c o m m o n w e a lt h B a l l e t

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1 c o m m o n w e a lt h B a l l e t A n n u a l P r o g r a m

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3 F r o m t h e A r t i s t i c D i r e c t o r Dear Audience Member, Great art always contains a mystery. It is a power of art, whatever the medium, to pose questions that puzzle, intrigue or even disturb us. Indeed, any work that purports to offer answers is at least a little suspect. After all, an answer is an end, while great art is a beginning. This is especially true of ballet no words are spoken, no assertions are made, no conclusion drawn. Instead we, the audience, simply see and hear what is before us and draw our own verdict. Even an enduring classic like The Nutcracker unveils a mystery. The elements of a classic are there - beautiful sets and costumes, world-class guest artists, humor and excitement. But it is the element of magic and wonder that stays most with us afterward - the mystery of a child's dreams. This year we welcome back our world-class guests Anna Liceica and Vitali Krauchenka for the Acton performances, and Anna will be joined by New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, Sébastien Marcovici for the shows at Regis College. Mystery also surrounds a new work choreographed by CBC s regisseuse (rehearsal director) Meghan Meehan, herself a company alumna. This haunting pas de deux, evoked by a poem by Octavio Paz, portrays a young couple caught in the cataclysm of Pompeii. It leaves us to ponder what their lives were and might have been. The piece will receive its public premier at the Acton-Boxborough Cabaret Night in November. Our March concert at Regis College embraces mystery and intrigue directly, featuring a revival of Aaron Copland s first ballet, the courtroom drama Hear Ye! Hear Ye! First performed in Chicago in the 1930s as a satire on the American criminal justice system, the ballet tells not one, but three stories, each an account of a murder in a night club as told by three different witnesses. This whodunit will be surrounded by newly commissioned dances exploring the theme of intrigue from different perspectives, including a newly commissioned work by Betsi Graves, the artistic director of Boston's Urbanity Dance (dubbed Boston's Best dance company 2012). Please join us in March and throughout the year to witness the mysteries of dance as explored by the artists of Commonwealth Ballet. Chip Morris Cover photo: Liza Voll Photography C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

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5 C o m m o n w e a l t h b a l l e t c a l e n d a r Friends of CBC Members Reception October 13, 2012 Acton School of Ballet Acton, MA The Nutcracker November 23-25, 2012 Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Acton, MA December 7-9, 2012 Casey Theatre, Regis College Weston, MA CBC Gala February 9, 2013 Wedgewood Pines Country Club Stow, MA A Little Night Dancing March 2, 2013 Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Acton, MA Intrigue March 16-17, 2013 Casey Theatre, Regis College Weston, MA THANK YOU FOR ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY H. Ivan Orup, Jr., D.M.D., M.M.Sc., P.C. Specialist in Orthodontics for Children &Adults 290 Baker Avenue, Concord, MA drorup.com C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

6 Doing what s right for the arts e. Acton Chelmsford Fitchburg Gardner Groton Lancaster Leominster Lunenburg Orange Townsend Acton School of Ballet 3 Spruce Street Acton, MA Chip Morris, Director Classical Ballet Training for All Levels Pre-Ballet for Kindergarten & 1st Grade First Steps for Four-year-olds Creative Dance for Three-year-olds Pre-professional Program for the Serious Dancer Warm, Nurturing Environment Internationally Trained Faculty Open Ballet Classes for Adults 6 C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

7 C o m m o n w e a l t h b a l l e t c o m p a n y Chip Morris, Artistic Director Kathryn Anderson, Artistic Director Emerita Company Alexandra Bookis, Heather Eliot, Alisa Graham-Brown, Cecilia Hoff, Hannah Kline, Benjamin Kuefler, Vanessa Lee, Rebecca Light, Jennifer Ma, Katherine Macarthur, Amelia Maguire, Sanaea Rose, Mariel Ross, Emma Werowinski, Joy Zhong Board of Directors Eva Macarthur (President), Walter G. Morris (Artistic Director), Patricia M. Wilkey (Treasurer), John Bookis (Secretary), Rustin I. Carpenter, Martin Stevenson, Yan Yan-Neale, Mary Tsacoyeanes, Stefano Caprara Régisseuse Meghan Meehan Lighting Director Stephanie Howell Administrator Kelly Benkert Stage Managers Ken Lee Doug Macarthur Scenic Designers Pascale Belin-White Doug Macarthur Tom Peterman Tom Sikina Martin Stevenson Commonwealth Ballet Company P.O. Box 892, Acton MA commonwealthballet.org Commonwealth Ballet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported in part by grants from the Acton-Boxborough, Wayland, and Weston Local Cultural Councils, local councils which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

