Colorado Ballet Holiday 2017, The Nutcracker

KeyBank Presents

THE

NUTCRACKER

“Because I feel better “Because I feel better about feeling ” “Because I feelgood! better about about feeling feeling good! good!””

Let Dental Associates of Aurora assist you in correcting your smile with a comprehensive dental implant solution. We’re a Let Dental Associates ofthat’s Aurora assistthe you in correcting your privately owned practice setting standard for premium Let Dental assist in correcting your smile with aAssociates comprehensive dental implant solution. a quality dental implantsofinAurora Colorado.

Beyou happy to We’re smile. smile with a comprehensive solution. a privately owned practice that’s dental settingimplant the standard for We’re premium privately ownedimplants practiceinthat’s setting Be the happy standardto forsmile. premium quality dental Colorado. quality dental implants in Colorado. Be happy to smile. to schedule your free consultation today.

Call (303) 341-4878 ( ) Call Call (303 303) 341-4878 341- 4878 to schedule your free consultation today. to schedule your free consultation today.

Single Implant Surgery & Crown Single Implant ONLY Single & Implant Surgery Crown Surgery & Crown ONLY ONLY

1,595

$ a savings of $2,300!

a savings of $2,300! a savings of $2,300!

www.DentalAssociatesofAurora.com www.DentalAssociatesofAurora.com www.DentalAssociatesofAurora.com

T H E S A N TA F E O P E R A A Season To Remember Leonard Bernstein CANDIDE Giacomo Puccini MADAME BUTTERFLY Music: John Adams Libretto: Peter Sellars DOCTOR ATOMIC Gioachino Rossini THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS Richard Strauss ARIADNE AUF NAXOS

2018 SEASON

I

June 29 – August 25

I

800-280-4654

I

SantaFeOpera.org

Make a choice from two magical rides; Santa’s North Pole Adventure train or the Santa’s Lighted Forest train

BE BEAUTIFUL BE YOURSELF

DANCE PROGRAM Providing an exceptional dance experience for children with Down syndrome

DONATE TO GLOBAL’S HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAMS www.GlobalDownSyndrome.org

Neiman Marcus will donate ten percent of sales proceeds from their exclusive Love To Give holiday collection at Cherry Creek to benefit the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation was established in 2013 to support youth arts education and experiences.

To view the collection, visit Neiman Marcus Cherry Creek at 3030 E 1st Ave and purchase your items from November 2 through December 26, 2017.

CONTENTS Colorado Ballet Publication 2017/2018 Tamar Moye Colorado Ballet Editor

Colorado Ballet Publication is produced for Colorado Ballet by The Publishing House, Westminster, CO.

Angie Flachman Johnson Publisher Tod Cavey Director of Sales Stacey Krull Graphic Designer/ Production Manager Mark Fessler Press Manager Wilbur E. Flachman President

Letter from the Director Letter from the Board of Trustees Sugarplums

10 14 31

COVER PHOTO: The Nutcracker Photo by Allen Birnbach

Francisco Estevez

CONTENTS PHOTOS: Romeo and Juliet Photo by Allen Birnbach

Sharon Wehner and Yosvani Ramos

Ballet Director’s Choice Photo by Allen Birnbach

Kevin Gaël Thomas

Photo by Allen Birnbach

Asuka Sasaki

6 Colorado Ballet

For advertising information, please call 303.428.9529 or e-mail sales@pub-house.com ColoradoArtsPubs.com

We hold ourselves to the highest standard.

FOR BES’ 2 0 17

Top Wealth Advisors

FOR BES’ 2 0 17

America’s Top Women Advisors

BARR ON ’S 2 0 17

Top 100 Independent Advisors

An independent perspective. A disciplined process.

A commitment to putting clients first.

ASPEN | D ENVE R | 303 . 321 . 8188 | www.obe r me ye r wood .com Rankings and recognition by unaffiliated rating services and publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Obermeyer Wood is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement of Obermeyer Wood by any of its clients. Rankings published by magazines, and others, generally base their selections exclusively on information prepared and submitted by the recognized adviser. Rankings are generally limited to participating advisers.

NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

year-round lodging • dining arts & culture scenic splendor 900 BASELINE ROAD • BOULDER CO | 303.442.3282 chautauqua.com | coloradochautauqua colochautauqua

THROUGH JANUARY 14 ORGANIZED BY

SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

LOCAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

Her Paris: Women Artists in the Age of Impressionism is organized by the American Federation of Arts and curated by independent curator Laurence Madeline. The exhibition is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding is provided by the JFM Foundation, Elizabeth K. Belfer, the Florence Gould Foundation, Monique Schoen Warshaw, the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, Clare McKeon, Steph and Jody La Nasa, Victoria Ershova Triplett, the American-Scandinavian Foundation, and the Finlandia Foundation.

The presentation at the Denver Art Museum is generously funded by Barbara Bridges, Harmes C. Fishback Foundation Trust, Fine Arts Foundation, the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the citizens who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine, CBS4, Comcast Spotlight, and The Denver Post.

Marie Bracquemond (French, 1840-1916), Three Women with Parasols (Trois femmes aux ombrelles [Les trois graces]) (detail), 1880. Oil on canvas; 543⁄4 x 351⁄16 in. Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France. Bequest of Gustave Geffroy, 1926. Photo: Patrice Schmidt. ©RMN-Grand Palais / Art Resource, NY. Courtesy American Federation of Arts.

FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR I’m pleased to welcome you to Colorado Ballet’s 57th annual production of The Nutcracker. Truly a family tradition—if this is your first time seeing The Nutcracker, I am sure it will become a tradition for you as well. This extra-ordinary presentation features lavish sets and costumes, wonderful dancing, whimsical battles, hypnotizing snowflakes, majestic live music from the Colorado Ballet Orchestra and a little bit of magic! So, sit back and enjoy as we bring this enchanting story of Clara’s wondrous adventure to life.

If you joined us for our season opener Dracula, we thank you. Dracula brought in a record number of brave audience members, proving that a spine-tingling adventure is still as popular as ever.

As I continue my 12th season as Colorado Ballet’s artistic director, I want to thank everyone who has supported the ballet by purchasing tickets, making donations and attending events—you have contributed to our success! Speaking of success, I am proud that the last four seasons have been the most successful in the history of Colorado Ballet. We continue to break the previous year’s attendance and revenue records, and we look forward to the remainder of this season’s outstanding performances.

In the spring, you’ll fall in love with Colorado Ballet’s presentation of the Shakespearean romance, Romeo and Juliet, featuring extraordinary choreography by Derek Deane and a phenomenal musical score by Sergei Prokofiev, performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Romeo and Juliet demands exceptional levels of ballet technique, artistry and acting from the dancers. From the energetic crowd scenes to the famous balcony scene that transitions into a gorgeous pas de deux between the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet will take your breath away. Watch us bring one of the most powerful love stories of all time to life!

In March, we will close the 2017/2018 season with a collection of ballets in Ballet Director’s Choice, which includes Pillar of Fire by choreographer Antony Tudor with music by Arnold Schoenberg, Brief Fling by choreographer Twyla Tharp with music by Michel Colombier and Percy Grainger, and the return of Val Caniparoli’s In Pieces. Performing works by Tudor, Tharp and Caniparoli in one program will prove that our dancers are up to the challenge of dancing works by some of the best choreographers in the world. While this repertory production will appeal to die-hard ballet fans, it will also appeal to people who are not as familiar with ballet because all of the works are unique and showcase different styles of music, costumes, storytelling and dance.

Thank you for attending The Nutcracker and my sincerest wishes to you and your family for a happy, healthy and magical holiday season!

Gil Boggs Artistic Director

10 Colorado Ballet

Proud supporter of family traditions for over 60 years.

Guaranty Bank and Trust is a community bank that has called Colorado home for over 60 years. Let our full complement of lending, treasury management, depository and private banking solutions help you reach your financial goals.

303.293.5500 970.454.4220 GuarantyBankCO.com Loans subject to credit approval.

Member FDIC

Swiss Flower & Gift Cottage Exquisite Florals Curated Gifts & Home Decor 9840 W 44th Ave., Wheat Ridge 303.424.7421

SwissFlowerandGift.com

5000 sq. ft. of “Retail Therapy”

Jewelry • Gifts • Home Decor and So Much More...

Colorado Ballet 13

FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Welcome to Colorado Ballet’s 57th annual production of The Nutcracker! After 57 seasons, Colorado Ballet’s magical production continues to be a tradition in many households and lights up the holiday season in Denver.

The Colorado Ballet Board of Trustees is proud to bring you another season of stunning classical ballet and inspiring contemporary works. As Board Co-Chairs, we are honored to announce that last season was the most successful season in the history of Colorado Ballet! We shattered attendance and revenue records and our exceptional dancers and musicians received rave reviews from audiences and critics. Our production of The Nutcracker was named the best-loved Nutcracker in the U.S. and won the 10th Annual Goldstar National Nutcracker Award. Colorado Ballet is truly a world-class ballet company!

In addition to presenting outstanding performances, Colorado Ballet also educates the next generation of dancers through the Colorado Ballet Academy. Students from toddlers to seniors, beginners to advanced pre-professionals, all have the opportunity to take a wide range of dance classes in the Academy. Many of our Academy students also have the opportunity to audition for roles and perform on stage with the professional Company each year. Colorado Ballet further instills the love of dance through its education and community engagement programs. These programs, which impact more than 40,000 contacts each year in more than 300 schools and organizations, provide opportunities for in-need students, teachers, families and individuals with disabilities to take classes and attend performances.

We hope you enjoy today’s performance and will consider supporting Colorado Ballet through a taxdeductible donation. Ticket sales cover only 55 percent of our annual budget, so as a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, we depend on the generous support of our patrons to continue presenting world-class classical ballet and innovative dance in Colorado. Donors of $1,000 or more belong to the Premier Society and enjoy unique benefits such as exclusive events, complimentary drinks at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, and free parking for ballet performances at the Ellie.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely, Elizabeth Katkin and Duke Hartman Board Co-Chairs

COLORADO BALLET BOARD OF TRUSTEES

EXECUTIVE BOARD BOARD CO-CHAIRS Duke Hartman Elizabeth Katkin SECRETARY JoAnne Zboyan TREASURER AND FINANCE CO-CHAIR William J. Tryon FINANCE CO-CHAIR Brent L. Backes

BOARD GOVERNANCE CO-CHAIRS Michael E. Korenblat, Esq. Adrienne L. Toon, Esq. LONG-RANGE PLANNING CHAIR Greg Laugero MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIR Susan Bailey

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CHAIR Merry Logan

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CHAIR Joanne Posner-Mayer

DEVELOPMENT CHAIR Colleen Curran

AT-LARGE MEMBER Harry M. Sterling

ACADEMY CO-CHAIRS Raydean Acevedo Holly Baroway

COLORADO BALLET AUXILIARY PRESIDENT Kelly Matthews

TRUSTEES Lisa Levin Appel Michelle Moorman Applegate Jean Armstrong Kaye Ferry Ann Frick Anne M. Hillary Gail K. Kassan Lisa Konen Mary Lou Blackledge Kortz Joe Maslowski Cindy Meany Marc Musyl Jane Netzorg Barbara R. Reed, MD Cheri Rubin Denise Sanderson Suzan Schlatter Brad Sonnenberg

Nancy Stevens Susan Struna Frank Wiederman EX-OFFICIO Ginger White Brunetti CHAIRMEN EMERITI Anna Bates LIFETIME TRUSTEES Raydean Acevedo Duke Hartman Dick Saunders EMERITUS BOARD Liz and Bill Armstrong Christin Crampton Day Sandy Elliot Henny Lasley Dave Ramsey Jim Ruh Lisa Snider

Dancing Horses An Evening of

with Denver School of the Arts Orchestra

January 17&18, 2018

call today

use promo BALLET to save $4 per ticket

303.295.2979

For the Fine Art on Your Floors Hand Cleaning by Coit’s Experts Repair, Reweave, Restore y Pickup and Delivery y Guaranteed Cleaning y Free Estimates y

y

65

YEARS OF QUALITY

WORLD’S MOST EXPERIENCED CLEANERS OF AIR DUCTS, CARPET, UPHOLSTERY, DRAPERY, AREA RUGS, NATURAL STONE AND TILE & GROUT

Call

888.541.2648 Colorado Ballet 15

Shining a spotlight on creativity.

The arts enrich all our lives and are an integral part of our culture and heritage. It’s why we support arts organizations within our community. They inspire, entertain, move, and inform us in so many ways. Without the arts our community would not be the vibrant and diverse place we enjoy today.

KeyBank is a proud sponsor of the Colorado Ballet's annual performance of The Nutcracker.

Key.com is a federally registered service mark of KeyCorp. Š2017 KeyCorp. KeyBank is Member FDIC. 161207-170606 key.com

â„¢

PRESENTING SPONSOR

botanicgardens.org

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

SAVE THE DATE FOR

An Evening

in Verona A ROMEO AND JULIET

thursday

FEB 2018

ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE coloradoballet.org/gala

GALA CHAIRS: ANNE AND JIM HILLARY

photo: sharon wehner and yosvani ramos by allen birnbach

22

Step into a magical world this Christmas ...

For every ticket sold a donation will be made to

Irish Dance Theatre proudly presents "Seó na Nollag: A Celtic Christmas Celebration" December 18th 7:30pm, Newman center December 18th 7:30pm , Lincoln Center, Fort Collins www.lctix.com/seo-na-nollag

RE/MAX OF BOULDER P R E S E N T S

Lou Scirrotto

Realtor - Broker Associate Buying and Selling the Colorado Lifestyle for 12 Years Unrelenting work ethic ... passionate ... dedicated ... integrity ... knowledgeable ... I care about my clients.

Your home is extraordinary, shouldn’t your representation be the same?

“Lou Scirrotto delivers results.​He helps clearly identify goals... and achieve them. He is available 24x7 without fail, communicates extremely well, is tenacious and diligent, and works collaboratively with all parties to successfully complete transactions. I highly recommend him.”

