Raleigh Dance Theatre 2021-2022 Season Playbill by Mary LeGere

Thirty-Seventh Season 2021-2022 1

*Final_ 30661_Raleigh Dance Theatre 2021-22 Playbill 2.pdf

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2021-10-27

3:01 PM

2021-2022 SEASON Saturday, December 11, 2021

February 25-27, 2022

Storybook Tales Fletcher Theater, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts Raleigh, NC

UNCSA Festival of North Carolina Dance Winston Salem, NC

Sunday, April 3, 2022 Girl Scout Event Make Every Dance Step Count The Raleigh School of Ballet Studios

January 27-30, 2022 Youth America Grand Prix Atlanta, GA

May 5-7, 2022

Sunday, January 30, 2022 Release of George W Newton School Performance Virtual Production of Storybook Tales

Regional Dance America/Southeast Festival Daytona Beach, FL

February 18-20, 2022

Spring Repertoire Location, TBD Raleigh, NC

May 2022

Youth America Grand Prix Winston Salem, NC

George W Newton School Performance Leaping Readers Assemblies Thursday, October 28, 2021 Walnut Creek Elementary School Monday, November 15, 2021 East Garner Elementary School Wednesday, November 17, 2021 Lockhart Elementary School Thursday, December 1, 2021 Exploris Elementary School

Natalie Clyburn in Alice in Wonderland by Jennifer Sommers, Spring 2021

All photos by Hunter Morris, David Newton WWW.RALEIGHDANCE.ORG Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @raleighdance 3

Todd Erbst, PT | Erbst OrthoSport F F F

28 years experience as an orthopedic and sports physical therapist Treated many professional athletes from MLB, NHL, USA Track and Field Has worked closely with Carolina Ballet dancers since 2003

Jen Erbst, PT | Erbst OrthoSport F

Brings 29 years of orthopedic and sports PT experience to the practice

Todd and Jen understand the physical demands of many sports as well as those associated with dance. They specialize in identifying and addressing the underlying cause of pain and dysfunction. They enjoy teaching clients how to correct imbalances, reduce the risk of injury and achieve optimal performance. Schedule your appointment today at erbstorthosport.com 3900 Barrett Drive, Suite 102 Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 Todd: erbstorthosport@gmail.com Jen: erbstorthosport.jen@gmail.com erbstorthosport.com

Dear Friends of Raleigh Dance Theatre This fall we are overwhelmed with the thrill of getting back on stage. The thought of performing for a live audience: feeling your energy as you take your seats, notice you hold your breath as we turn and leap, tickle your funny bone and hear your laughter, and finally to receive your well-deserved applause is what drives us to create magical productions like the one you see today. This season we pay homage to RDT’s past. Storybook Tales brings back The Dancing Princess, choreographed by RDT Founder, Ann Vorus. The ballet was a holiday tradition for over a decade in the 1990’s. Complete with heartwarming narration, a mischievous jester, a brave and true cobbler, and princesses dancing the night away. Artistic Director Emeritus, Mary LeGere led the staging of the ballet and sets her own work for Spring Repertoire. Jennifer Sommers’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice, reaching back to our first Storybook Tales production in 2002, appears on the spring program. Fairy Doll, a Russian classic from the late 1800’s is new to RDT this fall as is spring’s production of Graduation Ball, both staged by Artistic Advisor Hong Yang, Artistic Director Megan Marvel, and Sarah Pautz Pescasio. Ms Marvel’s new tango inspired work for spring rounds out the season. We are proud that RDT has produced three new choreographic works by two of our own dancers and alum, Emily Horowitz, through our Emerging Choreographers program. Every flower that graces the stage and sequin hand sewn onto a costume is evidence of the love that goes into a Raleigh Dance Theatre production. The RDT family is one of strength and grace, from the dancers who take the stage to the parents who taxi them back and forth to class, rehearsals, outreach events and show up to sell baked goods, build sets, hot glue together flowers for dancer’s headpieces, or make excited calls to friends and family to sell tickets to performances. But it takes more than dancers rehearsing and parent volunteers to produce these professional-quality productions. Guest artists and costume designers are hired, theater rental is more expensive than ever, and we proudly support paying theater personnel a living wage for their work. In addition, for our fall production, we have the added expense of hiring a videographer and film director to create a carefully edited recording of the performance for our virtual audiences. This fall marks our first return to the theater since the pandemic. We are very excited to not only offer our dancers this important experience, but to welcome you back, whether in person at the theater (absorbing the sights and sounds live) or virtually (enjoying a production professionally filmed in the theater). The ballet wouldn’t be complete without the corps de ballet, and we couldn’t create the professional quality productions we do without your valuable financial support. Though ticket sales do 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. 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.

