Raleigh Dance Theatre 2022-2023 Season Playbill

2022-2023 SEASON

Wednesday, September 14, 2022 Evening of Hope Angus Barn, Raleigh NC

Leaping Readers: Outreach and George W. Newton School Performance Initiative events

Timber Drive Elementary School, October 27, 2022

North Raleigh Regional Library, November 6, 2022 Wake County Girls Club, November 15, 2022

Lockhart Elementary School, November 17, 2022 Barwell Elementary School, November 17, 2022 Eva Perry Library, November 20, 2022 CC Spaulding Elementary School, December 2, 2022

Friday, December 9, 2022

George W. Newton School Performance of Storybook Tales

Saturday, December 10, 2022 Storybook Tales

AJ Fletcher Opera Theater, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts Raleigh, NC

January 19-22, 2023 Youth America Grand Prix Winston-Salem, NC

February 24-26, 2023 UNCSA Festival of North Carolina Dance Winston Salem, NC

Sunday, March 19, 2023 Girl Scout Event Make Every Dance Step Count The Raleigh School of Ballet Studios

April 22 and 23, 2023 Spring Repertoire Cary Academy Theater Cary, NC

April 27-30, 2023

Regional Dance America/Southeast Festival Montgomery, AL

Photos by Hunter Morris or Abigail Simon WWW.RALEIGHDANCE.ORG

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @raleighdance

Cover:

Danse Allegresse, Choreography by Mary LeGere, Spring Repertoire 2022

Dear Friends of Raleigh Dance Theatre

Welcome to our 38th season! We celebrate performing in two theaters with pre-pandemic crowds, and an outreach schedule full of in-person events. We greet you with warmth and excitement as you share a love of dance with us.

Storybook Tales brings back Artistic Director Emeritus, Mary LeGere’s Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly, based on the beloved children’s book by Jane O’Connor. Artistic Director Megan Marvel, alongside Artistic Advisor Hong Yang, have re-staged the classic Coppelia, Act I, and Durham based choreographer Tracey Durbin has challenged our dancers with a passionate new contemporary work, Where Do We Start. Marvel’s Rayne and the Yellow Dress, inspired by the book by local Raleigh author, Dr DeAnna Murphy and the experiences of Black ballerinas throughout the 20th century rounds out our program and brings new faces to our audience. Bringing new families into the theater to experience the beauty of dance has long been an important part of RDT’s mission. The 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. Sponsors made donations, and community partner organizations gathered underserved families to receive nearly two hundred free tickets to Storybook Tales. If this is your first ballet performance, we are thrilled to have you join the RDT family!

Spring Repertoire at Cary Academy Theater offers guest choreography by Ruth LeneyMidkiff, and RDT favorites, Susan Carlin Galdy’s Whimsy and Megan Marvel’s Snow White. It is an amazing thing to see a production come together from the first day of rehearsal with a group of diverse dancers standing in front of you with open hearts and minds. The dancers inspire choreographers as new works develop. Even classic ballets shift each year as dancers show different strengths. Insights come from consultants, ballet mistresses and those that performed the ballets before, providing a rich final product. Directors accept the responsibility of passing down history and tradition from our predecessors and simultaneously taking inspiration from our ever-changing world. This is what keeps ballet fresh and exciting for our audiences. 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.

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.

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

Noah Imbriaco and Zachary Spicer in Fairy Doll, Storybook Tales 2021

Tova Feldman in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Spring Repertoire 2022, Choreography by Jennifer Sommers

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 Theater, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Company, Royal Danish Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, 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.

Raleigh Dance Theatre

Ann Vorus, Founder

Mary LeGere, Artistic Director Emeritus

Megan Marvel, Artistic Director Hong Yang, Artistic Advisor Tiana Smith, Administrative Assistant

Company Teachers

Megan Marvel, Hong Yang Layla El-Khoury, Ashley Hathaway, Ruth Leney-Midkiff, Natalie Morton, Sarah Pautz, Jayson Pescasio

Board of Directors

Robert Schantz, President

Megan Marvel, Artistic Director Hong Yang, Artistic Advisor William Hardiman, Treasurer Lisa Hathaway, Secretary

Members at Large

Jill Cody, Susan Carlin Galdy, David Newton, Heather Setzler, Catherine Shoemaker, Carolyn Snoden, Rebecca van Dorsten

The Raleigh School of Ballet, Inc. is the affiliate school of the Raleigh Dance Theatre, Inc.

