, & Principal Coach
Kim Marsh Head of Preparatory Training Center & Certification
Sofia Tsutsakova-Abenanty Principal Teacher, Company Liaison for OBS, & Methodologist
Chandler Blum Community Enrichment Coordinator
Aless Ramnarine-Kendrick Fitness Thru Dance Coordinator
Kayla Reyburn School Admin & Summer Intensive Coordinator
Melissa Miller Front Desk Assistant
Susan Swain Front Desk Assistant
FACULTY MEMBERS
Allison Baber • Ani Boer • Lisa Buono • Andrea De Faria • Dion Leonhard DiDonna • Jenny Dzuranin
Heather Fryxell • Bonnie Gombos • Gina Hatch • Monica Heinz • Elaine “Lanie” Hoxie • Patrick Ingram • Zoe Khoury Krista Ledden • Annie Lewis • Shawn Lowe • Mila Makaroff • Brittany Marcell Monachino • Susan Olson
Elizabeth Shook-King • Jessica Springer • Heidi Towle • Stephanie Towle • Mariana Tzanova • Giovanni Villalobos
Randee Workowski
COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT TEACHING ARTISTS
Abbie Krefta • Amelia Anderson • Anna Diaz • Anneke Belman • Bonnie Gombos • Brittany Lebida
Chloe Lawrence • Christy Kowal • Clara Atsinger • Cyndi Litz • Dion Leonhard DiDonna • Gina Hatch
Heather Fryxell • Jasmine Burlesmith • Jazlyn Ruiz • Jessica Springer • Julia Vinez • Lisa Buono • Madeline White Mares Sanchez • Nicole Moran • Patricia Marijanich • Rebecca Sanderlin • Robert Kelley • Valerie Galloway.
SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCES START HERE
CAMPS ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL
Unlock your child’s creativity and passion for dance with Orlando Ballet School’s Summer camps. These camps offer an exciting blend of ballet, contemporary, jazz, and more, tailored for students of all skill levels. For scheduling & registration
Taught by professional dance faculty, our diverse offerings are designed to meet you where you are. Whether you’re just beginning, continuing your dance training, or maintaining your practice, you’ll find a supportive environment to grow and improve. For
HARRIETT LAKE
FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS
“The Angel of the Ballet"
See how bold ballet can get.
Featuring high-caliber productions, high- ying acts and a highly anticipated accompaniment by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, you won’t want to miss Central Florida’s only fully residential professional ballet company take the stage at Dr. Phillips Center.
25/26 SEASON
SWAN LAKE
THE NUTCRACKER CARMEN BALANCHINE, GODDEN, GILL
THE GREAT GATSBY UNCORKED Get tickets at orlandoballet.org