A CELEBRATION OF DANCE 2021 - Ballet Ensemble of Texas
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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR THOM CLOWER AND BALLET ENSEMBLE OF TEXAS PRESENT
A CELEBRATION
OF DANCE 2021
FIREBIRD
CONFETTI
SWAN LAKE
IN A
NUTSHELL
SPACIAL
PERCUSSION
APRIL 9-10
IRVING ARTS
CENTER
Presenting Sponsors: NEA/TCA Funded in part of the City of Irving through the Irving Arts Board and the City of Coppell.
Dear Friends, On behalf of all of us at Ballet Ensemble of Texas, we would like to express sincere gratitude to everyone who supported our work during this Pandemic. Just over a year ago we were going along dancingly, and suddenly, we had to stop…some- thing that is not great for people who are movers! As difficult as it was for us to teach the dancers via Zoom, I cannot imagine having to live them with while they were experiencing it. It was not easy for any of us…but now, it seems, we are beginning to get past this unprecedented moment in our lives. Thank Goodness! We also appreciate your continued support as we move forward and create our new “normal”. We will continue to follow our mission of presenting quality ballet performances for local communities, and to train pre-professional students for careers in dance. We will continue to present full-length ballets and ambitious performances to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, dancing or premiering works by noted choreographers. Additionally, we will continue our outreach programs, creating a culture of inclusion by donating tickets to veterans, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the elderly. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the company is funded by donations, ticket sales, and is grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Coppell, Irving Arts Center and the City of Irving through the Irving Arts Board for their support. Your individual donation can make a huge impact at this time of reduced ticket sales and is completely tax-deductible as allowed by law. No gift is too small! If your employer has a giving program, we can help get you set up…just give us a call! We love dance, but more so we love dancers! The dancers on the stage tonight have worked extremely hard to be their best. Some of them will go on to profession- al careers, some will dance through college…but whatever path they choose they will use the discipline they learned from dance to be successful adults! Thank you! We hope you enjoy the performance! Thom Clower, Artistic Director Lisa Slagle, Executive Director Lindsey Daniel, Ballet Master Heather King, Assistant to the Artistic Director
BALLET ENSEMBLE OF TEXAS
2020-21
Beautiful Smiles Version
THE COMPANY
THE APPRENTICES
BALLET ENSEMBLE OF TEXAS
2020-21
Masked-Up Version
THE COMPANY
THE APPRENTICES
Known as one of the most energetic and inspiring teachers across the country, Thom Clower's "evangelistic" approach
to teaching has touched the lives and careers of dancers around the world for over 40 years. With extensive training in
the Vaganova, Balanchine, Cecchetti, and Bournonville styles, Mr. Clower combines the qualities of each one to
present a technique that is true and versatile.
Making his stage debut at the age of six, Mr. Clower began his professional training with George Skibine and Marjo-
rie Tallchief at the Dallas Civic Ballet in 1968. He received a Ford Foundation Scholarship to the School of American
Ballet in New York for two consecutive years, and studied in Paris, Amsterdam, and London. He joined Dallas Ballet in
1978 where he spent eleven seasons performing with the company under Mr. Skibine and Flemming Flindt and served
as assistant Ballet Master for Dallas Ballet's 1980 South American tour. As Ballet Master, Mr. Clower assisted Flindt in
staging his full-length Nutcracker, The Three Musketeers, and Phaedra, and personally administrated the staging of
Alvin Ailey's The River, John Cranko's Jue de Cartes, Jeri Kylian's Engulfted Catherdral, Fokine's Prince Igor and Les
Sylphides, and many others.
Mr. Clower served as Founding Artistic Director of the original Ballet Dallas and the affiliate school, the Dallas Conser-
vatory of Ballet. Under his direction, Ballet Dallas was the resident professional ballet company for the Dallas area for
eight years, carrying on the traditions of the former company. Mr. Clower served as Ballet Master for Hubbard Street
Dance Chicago, working closely with founding Artistic Director Lou Conte. He was primary teacher for the company
and rehearsal director for works by Twyla Tharp, Nacho Duato, Daniel Ezerlow, and Kevin O'Day. Mr. Clower then
served four seasons as Artistic Director of Yuma Ballet Theatre (AZ), and Ballet Master of the affiliate school, Dancers
Workshop. He was a regular guest teacher at Allegro Ballet of Houston from 2009-2018.
As a representative of the George Skibine Trust, Mr. Clower helps maintain the integrity of Mr. Skibine's ballets, staging
them across the country. He served on selection panels for the City of Dallas, Tarrant County, and both the Texas and
Arizona Commission on the Arts Peer Review Panels. He was awarded the prestigious Legacy Award for Achievement
in the Arts by the Dallas Dance Council in 2000 and placed in the Yuma Ballet Theatre's Hall of Fame in 2005. Since
2017, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Dance Council of North Texas, focusing on their Scholarship
Program.
Believing very strongly in Regional Dance America, Mr. Clower has served as the
Director of Ballet at numerous RDA Craft of Choreography Conferences (NCI). He
has been a guest teacher for Regional Festivals since 1992 and was a guest
teacher at the RDA National Festivals in 1997, 2007, and 2017. Mr. Clower has
proudly served in the capacity of Adjudicator for RDA/NE (00), RDA/Mid States
(03), SERBA (13, 19), and RDA/SW (17 National Festival in Phoenix, AZ). He has
been Ballet Faculty at The Glenda Brown Choreography Project.
Mr. Clower has staged and created ballets for companies and has also worked with
many opera companies, including the Santa Fe Opera, the Dallas Opera, and the
Lyric Opera of Dallas. Companies have performed his choreography all over the world.
Since 2001, Thom Clower has worked around the world as a freelance master teacher
and choreographer. His work has included regional companies and schools, and he
has been a guest teacher at professional companies such as Oklahoma City THOM
CLOWER
Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Atlanta Ballet and Broadway Dance Center,
and Associate Ballet Master for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and
served annually as Ballet Master for Young! Tanzsommer – Stars of Tomorrow
International since 2002.