Rob Schantz, RDT Board President

Megan Marvel, Artistic Director 5

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Sleeping Beauty Fairies, Spring 2021

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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 nonprofessional 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 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 Theater, 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, Hong Yang as Artistic Advisor, and Layla El-Khoury as Artistic and Administrative Coordinator. 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 heart and souls to the artistic endeavors of the organization, RDT looks forward to many successful years ahead. 7

Professional Training in Professional Training inClassical ClassicalBallet Ballet for Forty Years for Thirty-eight Years

The Raleigh School of Ballet Hong Yang, Director The Raleigh School of Ballet has provided professional training in classical ballet for 40 years. Founded in 1981 by Ann Vorus, directed by Susan Galdy and Mary LeGere from 1999-2021, 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 first priority. An experienced faculty works with a well-developed 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 10 & 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 men and women. No registration or contract is required for adult classes. RSB Dancers have gone on to professional dance careers with companies including; The 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, 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.

Please visit our website www.raleighballet.com 9

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Tova Feldman in Alice in Wonderland by Jennifer Sommers

Alice in Wonderland by Jennifer Sommers, Spring 2021 10

Raleigh Dance Theatre Ann Vorus, Founder Mary LeGere, Artistic Director Emeritus Megan Marvel, Artistic Director Hong Yang, Artistic Advisor Layla El-Khoury, Artistic and Administrative Coordinator Company Teachers Megan Marvel, Hong Yang Layla El-Khoury, Nicholas Fokine, Christine Grider, Ashley Hathaway Ruth Leney-Midkiff, Natalie Morton, Sarah Pautz, Pablo Perez Board of Directors Robert Schantz, President William Hardiman, Treasurer Lisa Hathaway, Secretary Megan Marvel, Artistic Director Hong Yang, Artistic Advisor Members at Large Carolyn Cody, Jill Cody, Susan Carlin Galdy, David Newton, Heather Setzler Catherine Shoemaker, Rebecca van Dorsten The Raleigh School of Ballet, Inc. is the affiliate school of the Raleigh Dance Theatre, Inc.

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"Rond de Jambe" Oil on Panel (2021 RDT Auction Donation)

Raleigh Dance Theatre

Guild Members 2021-2022 Guild Co-chairs Misty Hughes & Nef Spicer Committee Chairpersons Layla El-Khoury, Playbill Jill Cody & Tina Clyburn, Wardrobe Karen Attwood & Diana Melo, Spirit Nights Caroline Cataldi, Mask Fundraiser Christine Grider, Children’s Coordinator and RSB Liaison Carol Niu, Snack Barre Brenda Braun, Butter Braids Fundraiser Genny Upton, Scrips Fundraiser Pamela Lietz, Scentsy Fundraiser Misty Hughes, GWN Resource Guide Support Dave Skergan, Production Support Bobbey Sakomen, Bouquets for Dancers Emily Horowitz, Social Media Alison Munn, Tickets Malay & Mamatha Agrawal, Beth Argo, Brian Attwood Bill & Debra Baker, Paul Braun, Lee Clyburn Rob Cranfill, Jeffrey & Melody Diaz, Andrew & Charlotte Holton Stephen Feldman & Leah Friedman, Bert Grider, Billy Hughes Amy & Mark Imbriaco, Micah & Michael Krempasky, Tim Lietz Yu-Min & Fang-Yi Lin, Carlos & Rachel Manriquez, Rebecca & Andrew May Pablo Melo, DeAnna Murphy, Jiaushuo Niu, Cynthia & Steve Roy Natalie Skergan, Chris Sakoman, Zach Spicer, Chad & Kristen Tyson, Dave Upton