Lisa Lai - Boulder CO

Louie@Scirrotto.com | 720.560.6701 BoulderHomeZone.com B O U L D E R Facebook.com/BoulderHomeZone HOME ZONE

RE/MAX of Boulder | 2425 Canyon Blvd #110, Boulder CO 80302 | 303.449.7000 Colorado Ballet 19

WHERE ATHLETE MEETS ART Sharon Wehner and Yosvani Ramos by Allen Birnbach

TICKETS AT COLORADOBALLET.ORG

Pillar of Fire, Brief Fling and In Pieces at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts

WHERE ATHLETE MEETS ART Kevin Gaël Thomas by Allen Birnbach

TICKETS AT COLORADOBALLET.ORG

the exceptional musicians of the Colorado Ballet Orchestra are members of the

DANCE EDUCATION MASTER OF ARTS ONLINE + SUMMER WORKSHOPS

www.denvermusicians.org

EXTENDED.UNCO.EDU/DanceEd

a world of possibilities.

At ISDenver, immersion is a pathway to global citizenship. Learning through French, Spanish, Mandarin, and IB curricula, students become fluent in both the languages and cultures of the world, and flourish in our international community right here in Denver.

Explore a world without walls at one of our upcoming community-wide events, including our World Tea Fair on Sunday, February 11, a celebration of tea and culture from around the world!

www.isdenver.org/coballet Colorado Ballet 23

KEYBANK WELCOMES YOU When it comes to holiday traditions in our state, none is more iconic and magical than Colorado Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker.

For more than 50 years, our community has played host to one of the nation’s premiere presentations of The Nutcracker. Parents and grandparents who saw The Nutcracker as children now bring their families to celebrate the holidays. KeyBank is pleased to join Coloradans across our state who make a visit with Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, the Sugarplum Fairy, and all the magical characters of The Nutcracker a part of their annual holiday festivities.

At KeyBank, we help our clients and communities thrive. A thriving community is one which values and supports cultural organizations. The arts inspire creativity in the young and imagination in the old. More than anything, though, they introduce us to diverse forms of expression, expand our understanding of other cultures, and connect us with the larger world.

Colorado Ballet certainly does that, not just with The Nutcracker but year round. Besides its world-class performances each year, Colorado Ballet’s educational programs have touched more than half a million people throughout our state. That’s a record of success we can all champion.

Thank you for being a part of the 57th year of The Nutcracker.

Happy Holidays!

Tom Tulodzieski Regional President

OFFICIAL SPONSORS OF COLORADO BALLET

Colorado Ballet applauds its official sponsors of the 2017/2018 season.

D E N V E R

24 Colorado Ballet

B A L L E T

G U I L D

“My time in Vail is incredibly busy. Coming home to the Antlers, where I can practice the piano, enjoy a river view while grilling salmon, put my feet up in a comfortable living room gives me exactly the kind of relaxation between events that I need.

I feel so well cared for by the most friendly, warm and helpful staff. I love the Antlers and all the great musicians who stay here love it too!”

Anne-Marie McDermott Bravo! Vail Artistic Director ANTLERS AT VAIL Official condominium hotel of Bravo! Vail musicians DISCOVER FOR YOURSELF WHY GUESTS MAKE THE ANTLERS THEIR SKI VACATION HOME YEAR AFTER YEAR.

(800)258-8616

antlersvail.com

Gil Boggs, Artistic Director Erica Fischbach, Academy Director

Two and four week sessions available Auditions in Denver, CO at Colorado Ballet January 7, January 21, and February 18

JOIN SANTA’S CREW

in Kaiser Permanente Grand Court Now through December 24

• Visit Santa like never before • Earn your crew badge • Get fitted in virtual elf gear • Help fix Santa’s sleigh

Create your badge online at shopcherrycreek.com or use the Cherry Creek Shopping Center app.

Locally sponsored by:

3000 East 1st Avenue, Denver, CO ■ 303.388.3900 shopcherrycreek.com

Aspen 970.925.8579

Crested Butte 970.349.5023

Denver 303.399.4564

Steamboat Springs 970.879.9222

Telluride 970.728.3359

Vail 970.949.5500

Fotoimagery.com

interior landscapes that delight the senses

thurstonkitchenandbath.com

Founders Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker Artistic Director Gil Boggs Ballet Mistresses Sandra Brown, Lorita Travaglia, Maria Mosina Musical Director and Principal Conductor Adam Flatt Associate Conductor Catherine Sailer THE COMPANY Principals Dana Benton, Chandra Kuykendall, Domenico Luciano, Yosvani Ramos, Asuka Sasaki, Sharon Wehner Soloists Morgan Buchanan, Francisco Estevez, Tracy Jones, Christophor Moulton, Kevin GaĂŤl Thomas Corps de Ballet Joshua Allenback, Ariel Breitman, Arianna Ciccarelli, Mackenzie Dessens, Alyssa Fazekas, Kevin Hale, Bryce Lee, Fernanda Oliveira, Sean Omandam, Kristine Padgett, Nicolas Pelletier, Emily Speed, Jeremy Studinski, Sarah Tryon, Ben Winegar, Melissa Zoebisch Apprentices Regan Kucera, Francesca Martoccio, Tyler Rhoads, Sara VanderVoort Studio Company Erin Arndorfer, Amber Ball, Simon Zinabu Costello, Brianna Crockett, Julia Davies, Kelly Dornan, Isabella Furrillo, Hannah Geisman, Sara Jumper, Reagan Lawthers, Tate Lee, Ariel McCarty, Leah McFadden, Philip Perez, Camille Reaux, Vara Shiva Reom, Ian Santiago, Gianna Marie Tolotta, Marie Tender, Kristine Marie Wiggins, Alexandra Wilson Colorado Ballet | 1075 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204 | 303-837-8888 | www.coloradoballet.org Out of courtesy to the dancers, the taking of photographs of any nature is strictly prohibited during performances.

Please silence all cellular telephones, pagers and audible devices.

Colorado Ballet productions are made possible in part by funding from the citizens of the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District.

The Artists of Colorado Ballet are represented by The American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO; the union that represents Artists in the fields of opera, ballet, modern dance and choral presentations.

KeyBank Presents

The Nutcracker November 25-December 24, 2017 Ellie Caulkins Opera House Based on Choreography by Martin Fredmann Additional Choreography by Sandra Brown Staged by Lorita Travaglia and Sandra Brown Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Based on the Story by E.T.A. Hoffman Scenery and Costumes by Jose Varona Additional Costumes by Colorado Ballet Wardrobe Department Lighting Design by Todd Elmer Associate Lighting Designer Patrick “Red” Howard Synopsis The curtain rises to reveal Herr Drosselmeyer in his workshop preparing for the party at the home of Dr. and Frau Stahlbaum. It’s their annual Christmas Eve Party. The magical and eccentric Herr Drosselmeyer has planned a special surprise for his beloved godchild, Clara Stahlbaum. He presents her with a wonderfully mysterious wooden Nutcracker.

Clara is immediately taken with the gift. Clara’s brother Fritz is jealous and steals the Nutcracker from Clara. In the chaos of his teasing, Fritz accidentally breaks the Nutcracker. Herr Drosselmeyer comes to the rescue and assures Clara that all will be well.

The party ends and Clara, just before the stroke of midnight, returns to the darkened living room to check on her Nutcracker. She is frightened by large mice, but suddenly, Herr Drosselmeyer appears and the mice flee. Much to Clara’s amazement, Herr Drosselmeyer commands the Christmas tree to grow to such an enormous size that it pushes away the entire room. Next, he changes her little wooden toy into a life-size Nutcracker. The Nutcracker introduces himself and his soldiers to Clara.

The mice suddenly reappear, and a vicious battle ensues. The soldiers seem to be winning, but the great Mouse King appears and the tide turns. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King fight, and just as the Mouse King is about to overpower the Nutcracker, Clara distracts him, giving the Nutcracker the chance to overcome the Mouse King.

To Clara’s delight and surprise, the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome young prince, who takes her off on an enchanted journey. He takes her to the Land of the Snow, and then to the beautiful Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy, where Clara is entertained by dances from many lands.

Clara and the Prince dance together surrounded by radiant flowers. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier then dance for Clara and the Prince. The Prince carries a sleeping Clara back to her home, where she awakens uncertain if her magical journey was a dream or reality.

2 The Nutcracker • Colorado Ballet

Artistic Staff Gil Boggs, Artistic Director Gil Boggs began his dance career with the Atlanta Ballet. He joined American Ballet Theatre in New York in 1982 and was promoted to soloist dancer in 1984 and principal dancer in 1991. Boggs was a member of the company for 17 years. Boggs also performed with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, Baryshnikov and Company, Nureyev and Friends, and made several guest appearances around the world. During his career with ABT, he was recognized as both an accomplished virtuoso and one of the company’s most popular performers. Boggs has worked with numerous noted choreographers, including Agnes de Mille, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, Jerome Robbins and Merce Cunningham and has an extensive performance repertoire of both classical and contemporary works. Boggs accepted the position of Artistic Director with Colorado Ballet in the Spring of 2006. In Boggs’ tenure with Colorado Ballet he has restaged full-length productions of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote and Coppelia along with adding new full-length productions of Romeo & Juliet, Cinderella, Le Corsaire, Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan. Boggs has also presented 15 world premieres and 12 Colorado Ballet premieres by such renowned choreographers as Twyla Tharp, Lar Lubovitch, Antony Tudor, Val Caniparoli, Dwight Rhoden and Lynne TaylorCorbett.

Sandra Brown, Ballet Mistress Sandra Brown joined the corps de ballet of American Ballet Theatre in 1987 under the directorship of Mikhail Baryshnikov and was promoted to soloist in 1992 where she remained until 2003.

During that time, she danced not only numerous classical full length principal roles, but gained recognition for her leading contemporary roles as well. Most notably, she created and danced the world premiere role of Desdemona in Lar Lubovitch’s full-length Othello in 1997 and appears in ABT’s film productions of Romeo and Juliet, Le Corsaire, and the documentary Ballet. In 2000, Brown was featured in the movie Center Stage and appears in the film The Company.

Brown also holds the honor of appearing on Broadway as the original Louise Bigelow in the Tony Award-winning 1994 revival of Carousel, directed by Nicholas Hytner and choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillan at the Lincoln Center Theater. In 2003, Brown left ABT to pursue work as a freelance artist with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Stiefel and Stars, Vladimir Malakhov, Peter Boal and Company, Chamber Dance Project, Dancers Patrelle, Ballet Hawaii and Madison Ballet. During this time, she also was asked to perform as a guest artist at the Vail International Festival, became certified to teach Pilates, taught for the ABT Summer Intensive, and choreographed the ballet Synchronicity. In 2006, she joined her husband, Gil Boggs, to work with Colorado Ballet. Since then, she has assisted staging the full-length productions of Giselle, Don Quixote, and Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Brown has also assisted with choreographing and staging

of The Nutcracker, Coppélia, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. In addition, she assisted staging Lar Lubovitch’s Smile With my Heart, Dwight Rhoden’s Ave Maria, Twyla Tharp’s In The Upper Room, Clark Tippet’s Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, and Edwaard Liang’s Feast of the Gods. Brown restaged her ballet, Synchronicity, for Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company.

In 2007, she was asked to stage Smile with my Heart for the Joffrey Ballet. In 2013, she staged Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s Great Galloping Gottschalk at the University of South Carolina and in 2014 at NBA of Japan. In 1989 and 1990, she was chosen by Mikhail Baryshnikov to choreograph for the American Ballet Theatre Choreographic Workshop.

During her tenure, she has choreographed for the Bal de Ballet, an event hosted by the Denver Ballet Guild. Her creations are From Within, Crimson Surges, Unforgettable, Grand Pas Fantastique, Heart Strings, One by One, Set Fire to the Rain, The Secret Garden, Young and Beautiful, The Charleston, Scheherazade, and Pirates of the Caribbean. In 2014, she gained critical acclaim for the ballet The Last Beat, which she created on the dancers of Colorado Ballet to the music of DeVotchKa.

Generously supported

by Pam and Duke Hartman Lorita Travaglia, Ballet Mistress Lorita Travaglia is originally from New Zealand. She received her ballet training at the National School of Ballet and later the Royal Ballet School in London. Lorita made her debut as a professional dancer with the Berlin Ballet.

After six years with the Company, she moved to the United States where she worked with Princeton Ballet, Boston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and International Ballet Rotaru, dancing solo and principal roles in a wide range of repertoire. Her favorite roles include Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Cinderella, Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Paquita. In 1992, Lorita returned to New Zealand, but continued to perform as a guest artist with companies in the United States as well as Company Z, a contemporary dance company in New Zealand. Lorita began teaching in 1988 while still performing and studied the Vaganova methodology. She was the principal teacher for a professional training program in Auckland, New Zealand and later, as artistic director of Canyon Concert Ballet in Fort Collins, Colorado, she set up a similar aspirant program. In 1999, Lorita joined Colorado Ballet as director of the Apprentice Program and company repetiteur, and has been ballet mistress since 2006. Her choreography includes Equanimity, Aspects, Pictures at an Exhibition, Piazzolla and, most recently, The Angel of Buenos Aires for Colorado Ballet and a full-length The Nutcracker for Canyon Concert Ballet.

Lorita graduated from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2000 and has a private practice in Denver. She is an avid tango dancer and is the Creative Director of Parasol Arts.

Generously supported by Lafawn Biddle

Colorado Ballet • The Nutcracker 3

Artistic Staff Maria Mosina, Ballet Mistress

Catherine Sailer, Associate Conductor

Maria Mosina was born in Moscow and graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia. Upon graduation, Maria joined the Bolshoi Ballet Grigorovich Company and immediately was chosen for principal roles. She toured the world appearing on all major European, American, African and Asian stages.

In 1995, Maria was invited by Colorado Ballet to join as a leading principal dancer. She performed all major parts in classical productions and also had the chance to show her talent in neoclassical, modern and contemporary choreographed master pieces. Maria was a featured dancer on the cover of Dance Magazine and has been featured in other magazine articles. She holds a bachelor’s degree in methodology and pedagogy from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. She is also an active ballet instructor throughout the United States. She participated as a master teacher and judge for the Youth American Grand Prix. Maria performed leading roles in all major productions as a member of the Company, as well as a guest artist with many other festivals, galas, and companies.

After 21 seasons as a principal dancer with Colorado Ballet, she retired at the end of the 2016/2017 season. She has now joined the artistic staff of the company.