ARTISTIC
DIRECTOR
Mr. Clower is the Artistic Director of the Ballet Ensemble of Texas, and on
the faculty of the Ballet Academy of Texas. He has staged the full-length
Coppelia and Firebird on the company twice and many concert works,
and been as Master Teacher for them since the inception.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LISA SLAGLE Lisa Slagle began studying all forms of dance at the age of five
in her hometown of Ft. Worth where she spent her summers
performing in Casa Manana's Summer Musicals, most notably as
Baby June in Gypsy. She began her professional dancing career at eleven when
she appeared as a solo dancer in the Elvis Presley movie, Clambake. Her ballet
training continued in southern California with Anna Cheselka, Sallie Whalen, and
George Zoritch, and later in Houston with James Clouser and Eugene Collins. Upon
graduation from high school, she was offered a position with the Joffrey Ballet in
New York, where she stayed until 1979. While there she had the opportunity to
perform leading roles in ballets by choreographers de Mille, Arpino, Ashton,
Bournonville and Tharp. In the 1980’s she performed as a Soloist with the Ballet du
Grande Theatre de Geneve in Switzerland, and as a Principal Dancer with Tulsa
Ballet Theater.
Upon her retirement from dancing, she started teaching ballet in Dallas, and in 1999 founded Ballet Academy of
Texas. The school has since received the Outstanding School award from the Youth America Grand Prix for eight out
of twelve years, as well as the Outstanding Teacher award four times. She is also the founding director of the pre-pro-
fessional company, Ballet Ensemble of Texas, which was an Honor Company with the Regional Dance of America
organization for thirteen years. Many of her students are now dancing professionally both nationally and international-
ly in such companies as American Ballet Theatre and Texas Ballet Theater.
Ms. Slagle is on the Advisory Board for American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum, has been a master
teacher since 2007 for ABT's various Summer Intensive workshops and has been a master teacher for the International
Ballet Competition School in Jackson, Mississippi and for the Regional Dance of America organization. In 2018, she
had the honor of being the adjudicator for the RDA/NE Festival and in 2020, for the RDA/MidStates Festival. She
has also been a master teacher as well as staged her choreography for such noted national schools as the Orlando
Ballet School, Washington School of Ballet, and the Interlochen School of the Arts.
Lindsey Yoes Daniel is in her sixth season as Ballet Ensemble of Texas’ Ballet Master.
She received her training at the Ballet Academy of Texas and was a leading dancer
with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas for several years. She has performed professional-
ly with The Dallas Opera, Texas Dance Theatre, Larwell Productions and Dallas
Black Dance Theater II; where she was also the Assistant Director to Nycole Ray.
Lindsey has worked with many renown choreographers, including Fernando Bujones
and Gordon Pierce Schmidt. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance,
Psychology, and Development in Family Studies from University of North Texas, she
attended University of Oklahoma on scholarship for collegiate dance training.
Lindsey is certified in the American Ballet Theatre Curriculum for the Primary level
through Level Five, as well as certified in
BALLET MASTER
Progressing Ballet Technique. She has been
teaching for ten years.
LINDSEY YOES DANIEL
BALLET ENSEMBLE OF TEXAS
The Ballet Ensemble of Texas (BET) was chartered in May 2001, with the goal of presenting quality ballet
performances for local communities and to train pre-professional students for careers in dance. It is direct-
ed by Thom Clower, and former Joffrey Ballet dancer Lisa Slagle is the Founder and Executive Director of
the company. BET is the official company of the Ballet Academy of Texas in Coppell. Since its inception,
in addition to The Nutcracker, the Ballet Ensemble has presented ambitious spring performances to the
Dallas/Fort Worth area, dancing or premiering works by noted choreographers such as Twyla Tharp,
Peter Anastos, Gerald Arpino, George Balanchine, August Bournonville, and Fernando Bujones. Our
dancers are recognized with acceptance and scholarships from prestigious training facilities across the
country. We are also proud to boast that we have four alumni dancing with the American Ballet Theatre,
America’s National Ballet Company. They have represented Coppell and the North Texas area interna-
tionally at performances in Montreal, Canada in 2012, and performed at the 2013 Young! Tanzsommer
dance festival in Austria. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the company is funded largely by dona-
tions, and is grateful to the City of Coppell, Texas Commission on the Arts, Irving Arts Center and the City
of Irving through the Irving Arts Board for their support. Please visit the company website at
www.balletensembleoftexas.org. The company is also represented on Facebook and Instagram
@balletensembleoftexas.
BALLET ACADEMY OF TEXAS
The Ballet Academy of Texas opened in Coppell in October 1999, offering four large studios of classes
for both the serious and recreational dancer in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Modern, Hip Hop, Yoga/Pilates and
Musical Theater. In 2010, the Academy began a Professional Preparatory daytime program for homes-
chooled dancers training for careers in dance…the first in the metroplex. The Academy is in an 11,000
square foot facility near the corner of Sandy Lake and Denton Tap Roads. It has received the Youth Ameri-
can Grand Prix Award for Outstanding School in the Southwest eight of the past twelve years, and its
director, Lisa Slagle, has won the Outstanding Teacher Award on four different occasions. Students of the
Academy regularly receive scholarships for summer study, and many former students are now dancing
professionally in companies all over the United States. Ballet Academy of Texas has hosted the American
Ballet Theatre’s Young Dancer Program three times. For more information on the Academy’s classes and
summer intensives, please visit www.balletacademyoftexas.com.
