E TALLAHASSEE BALLET
LUMNI
A CELEBRATION PERFORMANCE
4 Contemporary Premiere Works & Swan Lake Acts II & IV
featuring
A
H
2 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
2022-2023 Corporate Sponsors
PREMIER CIRCLE
DANSEUR CIRCLE
LDR Design, Inc.
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G & G Title Agency Graganella Insurance FSU School of Dance
MDWD Wealth Management Group – Bobby Dick
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Mid-America Catastrophe Services
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ENSEMBLE CIRCLE
Florida League of Cities
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Publix Super Markets Charities
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TSI Adjusters Westminster Oaks
Hilly Fields Florist & Gifts Smart Choice
Janet Pichard
Chief Executive Officer
Tyrone Brooks
Artistic Director
Lauren Hernandez
Development Director
Kara Griffin
Education Director
Kathryn Karrh Cashin
Resident Choreographer
Hope Eltomi
Assistant to the Artistic Director
Ann Todd
Costume Designer Emmeritus
Kiersten Boyett
Incoming Costume Designer
Costume Mistresses
Boo Hartsell, Michelle Wheeler, Laurie Molina, Sue Kay
Lori Danello Roberts with LDR Design, Inc. Social Media/Marketing
Meagan Helman
Photographer/Ballet Mistress
SWAN LAKE & MORE 3
2022-2023 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Trina Searcy, President
Carla Ureña Hutchinson, PhD, Immediate Past President Caitlin Waters, Treasurer
Gayle Grimes Sklar, Secretary
Board Members
Shelby Kennerly Augustyniak Karen Joiner Barineau LaCoadia “Coadi” Burkes Betsy Caire Couch
Stephanie Jansen Agatha Muse-Lamb Felicia Leborgne Nowels Sarah Villella
Community Advisory Board
Jack Diestelhorst Dan Hollaway Tom Hunter Jane Marks
Sharon Maxwell-Ferguson Maria Montas
Lori Danello Roberts Richard Sias
4 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Chief Executive Officer
Janet Pichard
Over the last five decades, The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) has grown from a small community troupe of dancers led by Helen Salter to a thriving professional and youth company. Ms. Salter, a former Balanchine dancer, trained countless aspiring local dancers and launched this community treasure that exists today.
Since its inception, TTB has been led by numerous Artistic
Directors, including Nancy Carroll Abbey, Joyce Fausone, Henry
Hernandez, Rick McCullough, Tyrone Brooks – and Resident
Choreographer Kathryn Karrh Cashin. These individuals have
molded dancers through their undying commitment to artistry and their passion for ballet.
TTB’s costume designers and seamstresses have brought our choreographers’ visions to life
– the company’s costumes are indeed exquisite works of art. Over the past 50 years, TTB’s costume designers include Ann Todd, Stuart Riordan, Debbie Gatewood, and Bunny Taylor.
TTB has also been fortunate to boast numerous talented seamstresses and volunteers. In recent years, Boo Hartsell, Yenna Colvin, Sue Kay, Laurie Molina, and Brenda Huang have produced outstanding and authentic costumes and props.
The Tallahassee Ballet has generated generations of artists. An example is Seamstress Boo Hartsell’s daughters Kathy Hartsell, Nancy Click, and Bethany Hartsell, who all danced at TTB. Nancy’s daughter Logan Click has followed in her mother’s and aunts’ footsteps and is adorning our stage tonight.
Since TTB’s inception, dancers have been inspired to dedicate their time, energy, heart, and soul to dance. Some dancers have gone on to professional careers and have danced on stages throughout the country. Many have developed the lifelong attributes of focus, tenacity, adapt- ability, and unbreakable discipline. They dream big and live life with unbridled imagination and passion.
They have become strong women and men who give back to their communities. TTB’s alumni run the spectrum of successful individuals – and include artists, doctors, attorneys, veterinarians, federal judges, entrepreneurs, teachers, community leaders, loving parents, and caretakers.
I am so incredibly proud of how The Tallahassee Ballet has enriched the lives and has brought artistry and joy to our community for 50 years!
Thank you for being here to celebrate our 50th anniversary! Enjoy the show.
Sincerely,
Janet Pichard, CEO
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6
50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Nancy Carroll Abbey & Stuart Abbey Dr. Kathryn Karrh Cashin Yenna & Barry Colvin Sharon Davis
Joyce Straub Fausone
Jim & Lisa Graganella Bob & Boo Hartsell Tom & Jeannie Pierce Danny Pietrodangelo Ann Todd
Prima
Jim & Lisa Graganella
Principal
Nancy Carroll Abbey & Stuart Abbey
Dr. Kathryn Karrh Cashin
Soloist
Ken Cashin Chris & Kathy Doolin Hearth and Soul Patti Graganella Art & Carol Johnstone Narcissus
Jason & Katie Pernell
Demi-Soloist
Barbara L. Aguirre
Courtney & Christine Ashburn
Scott & Cassie Brooks
Fred & Sarah Burns
Blaine & Nancy Click
Amalia Cochran
Peter & Stephanie Cornais
Greg & Carla DeLoach
Joyce Fausone
Claudia Foreman
Pam Gibson & Tracie Manrique
Cory & Melanie Hill
Nicole Kelly
Brooke S. Kennerly
Mary Lutinksi
Ryan & Alyssa Matthews
David Nelson & Courtney Brewer
Mike & Merritt Newell Andy & Kristen Palmer Billie Papuchis Janet Pichard Joanna Piris
Dr. Kenya Rich David & Lori Danello
Roberts
Trina Searcy
Bill & Gayle Sklar
Josh & Sarah Spagnola
Jason & Jessica Spurlock
Somkit Thompson
Colonel & Mrs. Mike Thornal
Marjorie Turnbull
Jonathan Waters
David & Jane Watson
Robert & Claire Watkins
Bill & Sally Wendt
Khanty Xayabouth & Thomas Morton
Corps de Ballet
Karen Barineau Darren & Marianne Brooks Katherine Hartsell Vanessa Javate
