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Warehouse District 701 S.Peters, New Orleans (504) 547-6330 NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27 | 9

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ON THE COVER Alonzo King LINES Ballet’s Adji Cissoko. Spring Season 2026. PHOTO BY RJ MUNA. In order of appearance (left to right): Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Ashley Kaylynn Green. PHOTO BY ANDREW ECCLES . Houston Ballet Principal Yuriko Kajiya as Cio-Cio San and former First Soloist Christopher Coomer as Sharpless in Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly (2016). PHOTO BY AMITAVA SARKAR. Argentina’s Tango After Dark dancers on stage. PHOTO BY DANNY KAAN.

EDITOR Ashley McLellan ART DIRECTOR Tiffani Amedeo DIGITAL DIRECTOR Rosa Balaguer PRODUCTION DESIGNER Ashley Pemberton

Table of Contents 14 Welcome from NOBA

33 Center for Dance Season of Dance

16 Letter from the Mayor

34 Bringing Dance into the Community

18 Board of Directors and Staff

36 Dance and Arts Healing

20 NOBA Will... 22 Pilobolus 24 Alonzo King LINES Ballet 26 Argentina's Tango After Dark 28 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 30 Houston Ballet

38 When School is Out, Dance is in! 40 Master Artist Series 42 NOBA Faculty 44 BRAVO 45 BRAVO Puts the FUN in FUNdraising 46 BRAVO Annual Fundraising Event 48 Prix d'Elegance Awards Luncheon 50 Institutional Investors 52 Individual Donors 56 Invest in the Future

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Brooke LeBlanc Brooke@MyNewOrleans.com CEO Todd Matherne

The 2026-27 New Orleans Ballet Association program is produced for the New Orleans Ballet Association by Renaissance Publishing, LLC New Orleans Ballet Association 935 Gravier St., Suite 800 New Orleans, La 70112 504-522-0996 www.NOBAdance.com Copyright 2026 New Orleans Ballet Association and Renaissance Publishing, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. © New Orleans Ballet Association

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Welcome to NOBA’s 54 Season of Bringing Dance to Life! th

elcome to NOBA’s 54th season of bringing dance to life! There is something extraordinary about gathering together to experience a live performance. For a few hours, movement, music and imagination transport us, opening our eyes to new possibilities and reminding us of the joy, beauty and humanity we share. We have each been part of NOBA for more than three decades, with the privilege of witnessing the many ways dance can inspire, connect and transform lives. We have watched extraordinary artists take our stages, young dancers discover their potential and people of every age find joy and belonging through movement. Those experiences continue to deepen our commitment to NOBA, to the people we serve and to the art form we both love. That spirit is at the heart of the 2026–27 season. Pilobolus opens the year with its remarkable blend of physical invention, imagination and humor, followed by the long-awaited return of Alonzo King LINES Ballet in a special collaboration with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. In the spring, Argentina’s Tango After Dark brings the passion and elegance of tango to our stage; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns for two performances featuring entirely different programs; and Houston Ballet closes the season with Stanton Welch’s breathtaking Madame Butterfly. This is also a season of meaningful milestones. We celebrate 35 years of NOBA’s Center for Dance, which began with 30 students

at one NORD recreation center and has grown into a nationally recognized model of dance education and community partnership. We also mark the 10th anniversary of the Oscar J. Tolmas Dance for Parkinson’s Program, the only licensed program of its kind in Louisiana. Together, these milestones reflect the breadth of NOBA’s enduring commitment to our community. NOBA’s continued strength rests on careful stewardship and the generosity of those who believe in our work. That foundation allows us to grow and innovate, bring world-class dance to our region and provide tuition-free education, health and wellness programs throughout the community. We are deeply grateful to our Board of Directors, the volunteers of BRAVO and Men and Women of Fashion, our donors, partners, artists and staff, and all those whose commitment sustains this organization. To our subscribers, audiences, students and families, thank you for being part of the NOBA community. We look forward to sharing this extraordinary season with you.

Board Chair Gregory Curtis with NOBA Pre-Professional students at the March 20 Triple Crown "Crescent Club" event.

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With gratitude, Gregory Curtis, Board Chair Jenny Hamilton, Executive Director

Breakfast | Brunch | Lunch | Dinner Reservations | 504.522.1994

A Message from New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno

Dear New Orleans Ballet Patrons and Subscribers, As Mayor of New Orleans, I am proud to congratulate the New Orleans Ballet Association on its 2026–27 Season of Dance and to celebrate its partnership with the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission, a partnership that has enriched our city for more than three decades. New Orleans is known throughout the world for its extraordinary culture, but I believe our culture should do more than inspire visitors. It should create real opportunity for the people who call this city home. That is exactly what happens through the NOBA/NORD Center for Dance, where children, adults and seniors across our neighborhoods receive high-quality dance training, learn from world-class artists, strengthen their health and confidence and discover what they are capable of, all tuition-free. What began with just 30 students at a single NORD recreation center in 1992 has grown into a nationally recognized model of dance education and community partnership. Since its founding, the Center for Dance has provided more than $11 million in tuition-free programming to over 37,000 participants through more than 90,000 classes and activities. Behind those numbers are generations of New Orleanians, from a four-year-old taking her first plié at a neighborhood recreation center, to a teenager pursuing advanced training and dreaming of a professional career,

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to a senior finding renewed strength, wellbeing and friendship through dance. This is what it looks like when a city invests in its people at every stage of life. My administration is committed to strengthening NORD and building partnerships that deliver meaningful results for our residents. NOBA and NORD demonstrate what is possible when the City and a dedicated community organization unite their resources, expertise and shared commitment to serve families in neighborhoods across New Orleans. To NOBA’s leadership, faculty, dancers, supporters and community partners: Thank you for showing up for our young people and our elders alike, season after season, and for demonstrating that excellence in the arts belongs to every New Orleanian. When every child has the opportunity to dream and every resident has the opportunity to thrive, our culture does more than endure, it flourishes. That is what it means to be All In for New Orleans. Sincerely,

Helena Moreno

Mayor, City of New Orleans

Board of Directors CHAIR Gregory Curtis VICE CHAIRS Sandra Stage Chaisson Monique Gougisha Doucette Steven A. Friedman Cynthia LeBreton SECRETARY Elizabeth Ellison-Frost TREASURER Cathy M. Green IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Dottie Belletto MEMBERS Mark R. Beebe Charlotte Bollinger Tiffa Boutté Guy P. Brierre Elizabeth Broekman Taiwan Brown Stephanie Burks Jacquee Carvin Scott Champagne Allison Shapiro Dandry Rosalyn Ditta John M. Duck

Ann Duplessis Krystle Duplessis Marian Gibbs Laurie Guimont Teresa Guzzetta Dr. Neil Jolly Mary Lakey Henry M. Lambert Sunni LeBeouf Willis A. Lovell Alysse McLoughlin Max Moreno Holly S. Popham James Schoen Marilyn H. Smith Toni Van Zandt Constance Willems Pamela M. Williams Angele Wilson LIFETIME MEMBERS Jacquelyn B. Clarkson* M. Cécile Gibson Henrietta Ramirez Hall Dr. Bernard M. Jaffe Dr. E. Ralph Lupin* Nancy O’Connell* Phyllis M. Taylor Janée M. Tucker Betty Wisdom*

*deceased

Staff EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jenny R. Hamilton

FINANCE Ready CPA LLC

BOX OFFICE/AUDIENCE SERVICES Wanda W. Fulton

GRAPHIC DESIGN Lauren Faustermann

CENTER FOR DANCE/EDUCATION Millette White Lin Bethani Pete Collins

PHOTOGRAPHY Jeff Strout

MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS Kaysee Donathan Buoyant Communications Carol Fox & Associates

TECHNOLOGY Courant

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

DEVELOPMENT/EVENTS Francesca Martin Chris Frerichs

VIDEOGRAPHY Bruce France WEBSITE Annunciation Interactive

TECHNICAL/WARDROBE Baylee Robertson Alex Smith Mandi Wood

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4 1: Front (l to r): Elizabeth Broekman, Monique Gougisha Doucette, Constance Willems, Cathy Green. Back (l to r): Gregory Curtis, Cynthia LeBreton, Steven Friedman, Holly Popham 2: Front (l to r): Alysse McLoughlin, Sandra Chaisson, Laurie Guimont, Max Moreno. Back (l to r): Neil Jolly, MD, Sunni LeBeouf, Mary Lakey, Taiwan Brown 3: Front (l to r): Charlotte Bollinger, Marilyn Smith, Pamela Williams, Allison Shapiro Dandry. Back (l to r): James Schoen, Marian Gibbs, Mark Beebe 4: Front (l to r): Stephanie Burks, Scott Champagne, Toni Van Zandt. Back (l to r): Rosalyn Ditta, Elizabeth Ellison-Frost, Angele Wilson, Krystle Duplessis. Not pictured: Dottie Belletto, Guy P. Brierre, Jacquee Carvin, John M. Duck, Ann Duplessis, Teresa Guzzetta, Henry M. Lambert, Willis A. Lovell

New Orleans Ballet Association F ounded in 1969, the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) cultivates understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of dance through performance, education and community service. NOBA’s dynamic programs position it as a leading dance and service organization throughout the region and a unique, national model dedicated solely to dance.

IN 2026–27, NOBA WILL...

PRODUCE

50+ extraordinary concerts featuring over 2,000 artists 8 dance companies/choreographers as artists in residence 80+ pre-professional students in performance on local and national stages during the school year & summer 2 arts healing programs at 5 locations – the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson’s Program and the Senior Dance Fitness Program

TRAIN

2,000 students ages 4–80+

PROVIDE

100+ weekly tuition-free classes and activities at up to 20 neighborhood sites 5,500+ tuition-free dance classes and activities annually 75,000+ contact hours with participants of education programs 40+ local artists’ employment and professional development

ENRICH

33,000 dance enthusiasts through more than 5,500 services New Orleans Ballet Association 935 Gravier Street, Suite 800 New Orleans, La 70112 T (504) 522-0996 NOBAdance.com

1: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Ashley Kaylynn Green. PHOTO BY ANDREW ECCLES 2: NOBA alum Lauren Guzman. PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT 3: Senior Dance Fitness participant performing at NOBA’s Spring Concert at Tulane’s Dixon Hall. PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

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PILOBOLUS SAT | OCT 17, 2026 • 7:30 PM MAHALIA JACKSON THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

“ASTONISHING, VIRTUOSIC, AMAZING!” — Dresdner Morgenpost

PILOBOLUS: BLOODLINES “DUET 24” DEBUT: WALTON ARTS CENTER, FAYETTEVILLE, AR. PHOTO BY JASON HUDSON.