Lisa Slagle, Director of Ballet Academy of Texas
Thom Clower - Ballet 5-7 + Men
Angelyn Fulton - Preballet - Ballet 4
Emilia Hotz - Preballet - Beginning Ballet
Jenny Johnston - Ballet 4-7
Lisa Slagle - Ballet 5-7
Lindsey Yoes Daniel - Preballet 2 - Ballet 3 + Jazz
Tammie Reinsch - Jazz/Modern/Tap
Alana Ralphs - Hip Hop
Gloria Pemburton - Yoga for Dancers
Rita Hicks - Pilates
BALLET ACADEMY OF TEXAS 2021 SUMMER INTENSIVE
June 7-11 | June 14-18 | June 21-25
Classes with Master Teachers in Ballet, Pointe, Variations,
Men’s Technique, Pas de Deux, Character, Jazz, and Modern
CHOREOGRAPHERS
JENNY JOHNSTON (SPATIAL PERCUSSION)
has been teaching intermediate through professional level ballet since 1985. She
has been on the ballet faculty of Booker T. Washington High School for the Perform-
ing and Visual Arts (formerly ARTS Magnet), Dallas Ballet and Ballet Dallas and has
taught intermediate through advanced ballet and pointe at the Ballet Academy of
Texas since 1997. Ms. Johnston began studying all forms of dance at the age of
three. Her summer studies included the School of American Ballet and American
Ballet Theatre. She received her BFA in Ballet from Texas Christian University and
was a soloist with The Fort Worth Ballet. She has been a company ballet teacher
for Dallas Black Dance Theater and continues to guest teach in the area. Ms.
Johnston is resident choreographer for Ballet Ensemble of Texas. She was awarded
the Regional Dance America National Commissioning Award in 2009 for her
ballet La Nuit Rose. She has also enjoyed being a guest choreographer at
BTWHSPVA. She continues to love creating new ballets and the artistic process of working with the talent-
ed dancers of BET.
TAMMIE REINSCH (IN A NUTSHELL)
is the director of the Contemporary program at Ballet Academy, and resident chore-
ographer for the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. She teaches tap, jazz and modern. Since
the age of three, she has studied all forms of dance as well as in college at Texas
Women’s University and University of North Texas. She has served as the assistant
director of the Plano Metropolitan Ballet and the director of dance at Titans Gymnas-
tics Center. She has taught full-time for the Academy since 1997 and choreographs
regularly for the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. Her ballet generation# received the
Outstanding Choreography Award from Youth America Grand Prix in 2018.
GERALD ARPINO (CONFETTI)
was an American dancer and choreographer. He was co-founder of the Joffrey Ballet
and succeeded Robert Joffrey as its artistic director in 1988. Born on Staten Island,
New York, Gerald Arpino studied ballet with Mary Ann Wells, while stationed with
the Coast Guard in Seattle, Washington. Arpino first met Robert Joffrey at Wells's
school. He studied modern dance with May O'Donnell in whose company he
appeared in the 1950’s. In 1956, Arpino was a founding member of the Robert
Joffrey Theatre Ballet with Robert Joffrey. He served as co-director of the company's
school, the American Ballet Center, and was the leading dancer until an injury forced
him to stop in 1963. By 1965 he had choreographed five works for the company and became the Joffrey's
co-director and resident choreographer. In the first twenty-five years of the company's existence Arpino
created more than a third of all its commissioned ballets. After the death of Robert Joffrey in 1988, Arpino
became the Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet and in 1995 moved the company to Chicago. In July 2007,
he was named "Artistic Director Emeritus" as a search for a successor began.
CHOREOGRAPHERS
MARIUS IVANOVICH PETIPA (SWAN LAKE)
was a French ballet dancer, pedagogue, and choreographer. Petipa is
one of the most influential ballet masters and choreographers in ballet
history. Marius Petipa is noted for his long career as Premier maître de
ballet (First Ballet Master) of the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres, makin
him Ballet Master and principal choreographer of the Imperial Ballet
(today known as the Mariinsky Ballet), a position he held from 1871 until
1903. Petipa created over fifty ballets, some of which have survived in
versions either faithful to, inspired by, or reconstructed from the original.
Among these works, he is most noted for The Pharaoh's Daughter; Don
Quixote; La Bayadère; Le Talisman; The Sleeping Beauty; The Nutcrack-
er; Raymonda; and Les Millions d’Arlequin (a.k.a. Harlequinade). All
full-length works and individual pieces which have survived in active performance are cornerstones of
the ballet repertory.
GEORGE SKIBINE (FIREBIRD)
was born in 1920 in Yasnaya Polyana, Russia. Skibine’s father was a
member of Sergei Diaghilev’s famous Ballet Russe, and his first appearance
on stage as at the age of five in the crowd scene in Petrouchka. He took
classes with legendary teachers such as Serge Lifar and began dancing
professionally at age 17. Leonid Massine brought him to the Ballet de Monte
Carlo where he partnered some of the worlds’ greatest ballerinas. He eventu-
ally came to New York, where Sol Hurok recruited him for the new “Ballet
Theatre”, later to add the word “American” to its name. World War II saw
Skibine become a naturalized US citizen and serve as a soldier, a member
of the U.S. Army Intelligence Corp in Europe where he rose to the rank of top
sergeant in the O.S.S., took part in the Normandy invasion, and received a
Bronze Star. He resumed his dance career post-war, first with Ballet Theatre, then in 1947 with the Grand
Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas where he met and married American Ballerina Marjorie
Tallchief. After a brief stint with Ruth Page’s Chicago Opera Ballet, he was called to the Paris Opera
Ballet to become “premier danseur etoile,” the first American to be so honored. Skibine enjoyed much
success at the Paris Opera Ballet and eventually served as Ballet Master and then Artistic Director at the
Paris Opera. He left Paris in 1964 to become Artistic Director of the Harkness Ballet in New York. He left
Harkness in 1966 to return to Paris and was made Chevalier de l’Order des Arts et Lettres in 1967. In
1969 he moved to Dallas to become the artistic Director of the Dallas Civic Ballet. Skibine remained in
Dallas for the remainder of his life, building the Dallas Ballet into a nationally acclaimed professional
company, the first in North Texas.
COACHES
In an effort to best prepare our dancers for a future in the arts, whenever possible we give them the
opportunity to work with leaders in our field. In preparation for Swan Lake, Act 2, our alumni dancers
from American Ballet Theatre were coached by Susan Jones, Regisseur of ABT, and our corps de ballet
dancers were coached by Anna Donovan, Principal Rehearsal Director of Texas Ballet Theater.