Brian Lockwood Daniel Macdonald Linda Neumayer Agatha Muse-Salters Patricia Smith
Apprentice
Brenda A. Abstein Mark Alexander
Ed & Becky Augusytniak Anjali Austin
Codie Bryant
Jason Butera Michael & Allison Corrigan Jack Diestelhorst Holly & Sally Kate
Edenfield
Kyle & Jessica Ferris Cindy Hamilton Carla Hutchinson
Dr. Gregory & Kali Iseman Frances Johnson Copeland Kelly Pamela Marsh
2022-2023 Donors
Honorary
James Martin
Meredith McKinney & Elsa McKinney
Laura G. Morris The Nowels Family Alison Payne Maria Pouncey Brandon Smith
The Shepherd Family— Nick, Becky and Paisley Grace
Trainee
Jayme Agee Katherine Baggett Priscilla Becnel Nancy Blake Judith Blancett Sarah Bleakley Laura Lewis Blischke Susan Boynton Courtney Brewer Beverly & Garrett Britt Dawna Bunker Carmen Braswell Butler Mary Jo Butler Page M Carrington Katy E. Cashin Erin Chase
John & Jennifer Chichetti Cory Crum
Adele Cunningham Judy Dabney Linda Davey Lynda Demarsh-Mathues Karan Denson Elizabeth Dickens Caroline Donnellan
Jean Douthett
Suzanne & Steven Eschrich
Libby Gillean
Evelyn Gonzalez
Hans Gregersen
Julie Griffin
Lynn Griffin
Shannon Colvin Grooters
Ann-Charlotte Gustafsson-Yoon
Taylor Hamilton Tammy Hampton Robert Hicks Kathy Hittinger Debbie Hodges Erin Holder
Eva & Wiley Horton Sandra Jacobs Jessica Kahn Sharon Kerrigan Elizabeth Kienzle Joseph C Kraus Jenny Leavitt Mr. & Mrs. Loheac Brigitte Marshall Emmy Matthews Susan Mau Autumn Mayfield Jen McConnaughhay
Joyce McNeill
KC McWilliams Becky Miller Madelynne Miller Cana Mudi
Joyce Murray Maria Norvell
Betty Owen Mayra & John Owen Jeffrey Picker
Tom & Jeannie Pierce Jessica Ranjbari Kimberly Roberts Mary Roberts Marie Rosenberg Sarah Doolin Roy Nancy Shank Elizabeth Sheward Eva Spagnola Benita & Keith Stewart David & Meredith Strange Kris Strickland Suzanne M Sullenberger The Teal Family
Gail Thomas
Julie Todd
Carol Trowbridge Brandi Marsh Van Leuven Bonnie Varble Sarah Villella Alison Voorhees Robert Watkins Caroline Weiss Joseph Whealdon Linda Whitaker
Beth & Peter Woerner Jennifer Wright
2022-2023 Donors
A very special thank you to those who joined and upgraded on our inaugural Giving Day.
SWAN LAKE & MORE 7
MARTHA PHOTO
8 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
ANNIVERSARY
Helen Salter moved to Tallahassee in 1964 and opened a dance school in
the lower level of the then-hopping Northwood Mall. At her peak, she provided training for 500 dancers annually. Salter was an accomplished ballerina who danced with George Balanchine. She danced on many stages in New York City, like Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall. She knew that for her studio dancers to thrive, they needed performance opportunities, which is
why she formed The Tallahassee (Civic) Ballet. As quoted in an article in the Tallahassee Democrat honoring the 25th Anniversary, Helen says, “My dream for the company was to give hard-working students the experiences of dancing on stage in front of audiences.” Little did Salter know that her vision would grow into the professional company now celebrating its 50th Anniversary.
When asked about the beginnings, original dancer and long-time supporter of the company, Martha Olive Hall recalls, “I remember the beginnings of many of the established non-profits in Tallahassee. The Junior Museum was started in someone’s kitchen, and so was the Ballet.” According to Martha, Helen
continued
SWAN LAKE & MORE 9
continued
ANNIVERSARY
reached out to parents of her dancers,
“like my mom Mary Olive, Colonel Walter and Corrine Levy, ____Anjali’s mom name_____, Dorothy Clifford, and Ann Camp–leaders in the community.” They all
wanted to help, but questions remained... How do we establish ourselves? Where
do we get the funding? Where will we perform? According to Martha, “We would dance everywhere—in the mall, on the streets, in the parks—so when we got to dance on the Ruby Diamond stage, it was so exciting.”
Martha says that these original volunteers did everything. “Even the costumes they sewed by hand were stored in their homes,” she says.
Nancy Carroll Abbey took over the reign after Salters retired in 1977. “Helen was so gracious in teaching me the ropes,” recalled Nancy. “I learned so much from her.” Nancy had her own pedigree as a well- respected instructor/choreographer in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has also been listed as a noteworthy ballet company director, choreographer, and educator by Marquis Who’s Who.
After Helen’s retirement, for more than
a decade, the ballet company did not
have a rehearsal space to call home. The dancers went where there was open floor space at the time, including the old library, the Elk’s Club, and empty warehouses. According to those involved, they rehearsed where and when they found space—with no air-conditioning, with dust and dirt everywhere, and they had to lug their heavy open-reel tape recorder everywhere they went. “Have pointe shoes, will travel,”
says Carmen Braswell Butler, TTB’s first Clara in the full-length production of The Nutcracker.
The community was (and is) heavily involved with making this fledgling ballet company thrive. TTB Conductors and Musical Directors from Florida State University faculty over the many years include Jeff Keesecker, Frank Kowalsky, Gary Werdesheim, Douglas Fisher, Deloise Lima, Leon Anderso, and Dr. Alexander Jiménez. Their professionalism and acclaim brought added credibility to The Ballet.
In 1988, the keepers of the growing legacy, Joyce (Straub) Fausone and Kathryn Karrh Cashin, found a permanent home on Third Avenue in midtown Tallahassee. “We thought we had died and gone to heaven,” says Joyce.