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9 T h e c o m p a n y Back row from left: Katherine Macarthur, Vanessa Lee, Emma Werowinski, Heather Eliot, Cecilia Hoff Center row: Hannah Kline, Jennifer Ma, Alexandra Bookis, Rebecca Light, Benjamin Kuefler Front row: Sanaea Rose, Joy Zhong, Alisa Graham-Brown, Amelia Maguire, Mariel Ross B o a r d o f d i r e c t o r s Back row: Stefano Caprara, Martin Stevenson Center row: Mary Tsacoyeanes, John Bookis, Eva Macarthur, Kelly Benkert (Administrator), Yan Yan-Neale Seated: Chip Morris, Rusty Carpenter (Not shown: Patricia Wilkey) C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

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11 C o m m o n w e a l t h b a l l e t o r g a n i z a t i o n Chair Costume Designer Makeup Wardrobe Property Coordinator Volunteer Coordinator Staff Production Eva Macarthur Freda Bromberg, Veronica Diesl, Joanne Hiromura, Eva Macarthur, Jeanne Maguire Dorota Patykowski Jeanne Maguire, Yasuko Graham-Brown Doug Macarthur Yang Liu Fundraising Friends of Commonwealth Ballet Eva Macarthur Annual Program Martin Stevenson, Kelly Benkert Benefit Gala Wendy Carpenter Culture4Kidz Deborah Bookis Grant Writing Eva Macarthur Concessions Deborah & John Bookis, Wendy Carpenter, Sally Pendleton, Diana Yee Chair Graphic Design Photography Videography Marketing Eva Macarthur Sue Peterman of Top Dog Design Mike Nyman Photography and Lisa Voll Photography Spectron A.I Karen Schultz-McGuire CUSTOM POINTE SHOE FITTING Congratulations to Commonwealth Ballet Dancers and FacultY C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

12 Collaborative Divorce & Family Law 5 Spruce Street, Acton, Massachusetts patrice@brymnerlaw.com MARTHA L. ELLIOT, CNS REALTOR CELL, FAX OFFICE marti.elliott@nemoves.com, martilil@comcast.net RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE Wetherbee Plaza, 97 Great Road Acton, MA C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

13 CBC in the Community We are proud to be an active part of the Boston MetroWest community, striving to educate, engage and entertain. We interact with younger audiences during readings at local libraries and museums, provide backstage tours for Girl Scout groups, and present School Lecture demonstrations. In addition, our Outreach programs provide elderly adults and disadvantaged families with free tickets. Last season we distributed nearly 300 free tickets locally. Cultural Grants The funding process for cultural grants is very competitive and selective. CBC is a proud recipient of funding from the Foundation for MetroWest, Massachusetts Cultural Council and other foundations supportive of the arts. Culture4Kidz C B C i n t h e C o m m u n i t y Within our broader community we have a commitment to helping the widest possible audience to experience the art of ballet. Our Culture4Kidz program enables young people, who might not otherwise be able, to attend CBC performances. Regional Boys and Girls Clubs, and other youth organizations, assist by identifying children who would benefit from these donations, and Commonwealth Ballet provides them with tickets. This program sponsors performances throughout the year. If you are interested in helping the Culture4Kidz cause, donations can be mailed to Commonwealth Ballet, PO Box 892, Acton MA Kathryn Anderson Scholarship Each year CBC awards a scholarship to a Company member who is completing high school and has enrolled in college. Eligible applicants must have two years with the Company, present a positive self-image, demonstrate excellence in dance and professionalism on and off stage, as well as serving as a positive role model for peers, younger dances and others. This year the Scholarship Committee, composed of board members and Kathryn Anderson, selected JoJo Tsacoyeanes, who is studying at Muhlenburg College. C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