ANNA DONOVAN
PRINCIPAL REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
TEXAS BALLET THEATER
A native of Ireland, Anna Donovan won a scholarship to train at the Royal
Ballet School in England when she was ten years old. From there she joined
the Elmhurst Ballet School. After performing in Kaiserslautern, Germany she
joined the Irish National Ballet in 1973 and was rapidly promoted to
Principal Dancer. After 17 years with INB, she joined the staff of Ballet
Dallas in 1991, serving as Principal Ballet Mistress/Repetiteur and instructor
for the Dallas Conservatory of Ballet. She is included in The Who’s Who of
Teachers in America 2000, 2001, and 2005. Anna joined the artistic staff
at TBT as Principal Ballet Master in 2000.
SUSAN JONES
REGISSEUR
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE
Susan Jones was born in York, Pennsylvania and began her early dance training
there. She continued her studies with Lucille Hood in Rockville, Maryland, Mary
Day in Washington, D. C and Meredith Baylis at American Ballet Center, home
of Joffrey Ballet. After dancing with the original Joffrey II for two seasons, Jones
joined American Ballet Theatre in 1971 and danced with the Company for eight
successive seasons. Among her roles were the Cowgirl in Rodeo and The
Accused as a Child in Fall River Legend. She segued onto the Artistic Staff when
she was promoted to Assistant Ballet Mistress. She was appointed Ballet Mistress
in 1980 and served as Regisseur from 1981-91 under the direction of Mikhail Baryshnikov. During a three
year hiatus, Jones mounted Natalia Makarova’s full-length La Bayadère for the Ballet del Teatro Colon in
Buenos Aires, Argentina and Mikhail Baryshnikov’s production of Don Quixote (Kitri’s Wedding) for The Royal
Ballet. In 1995, she co-staged ABT’s most recent production of Don
Quixote in collaboration with Kevin Mckenzie. Jones has staged the following ballets for ABT: Symphonie
Concertante (Balanchine), Fall River Legend (DeMille), Gaité Parisienne (Massine), and Brahms-Haydn (Tharp)
among others. Her 2014 restoration of Twyla Tharp's Bach Partita for ABT won critical acclaim. Most recently,
Jones staged Frederick Ashton's Sylvia for the Mariinsky Ballet and Ballet del Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. n
the spring of 2016, she staged and choreographed her own production of Don Quixote for Orlando Ballet.
In Fall 2020, Jones was appointed Regisseur with ABT after serving as Principal Ballet Mistress for four years.GUEST ARTISTS
BREANNE GRANLUND
began her classical training at the age of nine with the Ballet
Academy of Texas under the direction of Lisa Slagle. While at
BAT, she danced the title role in Skibine’s Firebird and Paquita at
the Regional Dance America Southwest Convention. Granlund
was chosen to be one of ABT’s National Training Scholars for
three years and received the Bendor Foundation Award in
2014. She was the 2014 first place winner in the senior cate-
gory at the Youth America Grand Prix, Dallas, Texas regional
competition.
Granlund joined ABT Studio Company in 2014, joined the
main Company as an apprentice in April 2016 and became a
member of the corps de ballet in October 2016. Her repertoire
includes a Porcelain Princess in Aurora’s Wedding, a Shade in
La Bayadère, one of the Nutcracker’s Sisters in Alexei Ratman-
sky’s The Nutcracker, The Swallow in The Seasons, a little swan
in Swan Lake, a leading role in A Time There Was and featured
roles in Deuce Coupe and In the Upper Room. She created
featured roles in Convivium and Praedicere.
NATHAN VENDT
was born in St. Louis, Missouri and began dancing at the age of
fourteen at Ballet Tyler under the direction of Kym Lanier. Two
years later his family moved to Dallas, Texas where he began
training at the Ballet Academy of Texas under the direction of
Lisa Slagle. Vendt joined the Cincinnati Ballet’s training program
for the 2012-2013 season, which was directed by Victoria
Morgan and Devon Carney.
In 2011 and 2012, Vendt won best male in the senior division
at the American Ballet Competition in Austin, Texas. In 2012,
Vendt won second in the Youth America Grand Prix Senior
Classical Male Division at the Dallas, Texas semi-finals. He also
won the Dance Council of North Texas George Skibine
Scholarship and the Regional Dance America
Southwest Scholarship, both in 2011.
Vendt has danced many roles for the Ballet Ensemble of Texas
with production credits including Fernando Bujones’ Slavonic
Dances, Lisa Slagle’s Tarantella and Margo Sappington’s Plaza
del Fuego, as well as the full-length ballet Coppélia, choreo-
graphed by George Skibine. He has also danced the roles of
Nutcracker Prince, Snow King and Lead Russian in Lisa Slagle’s
The Nutcracker.
Vendt joined ABT Studio Company in September 2013, ABT as
an apprentice in 2014 and the corps de ballet in June 2014.