At the time, the company was comprised of dancers from area dance schools, including local colleges and universities. The artistic leadership duo of KK and Joyce felt it
was important for these emerging artists
to work with professionals. “We brought
in professional dancers from prominent companies like New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, and National Ballet of Canada,”
says Joyce. “It was such a wonderful learning experience for our dancers to
stand side by side in the wings with these icons—watching them both on and off the stage.” Joyce recalls that these artists were very approachable and made the young dancers feel special. The late dance icon Richard Sias even danced with the company several times as Dr. Coppelius and Herr Drosselmeyer.
10 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Anjali Austin, one of the company’s first dancers, looks back over the 50 years and says, “The secret of the success of the company was, and still is, the blending of young dancers with seasoned artists.”
Today’s TTB company is comprised of
both professional and emerging professional dancers selected annually through auditions, who train at the dedicated studios of The Tallahassee Ballet School.
After TTB started its school in 2009, TTB quickly outgrew facility the Third Avenue facility. In 2013, TTB moved into the “Old Publix” at Northwood Centre on MLK Boulevard in Midtown. “We were elated to have two studios and sufficient parking,” says TTB CEO Janet Pichard.”
This home served The Ballet well for almost a decade. Still, unforeseen circumstances outside the company called for yet another move, one that fate must have played a part in. For our 50th Anniversary, The Ballet finds itself in a facility that we could have never dreamed of back in the 70s—a state- of-the-art, 14,000-square-feet facility with three studios, a warm-up space, dressing rooms with showers, a parent waiting room, a dancer break room, a board room, a costume construction room, on-site costume and set storage, and more.
Although we find ourselves lucky to have these outstanding facilities and professional dancers, every day we have to ask ourselves the same questions the founders had in the beginning: How do we establish ourselves? Where do we get the funding? Where will we perform?
Newly appointed Development Director Lauren Hernandez says, “This is why a dedicated board of directors and volunteers, along with donors and supporters, are still so integral to the ongoing success of The Tallahassee Ballet. Supporting our growth will always be a challenge, but it is one I am excited to tackle.”
Martha Olive-Hall, one of the first dancers, came back to serve as president for more than 20 years throughout the company’s existence. She remained dedicated for one very good reason, “I wanted to pay it back. I know how young dancers need us to provide for them, like people provided for us when I was dancing.”
“We do this not only for the dancers,” says Lauren, “but also for the community. Every thriving community deserves professional- quality performances to uplift, encourage, and remind them that life is to be enjoyed and shared. The arts do just that.”
Artistic Director Tyrone Brooks admits
that the pandemic was a struggle for the organization like it was for all performing companies. “But I think we are finally at a place where we can leave all that behind and see clear to the possibilities on the horizon.” Brooks says he will be adding a fourth performance to the next season.
TTB leadership and dancers are grateful for the chance to reflect on the last 50 years and to celebrate those who laid the foundation for this valued institution. We look forward to the next 50 years and invite you to join us in whatever capacity you can.
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12 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
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Looking for the perfect
post-ballet banquet? We’re glad you found us.
Tallahassee’s favoite Italian Restaurant and
Proud sponsor of the Tallahassee Ballet
For the perfect end to a perfect night.
14 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
in Bannerman Crossing
Artistic Director
Tyrone Brooks
Tyrone Brooks joined The Tallahassee Ballet as the Artistic Director in the 2013-2014 season. He has a wide range of professional experience including 18 years as
a Principal Dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York City (DTH). Brooks has been featured in a number of acclaimed performances including Alvin Ailey’s The River, Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, and John Butler’s Othello. He has also performed internationally in Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Japan, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela, South Africa, and Russia.
In 1984, Brooks was nominated for the Dancers Choice
Award in London for his performance as Alan Strange in Equus. His work has also been in a number of television specials including the NBC presentation of Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Creole Giselle, the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics, the PBS series Dance in America, CBS 60 Minutes with Ed Bradley featuring DTH, the PBS presentation of Live at the Kennedy Center The Making of Firebird, and the 1993 Kennedy Center Honors.
For over 25 years, Brooks served as full-time Ballet Faculty at DTH. During that time he also served as the Associate Director of the DTH community outreach program Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble. As Associate Director, Brooks represented DTH as a teaching artist in New York City Public Schools and created curriculum development workshops for teachers. He also conducted master classes and outreach programs in South Florida, for the Dance Theatre of Harlem-Kennedy Center Residency in Washington, D.C., and the Northern Virginia region.
Mr. Brooks has also taught at various institutions including Hofstra University, Mary Mount Manhattan College, Florida State University School of Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New World School of the Arts, Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, Flint Institute of Music- Flint Youth Ballet, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Ballet Hispanico, and Hampton University.
In 2004, Brooks joined the Virginia School of the Arts as the Director of Community Dance and was subsequently appointed as the Executive Director of the Virginia School
of the Arts by the Board of Directors. During his tenure at the Virginia School of the Arts, Brooks became an active member of the Lynchburg community and developed community partnerships. His community engagement extended to service on the advisory panel for the Virginia Commission for the Arts Tour and Performing Arts Directory, James River Diversity Council, and the Board of Directors of the James River Council for the Arts.
Brooks has served on the Florida State University Friends of Dance Board of Directors, The Florida Division for Individual Artist Fellowship Panel, and has choreographed for The Tallahassee Chapter “Links” Beautillion.
Brooks is featured in the Smithsonian Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C., with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and was recently inducted into (MOBB) Museum of Blacks in Ballet.
SWAN LAKE & MORE 15
Orchestra Conductor
Dr. Alexander Jiménez
A conductor and pedagogue, Dr. Alexander Jiménez serves as professor of conducting and director of orchestral studies at the Florida State University College of Music, one of the leading music programs in the United States. Under his direction the University Orchestras have become recognized among the most important orchestral training programs in the United States.