Pilobolus’s 50+ years of innovation captivates fans across time and space, embodying the way life changes shape. Pilobolus, a beacon of innovation in the dance world since 1971, pushes the limits of human physicality to reveal the beauty and power of connected bodies. With a fearless and rebellious spirit rooted in its Dartmouth College origins, Pilobolus captivates audiences through a dynamic blend of athleticism, artistry and imagination. Their ever-evolving repertoire, created in collaboration with dancers and thinkers from diverse disciplines, has touched hearts and minds worldwide, leaving a lasting imprint on popular culture with over 120 pieces performed across 65 countries. Pilobolus’s shows engage, inspire and astonish, leaving viewers with a profound sense of connection and wonder. Pilobolus’s history is rich with accolades and collaborations with some of the world’s most influential minds. Recognized as 22 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

one of Dance Heritage Coalition’s “Irreplaceable Dance Treasures,” Pilobolus continues to be at the forefront of innovation in the performing arts, a journey chronicled in Robert Pranzatelli’s 2024 book Pilobolus: A Story of Dance and Life, detailing Pilobolus’s rise from a counterculture experiment to a cultural institution. Pilobolus’s outreach programs extend this creative ethos, welcoming everyone — regardless of age, ability or experience — to explore the joy of movement and the limitless potential of collaboration through masterclasses, workshops and other interactive and educational experiences. Pilobolus’s mission is to create, perform and preserve dances, expand and diversify audiences, and teach dancers, non-dancers and organizations to harness creative potential.

PHOTOS: PILOBOLUS: FLIGHT. JOYCE 2025. PHOTO BY EMILY DENARO; PILOBOLUS: FLIGHT. JOYCE 2025. PHOTO BY STEVEN PISANO.

PHOTO BY BRIGID PIERCE

RENÉE JAWORSKI

EXECUTIVE/CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Renée Jaworski has been an indelible force in Pilobolus’s artistic landscape since

PHOTO BY BRIGID PIERCE

MATT KENT

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Matt Kent joined Pilobolus as a dancer in 1996 without any formal dance training.

joining as a dancer in 2000. A performer who captivated audiences worldwide, her magnetic stage presence laid the foundation for an expansive creative career. In 2011, she was chosen to lead Pilobolus’s post-succession evolution, becoming artistic director, and in 2022, she became the company’s first executive director with an intimate dance background. Her choreographic experience has been extensive and pioneering, crafting pieces reflecting her innovative dance and theater approach. Her exceptional work spans various platforms, from the 79th Academy Awards to the Grammy®nominated video for OK Go’s “All is Not Lost,” as well as overseeing prestigious projects like “Radiolab Live: In the Dark” and the World Science Festival, Time and

the Creative Cosmos. The University of the Arts honored her with the Silver Star Alumni Award, and her collaborative work on Round House Theatre’s production of The Tempest, directed by Aaron Posner and Teller, earned Pilobolus the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Choreography in a Play in 2023. In 2024, she was awarded a Connecticut Arts Hero Award by the State of Connecticut’s Office of the Arts. Guiding Pilobolus with vision and creativity, she ensures it remains a vibrant, celebrated arts organization.

His unconventional path mirrors that of the company’s founders, embodying the spirit of innovation and boundary-pushing creativity at the heart of Pilobolus. He has performed on prestigious stages worldwide and created choreography and artistic direction for colleges, professional dance companies and grand productions involving shadow, horses, acrobats, largescale Michael Curry puppets, actors, stunt performers, hip-hop dancers and athletes – even developing the movement vocabulary for “The Walking Dead.” In 2023, he won the Helen Hayes Award alongside Pilobolus Executive/Co-Artistic Director Renée Jaworski for Outstanding Choreography for Shakespeare’s The Tempest, co-directed by Aaron Posner and Teller. His work has appeared on the Academy Awards, “Late

Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Penn & Teller’s Fool Us,” “Wetten, dass..?” and multiple television commercials. Since becoming artistic director of Pilobolus in 2016, Kent has continued to bring an unconventional approach to innovative theatrical experiences and family programming, preserving the authenticity of vintage historic works while breaking new ground to create transformative experiences that engage, inspire and leave audiences in awe.

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ALONZO KING LINES BALLET SAT | NOV 14, 2026 • 7:30 PM MAHALIA JACKSON THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

“ALONZO KING IS ONE OF THE FEW BONA FIDE VISIONARIES IN THE BALLET WORLD TODAY.” — San Francisco Chronicle

PHOTO: ADJI CISSOKO + SHUAIB ELHASSAN © ALONZO KING LINES BALLET © ANGELA STERLING

Alonzo King LINES Ballet is a celebrated contemporary ballet company that has been guided since 1982 by the unique artistic vision of Alonzo King. The Company has collaborated with noted composers, musicians and visual artists from around the world

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to create performances that alter the way we look at ballet today. Its unique artistic vision adheres to the classical form — the linear, mathematical and geometrical principles that are deeply rooted in the pre-existing East-West continuum.

PHOTO BY FRANCK THIBAULT

ALONZO KING LINES BALLET: THEO DUFF-GRANT VERSION 1 © RJ MUNA; PEACOCK BACKGROUND ADJI CISSOKO PHOTO RJ MUNA.

ALONZO KING

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER Alonzo King is an internationally acclaimed pioneer of contemporary ballet. Named as a choreographer with “astonishing originality” by The New York Times, he has guided LINES Ballet with his unique artistic vision since 1982. His work has been recognized for its impact on the cultural fabric of the company’s home in San Francisco, as well as internationally by the dance world’s most prestigious institutions. King calls his works “thought structures,” created by the manipulation of energies that exist in matter through laws, which govern the shapes and movement directions of everything that exists. Working in the repertoires of the world’s leading ballet and

modern companies, he has collaborated with distinguished visual artists, musicians and composers across the globe. Named a Master of Choreography by The Kennedy Center in 2005, King is the recipient of the NEA Choreographer’s Fellowship, the Jacob’s Pillow Creativity Award, the U.S. Artist Award in Dance, the New York Bessie Award, the San Francisco Arts Medallion Award and the National Dance Project’s Residency and Touring Awards. In 2015, he received the Doris Duke Artist Award in recognition of his ongoing contributions to the advancement of contemporary dance. King was also named one of America’s “Irreplaceable Dance Treasures” by the Dance Heritage Coalition, joining historic icons in the field. In 2020, he was honored with a Dance Magazine

Award, and his choreography appears in the 2023 short film “Flower,” produced by and starring Misty Copeland. King was also inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2022 and received the Minyon Harlin Award from University of California, San Francisco in 2024 for his service to women and girls with HIV. King’s celebrated ballet Deep River is featured on “NEXT” at The Kennedy Center, a series on PBS that showcases artists who are at the forefront of their disciplines and serve as culture bearers of the 21st Century. “ORIGINS,” a cinematic portrait of King and LINES Ballet directed by award-winning filmmaker Drea Cooper, has garnered awards at film festivals across the U.S. Renowned for his skill as a teacher, King was also honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Corps de Ballet International Teacher Conference in 2012. An internationally acclaimed guest ballet master, his training philosophy undergirds the educational programming at the Alonzo King LINES Dance Center of San Francisco, which includes the pre-professional summer program and the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Dominican University of California. Furthermore, King is a former San Francisco commissioner and a writer and lecturer on humanity and art. King has received honorary doctorates from Dominican University of California, California Institute of the Arts and The Juilliard School, in recognition of his significant contribution to the field of dance.

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TANGO AFTER DARK SAT | FEB 20, 2027 • 7:30 PM MAHALIA JACKSON THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

“TANGO AFTER DARK LINGERS ON THE NOTES OF PASSION FROM THE FIRST BEAT. A SHOW OF TECHNIQUE AND UNBELIEVABLE CRAFTSMANSHIP.” — North West End UK, London

TANGO AFTER DARK DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. PHOTO BY DANNY KAAN

Tango After Dark is the ultimate theatrical tango experience straight from Argentina, merging the intoxicating music of great Argentine tango composer Astor Piazzolla with jaw-dropping choreography and breath-taking moves to reveal tango in its most authentic yet sophisticated form. As Argentina’s most popular dance, world-renowned for its seductive powers, this mesmerizing show combines the sensuous side of tango with its rawness and quick-fire precision, taking this passionate dancing language to the limit to create a unique and exhilarating performance. Entirely inspired by the work of Piazzolla — a prominent figure in contemporary Argentine music — this theatrical experience draws on his masterful blend of urban music and cutting-edge composing techniques. Piazzolla sought a provocative renewal of style through transforming sonority and rhythm, creating a sound and sensation recognized worldwide. In the 1960s and 70s, his revolutionary Nuevo Tango reshaped the tango landscape. 26 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

With live music from a sensational singer and on-stage band bringing Piazzolla’s passionate music to life, tango superstar and World Champion Germán Cornejo leads his superb company of 10 world-class dancers to capture the sultry nature of tango in this breath-taking performance. The show moves through different periods of Piazzolla’s work, transforming dance into a vivid portrait of the composer’s creative spirit. Deeply inspired by Piazzolla’s revolutionary style, Cornejo pushes his own tango language to its limits, blending roots with innovation and the melancholic and surreal Buenos Aires with 21st-century sophistication. With multiple sold-out performances across the globe, Cornejo’s spectacular choreography has captivated audiences for more than a decade through its unique mix of tradition and modernity. Celebrities including Simon Cowell, Marc Anthony, Mel B., Heidi Klum and Jennifer Lopez have praised his work.

TANGO AFTER DARK DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. PHOTO BY DANNY KAAN

COURTESY OF TANGO AFTER DARK

from the Gatell Conservatory of Dance with a Master of Tango degree. He later expanded his training in classical and contemporary ballet, jazz and acrobatics, and began a Master of Choreographic Composition at the National Institute of Arts. Legendary Tango Argentino ballerina and Broadway star Nélida Rodriguez, his “Artistic Godmother,” played a crucial role in his training, imparting both dance knowledge and the secrets of tango technique. Cornejo won the Gold New Talent prize in 2003 and the Competition of Gold Dance in 2005 on the popular TV show “Susana Gimenez.” That same year, he became World Tango Champion and went on to earn numerous accolades, including seven gold medals in Buenos Aires Province youth contests. He has performed at renowned tango houses in Buenos Aires and danced at notable milongas such as La Viruta, Porteño and Bailarín. His talent has been showcased GERMÁN CORNEJO on leading TV shows in South America and ARTISTIC DIRECTOR internationally, including “Susana Gimenez,” Born in Zárate, Buenos Aires Province, “Showmatch” and “Por el Mundo.” Cornejo on May 31, 1986, Germán Cornejo began has collaborated with acclaimed productions studying tango at age 10. By 15, he graduated and orchestras such as El Arranque

Orchestra and Osvaldo Berlingeri’s Vamos al Tango and toured the world performing in venues such as the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, Sydney Opera House and Luna Park Arena. His appearance on the reality TV show “¡Q’Viva! The Chosen” brought further recognition, leading to his role as guest artist on Jennifer Lopez’s “Dance Again – World Tour.” He has coached contestants on the Latin American version of “Dancing with the Stars” and guided many students to top placements in the World Tango Championship. Currently, Cornejo is the director of choreography and lead dancer for the Tango Fire Company of Buenos Aires and leads his own Germán Cornejo Dance Company. He has created successful productions including Immortal Tango, Tango After Dark and Wild Tango, leaving a lasting mark on the world of tango through his artistry, innovation and passion.

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ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER SAT | MAR 13, 2027 • 7:30 PM – Program A MAHALIA JACKSON THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS SUN | MAR 14, 2027 • 3:00 PM – Program B

“THE TOTALITY OF ALVIN AILEY... PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL BEAUTY.” — The New York Times

PHOTO: ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER’S J. HARRIS, H. RICHARDSON, I. DAY, A. GREEN. PHOTO BY ANDREW ECCLES.