His repertoire with the Company includes the Butler and Major-
domo in Alexei Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker, a role in Raymonda
Divertissements, a Fairy Cavalier in Ratmansky’s The Sleeping
Beauty, as well as roles in all of the full-length ballets.ABOUT BALLET ENSEMBLE OF TEXAS DANCERS EVELYN BALES (Spatial Percussion, Bat) is 16 years old and has been dancing at the Ballet Academy of Texas for eight years. She has been a member of the Ballet Ensemble of Texas for two years and is a company member. She is a junior at Keller Central High School. She has participated in the Ballet Academy's summer intensive for the last four years. Her favorite role has been Mazurka in this year’s production of Cinderella. GILLIAN BROWN (Spatial Percussion, Swan, Creature) is 17 years old and in her second year in the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. She attended the American Ballet Theatre summer intensive in Orange County in 2019, and her acceptance into the Texas Ballet Theatre summer intensive in 2020 was postponed until this summer. In this year's performance of Cinderella, she performed as a lead Mazurka dancer and a Crystal Fairy. After high school, Gillian plans on going to college and grad school to prepare for a career in public health, while also continuing to dance on the side. STANZI CASTELLA (Princess) is 16 years old, and this is her first year as an apprentice in Ballet Ensemble of Texas. She has been studying ballet for 12 years, four of which she has attended the Ballet Academy of Texas. This year, Stanzi also participates in the Professional Preparatory Program. She has been accepted into summer programs at American Ballet Theatre and Colorado Ballet. Stanzi’s favorite roles include Mirliton in The Nutcracker, Waltz in Cinderella, and Princess in Firebird. ANNA DANG (Confetti, Little Swan, Bat) is 15 years old and a homeschooled freshman. This is her tenth year with Ballet Academy of Texas, and she attends the Professional Preparatory Program. Summer intensives in which Anna has attended include Colorado Ballet, American Ballet Theatre Young Dancer NY, and American Ballet Theatre CA. In 2020, Anna was offered a scholarship to Colorado Ballet Summer Intensive as well as receiving a scholarship from the Dance Council of North Texas. Some of her previous roles in The Nutcracker include ballerina doll, Mirliton lead, and Clara. This June, Anna will be attending BalletMet Summer Intensive in Columbus, Ohio. JOSEPH DANG (Confetti, Kotcheii) a homeschooled junior, has been a student at Ballet Academy of Texas since he was seven. He is a fifth-year member of Ballet Ensemble of Texas, and he is a student of the Professional Preparatory Program, and a three-time scholarship recipient from the Dance Council of North Texas. Joseph has attended Ameri- can Ballet Theatre, Colorado Ballet, and Boys Ballet’s summer intensive (all of them on scholarships). He will be attending BalletMet's summer intensive and has been offered a trainee position there on full scholarship as well. Previous roles include Prince, Chinese, Russian, Snow King, (from The Nutcracker) and The Court Jester in Cinderella. CHARLEY DAVID (Spatial Percussion, Little Swan, Creature) is a 16-year-old sophomore at Marcus High School. This is her first year with both Ballet Academy of Texas and Ballet Ensemble of Texas. Because of quarantine, she has only been able to attend one virtual summer intensive with American Ballet Theatre. She has performed with BET as a Crystal Fairy in Cinderella, is performing as a Little Swan in this production of Swan Lake, Act 2. Having danced at multiple studios since the age of three, she has performed multiple roles in story ballets such as The Nutcracker and Dracula. Outside of dance, Charley enjoys playing piano and small crafts such as cross stitching. She hopes to continue dance in college and go into a health profession. ISABELLA DESABRAIS (Confetti, Creature in Firebird) is 16 years old and is in her third year with the Ballet Academy of Texas. She studies in the Professional Preparatory Program. Izzy has attended American Ballet Theatre in New York and Boston Ballet summer intensive. This summer she is planning to attend Houston Ballet and has been awarded a scholarship from The Dance Council of North Texas. Some of her favorite roles that she has performed include Clara and Spanish in The Nutcracker as well as the lead in Festive Overture choreographed by Lisa Slagle. Last year she received third place for her classical variation at YAGP Houston and this year she placed top 24 for her classical variation, along with first place for her Pas de Deux at YAGP Dallas. She was also invited to New York City Finals two years in a row. KATE DURDEN (In a Nutshell, Swan, Bat) is 16 years old. She participates in the Professional Preparatory Program for home school students at the Ballet Academy of Texas (BAT). Kate’s love of ballet began at a young age in East Texas. She commuted to BAT part-time for two years and has been full-time for three years Kate attended American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensives in NY, TX, CA and Texas Ballet Theater in Ft. Worth. She will be attending Ballet West this summer. This is Kate’s third year with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas (BET). Past roles include Summer Fairy in Cinderella, Clara, Lead Mirliton, Ballerina Doll, Lead Hungarian, Waltz of the Flowers, Chinese & Cupid in The Nutcracker. PEYTON FINN (Swan, Creature) is 13 years old and in the seventh grade at Briarhill Middle School. She has attended American Ballet Theatre Young Dancer program and ABT Alabama. She has studied at Ballet Academy of Texas for three years, and this is her first year in Ballet Ensemble of Texas. Her favorite roles have been Mirliton in The Nutcracker, a Bird in Cinderella, and a Swan in Swan Lake Act 2.
