Raleigh Dance Theatre 2023-2024 Season Playbill

Thirty-Ninth Season 2023-2024 1

Congratulations Seniors!

Julia Chiu Ava Munn Lucinda Lietz Mackenzie Spicer Mae Attwood The RDT & RSB family is proud of our graduating dancers!

They have shown discipline and beauty over the course of their ballet career.

We look forward to where their next journey takes them.

Be yourselves and you’re sure to go far!

Photo Credit: Hunter Morris

Courtesy of TapSnap Photo Booths 2

2023-2024 SEASON Leaping Readers: Outreach and George W. Newton School Performance Initiative events North Regional Library Sunday, October 15, 2023 Fox Road Elementary Friday, October 20, 2023 Eva Perry Library Sunday, October 22, 2023 Holt Elementary Monday, October 23, 2023 Wildwood Forest Elementary Wednesday, October 25, 2023 Barwell Elementary Thursday, October 26, 2023 Vance Elementary Friday, October 27, 2023 Saturday, October 28, 2023 Danse Macabre with Triangle Youth Ballet East Chapel Hill High School Chapel Hill, NC Friday, November 3, 2023 George W. Newton School Performance of Storybook Tales Saturday, November 4, 2023 Storybook Tales AJ Fletcher Opera Theater, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts Raleigh, NC January 18-21, 2024 Youth America Grand Prix Winston-Salem, NC Sunday, March 10, 2024 Girl Scout Event Make Every Dance Step Count The Raleigh School of Ballet Studios April 13 and 14, 2024 Spring Repertoire Cary Academy Theater Cary, NC April 24-27, 2024 Regional Dance America National Festival Daytona Beach, FL All photos by Hunter Morris or Abigail Simon

WWW.RALEIGHDANCE.ORG Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @raleighdance Cover: Ava Munn and Lucinda Lietz in Megan Marvel’s Snow White, Spring Repertoire 2023 3

RALEIGH

GREEN GABLES ORGANIZE

YOUR LIFE

Leah Friedman Professional

Organizer Clear the space to be in 919.623.1160 deeper relationships raleighgreengables@gmail.com

www.raleighgreengables.com with yourself,

your loves & your life.

Leah Friedman | Professional Organizer 919.623.1160 - raleighgreengables@gmail.com Tova Feldman in Ruth Leney-Midkiff’s Euphoric Dances, Spring Repertoire 2023 4

Dear Friends

of Raleigh Dance Theatre, Welcome to our 39th season! As we close out our 4th decade of presenting professional quality programming for Triangle audiences and raising awareness of dance in the community, we invite you to enjoy a season of performances that pair tradition with innovation.

Storybook Tales brings two new ballets to the RDT Repertoire. Former RDT Associate Director, Jennifer Sommers’ adaptation of Ferdinand the Bull is based on the 1936 children’s book The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf. Artistic Advisor Hong Yang staged the Dream Scene from Don Quixote, Act II with traditional choreography after Petipa. To round out the program, Artistic Director, Megan Marvel has reprised her meditative Shifting Horizons and Artistic Director Emeritus, Mary LeGere presents Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet, based on the beloved children’s book by Jane O’Connor.

Spring Repertoire at Cary Academy Theater offers a new staging of the ballet classic The Sleeping Beauty.

A generous Spark the Arts grant from the NC Arts Council allows us to continue our goal of bringing new families into the theater to experience the beauty of dance. Last year’s Rayne and the Yellow Dress project focused our efforts on families of color who may not have previously felt included or welcomed in the world of ballet. Through community partnerships developed in that project, we will again offer 300 free tickets to underserved families this season. If this is your first ballet performance, we are thrilled to have you join the RDT family!

The production you see today was created through countless rehearsal hours, the dedication of an army of volunteers, and your contributions that helped us overcome the continuously increasing costs of performing. You will see newly constructed costumes and sets, new choreography, and new faces in the audience. None of it could have come to fruition without your support.

Because ticket sales only cover a portion of our expenses, we rely on your tax-deductible donations. There are many ways you can support Raleigh Dance Theatre with your contributions to any of our special programs. We truly appreciate every gift.

Please contribute today using the QR code below.

If you haven’t done so already, please subscribe to our email newsletter. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, @raleighdance, where we share an inside look and offer updates about our season.

