March 27 – 28, 2026 | Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
THE SARASOTA BALLET 2025 - 2026 SEASON
The
May 3, 2026
Classical Music Station
Iain Webb Director
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Life & Liberty, Program Six of The Sarasota Ballet’s 2025 – 2026 Season. This Program is a vibrant celebration of both artistic expression and the ideas that continue to shape our world. The Program opens with George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes, a work that radiates joy, energy, and a deep affection for America. Created as a tribute to the country that welcomed him, Balanchine’s choreography captures a unique fusion of classical technique and American spirit, set to the iconic music of John Philip Sousa. It is a ballet of exuberance and precision, and a wonderful opportunity for our dancers to embrace both its technical brilliance and its unmistakable sense of celebration—particularly as we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. In contrast, Sir David Bintley’s 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café offers a work of striking originality and poignancy. With its imaginative characters and richly textured choreography, the ballet draws us into a world that is at once whimsical and deeply thought-provoking. Beneath its humor and theatrical charm lies a powerful reflection on our environment and the fragile balance of life on our planet. It is a work that resonates in different ways with each viewer, and one that remains as relevant today as ever.
Together, these ballets form a Program of contrast and connection—celebrating both the vitality of human creativity and the responsibility that comes with it. They remind us of the joy, the complexity, and the enduring power of dance to reflect the world around us.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us, and I hope you enjoy the performance. Warmest regards,
PERFORMANCE SPONSORS
Stars and Stripes
‘Still
CO-SPONSORS
JoAnn Heffernan Heisen
Gail and Skip Sack
Hélène and Phil Tucker Stars and Stripes
Bill and Christie Krugler
Life’ at the Penguin Café
Sandra and Neil DeFeo
Susan and Charles Wilson
David Welle and Rosemary Reinhardt
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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 Liason
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
Stars and Stripes
Choreography by George Balanchine
George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes is one of his most spirited tributes to his adopted country. Set to John Philip Sousa’s rousing marches, orchestrated by Hershy Kay, the ballet unfolds as “a campaign in five parts,” brimming with color, energy, and dazzling bravura. Inspired by the parades of the Fourth of July, Balanchine created a patriotic spectacle filled with baton twirling, crisp formations, and virtuosic dancing.
Karinska’s brightly hued military-style costumes add to the sense of pageantry, with each “campaign” showcasing solos, duets, and ensemble numbers that highlight both precision and exuberance. The celebrated pas de deux of the Fourth Campaign combines lyricism with fireworks of technical brilliance, before the full company surges onto the stage for a triumphant finale.
Premiered in 1958, Stars and Stripes has since been performed at major civic events, inaugurations, and celebrations, embodying Balanchine’s unabashed love of America in a bold, joyful, banner-waving display.
George Balanchine
Choreographer
George Balanchine (1904–1983), born Georgi Balanchivadze in St. Petersburg, became one of the most influential figures in 20th-century ballet. A graduate of the Petrograd Imperial Ballet School, he also studied piano and composition, joining the Mariinsky Ballet in 1921. In 1924 he left the Soviet Union, and Sergei Diaghilev soon appointed him chief choreographer of the Ballets Russes, where he created Apollo (1928) and Prodigal Son (1929), works that defined his neoclassical style.
After Diaghilev’s death, Balanchine worked across Europe before moving to the United States in 1933 with arts patron Lincoln Kirstein. Together they founded the School of American Ballet, from which emerged several companies that culminated in New York City Ballet (1948), where Balanchine served as Ballet Master until his death.
Balanchine’s vast output includes collaborations with Igor Stravinsky and other leading composers, blending classical technique with modernist clarity and musical sophistication. His ballets—Serenade, Concerto Barocco, Jewels, Agon, and many more—redefined the art form, emphasizing speed, precision, and musicality over narrative. He also choreographed extensively for Broadway and film during the 1930s and 1940s, including On Your Toes and The Boys from Syracuse.
Known as the father of American ballet, Balanchine created a neoclassical aesthetic that gave the United States its own ballet identity. His legacy endures worldwide, his ballets still central to the repertoire of major companies.
