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2 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
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T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 3
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4 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T WestminsterOaksFL.org
Lauren Hernandez
C H I E F E X E C U T I V E O F F I C E R
Dear Friends and Patrons of TTB,
Welcome to The Nutcracker—a cherished holiday tradition
that continues to bring joy, wonder, and connection to our
community. We are delighted to share this magical performance
with you and grateful that you’ve chosen to celebrate the season
with The Tallahassee Ballet.
This year is especially exciting as we proudly present the largest
cast in our company’s history. The extraordinary participation
from students of The Tallahassee Ballet School has brought fresh energy and enthusiasm to the
stage, along with the talent of our youth and professional companies. We couldn’t be prouder
of their dedication. We are also thrilled to welcome back our Board President Kevin Clark,
who returns for a second year as a party guest in the lively opening scene—an appearance that
reflects the passion and unwavering commitment of our leadership.
Productions of this scale are possible only through the tremendous effort of our artistic team,
costume department, and the many volunteers who give their time and talents behind the
scenes. Their creativity, craftsmanship, and countless hours of preparation make the magic you
see on stage truly come to life.
We are also grateful for the generosity of patrons and supporters who strengthen our work
year-round. At our recent Bevs, Bites and Ballet Gala, we launched Sponsor a Dancer, a
new initiative that invites donors to directly invest in the artists at the heart of our mission.
Contributions to this program are pooled into a shared fund and distributed evenly among our
Professional Company dancers—ensuring that every artist receives meaningful support. Your
gifts help provide stability, recognition, and encouragement to the professionals who bring
these productions to life with their grace, grit, and excellence.
Thank you for being here at the iconic Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, for supporting The
Tallahassee Ballet, and for celebrating the magic of the holidays with us. We wish you and
your loved ones a joyful, inspiring, and memorable season. Let the wonder of The Nutcracker
transport you through glistening winter skies and into the dazzling, candy-colored Kingdom of
Sweets!
Warmest regards,
Lauren Hernandez
Chief Executive Officer
The Tallahassee Ballet
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 5
CELEBRATING
A LEGACY
of
DANCE
Capital City Bank is proud to support The Tallahassee Ballet.
We believe everything dances and appreciate The Tallahassee Ballet
for bringing dance to life in our hometown.
www.ccbg.com
6 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
Meagan Helman
A R T I S T I C D I R E C TO R
Meagan Helman has been with The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB)
since 2015, first serving as a faculty member and later as
School Director, Company Teacher, Ballet Mistress, and now
as Artistic Director. She has a diverse array of professional
experiences as a dancer and educator. Helman is an adjunct
faculty member at Florida State University’s (FSU) School
of Dance, where she has taught all levels of Ballet and
Dance Technology courses, choreographed, and served as a
rehearsal director. She performed professionally for over ten
years as a principal dancer with Ballet Theatre of Maryland
(BTM), where her repertoire included Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Coppélia, Cinderella,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Firebird, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Nutcracker,
Carmen, and The Scarlet Letter, among other classical and contemporary works.
Helman served as the Ballet Mistress for BTM from 2009-2014, where she also choreographed
and taught for the company and school. Her choreography has been performed by BTM,
TTB, FSU, Delaware Dance Company, Goucher College, and the American College Dance
Association. Helman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from Goucher College and a
Master of Arts degree in Dance from FSU. She also serves as the photographer for FSU’s School
of Dance and the performance photographer for TTB. Her photographs have been published
in Dance Magazine, Dance Studio Life, and Dance Teacher Magazine. She has served on the
FSU Friends of Dance Leadership Council since 2017.
Helman is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the
ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training
Curriculum.
Lauren Hernandez
Chief Executive Officer
Katy E. Cashin
Artistic Associate
Meagan Helman
Artistic Director & Photographer
Janet Pichard
Business Manager
Jenny Leavitt
Ticketing Manager
Sam Sole
Ballet Mistress and
Social Media Manager
Kara Griffin
Education &
Outreach Director
Kiersten Boyett
Head Costume Designer
Lori D. Roberts
Media & Marketing
Specialist
Boo Hartsell & Michelle Wheeler
Costume Mistresses
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 7
8 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T P H O T O : M E A G A N H E L M A N
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 9
Dr. Alexander Jiménez
O R C H E S T R A C O N D U C TO R
A conductor and pedagogue, Dr. Alexander Jiménez serves as
professor of conducting and director of orchestral studies at the
Florida State University (FSU) 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) have championed new music under Dr. Jiménez 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 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.
1 0 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
The Tallahassee Ballet Orchestra
Violin 1 . ..........................Megumi Terry, Concertmaster
Erin Sukhia, Asst. Concertmaster
Price Sukhia, Kristina Nilsson,
Rachel Lawton
Violin 2 . ...................................................Ken Davis, Principal
Aimée Rieger, Francesca Puro,
Maya Johnson
Viola ....................................................... Lee Taylor, Principal
Yey Lee Mulero, Mary Boulo,
Tyana McGann
Cello . ......................................................Greg Sauer, Principal
Mitchell George, Evan Nicholson
Bass . ..........................................Megan Hipp, Caleb Duden
Flute ...........................................................................Karen Large,
Mary Matthews, Piccolo
Oboe . ......................................................................Steven Stamer,
Rebecca Keith, English Horn
Clarinet .............................. Sam Peliska, Julie Detweiler
Bassoon . ................. Jeff Keesecker, Robert Alexander
Horn . ...............................Allison Hoffman, Isaac Roman
Trumpet . ................................... Johniel Nájera, Bryan Goff
Trombone . ......................................................Hana Beloglavec
Brent Creekmore
Timpani . .........................................................Matthew Korloch
Percussion . ....................................................................Nick Bahr
Harp . ..........................................................................Noa Michaels
Celesta . ............................................................... Bryden Reeves
Singers . ................................ Anna Marie Friars, Soprano
Jenna Moynihan, Alto
2026 SUMMER DANCE CAMPS
WEEK-LONG SESSIONS FROM
JUNE 15-JULY 31
THEMES INCLUDE: Disney Princesses &
Pirates Ocean Voyagers like Moana
Warrior Princesses Coppélia and
The Nutcracker & Clara. Plus: K-Pop
Taylor Swift Wicked.