Megan Marvel, Artistic Director

Rob Schantz, RDT Board President 5

Supporting Artistry, Shaping Futures At Kilpatrick Townsend, we believe in nurturing talent and fostering potential, both in the legal arena and on the stage. We are proud to support the Raleigh Dance Theatre, an institution that shares our dedication to excellence and the harmonious pursuit of professionalism and artistry.

www.kilpatricktownsend.com © 2023 Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

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Raleigh Dance Theatre Raleigh Dance Theatre (RDT), the affiliate performance company of The Raleigh School of Ballet (RSB), was founded in 1984 by Ann Vorus to provide performance training for qualified area dancers. The company matured under her direction to the acclaim of local dance critics. Milestones included the performance of Giselle with the North Carolina Symphony in its inaugural ballet series in 1991, and acceptance as a performing member company into the prestigious Regional Dance America/Southeast (RDA/SE) in 1993.

Mary LeGere became Associate Artistic Director in 1992 and was named artistic director in 1994 when Ms. Vorus resigned to concentrate on directing RSB. During the 1994-1995 season, the company’s name was changed to Carolina Ballet, and the board of directors launched a campaign to develop a fully professional ballet company. The company continued to grow and elevated the quality of non-professional ballet in the area to the very highest level, drawing critical acclaim and reaching new artistic heights with the performance of such works as George Balanchine’s Raymonda Variations. The close of the 1996-1997 season marked the final stage in achieving professional status with the hiring of Robert Weiss as artistic director.

In 1997, the artistic staff and dancers who were instrumental in Carolina Ballet’s success re-established Raleigh Dance Theatre to serve its original mission: to provide performance training for young ballet dancers while promoting and fostering dance awareness in the community. In 1999 RDT became an honor member company of RDA/SE. RDT is a versatile company with the ability to perform the classics as well as contemporary works. From 1990-2001, The Dancing Princess, created by Ann Vorus, was a holiday tradition. In 2002, RDT created the popular series Storybook Tales. In addition, the company has worked with nationally and internationally recognized choreographers including Laura Dean, Leslie Jane Pessemier, Zalman Raffael, and Tyler Walters.

RDT has collaborated with many local artists such as the North Carolina Master Chorale and Triangle Youth Philharmonic. The late Pulitzer Prize winning composer Robert Ward worked with RDT on three occasions to create new ballets.

RDT’s training program has proven successful for dancers working toward a career in the field. RDT dancers have been invited to perform with Carolina Ballet’s corps de ballet, and many went on to join the company. RDT Dancers have gone on to professional careers performing with many other companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Company, Royal Danish Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, and New York City Ballet.

During Mary LeGere’s tenure as Artistic Director (1994-2021), Raleigh Dance Theatre’s performance opportunities expanded as did its outreach, creating the Leaping Readers programs, and the George W. Newton School Performance Initiative.

Upon Ms. LeGere’s retirement in June 2021, the RDT board of directors approved the appointment of Megan Marvel as Artistic Director and Hong Yang as Artistic Advisor. Ms. LeGere was honored with the title Artistic Director Emeritus.

Raleigh Dance Theatre’s mission remains unchanged since its inception. With the support of community volunteers serving on the board of directors, dancer families who make up the RDT Guild, contributors who continue to financially support the company, and the dancers and staff who give their hearts and souls to the artistic endeavors of the organization, RDT looks forward to many successful years ahead.

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Raleigh Dance Theatre Ann Vorus, Founder Mary LeGere, Artistic Director Emeritus Megan Marvel, Artistic Director Hong Yang, Artistic Advisor Kalle Miller, Junior Company Coordinator Company Teachers Megan Marvel, Hong Yang Ashley Hathaway, Ruth Leney-Midkiff, Kalle Miller, Natalie Morton Sarah Pautz, Jayson Pescasio, Cari-Lenn Youngkin Board of Directors Robert Schantz, President Megan Marvel, Artistic Director Hong Yang, Artistic Advisor Rebecca van Dorsten, Treasurer Lisa Hathaway, Secretary Members at Large Jill Cody, Susan Carlin Galdy, David Newton, Heather Setzler, Catherine Shoemaker, Carolyn Soden The Raleigh School of Ballet, Inc. is the affiliate school of the Raleigh Dance Theatre, Inc. Where Kitchen Design Is A Fi n e Art

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Hong Yang, Director Professional Training in Classical Ballet for over Forty Years Founded in 1984 by Ann Vorus and directed by Susan Galdy and Mary LeGere from 19992021, current RSB director, Hong Yang is proud to continue the tradition of educating dancers in a nurturing and caring environment. RSB offers age-appropriate training with the individual student’s progress as its priority. An experienced faculty works with a welldeveloped syllabus that ensures continuity in the student’s training.