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 and David Glenn, Graphic Design Hunter Morris, Photography Richard Proctor, Tax Preparation Robert Schantz, Computer Technology/Photography David Newton of SlyPup Productions, Videography and Editing

Noah Imbriaco and Noah Braun in Bournonville Divertissements by Mary LeGere, Spring 2021 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 Benevity Blackbaud Giving Fund Charles S. Willis, DDS Gary W Beavers DDS GlaxoSmithKline Foundation IBM JIL Enterprises New Southern Loans Principled Technologies Walker Lambe PLLC $1000 and Above Caroline Cataldi~° Tina Clyburn*^° Rebecca Dearmin Robert and Sarah Feldman Mike and Pam Marvel David Newton~° Denise and Walt Newton Mary LeGere and John Newton+*^~° Ann Vorus and Jack Parkhurst+* Dr. Robert Schantz~° Lucy and William Stokes Hengming Ke and Xueying Xiong° $500-$999 Malay and Mamantha Agrawal°, Jill Cody, Ellen and Toby Cranfill*, Dr. Mary Susan Fulghum+ Elliot and Susan Galdy^, Emily Gladden, Billy and Misty Hughes°, Amy and Mark Imbriaco*° Ayako and Will Newton, Jennifer Sommers, Lorri Spicer Peter and Rebecca van Dorsten~, Betsy Whitmore*^ $200-$499 Bill and Debra Baker, Megan Marvel and Rob Cranfill, Jinnie Y Davis^, Anne Dunbar Susan and Reed Fountain, Betty and William Hardiman, Lisa and Richard Hathaway°, Pamela Lietz Monica Livingston, Carlos and Rachel Manriquez, Andrew and Rebecca May, Jennifer Murray* Ivey L Newton, Mary M Newton, Carolyn O’Brien, Bobbey and Chris Sakomen Nina and Thomas Segars, Catherine Shoemaker^, Dave and Natalie Skergan° Sarah Liehr and Ted Storck~, Dave and Genny Upton, Dalin Wen°

Snow White by Megan Marvel, Fall 2019 14

$100-$199 Caroline Campbell, Melody Diaz, Sue Dong°, Loretta Foster, John Fountain, Louise Friedman PJ and Timothy Gardiner°, David Glenn, Lisa Granger, Hui Hu°, Yiming Huang° Barbara Kelliebrew, Lois Kinney, Jing Deng and Jing Li°, Meiyu Luo°, Hunter Morris° Lindsay P O’Hara+, Maryann Page, Jing Peng°, Phyllis Rideout, Carolyn Sakomen Douglas Johnston and Marjorie Salzman, Roy Segars, Heather Setzler, John Simon Eric Sowers, Kayla Steward, Kathleen Terry, Melanie Tremaglio°, Emily Wexler* Qingfen Yang°, Ronald and Susan Zawoysky, Jian Xin Zhang° Up to $99 Alisha Agrawal°, Mary Anderson, Charles Askew, Dorothea Attwood, Diana Balasky Rachel Banyal, Christina Belardinelli, Robin Bonner, Laura Bowman, Brenda and Paul Braun° Karen Braun, Theodora and Thomas Braun, Grace Brown, Fangyi Cheng°, Nancy Consolo Denise D’Angelo*, Erin Daniell, Ann DaSilva, Rick DaSilva, Sarah Deming, Barbara Doll, Ann Eller Howard Feldman, Leah Friedman and Stephen Feldman°, Xiaoxia Feng°, Amy and Jason Foushee Madison Furr, Kathryn Gardiner, Thomas Gardiner, Carrie Gault, James Gault, Sandra Gault Robin Gault-Winton, Dylan Giles~, Julia Gillen, Christine Grider, Amanda Hall, Beverly R Ray Charlotte Hollan, Charlotte Holton, Media Hooks, Craig and Nina Jonson°, Patricia Jordan Constance and Robert Kazan, Allene Kelley+, Kenneth and Paula Kelly, Christopher King Bettina Lackey, Shana Lieberman, James Lucas, Rachel Manetti, Donna and Stephen Mariani Frances McCain, Mary B McIntyre, Andrea Mendez, Jeff Moyer, Alison Munn°, Olivia Munn Judith and Robert Naugle, Joyce Newton, Carol and Jianshuo Niu, Carrie O’Briene, Julie Paul Emma Paul, Jennifer Paul, Bill Phillips, Lauren Ramsey+, Katherine Ratterree, Patricia Robison Cynthia Roy, Marjorie Rybarczyk, Cassidy Salter, Catherine Saunders, Ellen Skergan Deanne Snavely, Alan Spicer, Karen Spicer, Nef and Zachary Spicer, Tara Spicer, Cliff Swanson Cooper Swanson, Theresa Swanson, Carol M Taylor, Joseph Thompson, Bob Upchurch Eli Valsing, Jamie Vaughn, Helen Wallace, Ava Willett, PJ Williams, Zoe Winton, Peter Wood Donna Wooster, Yan Xu°, Cynthia Young