A dynamic and versatile podium presence, Dr. Jiménez has
appeared with orchestras throughout the United States,
Europe, and the Middle East, including engagements in
Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic, Israel, and Italy. Under
his direction, the FSU Orchestras have continued their long
tradition of excellence. Both the University Philharmonia and
the University Symphony Orchestra (USO) under Dr. Jiménez have championed new music and collaborated with such composers as Krzysztof Penderecki, Georg Friedrich Haas, John Harbison, Martin Bresnick, Jeff Beal, Anthony Iannaconne, Christopher Theofanidis, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Tomas Svoboda, and Ladislav Kubik. In 2007 the USO was featured in the PBS special Peanuts Gallery®, which was awarded Best Performance of 2007 by the National Educational Telecommunications Association. Dr. Jiménez has premiered new works with the University Orchestras, including the world premieres of
The General by Emmy Award-winning composer Jeff Beal, the Piano Concerto No. 3 by Ladislav Kubik (Dr. Jiménez led the world-premiere recording of this work with the Brno Philharmonic), Trumpeting the Stone by Brent Michael Davids, and Alma by Harold Schiffman. Dr. Jiménez has recorded with the Mark, CBC/Ovation, Col Legno, Neos, and Naxos labels. Of the USO’s 2010 recording on Naxos of Zwilich’s works for piano and orchestra, Lynn René Bayley of Fanfare stated that “Alexander Jiménez and the Florida State Symphony, who premiered the Peanuts Gallery, perform all three works here with tremendous sympathy, love, and excitement.” David Hurwitz, writing for ClassicsToday.com, exclaimed, “...the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra under Alexander Jiménez leaves absolutely nothing
to be desired.” In 2014 Naxos released the USO’s recording of the Dohnányi Symphony No. 2 and the world-premiere recording of Dohnányi’s Two Songs for Baritone and Orchestra. Dr. Jiménez has accompanied many of the world’s leading artists covering a wide variety of genres, including Joshua Bell, Lynn Harrell, Denyce Graves, Christopher O’Reily, jazz great Marcus Roberts, the Canadian Brass, Scotty Barnhart, and many others. Since 2015 he has conducted the faculty-led Festival Orchestra of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan.
A highly respected educator, Dr. Jiménez is in demand as a guest conductor, teacher, and adjudicator with youth orchestras and adjudication panels throughout the United States and Europe. Since 2009 he has served on the international jury panel of the European Festival of Music for Young People in Neerpelt, Belgium, and in 2013 was named International Festival Ambassador. From 2010-2012 he served as president of the College Orchestra Directors Association and served as music director of the Tallahassee Youth Orchestras from 2000- 2017. Dr. Jiménez is the recipient of numerous Florida State University teaching awards and has been nominated for the Distinguished Teaching Award.
16 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Violin 1
Frank Trem, Concertmaster
Megumi Terry, Asst Concertmaster
Kristina Nilsson Anna Bone
Violin 2 Hannah MacLean, Principal Thomas Roggio Aimee Rieger
Viola
Melissa Brewer, Principal Alan Elkins
Cello
Kim Jones, Principal Evan Jones, Asst. Principal
Bass
Christian Marshall, Principal
Flute
Karen Large, Principal
Piccolo Adrienne Tedjamulia Read
Oboe
Eric Ohlsson, Principal
Clarinet Debbie Bish, Principal Marissa Stanfill
Bassoon Kelsey Short, Principal
Horn Leslie Bell, Principal Teddy Branson
Trumpet Kyle Mallari, Principal Derrick Montgomery
Trombone Dunwoody Mirvil, Principal
Percussion Zach Harris, Principal
Harp Isabelle Scott, Principal
Tallahassee Ballet Orchestra
SWAN LAKE & MORE 17
18 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
SWAN LAKE & MORE 19
Kythirian Dances Choreography: Katy E. Cashin
Music: Menuetto e trio and Allegro sections of Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Costumes: Ann Todd
DANCERS
Carri Britt, Paige Centers, George Loheac, Sophia Lutinski, Jackson Jefferson, Benjamin Miller with
Martine Bartley, Logan Click, Bailey Corrigan, Sarah Avery Eschrich, Reagan Hill, Natalie Johnston, Morgan Manrique, Malia Morton, Eleanor Stewart, Jillian Woodley
Photo of Sarah Avery and Eleanor Stewart by: Lori Danello Roberts
20 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
about the choreographer
Katy E. Cashin is a freelance choreographer in New York City, creating works for White Horse Theater Company (WHTC)
and The Tallahassee Ballet. Cashin’s WHTC productions include Tennessee William’s A Cavalier for Milady, Sam Shepard’s Eyes for Consuela, and WHTC Artistic Director Cyndy Marion’s world premiere You Are Perfect, which was selected for the 2017 Toronto Fringe Festival and restaged in Los Angeles in 2018.
Cashin has created 10 original works for The Tallahassee Ballet, including Rhapsody, Retour, Focus, Mainframe, and Rebonds B. She created works for “First Look” presented by Brooklyn Ballet and South Georgia Ballet’s FUSE: Boots & Ballet.
Cashin received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance performance and Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Southern Methodist University, where she performed soloist roles in masterworks by George Balanchine, Maurice Béjart, Arthur Mitchell, and Gerald Arpino. She trained with The Tallahassee Ballet under the direction of Joyce Fausone, as well as under Christina
Paolucci (New York Theatre Ballet), Sheila Humphreys
(Royal Ballet), and Richard Sias (National Ballet of
Canada). At The Tallahassee Ballet, Cashin performed
several principal and soloist roles in full-length ballets such
as The Nutcracker, Coppélia, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s
Dream, and Beauty and the Beast.
Cashin received her Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in New York City. Cashin
is an ABT® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
conductor,s note
Tonight’s performances have been set to some pretty beautiful and moving music, and I am delighted to join my colleagues in the pit in presenting this music to you. We open with the final two movements of one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most beautiful and final symphonies, the Symphony No. 39 in E Flat major.
Mrs. Cashin wishes
to dedication to the past, present, and future TBC/TTB dancers.
SWAN LAKE & MORE 21
Allegre!
Choreography: Daniel Catanach Rehearsal Director: Meagan Helman
Music: From Four Noveletten for Strings–final movement Composer: Samuel Coleridge Taylor Costumes: Ann Todd
DANCERS
Holly Borrelli, Abby Centers, Kara Griffin, Madelynn Hampton, Kristin Javate, Jackson Jefferson, George Loheac, Elizabeth Mineau, Benjamin Miller, Chris Miller
conductor,s note
Edward Elgar’s “Nimrod” from his Enigma Variations speaks to the power and bond of friendship. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, an English composer of the early twentieth century who was the first person of African descent since Frederick Douglas to visit the White House in 1910, composed a thoroughly engaging masterpiece in his Four Noveletten for Strings and Percussion.