• The Pre-Ballet Program provides a structured positive learning environment for young students to develop their motor coordination, musicality, and movement skills necessary for the more structured work that follows in the Children’s Division.

• The Children’s Division focuses on movement quality and proper technique to develop the muscle memory needed for more advanced work. Students eight years and older may add a contemporary class to complement their ballet classes.

• The Professional Division Scholarship Program provides serious students with potential for careers in dance the necessary training and guidance to achieve their personal goals.

• The Boy’s Division Scholarship Program promotes our mission to encourage boys to dance.

Students ages 8 & up train with a male teacher to supplement their RSB classes.

• Summer Programs include fun workshops and weekly afternoon classes for young dancers as well as intensive full day programs for children 10 years and up.

• The Adult Program offers morning and evening introductory through advanced level classes for adults. No registration or contract is required for adult classes.

RSB dancers have gone on to professional dance careers with companies including; The

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New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Stuttgart Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Royal Danish Ballet, Zurich Ballet Junior Company, SALLY Dansgezelschap Maastricht, Pennsylvania Ballet, Aspen/Santa Fe Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theatre, Columbia City Ballet, Buglisi Dance Theatre and Martha Graham Dance Company.

Our clean, comfortable facility was built for the purpose of teaching dance, providing large, brightly lit studios, and sprung floors to prevent injuries. RSB is conveniently located near the 440 beltline and Hillsborough Street. We invite you to visit our school and observe classes.

Classes available for ages four to adult. Call 919.834.9261 or visit our website www.raleighballet.com

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Raleigh Dance Theatre

Guild Members 2023-2024 Guild Co-chairs Misty Hughes & Nef Spicer Committee Chairpersons Jill Cody & Leslie Antiel, Wardrobe Karen Attwood, Silent Auction Yu-Min Lin and Carol Niu, Snack Barre Karen Attwood, Butter Braids Fundraiser Genny Upton, RaiseRight Fundraiser Pamela Lietz, Bouquets for Dancers Misty Hughes, GWN School Resource Guide Support Dave Upton, Production Support Lucinda Lietz, Social Media Alison Munn, Tickets Caroline Cataldi, Boutique Christine Kilbride, Administrative Assistant Ryan Antiel, Beth & Jon Argo, Brian Attwood, Raj & Rachel Banyal Sarah & Daniel Baum, Luis Cataldi, Evan & Lisa Chiu, Scott & Colby Cooper Rob Cranfill, Heather & Beasley Dunn, Steven & Bridget Englebretson Stephen Feldman & Leah Friedman, Julie & Shawn Gillen, Emily & Eric Griffith Jeff & Bronwyn Hensley, Hong & Thilo Hessler, Gwen & Blake Holt Andrew & Charlotte Holton, Billy Hughes, Andy & Alya Jakubowicz David Kilbride, Shevon & Tim King, Sarah & Hunter Lane, Tim Lietz Fang-Yi Lin, Monica & John Livingston, Carlos & Rachel Manriquez Rebecca & Andrew May, Frank & Sonja Mckay, Ryan Miller Larry & DeAnna Murphy, Jiaushuo Niu, Craig Rooth, Zach Spicer Chad & Kristen Tyson, Tony & Renee Williams

Zachary Spicer with RDT dancers in Tracey Durbin’s Where Do We Start, Storybook Tales 2022 12

Raleigh Dance Theatre

Volunteer Corps The dedication and hard work of our corps of volunteers contributes to RDT’s success.

Volunteers faithfully perform many jobs they sew costumes, sell tickets, decorate the lobby, provide office support, fundraise, sell playbill ads, set up computer systems, work backstage, and more.