REGISTRATION BEGINS FEB. 2, 2026
TallahasseeBallet.org/DanceCamps
HALF-DAY FOR AGES 4-6
MORNING (8:30am-12:30pm)
AFTERNOON (12:30-4:30pm)
FULL-DAY FOR
AGES 6-9
(8:30am-4:30pm)
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 1 1
For the perfect
end to a
perfect night
We’re glad you found us.
Tallahassee’s favorite
Italian Restaurant and
Proud sponsor of
The Tallahassee
Ballet
in Bannerman Crossing
1 2 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
Dr. Kathryn Karrh (KK) Cashin (1957-2023)
C H O R E O G R A P H E R
Kathryn Karrh Cashin (KK) was a beloved former dancer of The
Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) and long-time Resident Choreographer, best
known for the brilliant choreography of our production of
The Nutcracker.
In addition to The Nutcracker, Cashin is known for 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 also choreographed several children’s ballets
and shared her artistry with Florida State Opera, choreographing
over 20 works, including The Mikado, Eugene Onegin, Orpheus in the
Underworld, and Romeo and Juliet.
The Tallahassee Ballet will always be indebted to her countless hours, creative passion, high
standards, and unwavering suppor. Her commitment to TTB was beyond reproach and her
kindness had no bounds. Her choreography and influence will be seen in our performances and
in our hearts for as long as TTB exists.
Visit tallahasseeballet.org/kkexcellencefund to learn about the Kathryn Karrh Cashin
Performance Excellence Fund.
STAGED BY
Katy E. Cashin
A R T I S T I C A S S O C I AT E
Katy E. Cashin is a freelance choreographer in New York City, creating
works for White Horse Theater Company (WHTC) and The Tallahassee
Ballet (TTB). 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, California, in 2018. Cashin has created ten original
works for TTB, 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 (TTB) 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 TTB, 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.
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 1 3
THANK YOU to our generous
sponsors and everyone who
joined us in supporting the
Fall 2025 Bevs, Bites and
Ballet at The Moon on November
13. More than 150 guests enjoyed
an unforgettable evening of
performances, fine dining, dancing,
and more. Thanks to your incredible
support, the fundraiser netted more
than $20,000.
A special note of gratitude to Ron Sachs
& Gay Webster-Sachs for their ongoing
support of the Gala. At this year’s event, we
launched our brand new Sponsor A Dancer
campaign. We’re thrilled to share that we’ve
raised over $70,000 toward this exciting
initiative—more than 60 percent of this
year’s goal.
1 4 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R S
G O L D
S I L V E R
B R O N Z E C O P P E R
I R O N
Rachel & Shawn Cefalu
Ken Cashin & Katy E. Cashin
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 1 5
1 6 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
A N N O U N C I N G T H E 2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 6
J O Y C E S T R A U B F A U S O N E
S C H O L A R S H I P R E C I P I E N T
Malia Morton
Malia Morton started her dance training
with The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) at the age
of three. She joined the Company in 2018
at the age of 10 and is now an Apprentice.
Morton has had an incredible opportunity and
privilege to train under an amazing artistic
team at TTB with Tyrone Brooks, Lauren
Hernandez, Meagan Helman, Katy E. Cashin,
and Kathryn Karrh Cashin. She has attended
summer intensives at Boston Ballet, The
Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, The Rock School for
Dance Education in Philadelphia, and many
wonderful summer intensives with TTB.
Morton is a high school senior at Maclay
School and a member of National Honor
Society, Spanish National Honor Society,
Science National Honor Society, and Treasurer of Rho Kappa. Morton will be attending
college in the Fall 2026 and will make her school decision soon.
Through her years of training, Morton has learned the discipline and dedication needed
to overcome challenges and refine her dance technique. The skills Morton has learned
though ballet have also shaped her approach to academics and other personal goals. TTB
has provided an amazing foundation and welcoming environment for Morton to excel.
She is honored to dance as Clara in The Nutcracker Children’s Show. She is also cast as
Automaton, in the Peppermints variation, and as a Tiger Lily in the Waltz of the Flowers
in the Orchestra Show.
A B O U T T H E S C H O L A R S H I P
Created in August 2004, this scholarship is presented by the The Tallahassee
Ballet Board of Directors in honor of Ms. Fausone’s 20 years of dedicated
service. Among her many accomplishments for the Ballet, Fausone
oversaw the original production of The Nutcracker in 1986 and initiated the
DanceChance program in 1997. The scholarship is awarded annually to a
dancer to help support costs associated with ballet, such as pointe shoes,
and includes a tuition waiver. The recipient must have been a member of
the Ballet for at least two years, have helped with the Ballet’s DanceChance
programs and/or volunteered extensively to assist the Ballet, and be a positive role model for other
dancers.
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 1 7
H A R L E Q U I N
R A T K I N G
C H O C O L A T E
Jacob Andrews is a bachelor
of fine arts degree candidate
finishing his final year at the
School of Dance at Florida
State University (FSU). Origi-
nally from Tampa, Florida,
his diverse background in-
cludes tap dance, musical
theatre, and competitive
dance, which has shaped
his dynamic and versatile
approach to performance. At
FSU, Andrews has performed
in works by renowned
choreographers including
Lynda Davis, Kara Wilkes,
and Caleb Mitchell. Beyond
performance, Andrews has
explored his creative voice
through original works such
as good grief, that premiered
at FSU’s Days of Dance
concert last spring. He plans
to further his choreographic
research with pieces pre-
miering in FSU’s upcoming
Festival of the Creative Arts
and Days of Dance concerts
as well as TTB’s INTIMATE.
1 8 T H E Guests
M O T H E R G I N G E R
Rachel S. Hunter, a native
of Cookeville, Tennessee,
currently works as specialized
faculty and production
manager for the Florida State
Unviersity (FSU) School of
Dance. In addition to teaching
dance / dance production and
performing in local theatre
and dance shows, she runs
Hunter Dance Project, a space
of embodied storytelling
while using humor as a
process to connect with
audiences. She earned her
bachelor of fine arts degree
in dance from Virginia
Commonwealth University
and her master of fine arts
degree in dance from FSU.
T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
A D U LT P A R T Y
G U E S T
P E P P E R M I N T
Rodrigo Pardo began
dancing at the age of
nine and has trained with
both Ballet Pensacola and
Northwest Florida Ballet,
where he has also performed
in numerous productions.