Founded by Alvin Ailey on March 30, 1958, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the most acclaimed dance companies in the world. With a repertory that boasts close to 300 works by more than 100 choreographers, it has performed in more than 70 countries on six continents and has been designated a “vital American Cultural Ambassador to the world” by a U.S. Congressional resolution. Forged during a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was established to uplift the African American experience while transcending boundaries of race, faith and nationality with its universal humanity. Ailey invited dancers of all backgrounds to be a part of his vision while reimagining his company as a “library of dance,” a home for a wide range of choreographers’ works that might otherwise be lost. Before his untimely death

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in 1989, Ailey named Judith Jamison as his successor, and for 21 years she brought the company to unprecedented success before appointing Robert Battle to steward the company from 2011–2023. In 2025, Alicia Graf Mack became the organization’s fourth artistic director. A former Ailey dancer under both Jamison and Battle and a former dean and director of the Dance Division at The Juilliard School, Graf Mack brings her passion for dance and dance education to the continuation of the Ailey tradition. Today, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues to bring joy to audiences around the globe, while expanding its repertory with works by new choreographers and upholding Ailey’s legacy for future generations. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater gratefully acknowledges The Joan & Sandy Weill Global Ambassador Fund, which provides vital support for Ailey’s national and international tours.

PHOTOS: ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER’S ASHLEY KAYLYNN GREEN. PHOTO BY ANDREW ECCLES; ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER’S HANNAH ALISSA RICHARDSON. PHOTO BY ANDREW ECCLES; ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER’S ASHLEY KAYLYNN GREEN. PHOTO BY ANDREW ECCLES.

ALICIA GRAF MACK. PHOTO BY ANDREW ECCLES

ALICIA GRAF MACK

DARIA L. AND ERIC J. WALLACH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Alicia Graf Mack was a star performer on the Ailey stage during a spectacular career between 2005 and 2014, when she was brought into the company and mentored by the incomparable Judith Jamison. In 2025, she returned to serve as Ailey’s fourth artistic director after distinguishing herself

as the Dean and Director of the Dance Division of The Juilliard School from 20182025. Born in San Jose, California, Graf Mack grew up in Columbia, Maryland. She began her career with Dance Theatre of Harlem under the direction of Arthur Mitchell and ascended to become a highly recognized principal ballerina. A celebrated artist, she performed with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and made guest appearances with Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Her versatility led to collaborations with artists including Beyoncé, John Legend, Andre 3000, Alicia Keys and Jon Batiste. Graf Mack has graced the stages of major galas and festivals, performed tributes to luminaries including Carmen de Lavallade at the 2017 Kennedy Center Honors and danced at the memorial services for Arthur Mitchell at New York City’s Riverside Church and Jessye Norman at the Metropolitan Opera House. A Columbia University graduate (magna cum laude, honors in history), she also holds an MA in nonprofit management from Washington University in St. Louis. Some of her many

honors are the prestigious 2023 Dance Magazine Award, Smithsonian Magazine’s American Innovator of the Arts and Sciences and the Ebony Power 100 List of influential Black leaders and innovators. Other accolades include an honorary doctorate from The Juilliard School in 2025, Columbia University’s Medal of Excellence, keynote addresses at Columbia’s School of General Studies in 2008 and 2025, and the 2025 Columbia Black Alumni Heritage Award. Before arriving at Juilliard, Graf Mack was an assistant professor at Webster University and an adjunct professor at the University of Houston and Washington University. She hosted three seasons of “Moving Moments,” a podcast in which she interviews colleagues and friends to discuss the creative process and living a purposeful life in dance and is now working on a new podcast at Ailey, to launch later in 2026.

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HOUSTON BALLET SAT | APR 17, 2027 • 7:30 PM MAHALIA JACKSON THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

“..A TESTAMENT TO THE GRACE AND RESILIENCE OF THE FEMALE SPIRIT.” — Houston Press

HOUSTON BALLET PRINCIPAL YURIKO KAJIYA AS CIO-CIO SAN AND ARTISTS OF HOUSTON BALLET IN STANTON WELCH’S MADAME BUTTERFLY. PHOTO BY AMITAVA SARKAR (2016). COURTESY OF HOUSTON BALLET.

Founded in 1969, Houston Ballet is one of the nation’s leading ballet companies — an artistic force and an important business leader and partner in the Houston region — inspiring audiences through artistic excellence, bold choreography and a commitment to the future of dance. Under the artistic leadership of Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM and the chief administrative leadership of Executive Director & CEO Sonja Kostich, the company is home to the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance, the largest professional dance facility in the country. Houston Ballet operates with a $47 million annual

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budget (FY27) and a $134.5 million endowment (as of February 2026), presents a diverse repertory of classical and contemporary works and tours internationally with a global reach spanning 116 countries. Houston Ballet Academy serves as a leading pipeline for emerging dance talent, training more than 1,000 students annually — most on scholarship. Through complementary education and community engagement programs, the company reaches more than 85,000 people annually, expanding access to dance across the Houston region.

ABOUT MADAME BUTTERFLY One of Stanton Welch’s most powerful works and his first full-length ballet, Madame Butterfly was originally choreographed in 1995 for The Australian Ballet. Set to Puccini’s powerful score, this production is a stunning achievement in neoclassical ballet and remains an international success, with performances across three continents. A poignant tale of love, hope and sacrifice, Madame Butterfly follows a beautiful Japanese geisha who gives up her faith and family to marry an American naval lieutenant. Exquisite choreography paired with picturesque sets and costumes by Peter Farmer evokes the mystery and languor of 19th-century Japan. The culmination of the production draws audiences into Cio-Cio San’s emotional journey with striking intimacy and intensity.

HOUSTON BALLET PRINCIPALS YURIKO KAJIYA AS CIO-CIO SAN AND CONNOR WALSH AS PINKERTON IN STANTON WELCH’S MADAME BUTTERFLY. PHOTO BY AMITAVA SARKAR (2016). COURTESY OF HOUSTON BALLET. HOUSTON BALLET ARTISTIC DIRECTOR STANTON WELCH AM. PHOTO BY JULIE SOEFER (2023). COURTESY OF HOUSTON BALLET.

STANTON WELCH

THE HARRIS MASTERSON III ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Stanton Welch AM was born in Melbourne to Marilyn Jones OBE and Garth Welch AM, two of Australia’s most gifted dancers of the HOUSTON BALLET ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JULIE KENT. PHOTO BY JULIE SOEFER (2023). COURTESY OF HOUSTON BALLET.

JULIE KENT

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Following a celebrated career as a professional ballerina and artistic leader,

1960s and 1970s. He joined The Australian Ballet, rising to the rank of leading soloist and performing various principal roles, before serving as resident choreographer. During his decades long career, Welch has choreographed over 100 works including audience favorites Madame Butterfly (1995), Clear (2001) and Divergence (1994). His work can be seen in the repertoire of The Australian Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet, among others. In July 2003, Welch was appointed artistic director of Houston Ballet, America’s fourth-largest ballet company. Welch has choreographed more than 40 works for Houston Ballet, including Marie (2009) and spectacular stagings of Swan Lake (2006), La Bayadère (2010), Romeo and Juliet (2015), Giselle (2016), The Nutcracker (2016), Sylvia (2019) and Raymonda (2025).

Developing Houston Ballet into a choreographic Eden, Welch has commissioned over 30 works from notable choreographers such as Mark Morris, Aszure Barton, Dwight Rhoden, Trey McIntyre and Justin Peck, while expanding the company’s repertoire with works from internationally acclaimed choreographers including George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, John Neumeier, Twyla Tharp and Jerome Robbins. Under Welch’s leadership, Houston Ballet has appeared across the globe including recent engagements in Tokyo, Dubai, Melbourne, New York City and Washington, D.C. Welch continues to nurture the next generation of artists through the Houston Ballet Academy, a leading institution in dance education and training.

Julie Kent joined Houston Ballet as artistic director in July 2023, partnering with Stanton Welch AM to lead the nation’s fourth largest classical ballet company. From 1985 to 2015, Kent danced with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), serving a historic 29 years. She performed a vast repertoire of classical and neoclassical roles and worked closely with many choreographic luminaries including John Neumeier, Twyla Tharp, Lar Lubovitch, Stanton Welch and Alexei Ratmansky. Kent also performed as a guest artist with leading international companies including the Mariinsky Theatre, New York City Ballet, Teatro alla Scala, Stuttgart Ballet, Berlin Staatsballett, The Australian Ballet, Houston Ballet, Bayerisches Staatsballett, Teatro Colón, Ballet de Santiago and Tokyo Ballet.

She also starred in the films "Dancers" (1987) and "Center Stage" (2000). In 2015, she was named Artistic Director of ABT’s Summer Intensive, a comprehensive training program for 1,400 students across five campuses. From 2016 to 2023, she served as artistic director of The Washington Ballet, commissioning more than 26 world premieres and expanding the repertoire with classical and contemporary masterworks. Her honors include the Prix de Lausanne, Erik Bruhn Prize, Prix Benois de la Danse, Dance Magazine’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” and honorary doctorates from University of North Carolina School of the Arts and American University.

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NOBA Center for Dance Season of Dance

2026-27

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERT SERIES

NUTCRACKER

NOV - DEC, 2026 | APR - MAY, 2027 Various Partner Sites

SUN | DEC 6, 2026 • 3:00 PM & 6:00 PM Dixon Hall, Tulane University

Our Neighborhood Concert Series celebrates over 2,000 students ages 4-80+ enrolled in our tuition-free dance programs across Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes. These inspiring showcases highlight young dancers from early childhood through high school following their Fall and Spring sessions.

Experience the magic of Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday adventure in a special one-hour production perfect for the entire family. From an enchanting party, a dramatic battle and dancing dolls to a whimsical journey to the Land of Sweets, this magical tale is uniquely brought to life by over 100 participants ages 6-70+ of NOBA’s tuition-free programs for youth and senior citizens from the greater metropolitan area.

Held directly at local recreation centers, each performance marks a milestone of technical growth, confidence and creative expression. These events offer a special space for parents, families and neighborhood supporters to gather together and applaud our students as they take the stage in their own communities.

SUMMER CONCERT

FRI | JUL 30, 2027 • 7:00 PM Freda Lupin Memorial Hall, NOCCA

SPRING CONCERT

SUN | MAY 16, 2027 • 7:00 PM Dixon Hall, Tulane University

Join us for a special concert of works created and set by the esteemed guest artists from companies such as BODYTRAFFIC, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispánico and more during our heralded summer intensive.

This inspirational evening of dance features the remarkable talent and accomplishments of our youth artists performing new works by renowned local and guest artists.

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Bringing Dance Into the Community Dance for All: 35 Years of the Center for Dance SINCE 1992

$11M+

IN TUITION-FREE PROGRAMMING

37,000+ PARTICIPANTS SERVED

CELEBRATING ACCESS & OPPORTUNITY

In 1992, visionary leaders — the New Orleans City Council, the Office of the Mayor, the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD) and NOBA — united with a single, powerful goal: to enrich lives across our region through the power of dance. From this dynamic collaboration, the Center for Dance was born — a groundbreaking public-private partnership ensuring that children, regardless of financial means, have access to high-quality dance education.