There are many ways that you can support Raleigh Dance Theatre: Contribute a cash or stock gift • Bring a friend to the performance Complete and send in your employer’s matching gift form with your gift Become a volunteer • Become a business or corporate sponsor of programming To learn more about how you can support Raleigh Dance Theatre, please contact the RDT office at 919-834-1058 or visit our website at www.raleighdance.org.

Raleigh Dance Theatre would like to give special acknowledgment to the following individuals: Cinzia Meneghello, Graphic design Hunter Morris, Photography Richard Proctor, Tax preparation Robert Schantz, Computer technology/Videography and Editing

Megan Marvel’s Snow White, Spring Repertoire 2023 13

Our Generous Donors Raleigh Dance Theatre, Inc. is a deficit-free 501 (C)(3) not for profit organization whose existence depends on community support through tax deductible contributions. We would like to thank those who have made this exciting season possible.

Corporate Support and Matching Grants Amazon Smile Intel Foundation National Philanthropic Trust New Southern Loans3 Walker Lambe3 Intelligent Office $1000 and above Anonymous4 Jill Cody Robert and Sarah Feldman3 Mary LeGere and John Newton1,3 David Newton3 Lorri Spicer4 The Raleigh School of Ballet1 $500-$999 Ryan and Leslie Antiel Debra Baker Lisa and Evan Chiu Nora Ellen Cranfill3 Heather and Beasley Dunn Judy and John Erwin3 Charlotte and Andrew Holton Micah and Michael Krempasky Monica and John Livingston Rachel Manriquez Andrew and Rebecca May Carolyn Norton Walter and Denise Newton Alan Spicer4 Rebecca and Peter van Dorsten $200-$499 Anonymous4 Leah Friedman and Stephen Feldman Elliot and Susan Galdy2 Megan Marvel and Rob Cranfill Will and Ayako Newton3 Lucy and William Stokes3 Jodi Schwartz3 Sally Yeung 14

$100-$199 Rachel and Raj Banyal | Anne Dunbar Mary Englebretson | Lisa and Greg Granger3 Maryann Page| Robert Schantz Heather Setzler | Ted and Sarah Stork Elisabeth and Lars von Kantzow3 Up to $99 Gia Agrawal | Peyton Anderson Karen and Brian Attwood | Jinnie Davis4 Reed and Susan Fountain | Christine and Sadie Grider Anna Huang | Andrea Mendez | Hunter Morris Olivia Munn | Jenny Palmer | Carolyn Soden | Chad and Kristen Tyson Robert Upchurch | Sarah Wooster (1)Includes contribution(s) made to the Mickey and Frank LeGere Costume Fund established in June 2011. ~ (2)Includes contribution(s) made to the Barbara and Bernard Carlin Memorial Music Fund, established September 2012. ~ (3)Includes contribution(s) made to the George W. Newton School Performance Initiative Fund, established in 2015. ~ (4)Includes contribution(s) made to the Mary LeGere Company Fund, established in August 2021 in honor of Artistic Director Emeritus, Mary LeGere.

We make every effort to ensure that each contributor’s name is properly listed. However, we offer our apologies if your name was omitted, listed incorrectly, or misspelled. We hope you will advise us of the error by calling the RDT office at 919-834-1058 or emailing us at info@raleighdance.org. List includes contributions made November 22, 2022-October 22, 2023.

Julia Chiu in Paquita, Spring Repertoire 2023 15

Donor Funds The Mickey and Frank LeGere Costume Fund Established in June 2011 by George W. Newton, this fund was created in memory of Frank LeGere, father of RDT Artistic Director Emeritus, Mary LeGere. Frank and his wife Milada (affectionately known as Mickey) were long-time supporters of the ballet and arts in the community. This gift to RDT was a venue for the LeGere’s friends to honor them by creating a financial legacy within the organization that their daughter led for three decades. Since 2011, Raleigh Dance Theatre has used the Mickey and Frank LeGere Costume Fund to create new costumes for Paquita, Firebird, The Seasons, Tea for Ruby, Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet, Where Memories Echo, Cinderella and Fairy Doll. In 2017, Mickey LeGere passed away, which prompted many new gifts made to the fund. We thank all who graciously supported Raleigh Dance Theatre in memory of Mickey and Frank.