14 P E G G Y B E R E S F O R D R E A L T O R CELL, FAX OFFICE peggy.beresford@nemoves.com RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE Wetherbee Plaza, 97 Great Road Acton, MA Award-winning agent since 1985 w w w. N e w E n g l a n d M o v e s. c o m Convenient Office Hours 179 Great Road (Rte. 2A) Unit 206 Acton, Massachusetts C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

15 Step into a world of mystery and drama as Commonwealth Ballet presents intrigue INACHICAGO NIGHTCLUB OF THE 1930S ASHOT RINGS out, a young woman's lover falls victim, but who is guilty? Aaron Copland's rarely-performed first ballet, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!, alternates between the courtroom and the speakeasy with the testimony of three eyewitnesses, each as different as the witnesses themselves. This sassy and dynamic jazz age satire will leave you wondering about the nature of justice long after the verdict is in. Lunar Tides The mysterious influence of the moon on Earth's waters is the inspiration for Lunar Tides, set to a modern orchestration of George Frideric Handel's famous Water Music. Classical movement echos the interplay of heavenly and human bodies in this elegant and haunting ballet. Award-winning choreographer Betsi Graves, artistic director of Boston's Urbanity Dance, brings to the stage a world premier combining contemporary movement of power and grace with live music performance. This challenging and dynamic choreographer will captivate you through the energy and intensity of the CBC dancers. Two shows only at Regis College, Casey Theatre, Weston MA Saturday March 16th 7:30PM and Sunday March 17th 2PM C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

16 F r i e n d s o f C o m m o n w e a l t h b a l l e t Friends of Commonwealth Ballet By becoming a Friend of Commonwealth Ballet, you can experience the special feeling that comes from being part of a remarkable artistic venture within our community. You ll help pass on to others the joy that you experience when attending our live performances. From as little as $40 you can become a member and share in the benefits reserved for the Friends of Commonwealth Ballet. All Friends of Commonwealth Ballet receive recognition in our annual program and website. Additional membership benefits are available based on your valued donation. Prima ($1,000 or more) Principal ($500 or more) Soloist ($250 or more) Two free reserved tickets to each production in the season, plus ticket exchange privileges and no handling fees. One free reserved ticket to each production in the season, plus ticket exchange privileges and no handling fees. One free reserved ticket to The Nutcracker, plus ticket exchange privileges and no handling fees. Corps de Ballet ($150 or more) Annual Program recognition, plus ticket exchange privileges and no handling fees. Junior Corps ($85 or more) Dancer ($40 or more) Annual Program recognition, plus ticket exchange privileges. Annual Program recognition. Please help us by sending your tax-deductible donation to: Commonwealth Ballet P.O. Box 892 Acton MA Become a Friend of CBC Today! For more information, please contact friends@commonwealthballet.org 16 C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

17 f r i e n d s d o n o r s We wish to thank the following private and public donors for their generous support of CBC s season. P r i m a Chip & Melissa Morris In loving memory of Walter J. Moses P r i n c i p a l Eva & Doug Macarthur Diana Yee & Kenneth Lee s o l o i s t Jennifer Ablard & Alan Hoff Bookis Family Rustin & Wendy Carpenter Brian & Patricia Davies Edward & Yasuko Graham-Brown Jeanne Morris Lord Bill & Nancy Meehan Steve & Tammy Moses Patricia O Toole David & Karen Sirois Dawn & Eric Solowey Bronwyn Smith s Family Mary & Bill Tsacoyeanes Carl Werowinski & Sally Pendleton Joy & Kate Zhong C o r p s d e B a l l e t The Laurion Family The Light Family Mark & Jeanne Maguire Amy & Ewan Milne Sue & Ian Moncrieff Purdom Family Sonmez-Poole Family Martin Stevenson & Tess O'Toole J u n i o r c o r p s The Benkert Family Diane Bishop Eliot/Stuart Family Hannah Kline Jennifer Ma Family Betty & Albert Solbjor d a n c e r Hagopian Family Barbara, Ron & Jake Kline Malia Moses Patricia O Toole Nancy Pendleton Annie Qian s Family Ted & Diane Ross The Neale Family C o r p o r a t e M a t c h i n g G i f t Verizon Foundation C u l t u r e 4 K i d z Jennifer Ablard & Alan Hoff Hagopian Family Margaret Reeves Ted & Diane Ross Dr. Margherita Santoro Sonmez-Poole Family Friends list reflects donations received from November 11, 2011 through November 5, C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