Fragile Vessels, Choreography by Emily Horowitz, Regional Dance America Southeast Festival Festival 2022

Hong Yang, Director

Professional Training in Classical Ballet for Forty Years

The Raleigh School of Ballet has provided professional training in classical ballet for 40 years. Founded in 1984 by Ann Vorus and 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 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 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

Raleigh Dance Theatre Guild Members 2022-2023

Guild Co-chairs

Misty Hughes & Nef Spicer

Committee Chairpersons

Jill Cody, Wardrobe

Karen Attwood & Diana Melo, Silent Auction

Layla El-Khoury, Children’s Coordinator and RSB Liaison

Yu-Min Lin and Carol Niu, Snack Barre Karen Attwood, Butter Braids Fundraiser

Genny Upton, Scrips Fundraiser

Pamela Lietz, Bouquets for Dancers

Misty Hughes, GWN School Resource Guide Support

Dave Upton, Production Support

Emily Horowitz, Social Media Alison Munn, Tickets DeAnna Murphy, Getting the Word Out

Leslie and Ryan Antiel, Brian Attwood, Bill and Debra Baker, Rachel and Raj Banyal Evan and Lisa Chiu, Rob Cranfill, Beasley and Heather Dunn Leah Friedman and Stephen Feldman, Julie and Shawn Gillen Andrew and Charlotte Holton, Bill Hughes, Amy and Mark Imbriaco Christine and David Kilbride, Micah and Michael Krempasky, Tim Lietz, Fang-Yi Lin John and Monica Livingston, Carlos and Rachel Manriquez, Andrew and Rebecca May Pablo Melo, Larry Murphy, Jiausho Niu, Zach Spicer Chad and Kristen Tyson, Renee and Tony Williams

Tova Feldman and Sammy Sakoman in the The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Choreography by Jennifer Sommers, Spring Repertoire 2022

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 LilyGrace Wolfe, Graphic Design

Hunter Morris, Photography

Richard Proctor, Tax Preparation

Robert Schantz, Computer Technology/Videography and Editing

Layla El-Khoury, Music Editing

Caroline Cataldi, Set and Costume Support

The Dancing Princess, Choreography by Ann Vorus, Storybook Tales Fall 2021

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.

Our Generous Donors

Corporate Support and Matching Grants

Anonymous7

Amazon Smile Blackbaud Giving Fund Converge Therapy7 Epic Games Foundation of Hope Matthews Children’s Foundation Natural Beauti Hair Salon7 New Southern Loans5 Professional Steward Services7 RTI7

Synergy Care and Counseling7 Walker Lambe5

$1000 and above Robert and Sarah Feldman5 Michael and Pam Marvel6 David Newton5

$500-$999

Anonymous7, Jill Cody, Alix Davis7, Dr. Mary Susan Fulghum5, Andrew and Charlotte Holton Billy and Misty Hughes, Amy and Mark Imbriaco, Christopher King7, DeAnna and Larry Murphy7 Denise and Walter Newton5, Mary LeGere and John Newton1,2,4,5, Carol and Jianshuo Niu7 Dr. Robert Schantz2,7, Alan Spicer7, Lori Spicer7, Peter and Rebecca van Dorsten7

$200-$499

Beth Argo, Bill and Debra Baker, Bryan and Lisa Cauley5, The Clyburn Family7 Jeffrey and Melody Diaz, John and Judith Erwin5, Leah Friedman and Stephen Feldman7 Elliot and Susan Galdy4, Micah and Michael Krempasky, Carlos and Rachel Manriquez Andrew and Rebecca May, Ayako and Will Newton5, Cynthia and Steve Roy Bobbey and Chris Sakoman, Catherine Shoemaker6 Lucy and Williams Stokes, Chad and Kristen Tyson

$100-$199

Anonymous1, Jennifer Bedick6, Megan Marvel and Rob Cranfill2, Denise and Drew D’Angelo6 Anne Dunbar, Greg and Lisa Granger5, Iris Green7, Lisa and Richard Hathaway, Sabrina Karr Fang-Yi and Yu-Min Lin, Ann Rauchbach7, Jodi Schwartz5, Heather Setzler7 Elizabeth and Lars von Kantzow5, Christopher White7

Up to $99

Camille Carroll, Meredith Carruthers, Pamela and Timothy Lietz Donna and Stephen Mariani, Carrie O’Brien, Kun Wu3

1Includes contribution(s) made to the Ann Vorus Choreography Endowment Fund established in May 2003 in honor of Raleigh Dance Theatre’s Founder

2Includes contribution(s) made to the Mickey and Frank LeGere Costume Fund established in June 2011.

3Includes contribution(s) made to the Mickey and Frank LeGere Costume Fund in memory of XiaoLing Feng.

4Includes contribution(s) made to the Barbara and Bernard Carlin Memorial Music Fund, established September 2012.

5Includes contribution(s) made to the George W. Newton School Performance Initiative Fund, established in 2015.

