Fall 2013

Spring Performances Celebrate HARID’s 25th Anniversary

The HARID Conservatory pulled out all the stops to celebrate its 25th Anniversary during its annual Spring Performances at the Countess de Hoernle Theater last May 24–26. The students were joined on stage by a number of guest-artist alumni, making for a wonderfully exciting weekend of high- caliber dance. The performances commemorated

Alex Srb © Alex the hundreds of talented young artists who have passed through the Conservatory’s doors over the years, and underscored the significant contribution HARID continues to make to the world of professional dance.

Alex Srb © Alex The program opened with both the adagio and pas Guest alumnus Cavan Conley (Class of 2012) performing ‘Flower de trois from Paquita, exquisitely staged by Svetlana Festival in Genzano’ during HARID’s 25th Anniversary Spring Osiyeva and Victoria Schneider respectively. These Performances. classical standards challenged the students’ stamina, precision, and purity of style. Seniors Vanessa Lai and John Abenanty were elegant in the adagio’s pas de deux, flanked by a technically sound and well-rehearsed corps de ballet. The Hungarian Czardas from the third act of was Bertha Valentin’s contribution to this anniversary program. With its seductive music by Tchaikovsky and lush turquoise, velvet costuming, the Czardas was a Alex Srb © Alex fitting showcase for the HARID students to demonstrate the quality of character dance instruction they receive from Valentin. Next on the program was Flower Festival in Genzano, a delightful work from the Bournonville tradition that was coached by Osiyeva. It was a pleasure to have Jia Sun (Class of 2011) and Cavan Conley (2012) featured on the program as guest artists in this piece. They gave a crisp presentation of this pas de deux, with the understated nuance required by the reserved Bournonville style. Marie Tender also gave a lovely performance as the leading lady in this ballet (on Friday and Saturday) that was enhanced by her technical accomplishment and coquettish charm. Following Flower Festival, Victoria Schneider’s staging of the beautiful waltz from Act I of Swan Lake challenged the HARID students with intricate ensemble work which they performed in near-perfect unison. Friday and Saturday’s programs brought back to the stage two alumni who are currently dancing with the Chicago: Mahallia Ward and Matthew Adamczyk.

Alex Srb © Alex The dancers performed Wayne McGregor’s dynamic pas de deux, Infra, in contemporary costumes and under stark lighting. Sunday’s program featured Mark Godden’s IN THIS ISSUE arrestingly beautiful pas de deux from As Above, So Below, set to Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” and danced 1 25th Anniversary effortlessly by HARID alumna and Spring Performances Amanda Green and her partner Tristan Debrowney, both 2 In Memoriam of Canada’s . Judy Antoon Mark Godden’s newest original work for HARID, Beautiful 3 Winter Performances Dreamer, closed this memorable anniversary program. Inspired by the 1928 silent film “The Man Who Laughs”, Coming dancers John Abenanty and Hannah Wood carried the 3 Welcome new Staff action in this work—a tale of a blind ballerina and a and Faculty Members disfigured choreographer. Godden’s unique sense of humor and his clever use of props and lighting helped

4 2014 Summer School Srb © Alex make the piece engaging and fun. Auditions A scene from Mark Godden’s most-recent work 4 Annual Fund created for HARID, ‘Beautiful Dreamer’. Alumni Reunion Celebrates 25th Anniversary Last May, concurrent with the Spring Performances, HARID hosted a 25th anniversary alumni reunion. Thirty former students, some of whom brought their spouses and children with them, attended the weekend of activities and fun. On Friday afternoon (May 24), a welcoming reception was held in HARID’s library. The alumni were then invited to attend the opening-night dance performance. Saturday morning was spent reminiscing on the campus and, for those brave enough to do so, taking ballet class with faculty member Victoria Schneider. Following the matinee performance, HARID hosted an alumni dinner at Villagio Ristorante in Mizner Park where numerous toasts were made and many old friendships were renewed. On Sunday, HARID’s food-service providers John and Peggy Daidone treated the alumni to a delicious brunch in the Russo Hall dining room. Alumni Jia Sun, Dara Holmes, and Mahallia Ward catch up during HARID’s 25th The faculty and staff were delighted and thrilled by the alumni’s enthusiastic response to the reunion. anniversary alumni reunion dinner It was an enjoyable and memorable event.