Catherine Sailer, Director of Choral Studies at the University of Denver, conducts the Lamont Chorale, Lamont Women’s Chorus and the Evans Choir. She is also the Associate Conductor of the Colorado Ballet Orchestra.

Conducting credits include the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony, National Symphony, Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra, National Opera of China, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Central City Opera Chorus, Dale Warland Singers, Kansas City Chorale, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Oregon Bach Festival. She was the winner of Chorus America’s Robert Shaw Conducting Fellowship.

Generously supported by Colleen Curran and Stephen Boane Adam Flatt, Music Director & Principal Conductor Adam Flatt has served as Music Director and Principal Conductor of Colorado Ballet since 2007, conducting hundreds of performances in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and leading the Colorado Ballet Orchestra to a widely recognized period of excellence. Well known to Colorado audiences, Adam served as Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, where he led over 250 concerts in an acclaimed five-year tenure, and Music Director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra for seven years, leading that orchestra at home in Denver and on international tours. In addition to his work at Colorado Ballet, Adam is Music Director of the Newport Symphony Orchestra on the Oregon coast, and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra. As a guest conductor he has led performances with orchestras all over the United States and productions for the major ballet companies of Portland and Salt Lake City. He serves on the musical faculties of both the Rocky Ridge Music Center and Summerfest at the Curtis Institute of Music. Adam Flatt has his bachelor’s degree in music with honors from the University of California at Berkeley, and his master’s degree in instrumental and opera conducting from the Indiana University School of Music. Adam Flatt and his family make their home in Denver. www.adamflatt.com

Generously supported by Sandy Elliott

4 The Nutcracker • Colorado Ballet

Heather Prokhnitski, Academy Nutcraker Director Heather Prokhnitski is from Norfolk, Virginia and received her early dance training from the Old Dominion University Ballet School.

She was a full-scholarship student at the Kirov Academy in Washington D.C., and studied for a year at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. For three summers, she was invited by the North Carolina School of the Arts to study in Budapest, Hungary at the Hungarian State Ballet School. Heather danced with Colorado Ballet for 10 seasons and as a Soloist danced many leading roles. Some of her favorite roles include the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker, the Lilac fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, the Pas de Trois in Swan Lake, Pas de Quatre, the Dryad Queen in Don Quixote and Lucy in Dracula. Heather was also a featured dancer in Taisiya Korobeynikova’s Elysium, Jessica Lang’s From Foreign Lands and People, Darrell Moultrie’s Vital Sensations and many other works by contemporary choreographers. Mrs. Prokhnitski began teaching at the Colorado Ballet Academy in 2008. She is now in her ninth season serving as Academy Nutcracker Director for Colorado Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, selecting, rehearsing and staging all students that perform in the production. Mrs. Prokhnitski also served as Academy Rehearsal Director for ALICE (in wonderland) in the 2015-2016 season. In addition to creating the Colorado Ballet Academy’s Intermediate Ballet Intensive, Mrs. Prokhnitski has taught several summers in the Summer Intensive for Ballet Virginia International as well as been a guest teacher for the Youth America Grand Prix workshops in Denver.

Dancers PRINCIPALS

Dana Benton Dana Benton was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where she began her training with Lou and Pauline Zamprogna at The Dance Centre. At the age of nine, she was accepted to the National Ballet School in Toronto where she trained for eight years. She went on exchange to Hamburg Ballet School in Hamburg, Germany. Dana graduated from the National Ballet School with Honors in Academics and received the Peter Dwyer Award for Excellence in Dance.

Upon graduating in 2000, Dana received a contract with the Alberta Ballet Company in Canada. She spent one year with the company as an Apprentice. In 2001, she joined Colorado Ballet as a Corps de Ballet member. In 2007, she was promoted to Soloist and in 2014, was promoted to Principal. With Colorado Ballet, Dana has worked with many well-known choreographers and repetiteurs including Val Caniparoli, Bronwen Curry, Karina Elver, Judith Fugate, John Gardner, Thierry Michel, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Jessica Lang, Edwaard Liang, Donald Mahler, Amanda McKerrow, Luiz Ortiz, Janie Parker, Michael Pink, Viki Psihoyos, Brian Reeder, Domy Reiter-Soffer, Dwight Rhoden, Roman Rykine, Amy Seiwert, James Sofranko, Ben Stevenson, Paul Sutherland, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Doug Varone, Dominic Walsh, Shelly Washington, Septime Webre, Christopher Wheeldon, Lila York, and Stefan Zeromski. Since joining Colorado Ballet, she has performed many soloist and principal roles. Her notable roles include The Sylph in La Sylphide, Alice in ALICE (in Wonderland), Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Swanilda in Coppélia, 4th pas de deux in Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort, Waltz Girl in Balanchine’s Serenade, Cow Girl in Rodeo, Ave Maria Pas de Deux, Sugar Plum and Clara in The Nutcracker, Gulnara in Le Corsaire, Tinker Bell in Peter Pan, Pink and Aqua in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Red Girl in Celts, Lucy in Dracula, Princess Florine and Diamond Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Odette/Odile and Pas de Trois in Swan Lake, Peasant Pas in Giselle, Flower Girl and Cupid in Don Quixote, Hermia and Peaseblossom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Flames of Paris Pas de Deux, Bomb Squad in In The Upper Room, Lead Souvenir Lady in the Great Galloping Gottschalk, The Muse in Dominic Walsh’s Wolfgang (for Webb), The Angel in Lorita Travaglia’s The Angel of Buenos Aires and the featured role in Amy Seiwert’s Traveling Alone. In 2015, Pointe Magazine named Dana as one of the top 12 “Standout Performances” of the year for her performance of Traveling Alone with Amy Seiwert’s Imagery.

Generously supported by Montine Hansl & Jane and Skip Netzorg Chandra Kuykendall Chandra Kuykendall is from Parker, Colorado and trained at the Academy of Colorado Ballet from 1988 until graduating in 1997. In 1996, she won the Denver Ballet Guild Competition and received the prestigious Florence Rustin Award. She also attended summer

programs at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Vail under full scholarship, Kirov Academy of Ballet, San Francisco Ballet Academy and School of American Ballet. After graduating from the Academy in 1997, Chandra joined Colorado Ballet. She spent the 1998-1999 season with Leipzig Ballet in Leipzig, Germany under the direction of the brilliant choreographer Uwe Scholz. She returned to Colorado Ballet in the fall of 1999. With Colorado Ballet, Chandra has danced numerous principal roles including Princess Aurora and Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Giselle and Myrta in Giselle, Medora in Le Corsaire, Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara in The Nutcracker, Cinderella in Cinderella, Dryad Queen in Don Quixote, Lucy in Dracula, Titania and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Firebird in Firebird, the principal role in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, the Crossover Girl in Twyla Tharp’s In The Upper Room, the Mother in Glen Tetley’s The Rite of Spring, 3rd Duet in Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort, the Brown Girl in Celts, the Kick Girl in George Balanchine’s Rubies, principal role in Theme and Variations, 2nd Violin in Concerto Barocco, Waltz Girl in Serenade, and Gerald Arpino’s well-known pas de deux from Light Rain. Her favorite of these roles was the tragic Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. She has also been featured in Antony Tudor’s Leaves Are Fading, Stanton Welch’s Of Blessed Memory, Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, Septime Webre’s Where the Wild Things Are, Edwaard Liang’s Feast of the Gods, Jodie Gates’ Embellish, Emery LeCrone’s Archetypes, Val Caniparoli’s In Pieces, Jessica Lang’s From Foreign Lands and People and De Profundis, Mathew Neenan’s The Faraway, Amy Seiwert’s Traveling Alone and Things Left Unsaid, Carmina Burana, Great Galloping Gottschalk, Yes, Virginia, Another Piano Ballet and Martin Fredmann’s A Little Love as well as his Dreamspace shown on PBS. The August 2013 issue of 5280 Magazine featured Chandra in an article highlighting seven of Colorado’s athletes. This is her 20th season with Colorado Ballet.

Generously supported

by Joanne Posner Mayer Domenico Luciano Domenico Luciano was born in Naples, Italy and graduated from Royal Teatro di San Carlo Ballet School in Naples in 1999. In the same year, Domenico was invited to join the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf, Germany. After dancing with several companies in Europe including Europadance in France, Maggio Danza in Florence, Teatro Dell’Opera in Rome and Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, in 2004 Domenico joined Tulsa Ballet as a Demi-Soloist. In 2005, he joined Dominic Walsh Dance Theater in Houston as Principal Dancer. His repertoire includes many of the classical principal leads such as Romeo, Paris, and Benvolio in both Sir Kenneth MacMillan and John Cranko’s Romeo & Juliet; Romeo and Paris in Amedeo Amodio’s Romeo & Juliet with Eleonora Abbagnato, Etoile with Paris Opera Ballet; Solor in La Bayadere, The Prince in The Nutcracker, and Albrecht in Giselle, all by Derek Deane; In the Night by Jerome Robbins; Onegin in John Cranko’s Onegin; Roland Petit’s Ma Pavlova with international ballerina Lucia Lacarra; and Don Jose with the National Ballet of China in Carmen.

Domenico also excels in his contemporary repertoire, which includes George Balanchine’s La Valse; Nacho Duato’s Jardi

Colorado Ballet • The Nutcracker 5

Dancers Tancat and Without Words; and Orfeo in Carole Armitage’s Orfeo and Eurydice. With Dominic Walsh Dance Theater he performed Matz Ek’s Pas de Dans, Jirí Kylián’s Double You and 27’52’’, and the role of the White Swan in the White Swan pas de deux from Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Le Spectre de la Rose, Desire in Sleeping Beauty, Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet, The Firebird with Paris Opera Ballet Étoile Marie-Agnès Gillot. As an international Principal Guest Artist, Domenico has danced in production with Tulsa Ballet, Ballet Quad Cities, Sarasota Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, National Ballet of China and The New National Theater in Tokyo. He has also been invited to various national and International Galas and Dance Festivals. In 2003, he received the Leonide Massine award in Positano, Italy as Best Male Dancer of the Year. In October 2008, the Houston Press named him “Best Dancer.” Pointe Magazine also named him as “Standouts: Our 12 favorite performances of 2009” and in 2010, he received the “Young Talent Award” in Florence, Italy at DANZAINFIERA. He joined Colorado Ballet as a Soloist in 2013 and was promoted to Principal in 2014.

Generously supported by Paul Goodspeed and Mary Poole Yosvani Ramos Yosvani Ramos was born in Camagüey, Cuba and trained at the National Ballet School. In 1998, he went on to dance with Jeune Ballet de France and Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris after winning the Gold Medal at the Paris International Ballet Competition.

He has also won the silver medal at the international ballet competitions in Varna in Bulgaria, Jackson Mississippi in the USA and Nagoya in Japan. He joined English National Ballet as a Soloist in 1999 and was promoted to Senior Soloist in 2000, then Principal Dancer in 2003 after his performance as Franz in Coppélia. Yosvani danced with ENB until 2008 when he joined The Australian Ballet as a Principal Artist, where he remained until April 2013. He has danced the lead roles in all the major classical ballets including Giselle, Swan Lake, Coppélia, Romeo & Juliet, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, The Merry Widow, Manon, La Silphíde, The Snow Queen and Peter Pan as well as the lead in Les Sylphídes, Etudes, Mazurka in Suite en Blanc, principal man in Balanchine’s Stars & Stripes, Square Dance, Who Cares?, Ballet Imperial and ballets by Alexei Ratmanski, Nacho Duato, Kenneth MacMillan and many others. He has also guested all around the world. In September 2013, Yosvani danced at the XVIII International Ballet Festival in Miami, then spent several months guesting with companies in Europe and the USA. He joined the Cincinnati Ballet as Principal dancer in July 2014. Yosvani joined Colorado Ballet at the beginning of the 2015-2016 season as Principal dancer. Since joining Colorado Ballet Yosvani has danced the roles of James in La Sylphíde, the Nutcracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Cavalier in The Nutcracker, the Dodo Bird, the Joker, the Mad Hatter and Lewis Carroll in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), and Prince Siegfried and Benno in Swan Lake.

Generously supported

by Katherine and Michael Whitcomb 6 The Nutcracker • Colorado Ballet

Asuka Sasaki Asuka Sasaki was born in Nagano, Japan. She trained at the Beijing Dance Academy in China and later joined Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet as an Aspirant. She joined Colorado Ballet in 2005, was promoted to Soloist in 2010, and promoted to Principal in 2017. With Colorado Ballet, she has worked with accomplished choreographers including Val Caniparoli, Eldar Aliev, Michael Pink, Ben Stevenson, Martin Fredmann, Lila York, Shelly Washington, Jessica Lang, Dwight Rhoden, Edwaard Liang and Amy Seiwert. Asuka has danced many soloist roles with the Company. Her notable roles include, Clara and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, Mercedes and Flower Girl in Don Quixote, Gulnara in Le Corsaire, Pas de Trois and Big Swans in Swan Lake, Myrta and Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, Fleur de Farine, Miettis Fairy and Diamond in The Sleeping Beauty, Autumn Fairy and Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Red and Pink Couple in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Soloist in George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Russian in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Firebird in Firebird, and Little Mermaid in The Little Mermaid.

Generously supported by Debby Herz Sharon Wehner Sharon Wehner is originally from San Jose, California. She trained with Jody White and David Roxander, San Jose Dance Theatre, San Francisco Ballet and San Jose/ Cleveland Ballet. Sharon joined Colorado Ballet in 1995 and was promoted to Principal in 1999.

During the last 22 years, she has performed many lead roles with the Company. These include Kitri in Don Quixote, Giselle in Giselle, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Medora in Le Corsaire, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Swanilda in Coppelia, Mina in Dracula, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, the Cowgirl in Rodeo, the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Cinderella in Cinderella, Esmerelda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Titania and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Second Violin in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, the Principal couple in Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes, Rubies, and Theme and Variations, Antony Tudor’s Leaves are Fading, Twyla Tharpe’s In The Upper Room, the Sylph in La Sylphide, Alice in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), and Amy Seiwert’s duet It’s Not a Cry. She has been honored to have solos and pas de deuxs created on her by choreographers Val Caniparoli, Edwaard Liang, Mathew Neenan, Christopher Wheeldon, Darrel Grand Moultrie, Dwight Rhoden, Jessica Lang, Brian Reeder and Toru Shimazaki. In addition to Colorado Ballet, Sharon has also performed with The Washington Ballet, Oakland Ballet and Amy Seiwert’s Imagery. She has also been a guest artist at the Vail Dance Festival, at the Aoyama Ballet Festival in Japan, and the National Ballet of Japan’s Golden Ballet Co-star. Sharon enjoys teaching dance to all ages and abilities, particularly Dance for Parkinson’s Disease. She is a certified Yoga Instructor and a certified GYROKINESIS® trainer.