Photo of Ben Miller 22 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET by: SophiaLutinski
about the choreographer
Daniel Catanach was born into a large Hispanic and Native family and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He served as the Founding Artistic Director of the Urban Ballet Theater for 10 years creating more than 30 original ballets, including the critically acclaimed Nutcracker in
the Lower, which celebrated a 10-year run in New
York’s Lower East Side. Early on in his career,
he was appointed the Rehearsal Director for the
Kansas City Ballet, where his duties included assisting Alvin Ailey on The River. He was also the Ballet Master for the Armitage Ballet, touring North America, South America, and Europe for three years.
Catanach has been a guest choreographer and master teacher at the Alvin
Mr. Catanach dedicates this peice to the many dancersoftheUrban BalletTheaterwho helped create the style ofvocabularyused in the ballet.
Ailey Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, STEPS
on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, the Dance Teacher Summit, New York City Dance Alliance, Male Dancer Conference,andManhattanYouthBallet.Nationally,Catanach hasbeeninvitedtocreateworkandconductmasterclassesfor the Kansas City Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Armitage GoneDance,NationalDanceInstitute,CentralPennsylvania Youth Ballet, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, and NORD/ NOBA Center for Dance in New Orleans.
Internationally, Catanach has taught in France, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica. While in Paris, he was commissioned by CBS Records France to work with Marc Cerrone and create the touring show based on the movie Dancing Machine, which starred Patrick Dupond.
Catanach was first introduced to dance at New Mexico State University. He went on to study at California State University Chico, where he studied with Harold Lang and was awarded scholarships to the Lichine Ballet Academy in Beverly Hills, School of American Ballet, and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater
in New York City. He was a principal dancer with the Kansas City Ballet and the Armitage Ballet, among others. He also appeared in music videos and productions working with Madonna, the Carpenters, the Divinyls, and Sheila E., as well as projects with Annie Leibovitz for Vogue and Vanity Fair. Most recently, Catanach appeared on Sesame Street as Mr. Daniel in The Not Too Late Show with Elmo.
SWAN LAKE & MORE 23
about the choreographer
Sarah Harkness, originally from Chico, California, recently completed 10 years as Associate Professor of Dance, Co-Director of Dance
Theatre of Santa Fe, and Choreographer for the Musical Theatre program at Santa Fe College
in Gainesville, Florida. She received her MFA in
Dance from Florida State University, and a BA in
Theatre Arts at Loyola Marymount University, Los
Angeles. Harkness founded and directed Meh-
Tropolis Dance Theatre in Los Angeles for six years and worked for former CEO ofParamountPicturesSherryLansingandTheSherryLansingFoundation. She
has choreographed many dance productions and musicals including West Side Story (Dir. by Evan Pappas), A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity, Mamma Mia, Music Man, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She also performed with Martin Sheen, Stockard Channing, and other cast members of The West Wing in the Los Angeles production ofRaisingOurVoices. HarknessperformedasupportingroleintheWestCoast premiere of Becoming Eleanor and has danced with Oberlin Dance Company and for choreographers Anjali Austin, Melissa Brenner, Lynda Davis, Alan Danielson, Nancy Smith Fichter, Michael Foley, Tim Glenn, Gerri Houlihan, Elizabeth Johnson, Rick McCullough, Andrew Noble, Dan Wagoner, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.
Ms.Harknessdedicates thispeicetoParadise andothersurrounding communitiesin Butte County, California–rebuilding aftertheCampFire...
And,inhonorofthose whoseliveswerelost, November8,2018.
Internationally,HarknessstudiedattheOxfordSchoolofDrama inEngland,performedintheWorldDanceFestivalinMontpellier, France,andtaughtDanceandDramaforCaxtonCollegein Valencia,Spain.InFlorida,HarknesshaschoreographedforThe Tallahassee Ballet and Valencia College, and served as Faculty and AssistantCoordinatorfortheFSUSummerIntensiveforYoung Dancer’sWorkshop.ShehasinstructedcoursesfortheNorthCentral Florida Young Dancer Workshop, Florida Dance Association, Polk CountyAllCountyDanceFestival,andSuzanneFarrellWorkshop forYoungDancers.Shewasawardedartisticresidenciesfor2013 &2014attheLillianE.SmithCenterforCreativeArtsinClayton, Georgia. Her choreography has been presented in concert with
24
50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
the Joffrey Concert Group (now New York Dance Project) at the Baryshnikov Art Center’s Ringling International Arts Festival, in multiple American College Dance Association Southeast Region Conferences, and for An Evening of Entertainment at Santa Fe College with Guest Director Marion J. Caffey of the Apollo Theater in New York.
Currently, Harkness serves as Associate Director, Choreographer, and Performer for Four Corners Musical Theatre in Farmington, New Mexico. Most recently, she is working on Sweeney Todd starring Broadway actors Anne Runolfsson and James Sasser. She is also Program Coordinator for the Heather McGaughey Four Corners Theatre Academy.
Here, you are rebuilding... Chorography: Sarah Harkness
Music: “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations Composer: Sir Edward Elgar Costume: Ann Todd
DANCERS
Carri Britt
Holly Borrelli Abigail Centers Sarah Avery Eschrich Kara Griffin Madelynn Hampton Kristin Javate George Loheac Sophia Lutinski Amber Malmstadt-Stasik Benjamin Miller Chris Miller Elizabeth Mineau Emma Morris * Eleanor Stewart
guest artist*
Photo of Sophia Lutinski by: Anthony Ivory
SWAN LAKE & MORE 25
about the choreographer
Christopher L. Huggins is a visionary dance innovator. He is an Alvin Ailey disciple and historian, developing multilayered storytelling through dance. Huggins attended Purchase University, the Julliard School, and was a merit scholar at the Ailey School. He’s a former soloist of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in New York and Aterballetto of Reggio in Emilia, Italy.
Huggins’s work is rooted in research that memorializes our darkest history. This is found in his ballet The List, a story about the systemic genocide of a Jewish family and those in concentration camps. His ballet New Fruit, inspired by Nina Simone’s music, documents terror lynching.