18 NEAAI NORTHEAST ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY Erdman Way, 616 Boston Post Rd., Suite 315, Leominster, MA Sudbury, MA We are proud to sponsor the talented, committed and dedicated members of Commonwealth Ballet. We want to wish all of you a happy and healthy season! Jordan E. Scott, MD Leslie Stefanowicz FNP NEAAI offers a wide range of services in allergy, asthma and immunology to meet our patient s needs. These include evaluation and treatment for environmental, food, insect and medication allergies (including penicillin skin testing), allergy immunotherapy, allergic skin disorders, and chronic sinus disease, helping children and adults with recurrent infections and difficult to control asthma, chronic cough and hives. We are also a teaching facility for physicians in training at UMASS/Memorial. Dr. Scott is on faculty at Children s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School. 18 C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

19 C o m m o n w e a l t h b a l l e t i n m o t i o n T H E C O M P A N Y I N M O T I O N 1. Sanaea Rose 2. Vanessa Lee 3. Katherine Macarthur 4. Heather Eliot 5. Alisa Graham-Brown 6. Joy Zhong 7. Rebecca Light 8. Mariel Ross 9. Amelia Maguire 10. Ben Kuefler 11. Jennifer Ma 12. Alexandra Bookis 13. Hannah Kline 14. Emma Werowinski 15. Cecilia Hoff C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

20 a r t i s t i c D i r e c t i o n A r t i s t i c D i r e c t o r Chip Morris began his training in modern dance and ballet while pursuing his Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. While in Madison he taught advanced ballet classes at the Wisconsin School of Ballet, directed the Jazzworks Dance Company, co-founded the Choreographer s Consortium, and choreographed for the Madison Savoyards. Since coming to Boston, Mr. Morris has danced with Choreo Dance Company and as a soloist for the Dance Prism. He has choreographed for the Harvard- Radcliffe Dance Company, the Dance Prism, and Peanut Butter & Jelly Dance Company. He also choreographed The Winged Joy for the Wellesley College Choir, and was a guest performer and choreographer for the Wheaton College Dance Company. He was commissioned by them in 1994 to stage Hear Ye, Hear Ye, based on a score by Aaron Copeland. He has choreographed six original full-length ballets for Commonwealth Ballet, including its first major production, Dracula; its first story ballet with accompanying new music composition, Rappaccini s Daughter; the full length family ballets, Beauty and the Beast, The Nightingale and The Secret Garden; and CBC s own production of The Nutcracker (with Kathryn Anderson). Other dances he has choreographed include Ta Voix dans la Nuit, Le Papillon, Chance Encounters, Shattered Ritual, Lost Concerto, Lunar Tides, Farewell, Three Brahms Intermezzi, Orton Dances and, most recently, a suite of dances to contemporary music: The Night Has Many Houses, This Marriage and The Handmaid s Dream. Mr. Morris is the Director of the Acton School of Ballet, a past member of the Board of Directors of the Boston Dance Alliance, and co-founder of Commonwealth Ballet Company. A r t i s t i c D i r e c t o r E m e r i t a Kathryn Anderson trained at American Ballet Theatre in New York City, where she began her professional ballet career. As a soloist with the Boston Ballet Company, Ms. Anderson danced leading roles in such ballets as The Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, Cinderella, The Nutcracker and The Four Temperaments. She toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Israel, and had the honor of dancing with Boston Ballet when it became the first American ballet company to visit, and perform in, the People s Republic of China. Ms. Anderson choreographed many ballet works for Commonwealth Ballet, including At the Waterfall, The Fated, Icare, Rachmaninoff Opus #43, Hajamari-sozo and Countdown, and collaborated with Chip Morris on the full-length ballets Dracula, Beauty and the Beast and The Nutcracker. Ms. Anderson taught at the Boston Ballet School, and was guest instructor at Alabama Dance Theater, the Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts, the Worcester Performing Arts Center and the Dance Complex in Cambridge. She also starred in the nationally acclaimed educational video Ballet for Children and Adults. She was cofounder of Commonwealth Ballet Company, and is currently its Artistic Director Emerita. Ms. Anderson was the director of Acton School of Ballet from 1983 until her retirement in C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