Ann Vorus Choreography Endowment Fund Established in May 2003 in honor of Raleigh Dance Theatre’s Founder, the Ann Vorus Choreography Fund has been instrumental in allowing us to bring guest choreographers to set new works on RDT dancers. These include: • Lisa Collins Vidnovic and Denise D’Angelo, Cinderella • Leslie Jane Pessemier, nationally recognized choreographer, Where Memories Echo, Bows and Beginnings, Nine at a Glance, Voxhumana • Laura Dean, Choreography pioneer of international acclaim, Tao • Tyler Walters, Choo-San Goh, choreography award recipient, String Theory, Adagio and Fugue • Jennifer Sommers has created an assortment of beloved story ballets that RDT cycles through the Storybook Tales repertoire to the delight of generation after generation of children and their families.

• Zalman Raffael, Carolina Ballet’s Artistic Director, Lesson in Percussion • Pablo Perez, Carolina Ballet Artist, Tarde Otonal, Impromptu -Tracey Durbin, Where Do We Start -Ruth Midkiff, Euphoric Dances The Choreography fund has also supported RDT’s Emerging Choreographer Initiative. This program allows RDT dancers to create ballets for their peers with the support and guidance of the RDT artistic staff. These pieces are often selected to be adjudicated for the Regional Dance America/Southeast Festival. We have also presented the very strongest student pieces in RDT or RSB performances, giving many choreographers their first performance venue, which sparks a desire to continue choreographing long after they leave Raleigh Dance Theatre! Our emerging choreographers who have been selected to show their work on RDA/ SE Emerging Choreographers performances include the following RDT alum: • Jennifer Palmer created her first piece on RDT dancers when she was 14. She received the Monticello award for outstanding emerging choreography for her ballet Concerto in Colors in 2016 and her piece, Strung Together, was selected for the 2019 RDA/SE gala performance.

Ms. Palmer has had 2 choreographic commissions by Carolina Ballet • Amy Greene’s work, Through the Noise won the Monticello award in 2014.

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• Emily Horowitz, Layla El-Khoury, Camille Carroll, Holly Donnelly and Megan Andrews, also had pieces selected to perform.

The Barbara and Bernard Carlin Music Fund Former RSB director and current RDT board member Susan Carlin Galdy established this fund in 2012 in memory of her parents, Barbara and Bernard Carlin. It represents their love of music and has benefited RDT by financially supporting our efforts to bring live music to our productions. Live music adds a layer of richness and depth for our audience members.

When dancers perform to live music, it teaches them to listen in a new way and brings nuance and excitement to their performance that is difficult to replicate when dancing to a recording.

Our dancers have had the opportunity to work with student musicians in the Triangle Youth Philharmonic who are their peers and are on a similar pre-professional training journey. In the 2018-19 season, RDT presented our first “Season of Live Music” in which we featured pieces accompanied by a small group of professional musicians.

Mary LeGere Company Fund was established in 2021 in honor of our Artistic Director Emeritus. The Mary LeGere Company Fund was created for contributions that directly serve our dancers. The Fund is handled in two ways: To allow donors to contribute to special projects that don’t involve costumes, choreography, or music specifically. The little things that might include special “field trips” when we are at festivals, or a gathering to celebrate a milestone. It might include a set design project or a new curtain to hang in the studio so that we can more formally present or record in-studio.

Secondly, the fund will be a place where donors can choose to deposit funds to support dancers in need. To sponsor a dancer attending a festival or help fulfill their fundraising fees, we can now match sponsors to dancers anonymously and in a way that both sides are accountable.

Over the years, Ms. LeGere has been instrumental in finding ways to support dancers in need. With the creation of this fund, and with the support of our community, we honor the work Ms. LeGere performed in her tenure.

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Art & Design

Raleigh Dance Theatre playbill designer CINZIAMENEGHELLO.COM 17

2023 Student & Alumni News Student & Alumni News During summer 2023 RDT dancers trained with prestigious summer programs including: Atlanta Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, South Carolina Summer Intensive, The Rock School and the Regional Dance America National Choreography Intensive Alum: Dargan Swearingen joined Columbia City Ballet Kathleen Black retired from Carolina Ballet Mimi Staker retired from New York City Ballet Olivia Munn, Charlotte Ballet Professional Training Certificate Program Currently dancing with professional companies: Lydia Bevan, Royal Danish Ballet Calvin Bittner, Des Moines Metro Opera Peyton (Anderson) Bond, Columbia City Ballet Camille Carroll, Ballet Magnificat!