Through his dance initiative, he provides access to emerging dancers and choreographers to study abroad with him. He works around the globe and has held residencies at more than 25 universities and colleges.
Huggins is a multiple award winner, including the 2021 Guggenheim Award Winner for Choreography, two Alvin Ailey Awards from Black Theater Alliance, a Walt Disney Diversity Award, a Critics Choice Award, and was
a Silver medalist in the International Dance Competition in Seoul, Korea. In addition, he holds the distinction of being a “repetiteur” of Mr. Ailey’s ballets. Huggins wants his work to heal, entertain, and inspire mankind as he continues his dance legacy.
choreographer,s note
O Fortuna literally means ‘Oh Fate.’ This peice is a lament about the inescapable power of fate, a central theme to Roman and Greek mythology, in which fate is a force that rules both gods and mortal.
conductor,s note
CarlOrff’sCarminaBurana isoneofthemonumentalworksofthe twentieth century. O Fortuna is the opening movement of this work. We welcome a few of our friends from the Tallahassee Community Chorus for this peice.
26 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Photo: Balbaldi
Gods and Mortals Choreography: Christopher L. Huggins
Music: O Fortuna from the collection known as the Carmina Burana Composer: Carl Orff
Costumes: Ann Todd
Music sponsored by
Earl Bacon Agency
SINGERS
NAMES TO COME NAMES TO COME
DANCERS
Jorge Arceo, Aleck Condon*, Jackson Jefferson, George Loheac, Benjamin Miller, Chris Miller
guest artist*
Photo by: Sophia Lutinski
SWAN LAKE & MORE 27
about the choreographer
Kathryn Karrh Cashin
Performance Director and Resident Choreographer
Kathryn Karrh Cashin has choreographed for The Tallahassee Ballet for more than 30 years, including The Nutcracker and numerous chamber works, most notably Boléro. Her full-length ballets include Beauty and the Beast, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coppélia, Cinderella, and The Sleeping Beauty. She has also choreographed several children’s ballets.
Dr. Cashin has served as choreographer for more than 20 Florida State Opera works, most recently The Mikado, Eugene Onegin, Orpheus in the Underworld, and Romeo and Juliet. Dr. Cashin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian/Business Administration, a Master of Arts degree in Slavic and East European Studies, and a PhD in Humanities.
Recently retired from Florida State University’s Program in Interdisciplinary Humanities, she frequently teaches in Europe during the summer. Dr. Cashin, a former president of the Junior League of Tallahassee and graduate of Leadership Tallahassee, serves on the Leadership Council of FSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, is a former curriculum and steering chair for Youth Leadership Tallahassee, and was selected as a 2023 “Leading Lady,” honoring women in Tallahassee who go above and beyond by donating their time and efforts to good causes in our community. She serves as vice-president of scholarships for Alpha Delta Pi Sorority National Foundation.
Photo of 2018 Swan Lake dancers by Meagan Helman
28 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Swan Lake ACT11&IV
Original Choreography: Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa
Additional Choreography and Staging: Kathryn Karrh Cashin
Rehearsal Assistant: Katy E. Cashin Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Costumes: Ann Todd
Odette...............Tomoko Takahashi Prince Siegfried...........................Jorge Arceo Von Rothbart..................Chris Miller Swan Duet...............Carri Britt & Paige Centers
SWAN QUARTET (LITTLE SWANS)
Abby Centers, Reagan Hill, Madelynn Hampton, Bella Rich
SWAN CORPS DE BALLET:
Martine Bartley, Holly Borrelli, Abby Centers, Sarah Avery Eschrich, Kara Griffin,
Emily Jane Gumal, Reagan Hill, Madelynn Hampton, Kristin Javate, Sophia Lutinski, Elizabeth Mineau, Morgan Manrique, Amber Malmstadt-Stasik, Bella Rich, Eleanor Stewart,
Lauren Wood, Jillian Woodley
BLACK SWANS:
Logan Click, Bailey Corrigan, Natalie Johnston, Malia Morton
conductor,s note
Of course, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is beloved throughout the world. It is such a pleasure to collaborate with our exceptional colleagues on stage.
Photo ofTomoko Takahashi by Anthony Ivory
SWAN LAKE & MORE 29
30 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Ann Todd
Costume Designer Emmeritus
Ann Todd became involved with The Tallahassee Ballet in 1988 when her daughter, Julie, was in the Company. She immediately found a creative outlet on the costume committee and began creating her own designs. In 1990, she became the Resident Costume Designer, and this will be her 33rd season of costuming at Tallahassee Ballet.
Her original costumes include the ensemble pieces of An Evening of Music and Dance productions, such as Boléro, Malachite, and the gypsy costumes of Madeline’s Gypsy Adventure. She also designed the Company’s 2002 production of the full-length The Sleeping Beauty, and the premiere costumes of Coppélia, A
Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Beauty and the Beast.
In 2005, Ann was commissioned by the FSU
Dance Department to design the costumes for
the premiere of Aqueous Myth. Over the next two years, Ann and her staff added costumes for two
new premiere ballets, Henry Hernandez’s Alice
In Wonderland and Peter Pan. The following years brought us Story Book Ballet, Tallahassee Rocks,
Snow White, Rapunzel, Carnival of Animals, In Performance with The Tallahassee Ballet, and the 2016 productions of Firebird and La Bayadère, all with new designs.
Ann officially retired as of this 50th Anniversary year,
but she will be held in Emeritus status as her legacy
will be seen in our performances for years to come.
The Ballet is also indebted to costume mistresses and
support staff through Ann’s reign for their dedicated years of time, talent, and energies to the costume department, including the following.