21 g u e s t a r t i s t s Anna Liceica (Sugar Plum Fairy) Ms. Liceica began training in her native Bucharest, Romania at the National Ballet School. She later studied with Yvonne Mounsey at the Westside School of Ballet in Los Angeles, and at the School of American Ballet in New York City, where she received the Mae L. Wein Award for Outstanding Promise. A prize winner at the Romanian National Ballet Competition, the Third Nureyev International Ballet Competition, and Maya Plisetskaya International Ballet Competition, Anna was a member of the New York City Ballet from , before joining the American Ballet Theater in Anna rose to Soloist with American Ballet Theater in August Her roles with the Company include the first Shade variation in La Bayadère, the Winter Fairy in Cinderella, an Odalisque in Le Corsaire, a Flower Girl in Don Quixote, the Russian Ballerina in Gala Performance, Moyna and Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Silver in The Sleeping Beauty, the pas de trois in Swan Lake, the fourth movement principal in Symphony in C, The second ballerina in Balanchine s Ballet Imperial, Jiri Kylian s Sinfonietta, and the Venetian Carnival Pas de Deux from Satanella, among many others. She also created a leading role in Mark Morris Gong. She has also appeared as a guest artist with companies throughout the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Russia, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Romania and Hungary dancing leads in classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, as well as being a guest artist for Youth America Grand Prix s. Her partners include Damian Woetzel, Ethan Stiefel, Marcelo Gomes, Gennadi Saveliev, Sascha Radetsky, Bejamin Millepied, Sébastien Marcovici, and Vitali Krauchenka. Most recently, Ms Liceica has been performing as a guest artist with the Deutsche Opera in Berlin, the Romanian National Opera and The Staten Island Ballet. Besides performing as a guest artist, Ms Liceica has been on the jury panel and a master teacher for Youth America Grand Prix s regional semi-finals since Vitali Krauchenka (Cavalier, Acton) was born in Minsk in the Republic of Byelorussia. Vitali trained, from the age of six, at the Byelorussian Choreographic School and performed with the Byelorussian Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet. After graduation, he joined the National Ballet Theatre of Belarus and then moved to Riga, Latvia where he danced with the Latvian National Opera. Vitali has also danced in Canada with Atlantic Ballet Theatre and Ballet Jorgen of Canada. His repertory with those companies included roles in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, Romeo and Juliet, and other classical and modern ballets such as Carmen, Le Sacre du Printemps, 3x, Ben Jorgan s Petrouchka, Boris Eifman s Tchaikovsky and Kchistof Pastor s Carmen. Vitali joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in April His roles with the Company include the Rajah in La Bayadère, the Father in Fall River Legend, the Duke of Courland in Giselle, The Man She Must Marry in Jardin aux Lilas, the Father in Prodigal Son, the Lead Spanish Dancer in Raymonda, Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet, Gallison, the Russian Prince in The Sleeping Beauty as well as Von Rothbart and the Spanish Dance in Swan Lake. Vitali has toured extensively, performing in Russia, Poland, Latvia, Estonia. This is Vitali s eighth season as Cavalier with Commonwealth Ballet. C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

