Program Seven
May 1 – 2, 2026 | Sarasota Opera House
THE SARASOTA BALLET 2025 - 2026 SEASON
Margaret Barbieri
Assistant Director
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Foundations of Royalty, Program Seven of The Sarasota Ballet’s 2025 – 2026 Season. This program holds a particularly special place in my heart, as each of these ballets represents not only the richness of our art form, but also moments from my own journey as a dancer.
I had the incredible opportunity to work closely and performed ballets by choreographers such as Sir Frederick Ashton, Dame Ninette de Valois, and Sir Peter Wright— artists whose vision and artistry helped define the very foundation of British ballet. To have been in the studio with them, to hear their insights firsthand, and to experience the musicality and depth they sought was both an honor and a responsibility that has stayed with me throughout my career.
There are small details I still carry with me—subtle nuances of phrasing, a gesture shaped with care, or a quiet insight into the character—that continue to inform how I approach these ballets today. Bringing these works to our stage is a privilege for me, and a way of passing on that knowledge and preserving the integrity of their vision.
It is deeply meaningful to watch our dancers embrace that same responsibility. They are not only learning choreography, but stepping into a living lineage—one that connects them directly to the great artists who created these works. Seeing them bring their own artistry to these roles while honoring that heritage is incredibly moving.
Programs like this remind us that ballet is a living tradition—one that is continually renewed through each generation of dancers and shared anew with every audience. Thank you for joining us and for being part of that continuing story. I hope you enjoy the performance.
Warmest regards,
PROGRAM SPONSOR
Jean Weidner Goldstein
In Loving Memory of Alfred Goldstein
PERFORMANCE SPONSORS
Ineza Hart
John and Rita Steele
Nancy and Richard Sneed
Checkmate Birthday Offering Summertide
Summertide
Richard and Cornelia Matson
Dr. Bart Price
Richard March in Loving Memory of Helen March
Bonnie and William Chapman
Brendan and Nicola Doyle
Susan and James Travers
Toby and Noel Siegel
Rosemary and Lou Oberndorf
Karol Foss
Checkmate
THE SARASOTA BALLET
Director Iain Webb
Executive Director Joseph Volpe
Assistant Director
Margaret Barbieri
Misa Kuranaga (Resident Guest Principal), Jessica Assef, Marijana Dominis, Ricardo Graziano, Ricardo Rhodes, Luke Schaufuss
Junior Principal
Sierra Abelardo Principals
Character Principal
Ricki Bertoni
First Soloist
Gus Payne
Soloists
Samuel Gest
Coryphée
Kennedy Falyn Cassada, Ze Ellis, Willa Frantz, Mischa Goodman, Dominique Jenkins, Iku Okura, Bel Pickering, Annie Wilson, Paige Young
Corps de Ballet
Daniel Ayala, Andrew Buckley, Olivia Dugan, Camille Gentes, Jonah Glickman, Mark Hare, Ella Lau, Pasha Levy, Andrea Marcelletti, Jordan Micallef, Ben Moss, Alessandra Nova, Gabriella Schultze, Nathan Smith, Emmanuelle Watkins, Brooke Wilson
Apprentices
Haley Dale, Isabella Damico, Isabella Nova, Simon Plante, Trevin Ralphs, Ella Tuite
COMPANY STAFF
Deputy Executive Director
Michelle Butler
Maya Collins
Doricha Sales
Sara Kious
Leslie Van Brink
Judi King
Joana Mitra
Jess Abbott
Heyckal Taveras
Mikenna Bowers
Rod Kelly
Victoria Hulland Jessica Lang
Ethan Vail
Jonathan Colon
Natalie Beckham
Diana Childs
Christopher Hird
Dierdre Miles Burger
Isabelle Ball
General Manager
Jason W. Ettore
Senior Manager of Individual Giving
Senior Manager of Donor Engagement
Special Events and Board Liaison
Company Manager
HR & Finance Administrator
Finance Assistant
Marketing Director
Graphic Designer
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Box Office & House Manager
Artistic Assistant to the Directors Toulmin & O’Neil Artist in Residence
Bryan Lewis
Katherine Knowles
Barbara Epperson
John Johnson
William Ingramm
Mia Fisher
Zachary Mondres
Chris Callahan
Artistic Staff
Octavio Martin
Production Staff
Production Manager & Resident Lighting Designer
Head of Wardrobe
Wardrobe Assistant
Stage Manager
Education Director
Assistant Education Director
Community Engagement Manager
Risa Kaplowitz
Addul Manzano
Finance Director
Amy Miller
Development & Database Administrator Grants Manager
