Colorado Ballet -- Coppélia, March 8-17, 2024

FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Friends and supporters, welcome to Colorado Ballet’s enchanting production of Coppélia.

It brings me immense joy to bring this beloved ballet back to our stage for the first time since 2008. Coppélia holds a special place in our hearts, and we are thrilled to reintroduce it to our community, infusing it with new energy and vitality while honoring its timeless charm. I am so proud of the remarkable talents of our dancers and musicians, who infuse each movement and note with unparalleled passion, dedication, and skill.

As we embark on this whimsical journey together, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for joining us today. Your presence enriches our performance, and we are truly grateful for your steadfast support. It is a privilege to share the magic of Coppélia with you, and I hope that today’s performance will leave you with a sense of wonder and delight.

So, sit back, relax, and let the romance and comedy of Coppélia sweep you away. Thank you for being a part of this unforgettable experience. Enjoy.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Thank you for joining us today to experience Colorado Ballet’s presentation of Coppélia. I trust that you will be enchanted by this timeless comedy, which exemplifies the beautiful interplay of classical ballet and music, as well as the artistry of our talented dancers.

As we immerse ourselves in the delightful tale of Coppélia, I wish to express my sincere appreciation for your continued support of Colorado Ballet’s mission to make ballet accessible to all audiences. It is through the generosity and dedication of patrons like you that we can bring beloved classics like Coppélia to life on stage, year after year.

Your support enables us to maintain our cherished tradition of including a family-friendly ballet in our repertoire each season. Thanks to you, we can inspire and engage with audiences of all ages, ensuring that the magic of this beloved art form continues to thrive in our community.

Thank you once again for your commitment to the arts and for being an essential part of Colorado Ballet’s journey. Please enjoy the performance.

Sameed Afghani Executive Director

COLORADO BALLET BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Board Co-Chairs

Brent L. Backes

Michelle MoormanApplegate

Executive Committee

Raydean Acevedo

Holly Baroway, CFP

Alyson Graves

Duke Hartman

Curt Hockemeier

Elizabeth Katkin

Michael E. Korenblat, Esq.

Rich Kylberg

Merry Logan

Geoff Long

Christina Raya

Douglas Richards

Denise Sanderson

Bernee Strom

JoAnne Zboyan

Trustees

Jean Armstrong

Susan W. Bailey

Heather Beiser

Kaye Ferry

Ann Frick

Emily Garnett

Anne Hillary

Greg Laugero

Jane Netzorg

Joanne Posner-Mayer

Cheri Rubin

Dick Saunders

Suzan Schlatter

Brad Sonnenberg

Nancy Stevens

Emeritus Board

Lisa Levin Appel

Bill Armstrong

Liz Armstrong

Anna Bates

Mary Lou BlackledgeKortz

Christin Crampton Day

Sandy Elliott

Don Kortz*

Henny Lasley

David Ramsay

Jim Ruh

Lisa Snider

Harry M. Sterling*

Lifetime Trustees

Raydean Acevedo

Duke Hartman

Dick Saunders

Arts & Venues Representative

Mark Heiser

Auxiliary Co-Presidents

Christie Del Ciotto

Myra Skinner

Artistic Director

Gil Boggs

Executive Director

Sameed Afghani

* Deceased

Gregory

Tracy

July

August

AVENIR

BRAVO

AMBASSADOR

Virginia

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Ellie Caulkins Opera House

Black Tie

Colorado Ballet presents Tickets and tables available now at coloradoballet.org/gala

THANK YOU MAJOR DONORS

Colorado Ballet is incredibly grateful to the following donors whose annual support is vital to our mission of artistic excellence and community engagement.

List reflects total giving between January 31, 2023 and January 30, 2024

PRIMA CIRCLE ($100,000+)

Lynnette Morrison

Mary Ellen and David Wright

BRAVURA CIRCLE ($50,000+)

Raydean Acevedo

Sally Murray

ETOILE CIRCLE ($25,000+)

Holly Baroway and Erik Cederlund

Victoria Di Savino Phares and Sam Phares

Pam and Duke Hartman

Anne and James Hillary

Anne Mead

Jane and Gordon Netzorg

Douglas Richards

Cheri and Alan Rubin

Bernee and Mark Strom

ENCORE CIRCLE ($15,000+)

Bernd and Ursel Albers (in memoriam)

Liz and Bill Armstrong

Ann and Ford Frick

Paul Goodspeed

Alyson and Chris Graves

Susan Hymers

Melanie Kopperud and Brent Backes

PRINCIPAL

David Andrews

Anonymous

Lisa Levin Appel

Jean and Hugh Armstrong

Susan and Steve Bailey

Natalia Ballinger and Michael Korenblat

Merle Chambers

Pam and Mike Copp

Colleen Curran and Stephen Boane

Kaye Ferry

Susan Frawley

Marla and Richard Gentry

Denise and Scott Hasday

Nancy and Curt Hockemeier

Donors

Merry and Steve Logan

Pamela and Daniel Piro

Michelle Robertson

David Scanavino

Suzan and Gary Schlatter

Nancy and Thomas Stevens

Marie and Daniel Welch

Elizabeth Katkin-Waryn and Rich Waryn

Ravelle and Thomas Kundinger

Pam and Greg Laugero

Arika and Geoff Long

Patty and Jim Long

Michelle Moorman-Applegate and Rob Applegate

Jillian Parker and Rich Kylberg

Jo and Richard Sanders

Denise and James Sanderson

Jeanne and Dick Saunders

Rita and Brad Sonnenberg

Susan and Stephen Struna

“Let us be grateful for the people who make us happy...” — Marcel Proust

Colorado Ballet’s Premier Society honors donors who make annual gifts of $1,000 or more in support of our artistic and educational mission. Premier Society donors enjoy personalized access and special opportunities to deepen their engagement in the company’s programs, special projects, and artists.