ChrissyAnn Carpenter, Neville Dance Theatre and Digital Dance Project Preston Chamblee, New York City Ballet Ashley Hathaway, Carolina Ballet – Principal Cameron McCune, American Ballet Theatre Giovanna Montoya, Columbia Classical Ballet Chandler Procter, Tulsa Ballet Sammy Sakoman, Ballet Magnificat!

Dargan Swearingen, Columbia City Ballet Leslie Williams, Martha Graham Dance Company Doria Worden, Co-Founder, Kollektiva RDT is proud of all its dancers who have grown up with us and moved on to careers in and out of dance. Please visit our website for other alumni news!

Paquita, Spring Repertoire 2023 18

George W. Newton School Performance George W. Newton School Performance Initiative is supported by private donations to the School Performance Fund The George W. Newton School Performance Initiative was established in 2015, as a way to honor RDT long-time supporter George W Newton. This fulfilled a long-term goal to create a program that spread the excitement and benefits of dance education. With a focus on diversity and inclusion, this initiative provides children, who may not otherwise have the opportunity, exposure to the magic of a live, in-theatre performance. In addition, RDT provides a comprehensive teacher resource guide and a school visit by RDT artistic staff and dancers for an interactive Leaping Readers assembly thus creating a complete educational program and a meaningful and important connection to the performers. RDT is proud that by prioritizing this program as well as our other outreach initiatives, to date we have served over 6000 students from 17 Wake and Durham County elementary schools.

The GWN School Performance Initiative is the gift that keeps on giving! Our school so appreciates the opportunity to see professional, polished and powerful ballet. The sets and costumes are magical, and the quality of dance is amazing. The school assembly offers students a chance to meet and connect with the dancers and see the “magic” up close. The resource guide offers the chance to prepare for the performance through lesson plans and activities. This is the way to develop future dance lovers and performers.~~ Lisa Ferrando, Exploris Elementary School Thank you to the following for your generous support of the GWN School Performance Initiative: Judy and John Erwin, Sarah and Bob Feldman, Lisa and Greg Granger, David Newton, Mary LeGere and John Newton, Walter and Denise Newton, Will and Ayako Newton, Jodi Schwartz, William and Susan Stokes,Lars and Elisabeth von Kantzow.

CORPORATE SPONSORS: Walker Lambe, PLLC • New Southern Loans

George W. Newton School Performance 2022 19

Ballerina Birthday Parties Book an easy, cost effective Birthday Party with Raleigh Dance Theatre!

RDT provides: • The space and set-up, with basic decorations.

• Costumed dancer(s) for a short performance, and a thirty minute basic dance class – no dance experience necessary!

• A craft activity with materials included. Every child takes home a handmade item!

• Optional additional items include: custom cupcakes, utensils, plates and napkins, and pink lemonade!

“It was a total hit! The spaces were huge, light and airy – perfect for a rambunctious group of 4 and 5-year old boys and girls. [The children as well as parents loved the] relaxed but dynamic vibe of the party: [finding] people who are gracious enough to help you make your kid feel special and celebrated … is enormously gratifying. Best of all, my husband and I got to experience our 5-year old as she bounced around on cloud nine for the rest of the day.”

Please contact Raleigh Dance Theatre at 919-834-1058 or via email at info@raleighdance.org for more information & to schedule your party!

All proceeds benefit the dancers of Raleigh Dance Theatre

Mae Attwood and Noah Imbriaco in Megan Marvel’s Snow White, Spring Repertoire 2023

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Leaping Readers!

In conjunction with Storybook Tales, RDT’s Leaping Readers outreach program encourages literacy and early childhood reading by bringing children’s literature to life through ballets based on fairy tales and children’s stories. Leaping Readers events are held at local libraries, schools, bookstores, and community centers.

At these events RDT presents excerpts from the Storybook Tales performances and teaches children a little about ballet. During this interactive program, children dance alongside company members–physically experiencing the joy of classical ballet movement and developing a love for reading.

We are thrilled to present Leaping Readers events this season at 5 Elementary Schools and 2 libraries!