ABOUT BALLET ENSEMBLE OF TEXAS DANCERS ADRIAN FITE (In a Nutshell, Ivan Tsaravich) is 17 years old, has been with the Ballet Academy of Texas nine years, and is currently in the Professional Preparatory Program. Adrian has attended multiple summer intensives on scholar- ship, including Joffrey’s San Antonio intensive, American Ballet Theatre’s Alabama intensive in and Ballet West’s intensive. He has been offered a scholarship to Ballet West’s five-week summer intensive again for this summer. Adrian has performed in the Ensemble’s Napoli, Cinderella, and multiple roles in The Nutcracker, such as Arabian, Russian, and Lead Soldier. He is a Dance Council of North Texas Scholarship recipient for 2021, and placed fourth in Men’s Senior Classical at the 2021 Youth American Grand Prix. VICTORIA GONZALEZ (Spatial Percussion, Princess) is 16 years old and a sophomore at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She has been a part of the Ballet Ensemble of Texas for three years. Victoria has attended Ballet Austin, Houston Ballet, Ballet West, and Kaatsbaan Ballet summer intensives in the past, and will be attending Ballet West and Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive this summer. She has performed in Ballet Ensemble of Texas' The Nutcracker, Napoli, and Cinderella. MARY CLAIRE GUTIERREZ (Spatial Percussion, Swan, Bat) is 15 years old. She attends Founders Classical Academy in Lewisville, where she is a sophomore. She has been dancing for 11 years, and this is her second year in Ballet Ensemble of Texas. She performed Mazurka in Cinderella, and her favorite role has been Hungarian in The Nutcracker. MALIA HALL (Spatial Percussion, Swan, Creature) is 16 years old and is in her second year with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. This summer she looks forward to attending Texas Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive. In the past, she has attended Joffrey Southwest and has been accepted to intensives at Burklyn Ballet Theatre and American Ballet Theatre. She has enjoyed performing in The Nutcracker for eight years in roles such as Waltz of the Flowers, Arabian, and Hungarian, as well as in Cinderella in the roles of Mazurka and Crystal Fairy. PAOLA HERNANDEZ (Swan, Creature) is 17 years old, and this is her first year as an apprentice in Ballet Ensemble of Texas. She has been studying ballet for 15 years. She first studied at California Ballet School in San Diego before moving to Texas in 2016 and has been studying at Ballet Academy of Texas since then. In the past she attended Ballet Austin Summer Intensive in and American Ballet Theater’s summer intensive at Alabama. She was also accepted to study at Colorado Ballet Summer intensive in 2020. Paola has performed in The Nutcracker for four years and is excited to continue performing. She is a senior at Coppell High School and has been accepted to continue her academics at New York University where she will major in biology and minor in ballet at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. MICAH HUBER (Swan, Creature) is 17 years old and moved to the Dallas area this past fall to attend the Ballet Academy of Texas full-time, after commuting on weekends the previous year. She is thoroughly enjoying her experi- ence as an apprentice for the Ballet Ensemble of Texas and has loved having multiple performance opportunities with the company. Aside from dancing, Micah works part-time and is also finishing up her senior year of homeschooling. In her free time, she likes to go bowling and spend time with her family whenever they come to visit. VANESSA JENKS (Spatial Percussion, Creature) is 15 years old and has been dancing at the Ballet Academy of Texas for three years. This is her first year as an apprentice in the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. She is currently a homes- chooled freshman and takes part in the Professional Preparatory Program. Vanessa has participated in multiple summer intensives including American Ballet Theatre Young Dancer program in and American Ballet Theatre in Alabama. She has also been invited to attend the Colorado Ballet summer intensive, Orlando Ballet summer intensive, and Nashville Ballet summer intensive. Vanessa has had the wonderful opportunity of performing in The Nutcracker for three years, and the Ballet Ensemble’s Cinderella. AVERY JERINA (Spatial Percussion, Tserevna the Beautiful) is 17 years old and is in her third year of performing with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. She attended summer intensives with American Ballet Theatre in 2016 & 2017, Colorado Ballet, and will be attending Ballet West this summer. Additionally, she was awarded a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School summer intensive in 2017, with an invitation to take part in their trainee program. Avery has enjoyed performing many roles in the Ensemble, with her favorite being the Winter Fairy in their production of Cinderella. In her free time outside of dance, Avery loves to travel, spend time with friends & family, and practice photography. AMBER LI (Spatial Percussion, Big Swan, Princess) is 16 years old and has been dancing with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas for two years. She was invited to attend the Colorado Ballet and Kaatsbaan summer intensives in 2020 and plans on attending the Ballet West summer intensive this upcoming summer. Ballet aside, Amber enjoys exploring her artistic creativity through various other mediums, such as figure drawings, oil painting, digital art, photography, and fashion. She wishes to extend this exploration after graduation in hopes of sharing her passion for the arts to the world.
ABOUT BALLET ENSEMBLE OF TEXAS DANCERS JESSICA LIANG (Creature) is 16 years old and a junior at Coppell High School. She has been dancing at the Ballet Academy of Texas for 13 years, and this is her first year in the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. She has performed multiple roles in The Nutcracker, including Hungarian and Mirliton. Outside of dance, Jessica is also a violinist and has been in the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra for seven years; she is currently in the Philharmonic Violin I. After graduating, she hopes to go to college and continue dancing. EDEN LIM (Confetti, The Firebird) is 17 years old, is in her sixth year at the Ballet Academy of Texas, where she is a student in the Academy’s Professional Preparatory Program. She is dancing her fourth season with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas and has had the joy of performing in roles such as Napoli, Nightcrawlers, Gaîté Parisienne, Four Little Swans from Swan Lake, and Cinderella. She has enjoyed many roles in The Nutcracker including her favorites, Clara and Snow Queen. Eden placed Top 24 in the senior womens’ classical division at the Youth America Grand Prix Dallas Semifinals 2021. She has attended Colorado Ballet’s summer intensive, and the Glenda Brown Choreography Project on scholarship. Eden has received a scholarship to attend Texas Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive from the Dance Council of North Texas for this summer. MIISHA MASTERSON (Spatial Percussion, Swan, Bat) has been a student with Ballet Academy of Texas since she was 12 years old. She is currently 16 years old and is currently in her third year attending Ballet Ensemble of Texas. Miisha has been able to attend Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive program for the 2018 and 2019. She was unable to attend summer intensives in the year 2020 but this year she was accepted into Texas Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive program. In past BET productions Miisha has performed the role of Hungarian lead, Ballerina Doll, Waltz of the Flowers and Snow in The Nutcracker. She also performed Napoli and the contemporary piece Unity. In this year's performance of Cinderella Miisha danced the role of the Russian