Generously supported

by Raydean Acevedo

Dancers SOLOISTS

Morgan Buchanan Morgan Buchanan is from Houston, Texas. She trained at the Ballet Center of Houston under the direction of Victoria Vittum and Gilbert Rome. Morgan also trained at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy for two years, under the direction of Sally Rojas and Sabrina Lenzi, where she earned the highest final evaluation variation score in her class. Before joining the Colorado Ballet Studio Company in 2009, she attended summer programs with American Ballet Theatre, Orlando Ballet and Houston Ballet. She joined the Company in 2011 and was promoted to Soloist in 2016.

Her notable roles with Colorado Ballet include Wendy in Michael Pink’s Peter Pan, Vitality Fairy and Jewels in The Sleeping Beauty, Moyna in Giselle, Autumn Fairy and Fairy Godmother in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, First Passerby in Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, Effie in La Sylphide, Sonja in The Little Mermaid, Red in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, The Princess in Yuri Possokhov’s Firebird, the fifth pas de deux in Jirˇí Kylián’s Petit Mort, and Pas de Trois and Big Swans in Swan Lake.

Generously supported

by Lynnette Morrison Francisco Estevez Born in Quito, Ecuador, Francisco moved to the USA in 1995.

He began his ballet training in Louisville, Kentucky and at the age of 16, was invited to finish his professional training at the School of American Ballet in New York where he also had the opportunity to perform featured roles with the New York City Ballet. Upon graduating in 2008, Francisco joined Boston Ballet where he danced for two years before joining the Barcelona Ballet under the direction of Angel Corella in 2010. As a member of this company, he performed various soloist and principal roles and took part in the “Feria del Libro” in Guadalajara, Mexico, the Spoleto Festival in both Italy and Charleston, North Carolina and the Peralada festival, Catalonia. In 2011, Francisco won 1st Place at the Premio Internacional de Danza Roseta Mauri. His notable roles to date include Balanchine’s Tarantella and the 1st and 2nd themes from The Four Temperaments, Jorma Elo’s Carmen Illusions, Principal in Jerome Robbin’s 2 & 3 Part Inventions and the 1st and 3rd Sailor in Robbins’ Fancy Free, Peter Martin’s Les Gentil Hommes, Christopher Wheeldon’s For Four, DGV, Polyphonia and VIII, Pink, Red and Aqua Couples in Clark Tippet’s Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room, Stanton Welch’s Clear, Franz in Coppelia, Benno and Neopolitan in Swan Lake, the Peasant pas de deux from Giselle, the pas de six from Napoli, the Nutcracker Prince and Sugarplum Cavalier in The Nutcracker, Jester in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Lysander in Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Renfield in Michael Pink’s Dracula, James in La Sylphide, White Rabbit, Dodo Bird and Joker in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), Amy

Seiwert’s It’s Not a Cry Pas de Deux, Prince Christian in Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s The Little Mermaid, Waltz Boy in George Balanchine’s Serenade, and Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort, among others. Francisco joined Colorado Ballet during the 2012-2013 season and was promoted to Soloist in 2015.

Generously supported

by Janis Brewster Tracy Jones Born in Cork, Ireland, Tracy started dancing at the age of five with Ballet Theatre Ireland. At 11, she went on to train at The Royal Ballet School in London. In 2006, Tracy won the Ursula Moreton choreographic competition and was a finalist of the Young British Dancer of the Year.

During her final year, she performed with the Royal Ballet in various ballets and joined them on their 2007 International tour to Mexico and the USA. Upon graduating, Tracy joined the English National Ballet as a Corps de Ballet member where she performed in the UK and toured to Beijing, China. Tracy was a member of the Barcelona Ballet under the direction of Angel Corella from 2008 to 2012, where she toured worldwide, and had the opportunity to dance various soloist and principal roles. Tracy joined Colorado Ballet in 2013.

In June of that year, Pointe Magazine named her as one of 10 “Stars in the Corps.” Her notable roles with Colorado Ballet include Zulma, Bathilde and Giselle’s friend in Giselle, Arabian in The Nutcracker, Summer Fairy in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Principal couple in Sandra Brown’s The Last Beat, Hermia and Scherzo Fairy in Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Pas de Deux and 3rd Girl in Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, Effie in La Sylphide, Caterpillar in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), The Muse in Dominic Walsh’s Wolfgang (for Webb), Gerald Arpino’s Light Rain Pas de Deux, Pas de Trois and Big Swans in Swan Lake, The Sea Witch in Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s The Little Mermaid, The Dark Angel in George Balanchine’s Serenade, and 5th Pas de Deux in Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort. Tracy was promoted to Soloist in 2017.

Generously supported in loving memory of Jim Brewster Christophor Moulton Christophor Moulton was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and began his training with Rozanne David at the Dance Center of Colorado Springs and continued his training in Colorado with German Zemuel. He graduated from the Harid Conservatory in Florida, where he trained under Svetlana Osiyeva, Olivier Pardina and Victoria Schnider. During his years at Harid, Christophor performed numerous roles including Siegfried in Swan Lake and the lead in Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante. He also studied for a year at the Jacquelyn Kennedy Onassis School under Franco Devita. In 2007, he received the Rudolph Nureyev Education Fellowship. Christophor joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company in 2009, was promoted into the Company

Colorado Ballet • The Nutcracker 7

Dancers in 2010, and was promoted to Soloist in 2017. During his time at Colorado Ballet, he has worked with esteemed choreographers, Val Caniparoli, Amy Seiwert, Edwaard Liang, Ben Stevenson, Stephen Mills, and Michael Pink. He has performed the roles of Lovers in Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Step Sister in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Arthur in Michael Pink’s Dracula, Hilarion in Giselle, Cavalier in The Nutcracker, Red in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 and the Prince in Firebird.

Generously supported

by Peggy Goldman Kevin Gaël Thomas Kevin Gaël Thomas is from France and studied at Rosella Hightower’s International Ballet Center and at Canada’s National Ballet School, where he received a full scholarship and graduated in 2006, with honors.

Kevin also graduated with honors from the Music Conservatory in France for piano. He danced for a year with Houston Ballet II, then joined Colorado Ballet in 2007. Since joining the Company he has performed many soloist and leading roles including Blue Bird and Jewels in The Sleeping Beauty, the Whip Boy in Glen Tetley’s The Rite of Spring, Jester in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Peter in Michael Pink’s Peter Pan, Puck in Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the title role in Michael Smuin’s Peter and the Wolf, the first sailor in Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, the Nutcracker Prince in The Nutcracker, Gurn in La Sylphide, Benno in Swan Lake, Kaschei in Firebird, and Pink in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1. Kevin was chosen to represent France at the New York International Ballet Competition in 2009 and at the USA Jackson International Ballet Competition in 2010. He was promoted to Soloist in 2016.

Generously supported by Elizabeth Katkin-Waryn and Richard Waryn CORPS DE BALLET

Joshua Allenback Josh Allenback, a native of Colorado, has been dancing since he was four years old. He has studied on scholarship with American Ballet Theatre, The Rock School and Joffrey Ballet. He was a member of Houston Ballet II as well as Ballet San Antonio. Josh has performed many principal roles including Firebird’s Katchi, Giselle’s Prince Albrecht, Cavalier and Snow King in The Nutcracker, and Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty. He joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company in 2013 and was promoted into the Company in 2014. With Colorado Ballet, he has performed in Swan Lake, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort, Yuri Possokhov’s Firebird and more.

Generously supported

by Rita and Brad Sonnenberg 8 The Nutcracker • Colorado Ballet

Ariel Breitman Ariel Breitman is from Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania and began his dance training at the age of eight with the Boys Scholarship Program of Metropolitan Ballet Academy, directed by Lisa Collins. At 16, Ariel moved to New York City to train with Edward Ellison, director of Ellison Ballet-Professional Training Program. While in New York, Ariel performed roles including Jerome from Flames of Paris, Basilio’s Variation from Don Quixote, the Poet’s Variation from Chopiniana, James’ Variation from La Sylphide, and Cavalier from The Nutcracker. In 2012 and 2013, Ariel earned three gold medals from the Youth America Grand Prix competition and one silver medal in 2013 from the Tanzolymp International Ballet Competition in Berlin. After graduating from Ellison Ballet, Ariel joined The Washington Ballet Studio Company for one season, performing roles such as Liza in George Balanchine’s Who Cares? and John Darling in Septime Webre’s Peter Pan. His repertory also includes the Grand Pas de Deux from La Esmeralda, Flames of Paris, and The Nutcracker, as well as the Diana and Acteon Pas de Deux from La Esmeralda, the Pas de Trois from Swan Lake, the Pas de Quatre from Raymonda, and the Grand Pas de Deux from Le Corsaire. Ariel was invited to compete in the 2014 USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, where he performed with his partner in the final round and galas. Since joining Colorado Ballet in 2014, Ariel has danced roles such as Puck in Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Bulldog Sailor in Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, Joker in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), and Nutcracker Prince in Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker.

Generously supported

by Phil Livingston Arianna Ciccarelli Arianna Ciccarelli is from Bristol, CT. She began dancing ballet at age 12 and studied in the preprofessional resident program at The Nutmeg Conservatory for The Arts, studying under Eleanor D’Antuano, Sharon Dante, Kirk Peterson and Victoria Mazzerelli.

She also spent her summers training at The School of American Ballet, English National Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and Washington Ballet. Arianna was a member of the Colorado Ballet Studio Company in the 2013-2014 season. Before joining Colorado Ballet in 2016, she spent two years dancing with Ballet Arizona. Since joining the Company, she has performed the role of Little Mermaid in Lynne Taylor Corbett’s The Little Mermaid, Cygnets in Swan Lake, Crystals, Spanish and Marzipan in The Nutcracker, and in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1.

Generously supported by Ann Frick

Dancers Mackenzie Dessens

Kevin Hale

Mackenzie Dessens is from New Orleans, Louisiana where she began her training at Giacobbe Academy of Dance and privately with Kimberly Beck. She attended summer programs in New York with the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.

Mackenzie continued her training at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy and upon completion, joined Cincinnati Ballet’s second company. With Cincinnati Ballet, Dessens’ repertoire included Peter Pan, 7th Symphony, The Nutcracker, Alice, Symphony in C, and the world premiere of King Arthur’s Camelot, in which she performed as the Lady of the Lake.

She was chosen to perform as Guinevere in the “Wedding Pas de Deux” for the second company’s rep to promote the new ballet throughout the season. Her second year, Victoria Morgan chose her to perform as Clara in a recreation of the pas between Clara and the Prince from The Nutcracker.

She also had the opportunity of working with Jennifer Archibald and received a solo and pas in her piece for the second company. She joined Colorado Ballet in 2015. Since joining Colorado Ballet, her notable repertoire has grown to include Clara, Doll, Crystals, Spanish and Marzipan in The Nutcracker, the Pas de Trois from Dominic Walsh’s Wolfgang (for Webb), George Balanchine’s Serenade, Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort, and Cygnets in Swan Lake.

Born in Warren, New Jersey but raised in England, Kevin began dancing at the age of five. At age 11, he was accepted into The Royal Ballet School where he graduated from in July 2013. Kevin has won the Kenneth McMillan Choreographic Competition twice and had one of his ballets performed at the school’s annual show at the Royal Opera House. During his graduate year, Kevin performed with The Royal Ballet in various ballets including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, La Valse and The Sleeping Beauty. His repertoire also includes Jirˇí Bubenícˇek’s Canon in D Major, Bejart’s 7 Greek Dances and Ashley Page’s Larina Waltz. He has also been featured as a dancer on the BBC. Kevin joined Colorado Ballet in 2013. Kevin’s notable repertoire with Colorado Ballet has included Stepsister in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, the Wolf in Clark Tippet’s Peter and the Wolf, In Pieces by Val Caniparoli, The Duchess in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), Wolfgang in Dominic Walsh’s Wolfgang (for Webb), Waltz Man in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort, and Prince Christian in The Little Mermaid.

Generously supported

by Frank Wiederman

Generously supported by Michael Korenblat and Natalia Ballinger Bryce Lee

Alyssa Fazekas is from Orlando, Florida where she began her training at age 14 under the direction of Vladimir Bykov and Vasilie Petritiu. In 2010, she joined Orlando Ballet School and in 2012, joined Orlando Ballet II. During her time in Orlando, she performed principal roles with the school and was selected to perform in the corps de ballet with many of Orlando Ballet’s productions.

Alyssa also participated in the Youth America Grand Prix competition, placing Top 12 in both contemporary and classical categories. She performed in the YAGP Gala in Tampa, and then moved on to the New York City Finals. In 2012, she was a semi-finalist at Helsinki International Ballet Competition. In 2014, she joined Milwaukee Ballet II, and in 2016 joined Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company. While at Ballet Arizona, she performed as Cinderella in Carlos Valcarcel’s production of Cinderella, was selected to perform with Ballet Arizona in George Balanchine’s Symphony in Three, Western Symphony, and Ib Anderson’s La Bayadere, Romeo and Juliet, and Nutcracker. This is her first season with Colorado Ballet.

Bryce Lee was born in Missouri and started his professional training at 12 at Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy in Laguna Hills.

California. In the summer of 2011, he attended School of American Ballet, then was asked to stay for the Winter Term program from 2011-2012. He has attended several summer courses on full scholarship including SAB, Miami City Ballet and Colorado Ballet. Bryce has received several awards in classical and contemporary forms of dance as well as 1st place, semi-finalist at YAGP Europe, as well as two-time YAGP Finalist Qualifier. He has also guested for numerous ballet schools across the US, including performances in Vancouver. Bryce had the pleasure to perform principal roles in Paul Mejia’s Seasons and Donizetti Variations. He joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company in 2013 and was promoted into the Company in 2015. Since then, he has performed numerous professional works including Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Michael Pink’s Dracula, Clark Tippet’s Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Chinese and Russian in The Nutcracker, and Tweedle Dee in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), Swan Lake, Clark Tippet’s Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, The Little Mermaid, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort, and Yuri Possokhov’s Firebird.