Executive Assistant
IT Consultant
Tessitura Database Administrator
Publicity & Design Coordinator
Video Production & Designer
Box Office Associate
Roman Rykine Ballet Master Ballet Master
Full-Time Faculty
Full-Time Faculty
Doug Nicholson Zara Baroyan
Carl Haan
Education & Community Engagement Staff
Alberto Blanco
Bradley Shoemaker-Webster
Lauren Avila
Diane Partington
Maria Ferraro
Production Consultant
Class Pianist
Class Pianist
Principal of The Sarasota Ballet School
Education Administrative Manager
Community Engagement Administrator
Full-Time Faculty
Full-Time Faculty
Birthday Offering
Choreography by
Sir Frederick Ashton
Created in 1956 for the 25th anniversary of Sadler’s Wells Ballet—soon to become The Royal Ballet— Birthday Offering was Sir Frederick Ashton’s tribute to founder Dame Ninette de Valois. Drawing on the grand Imperial Russian style of Petipa, which de Valois absorbed from Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, the work celebrates the tradition she shaped in Britain.
Set to Glazunov’s lush score with André Levasseur’s opulent décor of chandeliers and drapes, the ballet evokes the splendor of The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake . Seven couples make a regal entrance before a series of solos, a vigorous Polish mazurka, and the centerpiece pas de deux for Margot Fonteyn and Michael Somes. A jubilant finale crowns the tribute.
More than pageantry, Birthday Offering honors de Valois’ vision, celebrating the Company’s journey to international acclaim with brilliance and pride.
Sir Frederick Ashton Choreographer
Sir Frederick Ashton (1904–1988) was born in Ecuador and resolved to dance after seeing Anna Pavlova perform in Lima in 1917. In London he studied with Léonide Massine and later with Dame Marie Rambert, who encouraged his first choreographic ventures, including A Tragedy of Fashion (1926). After dancing briefly with Ida Rubinstein’s company, he accepted Dame Ninette de Valois’ invitation in 1935 to join her Vic-Wells Ballet as both dancer and choreographer, beginning a lifelong association with what would become The Royal Ballet.
His career extended beyond the company to opera, film, revues, and international commissions, but it was at Covent Garden, after wartime service in the RAF, that he created Symphonic Variations (1946), affirming a new postwar spirit. Over the following decades he choreographed ballets often tailored to individual dancers, among them Cinderella (1948), Daphnis and Chloe (1951), Romeo and Juliet (1955), Ondine (1958), La Fille mal gardée (1960), The Two Pigeons (1961), Marguerite and Armand (1963), and The Dream (1964).
Ashton was appointed Associate Director of The Royal Ballet in 1952 and succeeded de Valois as Director from 1963 to 1970, during which time he also created works such as Monotones II (1965), Enigma Variations (1968), A Month in the Country (1976), and the film The Tales of Beatrix Potter (1971), in which he performed as Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle. Knighted in 1962 and later named Founder Choreographer of The Royal Ballet, Ashton left a body of work distinguished by versatility, musical sensitivity, and theatrical imagination.
Margaret Barbieri Répétiteur
Having spent 20 years as a Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet, Margaret Barbieri’s wealth of knowledge and experience has enabled her to give back to the dance community through her years as a teacher and Répétiteur. During the last 13 years, Barbieri has staged productions for The Sarasota Ballet by some of the most important names in ballet, including Ashton, de Valois, Wright, and Fokine. In addition to staging ballets for the Company, Barbieri is also Assistant Director. Her other staging credits include Iñaki Urlezaga Company (Argentina), K-Ballet (Japan), Oregon Ballet Theatre, Scottish Ballet, and Tbilisi Ballet Theatre.
Part of Ashton Worldwide Festival 2024 - 2028
Checkmate
Choreography by Dame Ninette de Valois
Choreographed by Dame Ninette de Valois in 1937, Checkmate is among the most enduring works of The Royal Ballet’s early repertory. Though de Valois is best remembered as founder, this ballet reveals her instinct for dramatic storytelling and her drive to shape a distinctly English style.