+ Includes contribution(s) made to the Ann Vorus Choreography Endowment Fund * Includes contribution(s) made to the Mickey and Frank LeGere Costume Fund ^ Includes contribution(s) made to the Barbara and Bernard Carlin Memorial Music Fund ~ Includes contribution(s) made to the Mary LeGere Company Fund ° Includes contribution(s) made to the Mickey and Frank LeGere Costume Fund in memory of XiaoLing Feng 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 raleighdance@ att.net. List includes contributions made November 15, 2020 – November 15, 2021 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 including this season’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice 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 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 gala performance. This season she creates her second work for a professional ballet company, Carolina Ballet. • Amy Greene’s work, Through the Noise won the Monticello award in 2014. • Layla El-Khoury, Megan Andrews, Camille Carroll, and Holly Donnelly also had pieces selected to perform. • In January 2021, RDT presented an Emerging Choreographer’s Performance, a virtual performance created in the midst of the pandemic featuring works by Alum, Layla El-Khoury and RDT Dancers Jacqueline Cranfill and Mackenzie Spicer as well as group pieces created through choreographic workshops. The Barbara and Bernard Carlin Music Fund Former RSB director and current RDT board member Susan Carlin Galdy established this fund in September 2012 in memory of her parents, Barbara and Bernard Carlin. It represents their love of music 16

and has benefited RDT by financially supporting our efforts to bring live music to our productions. 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 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. This year the fund supported new sets for Fairy Doll in Storybook Tales. 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. From The Enchanted Forest series

ART & DESIGN Graphic Design - Web Design - Art and Prints for Sale Raleigh Dance Theatre’s 2021 playbill designer 17

cinziameneghello.com

2021 Student & Alumni News During summer 2020 RDT dancers were invited to train with prestigious summer programs including: Atlanta Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Chicago Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, Oregon Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Washington Ballet. Four RDT dancers also participated in the National Choreography Intensive hosted by Regional Dance America. ALUM: Calvin Bittner joined Des Moines Metro Opera Kathleen Black was promoted to soloist at Carolina Ballet ChrissyAnn Carpenter joined Neville Dance Theatre and Digital Dance Project Camille Carroll was promoted to full company member at Ballet Magnificat! Emily Horowitz joined the faculty at RSB and set a new work for RDT’s Emerging Choreographers Program Layla El-Khoury was named RDT Artistic and Administrative Coordinator Jennifer Palmer choreographed her second work for Carolina Ballet, November 2021 Allie Swartz was invited to be a trainee with Austin Ballet Dargan Swearingen was invited to be a trainee with Nashville Ballet CURRENTLY DANCING WITH PROFESSIONAL COMPANIES: Lydia Bevan, Royal Danish Ballet Calvin Bittner, Des Moines Metro Opera Kathleen Black, Carolina Ballet Peyton Anderson Bond, Washington Ballet Studio Company Camille Carroll, Ballet Magnificat! ChrissyAnn Carpenter Neville Dance Theatre and Digital Dance Project Preston Chamblee, New York City Ballet Dylan Giles, Festival Ballet Providence Ashley Hathaway, Carolina Ballet – Principal Cameron McCune, American Ballet Theatre Chandler Procter, Tulsa Ballet Mimi Staker, New York 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!