CIRCLE

PAS DE DEUX CIRCLE

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

SOLOIST CIRCLE ($5,000+)

PRINCIPAL CIRCLE ($10,000+)

ENCORE CIRCLE ($15,000+)

ETOILE CIRCLE ($25,000+)

BRAVURA CIRCLE ($50,000+)

PRIMA CIRCLE ($100,000+)

LEARN MORE & JOIN AT COLORADOBALLET.ORG/PREMIER-SOCIETY

Questions? Please contact Ashley Harkrader at 303-339-1629 or ashley.harkrader@coloradoballet.org.

Photos by Ashley Wurzbach

Be on the forefront of arts and culture: join Friends of Colorado Ballet as a member with an annual contribution of $100-999. As a thank you, receive special offers and benefits to enhance your ballet-going experience.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

CONTRIBUTING FRIEND ($250+)

SUSTAINING FRIEND ($500+)

SUPPORTING FRIENDS ($100+)

Enjoy Pre-Performance talks with Artistic Leadership

COLORADOBALLET.ORG/FRIENDS

JOIN OR RENEW

Sponsored by

APRIL 12 – 21, 2024

COLORADOBALLET.ORG

All performances at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House Live music featuring the Colorado Ballet Orchestra

Supported

Denver

303.399.4564

Steamboat Springs 970.879.9222

Telluride 970.728.3359

Vail 970.949.5500

Founders

Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker

Artistic Director Executive Director

Gil Boggs

Sameed Afghani

Ballet Masters

Sandra Brown, Lorita Travaglia, Maria Mosina

Music Director and Principal Conductor Adam Flatt

Associate Conductor Catherine Sailer

THE COMPANY

Principals

Jennifer Grace, Mario Labrador, Christophor Moulton, Jonnathan Ramirez, Asuka Sasaki

Soloists

Leah McFadden, Jessica Payne, Kevin Gaël Thomas, Sarah Tryon

Demi-Soloists

Mackenzie Dessens Studinski, Bryce Lee, Ariel McCarty, Sean Omandam, Jeremy Studinski, Alexandra Wilson

Corps de Ballet

Kenny Allen, Joshua Allenback, Catherine Aoki, Cato Berry, Alexandra Gilliom, Sheridan Guerin, Liam Hogan, Ever Larson, Catherine McGregor, Patrick Mihm, Christopher Mitchell, Alexander Roy, Sara Thomas, Cruz Vining

Apprentices

Lily Bines, Mylie Buck, Leopold Foster, Stefanee Montesantos, Sonata Ross, Tate Ryner, Lili Travaglia

Studio Company

Camille Boggs, Noelle Burtschi, Ella Gozdieski, Lily Hagan, Emmanuelle Hendrickson, Alexander Holms, Tiffany Hopkins, Brooke Janney, Chloe Kinzler, Heather Ludlow, Sarah Claire Martin, Poppy Martinez-Cox, Wyatt Mier, Rheana Montesantos, Keara Nichols, Nura Parikh, Calvin Peterson, Delaney Rae, Axel Rickard, Ryder Rickard, Ryan Smallwood, Caroline Sowers

Colorado

Out of courtesy to the dancers, the taking of photographs of any nature is strictly prohibited during performances. Please silence all cellular telephones and audible devices.

Colorado

COPPELIA

ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE

MARCH 8-17, 2024

Original Choreography by Arthur Saint-Leon

Staged by Gil Boggs, Sandra Brown, Lorita Travaglia, and Maria Mosina

Music by Léo Delibes

Lighting Design by Todd Elmer

Scenic Design by Tony Straiges

Costume Design by Patricia Zipprodt

SYNOPSIS

Act I

The curtain rises on the s quare of a small European town several hundred years ago. A lovely young girl, Coppélia, is seen sitting on a balcony reading a book as Swanhilda enters. Swanhilda looks up at a girl, tries to attract her attention, but receives no reply. Franz, Swanhilda's lover, comes into the square and blows a kiss to the beautiful Coppélia. She ignores him, too, and continues unconcerned with her book. However, Swanhilda has seen these attentions of her lover to another pretty girl. Franz is a very busy young man, assuring Swanhilda that he is not faithless and his affections are hers alone. Still jealous, Swanhilda refuses to believe him and runs away as a group of young people interrupts their quarrel.

The bürgermeister/mayor enters to announce that at a celebration the following day, the Lord of the Manor will present dowries to all couples who wish to marry. Asked if she will marry Franz, the pouting Swanhilda puts a sheaf of corn to her ear. Thus, according to old custom, the corn will tell her if her lover is faithful or not. Sadly, she says the sheaf is silent. The other couples, however, are delighted at the bürgermeister's good news and dance until night falls when they must leave for home. Dr. Coppelius comes out, locks his door, and is immediately swirled away by a boisterous band of revelers. In the excitement, he drops the key to his shop. Swanhilda and her friends appear and finding the key, they are filled with curiosity about the strange doctor and enter his shop. Dr. Coppelius returns, sees his door open and darts in. Franz enters carrying a ladder, which he uses to climb on to Coppélia's balcony.

Act II

The curtain rises on the dimly lit interior of Dr. Coppelius' shop – a room full of life-like, life-size dolls. Swanhilda pokes her head into an alcove only to discover that Coppélia is not a living, breathing woman, but actually one of Dr. Coppelius' life-size dolls. One of Swanhilda's friends jars a doll who dances until its clockwork runs down. The amazed young intruders then wind up all the dolls who dance, as the friends watch, enchanted. Suddenly, a furious Dr. Coppelius enters and everyone except Swanhilda flees. She runs into the alcove where Coppélia is kept. At the same time, Dr. Coppelius apprehends the faithless Franz entering by the window. Franz pleads his love for the beautiful Coppélia. Dr. Coppelius pretends to listen with interest while he entices Franz with several well-doctored drinks. When the unsuspecting Franz passes out, Dr. Coppelius brings what he thinks is his fabulous doll Coppélia from her alcove. However, it is Swanhilda who, overhearing Franz's declaration of love for Coppélia, has changed places with the doll. The doctor makes some magical gestures over Swanhilda as she awkwardly rises to dance. The deluded Dr. Coppelius believes his puppet has come to life.