Sandra Jennings Répétiteur
Sandra Jennings, born in Boston, began her training with June Paxman, and later studied at Boston Ballet. Her training continued with a Ford Foundation Scholarship to the School of American Ballet (SAB). At SAB, Jennings was trained by such greats as Alexandra Danilova, Felia Doubrovska, and Stanley Williams. In 1974 she was invited by Balanchine to join the New York City Ballet and during her decade with the company, she danced an impressive repertoire, including ballets by Balanchine, Robbins, Taras, d’Amboise, Ashton, Martins, and Bournonville. In 1985 she became a Répétiteur for The George Balanchine Trust and has staged over 30 ballets for companies worldwide. From 1993-2002 she was also Ballet Mistress for Pennsylvania Ballet and from 2002-2006 for the San Francisco Ballet.
‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café
Choreography by Sir
David Bintley
Created in 1988, David Bintley’s ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café is a witty yet poignant reflection on species extinction and conservation. Set in a stylized café, it presents a parade of endangered animals, each characterized through inventive choreography, whimsical costumes, and Simon Jeffes’ playful score from the Penguin Café Orchestra.
The ballet balances lighthearted cabaret with darker themes. At its core is the tragic fate of the Great Auk, the original “penguin,” hunted to extinction in 1844 when the last pair was killed in Iceland. In “White Mischief,” fashionable ladies in black-and-white stripes indifferently watch the demise of the Southern Cape Zebra, underscoring humanity’s destructive impact.
With designs by Hayden Griffin and choreography rooted in English traditions such as ballroom and Morris dancing, Still Life combines theatricality with charm. Since its premiere, it has remained a popular and timely work, celebrating nature’s beauty while warning of its fragility.
Sir David Bintley Choreographer
Sir David Bintley (b. 1957) grew up in Honley, Yorkshire, and discovered his love of performance at a Sunday-school concert aged four. He trained at The Royal Ballet Upper School from 16 and joined Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet (SWRB) in 1976, becoming acclaimed for his musicality and comic gifts in roles such as Ashton’s Ugly Sister in Cinderella, Alain in La Fille mal gardée, Bottom in The Dream, and the title role in Petrushka.
In 1978, SWRB director Sir Peter Wright gave him his first choreographic commission, The Outsider. He became SWRB’s resident choreographer in 1983 and served The Royal Ballet in the same capacity from 1986–93. In 1995 he succeeded Wright as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, leading the company for 24 years while also serving as Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Japan (2010–14).
Bintley’s choreography, admired for its theatrical flair and musicality, spans dramatic works and lighter narratives. Among his best-known ballets are Allegri diversi (1987), ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café (1988), Hobson’s Choice (1989), Tombeaux (1993), Edward II (1995), Carmina Burana (1995), Beauty and the Beast (2003), Cyrano (2007), Sylvia (2009), and Cinderella (2010).
During his BRB leadership he balanced new creations with revivals of classics, enriching the repertoire and commissioning new scores. He stepped down in 2019, succeeded by Carlos Acosta, and was knighted in 2020 for services to dance. Now devoted to creative projects, Bintley continues to shape ballet with his distinctive neoclassical vision.
Patricia Tierney Répétiteur
Born in Leicester, England, Dance Notator Patricia Tierney trained at Bush Davies School, Rambert Academy and studied Benesh Movement Notation at the Benesh Institute, London. Patricia Tierney joined the Hamburg Ballet as Choreologist in 1987, returning to England in 1992 to work as Choreologist at English National Ballet before joining Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1993 as a Dance Notator. She has notated and assisted in rehearsals of new ballets and revivals of works across the repertoire, most recently assisting David Bintley with the staging of his ballets, for the National Ballet of Japan and Atlanta Ballet. Since 2009, she also teaches the Benesh Movement Notation course ‘Score reading for dancers’ at Elmhurst School for Dance, Birmingham.
Friday and Saturday Evening
Stars and Stripes
Choreography by George Balanchine
Music by John Philip Sousa
Music Arrangement by Hershy Kay
Costume Design by Karinska
Set Design by David Hays
Lighting Design by Ethan Vail
Staged by Sandra Jennings
Conducted by Jared Oaks
Premiered by New York City Ballet | January 17, 1958
First Performed by The Sarasota Ballet | April 8, 2016
FIRST CAMPAIGN
1st Regiment - Corcoran Cadets
Sierra Abelardo
Kennedy Falyn Cassada
Annie Wilson
Camille Gentes
Pasha Levy
Willa Frantz
Alessandra Nova
Brooke Wilson
Isabella Nova
Noa Dean
Gabriella Schultze
Iku Okura
Paige Young
Dominique Jenkins
Isabella Damico
Emmanuelle Watkins
Olivia Dugan
SECOND CAMPAIGN
2nd Regiment - Rifle Regiment
Marijana Dominis
Ella Tuite
Lily Grace Patterson
Kerry Shannon
Rileigh Benn
Scarlett Schultes
Ella Lau
Izzy Desabrais
Haley Dale
Friday and Saturday Evening
THIRD CAMPAIGN
3rd Regiment - Thunder and Gladiator
Samuel Gest
Daniel Ayala
Andrea Marcelletti
Ben Moss
Mark Hare
Andrew Buckley
Jordan Micallef
Benjamin Hannum
Ze Ellis
FOURTH CAMPAIGN
Liberty Bell El Capitan
Nathan Smith
Jonah Glickman
Simon Plante
Trevin Ralphs
Misa Kuranaga Ricardo Rhodes
FIFTH CAMPAIGN
All Regiments
Friday and Saturday Evening
‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café
Choreography by Sir David Bintley
Original Ballet Benesh Notation Score By Grant Coyle
Music by Simon Jeffes
Costume Design by Hayden Griffin
Lighting Design by John B. Read
Staged by Sir David Bintley and Patricia Tierney
Conducted by Jared Oaks Contralto Amy Jo Connours
Premiered by The Royal Ballet | March 9, 1988
First Performed by The Sarasota Ballet | March 2, 2018
AIR À DANSER
The Great Auk Kennedy Falyn Cassada
PRELUDE AND YODEL
Utah Longhorn Ram Dominique Jenkins with Ricardo Graziano
LONG DISTANCE
Texas Kangaroo Rat Gus Payne
THE ECSTASY OF DANCING FLEAS
Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunk Flea Pasha Levy
Andrea Marcelletti, Mark Hare, Jordan Micallef, Mischa Goodman, Andrew Buckley
Ella Tuite, Brooke Wilson, Ella Lau, Alessandra Nova, Emmanuelle Watkins, Dominique Jenkins, Willa Frantz, Haley Dale WHITE MISCHIEF
Southern Cape Zebra Jonah Glickman
NOW NOTHING
Nathan Smith, Marijana Dominis, Zoe Breneman*
MUSIC BY NUMBERS
(by Simon Jeffes and Geoffrey Richardson)
Brazilian Woolly Monkey Ze Ellis
Annie Wilson, Camille Gentes
* Student of The Sarasota Ballet School
One child. One opportunity. One life changed. APRIL 15 - 16 NOON TO NOON
BE THE ONE
to change a child’s life through dance.
The Sarasota Ballet is proud to participate in the Giving Challenge: an exciting online giving event that connections passionate donors with local nonprofits.
Your gift up to $100 per donor will be matched 1 : 1 , doubling the impact you make local students through dance.
Every dollar goes twice as far. Every gift becomes twice the opportunity.
The Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, with giving strengthened by the Patterson Foundation.
Saturday Matinee
Stars and Stripes
Choreography by George Balanchine
Music by John Philip Sousa
Music Arrangement by Hershy Kay
Costume Design by Karinska
Set Design by David Hays
Lighting Design by Ethan Vail
Staged by Sandra Jennings
Conducted by Jared Oaks
Premiered by New York City Ballet | January 17, 1958
First Performed by The Sarasota Ballet | April 8, 2016
FIRST CAMPAIGN
1st Regiment - Corcoran Cadets
Kennedy Falyn Cassada
Jacqueline Sanders
Annie Wilson
Camille Gentes
Pasha Levy
Willa Frantz
Alessandra Nova
Brooke Wilson
Isabella Nova
Noa Dean
Gabriella Schultze
Iku Okura
Paige Young
Alima Bordley
Isabella Damico
Emmanuelle Watkins
Olivia Dugan
SECOND CAMPAIGN
2nd Regiment - Rifle Regiment
Dominique Jenkins
Ella Tuite
Lily Grace Patterson
Kerry Shannon
Rileigh Benn
Scarlett Schultes
Ella Lau
Izzy Desabrais
Haley Dale
Daniel Ayala
Andrea Marcelletti
Saturday Matinee
THIRD CAMPAIGN
3rd Regiment - Thunder and Gladiator
Christopher McGowan
Mark Hare
Gus Payne
Andrew Buckley
Jordan Micallef
Benjamin Hannum
Ze Ellis
FOURTH CAMPAIGN
Nathan Smith
Jonah Glickman
McKibben Needham
Trevin Ralphs
Liberty Bell El Capitan
Sierra Abelardo Samuel Gest
FIFTH CAMPAIGN
All Regiments
Saturday Matinee
‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café
Choreography by Sir David Bintley
Original Ballet Benesh Notation Score By Grant Coyle
Music by Simon Jeffes
Costume Design by Hayden Griffin
Lighting Design by John B. Read
Staged by Sir David Bintley and Patricia Tierney
Conducted by Jared Oaks Contralto Amy Jo Connours
Premiered by The Royal Ballet | March 9, 1988
First Performed by The Sarasota Ballet | March 2, 2018
AIR À DANSER
The Great Auk Paige Young
PRELUDE AND YODEL
Utah Longhorn Ram Sierra Abelardo with Ricki Bertoni
LONG DISTANCE
Texas Kangaroo Rat Andrea Marcelletti
THE ECSTASY OF DANCING FLEAS
Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunk Flea Iku Okura
Daniel Ayala, Mark Hare, Jordan Micallef, Trevin Ralphs, Andrew Buckley
Ella Tuite, Brooke Wilson, Ella Lau, Alessandra Nova, Emmanuelle Watkins, Sierra Abelardo, Willa Frantz, Haley Dale WHITE MISCHIEF
Southern Cape Zebra Jonah Glickman
NOW NOTHING
Ricardo Rhodes, Marijana Dominis, Andi Ludera*
MUSIC BY NUMBERS
Brazilian Woolly Monkey Ricardo Graziano
(by Simon Jeffes and Geoffrey Richardson) * Student of The Sarasota Ballet School
Isabella Damico, Gabriella Schultze
VIOLIN
Christopher Takeda, associate concertmaster
Jennifer Best Takeda, assistant concertmaster
Michael Turkell principal second
Meghan Jones assistant principal second
Katherine Baloff
Felicia Brunelle
Anne Chandra
Nick Eanet
Carlann Evans
ChungYon Hong
Leah Latorraca
Sean O’Neil
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
Graeme Sugden
PICCOLO
Beth Larsen
OBOE
Bobby Nunes principal
Nicholas P. Arbolino
Antonio Urrutia
ENGLISH HORN
Nicholas P. Arbolino
CLARINET
Bharat Chandra principal
Daniel Parrette assistant principal
Calvin Falwell
BASS CLARINET
Calvin Falwell
BASSOON
Fernando Traba principal
Mathew Matheny
HORN
Amber Dean acting co-principal
Shea Kells-Murphy acting co-principal
Chase DeCarlo
Ryan Williamson
TRUMPET
Robby Garrison co-principal
David Green acting co-principal
Stephen Madancy
Ricardo Chinchilla
TROMBONE
Steven Osborne acting principal
Robert Kastner
Marc Morgan
TENOR TUBA
Jason Donnelly
TUBA
Nate Seman principal
PERCUSSION
Marcelina Suchocka, principal
Hanna Kim
Jordan Holley
Jake Lisak
HARP
Phoebe Powell principal
KEYBOARD
Jonathan Spivey principal
GUITAR
Jonathan Godfrey
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
Jared Oaks Guest Conductor
Jared received his bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Brigham Young University. He was hired by Ballet West while still working toward his master’s degree in choral conducting, which he received in 2009. Jared has conducted at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, the Wortham Theater in Houston, and the Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis, among others. In addition to his busy conducting schedule, Jared is a sought-after ballet and collaborative pianist. Jared is also an active composer, and his first ballet, In Memoriam, premiered in 2016 at Ballet West. Jared is a fellow of the American-Scandinavian Foundation and co-founder of the music publication and research nonprofit, Composer Discovery Initiative.
Amy Jo Connours
Mezzo-Soprano
Amy Jo—enriched by local arts, nurtured by local talent, & blessed to be able to give back in her home town of Sarasota, Florida. Amy Jo, a FSU graduate, has sung throughout Europe to rave reviews. She is a local entrepreneur, “Amy On Demand”, which caters to Bradenton airbnbs. In between her busy life of concierge clientele and grandbabies, she sings for Key Chorale as Alto section leader and frequent soloist, bringing her smooth tones to multiple genres spanning Baroque to Gospel and the great American Songbook
Season Supporters
Luminary Circle $100,000+
Our Special Angel
Jan and Bill Farber
Sydney Goldstein
Jean Weidner Goldstein
In Loving Memory of Alfred Goldstein
Patricia A. Golemme
Bill and Linda Mitchell
Paul and Sharon Steinwachs
Benefactor Circle $75,000 - $99,999
Sandra and Neil DeFeo
Mark Famiglio
Pat and Ann Kenny
Mercedita OConnor
In Loving Memory of Bob and Jeanne Zabelle
Guardian Circle $50,000 - $74,999
Shari and Steve Ashman
Karol Foss
Robin and Roy Grossman
Sherry and Mike Guthrie
Julie A. Harris
Charlie Huisking, Huisking Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Robin Klein-Strauss and Michael Strauss
Harry Leopold and Audrey Robbins
Frank and Katherine Martucci
Charmian and Earl Noel
Connoisseur Circle $25,000 - $49,999
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Bill and Christie Krugler
Richard March
In Loving Memory of Helen March
Richard and Cornelia Matson
Rosemary and Lou Oberndorf
Stu and Gini Peltz
Kimberley A. Pelyk
Dr. Bart Price
Toby and Noel Siegel
Hillary Steele
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Dr. David Sugar
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Susan and James Travers
David Welle and Rosemary Reinhardt
Susan and Charles Wilson
Aficionado Circle $15,000 - $24,999
James and Maryann Armour Family Foundation
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Jared Winters
Patron Circle $10,000 - $14,999
Paul Allen
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Dedrea A. Greer
Jane C. Gould and Stephen W. Fillo
Nancy and John Harris
Ineza Hart
Elaine Keating
In Loving Memory of Dr. Sidney Katz
Michael and Barbara Landy
Barbara and Stephen Mason
Stephania and James McClennen
Carla and Michael Miller
Keith F. Nelson and Judith K. Marquis
Gail and Skip Sack
Rich and Clare Segall
Arthur Siciliano and B. Aline Blanchard
Nancy and Richard Sneed
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Melliss Kenworthy Swenson
In Loving Memory of Curt Swenson
Hélène and Phil Tucker
Jean Volpe
Maria and Jim Wilson
Devotee Circle $5,000 - $9,999
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Kay Aidlin
In Loving Memory of Stephen Aidlin
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In Honor of Ben Stevenson
Margaret Barbieri
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Lois and Jim Champy
Robert Cook and Danniel Anthon
Robin and Chase Curtis
Syble and Peter DiGirolamo
Rosalyn and Joel Ehrenpreis
Bruce Ensinger and Clark Denham
Ping Faulhaber
Barbara Fischer Long and James Long
William C. and Joyce K. Fletcher
Herman and Sharon Frankel
Ellen Goldman
Dr. Amy L. Harding
Marilyn Harwell Trust
Alastair Hunter-Henderson and Noralyn
Marshall
Stephen and Lila Huse
Ann Jackson
Merrill Kaegi
Linda Z. Klein
Peter and Melody Kretzmer
Gerda Maceikonis
Carolou and Lou Marquet
Robert and Sharon McMillan
Patrick McNamee and Sandra Young
Mary Ann and John Meyer
Carolyn Michel
In Loving Memory of Howard Millman
Howard and Barbara Noble, Jr.
Peter and Joanne Powers
Rose Marie Proietti
Pamela Revels
Shelley Roisen
Bob and Diane Roskamp
Sam Samelson and Marion Levine
Amy Schachter
In Loving Memory of Oscar Schachter
Gabriel and Valerie Schmergel
Micki Sellman
In Loving Memory of Jerry Sellman
Nancy Smith
Diana Smith and Barry Cohen
Libby and Jon Soderberg
Gordon Stanley
Swanson and Kutner Family Fund
Ed Town and Steve Rubin
Sallie Carter Tyler
Diana Chapman Walsh
Susan and Lewis Winarsky
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
Moira Hintsa
Anne E. Jones
Ronald and Rita Karns
Maryann Kolb and Greg Goebel
Dr. Bart and Joan Levenson
Melvy Erman Lewis
Meg Maguire
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
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
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.
PROGRAM ONE
October 23 - 25, 2026
FSU Center for the Performing Arts
PROGRAM TWO
November 20 - 21, 2026
Sarasota Opera House
PROGRAM THREE
December 18 - 19, 2026
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
PROGRAM FOUR
January 29 - February 1, 2027
FSU Center for the Performing Arts
PROGRAM FIVE
February 26 - March 1, 2027
FSU Center for the Performing Arts
PROGRAM SIX
March 26 - 27, 2027
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
PROGRAM SEVEN
April 30 - May 1, 2027
Sarasota Opera House
GALA
May 2, 2027
Sarasota Opera House and Circus Arts Conservatory
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