Set to a commanding score and libretto by Arthur Bliss, Checkmate transforms a game of chess into a stark allegory of Love versus Death. Drawing on English folk traditions and Expressionist theatre, with bold designs by E. McKnight Kauffer, the ballet opens with Love and Death as symbolic players. The Red side—Love—faces the sinister Black forces, led by the elegant yet lethal Black Queen.
When the Red Knight succumbs to her spell, his failure leads to the downfall of Love. The Black Queen’s merciless killing of the Red King seals the inevitable checkmate, a chilling conclusion to this powerful allegory.
Dame
Ninette de Valois Choreographer
Dame Ninette de Valois (1898–2001) is widely credited with establishing a native British ballet tradition through the creation of The Royal Ballet, alongside her contemporary and colleague Dame Marie Rambert. Born Edris Stannus in County Wicklow, Ireland, she began dancing at age 10, studied with Enrico Cecchetti, and worked in pantomime, revue, and opera before joining the Massine-Lopokhova company in 1922 and Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1923. She legally adopted her stage name in 1921, when dancers were expected to appear French or Russian.
In 1926 de Valois opened her Academy of Choreographic Art in London, and two years later was invited by Lilian Baylis to provide dancers for the Old Vic. By 1931 she had closed her school to become resident at Baylis’s newly reopened Sadler’s Wells Theatre, where she founded the Vic-Wells Ballet, which evolved into Sadler’s Wells Ballet and, in 1956, The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden.
As director, teacher, and choreographer, de Valois nurtured the talents of Margot Fonteyn, Robert Helpmann, Frederick Ashton, Moira Shearer, and many others. Before turning primarily to administration, she created important ballets including Job (1931), The Rake’s Progress (1935), and Checkmate (1937), often drawing on English themes and composers to develop a distinctively national style.
Her vision culminated in The Royal Ballet’s triumphant 1949 U.S. tour, which established the company internationally. Known affectionately as “Madam,” she continued to influence the company long after her 1963 retirement. De Valois received countless honors and remained a formidable presence in ballet until her death at 102.
Margaret Barbieri Répétiteur
Having spent 20 years as a Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet, Margaret Barbieri’s wealth of knowledge and experience has enabled her to give back to the dance community through her years as a teacher and Répétiteur. During the last 13 years, Barbieri has staged productions for The Sarasota Ballet by some of the most important names in ballet, including Ashton, de Valois, Wright, and Fokine. In addition to staging ballets for the Company, Barbieri is also Assistant Director. Her other staging credits include Iñaki Urlezaga Company (Argentina), K-Ballet (Japan), Oregon Ballet Theatre, Scottish Ballet, and Tbilisi Ballet Theatre.
In honor of Dame Ninette de Valois
Summertide
Choreography
by
Sir Peter Wright
Sir Peter Wright’s Summertide closes the Season in celebration of the choreographer’s 100th birthday on November 25, 2026. First created in the late 1970s for Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, this abstract ballet captures the spirit of Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 2 . Its three movements unfold like a summer’s day—from the freshness of morning, through the warmth of afternoon, to the brilliance of night.
Long thought lost, Summertide was revived through a fortunate discovery. Before its 2015 American Company Premiere, The Sarasota Ballet searched without success for materials, until Doug Nicholson of Birmingham Royal Ballet uncovered a film and partial notation. With these, Wright collaborated with Director Iain Webb and Assistant Director Margaret Barbieri to re-create the ballet.
Set to Mendelssohn’s rhapsodic score, Summertide glows with Wright’s musicality and elegance. Its revival honors one of Britain’s great ballet masters and restores a luminous gem to the stage.
Sir Peter Wright Choreographer
Sir Peter Wright (b. 1926) began his professional career during World War II with Ballets Jooss, later dancing with several companies before joining Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet, where he created his first ballet, A Blue Rose (1957). In 1959 he became Ballet Master for Sadler’s Wells Opera and a teacher at The Royal Ballet School.
In 1961 he moved to Stuttgart as Ballet Master and teacher for John Cranko’s new company, choreographing works including The Mirror Walkers, Namouna, and Quintet There he staged his first Giselle, later produced for The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and companies worldwide. His acclaimed interpretations of The Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker have become staples of international repertory. He also directed television ballets and choreographed West End musicals and revues.