Generously supported

by Patty Lorie

Generously supported

by Patrick Keleher Family

Alyssa Fazekas

Colorado Ballet • The Nutcracker 9

Dancers Fernanda Oliveira Fernanda Oliveira, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil trained at the Escola Estadual de Danca Maria Olenewa in her hometown and later was awarded a full scholarship to The Washington School of Ballet, where she trained with Kee Juan Han, Carlos Varcárcel and Vladimir Djouloukhadze. While still a student at TWSB, Fernanda won the third prize in the regionals of the Youth America Grand Prix and was invited to perform in Miami Youth Ballet’s The Nutcracker, in the role of Dew Drop. Upon graduating, she joined The Washington Ballet under Septime Webre as a Studio Company member, where she performed in Le Corsaire and Giselle, as well as in Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes, Theme and Variations and Who Cares?, Twyla Tharp’s Push Comes to Shove and Trey McIntyre Blue Until June Suite. Her notable roles include Bird in Brian Reeder’s Peter and the Wolf, Doll in The Nutcracker and the lead in Septime Webre’s Sympathique, for which she received honorable mention in the DC Metro Theater Arts’ review as, “a commanding presence […], she is in control, is perfectly poised, and […] lets the entire audience know she was born to perform.” She joined Colorado Ballet in 2014 and again in 2016. With Colorado Ballet, Fernanda has had the opportunity to perform in masterpieces such as Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco and Clark Tippet’s Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1.

Generously supported

by Jan and John Blumer Sean Omandam Sean Omandam is from Fresno, California, where he began his training with Shirley Winters.

He later went on to train on full-scholarship at the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida, under the instruction of Victoria Schneider, Olivier Pardina, and Svetlana Osiyeva. Upon his graduation in 2004, he joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company, and was promoted into the Company in 2005. With Colorado Ballet, Sean has performed a variety of soloist and principal roles including Puck in Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, White Rabbit in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), Peter in Michael Smuin’s Peter and the Wolf, Champion Roper in Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo, Jester in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Whip Boy in Glen Tetley’s The Rite of Spring, Max in Septime Webre’s Where the Wild Things Are, John Darling in Michael Pink’s Peter Pan, Green Man in Lila York’s Celts, and Russian in Martin Fredmann’s The Nutcracker. His repertory also includes featured roles in works by Lar Lubovitch, Val Caniparoli, Amy Seiwert, Edwaard Liang, Matthew Neenan, Jodie Gates, Dwight Rhoden, Darrell Grand Moultire, and Jessica Lang, among others. In 2007, he was a competitor and gala performer at the New York International Ballet Competition. In the summer of 2013, he was featured as a contestant on the premiere season of the South Korean television show,

10 The Nutcracker • Colorado Ballet

Dancing 9. Pointe Magazine featured Sean in their 2014 October/November “Dancer Spotlight.”

Generously supported

by Cheri and Alan Rubin Kristine Padgett Kristine Padgett was born in Littleton, Colorado and began dancing at the age of three. At age 11, she started training professionally at the Academy of Colorado Ballet under Elizabeth Shipiatsky. From 2006 to 2014, Kristine attended summer intensives and school training programs all over the world including American Ballet Theatre in New York City, the Royal Ballet School in Richmond, England, and Bolshoi Ballet Summer Intensive in New York City. In 2011, she won a full scholarship to perform at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy’s spring gala in Moscow, Russia, then attended year-round for the 2012-2013 school year. While in Russia, Kristine trained under Irina Sirova and had the opportunity to perform in many productions including soloist roles in La Fille Mal Gardee, The Nutcracker, and several character dances. She returned to Colorado Ballet as a Studio Company member in 2013 and was promoted into the Company in 2015.

Generously supported

by Janet and John MacFarlane Nicolas Pelletier Nicolas Pelletier was born in Quebec City, Canada. He moved to California when he was eight, where he attended the San Francisco Ballet School for 10 years. During his time at the school, he performed in ballets including John Neumeier’s Yondering and Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes. He completed his training with Canada’s National Ballet School in 2010 and joined Alberta Ballet in 2011.

During his six years with the Company, he had the opportunity to dance many principal roles including Dracula in Ben Stevenson’s Dracula and Romeo in Jean GrandMaître’s Romeo and Juliet. Nicolas also had the pleasure of working closely with Jean Grand-Maître in the creation of many new works throughout his time at Alberta Ballet, including pas de deux and solos. Other notable ballets in his repertoire include Divertimento No. 15, Four Temperaments, Swan Lake, Giselle, Cinderella, Don Quixote, Madame Butterfly, Othello and The Nutcracker. This is his first season at Colorado Ballet.

Generously supported by Carla Dore

Dancers Emily Speed Emily Speed is originally from Argyle, Texas and began her professional training under Marina Almayeva. In 2006, she was a Finalist at World Ballet Competition in Orlando, Florida. She won first place in the classical division at the 2007 Youth American Grand Prix Regionals. Emily was one out of a hundred participants worldwide who qualified and competed in the 2010 Varna International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. In 2014, she went to the USA IBC in Jackson, Mississippi. During her career, she has danced professionally with Alabama Ballet, Ballet Tucson and Boulder Ballet. She danced at the Vail Dance Festival in 2015 and 2017. Emily has performed multiple principle and soloist roles including, Flower Girl in Don Quixote, roles in George Balanchine’s Serenade and The Nutcracker, Anthony Tudor’s Lilac Garden and Continuo, Daniel Precup’s Bolero, Third Act Raymonda, The Wedding Pas de Deux from Don Quixote, and The Fairy Doll Pas de Trios staged by Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner. Since joining Colorado Ballet in 2014, Emily has performed “Scherzo” in Wheeldon’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Clara in The Nutcracker, Cygnets and Pas de Trois in Swan Lake, Pink in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, and Little Russians in George Balanchine’s Serenade.

Generously supported by Joe Maslowski and Lona Christensen Jeremy Studinski Jeremy began his training at the Colorado Conservatory of Dance at the age of nine. He then spent 2011 to 2013 in Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company where he performed in ballets by Petipa, Balanchine, and Glen Tetley. After spending two seasons as a member of Orlando Ballet II, he was promoted to Apprentice with the Company, then joined the full Company the following year. Jeremy has also had the opportunity to perform The Seasons male lead in the Internationale Haydntage at the Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria with Oklahoma Festival Ballet. This is his first season as a Company member with Colorado Ballet.

Generously supported by Taylor Clark Sarah Tryon Sarah Tryon was born in Hanmer, Ontario, Canada and at the age of 11 was accepted to train at Canada’s National Ballet School.

During her six years with NBS, Sarah was selected to partake in exchange programs with various international schools including Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, École Supérieur De Danse Rosella Hightower in Cannes France, and Tanz Akademie Zurich in Switzerland. After graduating in 2010,

she moved to New York City to train with world-renowned coach Edward Ellison. In 2013, Sarah joined the Sarasota Ballet as a corps de ballet member. During her two seasons with the Sarasota Ballet, Sarah performed many works by major choreographers including George Balanchine, Agnes DeMille, Will Tuckett, Rudolph Nureyev, Christopher Bruce, Mikhail Fokine, Paul Taylor, Sir Antony Tudor, and Sir Frederick Ashton. Highlights of Sarah’s time with the Sarasota Ballet include performing in Balanchine’s Who Cares?, Serenade, Four Temperaments, and Rubies; Ashton’s Façade, La Fille Mal Gardée, Sinfonietta, Les Patineurs, and Montones I; Christopher Bruces’ Sergeant Early’s Dream; Will Tuckett’s Lux Aterna; Agnes De Milles’ Rodeo; Antony Tudor’s Gala Performance; Mikhail Fokine’s Petrushka; Paul Taylor’s Company B; and Nureyev’s Raymonda. Since joining Colorado Ballet in 2015, Sarah has performed many corps and notable roles including Effy in Bournonville’s La Sylphide; Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Clara in The Nutcracker; Twin, Four Little Flamingos and Card in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland); first duet in Dominic Walsh’s Wolfgang (for Webb); Dark Angel and Russian corps in Balanchine’s Serenade; second pas de deux in Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort, Little Princesses in Yuri Possokhov’s Firebird, and Aqua in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1.

Generously supported

by David Andrews Benjamin Winegar Ben Winegar is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He began his training at the School of the Grand Rapids Ballet at the age of 11, where he was trained by Attila Mosolygo, Gaiane Akopian, and Akop Akopian.

During his training, he had the opportunity to perform in several ballets with the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. In 2010, Ben spent a year training at the School of American Ballet. Upon graduating, he danced one season with the Los Angeles Ballet under the direction of Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary. Since joining Colorado Ballet’s Company in 2012, he has danced in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort, Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, ALICE (in wonderland), La Sylphide, Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Michael Pink’s Dracula, among others.

Generously supported

by Ted and Donna Connolly Melissa Zoebisch Melissa grew up in Mexico and studied at the Chamber Ballet of Jalisco. She received a scholarship to attend for a year at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Madame Sizova’s class, and returned to Mexico to graduate in 2004.

Throughout her school years, she participated in many workshops around the world including: Cuba, Canada, Austria, Spain and the United States. In 2005, Melissa joined the National Dance Company, where she performed soloist roles in her first year in Swan Lake,

Colorado Ballet • The Nutcracker 11

Dancers The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Carmen. Her other repertoire includes principal roles in Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Pas de Deux from Le Corsaire, original contemporary choreographies, and many others.

In 2010, she was a finalist at the Korea International Ballet Competition in 2010 and received a Special Award KIBC. Before joining Colorado Ballet in 2014, she had been freelancing with her husband around the country.

Generously supported

by David Andrews APPRENTICES

Regan Kucera Regan Kucera grew up in Cary, North Carolina and started dancing at the age of four. She studied at International Ballet Academy in Cary. She attended summer programs at ABT NY, Orlando Ballet with full scholarship, and Saratoga Springs. She has participated in competitions including Youth American Grand Prix and World Ballet Competition. In 2013, she joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company and was promoted into the Company in 2016. Her favorite roles with Colorado Ballet have been Cygnets in Swan Lake and Jirˇí Kylián’s Petite Mort.

Generously supported

by David Bayendor Francesca Martoccio Originally from Miami, Florida, Francesca Martoccio received her early ballet training at Thomas Armour Youth Ballet and at the New World School of the Arts. In May 2016, Francesca graduated from SUNY Purchase where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a Ballet Concentration.

She performed several roles with Purchase Dance Company including the lead in Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie and “Sanguinic” in Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments. In the fall of 2014, Francesca was chosen by the faculty to study abroad in Hong Kong, China at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). In the summer of 2016, she had the pleasure of working with John Gardner and Amanda McKerrow on a duet from Antony Tudor’s The Leaves are Fading. After graduating, Francesca joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company for the 2016-2017 season and was promoted into the Company in 2017.

Tyler Rhoads Tyler Rhoads is from Midland, Texas, where he began his training with Susan Clark at Midland Festival Ballet. He later went on to train on full-scholarship at the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida, under the instruction of Victoria Schneider, Olivier Pardina, and Svetlana Osiyeva. After graduating in 2011, he attended Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where he studied under acclaimed staff Violette Verdy and Michael Vernon. He had the opportunity to perform a variety of works including George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, August Bournonville’s Napoli, and Twyla Tharp’s Sweet Fields. Upon his graduation from college, Tyler joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company and was promoted into the Company in 2016.

Generously supported

by Naji Ghorayeb Sara VanderVoort Sara VanderVoort is originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She began her ballet training at the age of 12 with Metropolitan Ballet Academy under the direction of Lisa Collins Vidnovic, Natalya Zeiger, and Denise D’Angelo. While in school, she was selected by Roy Kaiser to perform in Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker as Spanish.

She also competed in YAGP and went to Regional Dance America where she won several full scholarships to summer programs. Sara spent summers training with BalletX, Washington Ballet, and Atlanta Ballet. She joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company in 2012. Sara then danced with Nashville Ballet under the direction of Paul Vasterling for a few seasons where she performed in several ballets, including Balanchine’s Serenade and Fairies in Peter Pan. In 2015, she returned to Colorado Ballet where she had the opportunity to perform some of her favorite ballets with the Company including Swan Corps in Swan Lake, Balanchine’s Serenade, and Princesses in Possokhov’s Firebird. Sara joined the Company in 2017.

Generously supported

by Colleen Curran and Stephen Boane

Generously supported

by Adrienne Toon Photos by Andrea Flanagan Photography

12 The Nutcracker • Colorado Ballet

Guest Artist Gregory K. Gonzales, Guest Dancer Gregory graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Kinesiology/Dance.

His teachers include Larry Boyette, James Clouser, Nadia Tikhanova, Milenko Banovic and Sandra Minton among others. He received a scholarship in dance and Best Dancer Award while at UNC and was a full scholarship student at the American Dance Festival. Gregory spent the bulk of his career at Colorado Ballet where he was promoted to principal in 1997 and danced leading roles as well as character roles in works by major choreographers such as Martha Graham, Agnes de Mille, George Balanchine, Eugene Loring, Christopher Wheeldon, Toru Shimazaki and Doug Varone.

Gregory has also danced with Ballet Pacifica, Ballet Arizona,

Nevada Dance Theater, David Taylor Dance Theater, Kim Robards Dance, The Wylliams-Henry Dance Theater and Zikr Dance, among others. He has danced with Opera Colorado and as a principal for Les Ballets Grandiva completing a multicity tour of Japan in the summer of 2011. Gregory was a co-founder of On Edge Productions staging combat and comedy at numerous festivals. He was adjudicated by The Society of American Fight Directors and was recommended in rapier and dagger. He was a Choreographer in Residence for Colorado Ballet from 2003-2004 and created such works as Carmina Burana, Peter Pan (both co-choreographed), Broken Web, Incantation and Last Breath. Gregory has also set work for the David Taylor Dance Theater, Ballet Ariel, University of Northern Colorado and Denver Independent Choreographer’s Project, as well as others. He plays guitar for the Natural Tango Oquesta Tipica and also enjoys theater and film work and has been cast in several independent film projects in the Denver area.