Swanhilda dances on and on, creating havoc in the room and upsetting all the doctor's work. Franz, who has just revived, dashes out of the room chased by Dr. Coppelius. Eluding the doctor, Franz returns to watch the proceedings with glee until, finally, he and Swanhilda run out, leaving the shop in a shambles. Dr. Coppelius returns to discover the figure of Coppélia lying in her chair, divested of clothes, and realizes that he has been deceived.

Act III

The curtain rises on the final act, which is again set in the village square. Franz and Swanhilda, now reconciled, approach the bürgermeister to receive their dowries and be married. Dr. Coppelius storms in, accusing the lovers of destroying his life's work. Swanhilda, realizing the justness of his claim, offers him her dowry, but the bürgermeister gives Dr. Coppelius a bag of gold and sends him off. The townspeople then participate in the fete that unites Swanhilda and Franz in a happy marriage.

ARTISTIC STAFF

Gil Boggs, Artistic Director

Gil Boggs began his dance career with the Atlanta Ballet. He joined American Ballet Theatre in New York in 1982 and was promoted to soloist dancer in 1984 and principal dancer in 1991. Boggs was a member of the company for 17 years. Boggs also performed with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, Baryshnikov and Company, Nureyev and Friends, and made several guest appearances around the world. During his career with ABT, he was recognized as both an accomplished virtuoso and one of the company’s most popular performers. Boggs has worked with numerous noted choreographers, including Agnes de Mille, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, Jerome Robbins and Merce Cunningham and has an extensive performance repertoire of both classical and contemporary works. Boggs accepted the position of Artistic Director with Colorado Ballet in the Spring of 2006. In Boggs’ tenure with Colorado Ballet he has restaged full-length productions of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote and Coppélia along with adding new full-length productions of Romeo & Juliet, Cinderella, Le Corsaire, Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan. Boggs has also presented 17 world premieres and 18 Colorado Ballet premieres by such renowned choreographers as Twyla Tharp, Lar Lubovitch, Anthony Tudor, Val Caniparoli, Dwight Rhoden and Lynne Taylor-Corbett.

Sandra Brown, Assistant to the Artistic Director/Ballet Master

Sandra Brown joined American Ballet Theatre in 1987 under the directorship of Mikhail Baryshnikov, where she remained until 2003. During that time, she danced numerous classical, full-length principal roles and gained recognition for her leading contemporary roles. Most notably, she created and danced the world premiere role of Desdemona in Lar Lubovitch’s full-length Othello. During her tenure at ABT, she was chosen by Mikhail Baryshnikov to choreograph for the American Ballet Theatre Choreographic Workshop. Brown appears in ABT’s film productions of Romeo and Juliet, Le Corsaire, and the documentary Ballet. She was featured in the movie Center Stage and appears in the film The Company. She also achieved recognition by appearing on Broadway as Louise Bigelow in the Tony Award-winning 1994 revival of Carousel, directed by Nicholas Hytner and choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillan at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.

In 2003, Brown left ABT to pursue work as a freelance artist. During this time, she was asked to perform as a guest artist at the Vail International Festival. She also taught and choreographed for the ABT Summer Intensive. In 2006, she joined her husband, Gil Boggs, to work with Colorado Ballet. Since then, she has assisted staging the full-length productions of Giselle, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Coppélia, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In addition, she has staged Lar Lubovitch's Smile with My Heart, Dwight Rhoden's Ave Maria, Twyla Tharp’s In The Upper Room, Clark Tippet's Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, and Edwaard Liang's Feast of the Gods. During that past 17 years as Ballet Master, she has choreographed many scenes in Colorado Ballet's productions as well as a multitude of ballets for the Bal de Ballet, an event hosted by the Denver Ballet Guild. In 2014, she gained critical acclaim for the ballet The Last Beat, which she created on the dancers of Colorado Ballet to the music of DeVotchKa.

Lorita Travaglia, Ballet Master

Lorita Travaglia is originally from New Zealand. She received her ballet training at the National School of Ballet and later the Royal Ballet School in London. Lorita made her debut as a professional dancer with the Berlin Ballet. After six years with the Company, she moved to the United States where she worked with Princeton Ballet, Boston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and International Ballet Rotaru, dancing solo and principal roles in a wide range of repertoire. Her favorite roles include Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Swanhilda in Coppélia, Cinderella, Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Paquita. In 1992, Lorita returned to New Zealand, but continued to perform as a guest artist with companies in the United States as well as Company Z, a contemporary dance company in New Zealand. Lorita began teaching in 1988 while still performing and studied the Vaganova methodology. She was the principal teacher for a professional training program in Auckland, New Zealand and later, as artistic director of Canyon Concert Ballet in Fort Collins, Colorado, she set up a similar aspirant program. In 1999, Lorita joined Colorado Ballet as director of the Apprentice Program and company repetiteur, and has been ballet master since 2006. Her choreography includes Equanimity, Aspects, Pictures at an Exhibition, Piazzolla and, most recently, The Angel of Buenos Aires for Colorado Ballet and a full-length The Nutcracker for Canyon Concert Ballet. Lorita graduated from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2000 and has a private practice in Denver. She is an avid tango dancer and is the Creative Director of Parasol Arts.