Returning to The Royal Ballet in 1969 as Associate to the Directors, Wright became Associate Director before his 1977 appointment as Director of Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet. He led the company’s move to Birmingham in 1990, transforming it into Birmingham Royal Ballet, and retired as Director Laureate in 1995.
Wright’s many honors include the Evening Standard Award for Ballet (1981), a CBE (1985), knighthood (1993), and the Critics’ Circle Award (1995). He holds honorary doctorates from London and Birmingham universities, is a Fellow of Birmingham Conservatoire, President of the Benesh Institute, and a Vice President of the Royal Academy of Dance. A distinguished teacher, director, and choreographer, Wright remains one of the most respected custodians of the classical ballet tradition.
Margaret Barbieri Répétiteur
Having spent 20 years as a Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet, Margaret Barbieri’s wealth of knowledge and experience has enabled her to give back to the dance community through her years as a teacher and Répétiteur.
During the last 13 years, Barbieri has staged productions for The Sarasota Ballet by some of the most important names in ballet, including Ashton, de Valois, Wright, and Fokine. In addition to staging ballets for the Company, Barbieri is also Assistant Director. Her other staging credits include Iñaki Urlezaga Company (Argentina), K-Ballet (Japan), Oregon Ballet Theatre, Scottish Ballet, and Tbilisi Ballet Theatre.
Performed in honor of Sir Peter Wright's 100th Birthday
Friday and Saturday Evening
Birthday Offering
Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton
Music by Alexander Glazunov
Costume Design by André Levasseur
Lighting Design by Ethan Vail
Staged by Margaret Barbieri
Conducted by Ormsby Wilkins
Premiered by The Sadler’s Wells Ballet | May 5, 1956
First Performed by The Sarasota Ballet | February 1, 2013
Principals
Misa Kuranaga Ricardo Rhodes
Elaine Fifield Solo
Kennedy Falyn Cassada
Rowena Jackson Solo
Dominique Jenkins
Entrée and Adage
All Cast
Svetlana Beriosova Solo
Gabriella Schultze
Margot Fonteyn Solo
Misa Kuranaga
Men’s Mazurka
Ricardo Rhodes
Nadia Nerina Solo Pasha Levy
Violetta Elvin Solo Iku Okura
Beryl Grey Solo Marijana Dominis
Gus Payne Ze Ellis Jonah Glickman McKibben Needham
Nathan Smith Jordan Micallef
Pas de Deux
Misa Kuranaga Ricardo Rhodes
Finale
All Cast
Friday and Saturday Evening
Checkmate
Choreography by Dame Ninette de Valois
Music by Sir Arthur Bliss
Costume Designs by E. McKnight Kauffer
Lighting Design by Ethan Vail
Staged by Margaret Barbieri
Conducted by Ormsby Wilkins
Premiered by The Vic-Wells Ballet | June 15, 1937
First Performed by The Sarasota Ballet | November 28, 2008
Love
Jessica Assef
Black Queen
Sierra Abelardo
Red King
Ricki Bertoni
1st Red Knight
Samuel Gest
Red Castles
Andrea Marcelletti Mark Hare
Red Bishops
Andrew Buckley Daniel Ayala
Death Christopher Hird
Red Queen
Dominique Jenkins
2nd Red Knight
Jordan Micallef
Black Knights
Trevin Ralphs Nathan Smith
Black Castles
McKibben Needham Gavin Talbot
Red Pawns
Kennedy Falyn Cassada Camille Gentes
Jacqueline Sanders Annie Wilson Isabella Damico
Gabriella Schultze Noa Dean Paige Young
Black Pawns
Alessandra Nova Ella Tuite
Lily Grace Patterson Isabella Nova Ella Lau
Olivia Dugan Haley Dale Emmanuelle Watkins
Friday and Saturday Evening
Summertide
Choreography by Sir Peter Wright
Music by Felix Mendelssohn
Costume Design by Dick Bird
Lighting Design by Ethan Vail
Staged by Margaret Barbieri
Conducted by Ormsby Wilkins
Solo Pianist Emily Wong
Premiered by The Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet | October 12, 1976
First Performed by The Sarasota Ballet | November 20, 2015
1ST MOVEMENT
Ricardo Rhodes
Ze Ellis
Jonah Glickman
Pasha Levy