Colorado Ballet Studio Company

Front Row: Brianna Crockett, Marie Tender, Erin Arndorfer, Camille Reaux, Leah McFadden, Reagan Lawthers Middle Row: Philip Perez, Kristine Wiggins, Hannah Geisman, Kelly Dornan, Julia Davies, Ariel McCarty, Simon Costello Top Row: Ian Santiago, Amber Ball, Alexandra Wilson, Sara Jumper, Isabella Furrillo, Vara Shiva Reom, Tate Lee Not Pictured: Gianna Tolotta

The Nutcracker 2017 Colorado Ballet Orchestra Adam Flatt, Music Director & Principal Conductor Catherine Sailer, Associate Conductor

Violin I Lydia Svyatlovskaya (Concertmaster) Chris Jusell Cyndi Mancinelli Michelle Davis Angie Dombrowski Lian Emmerling Violin II Margaret Soper Gutierrez (Principal) Takanori Sugishita Anne Paulu Phyllis Carlson Viola Michael Brook (Principal) Stephanie Mientka Lora Stevens Cello Jeff Watson (Principal) Charles Lee Cedra Kuehn

Bass James Vaughn (Principal) David Crowe

Clarinet Debra Wilbur (Principal) Michelle Orman

Harp Pamela Eldridge (Principal)

Bass Clarinet Michelle Orman

Celeste John Armstrong Catherine Sailer

Bassoon Brian Jack (Principal) Kaori Uno-Jack

Flute Paul Nagem (Principal) Elizabeth Sadilek

Horn Steve Simpson (Principal) Stuart Mock Marian Hesse Matthew Scheffelman

Piccolo Elizabeth Sadilek Oboe Lauren Blackerby (Principal) Kathryn Dupuy English Horn Kathryn Dupuy

Trumpet John King (Principal) Derek McDonald

Bass Trombone Jim Gray Tuba Michael Allen (Principal) Timpani Mark Foster (Principal) Percussion Scott Higgins (Principal) Peter Cooper Orchestra Personnel Manager Steve Simpson Orchestra Librarian Chris Jusell

Trombone William Stanley (Principal) Robert Olds

Colorado Ballet Orchestra members are represented by the Denver Musicians Association, Local 20-623 of the American Federation of Musicians.

Supporters of Colorado Ballet As of November 8, 2017 (Includes 14 months of giving) LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $100,000+ Corporations, Foundations, and Government Agencies Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) Individual Donors Bill and Liz Armstrong Raydean Acevedo Sandy Elliot Joanne Posner Mayer OVATION CIRCLE $50,000+ Corporations, Foundations, and Government Agencies Colorado Ballet Auxiliary KeyBank The Shubert Foundation, Inc. FOUNDERS CIRCLE $20,000+ Corporations, Foundations, and Government Agencies Anadarko Petroleum The Anschutz Foundation Arrow Electronics Avenir Foundation Colorado Health Foundation Denver Ballet Guild Denver Foundation Midfirst Bank National Endowment for the Arts Individual Donors Janis Brewster Pam and Duke Hartman Rita and Brad Sonnenberg Cari and Mark Spiecker Nancy and Thomas Stevens DIRECTOR CIRCLE $10,000+ Corporations, Foundations, and Government Agencies Accenture, LLP Always Best Care Senior Services- Nichols Charitable Foundation Anna and John J. Sie Foundation Armstrong Foundation Bayswater Exploration & Production, LLC Centura Health Chambers Family Fund City and County of DenverOffice of Children’s Affairs Colorado Creative Industries Community First Foundation DCP Midstream Delta Dental of Colorado Hillary Family Foundation MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation Saunders Construction, Inc. Virginia W. Hill Foundation Xcel Energy

Individual Donors David L. Andrews Lisa Levin Appel Jean and Hugh Armstrong Brent Backes and Melanie Kopperud Ellen Balaguer and Mark Chase Holly Baroway and Erik Cederlund Lafawn Biddle Colleen Curran and Stephen Boane Paul E. Goodspeed and Mary Poole Merry and Steven D. Logan Sandi Mays Lynnette Morrison Jane and Gordon Netzorg Erin Nichols Dr. David J. Scanavino and Ms. Ivelisse Torres Dr. Barbara R. Reed Susan and Stephen Struna Debbi and Bill Tryon Elizabeth Katkin Waryn and Richard Waryn CHOREOGRAPHER CIRCLE $5,000+ Corporations, Foundations, and Government Agencies Bowen Family Performing Arts Fund Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Harmes C Fishback Foundation Trust John G. Duncan Charitable Trust The Margulf Foundation Ralph and Florence Burgess Charitable Trust Mark and Bernee Strom Foundation RLC Foundation, a donoradvised fund of Rose Community Foundation Twelve Twenty- One Fund Vanguard Charitable Individual Donors Lori and Grady Durham Bridget Farrelly Kaye Ferry Ann and Ford Frick Debby Herz Ms. Christine L. Honnen Tamara and Thomas E. Jorden Dr. Stuart and Mrs. Gail Kassan Don and Mary Lou Blackledge Kortz Gina and Jim Lorenzen The Ponzio Family Cheri and Alan Rubin Denise and James Sanderson Suzan and Gary Schlatter William and Cheri Schoolcraft Lisa and Bill Snider Dr. Carol A. Stamm Harry and Vicki Sterling

14 The Nutcracker • Colorado Ballet

Julie C. Van Camp Katherine and Michael Whitcomb Frank Wiederman BALLET MISTRESS CIRCLE $2,500+ Corporations, Foundations, and Government Agencies Alpine Bank Bank of the West Bkh, LP The Denver Post Community Foundation First Western Trust Bank Lloyd King and Eleanor King Foundation Read Foundation Ready Foods, Inc Rose Foundation The Schramm Foundation Individual Donors Anonymous Ms. Michelle MoormanApplegate and Mr. Robert Applegate Jim and Kristen Bender Gene Child Taylor Clark Donna and Ted Connolly Mike and Pam Copp Erin and Matthew Dollarhide Christine Ekman John Fitzgerald and Maureen Tarrant-Fitzgerald Naji Ghorayeb Robert S. Graham Dr. Frederick and Mrs. Carol Grover David and Mary Mead Hammond Montine Hansl Jim Harvey Jan and Gordon Holfelder Mary Anna and Sonny Hutchison Michael Korenblat and Natalia Ballinger Greg Laugero Philip Livingston Patty Lorie John and Janet MacFarlane Anne Mead Sean Shaw, MD and Ausra Mollerud Al and Karen Spies Adrienne Toon John Uppendahl PRINCIPAL CIRCLE $1,000+ Corporations, Foundations, and Government Agencies The Beutter Family Charitable Fund Bonfils Blood Center The Caulkins Family Foundation Gilman Family Foundation Heidi and Randy Keogh Fund

Henry E. Wurst Family Foundation Humphreys Foundation IBM International Foundation Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Rose Medical Center The Simpson Sharp Oakes Fund Spoke ‘N’ Motion Dance Tulsa Community Foundation Wittow Foundation Inc Carla Dore/ Workplace Resource Individual Donors Anonymous Rick and Marcia Ashton David Bayendor Cindy and Scott Baroway Kathy and Steve Beabout Colleen and Brian Becker Jeffrey and Tammi Belden Shannon Bell Anne Beer Renate and Horst Bergmann Maritt and Michael Bird Sharon and Steven Birnbaum Jan and John Blumer Luke and Nancy Boland Gil Boggs and Sandra Brown Joseph J. Bronesky and Jacquelin A. Medina Priya and Matthew Burkett Karen Polsky Carr John and Marty Chamberlin Martha and Rich Caschette Sue Cho Abigail Clark Alyssa and Scott Clarke Dr. and Mrs. Alan Como Donald P. Cook Tammy and Wesley Cooper John Couzens Lisa and Mark Cramer Karen and William Curtis Carolyn E. Daniels Joseph M. Demmler Monica Denler Dr. Pete and Lindsey Deol Cara and Scott Dessens Wendy and Marcus Divita Lynn Bolinske Dolven David and Pam Duke The Estate of Doryann Duncan Patricia and Christopher Elliott Ericka and James Englert Margaret and Steve Fabos Stacey Farnum and Joseph Lynott Melissa and Adam Farver Christine and Andrew Fedorowicz Stephanie Feuer and Dr. Norman Friedman Stephanie and John Flanigan Abigail Foss Yvette and Chris Frampton Andi and John Freyer Jr. Shannon Furgason Sarah Komppa

Supporters of Colorado Ballet Michelle and David Garcia Melissa and Mark Garland Amanda and Steve Gash David Gaskill Barry Gatz Marla and Richard Gentry Ellen and Robert Gilmour Marsha and Mark Giordano The Glyphis Family Laura Goodman Elizabeth Grinevics Julie Gunlikson Annie Gutsch Sally Haas Donald Hagengruber Melanie and Colin Haggerty Dr. Gary and Mrs. Ellen Hahn Jeni Halingstad Susan Hammil Megan and Jerad Harbaugh Dr. Wendell and Mrs. Charlotte Hatfield Noel and Terry Hefty Nora Heitmann Orville and Debra Hinerman Arlene and Barry Hirschfeld Lyman R. Ho Meralee and Michael Hoffelt Patrick and Nicole Jacques Judy Jensen and Michael Cox Don and Arlene Johnson Shannon and James Johnson Molly and John Jourde Amber and Sangwook Ju Natalie Judson and Jeremy Arthur Daniel Kappel The Patrick Keleher Family Bill and Debra Pain Dr. Peter Kennealey and Dr. Colleen Murphy Jamie and Michael Kennedy Diana and Michael Kinsey Brooke Klebe Chiara and Brent Kline Kathy and Derek Konopka Melissa Koren Cheryl Solich and John Kure Gulnara LaFrance and Sam Cordovano Henny and Bert Lasley Lora Ledermann Amanda and Blair Linville Jessica Louis Elspeth MacHattie Anonymous Joe Maslowski and Lona Christensen Janalee and Morris McDonald Dr. James and Ms. Pat McElhinney Margaret R. Jurado and V.W. McKnab Carol McMurry and Patrick Spieles Jeffrey Merrell Angie and Craig Mielke Jennifer Havercroft-Miller and Greg Miller Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller Dee and Gene Milstein

Lindsay and Brian Morgan Robin and Paul Morris Maggie and Mitch Morrissey Nicole Mulvany Sally Murray Susan and Dan Paulien Catherine and Henry Pawlak Jr. Sue Pawlik Bonnie Perkins Emily and Joseph Perrotto III Daniel and Pamela Piro Bill Plummer Kellie and Adair Prall Douglas Richards Debora and Brandon Ridenour David and Kristine Robertson Dennis Rodgers and Robert Gomez Carol Rollin Kelly and Daniel Rosenberg Lauren and Mark Rotolo Paul Ruotolo Daryl A. Russell Ann Ryan Julie and Ron Sachs Andrea and Timothy Sayles Connie and Michael Schingle Anjali and Timothy Schulte Andrea and Jesse Schumacher Angela Scordo-Polidori Arthur L. Seiden Eileen Sharkey and James Darling Marlene Siegel Frank Slejko Amy and Craig Smith Haven Smith Merrill Smith Roger and Peggy Steinbecker Amy and Robert Stettner Kari and Daryl Stewart Elena and Steven Stophel Angela and Alfred Strange Matt Steinfort Mary and Craig Stromberg Valerie Thisted Jaime Travis and Peter Heller Wendy and Jack Trigg Brittany and Jason Urband Kacy and Patrick Vahey Annette and David VanSickle Arthur and George Ann Victor Dr. Elaine Weng and Mr. Thomas Malley Mr. Daniel Wilkinson Christine and Rick Zimmerman SOLOIST CIRCLE $500+ Corporations, Foundations, and Government Agencies CoBANK Individual Donors Anonymous Mimi Affeld Dr. Frank and Mrs. Celia Anderson Roxanne Anderson Steve and Susan Bailey Brady Behrendt Elizabeth Bradley

Michael Breed and Cheryl Ristig Joan and Lawrence Brennan Christin Crampton Day Leslie Doherty Margaret Dzwileski Martin and Susan Erzinger Heidi Elliot Michael and Ann Foster Richard and Julie Parrino George Mariellen Guerra Linda and Steve Heiss Diane D. Henry Joy and James Hoffman William Hohnhorst Sally and Kenneth Hooks Bud Isaacs Jerry Kashinski Matthew and Jane Kadilak Holly and Jeremy Kinney Dr. Sherill Ladwig Alysa Levine MaryKate and Timothy McCutcheon Heather and Conor McCallin Kevin McLane Joshua Metzl The Mosher Family Judi and Robert Newman Larry and Ruth Nisbet Amanda Phillips Debra Piazza Cason Pierce Adam and Anne Poe Cynthia and Don Redifer Mark and Martha Reese Rowena Cipriano-Reyes Doug and Mary Scrivner Andrea G. Richardson and William A. Stolfus Barbara and James Ruh Richard Sanders, M.D. M.F. Scott Adam and Silvia Sexton Susan Stiff Arthur and Stephanie Strasburger Beth and Tom Toth Klasina Vanderwerf Craig Vogtsberger Patricia and Edward Wahtera Linda and Jim Yip Dr. Raymond and Mrs. Bernice Yost Peter Zafian Joanne Zboyan ARTIST CIRCLE $250+ Corporations, Foundations, and Government Agencies Andrew and Carolyn Donaldson Charitable Fund Embracekids, A Professional LLC Gaynor Family Foundation Individual Donors Anonymous Mary Amend Ross Barnhart