A LEGACY OF IMPACT

Over the past 34 years, the Center for Dance has provided more than $11 million in tuition-free programming to over 37,000 participants through nearly 90,000 classes and activities, earning the prestigious Coming Up Taller Award from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. What began with 30 students at one site now serves 2,000 youth and adults annually at up to 20 community locations, in nearly 100 weekly tuition-free classes and special workshops - ballet, hip hop, modern, West African, jazz and more.

ANNUALLY

~90,000 CLASSES & ACTIVITIES

GROWING ARTISTS, LEADERS & COMMUNITY

NOBA’s Pre-Professional Program delivers advanced, rigorous training for students ages 8 and up, featuring masterclasses with worldrenowned dancers and choreographers through the Master Artist Series at Lyons Rec Center and Tulane University. Students also benefit from internship opportunities, intensive local summer training, full scholarships to elite national summer intensives and free or reduced-price performance tickets through The Helis Foundation Ovation Program. To further nurture young talent, NOBA created the Plié Program — an invitation-only initiative for motivated students ages 6–10 to accelerate their classical ballet foundation.

UP TO

2,000

COMMUNITY LOCATIONS

YOUTH & ADULTS SERVED

Beyond local stages, Pre-Professional students act as cultural ambassadors for New Orleans, performing on prestigious national stages including New York City’s Joyce Theater and Plaza Hotel, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

A LEGACY OF IMPACT

As the Center for Dance marks 35 years of service, its founding mission remains unwavering: to break down barriers, empower local youth and provide life-changing access to dance for every member of our community — fostering creativity, confidence and connection, one dancer at a time.

ON STAGE & BEYOND

Each season, participants ages 4 to 80+ take the stage for packed houses of family and friends in fully produced main stage concerts at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall, NOCCA’s Lupin Hall and local community sites — complete with costumes, professional lighting and stage management.

“NOBA truly cares about each student's growth, both on and off the stage. It’s a program that builds character, exposes children to new opportunities, and surrounds them with positive role models.” - NOBA Parent 34 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

35 YEARS OF GROWTH 1992

1995

2008

The City, NORD and NOBA unite to open dance to every child, regardless of means.

After-School Ballet Program launches with Chalmette Refining & the Parish School Board.

Launched at NORD’s request; now an essential weekly offering for active adults.

CENTER FOR DANCE FOUNDED

ST. BERNARD PARISH BEGINS

DANCE FITNESS FOR 55+

2017

OSCAR J. TOLMAS CHARITABLE TRUST DANCE FOR PARKINSON’S PROGRAM Currently Louisiana’s only licensed Dance for PD® affiliate.

2026-27

35TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF CENTER FOR DANCE Up to 20 community sites, 2,000+ youth and adults served

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT & NOBA STAFF

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Dance & Arts Healing Through Generations Y

ear after year, NOBA continues its commitment to delivering inclusive, accessible and transformative dance and arts healing activities for over 2,000 participants ages 4–80+ through more than 5,500 free classes across a wide variety of dance forms. Ongoing collaborations with an expanded network of partners — such as the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD), St. Bernard Parish School Board, New Orleans JCC, Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation, Tulane University, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), Willow Charter School and other area universities and K–12 schools — continue to increase NOBA’s capacity to deliver positive health outcomes and foster vibrant, creative communities. Since its inception ten years ago, the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson’s Program has reached a total attendance of nearly 8,500 through specialized, ongoing weekly classes and outreach activities that empower individuals with Parkinson’s disease to creatively explore movement and live music in a safe, welcoming and fun environment. Modeled after the Mark Morris Dance Group’s research-backed program, NOBA is proud to celebrate its recent designation as Louisiana’s only licensed affiliate of the internationally acclaimed Dance for PD® program. Classes take place twice weekly in the mornings at two locations — Mondays in Metairie at Pontiff Gym and Wednesdays in New Orleans at the JCC. In fall 2025, NOBA was named as the only U.S. recipient of the Bowen Award for Inclusive Choreography to support new dance works for people living with Parkinson’s. Through this award,

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choreographer John Heginbotham created Feet Don’t Fail Me Now, a multigenerational piece featuring 34 local dancers that premiered at Tulane University in May 2026. Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and at NORD’s request for crucial senior programming, NOBA’s Senior Dance Fitness Program for ages 55+ launched in 2008. Now celebrating over 18 years of impact, this tuition-free program is offered twice weekly at three community centers. The program features stretching, cardio and dance set to uplifting music; health and wellness sessions; interactive workshops with visiting Main Stage artists; social gatherings; performance opportunities including the intergenerational The Nutcracker Suite; and discounted tickets to Main Stage performances. For many, Senior Dance Fitness is vital to combating chronic health conditions — reducing stiffness, arthritis pain, respiratory issues, blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Beyond physical wellness, participants share that the program breaks isolation, creating lasting friendships and essential social support networks. NOBA’s residency work with Main Stage companies regularly produces unique opportunities for community members to be moved in body, mind and spirit. Throughout the year, NOBA also hosts weekly, open, drop-in ballet masterclasses taught by renowned local and guest artists for adults and teens on Monday and Wednesday mornings at the Lyons Rec Center. These sessions, alongside additional masterclasses across genres and skill levels, offer participants inspiring ways to refine their technique or explore the joy of dance for the very first time.

1: The ENCORE Project: NOBA PreProfessional students, Senior Dance Fitness participants and the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust’s Dance for Parkinson’s program participants perform Guest Artist John Heginbotham’s Feet Don’t Fail Me Now at the NOBA Spring Concert at Tulane’s Dixon Hall. 2: Senior Dance Fitness participants perform at Joe W. Brown Rec Center as a part of NOBA’s Neighborhood Concert Series. 3: A special health workshop “Know Your Numbers” presented in partnership with LCMC’s New Orleans East Hospital at Joe W. Brown Rec Center. 4: Open Community Class with Guest Artist Julie Opiel at Lyons Rec Center 5: Guest Artist Robert Garland, artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, assists a student in NOBA’s Intermediate/Advanced Ballet Class. 6: Guest Artist John Heginbotham leading the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust’s Dance for Parkinson's class at the Pontiff Gym. 7: Dance Theatre of Harlem Guest Artist Ingrid Silva instructs NOCCA students in a special master class presented by NOBA. 8 and 9: Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust’s Dance for Parkinson’s program participants at the New Orleans JCC. 10: Senior Dance Fitness program participant at Lyons Rec Center. PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT AND NOBA STAFF

“NOBA continues to be a shining star in the lives of senior citizens in New Orleans.” -NOBA Senior Dance Fitness Participant

“When I came here, it was magical...I don’t look at my limitations the same way...I have expanded, and it’s a blessing to New Orleans that we have this program!” -Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson’s Program Participant 8

Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Dance for Parkinson's Program Established in 2017 and Louisiana's only licensed Dance for PD® program affiliate 9

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When School is Out, Dance is in!

Summer Programs for Youth

“NOBA provides high-quality dance training, but even more importantly, it offers a supportive environment where young people learn discipline, confidence, teamwork and responsibility. For our family, NOBA has been a life-changing resource!” - NOBA Parent

OBA’s tuition-free youth programming extends far beyond the school year into a vibrant array of summer dance and fitness camps in partnership with NORD and community organizations. Led by a passionate faculty of distinguished local and visiting artists, these summer sessions engage body and mind while fostering essential life skills like self-confidence, teamwork, discipline, focus and dedication. Motivated dancers ages 8 to 18 may also audition for NOBA’s specialized summer intensives, offering rare opportunities to train and perform alongside industry professionals. All participants in the Adventures in Dance Camp and Summer Intensives showcase their growth in Neighborhood Concert Series performances.

ADVENTURES IN DANCE DAYTIME CAMP for up to 40 children ages 7–11 of all

experience levels takes place over three and a half weeks in June at the NORD/NOBA Center for Dance Studio at Lyons Rec Center. This highly sought-after camp features: • Daily dance technique classes in ballet, modern, hip hop, jazz, West African, Brazilian dance and more • Interactive educational activities covering nutrition, health, dance history, music, visual arts and literacy • A complimentary children’s dance book for every participant to expand their home library • Exciting field trips, guest presentations and creative workshops!

JUNE MASTER ARTIST SERIES INTENSIVES (by audition for ages 10–18) bring renowned master artists from across the country for immersive, week-long technique and repertory sessions. TWO-WEEK JULY MORNING INTENSIVE (by audition for ages 8–12) offers a halfday introduction to the summer intensive experience. Young dancers are challenged and inspired through foundational technique classes in ballet, jazz and modern, complemented by sessions in choreography and dance history.

THREE-WEEK JULY AFTERNOON INTENSIVE (by audition for ages 10–18)

features visiting guest artists focused on elevating technical proficiency, confidence and self-expression through classes in conditioning, ballet, modern and contemporary genres.

JULY EVENING MINI-INTENSIVE (by audition for ages 8–12) provides a seven-day intensive experience for promising young dancers, building strength, flexibility, class etiquette and stage presence through evening technique classes in ballet, jazz and modern. THREE-WEEK JULY DAYTIME INTENSIVE (by audition for ages 12–18) serves as NOBA’s flagship intensive for intermediate and advanced dancers. Featuring rigorous training with prestigious national faculty, this program culminates in a main stage concert where students share the stage with visiting professional artists. 38 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

“I love to dance...it's fun and makes me feel like I’m doing something good!" -NOBA student

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT & NOBA STAFF

NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27 | 39

NOBA Master Artist Series

OBA’s year-round Master Artist Series transforms the lives of aspiring dancers in New Orleans, giving them unparalleled access to world-renowned choreographers, directors and dance companies — all tuitionfree. From Dance Theatre of Harlem and BODYTRAFFIC to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Contemporary West Dance Theatre, these residencies open doors, broaden horizons and inspire the next generation of performers. Throughout the school year, NOBA students train and perform alongside distinguished artists and receive ongoing faculty mentorship. Guest artists from Dance Theatre of Harlem and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago led master classes as part of residencies surrounding their respective Main Stage performances in October and March. In November, a select number of students from NOBA’s Pre-Professional Program shared the Mahalia Jackson Theater stage with artists from the acclaimed Los Angeles–based BODYTRAFFIC as part of a special encore section of the company’s premiere of Trey McIntyre’s Ma Maison with Preservation Hall Jazz Band, honoring the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Master Artist in Residence and former Armitage Gone! Dance soloist Emily Wagner provided core instruction throughout the year, alongside regular visits from former Dance Theatre of Harlem principal Donald Williams. In the spring, renowned choreographers John Heginbotham and Joan Rodriguez created original works on select Pre-Professional Program youth participants, which premiered to enthusiastic applause at NOBA’s annual Spring Concert at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall in May. NOBA’s summer intensives allowed students

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rigorous opportunities to deepen their training across diverse dance techniques and choreographic genres. In June, students worked with guest faculty including Craig Black, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Rehearsal Director, as well as Bernard Gaddis, Artistic Director of Contemporary West Dance Theatre and former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer. The annual three-week July intensive featured a star-studded faculty anchored by BODYTRAFFIC, including Founder and Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett alongside Joan Rodriguez, Katie García, Guzmán Rosado, Julie Opiel and Jahnell Boozer. This unique program pushed dancers to new artistic heights through intensive technique, partnering and repertory sessions, supplemented by special workshops on injury prevention, nutrition, mindfulness techniques, stage makeup and more. The summer intensive culminated on July 31 at NOCCA’s Freda Lupin Memorial Hall, where NOBA youth, alumni and guest artists took the stage together to perform riveting excerpts of BODYTRAFFIC repertoire. “The way that they run the program is pretty much equivalent to what we do,” shares BODYTRAFFIC’s Katie García. “Having a creation period that’s three weeks long with a choreographer is something that you do as a professional, so this program is getting them ready as pre-professionals to go out in the world if they choose a career in dance.” For the dancers, the impact is life changing. NOBA pre-professional student Alisiya Arguello credits the series with preparing her for a life in dance: “Because of NOBA, I can grow as an artist, learn from professionals and experience what it feels like to be supported as a young

dancer pursuing a career in the arts.” Fellow student Sherry Erwin echoed that sentiment, noting, “Because of NOBA, I am not just learning dance steps; I am learning how to navigate the professional world with confidence and resilience… as I look toward the future, I carry with me the discipline and passion that the program has instilled in me.” These programs do far more than train dancers. “By having all of these amazing teachers and choreographers around, these students are becoming the best artists and humans they can be,” offers Joan Rodriguez, BODYTRAFFIC Rehearsal Director. One artist, one residency and one performance at a time, the program nurtures leaders, builds confidence and creates lasting connections across our entire community.