In Memoriam–Judy Antoon On May 31, the HARID community lost a committed employee and a dear friend. Judy Antoon worked at HARID for eighteen years. She was an effective administrator and a wonderful colleague. Outside of work, Judy enjoyed kayaking and attending various music festivals. She loved the Blues. Judy was also a talented artist. She enjoyed painting and sculpture, and was particularly gifted with stained glass. One of her paintings—a strikingly colorful abstract work—hangs unidentified in the foyer of the Duncan Theater in Lake Worth. Despite her debilitating illness, Judy remained active and, for the most part, unshakable until the end of her life. She managed to attend HARID’s 25th Anniversary Spring Performance on May 25, just a day before it was determined that she required hospice care. Judy was one tough lady. Judy loved HARID. She devoted long hours to keeping the school up and running, and she always followed the students’ progress and the alumni’s achievements with great pride. Her good work and enduring spirit will be remembered by everyone at HARID.

Student Body Represents Eight Countries Forty-four talented students are enrolled at HARID this year. They come from thirteen states across the U.S. (California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia), and from Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand.

Students Recognized with Assistance Awards The Ruth Nelson Kraft Awards Foundation continues to provide generous support for HARID’s students. Earlier this fall, Mackenzi Drozdz from Illinois, Meng Fan from China, Emily Fennell from Maryland, Maia Kaimakliotis from Florida, and Hayden Slaff from New Jersey, were recognized with Ruth Kraft Awards. Since 2001, The Dance Foundation has funded Education Fellowships for selected HARID students. This year, Rudolf Nureyev Education Fellowships have been awarded to Emily Fennell, a sophomore from Maryland, and Andrea Fabbri, a junior from Italy. Emily and Andrea join a group of distinguished alumni who are former Fellowship recipients, including Bridgett Zehr (HARID Class of 2002), a principal dancer with ; Amanda Green (2003), a principal dancer with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet; Matthew Adamczyk (2003), a leading dancer with the Joffrey Ballet Chicago; Megan Zimny Kaftira (2004), a soloist with the ; and Adam Emily Fennell and Andrea Fabbri Still (2006), a soloist with .

Page 2 | Fall 2013 | The HARID Conservatory | 561.997.2677 | www.harid.edu | [email protected] Winter Performances Coming HARID Welcomes New staff December 14 and 15 and faculty Members HARID’s Winter Performances are scheduled on December 14 HARID is pleased to welcome Angela Biermann as the and 15 at the Countess de Hoernle Theater. Both performances Conservatory’s new business manager. Ms. Biermann recently will begin at 3:00 p.m. moved to South Florida from Sedona, Arizona, where she This year’s program will include Classical Divertissements, lived for eighteen years. She has a bachelor-of-science staged by faculty member Svetlana Osiyeva; Krakowiak, a degree in business administration and economics from Saint Polish character dance, staged by Bertha Valentin; a modern- Mary’s College of California Moraga. Ms. Biermann was the dance premiere choreographed by Danielle Armstrong; and administrative assistant of Sedona Red Rock High School for HARID’s holiday tradition, , Act II. nine years and served as executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona. She has additional accounting Tickets are $28 and $22 (half price for children and full-time experience from other work performed in several corporate students), and are available at 2285 Potomac Road in Boca positions, including her own construction company. Raton (9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. weekdays) or by telephone at 561- 998-8038. You can also purchase your tickets on line at www. After teaching on an interim basis last spring and summer, harid.edu/performances. The Countess de Hoernle Theater Donald Tolj has joined HARID’s faculty this term as a full-time is located on the campus of Spanish River Community High ballet teacher. Mr. Tolj has a bachelor-of-arts degree in dance School, 5100 Jog Road, just north of Yamato Road. from the University of Maryland. As a dancer, he performed professionally with , Maryland Ballet, Please join us for HARID’s Winter Performances! Richmond Ballet, and Southern Ballet Theatre. He has served on the faculty at the Virginia Governor’s School at Richmond University, and at the Elmhurst School for Dance (). At HARID, Mr. Tolj is teaching the intermediate class (Level 2), along with the men’s and partnering classes. Mariana Raya has been promoted to the position of residence and student services manager. Previously—since 2008—she worked at HARID as a residence supervisor, during which time she developed a number of successful programs and activities for the students. Mariana has a bachelor-of-arts degree in communications in media and cultural studies from Florida Atlantic University. Two new academic mentors have also joined HARID this year. They supervise and assist the students each morning in the Conservatory’s Learning Center. Alex Srb © Alex Shari Bass has a bachelor-of-arts degree in social psychology The Grand Pas de Six from HARID’s holiday tradition, ‘Divertissement from the Nutcracker, Act II’. and a master’s degree in special education from Florida Atlantic University. In addition, she has a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology. She has taught at Boca Raton Community High School and has worked for many years as an education consultant and tutor. N’Quavah Velazquez has a bachelor-of-arts degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University, a master’s degree in education administration from Lynn University, and is currently completing a doctoral degree in education leadership. She has taught at Inlet Grove and Atlantic Preferred shoes of The HARID Conservatory Community High Schools and served as education advisor and researcher for the Southern Region for the National Black Law Students Association.