He has continued to expand
his dancing through summer
intensives at Birmingham
Ballet and Joffrey NYC. Pardo
has been dancing with The
Tallahassee Ballet since its
2023-2024 season, and his
favorite role to date is the
Mouse King in The Nutcracker.
Pardo is grateful for the
support of his teachers, family,
and fellow dancers as he
continues to grow in his craft.
P E P P E R M I N T
Sarah Eschrich began her
dance training at the age of
three at Florida Dance Theatre
in Central Florida. From
2015-2018 she then attended
Orlando Ballet School and
was selected to participate
in their OBSA Prep Program,
passing the ABT Exam with
Merit in 2017. She has also
attended various summer
intensives. Eschrich danced
with The Tallahassee Ballet
as a Corps de Ballet member
from 2021-2025, where she
was featured in several lead
roles in The Nutcracker,
The Sleeping Beauty, and
Cinderella. At TTB, she also
performed in several pieces
by Kathryn Karrh Cashin,
Christopher Huggins, Sarah
Harkness, and Katy E. Cashin.
Eschrich also holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in Physics
& Astrophysics and Classics
with a minor in Mathematics
from Florida State University.
She currently teaches middle
school Mathematics.
Guests
A D U LT P A R T Y
G U E S T
Kevin Clark
Relocation Director &
REALTOR® at Coldwell
Banker Hartung
Kevin Clark is President of
The Tallahassee Ballet Board
of Directors
A proud Tallahassee resident
since age 16, Kevin Clark is
deeply rooted in the local
community. Having attended
Leon High School, Tallahas-
see Community College,
and Florida State University,
Kevin has built a vibrant
career blending creativity
and service. He serves as Re-
location Director at Coldwell
Banker Hartung and as a
Real Estate Business Coach
and Trainer, helping agents
grow their businesses with
passion and purpose. Kevin
is honored to serve as TTB
Board of Directors President
and as a Wakulla County
Scholarship Pageant Judge.
He is thrilled to return for his
second year performing in
The Nutcracker.
F A T H E R
Howard D. Hardison
AFJROTC Instructor
Amos P. Godby HS
A D U LT P A R T Y
G U E S T
Daniel Boyett
Graphic Designer
for the Florida Department
of Agriculture and
Consumer Services
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 1 9
A C T I , S C E N E I
OPENING NIGHT
SPONSOR
The Party
ABBREVIATED
SPONSOR
It is Christmas Eve and Clara and her family are celebrating the evening
with friends. Suddenly, the party is interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious man and his
handsome young assistant. He reveals himself to be Clara’s Godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer,
who has brought his nephew to the party. Drosselmeyer entertains the party with magic
tricks, automatons, and mechanical dolls. He gives Clara a marvelous Nutcracker doll.
The party ends, the guests take their leave, and the family retires. Clara is sad to leave her
Nutcracker doll behind and returns to retrieve it, falling asleep under the Christmas tree.
Mother ......................................................................................Amber Malmstadt-Stasik Kara Griffin
Father .........................................................................................Howard Hardison* Howard Hardison*
Maid ............................................................................................Eleanor Stewart Eleanor Stewart
Clara ............................................................................................Malia Morton Abigail Bevill
Fritz ..............................................................................................Lorelei Watkins Lorelei Watkins
2 0 FIRST COLUMN: Saturday and Sunday
10:30am abbreviated performances
T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
SECOND COLUMN: Saturday and Sunday
performances with live orchestra
Drosselmeyer .......................................................................Jackson Carpenter Jackson Carpenter
Drosselmeyer's Nephew .............................................Anthony Cefalu Anthony Cefalu
Chestnut Vendor...............................................................Emmy Matthews Ezra Bell
Adult Party Guests ..........................................................Lillebeth Backes Lillebeth Backes
Bailey Corrigan Bailey Corrigan
Sophia Lutinski Sophia Lutinski
Marabelle Coggins Amber Malmstadt-Stasik
Jessica Skinker Natalie Montoya
Rodrigo Pardo* Rodrigo Pardo*
Kevin Clark* Kevin Clark*
Daniel Boyett* Daniel Boyett*
Clara’s Friends .....................................................................Olivia Standley Addison Bevill
Abigail Herron Abigail Herron
Alexandra Willis Sierra Lowell
Sophia Papuchis Miranda Martinez
Mabel Prichard Mabel Prichard
Caroline Rowe Caroline Rowe
Young Ladies........................................................................Molly Cate Newell Lily Boulo
Olivia Harris Olivia Harris
Julia Perkins Julia Perkins
Anna Grace Sobeski Anna Grace Sobeski
Party Girls ...............................................................................Molly Oaks Jordyn Hill
Kadesh Camejo Marianne McSoley
Leslie Cate Rathmann Leslie Cate Rathmann
Party Boys ..............................................................................Samara Dixie Samara Dixie
Charlotte Heath Charlotte Heath
Ella McCrea Ella McCrea
Charlotte Moody Charlotte Moody
Catherine Moody Hadley Cain
Georgia Lynn Crilow Jalia Lewis
Harlequin ................................................................................Jacob Andrews* Jacob Andrews*
Columbine .............................................................................Kara Griffin Abigail Centers
Automaton ............................................................................Cecilia Schmidt Malia Morton
Photos: Meagan Helman
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 2 1
A C T I , S C E N E I I
The Battle
A magical spell falls over the room and the Christmas tree begins to grow
to an enormous size. Drosselmeyer uses his magic to make Clara’s beloved Nutcracker
doll comes to life so that he can lead his toy soldiers in battle against the gigantic rats
swarming the room. The Rat King appears and challenges the Nutcracker to fight in a
duel. The Nutcracker seems to be failing, and Clara, unable to stand it any longer,
attacks the Rat King. The Rat King is distracted, allowing the Nutcracker to strike a
fatal blow, ending the battle. The Nutcracker, exhausted by the battle, falls motionless
to the ground. At Clara’s desperate request, Drosselmeyer revives the Nutcracker.
He has now returned to his true form – that of a handsome young prince.
Nutcracker Prince ............................................................Anthony Cefalu Anthony Cefalu
Rat King ...................................................................................Jacob Andrews* Jacob Andrews*
Mice .............................................................................................Kadesh Camejo Kadesh Camejo
Samara Dixie Charlotte Heath
Jordyn Hill Jordyn Hill
Marianne McSoley Marianne McSoley
Ella McCrea Ella McCrea
ATTENTION
Molly Oaks Molly Oaks
Charlotte Moody Leslie Cate Rathmann
The Battle Scene includes
Lorelei Watkins Lorelei Watkins
flashing lights, loud bangs,
and use of pyrotechnics.