Princess and a Crystal Fairy. Outside of ballet, Miisha enjoys exploring her artistic abilities using a digital medium. BEN NEMMERS (Confetti, Von Rothbart, Guard) is 16 years old and has performed seven times in The Nutcracker with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. Ben has enjoyed performing in multiple roles in The Nutcracker starting as a Party Boy in 2012, and later performing roles including Fritz, Chinese, and Russian. Ben has studied at Joffrey Texas, Ballet Austin, and American Ballet Theatre's summer intensive programs, all on scholarship. Ben is currently a junior in high school at the Booker T. Washington School of the Performing & Visual Arts and is in his third year with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. Ben won first place in the Senior Men’s Classical Division at Youth America Grand Prix in Houston in 2020. TREVIN RALPHS (Confetti, Guard) is 16 years old and has been dancing at the Ballet Academy of Texas for three years and is a student in the Professional Preparatory Program. He has been dancing since he was four, and he has attended summer intensives at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre TX, all on scholarship. He has been awarded scholarships from the Dance Council of North Texas for the past two years. Trevin has performed in The Nutcracker, Tarantella from Napoli, and Giselle. At Youth America Grand Prix this Spring Trevin won second place in the Senior Men’s Classical division, and he and Isabella Desabrais one first place pas de deux dancing Grand Pas Classique. CAMPBELL REED (Swan, Princess) is 14 years old and is in her first season with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. This is her first year at The Ballet Academy of Texas and is training in the Professional Preparatory Program. She has attended American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Austin, and The School of American Ballet’s Summer Intensives, and will be attending Ballet West this summer. She has been offered scholarships and invitations to study with Colorado Ballet, Next Gener- ation Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Houston Ballet and The Royal Ballet School. Previously, Campbell was awarded first place at the WBAC Grand Prix Dallas Regional in 2017. MARIA SALMAN (Spatial Percussion, Princess) is 17 years old and has been with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas for two years. Maria has been accepted to multiple summer intensives, including Kaatsbaan, American Ballet Theatre, Colorado Ballet, and Sarasota Ballet. She has enjoyed performing roles including Arabian in The Nutcracker, Spatial Percussion, Princess in Firebird, and Fleur de Florence. Maria looks forward to attending summer classes at the Ballet Academy of Texas. PEARL SMITH (Big Swan, Princess) has been a part of the Ballet Ensemble of Texas and the Professional Preparatory Program for five years. At the Youth America Grand Prix, she was award Top 12 in the Senior Classical Solo 2021, and Top 24 for 2019, 2020. Pearl was awarded the Betty Bowdich Scholarship through the Dance Council of North Texas for 2021. Some of her most memorable roles have been Cinderella in Cinderella staged by Thom Clower, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, “Tarantella” from Napoli, staged by Thom Clower and George Balanchine’s “Four Temperaments” staged by Michele Gifford. Pearl will be joining the Sarasota Ballet’s Trainee Program this fall.
ABOUT BALLET ENSEMBLE OF TEXAS DANCERS ROSE SOMBITO (Spatial Percussion, Little Swan, Creature) is 12 years old, has been dancing with Ballet Academy of Texas for two years, and is a student in the Professional Preparatory Program. She attended American Ballet Theater Young Dancer Program in 2018 and 2019 and will be attending Colorado Ballet intensive this summer on full scholarship. She was awarded Top 12 Classical at Youth American Grand Prix in 2019, and in 2020 was awarded both Top 12 Classical and Contemporary. AVERY STAFFORD (Spatial Percussion, Creature) is 12 years old, and this is her first year at the Ballet Academy of Texas. She is a student of the Professional Preparatory Program as well as a member of the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. This summer Avery will attend Sarasota Ballet’s Intensive on a partial scholarship. In prior years, she has attended summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre (Young Dancer Workshop), Orlando Ballet, and was scheduled to attend Colorado Ballet in 2020 on a partial scholarship. In addition, she was awarded Top 12 Classical Solo for the Pre-Competitive Division at YAGP Dallas in 2020. Avery has been dancing since she was four years old and when not in the studio, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, crocheting, cooking, and being outdoors. KYLER VALENTINE (Guard) is 16 years old and has been dancing at the Ballet Academy of Texas for nine years. He currently attends Flower Mound High School where he is involved in choir and will graduate this summer. Kyler has attended summer intensives at Joffrey Texas in San Antonio, American Ballet Theatre in Austin, Joffrey Southwest and Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and the University of Oklahoma. Kyler has performed with Ballet Ensemble in Cinderella, The Nutcracker, and in Napoli. Other performances in the DFW area have included Billy Elliot, Oliver, Oklahoma, Mamma Mia and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Kyler’s future plans will take him to Columbus, Ohio to study in the Trainee Program with BalletMet for 2021-2022. DANI VAN CREVELD (Spatial Percussion, Princess) is 17 years old and has been part of the Ballet Ensemble of Texas for three years. She has also happily been part of the Professional Preparatory Program for one year. For the past two summers she has attended Burklyn Ballet Theater’s summer intensive on partial scholarship, in addition to being accept- ed into and receiving scholarships from Next Generation Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Boston Ballet. She was awarded two scholarships from The Dance Council of North Texas. In the The Nutcracker she performed as lead Arabian and received wonderful reviews from Theaterjones. In the most recent performance of Cinderella she performed the role of The Fairy Godmother. After graduation she hopes to go to college and study to become a therapist that specializes with dancers. GRACE WEIR (Spatial Percussion, Swan, Princess) is 18 years old and has been part of the Ballet Ensemble of Texas for two years. She was invited to attend the Kaatsbaan Summer Intensive in New York in 2020. Her favorite roles at the Ballet Ensemble of Texas have been Mazurka in Cinderella, Ballerina Doll in The Nutcracker, and Princess in Firebird. Grace is a senior at Trinity Christian Academy in Addison and has been admitted to the College of Veterinarian Medicine and Biomedical Sciences with a major in Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. Having studied ballet since the age of two, Grace will continue to dance at college.
A CELEBRATION OF DANCE
SPATIAL PERCUSSION
Music by John Mackey | Choreography by Jenny Johnston
Evelyn Bales, Gillian Brown, Charley David, Victoria Gonzalez, Mary Gutierrez,
Malia Hall, Vanessa Jenks, Avery Jerina, Amber Li, Miisha Masterson, Maria Salman, Rose Sombito,
Avery Stafford, Dani Van Creveld, Grace Weir
IN A NUTSHELL
Music by Peter I. Tchaikovsky | Choreography by Tammie Reinsch
Kate Durden & Adrian Fite
CONFETTI
Music by Gioaccino Rosini | Choreography by Gerald Arpino
Staged via Zoom by Charthel Arthur
Rehearsal Assistants Lisa Slagle & Aldrin Vendt
Isabella Desabrais & Trevin Ralphs
Anna Dang & Ben Nemmers
Eden Lim & Joseph Dang
The performance of Confetti, an Arpino (Joffrey) Ballet, is presented with the permission of The Gerald Arpino Foundation
and has been produced in accordance with the Foundation service standards established and provided by the Foundation.