“The way that they run the program is pretty much equivalent to what we do. Having a creation period that’s three weeks long with a choreographer is something that you do as a professional, so this program is getting them ready as preprofessionals to go out in the world if they choose a career in dance.” -Katie García, BODYTRAFFIC Rehearsal Director

“By having all of these amazing teachers and choreographers around, these students are becoming the best artists and humans they can be.”

-Joan Rodriguez, BODYTRAFFIC Rehearsal Director

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT & NOBA STAFF

1: NOBA Pre-Professional student Sherry Erwin in class with Guest Artists Joan Rodriguez and Katie García at Lyons Recreation Center 2: NOBA Pre-Professional student with Guest Artist Bernard Gaddis at Tulane University 3: NOBA Pre-Professional student with Guest Artist Tina Finkelman Berkett at Tulane University 4: NOBA Pre-Professional students performing an excerpt of SNAP in NOBA’s Summer Concert at NOCCA

5: Guest Artist Joan Rodriguez with NOBA summer intensive students at Lyons Recreation Center 6: Guest Artist Katie García with NOBA summer intensive students at Lyons Recreation Center 7: NOBA Pre-Professional students performing an excerpt of I Forgot the Start at NOBA’s Summer Concert at NOCCA 8: Guest Artists Joan Rodriguez and Katie García performing their work Quiet Company at NOBA’s Summer Concert at NOCCA

9: NOBA Pre-Professional students on stage with Guest Artist John Heginbotham ahead of NOBA’s Spring Concert at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall 10: NOBA Pre-Professional students performing an excerpt Joan Rodriguez’ Bloquea’o at NOBA’s Summer Concert at NOCCA 11: NOBA alum Lauren Guzman performing an excerpt from Cinderella at NOBA’s Spring Concert at Tulane’s Dixon Hall

NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27 | 41

NOBA Faculty SUSAN BENSINGER REBECCA DELERY CHAUVIN

EVERY YEAR, OUR FACULTY TIRELESSLY:

KALEB CLAUSELL BETHANI PETE COLLINS APRIL DAYOK ALINE NEVES DE SOUZA-MYERS

SERVE 2,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS

CALEB DOWDEN ALICE PASCAL ESCHER KAYLA ESTIPULAR EMILY FARROW

LEAD OVER 5,500 TUITION-FREE DANCE CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES VALUED AT OVER $1 MILLION

KELLY HARP HABER IMANI JOHNSON-BEY MILLETTE WHITE LIN

LEAH LOGSDON SUMAYAH MCRAE*

SPEND OVER 75,000 CONTACT HOURS WITH PARTICIPANTS OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS

NYNA MOORE JAELYN ROBINSON CEYLON SEIBER AMANDA SILVERTOOTH TAI ASHLEY TEAMER EMILY WAGNER* KENNEDY WALKER BRITTNEY WILLIAMS-REESE

FOR HEADSHOTS & BIOS, VISIT: 2

*Visiting Master Artists

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ALINE NEVES DE SOUZA-MYERS Celebrating 20 Years of Service as a NORD/NOBA Center for Dance Lead Instructor

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT & NOBA STAFF

1: Caleb Dowden teaching modern at Tulane's McWilliams Hall 2: Rebecca Delery Chauvin leading Senior Dance Fitness at Joe W. Brown Rec Center 3: April Dayok leading the Oscar J. Tolmas Dance for Parkinson's Program at the New Orleans JCC 4: Jaelyn Robinson teaching ballet at the Stallings St. Claude Rec Center 5-8: Aline Neves de Souza-Myers teaching various classes throughout the years

“I’ve been blessed to work with NOBA since I first came to New Orleans in the fall of 2007 and still fall in love with NOBA’s mission to make dance accessible for everyone. This organization has provided me so much that I’ll never be able to thank them enough. I have had the pleasure of working with kids of all ages and helping start the Senior Dance Fitness Program (that is probably my proudest project). In addition, I’ve been given amazing professional development opportunities in town and conferences out of town, and met accomplished and talented artists from the companies that are presented in the Main Stage season. I’ve been able to learn from watching them teach through serving as Rehearsal Director for the incredible performance projects for our students with companies such as Limón Dance Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Parsons Dance, Ballet Hispánico and others. There are so many things I love about NOBA – professionalism, high standards, diversity – but if I had to choose one thing would definitely be the collaboration that we have at all levels and the fact that my opinion is highly valued, making me feel that I have found my ‘happy place’ where I can do what I love with people that share my passion.”

-Aline Neves de Souza-Myers, NORD/NOBA Center for Dance Instructor and founding instructor for the Senior Dance Fitness Program

NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27 | 43

BRAVO

Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization

eady to experience the New Orleans Ballet Association beyond the theater? BRAVO, the Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization, invites you to join our network of nearly 200 volunteers and community leaders who fuel NOBA’s work behind-the-scenes with their passion and creativity

BRAVO Officers

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE MEETINGS & PREMIER-ACCESS TO FUNDRAISING EVENT SALES & INFORMATION October 6 – Evening Fall Kickoff Event, Four Seasons Private Residences’ Board Room, featuring guest speaker Julie Kent, Houston Ballet’s Co-Artistic Director April 28 - Spring Meeting and Lunch, Briquette Restaurant October 20 – The BRAVO Boo Bash at Metairie Country Club, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., chaired by Val Grubb and Raven Palmer. Enjoy a three-course lunch, costume contests for individuals and groups by guest judges, entertainment, a silent auction and more! January 27, March 14 and April 16 BRAVO Triple Crown Package – A trio of events that celebrate dance as a vibrant art form and honor NOBA and BRAVO luminaries. More information on pages 46-47. April 5 - Men and Women of Fashion Prix d’Elegance Luncheon and Fashion Show benefiting NOBA’s youth programs, 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Hilton Riverside New Orleans. More information on pages 48-49. We hope you enjoy the artistry on stage tonight and consider joining this fantastic group of leaders, volunteers and advocates who help keep NOBA moving forward. Email bravo@nobadance.com or call the office at (504) 522-0996 x208 for more information.

“Being a part of BRAVO and having the privilege of serving as president has given me a front-row seat to the incredible impact NOBA has on our community. It’s about so much more than beautiful performances — it’s about opening doors for young people, giving them opportunities to discover their talents, build confidence and believe in themselves. Supporting NOBA means investing in our young people while celebrating the culture, creativity and spirit that make New Orleans so special.” —Elizabeth Broekman, 2026-2028 BRAVO President 44 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

BRAVO Officers. Front row (l to r): Allison Shapiro Dandry, Laurie Guimont, President Elizabeth Broekman, Marilyn Smith, Erica Washington. Back row (l to r): Sandra Chaisson, Raven Palmer, Marian Gibbs, Tammy O’Shea, Kat Edmundson, Aimee Eikel, Rena Jolly. Not pictured: Deborah Alciatore, Tiffa Boutté, Stephanie Burks, Valerie Grubb. PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

BRAVO extends its deep appreciation to the 2026-2027 Season Sustaining Members! Deborah Alciatore Lisa and Jay Baudot Penny Baumer Dottie Belletto Susan Benedetto Charlotte Bollinger Virginia Boulet and Alvin R. Albe, Jr. Tiffa and Kerry Boutté Dr. Claire Bradley Shannon Brice Elizabeth Broekman Stephanie and Ryan Burks Renee Carrere Amy Carbonette Cioll Jane Clayton, MD Cheryl Cotten Michelle Craig, Transcendent Law Group Amery Creighton Tony Currera Gregory Curtis Allie Shapiro Dandry Henson Davis Joey DiFatta Kathleen Edmundson Elizabeth Ellison-Frost Ashley Floyd Steve and Bethany Friedman

Denise Gassiot Marian Gibbs Leon L. Giorgio, Jr. Valerie M. Grubb Lauren Guimon Teresa Guzzetta Gwendolyn Hager Carol V. Hall Henrietta and Terence Hall Jenny R. Hamilton Kathy R. Hebert Kathryn Hill Dr. Bernard M. Jaffe Andrea Jones Deborah Kerr-Leathem and Les Leathem Millie and Robert Kohn Sasha Konrad Cynthia LeBreton Cheryl Lemoine Jamie M. Manders, DDS & James M. Riopelle, MD Junette McGougin Dr. and Mrs. Warren P. McKenna, Jr. (Gail) Alysse McLoughlin Dr. Jane Cagan Miller Ruth Mills Elsa Mims

Kathleen N. Mix Tammy Robinson O’Shea Dr. Jared and Mrs. Raven Palmer Elsie Rose Patrice L. Rose Mary Sigrist Dr. David Silvers Marilyn Smith R. Sonda Stacey Paulette Stewart Larry and Julie Stokes Phyllis M. Taylor LaVerne Toombs Janée (Gee) Tucker Anna Tusa Gerri Valene Toni Van Zandt and Richard Bachman Sunae Villavaso Erica Washington Cathie Choppin Weinstein Pamela Williams Karen Kraak Wood Dr. Lawrence and Mrs. Joan Zaslow *Member listing as of 9/20/26.

BRAVO Puts the FUN in FUNdraising! BRAVO’s members party with purpose!