(*) Guest
2 2 FIRST COLUMN: Saturday and Sunday
10:30am abbreviated performances
T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
SECOND COLUMN: Saturday and Sunday
performances with live orchestra
Soldiers .....................................................................................Ezra Bell Ezra Bell
Aubrey Hurst Aubrey Hurst
Eleanor Nelson Eleanor Nelson
Molly Cate Newell Molly Cate Newell
Adelaide Watkins Adelaide Watkins
Mary Wilmot Mary Wilmot
Cavalry ......................................................................................Lily Boulo Lily Boulo
Emmy Matthews Emmy Matthews
Sophia Papuchis Sophia Papuchis
Ellis Palmer Ellis Palmer
Julia Perkins Julia Perkins
Olivia Standley Olivia Standley
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 2 3
A C T I , S C E N E I I I
Kingdom of Snow
The Nutcracker Prince thanks Clara for saving his life and
invites her to visit his kingdom, the Kingdom of Sweets. Clara eagerly accepts
and joins him on his journey. On the way, Clara and the Prince pass through a
beautiful snow-covered forest, the Kingdom of Snow. They are met by the Snow
Queen and her court who dance a waltz for them, ending in a wild blizzard.
(*) Guest
Snow Queen .........................................................................Paige Centers Carri Britt
Snow Princesses ................................................................Kara Griffin Paige Centers
Abigail Centers Sophia Lutinski
Natalie Montoya Jessica Skinker
Cecilia Schmidt Cecilia Schmidt
Ice Princesses ......................................................................Sarah Genzer Sarah Genzer
Miranda Martinez Miranda Martinez
Snowflakes Quartet........................................................Bailey Corrigan Marabelle Coggins
Abigail Herron Abigail Herron
Lillebeth Backes Lillebeth Backes
Sophia Schepers Sophia Schepers
Snowflakes.............................................................................Eleanor Stewart Bailey Corrigan
Addison Bevill Addison Bevill
Ava Elpedes Ava Elpedes
Stella Elpedes Stella Elpedes
Eva Falcon Eva Falcon
Sierra Lowell Sierra Lowell
Amber Malmstadt-Stasik Amber Malmstadt-Stasik
Alexandra Willis Alexandra Willis
2 4 FIRST COLUMN: Saturday and Sunday
10:30am abbreviated performances
T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
SECOND COLUMN: Saturday and Sunday
performances with live orchestra
Angels
Akiho Tobioka Caroline Hooper
Adelyn Powell Adelyn Powell
Madeleine Pinsky Taylor Williams
Charlotte Hernandez Charlotte Hernandez
Catherine Willson Eloise Agrella
Violet Nonni Lily Carter
Mireyah Davis Lucy Showers
Evangelyn Thompson Mila Phares
I N T E R M I S S I O N
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 2 5
A C T I I
(*) Guest
Kingdom of Sweets
As the winds calm, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince are led in a magical sleigh
to the Kingdom of Sweets by a delegation of Angels. The Dew Drop Fairy assembles the
fantastical court at the Sugar Plum Fairy’s palace, eagerly awaiting Clara and the Prince. Upon
their arrival, there is much rejoicing in the court. The Nutcracker Prince recounts how Clara
saved his life from the Rat King, and they bow to her gratitude. The Nutcracker Prince places a
beautiful crown on Clara and presents her as his Princess. The Dew Drop Fairy leads the young
couple to the throne and commands a banquet of Sweets in Clara’s honor. Clara and her Prince
enjoy dances of jumping peppermint, sweet marzipan, swirling chocolate, and more.
Dew Drop Fairy .................................................................Carri Britt Abigail Centers
Pink Roses ..............................................................................✧ Kara Griffin
✧ Natalie Montoya
Rose Court .............................................................................Caroline Rowe Caroline Rowe
Anna Grace Sobeski Anna Grace Sobeski
Olivia Harris Olivia Harris
Mabel Prichard Mabel Prichard
Lilacs ...........................................................................................Lily Boulo Lily Boulo
Ezra Bell Ezra Bell
Sophia Papuchis Sophia Papuchis
Ellis Palmer Ellis Palmer
Julia Perkins Julia Perkins
Olivia Standley Olivia Standley
Garlands ...................................................................................Aubrey Hurst Aubrey Hurst
Emmy Matthews Emmy Matthews
Eleanor Nelson Eleanor Nelson
Molly Cate Newell Molly Cate Newell
Adelaide Watkins Adelaide Watkins
Mary Wilmot Mary Wilmot
2 6 FIRST COLUMN: Saturday and Sunday
10:30am abbreviated performances
T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
SECOND COLUMN: Saturday and Sunday
performances with live orchestra
Chocolate ...............................................................................Sophia Lutinski Paige Centers
Jacob Andrews* Jacob Andrews*
Eva Falcon Eva Falcon
Ava Elpedes Ava Elpedes
Amber Malmstadt-Stasik Amber Malmstadt-Stasik
Stella Elpedes Eleanor Stewart
Coffee ✧ ..................................................................................Jessica Skinker Carri Britt
Sophia Schepers Sophia Lutinski
Jackson Carpenter
Tea ................................................................................................Abigail Bevill Miranda Martinez
Sierra Lowell Sierra Lowell
Alexandra Willis Alexandra Willis
Peppermint ...........................................................................Sarah Genzer Sophia Schepers
Anthony Cefalu Anthony Cefalu
Rodrigo Pardo Rodrigo Pardo
Bailey Corrigan Bailey Corrigan
Sarah Eschrich* Malia Morton
Marzipan ✧ ...........................................................................Cecilia Schmidt Cecilia Schmidt
Lillebeth Backes Lillebeth Backes
Marabelle Coggins Marabelle Coggins
Abigail Herron Abigail Herron
Natalie Montoya Jessica Skinker
Mother Ginger.....................................................................Rachel Hunter* Rachel Hunter*
Chocolate Polichinelles .........................................Kadesh Camejo Kadesh Camejo
Jordyn Hill Jordyn Hill
Marianne McSoley Marianne McSoley
Leslie Cate Rathmann Leslie Cate Rathmann
Mint Polichinelles .......................................................Samara Dixie Samara Dixie
Charlotte Heath Charlotte Heath
Ella McCrea Ella McCrea
Charlotte Moody Charlotte Moody
Molly Oaks Molly Oaks
Lorelei Watkins Lorelei Watkins
(✧) Not performed at Abbreviated Children’s Performance
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 2 7
A C T I I
Waltz of the Flowers ✧
( ✧ ) The Waltz of the Flowers is not performed for the Abbreviated Performances.