Maria Mosina, Ballet Master

Maria Mosina was born in Moscow and graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia. Upon graduation, Maria joined the Bolshoi Ballet Grigorovich Company and immediately was chosen for principal roles. She toured the world appearing on all major European, American, African and Asian stages. In 1995, Maria was invited by Colorado Ballet to join as a leading principal dancer. She performed all major parts in classical productions and also had the chance to show her talent in neoclassical, modern and contemporary choreographed master pieces. Maria was a featured dancer on the cover of Dance Magazine and has been featured in other magazine articles. She holds a bachelor's degree in methodology and pedagogy from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. She is also an active ballet instructor throughout the United States. She participated as a master teacher and judge for the Youth American Grand Prix. Maria performed leading roles in all major productions as a member of the Company, as well as a guest artist with many other festivals, galas, and companies. After 21 seasons as a principal dancer with Colorado Ballet, she retired at the end of the 2016/2017 season. She has now joined the artistic staff of the company.

ARTISTIC STAFF

Adam Flatt, Music Director & Principal Conductor

Adam Flatt has served as Music Director and Principal Conductor of Colorado Ballet since 2007, conducting hundreds of performances in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House leading the acclaimed Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Well known to Colorado audiences, Adam also served as Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra where he led over 250 concerts in a five-year tenure, as Music Director of the Denver Philharmonic, and as Music Director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra for seven years, leading that orchestra at home in Denver and on international tours. In addition to his work at Colorado Ballet, Adam is Music Director of the Newport Symphony Orchestra on the Oregon coast, and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra. As a guest conductor he leads performances with symphony orchestras, ballet companies and opera companies all over the United States. He has served on the musical faculties of both the Rocky Ridge Music Center and Summerfest at the Curtis Institute of Music. Adam Flatt has his bachelor’s degree in music with honors from the University of California at Berkeley, and his master’s degree in conducting from the Indiana University School of Music. Adam Flatt and his family make their home in Denver.

Catherine Sailer, Associate Conductor

Catherine Sailer, Director of Choral Studies at the University of Denver, conducts the Lamont Chorale, Lamont Women’s Chorus and the Evans Choir. She is also the Associate Conductor of the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. She was named the winner of the Robert Shaw Fellowship in 2005, chosen by Chorus America and supported by Warner Brothers and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her other awards include first place at the American Choral Director’s Association Conducting Competition. Conducting Credits include the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, the National Opera of China, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Orchestra and the Central City Opera. Sailer has been a conducting fellow with the Dale Warland Singers, the Kansas City Chorale, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Carnegie Hall Workshop Chorus, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. She has collaborated as conductor or chorus master with singers William Warfield and Marilyn Horne and conductors Victor Yampolsky, Marius Szmolij, Stephen Alltop, David Amram, Tan Dun, David Fanshawe, and Marin Alsop. Sailer was invited to conduct in the National Conducting Institute with the National Symphony Orchestra as a student of Leonard Slatkin. She also conducted performances of the festival chorus and orchestra at the Oregon Bach Festival under the tutelage of Helmuth Rilling. Catherine Sailer received the Doctor of Music with honors in conducting from Northwestern University and the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance and Conducting from the University of Denver. She has served as Assistant Conductor of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, the Denver Young Artists Orchestra and as Music Director of the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra. She is an active guest and festival conductor for choir and orchestra and her collegiate ensembles have appeared at Colorado Music Educator’s Association and Southwest divisional conferences of the American Choral Director’s Association.

COLORADO BALLET ORCHESTRA

1st Violin

Takanori Sugishita, Concertmaster

Robyn Sosa

Britt Swenson

Robyn Julyan

Annamaria Karacsony

Veronica Pigeon

Mary Evans

Caitlin Stokes

2nd Violin

Margaret Soper-Gutierrez, Principal 2nd

Benjamin Tomkins

Gyongyver Petheo

Chris Menter

Stephanie Bork

Michelle Davis

Viola

Stephanie Mientka, Principal

Lora Stevens

Andrew Krimm

Aniel Caban

Cello

Jeff Watson, Principal

Charles Lee

Sara Fierer

Erin Patterson

Bass

David Crowe, Principal

Yu-chen Yang

Logan Nelson

Flute

Paul Nagem, Principal Elizabeth Sadilek-Labenski, 2nd

Piccolo

Elizabeth Sadilek-Labenski

Oboe

Sarah Bierhaus, Principal

Kathryn Dupuy Simpson, 2nd

English Horn

Kathryn Dupuy Simpson

Clarinet

Michelle Orman, Principal

Kellan Toohey, 2nd

Bassoon

Kaori Uno-Jack, Principal

Brian Jack, 2nd

Horn

Lauren Robinson, Principal

Sarah Ford, 2nd

Matthew Scheffelman, 3rd

Stuart Mock, 4th

Trumpet

Noah Lambert, Principal

Dawn Kramer, 2nd

Cornet

Derek McDonald, Principal

Michael Bucalo, 2nd

Trombone

Richard Harris, Principal

Robert Olds, 2nd

Bass Trombone

Benjamin Garcia

Tuba

Mike Dunn, Principal

Percussion

Peter Cooper, Principal

Carl Dixon

Nena Lorenz

Timpani

Mark Foster, Principal

Harp

Pamela Eldridge, Principal

Orchestra Personnel Manager

April Johannesen

COLORADO BALLET DANCERS

PRINCIPALS

From

SOLOISTS

The dancers and artistic staff of Colorado Ballet celebrate and gratefully acknowledge the generosity of Lynnette Morrison, Founding Sponsor of the company's Dancer Wellness Program.