22 g u e s t a r t i s t s Sébastien Marcovici (Cavalier, Regis) was born and raised in Paris, France. He began his ballet training at age eight with local teachers, and at age 12 he enrolled at the School of the Paris Opéra Ballet. During the summer of 1993, while studying with Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride at the Chautauqua School of Dance, Mr. Marcovici was invited by Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins to take Company class with New York City Ballet at Saratoga Springs. In November of 1993, he was invited to join New York City Ballet s corps de ballet. Mr. Marcovici was promoted to the rank of soloist in 1998 and to principal dancer in May Michael Johnson (Snow King) grew up in Richmond, Virginia and studied dance at Richmond Ballet. He further studied at Butler University s dance department, earning a degree in Arts Administration with a Concentration in Dance. Michael was a member of Boston Ballet from 1996 to 2006, performing many soloist and principal roles. Michael danced the classics with worldrenowned dancers like Carlos Acosta and Sarah Lamb of the Royal Ballet, and performed pieces by choreographers such as Rudi Van Dansig, Bruce Marks, Nacho Duato, Mark Morris and Christopher Wheeldon. Michael has been studying salsa and ballroom and performed Jazz and Jive in Los Angeles. Michael helped develop Boston Ballet s outreach program called CitiDance thus spreading the opportunity and education of dance throughout all of Boston. He is currently Professor of Dance at Butler University in Indianapolis. This is Michael s 5th year as the Snow King in The Nutcracker. Maleek Mahkail Washington (Harlequin, Arabian, Neapolitan) was born in the Bronx, New York, and his introduction to dance began at age seven at the Broadway Dance Center. At the age 9, he took up studies at the Harlem School of the Arts. After four years, Maleek was than accepted to Fiorello Laguardia for The Performing Arts where he received training in Graham, Ballet, Horton, Musical Theater, and Hip Hop. After graduation, Maleek attended The Boston Conservatory on full scholarship while performing with the Commonwealth Ballet and Complexions. Maleek attended Jacob s Pillow for two consecutive years and has collaborated with Rod Rogers Dance Company. This summer he studied at the Springboard Danse program in Montreal where he had the pleasure to work with Ballet Jazz Montreal, Company Flak, Rubberbandance, and Sylvaln Emard Danse. Presently, Maleek is in his fifth season with City Dance Ensemble of Washington DC, a touring repertory company performing works by Paul Taylor, Larry Keigwin, Kate Weare and Alex Noreal that has traveled to Israel, Bahrain, Chile, and Russia. In addition, he has interacted with choreographers such as Azure Barton, Helen Pickett, Michael Utoff, Milton Meyers, Yuriko Takata, and Tim Rushton of the Danish Dance Theater. Maleek dedicates his life of dance to his late Grandmother Duella Smith, his mother, Bianca Smith and his family. He thanks them all for their love and support. 22 C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

23 David Glista (Peter, Nutcracker) is a native of Massachusetts and has spent the last six years in the Boston area. He graduated from the Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts in 2009 and is currently in his final year at The Boston Conservatory earning his BFA in Dance Performance. Over the past three years he has performed works by many local choreographers as well as masterworks by Jose Limon, Alwin Nikolais, Paul Taylor, Anna Sokolow, and Doug Varone. David spends much of his free time performing guest roles locally and working on independent projects involving improvisation and collaboration with local music students from The Boston Conservatory, The New England Conservatory and Berklee. R é g i s s e u s e Meghan Meehan holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance from Muhlenberg College where she danced extensively. She has served on the ballet faculty of the Rock School and the ACPPA Cooperative School in Philadelphia, and continues to perform and choreograph professionally. Meghan is an accomplished artist working toward her Master of Fine Arts and a graduate of Acton School of Ballet. She is on the faculty at Acton School of Ballet currently teaching Ballet, Choreography, and Acting for Dancers. Patterson s Back Bay Dancewear, Inc ~ Expert Fitting Huge Selection Discount Prices! Margherita Santoro, DDS Orthodontics for Children Teens Adults Shoes * Tights * Classwear Costumes* Bags*Accessories Featuring every poine shoe imaginable! Visit us for all your dance supplies 185 Cambridge St Burlington, Ma Massachusetts Avenue Acton, MA ActonOrthodonticAssociates.com Invisalign Certified since 1997 C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

24 WHAT IS YOUR YOUNG ARTIST DOING THIS SUMMER? Our summer programs in Dance, Writing, Opera, and Theater offer artists ages a challenging but fun experience, surrounded by supportive faculty and other young artists who share their passion. For more information, please visit: summer.walnuthillarts.org s.org 12 Highland Street Natick, MA C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