Craig Benes Brian Bennett Carol and Alan Caniglia Ethel Clow Abbie Cziok Marianne Disse James Eckhart Stephen and Dee Erickson Holly Estes Joan and John Feek Linda and Norbert Frueh Nicholas Games Fran and Craig Gander Pamela Merrill and Katherin Garon Rebecca Givens Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Godsil Mr. and Mrs. Brooke Gordon Jenna Grange Marcia Hannum Janet Hehn Andrew Hornbrook Amanda Horvath Kyros Ipaktchi Margaret T. Kaluk Sibylle Keller Phillip and Deborah Kelly Donna Kornfeld Wojciech Kossek Joshua Koubek Lyn Krueger James Kunze Herrick Lidstone Curtis Lundberg Margaretha Maloney and Robert Palaich Mr. and Mrs. Charles McConica Christopher Merrell William Meyerchak Dr. Jeffrey and Mrs. Peggy Morse Christopher Moyer Debbie and Michael Murdock Stuart Ogilvie Jamie Olson Anne Oram Dr. Stefania B. Pruscino Drs. Richard and Clara Restrepo Carolyn and John Riedlin Daniel Ritchie Arianna Roberts Katelyn Roberts Paula and David Roney Julie Savoie Gwendolyn and Richard Scalpello Vicki Clark-Schneider Holly and Norm Steiner William Stow Mary Studlick Bobby Vargas Heidi Wald Lindsay Walters Joyce and James Wilson John Wilson Sandra and Michael Wilson David Yolton Linda and Eugene Young

Colorado Ballet • The Nutcracker 15

Supporters of Colorado Ballet Colorado Ballet Endowment at The Rose Community Foundation The Hearst Foundation Holly Baroway and Erik Cederlund Colleen Curran and Stephen Boane Pam and Duke Hartman Elizabeth Katkin Waryn and Richard Waryn Joanne Posner Meyer Rose Community Foundation Suzan and Gary Schlatter Rita and Brad Sonnenberg Nancy and Thomas Stevens Artistic Director’s Fund Founded by Colleen Curran and Stephen Boane Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Colleen Curran and Stephen Boane Sandy Elliot Mary Anna and Sonny Hutchison The Freidann and Lillian Legacy Society Joanne Posner-Mayer Susan Stiff Susan and Stephen Struna Cheri and Alan Rubin GIFTS IN HONOR OF Raydean Acevedo and Walt Jenkins Ms. Sheila Kowal and Blake Chambliss David Gaskill Patricia Laverty Stephen Werner Mark and Bernee Strom Foundation Gil Boggs Raydean Acevedo Lisa and Bill Snider June Cleveland Lynette Morrison Christin Crampton Day Barry Hirschfeld Judy Gaskill and Nora Jacquez David Gaskill James and Anne Hillary Lars and Jane Soderberg Dave Falicia Chandra Kuykendall Cari and Mark Spiecker Stuart and Gail Kassan Charlot Karesh Joanne Posner Mayer Gregory and Laurie Gahm Janet Kritzer

Mitch and Maggie Morrissey Jordon and Essie Perlmutter Jonathan and Toni Saiber Valerie Madonia Raydean Acevedo Jeannette Oakes Bob and Catherine Oakes Dr. Barbara R. Reed Terry Amicone Susan and Paul Anderson Janice Baucum Richard and Dorothy Barwinski Kathy and Bjorn Borgen Matthew Dolgos Thomas Gordon Henry and Diane Ipsen Brenda Lewis Kathleen Nelson Catherine K. Newton Katherine Martin Joe Perlmutter Susan Richardson Mark Sidell Marilyn and Jerry Snyder Betty Steinmann Andrea G. Richardson and William A. Stolfus Gaynell Van Buhler Nancy Weeks Denise Sanderson Richard Dehncke Dick Saunders Barry Hirschfeld Adam Sexton Lisa Maury Lisa Snider Marla Willaims Sharon Wehner Raydean Acevedo GIFTS IN MEMORY OF Meg Fonda Mrs. Barb Fonda Rita Higgins Barrett Weiss Lynn and Charles Duncan Laurel Miller Barbara and James Ruh Margaret Hansson Raydean Acevedo and Walt Jenkins Mark and Bernee Strom Foundation Allyn Feinberg Ruth S. Silver Lisa and Bill Snider

16 The Nutcracker • Colorado Ballet

Rodney Smith Donna Smith Helen Clare Sillstrop Theodore Sillstrop Heinrich and Maria Adriana Weinberg, MD GIFTS IN KIND $5,000+ Liz and Bill Armstrong Darrell Anderson Eide Bailly, LLP EON247, Inc John Atencio Le Meridien Hotels/White Lodging Group Pura Vida Gary and Suzan Schlatter Shapiro Chiropractic The Westin Denver Downtown $2,500+ 5280 Flowers The Broadmoor Resort Coyote Gold Margarita Scream Agency Y. Moskovich & Co. Jewelers Bill Ward/LivMobile Airstream Rentals $1,000+ Colorado Ballet Auxiliary Chef Frank Banonno Bayswater Exploration & Production, LLC Colorado Avid Golfer Fritz Knoebel School of Hotel Management Joanne Posner Mayer Larry and Sharon Martin Mike Ward Automotive $500+ 303 Party Bus Buell Mansion/Kay Burke Catering by Design Larimer Square Merchants Silver Oak Vail International Dance Festival Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa CUMULATIVE LIFETIME GIVING $1,000,000+ Raydean Acevedo The Armstrong Foundation Liz and Bill Armstrong Colorado Ballet Auxiliary Boettcher Foundation Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Pam and Duke Hartman Anne and Jim Hillary Scientific and Cultural Facilities District

$500,000+ The Gates Family Foundation Joanne Posner Mayer Jeanne and Dick Saunders Sandy Elliott $250,000+ The Anschutz Foundation Chambers Family Fund Merle Chambers and Hugh Grant Denver Ballet Guild Denver Foundation KeyBank OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Shubert Foundation, Inc. $100,000+ Accenture, LLP Anna & John J. Sie Foundation Lisa Appel Jean and Hugh Armstrong Avenir Foundation Ellen Balaguer and Mark Chase Holly Baroway and Erik Cederlund Janis and Jim Brewster Colorado Creative Industries Denver Newspaper Agency Gay and Lesbian Fund HealthONE The Hearst Foundation, Inc. High Noon Entertainment The Joseph & Loretta Law Foundation Don and Mary Lou Blackledge Kortz The LARRK Foundation Merry and Steven D. Logan National Endowment for the Arts Jane and Gordon Netzorg Pb & K Family Foundation Ralph and Florence Burgess Charitable Trust David and Carole Ramsay Kathryn and Tim Ryan Dr. Barbara R. Reed Natalie Rekstad-Lynn and Scott Lynn Christine Rodgers and Ron Masamori Cheri and Alan Rubin Denise and James Sanderson Saunders Construction, Inc. Dr. David J. Scanavino and Ms. Ivelisse Torres Suzan and Gary Schlatter Lisa and Bill Snider Rita and Brad Sonnenberg Nancy and Thomas Stevens Vance Kirkland Foundation Virginia W. Hill Foundation Wells Fargo Private Bank Wells Fargo Bank Xcel Energy Foundation

THE

best collection

I S Y O U R S.

Elegance EASY

Combining style and quality into a beautiful wardrobe that’s uniquely yours.

Monday-Saturday, 10-6 • Sunday, 12-5 DENVER • 303.751.2618 • 1067 S. GAYLORD BOULDER • 303.443.2565 • 1505 PEARL ST. www.barbaraandcompany.net

Top of the Town Best Gift Store

Top of the Town Best Baby/Kid Boutique

Top of the Town Best Denim

gifts & accessories that get noticed

clothing & accessories that get noticed

750 south university blvd

1099 south gaylord street

303.722.2900

303.733.4848

wishdenver.com Colorado Ballet 29

THE GLOBAL DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION

CONGRATULATES The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Dance Students selected to perform in the Official Colorado Ballet 2017 Nutcracker

KRISTINA PENFIELD & CORA JANE THOMPSON!

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation provides life-changing health and wellness programs for children and adults with Down syndrome.

Learn more at www.globaldownsyndrome.org/programs

2017 SUGARPLUMS

Estelle Edith Becker Brian and Colleen Becker

Emma Taylor Boggs Gil Boggs and Sandra Brown

Emily Nora Clarke Scott and Alyssa Clarke

Sorenna Simone Cooper Wesley and Tammy Cooper

Katarina Maya Cordovano Sam Cordovano and Gulnara LaFrance

Caroline Annette Cox Michael Cox and Judy Jensen

Caroline Joslin Cramer Mark and Lisa Cramer

Ruby Frances Englert James and Ericka Englert

Anna Kate Farver Adam and Melissa Farver

Camille Mary Helen Fedorowicz Andrew and Christine Fedorowicz

Morgan Calleigh Friedman Norman Friedman and Stephanie Feuer

Marissa Elise Garcia David and Michelle Garcia

Colorado Ballet 31

2017 SUGARPLUMS

Portia Margaret Giordano

Corrin Dorothy Haggerty

Elizabeth Gabriel Harbaugh

Mark and Marsha Giordano

Colin and Melanie Haggerty

Jerad and Megan Harbaugh

Lucy Cathleen Johnson James and Shannon Johnson

Mary Elizabeth Jourde

Emerson Avonlea Ju

Zoey Karen Kelin

Julia Ann Kennedy

John and Molly Jourde

Sangwook and Amber Ju

Shebon and Lisa Kelin

Michael and Jamie Kennedy

Adelaide Reuel Lynott

Scarlet Joan Mielke

Sophia Rae Prall

Eva Simone Ridenour

Joseph Lynott and Stacey Farnum

Craig and Angela Mielke

J. Adair and Kellie Prall

Brandon and Debora Ridenour

32 Colorado Ballet

2017 SUGARPLUMS

Molly Rees Rosenberg

Orli Sachs

Sofie Cora Schulz

Annalisa Emilie Sexton

Daniel and Kelly Rosenberg

Ron and Julie Sachs

Fritz Schulz and Angela Strange

Adam Sexton and Silvia Comuzzi-Sexton

Charlotte Catherine Zimmerman

Elle Mary Smith

Tula Elizabeth Stettner

Lillian Lorraine Urband

Craig and Amy Smith

Robert and Amy Stettner

Jason and Britt Urband

Rick and Christine Zimmerman

Colorado Ballet 33

2017 SUGARPLUM ALUMS

Back Row (left to right): Brielle Rani Burkett, Katelyn Abbott Kelin, Charlotte Anne Stophel, Elizabeth Christine Vahey, Jane Elizabeth Prall, Elena Theresa Perrotto, Keaton Dale Miller, Flora Louise Ilima Dollarhide Middle Row (left to right): Violet Marie Judson-Arthur, Charlisse Elizabeth Schumacher, Julia Llewellyn VanSickle, Reese Catherine Rotolo, Siena Rose Beabout, Alexis Reese Morgan, Bianca Ann Bird Front Row (left to right): Clara Gale Linville, Bianca Blu Morris, Alexa Karina Schulte, Abigail Anne Akin Larsen, Lucca Francesca Heller, Oriana Apple Kline, Katherine Rae Stromberg, Payton Crystal Mae Pawlak Not Pictured: Sophia Louise Freyer

34 Colorado Ballet

Elevate Your DNA

WildAnimalSanctuary.org

Next Christmas, give your little Sugarplum a gift to remember...

Now accepting applications for the

Sugarplum Class of 2018 Celebrating 28 years

Girls currently in first grade may apply for the Sugarplum Program in December 2017 and January 2018.

Request an application at www.ColoradoBalletAux.org Photo features Chandra Kuykendall

RING IN THE NEW YEAR

WITH A FLURRY OF SHOWS

DEC 19 – 31

NOW – DEC 24

NOW – DEC 24

BUELL THEATRE

Illustration by Kyle Malone

Illustration by Kyle Malone

THE JONES

STAGE THEATRE

ZOEY’S

PERFECT JAN 2 – 14

BUELL THEATRE

WEDDING JAN 19 – FEB 25 SPACE THEATRE

FEB 13 – 18 BUELL THEATRE

JAN 26 – FEB 25 STAGE THEATRE

MAY 29 – JUN 10 BUELL THEATRE

DENVERCENTER.ORG BROADWAY SEASON SPONSORS

THEATRE COMPANY SEASON SPONSORS

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

STAFF DIRECTORY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Gil Boggs DEVELOPMENT

Director of Development Adam Sexton Associate Director of Development Denae Duesler Senior Development Officer Allie Coppeak

Academy Business Manager Elisabeth Link Academy Administrator Sarah Paul Academy Wardrobe Manager Jennifer Aiken

Public Relations and Marketing Manager Rachel Perez

Academy Faculty Dana Benton Anna Bridge Andy Clements Simon Costello Jennifer DePalo-Peterson Nick DiBattista Francisco Estevez Aria Faddis Cynthia Gottlob Jennifer Grahnquist Bailey Harper Page Jenkins Tracy Jones Maria Mosina Roberto Munoz Diane Page Carolina Pahde Jayne Persch Whitney Popp Heather Prokhnitski Viki Psihoyos Erika Sandre Jamie Schuler Robert Sher-Machherndl Jeremy Studinski Kevin Gaël Thomas Igor Vassine Sharon Wehner John Williams, “Mr. Tap” Lisa Wolf

Marketing Associate and Graphic Designer Tamar Moye

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Development Officer Susan Stiff Development AssociateEvents and Individual Giving Maggie Blumer Development AssociateDatabase and Gift Fulfillment Lauren Cregan Grants Manager Tricia Schmuki

ADMINISTRATIVE

Accounting Manager Janina Blue Accounting Associate Stephanie Kautz Boutique Manager Edie Bell

PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING

Social Media and Video Producer Kendra Harris

PATRON SERVICES AND DATABASE

Director of Patron Services and DBA Taylor Clark Patron Services Representatives Natalie Kelce Melissa Longiaru Group Sales Agent Molly Epstein

ACADEMY

Academy Director Erica Fischbach Lower Division Coordinator Kathi Crum

38 Colorado Ballet

Education Programs Manager Emily Aalbers Education Faculty Julie Anderson Elisabeth Berry Andrea Clements Kathi Crum Kebrina Josefina De Jesus Aimee Eddins Lisa Engelken Aria Faddis Jen GaNun Renu Gupta Katie Johnson Carolina Pahde Michelle Pugh Rowan Salem Erika Sandre Jeannette Sharp-Oakes Makena Sneed Jeanette Trujillo-Lucero

MANAGING DIRECTOR Mark Chase ARTISTIC

Ballet Mistress Sandra Brown

Acupuncturist Lorita Travaglia, L.Ac,Dipl.