RAVO’s fundraising events raise critical funds to support NOBA’s operations and dedicated Center for Dance campaigns. For example, the BRAVO Boo Bash silent auction directly supports NOBA’s youth programs. In 2015, BRAVO created The Nutcracker Legacy Fund, dedicated to the acquisition and maintenance of the Nutcracker costumes, sets and props used annually by the over 100 participants of NOBA’s The Nutcracker Suite production. With our patrons’ support, NOBA is able to replace tattered costumes for several scenes and ensure that our participants’ costumes stand the test of time, worn for years to come to transform our dancers into their legendary roles like Clara, the Rat King (or Queen!) and the Sugarplum Fairy. Nutcracker Legacy Fund donors are listed on page 55. 1

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT AND DINAH L. ROGERS

1: Aimee Eikel with 2025 BRAVO Boo Bash Co-Chairs Val Grubb and Liz Broekman. Grubb will reprise her role as co-chair joined by Raven Palmer for the event that returns to Metairie Country Club on October 20, 2026. 2: The founder of BRAVO, Phyllis Taylor, with immediate past BRAVO President Marian Gibbs at a special BRAVO Presidents’ luncheon at the Windsor Court Hotel. 3: 2024-2026 BRAVO President Marian Gibbs with BRAVO members Warren and Gail McKenna and Cherry Bordelon at the Season Kickoff Event. 4: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Artistic Director Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell with BRAVO members Millie Davis Kohn and Deborah Alciatore. Fisher-Harrell was BRAVO’s special guest at the 2025-2026 BRAVO Season Kickoff Event in The Four Seasons’ Private Residence building. 5: 2026 BRAVO Boo Bash Co-Chair Raven Palmer with Charlotte Bollinger. 6: NOBA Board and BRAVO members Sandra Chaisson, Mary Lakey, Gregory Curtis, Allie Shapiro Dandry, and Dr. Neil Jolly backstage with cast members of NOBA’s 2025 presentation of The Nutcracker Suite. 7: BRAVO members Yolanda Doucette, Alana Harris, and Gee Tucker with Dance Theatre of Harlem artists at the NOBA 2025-2026 Main Stage Season kickoff event at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans.

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BRAVO Annual Fundraising Event

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

OBA remains amazed by the dedication of BRAVO, the Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization, who lend their hard work, imaginations and boundless support each year to organize fundraising events that are critical to NOBA’s programs. The BRAVO Triple Crown benefit package invites guests to three trademark fundraisers united in a goal to support NOBA’s operations while providing unique, intimate experiences that celebrate the art form of dance and the legacy of longtime supporters. With signature elegance and creative concepts, these exclusive dinners and rare opportunities to engage with the art and artists have marked the Triple Crown as some of the community’s most anticipated charitable events. NOBA extends its sincere gratitude to its 2026 Triple Crown patrons, 20242026 BRAVO President Marian Gibbs, and the event chairs and committee members. The 2026 Triple Crown began with the Benefactors’ Dinner on February 25, hosted by the Windsor Court and chaired by Gregory Curtis and Charlotte Bollinger. The evening honored Hon. Henry Lambert and Murray and Gerri Valene for over three decades of extraordinary support, leadership and dedication. A glamorous cocktail reception in Le Salon was followed by a decadent three-course meal in the Chinoiserie Ballroom, which was set abloom with stunning rose “crowned” centerpieces by Stephen Sonnier and Dunn and Sonnier Antiques and Florals. The evening closed with an exciting live auction of art by the renowned David Harouni – an original triptych of his hallmark kings, commissioned and conceived especially for the event – and a one-of-a-kind diamond and sapphire ballerina pendant donated by Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry. The second event on March 20 took guests back in time to The Crescent Club, a speakeasy evening at Gallier Hall with the artists of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, chaired by mother-daughter duo Sandra Chaisson and Martine Chaisson Linares. The entertainment-charged event featured Anaïs St. John and her Quartet, 1718 Catering of Hyatt Regency New Orleans, a silent auction of art artworks donated by David Boudreaux and Richard Nesbit, and a special Fosse-inspired performance of “All That Jazz” by NOBA Center for Dance students. Triple Crown patrons also received an exclusive pre-party with a special preview excerpt of Fosse’s Sweet Gwen Suite ahead of Hubbard Street’s performance the following evening. The 2026 Triple Crown package originally included a Milonga dance party at the Mahalia Jackson Theater on January 23 with Tango After Dark. While the event had to be cancelled, we are ecstatic to share that NOBA will present the event on February 19 ahead of the company’s triumphant return to the stage on February 20. We thank our event chairs Luz Caputto, Ana Gershanik and Betty Speyrer, who will be reprising their roles for the rescheduled event. This event will be separate from the 2027 Triple Crown package.

Please Mark Your Calendars for

The Triple Crown

BRAVO’s third annual trio of spectacular, exclusive events celebrating our world-renowned Main Stage artists and our incredible patrons. January 27, 2027 — The Benefactors’ Dinner, Windsor Court Hotel March 14, 2027 — Reception with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Windsor Court Hotel April 16, 2027 – Exclusive Reception & Performance of Houston Ballet’s Madame Butterfly, Mahalia Jackson Theater

For more information or to become involved, please contact (504) 522-0996 x208 or fmartin@nobadance.com. 4 46 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

1. Gregory Curtis, Charlotte Bollinger, Marian Gibbs, Henry Lambert 2. Sandra Chaisson, Tiffany Taffaro, Martine Chaisson Linares, Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell 3. David Harouni, Gerri and Murray Valene 4. Chad Berg, Marilyn Smith, Steve Friedman 5. Janée M. Tucker, Warner and Pamela Williams

6. Bobby and Allie Dandry 7. Michael and Kim Williamson, Elizabeth Ellison-Frost 8. Cynthia LeBreton, Mary Lakey, Rosalyn Ditta, Max Moreno 9. Jacquee Carvin, David Boudreaux and Richard Nesbitt, Tiffa Boutté 10. Stephen Sonnier, Councilmember Lesli Harris, Shawn Lindsay

11. Chad Berg, Monique Doucette, Vanessa Berg, Ryan and Stephanie Burks 12. Laurie Guimont with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago artists 13. Sylvia Vellino, Raven and Jay Palmer, Jay and Lisa Baudot 14. Pamela Williams, Taiwan Brown

NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27 | 47

Prix d’Elegance Awards Luncheon 20+ Years of Support by the Men & Women of Fashion

oin the New Orleans Ballet Association for one of the year’s most prestigious giving events: the annual Men and Women of Fashion Prix d’Elegance Luncheon and Fashion Show. April 5, 2027, 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Men and Women of Fashion Prix d’Elegance Luncheon & Fashion Show Hilton New Orleans Riverside

Benefiting NOBA’s tuition-free youth dance programs and scholarships for advanced study

Women of Fashion Officers and Board Front row (l to r): Gail Barnes McKenna, Kat Edmundson, Jennifer Amedee, Holley Haag, Tiffa Boutté Back row (l to r): Liz Broekman, Shelley Hoddinott Richardson, Marian Gibbs, Laurie Guimont, President Stephanie Burks, Melanie Cannatella, Millie Davis Kohn, Marilyn Smith, LaVerne Toombs Not pictured: Deborah Alciatore, Sandra Chaisson, Monique Gougisha Doucette, Rhonda Eckholdt, Deborah Harkins, Tammy O’Shea, Dottie Reese, Anna Tusa

Honoring 20 individuals in our community who exemplify unique personal style as well as excellence and generosity through business, civic and charitable endeavors. Plus, Hall of Fame inductions of one man and one woman from the organizations and possible Presidents’ Choice awards to spotlight distinguished individuals for their extraordinary achievements and contributions to the community. EVENT HIGHLIGHTS -Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry Diamond Reception with champagne provided by Stained Glass Wine House -Fashion Show by Chatta Box and Jeff’s Haberdashery -Raffle by Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry and Rubensteins -Performance by students of the Center for Dance -Three-course lunch with wine service -Silent and live auctions For more information about attending or donating to this event, please contact the NOBA office at 504-522-0996 x208 or fmartin@nobadance.com.

Men of Fashion Officers and Board Front row (l to r): John Duck, Kenny Rubenstein, Board Chair Lee Giorgio, Joey DiFatta, Steve Friedman Back row (l to r): Leo Palazzo, Murray Valene, Ralph Mahana, Jeff Chouest, Jr., Jim Schoen Not pictured: Jeff Chouest, III, Michael Hecht, R.K. Hoddinott, III, Roger Javier, Robert E. Smith Lupo, Todd P. Murphy, Carl Panebiango, Kenneth Pickering, Henry Sullivan, Jr.

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT

4 8 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

Lee Giorgio, Marilyn and Glen Smith, Stephanie Burks

“In my second year as chair, I remain inspired by the commitment, service and cultivation efforts that have marked this event as one of the premier luncheons of the spring season. It is our honor as Women and Men of Fashion to continue to present this opportunity to recognize community luminaries who not only stand out for their style, but for their impactful generosity, work ethic and creative problem solving. ” —Marilyn Smith, Prix d’Elegance Chair

Carl Panebiango, Deborah Alciatore, Sandra Chaisson, Chad Berg

Stephen Sonnier, Marian Gibbs, Laurie Guimont, Gregory Curtis

Steven Friedman, Liz Broekman, Mark Romig, Andre Rubenstein

Jeff Chouest, Jr., Rhonda Eckholdt, Rebecca Nordgren, Leo Palazzo

Jennifer Amedee, Gail McKenna, Nicole Ferrier, LaVerne Toombs

“On behalf of past honorees and our devoted committee, I’m proud to support NOBA’s 50+ year enduring legacy of community service through the arts. We are excited to advance the next generation of leaders through NOBA’s free youth dance and wellness classes and opportunities for advanced study.” –Stephanie Burks, Women of Fashion President

Neil and Rena Jolly, Roger Javier

“Our event showcases our Men and Women of Fashion recipients and a fantastic fashion show generously produced by Chatta Box and Jeff’s Haberdashery. It’s also incredible to see past honorees of this award, spanning so many years, still supporting this event and stepping out in their finest.” —Rhonda Eckholdt, Women of Fashion Board Chair

“As Emerson said, ‘Never lose an opportunity to see anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.’ The Men and Women of Fashion believe in embracing this richness of spirit. We must create opportunities because they don’t just happen. We thank our supporters who help the talented create beauty around us, for we are ‘restoring our souls’ while assisting NOBA in making a positive difference.” –Lee Giorgio, Men of Fashion Board Chair

Kat Edmundson, Deborah Harkins, Melanie Cannatella, Virginia Eckholdt NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27 | 49

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT & NOBA STAFF

Institutional Investors

Sen. Royce Duplessis and Krystle Ferbos Duplessis

Tiffany Taffaro, Alyssa Farmer, Betsy Donner

Scott and Elizabeth Frost, Traci and Eric Precht

he New Orleans Ballet Association gratefully acknowledges the following contributions received between September 20, 2025, and September 20, 2026. Due to the limitations of space, we unfortunately are not able to acknowledge all supporters. Please know that each and every gift is equally appreciated. We make every effort to ensure an accurate listing. Should you find an error, please contact the Development Office at 504-522-0996 ext. 208 or fmartin@nobadance.com. Thank you! *Contributions include the value of both cash and in-kind gifts.