COLORADO BALLET DANCERS

DEMISOLOISTS

CORPS DE BALLET

COLORADO BALLET DANCERS

COLORADO BALLET DANCERS

GUEST ARTISTS & DESIGNERS

Gregory K. Gonzales, Guest Artist

Gregory Gonzales graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Sports Fitness/Kinesiology and Dance Minor. He was a dance scholarship recipient and Best Dancer Award winner while there. His teachers include: Larry Boyette, Dr. Sandra Minton, Karen Genoff-Campbell, James Clouser, Milenko Banovic, Jeanette Triomphe to name a few. Gregory has danced with several companies over the years, both ballet and modern. These include: The Dance Connection, David Taylor Dance Theater, Nevada Dance Theater, Ballet Arizona, Wylliams-Henry Dance Theater, Opera Colorado, Ballet Pacifica, Kim Robards Dance, Les Ballet Grandiva, Zikr Dance Ensemble, Ballet Ariel and the Colorado Ballet. He spent the bulk of his career at Colorado Ballet where he was promoted to Principal Dancer in 1997. Gregory has had the opportunity to work with many leading choreographers both past and present such as Christopher Wheeldon, Stanton Welch, Milton Myers, Doug Varone and Toro Shimuzake and to dance in ballets ranging from classical and romantic periods to Balanchine, Graham and contemporary works. Gregory also choreographs and was a Choreographer in Residence for the Colorado Ballet from 2003-2004. He created and/or collaborated on ballets such as Carmina Burana, Peter Pan, Broken Web, Incantation and Last Breath. He has choreographed for the University of Northern Colorado, The Dawson-Wallace Dance Project, Ballet Ariel, The Denver Independent Choreographer’s Dance Project, Denver School of the Arts, Presenting Denver Dance Festival, Engage Movement Arts, etc. Gregory was adjudicated and is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors and is recommended in rapier and dagger. He founded On Edge Productions with three other colleagues and created shows, both comedy and drama, that featured stage combat. Gregory currently dances with Colorado Ballet as a resident guest artist and with Ballet Ariel. He teaches ballet, character, acting for dancers and floor barre. He also teaches anatomy using the Anatomy In Clay® System to dancers and for Anatomy In Clay® Centers. He has played guitar and bandoneon for the Natural Tango Tipica Orquesta and studied Argentine Tango and has created and directed work for Tango Colorado and Parasol Arts. Gregory is a recipient of the Legends of Dance Award for 2019 from the Dance Archive University of Denver.

Todd Elmer, Lighting Design

Mr. Elmer came to Colorado Ballet in 2008 from an extensive background designing lighting for live performance: theatre, opera, dance, and ballet, which included ten consecutive years touring domestically and internationally from 1984-94 while based in New York. He was the Lighting Director for American Ballet Theatre, Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project, Wes Chapman’s American Ballet, Production Stage Manager for three Festival on Ice U.S. National Tours, and Lighting Supervisor for ABT’s junior company, ABT II. He has traveled in all but 6 U.S. states and worked in 12 foreign countries. This new Nutcracker is his 19th production with Colorado Ballet. Since relocating to New Mexico in 1994, other long-term clients include Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, the Wheelwright Museum of The American Indian, and the New Mexico School for the Arts dance department. His beginning in ballet came in 1982 lighting NYCB’s School of American Ballet annual performances in Lincoln Center, a relationship that lasted 37 years. In New York he also designed lighting for numerous Off-Broadway shows, theatre and opera productions for the Juilliard School, and has served in either design, managerial, or technical capacities at Louisville Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco, Telluride/Alpine Dance, Richmond Ballet, Bermuda and Spoleto Festivals, Santa Fe Opera, and the Yale Repertory Theatre.