Gus Payne
Iku Okura
Jordan Micallef
2ND MOVEMENT
Marijana Dominis
Ricardo Rhodes
Simon Plante
Nathan Smith
3RD MOVEMENT
All Cast Plus
Brooke Wilson
Willa Frantz
Program One
October 23 - 25, 2026 | FSU Center
Gemma Bond's Manner (Company Premiere)
Sir Frederick Ashton's Divertissements
Dominic Walsh’s Wolfgang for Webb
Program Two
November 20 - 21, 2026 | Sarasota Opera House
ACCOMPANIED BY THE SARASOTA ORCHESTRA
Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Solitaire (Company Premiere)
Jessica Lang’s Lyric Pieces
Alexei Ratmansky’s Pictures at an Exhibition (Company Premiere)
Program Three
December 18 - 19, 2026 | Van Wezel
ACCOMPANIED BY THE SARASOTA ORCHESTRA
Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour (Company Premiere)
Sir Frederick Ashton’s The Two Pigeons
Program Four
January 29 - February 1, 2027 | FSU Center
George Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations
Ashley Page’s The Pump Room and Walking in the Heat (Company Premieres)
Paul Taylor’s Mercuric Tidings (Company Premiere)
Program Five
February 26 - March 1, 2027 | FSU Center
Paul Taylor Dance Company
Presented by The Sarasota Ballet
Program Six
March 26 - 27, 2027 | Van Wezel
ACCOMPANIED BY THE SARASOTA ORCHESTRA
Sir Frederick Ashton's Romeo and Juliet
Program Seven
April 30 - May 1, 2027 | Sarasota Opera House
ACCOMPANIED BY THE SARASOTA ORCHESTRA
Marius Petipa’s The Kingdom of the Shades (From La Bayadère) (Company Premiere)
Dame Ninette de Valois' The Rake’s Progress
Antony Tudor’s Gala Performance
Saturday Matinee
Birthday Offering
Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton
Music by Alexander Glazunov
Costume Design by André Levasseur
Lighting Design by Ethan Vail
Staged by Margaret Barbieri
Conducted by Ormsby Wilkins
Premiered by The Sadler’s Wells Ballet | May 5, 1956
First Performed by The Sarasota Ballet | February 1, 2013
Principals
Marijana Dominis Ricardo Graziano
Elaine Fifield Solo Annie Wilson
Rowena Jackson Solo Camille Gentes
Entrée and Adage
All Cast
Svetlana Beriosova Solo Willa Frantz
Nadia Nerina Solo Sierra Abelardo
Violetta Elvin Solo Ella Lau
Beryl Grey Solo Iku Okura
Margot Fonteyn Solo Marijana Dominis
Men’s Mazurka
Ricardo Graziano
Trevin Ralphs Mark Hare Jordan Micallef Simon Plante Andrew Buckley Andrea Marcelletti
Pas de Deux
Marijana Dominis Ricardo Graziano
Finale
All Cast
Saturday Matinee
Checkmate
Choreography by Dame Ninette de Valois
Music by Sir Arthur Bliss
Costume Designs by E. McKnight Kauffer
Lighting Design by Ethan Vail
Staged by Margaret Barbieri
Conducted by Ormsby Wilkins
Premiered by The Vic-Wells Ballet | June 15, 1937
First Performed by The Sarasota Ballet | November 28, 2008
Love
Jessica Assef
Black Queen
Brooke Wilson
Red King
Ricki Bertoni
1st Red Knight
Ricardo Rhodes
Red Castles
Andrew Buckley Daniel Ayala
Red Bishops
Max Berg Gregory Dempsey
Death Christopher Hird
Red Queen
Ella Lau
2nd Red Knight
Jonah Glickman
Black Knights
Ze Ellis Simon Plante
Black Castles
McKibben Needham Gavin Talbot
Red Pawns
Kennedy Falyn Cassada Camille Gentes
Annie Wilson
Isabella Damico Jacqueline Sanders
Gabriella Schultze Noa Dean Paige Young
Black Pawns
Alessandra Nova Ella Tuite
Lily Grace Patterson Isabella Nova Rileigh Benn
Kerry Shannon Haley Dale Emmanuelle Watkins
Saturday Matinee
Summertide
Choreography by Sir Peter Wright
Music by Felix Mendelssohn
Costume Design by Dick Bird
Lighting Design by Ethan Vail
Staged by Margaret Barbieri
Conducted by Ormsby Wilkins
Solo Pianist Emily Wong
Premiered by The Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet | October 12, 1976
First Performed by The Sarasota Ballet | November 20, 2015
1ST MOVEMENT
Ricardo Graziano
Nathan Smith
Ze Ellis
Kennedy Falyn Cassada
Mark Hare
Dominique Jenkins
Andrea Marcelletti
2ND MOVEMENT
Sierra Abelardo