The Dew Drop Fairy gathers her court of flowers in a festive waltz to
celebrate the Nutcracker Prince’s safe return and their new Princess Clara. At the end of the
waltz, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier arrive to honor Clara with a grand pas de deux.
The entire court rejoices in a sweeping waltz, when suddenly the dancing is interrupted.
Sugar Plum Fairy’s palace and her court become distant as the magical spell begins to fade. Clara
awakens to find herself at home under the Christmas tree with her beloved Nutcracker doll.
Dew Drop ................................. Abigail Centers
Pink Roses ................................ Marabelle Coggins
Kara Griffin
Natalie Montoya
Jessica Skinker
Tiger Lilies ................................. Sarah Genzer
Malia Morton
Violets .......................................... Lillebeth Backes
Bailey Corrigan
Sophia Schepers
Eleanor Stewart
Roses ............................................. Addison Bevill
Paige Centers
Ava Elpedes
Stella Elpedes
Eva Falcon
Olivia Harris
Abigail Herron
Sierra Lowell
Amber Malmstadt-Stasik
Miranda Martinez
Mabel Prichard
Caroline Rowe
Anna Grace Sobeski
Alexandra Willis
Lilacs .............................................Lily Boulo
Ezra Bell
Sophia Papuchis
Ellis Palmer
Julia Perkins
Olivia Standley
Grand Pas de Deux
Sugar Plum Fairy
Tomoko Takahashi
Cavalier
Jorge Arceo
2 8 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
Life Health
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Our experienced staff offers
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Referrals are an essential part of our business. If you or
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M: (850) 284-8405
[email protected]
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 2 9
3 0 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
FEBRUARY 13-15, 2026
THE PERFECT VALENTINE’S DATE NIGHT
INTIMATE is an immersive arts experience that moves from studio to
studio, featuring standout choreography, live music, artwork, and close-up
costumes—all paired with fine food and beverages.
TICKETS
TallahasseeBallet.org
AT THE STUDIOS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
2910 Kerry Forest Parkway, Suite C1, Tallahassee, FL 32309
Admission is
limited to 100
guests per
performance
CALL TO ARTISTS!
Showcase your art at INTIMATE
Join us for a FREE LIFE-DRAWING SESSION
featuring TTB dancers as live models. Open to artists
of all levels—amateur, student, and professional.
Sunday, January 25, 2026, (2:00-4:30pm)
At The Tallahassee Ballet Studios
Learn more and register at:
TallahasseeBallet.org/CallToArtists
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 3 1
I N T R O D U C I N G
INVEST IN THE CAREERS OF THE POWERFUL
The new TTB Sponsor A Dancer initiative allows patrons to directly
support individual artists of The Tallahassee Ballet–their salary,
shoes, costumes, and wellness programs throughout the season.
Your contribution helps TTB retain, attract, and hire talent, and
directly contributes to our mission. Your investment not only fuels
the company’s artistic journey, but also strengthens the cultural
heartbeat of Tallahassee.
Opportunities include:
SPONSOR AN INDIVIDUAL DANCER (2025-2026 SEASON)
Gift levels are established based on the dancer’s role
within The Tallahassee Ballet.
SPONSOR A PRINCIPAL DANCER — $5,000
SPONSOR A SOLOIST — $2,500
SPONSOR A DEMI-SOLOIST— $1,000
SPONSOR A CORPS DE BALLET MEMBER — $500
SPONSOR THE COMPANY (2025-2026 SEASON)
SPONSOR THE COMPANY — $50,000
SPONSOR THE YOUTH COMPANY — $5,000
Your gift supports the entire professional Company—every
contribution is pooled and shared equally among all dancers.
L E A R N M O R E
C O N T A C T : L A U R E N H E R N A N D E Z , C E O
850-556-6618 / [email protected]
3 2 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
ARTISTS OF
BENEFITS INCLUDE:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Your name alongside the dancer’s biography
Meet & interact with your dancer
Your name on the signage in our facility
Exclusive viewings of rehearsals
Autographed photograph or pointe shoe
And more
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 3 3
3 4 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
Sam Sole
BALLET MISTRESS
Sam Sole grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and began her professional
career with The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) while receiving a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Studio Art and Art History from Florida State
University (FSU). As a soloist with TTB, Sole performed roles such as
Paquita, Silver Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Snow Queen and Lead
Coffee in The Nutcracker under the direction of Tyrone Brooks, and
was fortunate to perform iconic pieces such as KK’s Bolero, and Christopher Huggins’ Chaos.
Post-graduation, Sole joined Chattanooga Ballet as a company dancer, instructor, and graphic
designer. During her many seasons as a company dancer she performed in principal roles
such as Giselle, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. She
premiered in contemporary works like Andrew Parker’s Carmina Burana and Soldiers Tale, Alia
Kache’s Click Bate, Joellen Wojtowicz’s A Mid-Summer Nights Dream, Christopher Stuart’s For
Then and Brian McSween’s Three Muses for Apollo. Special moments in her career include
dancing background for Weird Al Yankovich, and joining UTC’s Theater Company in CATS.
During the pandemic Sam moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where she choreographed,
instructed, and danced with The Asheville Ballet for three seasons, later returning to
Chattanooga Ballet as their Education Program Manager. In this role she furthered her
experience as a lead instructor, teaching multiple levels within the school, fitting pointe shoes,
rehearsing student roles, and organizing curriculum and student placement. Her husband’s job
led her back to Tallahassee and she is excited to begin her second year at TTB. Sole is also a
freelance graphic designer and painter and has paintings in galleries across Tennessee, North
Carolina, and Florida.
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 3 5
3 6 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
Kiersten Boyett
R E S I D E N T C O S T U M E D E S I G N E R
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. Boyett 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. Boyett has created costumes for minor roles in Garza’s Giselle, Beauty and the
Beast, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Princess and the Frog, Don Quixote, and Swan Lake. In 2021,
Boyett 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 costumes for the many wonderful dancers she has had the pleasure
of working with.