PREMIERE CIRCLE ($100,000+)

Ballet Resource And Volunteer Organization (BRAVO) Bank of America Charitable Foundation Foxmor, LLC Friends of NORD, Inc. Lois & Lloyd Hawkins, Jr. Foundation Louisiana Economic Development Men of Fashion Office of Workforce Development Women of Fashion

PRINCIPALS ($50,000-$99,999)

Hyatt Regency New Orleans & 1718 Catering Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust The Sally A. Phillips Charitable Foundation Windsor Court Hotel

UNDERWRITERS ($25,000-$49,999) Adams & Reese, LLP Chalmette Refining— Elizabeth Ellison-Frost The Helis Foundation MaggieGeorge Foundation New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation

BENEFACTORS ($10,000-$24,999)

Angel Wings Foundation Chatta Box Boutique— Rebecca Nordgren Entergy Find Your Light Foundation The Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation The Greater New Orleans Foundation/GiveNOLA Day

Harouni Gallery— David Harouni Hilton Riverside New Orleans Jeff’s Haberdashery—Jeff Chouest, Jr. and the Chouest Family Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism The Magnolia Companies of Louisiana, L.L.C. Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dance for PD® program Newcomb Dance Program, Tulane University Department of Theatre and Dance New Orleans Theatre Association Ogletree Deakins Omega Production Resource, LLC Pan-American Life Insurance Group Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Renaissance Publishing, LLC & St. Charles Avenue Magazine RosaMary Foundation

LEADERS ($5,000-$9,999)

Arts New Orleans Buck Kreihs Marine Repair, LLC Carl E. Panebiango Family Foundation Dunn & Sonnier Antiques and Flowers Entergy Charitable Foundation Goldring Family Foundation Woldenberg Foundation Integrated Logistical Support, Inc Engineering—Iam and Janée M. Tucker

50 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy Palazzo Law Firm—Dana and Leo Palazzo Mrs. Paige Royer and Mr. Kerry Clayton through Baton Rouge Area Foundation

PARTNERS ($2,500-$4,999)

Betty & Ira Kohn Foundation— Robert and Millie Kohn Briquette and New Orleans Creole Cookery Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana through Charlotte Bollinger Chalmette High School & The St. Bernard Parish School Board Cox Mobile—Sunni LeBeouf First Horizon Bank—Mary Lakey Floor 13—Hollis Hannan HYATT House New Orleans/Downtown The Javier Law Firm Jefferson Parish Department of Parks and Recreation New Orleans Center for Creative Arts New Orleans & Company New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. Rubensteins Shapiro Family Foundation Stained Glass Wine House Strout Photography Wall, Cook & Lewis, LLC—Sara Lewis

ASSOCIATES ($1,000-$2,499)

Alvendia, Kelly & Demarest Law Firm Bank of America Matching Gift Program—R.K. Hoddinott, III and Shelley Hoddinott Richardson

Blessings and Hope Fund managed by The Pinebelt Foundation Centerbridge Foundation— Sylvia Vellino El Tiempo Fidelity Bank Faustermann Designs Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Hispanic Heritage Foundation of New Orleans The Hornbrook Law Firm Hotel Monteleone New Orleans J. Edgar Monroe Foundation KGLA Radio-Tropical 105.7 Kilby Suits Krewe of Barkus LCMC Health Liberty Bank New Orleans City Council-Caesars New Orleans Casino Community Support Grant Program 2026 from Councilmember Eugene Green New Orleans City Council-Caesars New Orleans Casino Community Support Grant Program 2025 & 2026 from Councilmember Freddie King, III Professional Traffic Services – Rachel Frey Telemundo—New Orleans Van der Linden Family Foundation Volunteers of America SELA— Voris Vigee WWNO New Orleans Public Radio-89.9

Steve and Bethany Friedman, Gregory Curtis, Alysse and Michael McLoughlin

SUSTAINERS ($500-$999)

Candis Camarigg Art Celebrate Canal! The District Lounge English Turn Golf and Country Club Fat Cat Flowers Harlon’s LA Fish & Seafood Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries Maurice French Pastries, Chef Jean Luc Albin Munholland Methodist Church

New Orleans City Council-Cox Communications Louisiana’s Community Grant Program 2025 & 2026 from Councilmember Freddie King, III Weinstein’s

CONTRIBUTORS ($100-$499) 504 Funk—Desiree Lee Abita Brewing Company, LLC Acadia Family Dentistry Altima Caviar Austin’s Seafood and Steakhouse Breaux Mart Chateau Golf and Country Club Cypress Lakes Country Club

Councilmember Eugene Green with NOBA Center for Dance students who were invited to participate in the grand opening of the Benson Automotive Group’s new Porsche facility by Mrs. Benson

Estella’s Too Exterior Designs, Inc. FELLOW Menswear Gallery B. Fos GW Fins Jefferson Performing Arts John Barthe Art Latter Hospitality—Tujague’s Restaurant, The Bower, Birdy’s Le Petit Theatre de Vieux Carre LOFT18 Metairie Longue Vue House and Gardens Morrow Steak National WWII Museum New Orleans Chamber of Commerce

New Orleans City Council-Cox Communications Louisiana’s Community Grant Program 2026 from Councilmember Eugene Green Nothing Bundt Cakes, Prytania Perlis Ramsey’s Diamond Jewelers Rizzuto’s Prime Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House Rock ‘n’ Bowl & Ye Olde College Inn The Roosevelt New Orleans Sazerac House Spoonbill Coffee Roasters Sue Sartor Tatum’s Toppers Events & Décor West London Btq & Le Marais

NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27 | 5 1

Individual Donors

OBA extends its gratitude to its generous donors. The following contributions were received between September 16, 2025, and September 20, 2026. Due to the limitations of space, we unfortunately are not able to acknowledge all supporters. Please know that each and every gift is equally appreciated. We make every effort to ensure an accurate listing. Should you find an error, please contact the Development Office at 504-522-0996 ext. 208 or fmartin@nobadance.com. Thank you! *Contributions include the value of both cash and in-kind gifts.

Charlotte Bollinger David Boudreaux, MD and Richard Nesbitt Joel T. and Sandra Chaisson, II Christopher and Dionne Coulon Gregory Curtis John (Gregor) M. Fox and Camille Patti Larry and Marian Gibbs Terence and Henrietta Hall Jenny R. Hamilton and Ewell Smith David Harouni Hon. Henry Lambert and Mr. Carey Bond Cynthia L. LeBreton Lauren Lopinto and Sheriff Joseph P. Lopinto, III Glen and Marilyn Smith Murray and Gerri Valene Warner and Pamela Williams

PLATINUM CIRCLE ($5,000-$9,999) Tiffa and Kerry Boutté Allie and Bobby Dandry Sandra Fank Peggy and Jay H. “Timber” Floyd, Jr. Capt. Dee Geoghegan Erin and J.P. Hymel Susan L. Krinsky Gregory and Betty Speyrer Conny Willems

CHOREOGRAPHERS ($2,500-$4,999) Deborah Alciatore Steve O. Allen Lisa and Jay Baudot Dottie Belletto Chad and Vanessa Berg Lisa Beyer & Ernest and Lila Beyer Elizabeth Broekman Stephanie and Ryan Burks Jacquee Carvin Cheryl Cotten Marie Dahleh, Ph.D. and Albert Weeks Shannon and Rocky Daigle Joseph DiFatta, Jr. Rosalyn Ditta and Rusty Gaudé Monique and Jason Doucette

Krystle Ferbos Duplessis Dr. Gregory and Mrs. Rhonda Eckholdt Steve and Bethany Friedman Leon L. Giorgio, Jr. Joanna Giorlando Cathy Green Valerie M. Grubb Teresa Guzzetta Kathleen Hebert Dr. Neil Jolly and Mrs. Rena Jolly Dr. Angela M. King and Ms. Gennice King Dr. Warren and Mrs. Gail McKenna, Jr. Max Moreno Dr. Jared and Mrs. Raven Palmer Toni Van Zandt and Richard Bachmann

Kat Edmundson, Cynthia LeBreton, Donna Kay Berger, Toni Van Zandt

PATRONS ($1,000-$2,499)

Mindy Nunez Airhart Jennifer Amedee Bobby Asaro Larry Berger Liam Bouchier Dr. Claire Bradley Taiwan Brown Debbie Buchler Trishelle Cannatella Scott Champagne Tony Currera Gayle Dellinger Richard DiCarlo Terry and Lynette DuFrene Kathleen Edmundson Thomas Frazel Virginia Friend Gary Goodenough Laurie Guimont Holley Haag and Bill Kenny Gwendolyn Hager Deborah Harkins Lamont Hills R.K. Hoddinott, III and Shelley Hoddinott Richardson Bill Hudson and Barbara Ballard Anita Hymel Bernard M. Jaffe, MD

5 2 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

Kathy Hebert, Elena Penn, Cathy Green

Marie Dahleh and Albert Weeks

Gwendolyn Hager, Max Moreno, Deborah Alciatore

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT AND NOBA STAFF

ETOILES ($10,000+)

Dance Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director Robert Garland with Pamela and Warner Williams

Andrea Jones Jim and Betty Karam J. Bart and Kaitlin Kelly Lana W. Konrad Dr. Larissa Littleton-Steib Dr. Paul and Mrs. Leslie Lux Dr. Blanca Rosa Maldonado Megan and Michael Manning Gilbert Montaño Kay Oplinger Michael Phillips Dr. Stephanie Repasky Matthew Rollinson Susan Simkowski Mimi Fuselier Spiehler Carol Stone Newton C. Thomas LaVerne Saulny Toombs Hon. Janis van Meerveld George Van Wormer, DC Gerard Vitrano, Jr. Alan and Cathie Weinstein

BENEFACTORS ($500-$999)

Alon Barzilay Mark R. Beebe Donna Kay Berger Robin Bordelon Borne Nicki Candies Robert Chaisson Carol and Jeff Chouest, Jr. Keia Hagler Sandra Herman Jeanette Jaffe Mary Lakey Sara Lewis and Leonid Krasnozhon Martine Chaisson Linares Sandra Lombana Lindquist Michael Mancuso Jessica Marasco and Derek Illes Stan and Laurie Miller Nell Nolan Suzanne L. Parker Nikki Pontiff Elizabeth Revuelta Sandy Rosenthal Robert and Madalyn Schenk Troy Scroggins Stanley and Sandi Smith Alfred and Sonda Stacey, IV Sammy Steele A.J. and Anna Tusa Sylvia Vellino Fern Watters D. Brent and Lele Wood Karen Kraak Wood

SUSTAINERS ($250-$499)

Cynthia Aucoin Penny Baumer David Becker Hon. Roland Belsome Margarita Bergen Walda Besthoff Norma (Cherry) Bordelon Dianne Breaux Pamela Godfrey Cali John and Lilli Colby Jorge Contreras Rebecca Conwell Dr. Chuck and Mrs. Lorraine Cucchiara Amina and Matt Dearmon Marilyn V. Dittmann Ellen and Joseph Dornier Ronald Durnford Virginia Eckholdt Bonnie Eubanks Ashley Floyd Elizabeth Furlong Lois Gioe Donna Gonzalez Cathy Greensfelder Elaine Grundmeyer Mary Habet Carol V. Hall Dr. Byron Hammer Mitchell Handrich Robbie Hiden Rupa Jolly Beverly Katz Kathleen Kilgore Triness Kuhn Saundra Lane Cheryl Lemoine Kay McArdle Kathleen Mix Margaret Montgomery-Richard Jamie Moreau Hassan Nagendra Dr. Ronald Lee Nichols Jeffrey Nunn Kathy Pastorek DaMonica Pierson Cindy Rogers Alexander Rowe Kenny Rubenstein Dr. Kenneth and Mrs. Beverly Sakauye Ann Salzer Janet Schmid Dr. David Silvers Adam Stierwald Angela Timberlake Fay Wartelle