Leaping Readers at Raleigh Girl’s Club with history making Black Ballerina, Debra Austin. Fall 2022

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Raleigh Dance Theatre Staff Megan Marvel, Artistic Director Megan Marvel grew up in Raleigh, trained at The Raleigh School of Ballet and was a member of Raleigh Dance Theatre. She studied at NC State University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Degree focusing on Choreography and Dance Design. She served as the Assistant Director of the NC State Dance Program from 2000-2006. Ms. Marvel joined The Raleigh School of Ballet’s faculty in 1997 and served as RDT’s Administrative Assistant from 19972006. She became Associate Director of RDT in 2006 and was named Artistic Director in June 2021.

Ms. Marvel has set a wide variety of ballets on RDT from the beloved fairy tale Snow White to more contemporary and contemplative works like The Art of Playing Tastefully, Grace, and Shifting Horizons.

Ms. Marvel lives in Apex with her husband, Rob Cranfill and daughter, Jacqueline. She owns Natural Marvels Massage Therapy and Living Marvelously Wellness and works as a licensed massage therapist, wellness coach, and ACE certified personal trainer. This work outside of RDT/RSB influences her philosophy of training well-rounded, grounded, healthy dancers who are ready to step out into the world in whatever capacity they choose with strength and grace.

Hong Yang, Artistic Advisor, Director of The Raleigh School of Ballet is originally from Beijing, China where she studied dance at the school of the Beijing Dance Academy, graduating in 1995. She joined the National Ballet of China and performed in many leading roles with the company at many international and domestic performances before going to Singapore Dance Theatre and then Toronto, Canada where she danced with Ballet Jörgen Canada. In 2002, she joined Carolina Ballet, Ms. Yang’s repertoire is extensive. Along with being featured in many ballets by Robert Weiss, she performed choreography by George Balanchine including, Apollo, Allegro Brilliante, Concerto Barocco, La Sonnambula and The Four Temperaments; Lynn Taylor Corbett including Carmina Burana, Great Galloping Gottschaulk, Ugly Duckling and Carolina Jamboree; and José Limón including Moor’s Pavane. She also performed works by Dameon Woetzel, Christopher Wheeldon and Tyler Walters. She retired with a performance of Tatiana in Balanchine’s A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream. Since then, she has been passing on her knowledge and love of dance through teaching. Ms. Yang joined the faculty of The Raleigh School of Ballet in 2014 and was honored to take the position of Director July 2021.

Mary LeGere, Artistic Director Emeritus, Guest Choreographer, Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet, Storybook Tales and Lueur, Spring 2023 Ms. LeGere began her dance training at age nine. She studied on scholarship at the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet with Barbara Weisberger, Benjamin Harkavy, and Lupe Serrano. In 1980, she joined the Pennsylvania Ballet, and in 1986 was promoted to soloist. Working under the artistic direction of Benjamin Harkavy and later Robert Weiss she danced lead roles in George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Symphony In C, Tarantella, Symphony in Three Movements, and Steadfast Tin Soldier, as well as Sugar Plum Fairy and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker. She was featured in Calcium Night Light by Peter Martins, and in works

by Lynn Taylor Corbett, Merce Cunningham, and Paul Taylor. In 1990, she retired with an acclaimed performance of Myrta in Giselle.

After moving to North Carolina, Ms. LeGere joined the faculty of The Raleigh School of Ballet. She became Associate Director of Raleigh Dance Theatre in 1991 and served as Artistic Director of Carolina Ballet during its 3-year transition to a professional company. Choosing to no longer direct Carolina Ballet, Ms. LeGere became the Director of the reestablished Raleigh Dance Theatre until her retirement 22

in June 2021.

Ms. LeGere has choreographed 17 works for RDT many that were chosen to be performed at the RDA/SE annual festival. In April 2016, Ms. LeGere received the Regional Dance America National Choreography Recognition Award.

Ms. LeGere co-directed The Raleigh School of Ballet, where she taught for 30 years. She has guest taught and set her choreography at schools and companies all over the country. She was honored with the 2006-2007 North Carolina Dance Alliance Annual Award. In August of 2021, Ms. LeGere was named Artistic Director Emeritus of Raleigh Dance Theatre and the RDT Board of Directors established a fund in her honor. She continues to work with RDT overseeing the George W. Newton School Performance Initiative and other outreach activities.