C O S T U M E D E S I G N E R E M E R I T U S
ANN TODD, became involved with The Tallahassee Ballet in 1988, and
recently retired after a lifetime of dedication to her craft. Her original
costumes continue to be featured in The Nutcracker. She also created
works of art for Boléro, Malachite, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, A
Midsummer Night’s Dream, Beauty and the Beast, Alice In Wonderland,
Peter Pan, Snow White, Rapunzel, Carnival of Animals, Swan Lake,
Firebird, La Bayadère, and many more.
Seamstresses
BOO HARTSELL has been a valued member of the costume team
for more than 30 years. She first got involved when her three daughters
danced with the company. Her granddaughter also grew up at The
Ballet.
MICHELLE WHEELER is the Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives
at North Florida College, in Madison, FL. She is working to attain
an master’s in business administration degree from Louisiana State
University and a Spanish for Professionals Graduate Certificate from
Minnesota State University, Mankato. Costume design for community
theatre in her hometown has been a labor of love for the past six years
for productions of The Lion King, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid,
Something Wicked This Way Sings, Frozen, and Something’s Afoot.
Her young daughter loves the stage, and Michelle loves to help the cast shine. She joined The
Tallahassee Ballet as a Seamstress in March of 2023 and is thrilled to put her creativity and skill
to work for the company. “I am so happy that I found my tribe and I am looking forward to all
that we can accomplish together.”
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR TREASURED SEWING VOLUNTEERS
Claire Watkins • Sarah Genzer • Susan Boulo • Sara Malishka • Eu’Stacia Trawick Dixie
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 3 7
A charming
comedic ballet
that will enchant
the whole family
with a little mischief
and a case of
mistaken identity.
At Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
with a Live Orchestra *
Saturday, May 9, 2026—10:30 a.m.
(Abbreviated Performance)
Saturday, May 9, 2026—7:30 p.m. *
Sunday, May 10, 2026—2:30 p.m. *
Make Your Plans Today!
TallahasseeBallet.org/coppelia
3 8 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
Technical Staff
S T A G E
M A N A G E R
Scott M. Freese
Scott Freese is pleased to
be serving as stage manager
for another season with the
Tallahassee Ballet. Previously
he has stage managed for
Florida State University
(FSU) Opera and Palm Beach
Opera and is also currently
stage manager for Pas de
Vie Ballet. A former software
developer, Scott now
primarily works as a stage
technician at Ruby Diamond
Concert Hall and the FSU
School of Dance, and as a
scenic carpenter for the FSU
Opera. He still occasionally
does sound, lighting, and
projection design for local
community theatres. When
not doing things in the dark,
Scott enjoys photography,
drone flying, rocket launches,
Virginia mountains, and
Hawaii volcanoes and
beaches.
L I G H T I N G
D E S I G N E R
Jacob Inman
Jacob Inman is a theatrical
lighting designer and lighting
supervisor whose work spans
theater, musical theater, and
dance. He currently serves
as lighting supervisor for
the Boston Conservatory at
Berklee, overseeing lighting
for multiple performance
venues and collaborating
with guest designers on over
700 annual productions and
events. Previously, he served
as technical director at
Northern Arizona University
and assistant production
coordinator at Turner
Auditorium. Jacob holds a
bachelor’s of arts degree in
theatre from Florida State
University and has earned
multiple state superior
awards for lighting design.
T E C H N I C A L
D I R E C T O R
Ian Plouffe
Ian Plouffe has been working
in theatre since he was four-
teen years old. He started as
a carpenter in his high school
theatre program and now
has worked in every theatre
within 50 miles of Tallahas-
see. When he was fifteen,
he was offered an internship
at Florida State University’s
(FSU) Ruby Diamond Con-
cert 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.
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 3 9
Protecting and Guiding Your Business
& Supporting the Arts
101 N. Monroe Street, Suite 1000 • Tallahassee, FL 32301
Tel: 850-222-8121 • mcconnaughhay.com
Instructors with The Tallahassee Ballet School follow
the ABT® National Training Curriculum with select
instructors certified through Level 7.
Register ONLINE at
TallahasseeBallet.org/Education
4 0 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
ABOUT THE COMPANY
MEAGAN HELMAN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
For more than 50 years, The Tallahassee Ballet has grown alongside our city,
becoming a vital part of its cultural landscape. The company enriches Tallahassee’s
arts community with a diverse repertoire of classical and contemporary works,
all presented with live music, original hand-crafted costumes, and innovative
choreography that creates a fully immersive experience.
Founded as a performance outlet for young local dancers, TTB soon expanded its
artistic reach. Over the decades, acclaimed professional dancers have appeared as
guest artists, giving our dancers the rare opportunity to perform alongside elite
talent from companies such as New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and
the National Ballet of Canada. Today, the company features both professional and
emerging professional dancers, selected annually through auditions.
Each season, TTB welcomes critically acclaimed guest artists from major
dance companies across North America to dance, teach, and choreograph.
In total, our dancers have trained and performed with more than 500 guest
choreographers, artists, teachers, and musicians.
The Tallahassee Ballet remains committed to presenting exceptional ballet
productions that inspire, engage, and elevate the community’s appreciation
for dance. Our performances offer something for everyone—from first-time
audience members to lifelong ballet enthusiasts.
Learn more about the dancers on the following pages.
Company photos by Anthony Ivory.
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 4 1
Principal Dancer
Jorge Arceo
SPONSORED BY Dr. Sonia Taylor
Jorge Arceo’s dance career began in the city of Havana, Cuba. At
the age of nine, he was already honing his skills under the guidance
of the esteemed Cuban dancer Narciso Medina. His early promise
saw him through rigorous training at Escuela Provincial de
Ballet, culminating in advanced studies at The National
Ballet School.
By 18, Arceo earned a coveted spot
with the National Contemporary
Dance Company of Cuba, and he
quickly rose to the position of first soloist, allowing
him to perform for audiences in Cuba and around the
world. His performances were not just limited to stages;
he had the rare privilege of performing in a private
studio setting for the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov.