Ricardo Graziano
Simon Plante
Trevin Ralphs
3RD MOVEMENT
All Cast Plus
Alessandra Nova
Ella Tuite
VIOLIN
Daniel Jordan
concertmaster
Jennifer Best Takeda assistant concertmaster
Michael Turkell principal second
Meghan Jones assistant principal second
Katherine Baloff
Felicia Brunelle
Anne Chandra
Nick Eanet
ChungYon Hong
Leah Latorraca
Sean O’Neil
Max Tan
Shawna Trost
Margot Zarzycka Whitelaw
VIOLA
Stephanie Block principal
Matt Pegis
assistant principal
Peter Ayuso
Nathan Frantz
CELLO
Natalie Helm principal
Christopher Schnell assistant principal
Isabelle Besançon
Chizuko Matsusaka
DOUBLE BASS
John Miller principal
Samuel Dugo assistant principal
FLUTE
Betsy Hudson Traba principal
Carmen Newell Bannon
Allison DeFrancesco
PICCOLO
Allison DeFrancesco
OBOE
Nicholas P. Arbolino acting principal
Sooyoung Kim
ENGLISH HORN
SooYoung Kim
CLARINET
Bharat Chandra principal
Daniel Parrette assistant principal
Calvin Falwell
BASSOON
Fernando Traba principal
Matthew Matheny
HORN
Joshua Horne
co-principal
Hugo Bliss co-principal
Shea Kells-Murphy
Jonathan Bruzon
TRUMPET
Robby Garrison co-principal
Clinton McLendon acting co-principal
TROMBONE
Brad Williams principal
Austin Canon
Marc Morgan
TUBA
Nate Seman principal
PERCUSSION
Marcelina Suchocka principal
Hanna Kim
Gordon Fry
Matt Kibort
HARP
Phoebe Powell principal
KEYBOARD
Jonathan Spivey principal
LIBRARY
Katie Knox principal
Paul Greitzer assistant principal
The Musicians of the Sarasota Orchestra are proudly represented by the American Federation of Musicians, Gulf Coast Local 427-721
Ormsby Wilkins Guest Conductor
A native of Sydney, Australia, Ormsby Wilkins joined American Ballet Theatre as its Music Director in November 2005.
After taking his music studies at the Conservatories of Sydney and Melbourne, Wilkins joined The Australian Ballet and became Resident Conductor in 1982. Moving to Europe in 1983, he was appointed Conductor with England’s Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet (now called the Birmingham Royal Ballet).
Wilkins continued his association with The Australian Ballet, having been invited to guest on many occasions for its extensive engagements, which have included those in the United States, Russia, and London, England. Other international engagements have included La Scala, Milan, the Rome Opera Ballet, the Ballet of Teatro San Carlo of Naples, and the Royal Swedish Ballet. In 2001, he spent three months in Italy conducting once again at La Scala and making his debuts in both Genoa and at the Teatro Comunale in Florence. Most recently, Wilkins has also made guest appearances with The Sarasota Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Miami City Ballet.
Wilkins has conducted many orchestras around the world, both in association with ballet and in concert. They include the Philharmonia and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras of London, the Royal Opera House Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic, and National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa.
Emily Wong
Pianist
Award-winning composer/pianist Emily Wong currently serves as principal pianist with the American Ballet Theater. Critics have portrayed her playing as passionate, The New York Times characterizing performances as “clean and rhythmically charged” and “played beautifully”, while Phil Collins of the Santa Cruz Sentinel wrote “She swept through the work with a magic wand…the dazzle was in itself splendid.”
She has worked with many choreographers in assisting with new works, including Alexei Ratmansky, Chris Wheeldon, Liam Scarlett, and Jessica Lang. Receiving commissions for her own music, works have been performed by prestigious festivals, symphony orchestras, and chamber groups across the country. Emily is thrilled to be back in Sarasota!