SOLOIST CIRCLE

$5,000+

Anonymous

Marisa and James Aoki

Tammi and Jeffrey Belden

Bridget and Tom Bergmann

Mary Lou Blackledge-Kortz

Allison and Matt Boone

Kathy and Bruce Butterfield

Peggy and Steve Fabos

Peggy Goldman

Mary Mead Hammond and David Hammond

Janet Hehn

Mary Anna and Sonny Hutchison

Roxanne and Jon Isenhart

Diana and Michael Kinsey

Barb and David McGrath

Kelly Meyer

Sharleen Nakaoka-Aoki

Karen Norrod

Marilyn and Bill Plummer

Craig Ponzio

Cynthia and Alexander Read

Louise Rouse

Suzan and Gary Schlatter

Lisa and Bill Snider

Karen Sumner

Julie Van Camp

Tania Zeigler and Kenneth Ho

PAS DE DEUX CIRCLE

$2,500+

Sameed Afghani and Nicole Frankel

Hillary and Adam Biskner

Gil Boggs and Sandra Brown

Jacquelin Medina and Joseph Bronesky

Aimee and Dan Caplis

Leah Capritta

Celia Dietrich

Kevin Ellson

Dafri and Michael Estes

Stacey Farnum and Joseph Lynott

Pam and Barry Gatz

Emily and Alec Garnett

Hugh Gottschalk

Sally Haas

Jim Harvey

Noel and Terry Hefty

Meg Heller

The William H. and Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation

Malena Wiggin and Jameson Jones

Mary and Chris Junda

Gail and Stuart Kassan

Cheryl Solich and John Kure

Patty Lorie

Joanne Posner-Mayer

Andrew McCormick

Harold Nelson

Theresa and Norman Parker

Bonnie Perkins

OUR SUPPORTERS

Jacqueline and Snahel Prajapati

Barbara and James Ruh

Douglas Stout

Maureen Tarrant

Jack Trigg

Debra and Stephen Whitman

Daniel Wilkinson

Wendy Williams and Noel Kullavanijaya

Marilyn Hodges Wilmerding

PATRON CIRCLE

$1,000+

Sierra Adams

Anonymous

Charles Aoki

Yoshio Aoki

Jennifer Archibald and Stig Thu

Cheri and Scott Axelrod

Helena Bagdasarova

Cindy and Scott Baroway

Lauren Beaver

Jessica Benjamin

Patricia Bennett

Lauren and David Benson

Samantha and Paul Bernstein

Kathy and Bjorn Borgen

Elizabeth Bradley

Drs. Julie Brant and Dan White

Susan Brashear

Claudia Brown

Lisa and Stan Bush

Marie and Don Cameron

Rich and Martha Caschette

Ellie Caulkins

Roger Celius

Marty and John Chamberlin

Vanessa and Karlton Childress

Michelle and Matthew Chiodini

Aenny and David Chung

Alyssa and Scott Clarke

Ann Collier and Tyler Ray

Heidi and Duke Cooley

Amy and Peter Corrigan

Liza and Denny Coughline

Stephanie and Brian Cramer

James and Karen Crossman

Karen and Adam Curtis

Carolyn Daniels

Rebecca Darling

Stefanie and Steven Davies

Barbara De Jong

Cara and Scott Dessens

Joy and Christopher Dinsdale

The Reed Dixon Family

Lynn Bolinske Dolven

Amanda Tompkins and Brian Dorotik

Jennifer and Michael Dorough

Kelsey and Zach Dworkis

Nicole Eberle and Matthew Huebner

Patricia and Christopher Elliott

Jessica and Ian Elston

Joana Emhof and Hans Osheim

Nicole and Patrick Evans

Suzanne Ewert

Nikki and Steve Ferguson

Sarah Kalin

Amy and Alexander Figge

Stacy and Henry Fischer

Amy and Max Fletcher

Nicholle and Jeff Frantz

Virginia and Robert Fuller

Andrea Fulton

Holly and Nicholas Games

Melissa and Mark Garland

Amanda and Steve Gash

Julia and Richard George

Vicky and Greg Goldberg

Barb and Ned Grauel

Adriane and Joshua Greenberg

Kathleen and Jeff Hartmann

Steven A. Hauff

Allison Herman

Dianne and Douglas Herzberg

Lauren and Christopher Hillary

Maggie and Andrew Jarrett

Arlene Johnson

Kay Johnson

Lori and Daren Johnson

Maura and Bruce Johnson

Shannon and James Johnson

Rebecca and Preston Jones

Carla and Richard Kem

Nicholas Kemp

Adeeb Khan

Carol King

Sorenna Kirkegaard and Mason Rickard

Elizabeth and Ryan Kirkpatrick

Fallon and Carl Koebel

Alisa and Leo Koval

Jessica and Martin Kristiseter

Chandra and Robert Kuykendall

Victoria Levine

Blair and Kristian Lichtenfels

Gretchen and Charles Lobitz

Gina and Jim Lorenzen

Janet MacFarlane

Elspeth MacHattie

Diana Mackie

Michael Mallett

Leslie McCarty

Ann McCloskey

Rory McCorkle

Laura McCormick and Cong Lu

Pat and James McElhinney

The McGrath/Perkins Family

Margaret Jurado and V.W. McKnab

Kevin McLane and Michael Ragsdale

Dominique and Drew McManus

J. Virginia Messick

Ali and Josh Metzl

Suzanne Gallie and Mark Mitchell

Timothy Mottet and Rick Gonzalez

Darcee and James Muchmore

Jenny and Doug Nikaido

Ann Obrzut

Jamie Olson

Y. Melinda Pasquini and Michael Guillemette

Sue Pawlik

Sarah and Nick Payne

Courtney and Shane Percival

The McGrath/Perkins Family

Trisha and Jake Perlman

Mary and Dan Peterson

Rachel and Cason Pierce

Corbin and Whitney Popp

Kathleen and Jim Potter

Josh Queen

Natalie and Toby Ralston

Alexandra and Tom Rhodes

Leilani and Darrin Rich

Laurie and Chris Romer

Sarah Ryals

Cheryl and Dan Ryan

Connie and Michael Schingle

Ruth Schoening

Maren Scoggins

Susanna and Tim Shannon

Josephine and Bill Sinclair

Alicia and Drew Sloan

Amy Slothower

Holly and Michael Spahn

Anne and Scott Springer

Matthew and Marissa Sproles

Nina Casanova and Matthew Stenmark

Vicki Sterling

Shannon and Simon Threfall

Ashley and Christopher Tulp

Lauren and Michael Turra

Grace Uniacke

John Uppendahl and Travis Railey

Caitlyn and Luke Van Valin

Ashley and Justin Walker

William and Scott Weekly

Jessie and Eric Weisenstein

Megan and Matt Whelan

Katherine and Michael Whitcomb

Elizabeth and Samuel Whittaker

Katie and John Wickliff

Mary Wilkins

Anya and Phillip Winslow

Ann Wise

Adam Woloshuk

Jane Wong and Ted Ko

Margarert Woodhull and David Hildebrand

Kathy and John Woodward

Jennifer and Matthew Wright

Linda Young

JoAnne Zboyan

SUSTAINING FRIEND

$500+

Anonymous

Lynda Aoki

OUR SUPPORTERS

List reflects total giving between January 31, 2023 and January 30, 2024 (includes 12 months of giving)

Gary and Gail Armstrong

Marcia and Rick Ashton

Anne and Henry Beer

Andrea Beesley

Brandon Bourque

Katy and Brian Brown

Kara and Daniel Brown

Samantha Buck and Sarah Davis

Diane Butler

Carol Carter

Peter Cheesbrough

Gene Child

Christina Clayton

Anne and Jason Coughlin

Christin Crampton Day

Kathleen and Carter Dammen

Emily and Joe Daniels

Zelda DeBoyes, Ph.D.