He also had the privilege of working with renowned
choreographers such as Mats Ek, Samir Akika, Rafael
Bonachela, Cathy Marston, George Céspedes, and Jan
Linkens. In addition, he shared the stage with
world-acclaimed dancers such as Carlos Acosta,
Ana Laguna, Herman Cornejo, Rasta Thomas,
and Miguel Altunaga, among others.
Arceo’s move to the USA in 2009 marked
a new chapter in his career. He performed with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami and Rio
Hotel’s Las Vegas show, ND’S FUEGO. His journey took him next to Los Angeles, where he
became a principal dancer for several renowned companies, including Pasadena Dance Theater,
City of Angels Ballet, California Riverside Ballet, and the notable production Silent Roar
choreographed by Zina Bethune.
In 2014, Arceo joined The Tallahassee Ballet, where his role as a principal dancer has allowed
him to collaborate with distinguished choreographers like Kathryn Karrh Cashin, Christopher
Huggins, Sarah Harkness, Trent D. Williams, and Anjali Austin. He has performed both
contemporary works and classical ballets such as Paquita, Swan Lake, La Bayadère, The
Firebird, and The Nutcracker, where he danced principal and soloist roles. Arceo’s time with The
Tallahassee Ballet has been one of the most rewarding and joyful experiences of his professional
career and he is excited for the future of the company.
To learn more about donor levels and benefits, scan this code, visit
tallahasseeballet.org/support, or contact Lauren Hernandez, CEO
at [email protected], (850) 556-6618
The Tallahassee Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations
are tax-deductible to the extent law allows. Federal ID#: 23-7273533.
4 2 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
Principal Dancer
Carri Britt
This is Carri Britt’s
thirteenth
season with
The Tallahassee
Ballet (TTB); she was promoted to
Principal in 2016. At TTB, Britt performed soloist
and lead roles in classical works, which include; The Lilac Fairy, The White Cat
and Gold Fairy Variation in The Sleeping Beauty; Fall Fairy and Princess of the
Sea in Cinderella, Sugar Plum, Dew Drop, Snow Queen, Coffee, and Automaton
in The Nutcracker; Third Shade in La Bayadère; Big Swan in Swan Lake; and First
Variation in Paquita. Britt has also performed lead roles in original repertoire by
Kathryn Karrh Cashin, Ilana Goldman, Christopher Huggins, Katy Cashin, Anjali
Austin, Trent D. Williams Jr., and Gabriel Williams, among others.
Britt trained in the Vagonava method at the Academy of Ballet Internationale in
Indianapolis, Indiana, under Tatiana Pali and Irina Koplakova. Here, she had the
exciting opportunity to tour The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty with the
professional company in residence, as well as compete in Youth America Grand Prix,
where her ensemble placed third in the New York City finals. Britt later graduated
from the Louisville Ballet School, after expanding her experience in modern dance;
she participated in creating an original work that was performed at the opening
gala of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
During her years of training, Britt attended summer intensives at Joffrey Midwest,
Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Met, Ballet Austin, and The Harid Conservatory. She has a
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from FSU.
SAVE THE
DATE
THE TURNING POINTE
SUMMER INTENSIVE
JUNE 1-5 & JUNE 8-12, 2026
In-depth professional
training opportunities for the
experienced dancer ages 11+
L E A R N M O R E A T :
TallahasseeBallet.org/
summer-intensive
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 4 3
Principal Dancer
Paige Centers
Paige Centers joined The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) in
2009, became a Soloist in 2013, and a Principal in
2017. She has received the Joyce Straub Fausone
Scholarship and the Ken Cashin Scholarship,
awarded by TTB Board of Directors.
Centers has performed in productions of
Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, An Evening of Music and Dance, In
Performance, The Nutcracker, Paquita and Other Works, Rapunzel,
Swan Lake and Other Works, Bernstein and Gershwin, The Sleeping
Beauty, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Her lead and
feature roles include Dew Drop, Snow Queen, Coffee, Mirliton,
Chocolate, and Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker; Variation II
from Paquita; Princess Aurora, Diamond Fairy, and Princess Florine
from The Sleeping Beauty; Summer Fairy from Cinderella;
Meagan Helman’s Solitude; 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 University (FSU) 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. Centers also received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social
Science Education from FSU in the fall of 2018.
4 4 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
Principal Dancer
Tomoko Takahashi
SPONSORED BY Dr. Sonia Taylor
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, Tomoko started her
professional career at companies including Columbia
Classical Ballet in 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.
Tomoko has danced principal roles of Madame Butterfly, Cinderella, Don
Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Raymonda, The Nutcracker, Le
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 4Seasons; and Nils Christe’s
Organ Concerto.
Tomoko 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. Tomoko joined The Tallahassee Ballet in 2019 as
a Principal Dancer.
30TH ANNUAL TTB
SAVE
THE DATE
A fabulous day of golf, food and fun!
MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2026
For Sponsor or Team Information, Call 850-556-6618
TallahasseeBallet.org/GolfTournament
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 4 5
Soloist
Anthony Cefalu
Anthony Cefalu studied ballet first in Waukesha,
Wisconsin, and Norwalk, Ohio. In 2015, while in Ohio,
he had the opportunity to perform ‘Let’s Say It with
Firecrackers’ from Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn as a Guest
Artist for the Bellevue Society for the Arts. He moved to
St. Louis, Missouri, in 2017, to train at Saint Louis Ballet
School, then to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2019, to train at
the Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy’s Pre-Professional
Training Program. In 2020, he moved to Louisville, Kentucky,
to join the Louisville Ballet Studio Company.
During his two seasons, he performed in company productions
of Kentucky! Volume One, Robert Curran’s Swan Lake, The
Nutcracker, and The Sleeping Beauty, and Louisville Ballet
School’s Spring Dance Festival. In 2022, he moved to Duluth,
Minnesota, to join the Minnesota Ballet as an apprentice. During
his two seasons there, he performed in The Nutcracker: A Duluth
Tale, Forward, The Sleeping Beauty, Poe, Rise, and Snow White.
He had the opportunity to coordinate and manage the Minnesota
Ballet’s participation in the 2023 Duluth/Superior Pride Festival,
choreographing a piece titled “Nuance.”
In April 2024, he participated in the Lake Arts Project: Revival of the
HeART, organized by Karl von Rabenau and Jennifer Miller. He had
the opportunity to perform in Pulling at the Threads, Resilience,
To Hell and Back, and Constellations. He moved to Tallahassee,
Florida, in 2024 to join The Tallahassee Ballet as a soloist and has
performed in productions created and staged by Meagan Helman,
Katy E. Cashin, and Caleb Mitchell.