HARID Dancers Entertain at YMCA On October 26, HARID’s dancers spent the evening entertaining dozens of young children at the Peter Blum Family YMCA’s Halloween Party in Boca Raton. To the children’s shrieking delight, the dancers performed—in make-up and costumes—the famous zombie dance from Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The YMCA performance, which requires several weeks of rehearsal to prepare, has become an annual, community-service tradition for HARID’s students.

[email protected] | www.harid.edu | 561.997.2677 | The HARID Conservatory | Fall 2013 | Page 3 Student-Outreach Performances Alumni Updates Generously Underwritten by Just four months after graduation, the members of HARID’s Class of 2013 are doing very well: JPMorgan Private Bank John Abenanty is a corps de ballet member at Columbia Once again this year, JPMorgan Private Bank will generously in South Carolina. underwrite HARID’s Student-Outreach Performances, to be presented Aimee Cover has enrolled at University of Missouri, Kansas on December 11 and 12. The program offers several thousand th th City and is taking dance classes at . 4 - and 5 -grade children from Palm Beach County schools the opportunity to enjoy HARID’s production of The Nutcracker, Act II. Wayne Ellis is a trainee with Central Pennsylvania Youth The performances will be held at the Countess de Hoernle Theater Ballet. in Boca Raton. Vanessa Lai is a trainee with . Johanna Thiger is a freshman in the dance program of the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. Auditions for 2014 Summer Reagan Wise is a trainee with Joffrey Ballet Chicago. School Just Around the Corner

Other news: This January and February, HARID’s ballet faculty and director will conduct Summer School auditions in fifteen cities across Amanda Dos Santos (2012) has been promoted from trainee the U.S.: to company member at Joffrey Ballet Chicago. Asia Bui (2012) has been promoted from II to Los Angeles CA ...... January 10 apprentice with Houston Ballet. San Francisco CA January 11 Denver CO January 12 Itzel Hernandez (2012) has joined Orlando Ballet II. Chicago IL ...... January 17 Sun Jia (2011) has left to join Dresden Minneapolis MN ...... January 18 SemperOper Ballett in Germany Charlotte NC ...... January 19 Boca Raton FL January 25 Rachael Vrbancic (2008) is now dancing with Les Grands Boston MA January 31 Ballets Canadiens de Montreal. New York NY ...... February 1 Beth Ann Maslinoff (2007) has joined the Washington DC February 2 Company in Oregon. Tulsa OK ...... February 7 Megan Zimny Kaftira (2004), soloist with the Dutch National Ft. Worth TX ...... February 8 Ballet in , was recently featured in the principal Atlanta GA February 9 role of Kitri in Don Quixote. Tampa FL February 15 Orlando FL February 16 Sarah James (2003) has joined Intermezzo Dance Company in New York City. Audition locations and times may be found at Joseph Morrissey (2001) has become director of artistic www.harid.edu/auditions. planning and touring for Hong Kong Ballet

Annual-Fund Campaign

Please help us achieve this year’s annual-fund campaign goal of $100,000. Your gift will be used to provide financial assistance for students whose families cannot afford the fees associated with room and board at the school. Over the years, hundreds of gifted young dancers have relied on such assistance in order to complete their studies at HARID. It is Alumna Amanda Dos vital that we continue our tradition of helping where help is Santos (Class of 2012) needed. Annual-fund contributions are tax deductible. in a HARID performance

Alex Srb © Alex of ‘Esmeralda’. You can now give online at www.harid.edu/contribute.

We hope you have enjoyed reading HARID’s Fall Newsletter. The next issue will be published in March.