Christie and Joe Del Ciotto

Nicole Dority

Michelle Drake

Margaret Dzwilewski

Michael Eaton

Christopher Ellis

Carrie Ermler

Elizabeth Fischer and Don Elliot

Barb and Stu Fonda

Rosanne Garner

Helen and William Gleason

Ronald Gloekler

Anela Gomez

Adam Gressa

Eileen and Dennis Griffin

Carol and Frederick Grover

Elizabeth Guth

Ashley and Bradley Harkrader

Linda and Steve Heiss

Jeanne Hill-Jurik

Karen Hirko

Donald Kany

Patrick Keleher

Janet Kossman

Dave and Lori Kraatz

Henny and Bert Lasley

Trent Lieber

Mamie Ling

Regina Randall

Antoinette MacAluso and Donald Hagengruber

Jacqueline Madrid

Margaretha Maloney and Robert Palaich

Laura Martinez

Janalee and Morris McDonald

Maria Mendelsberg

Michael Morgan

Barbara Kelly and Adam Moskowitz

Erin Moss

Buffy Naake

Kristin Nelson and Clint Todd

Michael Newman

Ruth and Larry Nisbet

Rachel Perez

Cleveland Piggott

Laurraine Pollard

Ksenia Popke

Cathy Richards

Nancy and Gene Richards

Karen Ritz

Brenda Rivers

Frederick Robinson

Caroline and Alex Rodawig

Kathryn and Timothy Ryan

Maureen Sabo

Murray Sanderford

Andrea and Timothy Sayles

Joseph Schuster

Lynne Sirpolaidis

Myra and Steve Skinner

Courtney Smith

David Snyder

Marilyn and Donald Stephens

Margaret Stookesberry

The Strain Family

Stephanie and Arthur Strasburger

Debbi and Jim Strong

Kathleen and Jack Tate

Aubrey Tramontina and Tom McLellan

Tiffany and Jeff Tuell

Alberta Utech

Klasina Vanderwerf

Ginny Vietti

Linda and Leonard Walmsley

Kristine Wells

James Whitehill

Chanel Bruning

DeeDee Williams

Joel Wiser

Linda and Jimmy Yip

CONTRIBUTING FRIEND

$250+

Mona Ables

Renzo Acosta

Christina Alexander

Vivien Alexander

Anonymous

Dolores Anton

Brittani Arnold

Janice Babcock

Cindy Beemer

Scott Binder

Susan Bishop and John Strombeck

Amy Boehm

Katie Bolling

Rachel and David Bondelevitch

Sara Brinton

Stephen Broadbent

Janet Bruchmann

Sue Buck

Jacqueline Burch Wilson

Michael Bush

Patricia Campbell Rice

Carol and Alan Caniglia

Virginia and Thomas Carr

Christina Chaney

Tawny Chase

Ethel K. Clow

Susan Cobb

Eric Cohen

Inhye and Alan Como

Gail Davies

Mary and Carlos De la Rosa

Shawn Delp

Russel Dewitt

Allison and Bruce Dodge

John Donohoe

Steven Duff

Joyce Dulin

Elizabeth Eads

Heidi Elliot

Melanie and Rick Escobedo

Renee Estelle

Joan and John Feek

Caryl Field

Anna Forre

Marjorie Frank

Lisa Fray

Fran and Craig Gander

Jon Gimbel

Rebecca Givens

Bettina Grandey

Anne Griffith, Ph.D.

Theresa and Fred Grover

Chris Hansen

Megan Harmon

Chris Hattori

Vicki and David Hattori

Wendy Hodges

Cici Holbrook

Amanda Horvath

Ernest Houssiere

Michael Hughes

Stephanie Jackson

Maria Jennett

Susan Jensen M.D.

Martha and R. Scott Jentz

Alice Johnson

Michael Johnson

Rebecca Kalinowski

Margaret Kaluk

Florrie Katchen

Roberta Kennedy

Alicia and Eric Kintner

The Kispert Family

Kathryin Kueny

Janice Larson

Mariana Laufer

Judi Levine

Robin Manuel

Marcia Hannum

Devon Martin

Kay Maune and David Elmore

Sandy McKeown

Steve Mitchell

Andrew Moore

Carolyn and John Moorman

Lillian Narumi

Allison Nitsch

Gretchen Orosz

Joanna Pane

Janet Pasterkamp

Diana Poole

Sheila Porter

Amy Prall

Aubrey Pridgen

Judi and Jeff Pring

Wojciech Przylecki

Bruce Rengers

Carolyn and John Riedlin

Malik Robinson

Janell Routh

Emily Sandelin

Grace Savage

Elaine Seegmiller

Teriko Shimotori

Douglas Short

Sheila Smith

Toni and Andrew Smolen

Patricia Somerville

Ann Spector Lieff

Dyanna Spicher

Will Staffhorst

Jeffrey Stevens

Kristina Stevens

Carol Svendsen

Kay and Thomas Toomey

Midge and Bill Wallace

Michael and Diane Watson

Jim Wayne

Chris Wheeler

Bernard Williams

Lois K. Williams

Mark Winiecki

Amanda and Matt Witheiler

Janet Wright M.D.

Alexander Zak and Jenny McKenzie

LEGACY SOCIETY

Anonymous

Gwendolyn Grant*

Sarah T. Hodge

Daryl A. Russell*

INSTITUTIONAL GIVING

Bank of the West

BlackRock

Bliss Family Foundation

Cisco

Dancing Angels Foundation

Delta Dental of Colorado

Empower Retirement

Halvorson-Freese 21st Century Fund

Innovest

Medtronic

My School Preschool

Raytheon Technologies

Scarlett Family Foundation

Western Union

Colorado Ballet

SUBSCRIPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE!

Secure the best seats and save 25% when you subscribe!