4 6 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
Soloist
Sophia Lutinski
Sophia Lutinski, originally from Fredericksburg,
Virginia, joined The Tallahassee Ballet in 2021
and was promoted to Soloist in 2023. Her
repertoire with the company showcases a
wide range of classical and contemporary roles,
including standout performances as the Snow
Queen, Marzipan lead, Coffee lead, and Chocolate
Lead in The Nutcracker, Autumn Fairy in Cinderella, and the Violente
Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty. She has also performed leading roles
in contemporary works such as Rare Bird, Solitude, and
Kythirian Dances under the direction of choreographers
including Meagan Helman, Holly Borrelli, and Katy Cashin.
Lutinski holds both a Master of Arts degree and a
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Florida State
University (FSU). At FSU, she had the privilege of training with renowned artists
including Suzanne Farrell, Kara Wilkes, Ilana Goldman, Meagan Helman, Caleb
Mitchell, Donna Uchizono, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. While there, she performed
in multiple notable works such as Divertimento No. 15 and Serenade by George
Balanchine, both staged by Suzanne Farrell.
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T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 4 7
Demi-Soloists
Abigail Centers joined The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) as a Junior Dancer
in 2009 and is a recipient of both the Helen Salter Scholarship and the
Ken Cashin Scholarship, awarded by TTB Board of Directors. She has
performed in productions of Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, An
Evening of Music and Dance, In Performance, The Nutcracker, Paquita
and Other Works, Rapunzel, Swan Lake and Other Works, Bernstein
and Gershwin, The Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs.
Her lead and featured roles include Clara, Marzipan, Tea, Columbine,
Automaton, and Chocolate in The Nutcracker; Pas de Trois Variation
in Paquita; Diamond Fairy, Canary Fairy, and Princess Florine in The
Sleeping Beauty; Waltz Pas de Deux from Kathryn Cashin’s Three
Dances; Dance of the Little Swans in Swan Lake; and the title role in
Cinderella.
Abigail Centers
SPONSORED BY
Ron Sachs &
Gay Webster-Sachs
Centers has attended summer intensives with Orlando Ballet, Richmond Ballet, the Harid
Conservatory, and Florida State University (FSU) School of Dance, and she served as a resident
assistant for the Orlando Ballet School’s summer intensive. Outside of dance, she is pursuing
a Master of Science degree in computer science at FSU and works full-time as an application
developer at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Centers has been promoted to
Demi-Soloist for the 25-26 Season.
Jackson Carpenter began his dance training in 2014 at the Alabama
School of Fine Arts, under the direction of Wes Chapman. There, he
performed ballet works staged by Wes Chapman, as well as modern
and contemporary works from choreographers, including Mark
Morris, Robert Battle, and Susan Shields. Carpenter spent his summers
training at the Alabama Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Carpenter began his professional career with The Tallahassee Ballet
in 2022. Since then, he has performed roles such as Rat King in The
Nutcracker and Puss in Boots in The Sleeping Beauty, as well as various
Jackson Carpenter
contemporary works. Carpenter also performed with the Andalusia
Ballet as a guest artist in 2024. Outside of dance, he is pursuing a Master’s degree in English
Education at Florida State University. Carpenter has been promoted to Demi-Soloist for the
25-26 Season.
4 8 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T
Demi-Soloists
Sarah Genzer began her training at the age of eight at Vickers Dance
Studio in Kingston, Jamaica, before moving to the United States at 11.
She continued her training at Joffrey Ballet School and White River
Ballet Academy. After graduating high school, she attended Nutmeg
Ballet Conservatory and BalletMet’s Trainee Program, where she had
the opportunity to perform with the company in Gerard Charles’ The
Nutcracker. In addition, Genzer performed in student productions of
Western Symphony and Walpurgisnacht by George Balanchine, as well
as other classical ballets.
Genzer began her professional career with Ballet Hartford under
the direction of Leyna Doran and Claire Kretzschmar before moving
to Florida in 2024 to join The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB). As a Corps de
Ballet member at TTB, she loved performing roles such as Lead Tea in
The Nutcracker and Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. Genzer has been
promoted to Demi-Soloist for the 25-26 Season.
Sarah Genzer
SPONSORED BY
Courtney Brewer,
Alyssa Matthews
Jessica Skinker
Jessica Skinker was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She began
her early training at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA) under the
direction of Christine Kardell, as well as Antonio and Kirven Douthit-
Boyd of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She spent her summers
training at Nashville Ballet, Joffrey Ballet Texas, and on full scholarship
at Missouri Contemporary Ballet. With both dance and academic
scholarships, Skinker graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mercyhurst
University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Pre-Health Sciences. There, she studied under the
tutelage of renowned instructors Jennifer McNamara, Matthew
Christensen, Tauna Hunter, Solveig Santillano, Mark Santillano, C. Noelle
Partusch, and Lesley Bories-Scalise. She performed with the Mercyhurst Dancers in Giselle as
Myrtha, Michael Gleason’s Symphonie Italienne, Catherine Meredith’s Aftermath, and in several
newly choreographed classical and contemporary works. She has also performed with SoMar
Dance Works and as a guest artist with Erie Contemporary Ballet Theater in the role of the
Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.
Skinker began her professional career with Central Illinois Ballet, where she performed roles
such as Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, and Madame
Thénardier in Les Misérables. She joined The Tallahassee Ballet in 2024 as a Corps de Ballet
member, performing in works by Caleb Mitchell, Hope Eltomi, Meagan Helman, and Madeline
Luzarraga, as well as full-length productions, such as Snow Princess in The Nutcracker and
Winter Fairy in Cinderella. Skinker has been promoted to Demi-Soloist for the 25-26 Season.
T H E N U T C R A C K E R 2 0 2 5 4 9
Corps de Ballet
Lillebeth Backes Abigail Bevill
Marabelle Coggins
Ava Elpedes Stella Elpedes Eva Falcon
Kara Griffin
SPONSORED BY
Kevin Clark &
Tim Daughtry
Abigail Herron
SPONSORED BY
Ron Sachs &
Gay Webster-Sachs
Sierra Lowell
5 0 T H E T A L L A H A S S E E B A L L E T