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In Loving Memory of Helen March
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Richard Wires
Charles O. Wood, III and Miriam M. Wood Foundation
Merrill and Sheila Wynne-APRIO, LLP
Sora Yelin
Golden Circle $2,500 - $4,999
Alexandra Armstrong
In Loving Memory of Jerry McCoy
Carol Arscott
Margaret and Isaac Barpal
Jerry and Helga Bilik
Jerry and Gay Bowles
Alan Cohen
In Loving Memory of Natalie Cohen
Fred and Lynda Doery
Jenny and Lee Duffey
John and Patricia Dupps
Barbara and Bill Epperson
Donna Jill Feldman
Laurie Fitch
Kevin Fulcher and Kim Deme-Fulcher
Patsy and Ed Garno
Alfred Cope Garrett
In Loving Memory of Anne W. Garrett
Pat and David Goldrich
Marshall Greenwald and Catherine Cooper
Charles Hamilton and Miriam Lockhart
Nancy and John Harris
Moira Hintsa
Anne E. Jones
Ronald and Rita Karns
Maryann Kolb and Greg Goebel
Dr. Bart and Joan Levenson
Melvy Erman Lewis
Meg Maguire
Elenor Maxheim
Bonnie McIntyre
In Loving Memory of Bill Noonan
Margaret Melun and Lt. Col. Ky L. Thompson
Deanne and Jim Naples
Tara Olson and Will Dunkak
Roxanne Permesly
Jeffrey Peterson
Megan Powers
Victor and Joyce Rendano
Susan L. Robinson
Dona and Sam Scott
Susan Serling and David Kessler
Noreene Storrie and Wesley G. McCain
Charlotte and John Suhler
Jacqueline and John Thompson
Alair A. Townsend
Emily Walsh
Lynn Winslow
The Sarasota Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following individuals for their generous support for the performance, education, and community programs of The Sarasota Ballet.
Institutional Support
Public Support
$100,000 +
Tourist Development Council of Sarasota County
Foundation Support
$100,000+
Phillip & Janice Levin Foundation
William A. Farber, Trustee
$75,000 - $99,999
Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
$50,000 - $74,999
Jean Allenby Goldstein Touring Fund
Muriel O'Neil Fund for the Performing Arts at CFSC
Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation
Shubert Foundation, Inc.
Community Foundation Sarasota County
Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Jean Weiller Foundation Charitable Fund
$25,000 - $49,999
Bank of America Client Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation
The Exchange
$15,000 - $24,999
Lela D. Jackson Foundation for the Arts
$10,000 - $14,999
Bishop-Parker Foundation
Cordelia Lee Beattie Foundation
Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999
Charles Henry Leach II Fund at Duquesne University
Jerome Robbins Foundation
Suncoast Credit Union Foundation
Women's Outreach Ministry Church of the Redeemer
Women In Philanthropy of Sarasota
$2,500 - $4,999
Gilbert Waters Charitable Fund II
Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc.
$1,000 - $2,499
Cousins Laning Foundation
Fay A. Schweim Memorial Children's Dance Fund
Gulf Coast Italian Culture Society, Inc.
The Johnson Singer Arts and Education Fund
Corporate Support
$15,000 - $24,999
Gold Coast Eagle Distributing
$10,000 - $14,999
Northern Trust
Michael's On East
Palm Printing
$5,000 - $9,999
1st Source Bank
Beneva
Cumberland Advisors
Circus Arts Conservatory
Fifth Third Bank
Freed of London
Laughlin Tanner Group
McCarver & Moser Jewelers
The Ritz-Carlton
Sarasota Bay Club
$2,500 - $4,999
Concierge Medical Services
Eurotech Cabinetry, Inc.
Morton’s Gourmet Market & Catering
Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay
Rugs as Art
Sarasota Polo Club
Selva Grill
Senior Friendship Centers
Wear Moi
Williams Parker Attorneys at Law
$1,000 - $2,499
BookStore1Sarasota
Justice Pays
UBS Costal Partners
Programs Summer
The Sarasota Ballet offers summer programs for all ages for ballet enthusiasts looking to grow, refine technique, and enjoy the art of dance.