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

OCT. 4-13, 2024

THE NUTCRACKER

NOV. 30-DEC. 29, 2024

CASANOVA

JAN. 31-FEB. 9, 2025

ALICE (in wonderland)

MARCH 7-16, 2025

BALLET MASTERWORKS

APRIL 11-20, 2025

season

coloradoballet.org

COLORADO BALLET ACADEMY

YOUNG DANCER WORKSHOP

Ages 8-12 | Auditions Required Experience Exceptional Training

Session I: June 17 – June 28

Session II: July 8 – July 19

Session III: July 22 – August 2

COLORADOBALLET.ORG/YOUNG-DANCER-WORKSHOP

SHAPING

“… the most high-profile — and high altitude — mountain music festival in America.” -

Colorado Ballet Education & Community Engagement

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Join our team of passionate, dedicated, and skilled Teaching Artists in fulfilling our mission of increasing access to dance education in schools and community spaces.

• Part-time (1-5 hours/week)

• Great for someone balancing numerous teaching jobs or looking to fill gaps in their schedule!

• $40-$55/hour

• Paid training opportunities

• Bring dance to students in the Denver Metro area!

We’re seeking collaborative, reflective, and joyous teammates for the 24/25 school year to join us in providing quality dance education, apply today!

Full job posting and more information.

coloradoballet.org/jobs-and-volunteer-opportunities

“Teaching for Colorado Ballet’s Education and Community Engagement means sharing a love of movement; fostering confidence and creative self-expression in young movers; cultivating not just physical, but also emotional, cognitive, and relational health and skills; and forwarding equity and accessibility in dance education.” – Current Teaching Artist

ADVANCED SUMMER INTENSIVE

AGES 13 TO 19

JUNE 17-JULY 27, 2024

CCDANCE.ORG/AUDITION

WORK DONE IN THIS SUMMER INTENSIVE IS STILL HELPING ME TODAY IN MY BFA PROGRAM. ”

Former Advanced Intensive Student

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

Artistic Director

Gil Boggs

Executive Director

Sameed Afghani

ACADEMY

Academy Director

Erica Fischbach

Director of Men’s Training

Domenico Luciano

Academy Principal

Bernadette Torres

Lower Division Coordinator

Suellen De Villiers

Assistant Academy Principal

Gabrielle Johnson

Academy Operations Manager

Julie Anderson

Academy Administrators

Lindsay Falter

Bianca Kovalenko

Summer Intensive Operations Manager

Sean Omandam

Academy Wardrobe Manager

Jennifer Aiken

ADVANCEMENT

Chief Advancement Officer

Karen Sumner

Senior Director of Development

Ashley Harkrader

Development Administrator

Sophia Koop

Manager of Events and Annual Giving

Andy Cota

Assistant Director of Institutional Giving

Marlene Viloria

ARTISTIC

Assistant to the Artistic Director/ Ballet Master

Sandra Brown

Ballet Masters

Lorita Travaglia

Maria Mosina

STAFF DIRECTORY

Music Director & Principal Conductor

Adam Flatt

Associate Conductor

Catherine Sailer

Company Pianist

Natalia Arefieva

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Director of Education & Community Engagement

Emily Herrin

Manager of Education & Community Engagement

Cassie Wilson

Education & Community Engagement Coordinator

Katherine Reller

Education & Community Engagement Assistant

Meghan Hopkins-Brown

ADMINISTRATION

Director of Accounting

Janina Falik

Senior Database Administrator

Michelle Herring

HR Generalist

Stephanie Kautz

Staff Accountant

Katrina Pulice

Accounting Associate

Meera Neelati

Administrative Assistant

Chelsea Branson

Boutique Manager

Edie Bell

Academy Business Coordinator

Eve Gordon

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

Director of Marketing & Communications

Rachel Perez

Marketing Manager

Melissa Longiaru

Graphic Designer

Christopher Hernandez

Marketing & Communications Associate

Olivia McCartney

Videographer

Andrew Fassbender

PATRON SERVICES

Patron Services Manager

Joy Xiaodan

Patron Services Representatives

Madeline Ryner

Breawna Kraske

PRODUCTION

Director of Production

James Whitehill

Production & Advancement Coordinator

Kristina Sablatura

Company Manager

Julia Sattler

Production Stage Manager

Hally Albers

Assistant Stage Manager & Facilities

Xaalan Dolence

Wardrobe/Shoe

Manager & Costume Designer

Shirin Lankarani

Head Carpenter

Mike “Bos” Boswell

Assistant Carpenter/ Flyman

Jared Cook

Head Electrician

Rita Richardson

Assistant Electrician

Amanda Short

Head Property Master

Nate Oldham

Technical Director & Production Manager Emeritus

Pete Nielson

Lighting Director Emeritus

Patrick “Red” Howard

Master Carpenter Emeritus

David Jackson Property Master Emeritus

David Jaramillo

Wardrobe Assistant

Katherine Scoggins

Company Physical Therapist

Mieke Braun Scripps

MPT, DPT

Assistant Physical Therapist

Sarah Graham, MSPT

Assistant Physical Therapist

Melissa Strzelinski, MPT, PhD

Company Orthopedist

Joshua Metzl, MD

Massage Therapist

Anne Denton, LMT

Acupuncturist

Lorita Travaglia, L.Ac, Dipl. CHM

Chiropractor

Dr. David S. Shapiro

Counseling & Sport Psychologist

Natasha Trujillo, Ph.D.

Pilates

Amy Anderson

Company Strength & Conditioning

Boko Suzuki

Company

Photographers

Rachel Neville

Mike Watson

Amanda Tipton

Company Videographer

David Andrews

Orchestra Personnel Manager

April Johannesen

Orchestra Librarian

Gyongyi Petheo

Dressers

Michael Castro

Joe Tompkins

Devon Webb

Amanda Walsh

Katie Marting