Kalle Paavola Miller, Raleigh Dance Theatre Junior Company Coordinator received her early training, in Michigan, with the Paavola School of Dance and performed with Young People’s Ballet Theatre, doing lead roles such as Mary Lennox in Dale Brannon’s Secret Garden, Swanhilda from Coppelia and Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. She attended many excellent summer programs including the Joffrey Ballet Summer Workshop, the Pacific Northwest Ballet Summer Program and the Chautauqua Institution Summer Ballet Program. After high school, Ms. Miller went on to dance with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Graduate Training Program for one year while performing with the company and subsequently became a company member. While there, she worked with notable teachers and choreographers including Terrence Orr, Marianna Tcherkassky, Roberto Munoz, Derek Deane, Dwight Roden, Kevin O’Day, Lynne Taylor Corbett, Jiabin Pan, and Alan Obuzor. Since her retirement from professional dancing, Ms. Miller taught at Cary Ballet Conservatory, Destiny Dance Institute, and International Ballet Academy before joining the faculty at The Raleigh School of Ballet.

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3909 Sunset Ridge Road Suite 203 Raleigh 27607

Noah Imbriaco in Flower Festival in Genzano, Spring Repertoire 2019.

Photo by Hunter Morris

Kelliann Argo, member of Raleigh Dance Theatre 24

Guest Choreographer Jennifer Clagett Sommers, Ferdinand the Bull, Storybook Tales holds an MFA in Dance, Performance and Choreography from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She has performed with Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers, Street Signs Center for Literature and Performance and the Albany Berkshire Ballet, where she also served as Ballet Mistress.

Her dance honors include a scholarship to Jacob’s Pillow Choreography Workshop, a Durham Arts Council Emerging Artist Grant and a Lake Region Arts Council grant in support of new work.

From 2000-2005, she served as the Associate Director of RDT and on the faculty of Meredith College. From 2005-2008, she served on the faculty of the University of Minnesota Morris and taught both dance and interdisciplinary courses.

She relocated to Houston in 2008 and launched a dance program at KIPP Sharpstown College Prep. She joined the Houston Ballet Education Outreach department, currently the Education & Community Engagement (ECE) department, in 2010 and is currently serving as Director of Education for both the ECE department and the Houston Ballet Academy.

Ms. Sommers teaches dance and dance integration classes to students and teachers throughout Houston and greater Harris County and has served on the faculty of and choreographed for the University of Houston.

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Raleigh Dance Theatre Company Dancers

Adelyn Antiel

Kelliann Argo

Mae Attwood

Nina Banyal

Julia Chiu

Jacqueline Cranfill

Larsen Dunn

Tova Feldman

Claudia Gillen

Susan Galdy’s Whimsy, Spring Repertoire 2023 26

Raleigh Dance Theatre Company Dancers

Allissa Hensley

Ben Holton

Sarah Hughes

Anabelle Kilbride

Lucinda Lietz

Daphne Lin

Sophie Livingston

Gabby Manriquez

Eliza May

Ava Munn

Taylor Murphy

Victoria Niu

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Continued from the previous page

Mackenzie Spicer

Zachary Spicer

Lilah Upton

Gabriella Williams

Patrick Tyson

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Raleigh Dance Theatre Apprentices

Annika McKay

Mila Cataldi

Junior Company Announcing the Raleigh Dance Theatre Junior Company!

In its inaugural year, the RDT Junior Company is a stepping stone into Raleigh Dance Theatre, allowing younger students the opportunities to perform and learn what it’s like to be in a pre-professional company.

Pictured from Left: Front row: Ayla King, Charlotte Griffith, Paavi Miller, Bella Rooth Second row: Mary Englebretson, Emma Lane, Annabel Cooper, Mackenna Spicer Back row: Lilly Baum, Maive Jakubowicz, Emma Hessler, George Holt 29

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So Much More Than Just a Photoshoot

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Ava Munn in Paquita, Spring Repertoire 2023

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Megan Marvel’s Snow White, Spring Repertoire 2023

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Megan Marvel’s Rayne and the Yellow Dress, Storybook Tales 2022

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