25 T h e C o m p a n y Alexandra Bookis is from Acton and began studying ballet at Acton School of Ballet in She now assists the First Steps ballet class. Her summer intensive programs include Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Walnut Hill and ASB. Alexandra joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2010 and has performed in Stairway to Heaven, A Small Thing, Lost and Beauty and the Beast. In this year s The Nutcracker she will dance as Snowflake, Chinese soloist, Spanish soloist, Merliton and Neapolitan soloist, and in the Russian and Flower Corps. Heather Eliot resides in Lincoln and has studied ballet since 2003 at Amherst Ballet School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and currently Acton School of Ballet. She has trained at summer intensive programs including the School of Richmond Ballet, Walnut Hill, and ASB. Heather performed with Amherst Ballet and Walnut Hill and joins Commonwealth Ballet this season. Alisa Graham-Brown lives in Westford and began her ballet studies at Acton School of Ballet in She now assists in a Pre-Ballet class. Her earlier training includes Westford Studio of Ballet Arts and Ekeby Dans Skolan in Uppsala, Sweden. She has attended summer intensive programs at Bolshoi Ballet, Walnut Hill and ASB. Alisa joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2011 and has danced in The Nutcracker and Beauty and the Beast. In The Nutcracker Alisa will dance as Snowflake, Neopolitan soloist, Merliton, Spanish soloist and in the Flower Corps. Cecilia Hoff is from Littleton, has studied ballet at Acton School of Ballet since 2000, and is currently a teaching assistant for Pre-Ballet. She has attended summer intensive programs at Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Walnut Hill, and ASB and since joining Commonwealth Ballet in 2009 has performed in Stairway to Heaven, A Small Thing, Lost, The Nightingale, Canto Nuovo, Adjustable Wrench and Beauty and the Beast. In this year s The Nutcracker she will dance as the Governess, Columbine Doll, Arabian soloist, Russian soloist, Snowflake and Snow Queen, and in the Flower Corps. Hannah Kline lives in Harvard and since 2003 has studied ballet at Acton School of Ballet, including the ASB summer intensive program. Hannah has performed non-company roles in The Nutcracker, The Nightingale and Beauty and the Beast and joins Commonwealth Ballet this season. In The Nutcracker she will dance as a Chinese soloist, Merliton, Snowflake and Party Teen, and in the Russian and Flower Corps. Benjamin Kuefler is from Stow and began studying ballet at Acton School of Ballet in His summer intensive programs include Briansky Ballet Center and Walnut Hill. Benjamin joined the company in 2011 and has performed roles in The Nutcracker and Beauty and the Beast. In this year s The Nutcracker he will dance as a Party Teen, Lieutenant, Chinese soloist, Spanish soloist and Neapolitan soloist. C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

26 T h e C o m p a n y Vanessa Lee resides in Acton and began training at the Acton School of Ballet in She is now a teaching assistant at the pre-ballet level. Vanessa has attended summer intensive programs at Joffrey Ballet, American Repertory Ballet s Princeton Ballet School, The Rock School of Ballet and Walnut Hill. She joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2008 and has danced in Stairway to Heaven, A Small Thing, Lost, The Nightingale, Canto Nuovo, Adjustable Wrench and Beauty and the Beast. In The Nutcracker Vanessa will dance the roles of Arabian soloist, Snowflake, Snow Queen and Dew Drop Fairy. Rebecca Light lives in Maynard and has studied ballet at Acton School of Ballet since Her summer intensive programs include Walnut Hill Summer Youth Dance and ASB. She has performed in non-company roles in The Nutcracker, The Nightingale, and Beauty and the Beast and joins Commonwealth Ballet this season. In The Nutcracker Rebecca will dance the roles of Party Teen, Russian soloist and Merliton, and in the Flower Corps. Jennifer Ma resides in Acton and began studying ballet at Acton School of Ballet in Jennifer s summer intensive programs include the School of American Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Chautauqua School of Dance, Bolshoi Ballet, Walnut Hill and ASB. She joins Commonwealth Ballet this season after performing non-company roles in The Nutcracker, The Nightingale, and Beauty and the Beast. In this year s production of The Nutcracker Jennifer will dance the roles of Party Teen, Snowflake and Merliton, and in the Flower Corps. Katherine Macarthur lives in Acton, has studied at Acton School of Ballet since 2003, and is a teaching assistant for the Level 2 ballet class. Her summer intensive programs include Burklyn Ballet, American Repertory Ballet s Princeton Ballet School, Orlando Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, American Academy of Ballet, Walnut Hill, Boston Ballet and ASB. Since joining Commonwealth Ballet in 2009 Katherine has performed roles in A Small Thing, Lost, The Nightingale, Canto Nuovo, Adjustable Wrench and Beauty and the Beast. In this year s The Nutcracker she serves as a rehearsal assistant and she will dance the roles of Snow Queen, Dew Drop Fairy, Columbine Doll, Governess, Snowflake, and in the Flower Corps. Amelia Maguire lives in Groton and has studied ballet since 2002 at Northern Ballet Theatre and Academy of Ballet Arts, and now at Acton School of Ballet. Her summer intensive programs include Walnut Hill School for the Arts and ASB. She has performed in non-company roles in The Nutcracker, The Nightingale, and Beauty and the Beast and joins Commonwealth Ballet this season. In this year s production of The Nutcracker Amelia will perform as a Party Teen, Spanish soloist and Snowflake, and in the Flower Corps. 26 C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