The Last Bird, Student Choreography, Emerging Choreographer’s Performance, December 2020 18

George W. Newton School Performance George W. Newton School Performance Initiative is supported by donations to the School Performance Fund. The George W. Newton School Performance Initiative was established in 2015, fulfilling a long term goal to spread the excitement and benefits of dance education. This program 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 assembly thus creating a meaningful and important connection to the performers. Last year, the pandemic challenged RDT’s ability to provide this program. When we realized we would be unable to provide onsite assemblies and performances to area school children, we re-worked our resource guide and our assemblies to provide an all virtual experience. The schools received a link to our virtual Storybook Tales performance in the spring as a culmination of the George W. Newton School Performance Initiative for 2020-21 school year. We continue to adapt and adjust, but are thrilled to be back providing some in-person assemblies to area school children. We are very proud that, despite obstacles, we have made it a priority to keep the program going, and to date have served over 5000 students from 10 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. CORPORATE SPONSORS Walker Lambe, PLLC • New Southern Loans

George W. Newton School Performance, Fall 2019 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 raleighdance@att.net for more information & to schedule your party!

All proceeds benefit the dancers of Raleigh Dance Theatre cinziameneghello.com 20

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, and bookstores. At these events RDT presents excerpts from the Storybook Tales performances and teaches children a little about ballet. Children hear their favorite stories read aloud and dance alongside company members– physically experiencing the joy of classical ballet movement and developing a love for reading. After having to shift its Leaping Readers programming to virtual events last year, RDT is thrilled to be back in-person in schools and libraries this season.

RDT Dancers at a library Leaping Readers Event 21

Guest Artists Mary LeGere, Artistic Director Emeritus, Guest Choreographer, Staging The Dancing Princess A native of Rotterdam NY, Mary LeGere began her dance training at age nine. In 1976, she won a scholarship to the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet where she studied 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 with her husband, 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 Artistic Director of the reestablished Raleigh Dance Theatre until her retirement in June 2021. Ms LeGere has choreographed 17 works for Raleigh Dance Theatre, 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 20062007 North Carolina Dance Alliance Annual Award. This prestigious award honors individuals who have made significant life-time contributions to the growth and development of dance in North Carolina. 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. Ann Vorus, Raleigh Dance Theatre Founder, Guest Choreographer A former soloist with Atlanta Ballet, Ms Vorus moved to Raleigh in 1980 with her husband Jackson Parkhurst who was hired by the North Carolina Symphony. In 1981 Ms. Vorus founded The Raleigh School of Ballet (RSB) and in 1984, realizing the need for students to have performance training, she founded Raleigh Dance Theatre. Trained at, and later a faculty member of, the Atlanta School of Ballet (now The Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education), Ms. Vorus worked with Dorothy Alexander, Robert Barnett, and Merrilee Smith. Additionally she studied at the American Ballet Theatre School and the Joffrey Ballet as well as with many guest teachers at ASB. It was with forethought and planning that Ms. Vorus patterned The Raleigh School of Ballet after The Atlanta School of Ballet with its strong commitment to the professional training of dancers and very early introduced the use of a strong syllabus for the orderly training of the students. Since every ballet company everywhere seemed to present The Nutcracker for the holiday season, Ms. Vorus chose instead the Grimm’s fairytale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses. After rewriting the story to fit the available dancers, in 1991 she choreographed The Dancing Princess for Raleigh Dance Theatre. The ballet, presented annually for ten years, became a popular Triangle family holiday tradition. 22

In 2003 Ms. Vorus received the North Carolina School of the Arts Distinguished Teacher of the year award and, also that year, retired and passed the school to long-time faculty members Susan Galdy and Mary LeGere. Ms. Vorus and her husband now go between living on a mountain-side very close to Brevard, North Carolina and a more urban lifestyle in Clemson, SC. Her latest exploits have been stained glass, pottery, jewelry making, and quilted art. She is also taking a turn at sewing professional looking clothes and so far has several she is proud to claim! Jennifer Sommers, Guest Choreographer holds an MFA in Dance, Performance and Choreography from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She has performed with Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers 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. She was the Associate Director of Raleigh Dance Theater where she created several ballets for their annual Storybook Tales production including The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Engine That Could and Rainbow Fish. She was the Founding Dance Educator at KIPP Sharpstown College Prep before joining the Houston Ballet Education & Community Engagement department. She currently serves as Director of the Houston Ballet Academy, overseeing all educational programming. She has also served on the faculty of and choreographed for the University of Houston, Meredith College and the University of Minnesota, Morris. Luke Potgieter, Guest Artist Luke Potgieter began ballet training at The School of American Ballet at age 9 under Olga Kostritzky, Jock Soto, Johnathan Stafford and Andrei Kramarevsky. Upon graduating, he joined the Cleveland Ballet directed by Gladisa Guadalupe for their 2015-2016 season. In 2016, Mr. Potgieter spent a year at Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division before joining Carolina Ballet in 2017.

The Facade by Layla El-Khoury, Emerging Choreographer’s Performance, December 2020 23

Alice in Wonderland by Jennifer Sommers, Spring 2021

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 and Grace. 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 was a principal dancer there before going to Toronto, Canada where she danced with Ballet Jörgen Canada. In 2002 she joined Carolina Ballet as a soloist. 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 and The Four Temperaments; Lynn Taylor Corbett including Carmina Burana, Great Galloping Gottschaulk, and Carolina Jamboree, and Jose Limon including Moor’s Pavane. She also performed works by Dameon Woetzel, Christopher Wheeldon and Tyler Walters. She retired in 2011 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. Layla El-Khoury, Artistic and Administrative Coordinator received her training at The Raleigh School of Ballet where she graduated from the Professional Division Program in 2015. She was a member of Raleigh Dance Theatre for six years under the direction of Mary LeGere. Ms El-Khoury continued her training in ballet and contemporary dance at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance training with Peter Sparling, Bill DeYoung, Amy Chavasse and Judy Rice. She then transferred to NC State University where she received her B.S. in Biological Engineering in May 2020. When she returned to Raleigh, Ms El-Khoury began working at RSB, receiving her young children’s ballet teacher training under faculty members Kathryn Daniel and Christine Grider. She joined the RSB faculty in 2018 teaching advanced modern, improv and composition during the summer. That same year, Ms El-Khoury joined RDT as the Administrative Assistant. With her growing interest in choreography, she attended the Glenda Brown Choreography Project for two years working with Leslie Jane Pessemier. Her work, The Facade was selected for the RDA/SE’s Emerging Choreographers Performance. In July 2021, she was named Artistic and Administrative Coordinator of RDT. She is currently working on an M.S. in Biological Engineering at NCSU and is a member of the State Dance Company under the direction of Tara Mullins. 25

Raleigh Dance Theatre Company Dancers

Gia Agrawal

Mae Attwood

Kai Baker

Noah Braun

Diana Cantú-Melo

Alexandra Cataldi

Natalie Clyburn

Jacqueline Cranfill

Marius Diaz

Tova Feldman

Sadie Grider

Ben Holton

Raleigh Dance Theatre Company Dancers

Sarah Hughes

Noah Imbriaco

Lucinda Lietz

Gabriela Manriquez

Ava Munn

Sammy Sakomen

Sophie Skergan

Mackenzie Spicer

Zachary Spicer

Lilah Upton 27

Mae Attwood and Noah Imbriaco in Alice in Wonderland by Jennifer Sommers, Spring 2021 28

Raleigh Dance Theatre Apprentices

Kelliann Argo

Aggie Krempasky

Daphne Lin

Eliza May

Taylor Murphy

Victoria Niu

Isabelle Roy

Amour de la Danse by Mackenzie Spicer, Emerging Choreographer’s Performance, December 2020

Patrick Tyson 29

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