CHM

Ballet Mistress Lorita Travaglia

Chiropractor Dr. David S. Shapiro

Ballet Mistress Maria Mosina

Massage Therapist Stephen Jacoby, LMT

Music Director and Principal Conductor Adam Flatt

Master Carpenter Emeritus David Jackson

Associate Conductor Catherine Sailer Company Pianist Natalia Arefieva

PRODUCTION

Technical Director and Production Manager Pete Nielson Production Stage Manager/ Facilities Manager Vitali Prokhnitski

Property Master Emeritus David Jaramillo Master Carpenter Mark Duran Assistant Carpenter/Head Flyman Michael Duran Lighting Director Patrick “Red” Howard Master Electrician Susan Osborne

Company Manager Brandi Glass

Property Master Toni Steelmon

Wardrobe and Shoe Manager and Costume Designer Shirin Lankarani

Pyrotechnition Micki McDanal

Wardrobe Assistant Manager Elijah Meader Wardrobe Assistants Carol Atkins Ann Warner Wig Mistress Maggie Long Wardrobe Dressers Monica Rose Rebecca Travers Wardrobe Volunteers Rosemary Ellis Joe Tompkins Wig Assistant Richard Krammes

Drivers/Production Assistants Robert J Harris David MacEachen Company Photographers Allen Birnbach Mike Watson Company Videographer David Andrews Orchestra Personnel Manager Steve Simpson Orchestra Librarian Chris Jusell

ELLIE CAULKINS HOUSE CREW Head Carpenter Randy Mitchell

Makeup Artist Kari Kisch

Head Electrician Dave Wilson

Company Physical Therapist Mieke Braun Scripps MPT, DPT

Head Sound James Gralian

Assistant Physical Therapist Sarah Graham, MSPT

Head Props Tanya Rist

Park Hill Dance Academy

VAILDANCE.ORG

Inspiring growth and confidence both in the studio and on the stage 4638 E 23rd Ave. • Denver, CO 80207

303-975-6111 www.parkhilldanceacademy.com Enrolling now for Winter 2018 session

SAVE THE DATES! VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL JULY 28 - AUG. 11, 2017

Misty Copeland at the 2017 Festival. Photo by Erin Baiano Colorado Ballet 39

COLORADOBALLET.ORG/COMMUNITY

May 26, 2018 - 1 p.m. & 6 p.m.

TICKETS AT COLORADOBALLET.ORG The performance features Colorado Ballet Academy students in Levels 1 through Pre-Professional Division.

40 Colorado Ballet

Visit our Front range Design Center

Mon - Fri 9aM - 5pM eVenings & WeekenDs by appointMent

reinVent | reMoDel | reDesign “W e are your b oulDer i nterior D esign t eaM ”

(303) 652-1727 DSInteriorSolutions.com

Colorado Ballet 41

This holiday season, pamper your hair and your skin at Grand Salon. Present your Colorado Ballet ticket stub for a...

COMPLIMENTARY DEEP CONDITIONING TREATMENT (A $35 value. Offer valid with any hair service. Expires 1.31.18)

OR

COMPLIMENTARY CHEMICAL PEEL (A $60 value. Offer valid with any facial service. Expires 1.31.18)

live life grand

GRAND-SALON.COM | 303.572.1435 | INFO@GRAND-SALON.COM LOHI: 3501 KALAMATH STREET, DENVER, COLORADO 80211

THINK DRINK EAT LOCAL

Over 250 Dishes Made Fresh.

Every Day. 16th Street Mall, Denver, CO 80202. Located on the first floor.

303-595-0333

Offer good at both locations!

501 16th Street marlowesdenver.com (303) 595-3700

519 16th Street paramountcafe.com (303) 893-2000

A Destination Artisan Bakery

Tues-Fri 7 am-6 pm Sat 8:30 am-5 pm Closed Sun/Mon

7255 S. Havana St. #110 Centennial

303.694.9999 theglutenescape.com

Buy One Brownie or Bar Get One Half Price With Mention of Colorado Ballet

Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Peanut, & Egg Free. Vegan.

OP E N DA I L Y 1 0 A .M . - 6 P.M .

2401 FIFTEENTH STREET LOCATED AT 15TH AND PLATTE STREET

303.445.4TEA • 303.455.4832

Celebrate the Holidays with an Afternoon Tea

BRIDAL SHOWERS • BIRTHDAY PARTIES • TEA TASTINGS CATERING AVAILABLE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

FFoorrm m TTeeqq eerrllyy Meexxuuiillaass M Reess iiccaann R ttaauurr aanntt

ly Dai h c Lun ial c e Sp .99 $5 Happy Hour Mon-Fri 2-5pm

www.eltequilenomexrest.com www.tequilasmexrest.com

Open 7 Days A Week

Sun-Thurs 10:45-10

Fri, Sat 10:45-11

BEST MARGARITAS IN COLORADO LAKEWOOD

1535 S. Kipling Pkwy.

(Kipling & Florida)

303-988-2580 AURORA

2790 S. Havana St. (Havana & Yale)

720-748-1260 ARVADA

12391 W. 64th Ave. (64th & Ward)

303-423-1307

SPORTS BARS LAKEWOOD

1535 S. Kipling Pkwy.

Suite M (Kipling & Florida)

303-278-0363 AURORA

2790 S. Havana St. Suite V (Havana & Yale)

303-338-2024

1/2 PRICE ENTREE

Buy any entree, get 2nd of equal or lesser value 1/2 price.

Limit 1 coupon per table / not valid at happy hour. Valid at these locations only.

FREE

MARGARITA

Buy 16 oz. House Margarita, get 2nd of equal or lesser value.

Limit 1 coupon per table / not valid at happy hour. Valid at these locations only.

The Perfect Taste

Show your tickets and receive a free appetizer with your purchase of two entrées.

The best comfort food in town will warm your soul

$1.00 Tilapia Tuesdays 75 cent PBRs during Happy Hour Kids Eat Free on Sundays

Now with 4 locations: 1311 S. Broadway Denver, CO 80210 720-570-5103

2175 Sheridan Edgewater, CO 80214 303-232-2128

5325 E. Colfax Denver, CO 80220 303-333-4551

7401 Ralston Rd. Arvada, CO 80003 303-420-9897

www.gbfishandchips.com

Share the wonder of dance.

Make your year-end gift today.

To make a gift, visit coloradoballet.org/support/donate or call 303.339.1618.

EVERY. BODY. DANCE.

The Education and Community Engagement department makes 40,000 contacts each year and is currently serving students, teachers and families in 300 schools/organizations in the Denver metro area.

COLORADOBALLET.ORG/COMMUNITY 44 Colorado Ballet

25 $75

25

% OFF

Voice/Music Classes With this coupon, new students only

% 75 OFF

Voice/Music Classes With this coupon, new students only

$Voice/Music Classes

With this coupon

With this coupon, new students only

Unlimited Month of Wellness Classes

75

$

Unlimited Month of Wellness Classes

Unlimited Month of Wellness Classes With this coupon

With this coupon

holiday decor/gifts/fairies freshest Christmas trees unique & traditional poinsettias Santa & Holiday family events

Growing Beauty & Joy Since 1982!

7711 S. Parker Rd. • Centennial 303.690.4722

TagawaGardens.com

say “NUTCRACKER” for $5 OFF!* *with $25 purchase

Colorado Ballet 45

THE PREMIERE SOCIETY C o lo ra d o B a lle t’s Pa tro n Program

$1,000+ includes: • Access to Premiere Lounge opening night • Complimentary drinks & parking $2,500+ includes: • Pre-performance rehearsal invitations • Exclusive reception invitations • Backstage tour at the Ellie

More information on benefits at:

COLORADOBALLET.ORG/SUPPORT/PREMIERESOCIETY

PROUD SPONSOR OF

Now included with your membership CHERRY CREEK NORTH | 303.321.7872 | puravidaclub.com 46 Colorado Ballet

Asuka Sasaki by Allen Birnbach

Dreaming of Sugar Plum Fairies at the Colorado Conservatory of Dance

Photo by Misha Photography

We believe in a better life through dance Classes in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Tap, Dance With Me, Adaptive Dance, Adults, Boys and More!

Free registration

if enrolled by Jan 15 with promo code: sugarplum

ccdance.org

303.466.5685

Just off Highway 36 in Broomfield 3001 Industrial Lane, #12 Broomfield, CO 80020 Colorado Ballet 47

R

Hau hein

sDen

ver.c

om

ysW Wa l l

isco

nsin

.com

Handel’s Messiah

DEC 8-9 FRI-SAT 7:30

Brett Mitchell, conductor Colorado Symphony Chorus, Duain Wolfe, director

A Colorado Christmas

DEC 15-17 FRI 7:30 ✮ SAT 2:30 & 6:00 ✮ SUN 1:00

Christopher Dragon, conductor Colorado Symphony Chorus, Duain Wolfe, director Colorado Children’s Chorale, Deborah DeSantis, artistic director

HalfNotes Please join us for family-friendly activities 1 hour before the concert.

Holiday Brass Returns to Boettcher Concert Hall DEC 20 WED 7:30

Colorado Symphony Brass

Too Hot To Handel

DEC 22-23 FRI-SAT 7:30

Christopher Dragon, conductor Cynthia Renee Saffron, soprano Vaneese Thomas, mezzo Lawrence Clayton, tenor Colorado Symphony Chorus, Mary Louise Burke, associate director

A Night In Vienna DEC 31 SUN 6:30

Brett Mitchell, conductor presenting sponsor

colorado symphony proudly supported by

COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG

48 Colorado Ballet

Educating Minds, Enriching Hearts & Expanding Horizons ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, an independent school for children preschool (age 3) through eighth grade, invites parents to learn more about our outstanding curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, and focus on character development.

• • • • •

Arts, Athletics, Technology, Languages Sports and Extracurricular Activities Extended Day Care Daily Hot Lunch Program Need-Based Tuition Assistance Available

2701 S. York Street | Denver, CO 80210 | 303.756.9481 | www.st-annes.org

classical | explore Thoughtfully curated classical music to captivate the soul.

Enrich your life here.

Colorado Ballet 49

THE FREIDANN AND LILLIAN LEGACY SOCIETY

We hope you will consider joining the Freidann and Lillian Legacy Society to help ensure Colorado Ballet continues to thrive for years to come.

Photo: Colorado Ballet Academy Students by Francisco Estevez Photography

The Chiropractor for COLORADO BALLET

COLORADOBALLET.ORG/SUPPORT/LEGACY

Mention Colorado Ballet and 20% of all new patient exam fees will be donated back to Colorado Ballet.

303.504.4800 www.shapirochiro.com SE Denver location: 3515 S. Tamarac Dr. Suite 120 Denver, CO 80237

is proud to support the innovation of art and dance at Colorado Ballet.

W W W. F I V E Y E A R S O U T. C O M 50 Colorado Ballet

Highlands location: The Freyja Project 3456 Tejon St. Denver, CO 80211

PRESENTING DENVER

DANCE FESTIVAL

Winter 2018 June 23, 2018 - 7pm June 24, 2018 - 2pm Tickets Now on Sale

www.presentingdenver.org www.newmancenterpresents.com

Co-presented by:

Our Sponsors:

Credit: Amanda Tipton

L. Roger & Meredith Hutson

Whiffenpoofs of Yale

January 6 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm

The Tierney Sutton Band January 11 at 7:30 pm

Spectrum Dance Theater January 26 at 7:30 pm

wild Up

February 1 at 7:30 pm

Antonio Sรกnchez: BiRDMAN Live February 22 at 7:30 pm

L.A. Dance Project March 10 at 7:30 pm

Sarah Chang

March 13 at 7:30 pm

Cashore Marionettes March 23-24

Single tickets on sale now!

Visit newmantix.com or 303.871.7720.

Colorado Ballet 51

Group Sales ROMEO AND JULIET- FEB. 16 - 25, 2018 Plan your family gathering or company party this season and save up to 25% on tickets for groups of 10 or more for the Shakespearean love story Romeo and Juliet. Contact Molly Epstein, Group Sales Manger, for additional information 303-619-6196 or molly.epstein@ coloradoballet.org. Book early for best available seating!

COLORADOBALLET.ORG Sarah Tryon by Allen Birnbach

Arrow Presents

ATTITUDE ON SANTA FE February 2, 2018- Performance only February 3, 2018 - Dinner and performance

Domenico Luciano, Tracy Jones, Dana Benton and Asuka Sasaki by Allen Birnbach

52 Colorado Ballet

COLORADOBALLET.ORG/EVENTS

Graceful Strength Graceful Strength beyond the stage beyond the stage

Here for our community cherrycreekbar.com

cherrycreekbar.com

because every day counts.

We provide care and support so people can focus on what’s most important: friends, family and the gifts of life.

If you or someone you love could benefit from hospice or palliative care, please get in touch. The sooner we can care, the more we can help.

Old Fashioned Handmade Pies Including Award Winning Caramel Apple & Old Fashioned Pecan 3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd. C-107

303.986.6240 grannyscotts.com

720.482.1988 agape-healthcare.com Colorado Ballet 53

WEALTH IS ABOUT: FAMILY TRADITIONS. At First Western Trust, we understand that wealth is about much more than money. It’s about family memories, time together and the traditions we create. We’re here to help connect your financial plan to your vision and values for your family, so your traditions will carry on today and well into the future.

1900 16th Street, Suite 1200, Denver, CO Private & Commercial Banking • Investment Management • Wealth Planning • Trusts & Estates

myfw.com Investment and insurance products and services are not a deposit, are not FDIC-insured, are not insured by any federal government agency, are not guaranteed by the bank and may go down in value.

MEMBER FDIC

CONSULT THE

FERTILITY EXPERTS

The Rocky Mountain Region’s Only Academic Fertility Practice

Infertility diagnosis and treatment IVF (in vitro fertilization) • Egg freezing PGS (preimplantation genetic screening) Fertility preservation prior to cancer treatment Donors & Surrogacy • Insemination LGBT family planning Male fertility treatments

STAPLETON (303) 724-8089 | COLORADO SPRINGS (719) 314-3333

ARM.COLORADOWOMENSHEALTH.COM