Special thanks to:
Vonnie Allen
Pat Berrigan Yenna Colvin Tami Cone Barbie Cooksey Susan Cornwell Kay Crowell Doreen Dickman Jane Dixon
Judy Field
Debbie Gatewood* Jan Gove
Boo Hartsell
Lea Herrell Brenda Huang Leslie Hughes Lucy Ingley
Janie Johnston Sue Kay
Brooke Kennerly
*Costume
Designers prior to Ann
Sue Lewkowitz Cricket Mannheimer Angela Martin Sheila Melton Laurie Molina Kathy Moore Agatha Muse Lamb Trish Parsons
Terri Shields
Sue Chapo
Carm Smith
Cathy Smith
Bunny Taylor* Marcia Van Wingen Claire Walker Candace Woodward
Stuart Riordan*
SWAN LAKE & MORE 31
Hope Eltomi
Assistant to the Artistic Director
Hope Eltomi began dancing at the age of six under the instruction of Jocelyn Woodruff at Vero Beach Ballet. When Eltomi turned 16, she furthered her professional training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and graduated from their program
in 2008 with a concentration in ballet. Upon graduation, she was accepted into Florida State University’s (FSU) School of Dance and continued her education there.
Eltomi joined The Tallahassee Ballet in 2013 as a Soloist dancer
and was promoted to Principal in 2016. She has performed lead
roles such as Snow Queen, Dew Drop, and Sugar Plum Fairy in
The Nutcracker, Paquita, Nikiya in La Bayadere, and Odette in Swan Lake.
In 2015 she married Brian Eltomi. In 2020 they had their son, David, and in 2022 they had their daughter Shiloh.
32 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Kiersten Boyett
Incoming Costume Designer
Kiersten Boyett is a native of Mobile, Alabama, where she began
her dance training at age six. She also began learning to sew from
her grandmother at the young age of five. Kiersten trained at the
Mobile Ballet school from 13 until 17 when she chose to focus on
teaching dance at her own small studio and sewing professionally.
For nearly a decade, she taught at her school and created several
children’s ballets, for which she also designed and constructed all
of the costumes. In 2019 she was offered the position of Wardrobe
coordinator at Mobile Ballet, where she worked alongside Director
Katia Garza for four seasons. Kiersten has created costumes for
minor roles in Garza’s Giselle, Beauty and the Beast, Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Princess and the Frog, Don Quixote, and Swan Lake. In 2021, Kiersten attended several classes at Tutu.com’s tutu school, including Bodices, Classical tutus, Men’s Tunics, and Basic Leotards.
Boyett loves combining her passion for ballet with that for sewing to create beautiful cos- tumes for the many wonderful dancers she has had the pleasure of working with.
SEAMSTRESS: Michelle Wheeler is a self-taught seamstress from Madison, Florida and is one of the newest members of TTB’s Ladies of the Cloth. “I am thrilled to join this amaz- ing team of talented artists.”
SWAN LAKE & MORE 33
34 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Technical Staff
Scott M. Freese, Stage Manager
Scott Freese is pleased to again be serving as stage manager for The Tallahassee Ballet, having stage managed for the Florida State University Opera and Palm Beach Opera. He
is the president, a founding board member, and technical director for the local community theatre group New Stage Theatreworks, as well as a former board member for Tallahassee Little Theatre (now Theatre Tallahassee). Other credits include lighting design, sound design, master electrician and light/sound board operator for Theatre A La Carte, New Stage Theatreworks, Theatre Tallahassee, Brookwood School (Thomasville, Georgia), Element 3 Church, Quincy Music Theatre, Community Christian School (CCS), Young Actors Theatre, and A Christmas Carol on the Air. In addition, he is a stagehand at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall and the FSU School of Dance, and a scenic carpenter at the FSU Opera scene shop.
Katie Redd, Lighting Designer
Katie Redd is delighted to return for her 13th season as Lighting Designer with The Tallahassee Ballet. Favorite past designs with the company are An Evening of Music and Dance, Peter Pan, and Snow White. Other favorites include Le Jongleur of Notre Dame and The Old Maid and the Thief for Florida State University Opera. She has worked as Lighting Designer for Trumpet in the Land and Electrician for the American Repertory Theatre, as well as The Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, Massachusetts. Katie is currently the Associate Director of Operations for Ruby Diamond Concert Hall at Florida State University.
Ian Plouffe, Technical Director
Ian Plouffe has been working in theatre since he was fourteen years old. He started as a carpenter in his high school theatre program and now has worked in every theatre within 50 miles of Tallahassee. When he was fifteen, he was offered an internship at Florida State University's Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, which eventually led to him being the Lighting Engineer for the FSU School of Music. He now works as the Production Technician for the FSU School of Dance. In his free time, you can find Ian teaching yoga, reading books, or chasing a dog.
SWAN LAKE & MORE 35
36 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Summer Camps at The Ballet
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SCHOOL
Christmas in July ...................... July 24-28, 2023 Nutcracker and Clara
REGISTER NOW AT
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SWAN LAKE & MORE 37
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50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
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The Tallahassee Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Your donations are tax-deductible to the extent law allows. Federal 2ID#: 23-7273533.
Lauren@ tallahasseeballet.org (850) 556-6618
SWAN LAKE & MORE 39
BETTON PLACE
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50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
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SWAN LAKE & MORE 41
PRINCIPAL DANCERS
Jorge Arceo is in his
eighth season with
The Tallahassee
Ballet. He has starred in performances such as The Nutcracker, In Performance with The Tallahassee Ballet, and An Evening of Music and Dance performances from 2014-2019.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Jorge began dancing at age nine at the academy of Cuban dancer Narciso Medina. He completed his studies
at Escuela Provincial de Ballet and
then attended The National Ballet School. At 19, he joined the Contemporary Dance of Cuba company, where he danced for three years and became the first soloist. Jorge has toured nationally and internationally with Contemporary Dance
of Cuba and worked with various world-renowned choreographers. After arriving at the U.S. in 2009, he
danced with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami and joined Las Vegas’ Rio Hotel show ND’S FUEGO.
In 2010, Jorge moved to Los Angeles, where he danced as a Principal for various companies, including Pasadena Dance Theater, City of Angels Ballet, California Riverside Ballet, and the production Silent Roar, choreographed by Zina Bethune.
This is Carri Britt’s tenth season with
The Tallahassee Ballet; seventh as a principal dancer. Here, she has danced soloist and lead
roles in classical works including The Sleeping Beauty, (third variation) The Nutcracker, (Dew Drop, Snow Queen, Arabian, Automaton) La Bayadère, (Second variation) Swan Lake, (Big Swan) and Paquita, (first variation) as well as original works by Kathryn Karrh Cashin, Ilana Goldman, Christopher Huggins, Katy Cashin, Anjali Austin, Trent
D. Williams, Sarah Harkness,
and Gabriel Williams, among others.