6Includes contribution(s) made to the Mary LeGere Company Fund, established in August 2021 in honor of Artistic Director Emeritus, Mary LeGere.

7Includes contribution(s) made to the Rayne and the Yellow Dress Project, established in August 2022.

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 10, 2021 – November 10, 2022

Graduation Ball, Spring Repertoire 2022

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 premiers in Storybook Tales

-Ruth Midkiff, Euphoric premiers in Spring Repertoire

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.

• 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 preprofessional 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. Firstly, it allows 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.

2022 Student & Alumni News

During summer 2022 RDT dancers trained with prestigious summer programs including: Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Austin, Boston Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Alum:

Peyton (Anderson) Bond joined Columbia City Ballet Emily Horowitz joined the faculty at RSB and set two solos for RDT dancers participating in the Youth America Grand Prix Layla El-Khoury was named RSB Administrative Director

Sammy Sakoman was invited to be a trainee with Ballet Magnificat!

Currently dancing with professional companies:

Lydia Bevan, Royal Danish Ballet Calvin Bittner, Des Moines Metro Opera Kathleen Black, Carolina Ballet-Soloist

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

Dylan Giles, Festival Ballet Providence

Ashley Hathaway, Carolina Ballet – Principal Cameron McCune, American Ballet Theatre

Giovanna Montoya, Columbia Classical Ballet

Chandler Procter, Tulsa Ballet

Mimi Staker, New York City Ballet

Dargan Swearingen, Nashville Ballet-Trainee 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!

2022 Company Photo

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, 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. After pivoting to create virtual experiences for children the past few years due to the pandemic, we are thrilled to be back in schools providing 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 13 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

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

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. 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 be back presenting our Leaping Readers events in person this season at 4 Elementary Schools, 2 libraries and adding an event with the Wake County Girls Club!

The Dancing Princess, Choreography by Ann Vorus, Storybook Tales Fall 2021

Guest Artists

Sam Ainley-Zoll, Guest Artist, born in Sacramento, California began training at The School of Sacramento Ballet at age ten under the direction of Melanie Haller, followed by Crockett-Deane Ballet under the direction of Barbara Crockett. Mr Ainley joined the School of American Ballet on full scholarship in 2013, with mentorship from Jock Soto. At age 17 he accepted a position with Boston Ballet as a member of their second company under the directorship of Peter Stark. In 2017, he accepted a contract with Carolina Ballet under the direction of Robert Weiss and Zalman Raffael. Under the leadership of Zalman Raffael, he was promoted to Soloist in 2019 and then Principle in 2021. Ainley danced with the Carolina Ballet for six seasons before attending NC State and is now a Goodnight Scholar studying human biology hoping to pursue a medical degree.

Tracey Durbin, Guest Choreographer, Where Do We Start, Storybook Tales moved to Durham from Portland, Oregon where she was an integral part of the Portland dance scene for over 25 years. She trained under Eugene Louis Faccuito “Luigi”, one of the most famous international jazz teachers of his generation. The Luigi technique and philosophy became the foundation of her teaching. A robust, musical, choreographed warm-up guides dancers to explore expression, community, movement flow and student individuality.

Ms Durbin choreographed and taught for Northwest Dance Project, Body Vox Dance, Oregon Ballet Theatre and Reed College. She was one of four choreographers chosen for the Northwest Dance Project Chopin Project with acclaimed pianist Yekwon Sunwoo and is also a featured artist in the book Beauty is Experience: Dancing 50 and Beyond!

Ms Durbin currently teaches at NC State, Ninth St Dance, The Raleigh School of Ballet, American Dance Festival, and continues with her zoom classes. This is her second work for Raleigh Dance Theatre.

Layla El-Khoury, Ballet Mistress, Where Do We Start, Storybook Tales received her training at The Raleigh School of Ballet where she graduated from the Professional Division Program and Raleigh Dance Theatre in 2015. Ms El-Khoury continued her training in ballet and contemporary dance at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. She 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 and joining the RSB faculty and RDT staff in 2018. 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. She has served as the Artistic and Administrative Coordinator of RDT and now serves as the liaison to The Raleigh School of Ballet where she is the administrative director. She is currently working on her PhD in Biological Engineering at NCSU and is a member of the State Dance Company under the direction of Tara Mullins.

Susan Carlin Galdy, Guest Choreographer, Whimsy, Spring Repertoire is originally from New York City and received her early training from the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School and Robert Joffrey’s American Ballet Center. She was awarded a full scholarship to the Harkness Ballet Program where she trained under David Howard. Ms Galdy holds a B.F.A. in Dance from SUNY Purchase and continued her training on scholarship with Finis Jhung. She has performed professionally with New York’s Theatre Dance Collection and The DeYoung Dance Theatre. Ms Galdy has served

on the faculties of several studios in New York City, the University of Massachusetts, and Meredith College. She joined the faculty of The Raleigh School of Ballet in 1991 and became Associate Director of the school in 1999. Ms Galdy was named Director of The Raleigh School of Ballet in 2002 until her retirement in June 2021.

Ms Galdy served as Associate Artistic Director of Raleigh Dance Theatre from 1996-2000. Ms Galdy has created many new works for RDT, several re-staged on a new generation of dancers. Her ballet, Whimsy premiered in 2004, was performed again i n 2007 and was in rehearsal to be presented in the Spring of 2020 when the performance was canceled due to the pandemic. We are excited to present Whimsy in the 2023 Spring Repertoire .

Ruth Leney-Midkiff, Guest Choreographer, Euphoric, Spring Repertoire has been a dancer, teacher, and choreographer for over 45 years, dedicating her professional life to sharing her passion for high quality dance with young dancers. Her own studies began at Point Park College with additional training at the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, and the University of Michigan. As a soloist with the American Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Nicolas Petrov, Ms Leney-Midkiff performed leading roles in the Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Romeo and Juliet, Pas de dix, and Ruth Page’s Carmina Burana, among others. Additionally, she performed as a free-lance artist both in Pittsburgh and Michigan. Ms Leney-Midkiff holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Pittsburgh as well as an MFA in Modern Dance from the University of Michigan. In Michigan, she served on the faculties of the University of Michigan and the Flint School of Performing Arts. She also established and directed a youth program at the Dance Gallery Studio/Peter Sparling Dance Company.

Since moving to NC in 2004, Ms Leney-Midkiff has served on the faculties of several area schools and ultimately founded and directed the Wake Forest Civic Ballet (2010-2018). She has been invited to teach master classes throughout the US and abroad and has created over 70 original pieces of choreography. She is proud to have her students dancing in companies, as well as teaching in schools and universities throughout the US, and is so pleased to be sharing her love of dance with RSB students.

Ava Munn in Graduation Ball, Spring Repertoire 2022

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 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: Bonjour, Butterfly, Storybook Tales

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

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.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Choreography by Jennifer Sommers, Spring Repertoire 2022

Raleigh Dance Theatre Company Dancers

Sarah Hughes

Mae Attwood

Tova Feldman

Diana Cantú-Melo

Jacqueline Cranfill

Julia Chiu

Lucinda Lietz

Daphne Lin

Noah Imbriaco

Aggie Krempasky

Ben Holton

Kai Baker

Raleigh Dance Theatre Company Dancers

Gabby Manriquez

Lilah Upton

Eliza May

Zachary Spicer

Taylor Murphy Mackenzie Spicer

Victoria Niu

Patrick Tyson

Ava Munn

Fairy Doll, Storybook Tales Fall 2021

Todd Erbst, PT | Erbst OrthoSport

F 28 years experience as an orthopedic and sports physical therapist

F Treated many professional athletes from MLB, NHL, USA Track and Field

F 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

Raleigh Dance Theatre Apprentices

Adelyn Antiel

Nina Banyal

Claudia Gillen

Larsen Dunn

Gabriella Williams

Sophie Livingston

Anabelle Kilbride

Taylor Murphy and Diana Cantú-Melo in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Choreography by Jennifer Sommers, Spring Repertoire 2022

Noah Imbriaco in Flower Festival in Genzano, Spring Repertoire 2019. Photo by Hunter Morris Jacqueline Cranfill in Twisted Tango, Spring Repertoire 2022 Choreography by Megan Marvel

Twisted Tango, Choreography by Megan Marvel, Spring Repertoire 2022

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www.rti.org

Phone: (919) 790-6415 • Email: mbowden@dhbins.com

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Mae Attwood in Fairy Doll, Storybook Tales 2021

Natalie Clyburn with Carolina Ballet’s Luke Potgeiter in The Dancing Princess, Choreography by Ann Vorus, Storybook Tales Fall 2021

Diana Cantú-Melo, Lucinda Lietz and Mae Attwood in Danse Allegresse, Choreography by Mary LeGere, Spring Repertoire 2022

Dance Gives Life Balance.

Kilpatrick Townsend believes that our work and commitment as lawyers extends beyond the walls of our firm. As a patron of the arts, we are proud to support organizations dedicated to uplifting others. We thank the Raleigh Dance Theatre’s dedication to enrich the lives of young dancers. -Bravo!

The Dancing Princess, Choreography by Ann Vorus, Storybook Tales Fall 2021

DiRienzo Builde Proudly Supports Raleigh Dance Theatre