Summer Intensive
June 22 - July 25, 2026
The Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive is designed for dancers ages 12-21 to holistically develop every student’s technique alongside artistry.
Junior Intensive
June 8 - 19, 2026
The Junior Intensive is designed for dancers ages 8-12 eager to grow both technically and artistically, offering a dynamic and engaging summer experience.
Summer Camps
June 1- July 3, 2026
Our Summer Camps for ages 3–7 spark creativity and imagination through fun, themed weeks filled with dancing, crafts, storytelling, and movement exploration!
Adult Intensive
June 1 - 5, 2026
Our Adult Intensive is designed especially for adult ballet enthusiasts! Whether you’re looking to refine your technique, challenge yourself, or simply immerse in the joy of ballet, this program offers a welcoming and supportive environment for all participants.
Play a Principal Role Make a Difference
The Sarasota Ballet’s performances, education programs, and community engagement are made possible each year through the generosity of foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Ticket sales alone cover only a portion of the cost of producing the extraordinary ballets you see on stage. It is through philanthropic support that we are able to preserve ballet’s greatest legacies, commission innovative new works, and bring accessible arts education to people of all ages in our community.
The Sarasota Ballet Company
• Repertoire Spanning from Beloved Classics to World Premieres
• Live Music Accompaniment and Guest Conductors
• National and International Company Tours
• Guest Choreographers and Répétiteurs
• Presenting Dance Companies
Dance Education
• The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory
• The Sarasota Ballet School
• Summer Intensive
• Summer Camps
• Adult Workshops
Community Engagement
• Dance – The Next Generation
• School Performances and Programs
• Community Experiences
• Joyful Movement Through Parkinson’s
• Silver Swans®
Every gift to The Sarasota Ballet helps inspire, preserve, and impact.
SCAN HERE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR GIVING CIRCLES
THE SARASOTA BALLET BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2025 - 2026 Season
Board Chair
Board Vice Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
Shari Ashman
Ginger Cannon Bailey
William E. Chapman II
Warren R. Colbert, Sr.
William A. Farber
Patricia A. Golemme
Robin Grossman
Julie A. Harris
Richard S. Johnson
Founder / Chair Emerita
Chair Emerita
Honorary Trustees
Sandra DeFeo
Charles Wilson
Pat Kenny
Maureen Steiner
Frank Martucci
Linda Mitchell
Rosemary Oberndorf
Mercedita OConnor
Audrey Robbins
Jan Sirota
Hillary Steele
Julie Swanger
Jean Weidner Goldstein
Sydney Goldstein
Mark Famiglio
Dr. Bart Price
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Jan Farber
Maryann Armour
Laura A. Feder
Frances D. Fergusson
Dr. Amy L. Harding
Charlie Huisking
Robin Klein-Strauss
Peter E. Kretzmer
Karen Lichtig
Tina Lieberman
Richard March
Joan Mathews
Howard Noble
Gini Peltz
Kimberley Anne Pelyk
Jeffrey Peterson
Richard Segall
Lois Stulberg
THE SARASOTA BALLET
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF IAIN WEBB
JACOB’S PILLOW DANCE FESTIVAL
JULY 2025
Ted Shawn Theatre, Becket, Massachusetts
ASHTON CELEBRATED
JUNE 2024
The Royal Opera House, London, UK
THE JOYCE THEATER
AUGUST 2022
Joyce Theater, New York, US
THE JOYCE THEATER
AUGUST 2018
Joyce Theater, New York, US
GUGGENHEIM WORKS & PROCESS
NOVEMBER 2017
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City
NATIONAL CHOREOGRAPHIC FESTIVAL
MAY 2017
Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
ARCADIA CENTENNIAL
AUGUST 2016
Criterion Theatre, Bar Harbor, Maine, US
THE JOYCE THEATER
AUGUST 2016
Joyce Theater, New York, US
FALL FOR DANCE FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 2015
New York City Center, New York City
JACOB’S PILLOW DANCE FESTIVAL
AUGUST 2015
Ted Shawn Theatre, Becket, Massachusetts
FALL FOR DANCE FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 2014
New York City Center, New York City
BALLET ACROSS AMERICA III
JUNE 2013
John F. Kennedy Center, Washington DC
THE SUZANNE FARREL BALLET
OCTOBER 2011
John F. Kennedy Center, Washington DC