- pause -
SWAN LAKE, ACT 2
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky | Choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
American Ballet Theatre Soloists coached by Susan Jones, Regisseur with American Ballet Theatre
Corps de Ballet coached by Anna Donovan, Principal Rehearsal Director with Texas Ballet Theater
Rehearsal Director - Lindsey Yoes Daniel
Act 1
Prince Siegfried receives a beautiful crossbow for his twenty-first birthday. He is informed by the King and
Queen that it is time to choose a bride. He goes into the woods to reflect and to hunt
with his new gift.
Act 2
Prince Siegfried finds himself a peaceful spot by an enchanted lake where swans gently float across its
surface. While Siegfried watches, he spots the most beautiful swan with a crown on its head. Her name is
Odette, the Swan Queen. She informs the young prince that an evil sorcerer, Von Rothbart, has turned her
and the other girls into swans and the lake was formed by the tears of their parents’ weeping. She tells
him that the only way the spell could be broken is if a man, pure in heart, pledges his love to her. The
Prince, about to confess his love for her, is quickly interrupted by the evil sorcerer. He takes Odette from
Prince Siegfried's embrace and commands all the swan maidens to dance upon the lake and its shore so
that the prince cannot chase them. Prince Siegfried is left all alone on the shore of Swan Lake.
Odette: Breanne Granlund and Seigfried: Nathan Vendt
Ballet Ensemble of Texas alumni appearing courtesy of American Ballet TheatreA CELEBRATION OF DANCE
SWAN LAKE, ACT 2
Von Rothbart: Ben Nemmers
Young Girl: Avery Stafford
Two Swans: Amber Li, Pearl Smith
Four Swans: Anna Dang, Charley David, Isabella Desabrais, Rose Sombito
The Swans
Gillian Brown, Anna Dang, Isabella Desabrais, Charley David, Kate Durden, Peyton Finn,
Mary Gutierrez, Malia Hall, Paola Hernandez, Micah Huber, Amber Li, Miisha Masterson,
Campbell Reed, Pearl Smith, Rose Sombito, Grace Weir
- pause -
FIREBIRD
Music by Igor Stravinsky | Choreography by George Skibine | Staged by Thom Clower
Hunting in a forest, Prince Ivan finds an enchanted garden with a tree of Golden Apples. A Bird of Fire
appears, and the Prince captures her. When he decides to free her, she rewards him with a magic feather
to use in summoning her in time of danger.
A procession of lovely maidens – princesses under the spell of the evil and immortal magician, Kostchei,
enters the garden, and is joined by a Princess of higher rank. Ivan greets the maidens but is warned by
the Princess that Kostchei turns all trespassers into monsters. The magician and his creatures suddenly
come upon the scene before Ivan and the Princess, with whom he has fallen in love, can make their
escape. Ivan summons the Firebird, who vanquishes Kostchei with her stronger spell. In the final scene
Ivan Tsarevich is crowned beside his beautiful bride, and in the wedding procession all the princesses are
reunited with their betrothed nobles, now released from Kostchei’s spell.
The Firebird: Eden Lim
Ivan Tsarevich: Adrian Fite
Tsarevna the Beautiful: Avery Jerina
Kostchei the Immortal: Joseph Dang
The Enchanted Princesses
Stanzi Castella, Victoria Gonzalez, Amber Li, Campbell Reed, Maria Salman,
Pearl Smith, Dani van Creveld, Grace Weir
Kostchei Guards
Ben Nemmers, Trevin Ralphs, Kyler Valentine
Bilibochki
Evelyn Bales, Anna Dang, Kate Durden, Mary Gonzalez, Miisha Masterson
Kostchei’s Creatures
Gillian Brown, Charley David, Isabella Desabrais, Peyton Finn, Malia Hall, Paola Hernandez,
Micah Huber, Vanessa Jenks, Rose Sombito, Avery Stafford
Princes - Wedding Scene
Luke Chan, Zachary Clift, Luke Gentry, Jaime Hazen-Cohen, Ben Percul, Preston Rossi,
Patrick Simons, Nico Tarango
This performance of Firebird is presented by arrangement with the George Skibine Trust, and has been produced in accordance with the Skibine Service standards established and provided by the Trust.
The original Firebird premiered in 1910, danced by Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe and choreographed by Michael Fokine. Mr. Skibine first choreographed the ballet for the Harkness Ballet in 1965, and it entered
Dallas Ballet’s repertory in 1969. Since his death in 1980, Mr. Clower has staged the ballet numerous times on companies across the United States.CREDITS
Production Manager Thom Clower
Stage Manager Lisa Slagle
Client Protocol Coordinator Heather King
Lighting Director Julie Hohman
Wardrobe Mistress Gayel Smith
Seamstress Amy Miller
Costume Team Trina Hall, Patricia Santiago, Victoria Stafford
Props Rachel Fite
Backstage Crew IAC Staff, Ingrid Slagle, Rachel Fite
Photography Cathy Vanover Photography
Design/Graphics Heather King
Videography DFW Multimedia
Publicity B. Kevin Stewart, Heather King, Thom Clower
Electronic Media Lindsey Daniel, Mair Cawston
2020-21 Usher Coordinator Jessica Nemmers
Community Outreach Jennifer Wheeler
Special Thanks To All of the above, and to:
John Ahrens, Tom Boyd, Texas Ballet Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Susan Jones,
Anna Donovan, Kevin Stewart, Rachel Fite, Kass Prince, Andy Pate, Ruben Rosas,
John Aspholm & Staff of Irving Arts Center
…and Mr. Thom would like to say thank you to all of the additional BAT/BET
Volunteer Angels Who Have Made This Production Possible!You can also read