27 Sanaea Rose lives in Acton and has studied at Acton School of Ballet since She is a teaching assistant for the Level 1 ballet class. She has attended summer intensive programs at Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Bossov Ballet and Jose Mateo s Ballet Theatre. Sanaea joined the company in 2011 and has performed in Stairway to Heaven and Beauty and the Beast. In this year s The Nutcracker she will dance as Columbine Doll, Spanish soloist, Merliton, Snowflake and Dew Drop Fairy, and in the Flower Corps. Mariel Ross resides in Littleton and since 2003 has studied at Acton School of Ballet, where she is a teaching assistant in the Level 1 ballet class. Her summer intensive programs include Bolshoi Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Walnut Hill and Southern New Hampshire Dance Theatre. Mariel joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2010 and has performed in Stairway to Heaven, A Small Thing, Lost and Beauty and the Beast. In The Nutcracker Mariel will dance as Columbine Doll, Snowflake, Arabian soloist, Neapolitan soloist and Merliton, and in the Flower Corps. Emma Werowinski is from Acton and began her ballet studies at Acton School of Ballet in She is now a teaching assistant in the Level 2 ballet class. She has attended summer intensive programs at Chautauqua School of Dance, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, Walnut Hill and ASB. Emma joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2011 and has danced in Stairway to Heaven and Beauty and the Beast. In this year s The Nutcracker Emma will dance as Arabian soloist, Merliton and Spanish soloist.. Joy Zhong resides in Acton and began her ballet studies at Acton School of Ballet in She has attended summer intensive programs at American Repertory Ballet's Princeton Ballet, Next Generation Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Walnut Hill, Acton School of Ballet and Angel Dance Company where she has been a member since Joy joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2011 and has danced in Stairway to Heaven and Beauty and the Beast. In this year s The Nutcracker she will dance as Chinese soloist, Spanish soloist, Merliton and Snowflake, and in the Flower Corps. C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

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30 I n d e x t o A d v e r t i s e r s Please join CBC in thanking our Annual Program Advertisers whose sponsorship enables us to tell our audience members about the dancers, volunteers and work of the Commonwealth Ballet Company. We encourage your patronage of these generous businesses and cultural organizations. ABRHS Proscenium Circus Ace Hardware Acton Family Dental Care Acton School of Ballet Angel Performing Arts Peggy Beresford, Realtor Law Office of Patrice Brymner Caprara Law Children s Hospital Boston Christmas Motors Dance This Way Danny s Place Youth Center Dunkin Donuts Martha Elliot, Realtor Enterprise Bank Holiday Inn New Habitat Partners Northeast Allergy OMR Architects H. Ivan Orup, DMD Patterson s Back Bay Dancewear Margherita Santoro, DDS Karen Schultz-McGuire Star Custom Framers Sven Supplies, DMD Top Dog Design Village Subaru Walnut Hill Westford Regency Workers Credit Union PROUDLY PROVIDING GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES TO THE COMMONWEALTH BALLET COMPANY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SEASON! Sue Peterman sue@topdogdesign.com 30 C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

31 Commonwealth Ballet Company RUNS ON of Acton & Concord The Dunkin Donuts store locations in Acton & Concord MA are proud to support the Commonwealth Ballet Company! C o m m o n w e a l t h B a l l e t

32 C O M M O N W E A L T H B A L L E T P R E S E N T S Drama and mystery in dance including Aaron Copland s Hear Ye, Hear Ye and a world premier choreographed by Betsi Graves Casey Theatre, Regis College Weston MA Saturday March 16th 7:30pm Sunday March 17th 2pm Tickets $20-$28 Order online at commonwealthballet.org or call PHOTOS: MIKE NYMAN PHOTOGRAPHY