Monique Doucette and choreographer Trey McIntyre

Gregory and Betty Speyrer

Lauren Lamulle and Gayle Dellinger

Liz Broekman, Anna Tusa

Tony Currera, Roz Ditta

Erica Washington, Sara Lewis, Clementina Lewis NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27 | 53

CONTRIBUTORS ($100-$249) Trina Edwards Alario Natasha Alveshire Cara Banasch Carol Bartels Lou Bartolo Susan Benedetto Isabella Beninate Teresa Bennett Sarah Bernard Laura Lee Blackburn Kim Bourgeois Matt Bradshaw Natalie Brassette Jan Breaux Laquite Brooks Mark Caldwell Steve and Claudia Campbell Seth Chazanoff Maria-Kay Chetta Dr. Jane Clayton LaKenya Collins Melissa Daigrepont Celia Deininger Charles Dewitt Yolanda Doucette Heidi Dugan Marlene Duronslet Jack Duvernay Kathy Farr Nicole Ferrier Carolyn Fortino Wanda W. Fulton Olga Garcia Ana Gershanik Preston Gilchrist Cathy Glaser Cassondra Glausier Christopher Gledhill James Guilbeau Susan Gundlach Meaghan Hardcastle Robert Heriard Benjamin Hicks Diane Hollis Marielle Howard Linda Ingles Dot Isacks Claire Jacobs Jane Kahn Jennie Kasten

Alice E. Kraemer Sedera Lane Ellen Lee Tricia Lincoln Pat Macaluso Ash Marquardt Anita Martin Kiley Martin Sue McNabb Betsy Miles Julie Montagino Edna Moore Debbie Mora Dr. Lynne Neitzschman Debra Neveu Ashley O’Bryan Sophia Pappas Freda Paz Faith Peperone Lisa Phillips Mayra Pineda Holly Popham Carrie Provenzano Michelle Reimsnyder Ryan Rodrigue Darlene Rudiger Claus Sadlier Terri Santa Coloma Sylvia Savoie Cathy Schieffelin Helen Schneidau Linda Seabright Crell Sikorsky Kathy Singleton Betty Smith Michael Stag Sharon Stoskopf Colleen Tassin Cherry Thomas-Figueroa Ann Marshall Tilton Nellie Underwood Maurer Van Voorthuysen Brian Allee Walsh Raymond and Lisa Washington Dabne Whitemore Jimmie Wickham Jeanne Williams Kathleen Williams Zoe Williams Glenn Wilson Joann Wisdom Irene Ziegler

Gee Tucker and Conny Willems with a NOBA Center for Dance student

Robbie Kazenmaier, Henrietta Hall

Derek Illes and Jessica Marasco

Jacquee Carvin and Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s Ben Jaffe

Ana Gershanik, Luz Caputto, Maria Bonilla, Blanca Maldonado, Diego Arce

54 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

PHOTOS BY JEFF STROUT AND NOBA STAFF

Erica Washington Tammy Wood Constance Cowart Young Dr. Lawrence and Mrs. Joan Zaslow

COMMEMORATIVE GIVING

In Honor of Charlotte “Poolie” Bollinger and Friends Robin Bordelon Borne

In Honor of Liz Broekman Shannon and Rocky Daigle

In Honor of Sandra Chaisson

Deborah Harkins Dr. Neil and Mrs. Rena Jolly Millette White Lin Kimberly Navarre Marilyn Smith Erica Washington

Candy Cane Donors—$50-$74

Jenny R. Hamilton

Dottie Belletto Terri Santa Coloma Monique Gougisha Doucette Gwendolyn Hager Deborah Kerr-Leathem and Les Leathem Martine Chaisson Linares Dr. and Mrs. Warren P. McKenna, Jr. (Gail) in honor of Nicole Williams Larry and Pam Pickett Jaelyn Robinson Dr. Lawrence and Mrs. Joan Zaslow

NUTCRACKER LEGACY FUND DONORS

Holiday Bow Donors—$25-$49

Stan and Laurie Miller

In Honor of Roz Ditta Peggy and Jay H. “Timber” Floyd, Jr.

In Memory of Evie Heller Jenny R. Hamilton and Ewell Smith

In Memory of Christopher O’Sullivan

Nutcracker Magic—$1,000+ Angel Wings Foundation

Land of Sweets—$500-$999 Tiffa and Kerry Boutté Marian Gibbs Jenny Hamilton

Sugarplum—$250-$499 Stephanie and Ryan Burks Tony Currera Joanna Giorlando Cynthia L. LeBreton

Snowflake Donors— $100-$249 Deborah Alciatore Bonnie Andrikopoulas Isabella Beninate Walda Besthoff Elizabeth Broekman Jacquee Carvin Sandra Stage Chaisson Teresa Guzzetta Henrietta and Terence Hall Saundra Lane Suzanne L. Parker Janet Schmid Betty Speyrer R. Sonda Stacey Janée Tucker Joann B. Wisdom

Holiday Tree Donors— $75-$99 Taryn Christine Brown Kathy M. Christian Marlene Duronslet Leslie Guyton

Susan Benedetto Lisa Beyer Jennie B. Bryant Bethani Collins Amina and Matt Dearmon Gail M. Dennis Virginia Eckholdt Mary Fortenberry Wanda Fulton Blondine Garrett Cathy Green Jeanne Jaubert Jamie Moreau Edna Moore Elsie Rose Patrice L. Rose Raven and Jay Palmer Helaina Simon Fay A. Wartelle Pamela and Warner Williams

Angele Wilson and a NOBA Center for Dance student

Brent and Lele Wood

Lila and Ernest Beyer, Lisa Beyer

Holiday Stocking Donors—$10-$24 Allie Shapiro Dandry Brad Feichter April Green Kelly Haber Keith Johnson Mary Lakey Erick Lewis Emily Martin Ruth Mills Candace Mouton Ashleigh Owens Shahidah Payton Blythe Perry Brandy Porea

Ray and Marja Falk

Allie Dandry, Mary Lakey, Bobby Dandry NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27 | 5 5

Invest In The Future

our investment in NOBA’s programs directly touches the lives of all those whom we serve. With your support, we will continue (1) to fulfill our vital role in the international dance community by presenting, producing, and commissioning dance and providing resources to artists and (2) to sustain our over 5,500 annual tuitionfree, nationally awarded and internationally recognized education, health and wellness programs and activities by a phenomenal faculty of local and guest artists.

GIFTS OF ANY AMOUNT TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. $20 will supply a pair of ballet or jazz shoes to a child $50 will provide a student’s full uniform of leotard, tights and shoes $250 underwrites the cost of a new costume for The Nutcracker Suite

SUSTAINING GIFTS

Become a NOBA Monthly Sustainer and join the growing number of supporters who have generously decided to make easy, convenient and automatic monthly gifts of any amount that provide a sound foundation for each season and for NOBA’s future.

PRESENTERS CIRCLE CLUB GIFTS

Join the Presenters Circle Club and help us keep world-class dance on New Orleans’ stages. Presenters Circle Club includes those donors who contribute a minimum of $1,000 toward the annual campaign, separate from other designated funds or campaigns. Members receive VIP parking and invitations to exclusive events as well as the VIP Wine Intermission Receptions at Main Stage performances at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.

NOBA and BRAVO, the Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization of NOBA, are truly outstanding organizations that deserve our wholehearted support. The children in NOBA’s classes are blessed to be exposed to an art form that will affect many aspects of their lives: confidence building, poise, time management, and the ability to express themselves through movement. The NOBA community is blessed to be exposed to an art form that is unique and unlike any other of the vast cultural and musical offerings for which New Orleans is known. We are blessed to be a part of these wonderful organizations. -Sandra and Joel Chaisson

MEMORIAL/IN HONOR OF GIFTS

Whether a gift in memory of a friend or a loved one or a commemoration of a birthday, anniversary, graduation or an important milestone, these gifts are a wonderful way to pay tribute to those whom we hold dear. NOBA will send a beautiful card to the honored person or family notifying them of your thoughtfulness.

NAMING OPPORTUNITIES AND ENDOWMENT

The Ballet Resource And Volunteer Organization is a powerful force of nearly 200 who “FUN-raise” for NOBA. Find out how you can become involved on pages 44-47.

Your gift can keep giving through major gifts in your name to a capital campaign for bricks and mortar, commissions of new artistic works, dedicated scholarships for youth programs and investments in NOBA’s endowment held at the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

GIFTS IN-KIND

GIFTS OF STOCK

BRAVO

Help us reduce our costs through the donation of non-cash gifts delivered in the forms of goods, services or expertise. Some examples include office supplies; bottled water and healthy snacks for students; art, jewelry and accessories, or restaurant gift certificates for silent auctions or raffles at BRAVO’s fundraising events and pro bono services such as catering, photography or graphic design.

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP

Demonstrate your company’s commitment to the community and boost your marketing efforts with a winning sponsorship. NOBA offers a variety of special benefits for our corporate partners, and opportunities are available at many levels.

MATCHING GIFTS

The impact of your gift to NOBA may be doubled or possibly tripled! Many companies sponsor matching gift programs that will match any charitable contributions made by their employees, retirees and/or spouses.

PLANNED GIFTS

A planned gift represents the ultimate gift from one’s estate, including simple bequests in one’s will, charitable remainder trusts, unitrusts, charitable lead trusts and gifts of insurance. These gift vehicles offer attractive benefits that might include an income for life for the donor or a designated beneficiary, a significant charitable tax-deduction or the ability to reduce the taxable portion of one’s estate while having the satisfaction of making a charitable gift. NOBA recommends you speak with your financial advisor to develop the best method that will complement your estate’s needs. 5 6 | NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION 2026-27

NOBA gratefully accepts gifts of stock valued at any amount. Oftentimes, a gift of appreciated stock may significantly reduce your capital gains tax while creating a larger charitable deduction.

FACEBOOK

Facebook makes it easy to support NOBA anytime you browse. Simply visit facebook.com/nobadance and click “Donate.” You can also create your own Fundraiser for Friends or start a giving campaign on your own page for NOBA.

FIDELITY BANK & ROUND UP GIVING DONATIONS

Fidelity Bank: Fidelity Bank customers have the option to select NOBA as a preferred charity directly from their online bank accounts in Fidelity’s Giving Center and make one-time or monthly contributions. Customers are also able to elect to round up everyday purchases to support NOBA, and it is easy to tailor donations to ensure giving goals are not exceeded. RoundUp for VISA and Mastercard Holders: RoundUp automatically rounds up each transaction on your Visa or Mastercard to the nearest dollar, then charges your card once per month for the total amount of that ’spare change.’ The proceeds are sent to NOBA. Visit roundup.org and search New Orleans Ballet Association to set up your monthly giving. Please help us continue our work and efforts to make sure that dance remains a vital part of the cultural fabric of this great city. For more information or to make your donation, contact us today at 504-522-0996 x 208 or fmartin@nobadance.com. PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT