Non-Profit Org. US Postage
PAID
Toledo, Ohio Permit 1143
Fall 2010
Marie Bollinger Vogt, Founder, Artistic Director Emerita
Westfield Franklin Park 5001 Monroe St., Suite R20 Toledo, OH 43623 Westfield Franklin Park 5001 Monroe St., Suite R20 Toledo, OH 43623 419.471.0049 FAX 419.471.9005 www.toledoballet.net
If you have a disability which requires an accommodation, please advise the business office, 419-471-0049. TTY/ TTD 1-800-750-0750
Faculty
Coming March 11 & 12, 2011 A Dance Concert Inspired By Our Very Own Toledo Museum of Art Valentine Theatre • 7:30 p.m.
For tickets, please call 419-242-2787.
Natalie Alexiou Steven Brown Peg Damschroder Kristin Del Verne Frances Fu Jeanie Bugert-Hayward Ann Heckler Caitlin Hudson Kathy Humphrey Victor Knighten Michael Lang Lisa Mayer Armon Miller Beverly Robinson Ariel Warrick
Staff Mari Davies
NUTCRACKER LEADING LADIES - CLARA 2010 Real Name: Semira Warrick Age: 13 School: DeVeaux Middle School Favorite role danced and why: The opening number in Press One For More Options (Let the Reverb Cease) because it was a lot of movement and the drums on stage were very upbeat and loud. What do you like to do when you are not dancing? I really like to draw at home and I really enjoy playing Dance Dance Revolution with my sisters. What do you want to be when you grow up? A professional ballerina What are three words that come to your mind when you think of dance? Intense, tiring, fun What famous dancer would you like to meet? Rudolf Nureyev
Real Name: Rebekah Grace Paul Age: 13 School: Toledo Christian Favorite role danced and why: A swan in Swan Lake because it was very challenging but I had a lot of fun, too! The whole dance was really beautiful. What do you like to do when you are not dancing? Hang out with my friends, swim, and play volleyball with my sister. What do you want to be when you grow up? An architect or direct my own dance studio What are three words that come to your mind when you think of dance? Fun, beautiful, challenging What famous dancer would you like to meet? Svetlana Zakharova
Executive Director
Lisa Mayer
School Director
Elizabeth White
Business Coordinator
NEW SET TO DEBUT
AT 70TH ANNUAL NUTCRACKER
DECEMBER 11, 2 P.M. & 7 P.M.
Toledo Ballet invites you to help us celebrate our 70th anniversary production of our signature Nutcracker with your “ooohs” and “aaahs” when the curtain rises on the brand new set. With many thanks to the Anderson Fund Supporting Organization of the Toledo Community Foundation as well as the Landman Goldman Foundation, Toledo Ballet will show off the dazzling, luscious new “Land of Sweets” set designed by Thomas C. Umfrid. Mr. Umfrid, a member of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829, designed it with the intention to complement the current Act I set until funds can be raised to replace it with Umfrid’s Act I set design, as well. “Tom Umfrid’s work is both eclectic and substantial. Given his professional experience and familiarity with the Midwest ballet scene, Mr. Umfrid promised to be a designer receptive to our needs for Nutcracker,” said Toledo Ballet board member and University of Toledo theater professor James Hill. The new set replaces a set that Toledo Ballet purchased second hand nearly twenty years ago.
Margarita Dobbins
When asked about his design process, Mr. Umfrid explained, “The former set design was a rather abstract environment. To my eye, the former set seemed rather dark and lackluster, like a cave made of paper doilies. The new design is a distinct place; it’s the throne room in the Kingdom of Sweets. In the new set the colors, vertical accents and energetic
Anthony Piercefield
(Continued on page 2.)
Kelby Sodeman
Grants Coordinator
Michael Lang
Artistic Director, Spring Production
Condessa Croninger
Educational Outreach Coordinator Administrative Assistant Administrative Assistant
Jessica Prchlik
Administrative Assistant
Nicholas Schroeder Webmaster
DECEMBER 12, 2 P.M.
© 2010 Photoworks, Inc.
Officers
Robert A. Koenig President James Hill President-Elect Judith Leb Secretary Damian Rodgers Treasurer
Trustees DeAnn Gorun – Baker Yolanda Mora-Calderon Stephanie Cihon Dawn Coleman Stephanie Dames John Gorun Jeanette Grzeszczak Sarah Householder Anne Izzi Kathy Jones Darren LaShelle Gail Mirrow David Saygers Barbara Stengle Marie Bollinger Vogt Bruce Works
NEW SET TO DEBUT (Continued from page 1.) decoration depict a place for a happy celebration. Clara and her Nutcracker Prince have just traveled from a coldly elegant moonlit winter forest. Act II needs to be a real contrast for Clara and the audience. In the middle of winter, at Christmas time, we all need some sunlight and fun!” And to make our 70th annual production even more spectacular, Miami City Ballet Principal Dancers Renato Penteado and Mary Carmen Catoya return to their Toledo Ballet family to dazzle our community yet again. We were disappointed when Mary Carmen was unable to teach our summer intensive due to an injury, so we are extra excited to see her again. Share the magic with us. See you at the Stranahan!
UNDER ALL THAT MOTHER GINGER MAKE-UP IS ... When we first invited 101.5 The River’s Rick Woodell to play the role of Mother Ginger, we had no idea what we had gotten ourselves into. That was three years ago and each year since, he manages to take his performances to the next level. This year will be no exception. And in honor of our very special 70th anniversary Nutcracker, and in order to have a very particularly memorable way of celebrating our new Land of Sweets set, we invited The Andersons’ Chairman Emeritus Richard P. Anderson to play the role in one of our performances. Mr. Anderson bicycles all over the world, most recently in the Alps, so we are confident this role will be a piece of cake for one of the most widely respected and loved community leaders Toledo has ever known. When invited to play the role, Anderson responded, “I am delighted to be asked to do Mother Ginger in the 70th annual Nutcracker. I love Toledo Ballet and the Nutcracker and now I will be able to see the new set from up close and personal!” Do we dare say, “Break a leg, Rick and Dick!”???
BUY WINE FROM THE ANDERSONS AND SUPPORT TOLEDO BALLET Toledo Ballet was invited by The Andersons to participate in their Charity Wines program. Here’s how it works: Toledo Ballet has designed four different wine Toledo Ballet Receives $2~00 Each Bottle Sold labels – one for each of four different kinds of wine. Thanks to the photographic genius of Bruce Works (Photoworks, Inc.) and the design deftness of Carleen Cincala, the wine labels alone are worth the purchase. The wines are Chardonnay, White Zinfandel,
Toledo Ballet Wine Fundraiser
Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each bottle sells for $9.99, a case is 10% off, and the wine is available at every local Andersons store. Toledo Ballet gets $2 per bottle sold. See, now haven’t we made your holiday shopping much easier?
Order here Also at The Andersons’ Stores 99 price per bottle $9~
Great Holiday Gift!
RECONNECT: TOLEDO BALLET ALUMNA DARRAH CARR
TOLEDO BALLET RECEIVES GRANT FOR ADAPTIVE DANCE SCHOLARSHIPS
Darrah Carr holds an MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wesleyan University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in dance through Texas Women’s University. Named one of the “Influential Women of 2010” by The Irish Voice and of the Top 40 Under 40 by The Irish Echo, she has been active for over a decade in both the Irish and modern dance communities as a choreographer, dancer, educator and writer. She also currently teaches dance at Hofstra University.
Thanks to the generosity of the Toledo
What are some of your fondest memories of your years at TB? My fondest memories revolve around people that were there when I was for they are the ones who made the whole environment so lively, warm, welcoming and fun ... Performing in the annual Nutcracker was the highlight of each year. I remember the thrill of having lights on my tutu as a Frost Fairy and the opportunity to work with Soili Arvola.
member Ann Heckler was interested
What did you take with you from your training with Madame Vogt or Madame Velta that remains with you today? Both Madame Vogt and Madame Velta gave me a profound and fundamental respect for the art of dance. In my training this encompassed respect for my teachers, fellow dancers and for my body as an instrument. I am so grateful that my first experience in performing was in productions of such high artistic and technical quality.
Adaptive Dance class for adults in its
Higher education seems very important to you. How did you decide to pursue an academic path to dance versus strictly a performance path? For most of my college years, I was torn between becoming an English professor and pursuing a career in dance. Pursuing a career as a dance writer has been one way for me to combine these two loves... I currently teach courses ranging from Dance History to Irish Steps and Studies – an unconventional class where we spend half our time learning Irish dances and half our time in the lecture hall discussing their social history. Explain your dance odyssey from classical ballet to Irish dance. I actually began Irish dance lessons first... as an expression of my cultural heritage. I always knew I wanted to study classical ballet, as well. At Wesleyan University, I was introduced to modern dance... Several years ago, I coined the term “ModErin” to describe my choreographic style. My training in classical ballet has absolutely been the foundation for all the styles I have studied. What have been some of the highlights of your professional career? My New York based company, Darrah Carr Dance, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2008. Recent performance highlights include NBC’s The Today Show, a guest performance with the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, and Jacob’s Pillow...and I performed with many esteemed Irish musicians on the PBS documentary Absolutely Irish! As a pre-professional dance organization, TB has many dancers preparing for a dance career. What advice would you give them? Be persistent, yet patient. Be open-minded. Be true to yourself.
Community Foundation, individuals with Down syndrome up to the age of 22 can receive financial assistance for Adaptive Dance. The program, which was implemented in Fall 2009, has been such a success that its program director and Toledo Ballet faculty in finding a way to make it possible for any youth with Down syndrome to participate, regardless of a parent’s ability to pay. Toledo Ballet has also implemented an fall schedule. For more information on these classes or other classes, please visit our website or call our offices.