Britt trained in the Vagonava method at the Academy of
Ballet Internationale in Indianapolis, where she toured
The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty with the professional company in residence. She later graduated from the Louisville Ballet School, after expand- ing her experience in modern dance. During her years training, Britt attended summer intensives at Joffrey Midwest, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Met, Austin Ballet, and Harid Conservatory. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from Florida State University.
42 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
PRINCIPAL DANCERS
Paige Centers grew up in Marianna, Florida, and has been passionate about dance from a young age. Over the years, she trained with Robin Stuyverson at Wildwood Ballet, Amy Lowe at Ballet Arts Conservatory of Tallahassee,
and Joyce Straub Fausone at Sharon Davis School of Dance. She joined The Tallahassee Ballet as an Ap- prentice in the fall of 2009. Upon graduating high school in 2013,
she was promoted to Soloist, and in 2017 she was promoted to Principal. Centers has received
the Joyce Straub Fausone Scholarship and the Ken Cashin Scholarship awarded by TTB Board of Directors. Paige has performed in productions of Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, An Evening of Music & Dance, In Performance, The Nutcracker, Paquita and Other Works, Rapunzel, The Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Her lead and feature roles include: Arabian, Mirliton, Spanish, Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, and Dew Drop from The Nutcracker;
Variation II from Paquita; Princess Florine from The
Sleeping Beauty; Annette Barcelona’s Reminiscence;
Joyce Fausone’s Tango; Tango Pas de Deux from
Kathryn Cashin’s Three Dances; Julie Opiel’s Toccata
and Nocturne; and Dance of the Big Swans from Swan
Lake. Centers has attended intensives at Orlando Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Florida State Uni- versity School of Dance, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and for two consecutive summers she was privileged to attend Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell—a three-week intensive
at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. She has worked as a resident assistant for the Orlando Ballet School, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet in New York City. In addition to her formal
dance training, Paige graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science Education.
SCHOOL
Instructors with The Tallahassee Ballet School follow the ABT® National Training Curriculum with select instructors certified up to Level 7.
Register for Summer & Fall atTallahasseeBallet.com/education
SWAN LAKE & MORE 43
PRINCIPAL DANCERS
Tomoko Takahashi began dancing at the age of eight in Nagano, Japan. At age 15, she was awarded the Special Judge Prize and Chacott Scholarship from the NBA All Japan Ballet Competition, and went to The Hungarian Dance Art Academy, Budapest as a scholarship student.
Upon graduation in 2007,
Takahashi started her professional career at companies including Columbia Classical Ballet, South
Carolina (2007-2008), Singapore Dance Theatre (2011-2014), and The Israel Ballet (2014-2017). At the Israel ballet, she joined as a principal dancer.
Takahashi has danced principal roles of Madame Butterfly, Cinderella,
Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Raymonda, The Nutcracker, La Corsaire, La Sylphide, and Robin Hood. She also performed in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Concerto Barocco and Divertimento No.15; Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena and Chant; Edwaard Liang’s Age of Innocence and The Winds of Zephyrus; Natalie Weir’s 4 Seasons; and Nils Christe’s Organ Concerto.
Takahashi won 3rd place in All Japan Ballet Union competition (2002),
1st place in The Tokyo Paper All Japan Ballet Competition (2003), and
2nd place in Educational Ballet competition, Japan (2008). Tomoko is also a mom of two young daughters. Takahashi joined The Tallahassee Ballet in 2019 as a Principal Dancer.
Open to the Community
TURNING POINTE
SUMMER INTENSIVE
June 5-16, 2023
Ballet Technique, Pointe, Ballet Repertory, Contemporary/Jazz/Hip Hop, and Conditioning/Pilates with saught-after quest artists: Contemporary artist Allyne Gartrell, Ballet instructors Jarina Carvalho and Lenore Pavlakos-Morales, and Hip Hop artist Kristin Javate.
register at: tallahasseeballet.org/summer-intensive
44 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
SWAN LAKE & MORE 45
SOLOIST
Christopher
Miller began performing around the age of 10. He attended the Florida State University School of Dance. He transferred from the
dance program at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. Alongside ballet, Chris finds interest in many other forms of performing. He has performed in musicals, such as West Side Story, and even spent a year and a half in a hip hop crew called The Levitations. In the future, Chris sees himself
using dance as a way to travel, meet new people, and gain new life experiences.
46 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
SOLOIST
Benjamin Miller is excited to be dancing
with The Tallahassee Ballet for his first season.
He began his classical ballet training at Pas
de Vie ballet in 2016 under Artistic Director
Natalia Botha and Ballet Master Charles
Hagan. With the company, Miller
was given many opportunities
to dance classical roles ranging
from Cavalier, Snow King, and Lead Russian in The
Nutcracker, the Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, Don Quixote Pas de Duex, Pas de Trois Swan Lake, and several neoclassical pieces such as Simian Line, Tango, and Elemental Rhythm. Outside of town, Miller trained at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Summer
Intensive in New York City under the instruction of Mikhail
Sharkov and Georgii Gusev. In 2019, Miller went to study at
the Houston Ballet Academy under the instruction of many teachers, includ-
ing Melissa Bowman and Claudio Muñoz, before returning to Pas de Vie
as a principal dancer in 2020. Miller has been a guest artist for various
productions in Georgia and Alabama including in Ballet Theatre
South’s production of The Nutcracker, Ballet Dance South’s produc-
tion of Aladdin, and SEDAC’s production of The Nutcracker. When not
dancing, Miller is a theatre student at Florida State University, where he is currently working towards his Bachelor’ s Degree, emphasis in performance. He was most recently seen on stage in the Tallahassee Community College musical production of Something Rotten in 2022.
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48 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
Madelynn Hampton
Kristin Javate
Jackson Jefferson
Yutong Li
George Loheac
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Elizabeth Mineau
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Lauren Wood
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SWAN LAKE & MORE 49
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50 50 YEARS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET