COMMONWEALTH BALLET

Annual Program 2014-2015

From the Arti stic Dir ector

Dear Audience Member, The rhythms of our lives are made from the old and the new. We wear the daily rituals of family and work like old gloves, familiar, comfortable, and often unnoticed. But we also encounter the new and unfamiliar. Variety can be exciting, even essential to our lives, but it can also be challenging. Beginning our 23rd year of Commonwealth Ballet, we see rhythms of old and new in our company of ballet dancers. In October we participated for the first time in a wonderful event celebrating past lives: A Glimpse Beyond at the magnificent Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Watertown. Performing outdoors in an “installation” was new to our company, but the experience left our audiences and dancers deeply enriched. In November and December we return to the annual cycle of , with our international guest artists Anna Liceica, Vitali Krauchenka and Michael Johnson. But even with the delight and comfort of the familiar we have added new choreography, new dancers and stunning new costumes created by Freda Bromberg for the “Waltz of the Flowers”. Every year I hear from audience members (for whom our production is a family tradition) how many new things they have seen that year. There is always something new in a production as deep and rich as Nutcracker. March will bring the new - a new venue at Boston University Dance Theater on the 20th and 21st where we hope to bring the creativity, strength, depth and youthful energy of Commonwealth Ballet to a downtown Boston audience. The concert will feature new works by Denise Pons, Chip Morris and Joseph Jefferies, among others. The subject will be “Circadian Rhythms” - the cycles guided by that greatest of machines, the solar system. How many ways the pattern of days structures our lives and maps the course of nature, sometimes complementing our intentions, and sometimes thwarting them. Dancers bod - ies thrive on the rhythm of music and breath, making them the ideal instrument of expres - sion for the daily cycles of life. Of course, as a youth company, we endure the annual ritual of urging our graduates on to their adult lives while inviting new dancers into the traditions of our company. This year more than a third of the company moved on to academics and dance at colleges and con - servatories. Saying “goodbye” to young artists who have matured under my watch, and welcoming the novices is certainly bittersweet, but it reminds me how much happiness is to be found in the cycles of life.

Cover photo: Mike Nyman Photography

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A Glimpse Beyond October 17-19, 2014 Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge MA The Nutcracker November 28-30, 2014 Acton-Boxborough Regional High School - Acton MA December 12-14, 2014 Casey Theatre, Regis College - Weston MA Friends of CBC Members Reception February 7, 2015 Acton School of Ballet Studios Spring Performance March 20-21, 2015 Boston University Dance Theater Worcester County Dance Festival April 11, 2015 Anna Maria College, Paxton MA

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 5 Acton School of Ballet

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 Beginning and Intermediate/Advanced Ballet for Adults

Photos by Mike Nyman 3 SPRUCE STREET, ACTON, MA 01720 978-263-6572 ActonSchoolo f Ballet.com

6 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 Co mmonw ealth Ballet Co mpany

Chip Morris, Artistic Director Kathryn Anderson, Artistic Director Emerita

Company Alexandra Bookis, Zoe Chang, Heather Eliot, Kayla Edwards, Alisa Graham-Brown, Benjamin Kuefler, Rebecca Light, Jennifer Lu, Amelia Maguire, Samuel Mayer, Megan Muzilla, Alyona Osadcha, Ola Patykowski, Fiona Stevenson, Cecilia Villaseñor, Kate Zhong, Joy Zhong

Board of Directors Martin Stevenson (President), Walter G. Morris (Artistic Director), Patricia M. Wilkey (Treasurer), Mary Tsacoyeanes (Secretary), Stefano Caprara, Rustin I. Carpenter, Yang Liu, Eva Macarthur, Yan Yan-Neale

Régisseuse Stage Managers Lindsay Moncrieff Ken Lee Doug Macarthur

Lighting Director Scenic Designers Stephanie Howell Pascale Belin-White Doug Macarthur Administrator Tom Peterman Jeri Lee Tom Sikina Martin Stevenson

Commonwealth P.O. Box 892, Acton MA 01720 978-263-6533 CommonwealthBallet.org

Commonwealth ballet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 1992 to develop, fosters and promote the performance and appreciation of classical and contemporary ballet. To this end, CBC endeavors to maintain strong ties with the communities it serves, provide a substantial educational opportunity for young dancers, and demonstrates the highest level of artistic quality.

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 7 Dance   Wa y

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THANK YOU FOR ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY

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8 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 The C om p a ny

Standing, from left: Jennifer Lu & Ceci Villaseñor, Rebecca Light & Ola Patykowski, Heather Eliot & Alexandra Bookis, Megan Muzilla & Alyona Osadcha, Fiona Stevenson & Kayla Edwards Seated: Joy Zhong, Amelia Maguire, Zoe Chang, Kate Zhong, Alisa Graham-Brown Reclined: Ben Kuefler, Sam Mayer

Board of Dir ectors

Standing: Yan Yan-Neale, Eva Macarthur, Stefano Caprara, Rusty Carpenter, Yang Liu Seated: Mary Tsacoyeanes, Martin Stevenson, Chip Morris (Not shown: Patricia Wilkey)

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 9 10 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 Comm onw ea lth Ba llet Organiz atio n

Staff

Production Chair Yang Liu, Yan Yan-Neale Costume Designer Freda Bromberg, Veronica Diesl, Joanne Hiromura, Eva Macarthur, Jeanne Maguire, Yasuko Graham-Brown Ken Mayer Makeup Dorota Patykowski Wardrobe Christine Brault, Yasuko Graham-Brown, Jeanne Maguire, Ken Mayer Property Coordinator Doug Macarthur Volunteer Coordinator Elizabeth Adams

Fundraising Friends of Commonwealth Ballet Martin Stevenson Annual Program Martin Stevenson, Stefano Caprara Culture4Kidz Jeri Lee Concessions Deborah Bookis, Sharon Berka-Muzilla Scholarship Fund Mary Tsacoyeanes, Yan Yan-Neale

Marketing Chair Martin Stevenson Graphic Design Sue Peterman Photography Mike Nyman Photography and Liza Voll Photography Videography Spectron A.I Website Martin Stevenson

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 11 residential • education performing arts • historic preservation

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12 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 CBC in the Co mmunity

Kathryn Anderson Scholarship Each year CBC awards a scholarship to a Company member who is complet - ing 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 dancers and others. Last year the Scholarship Committee, composed of board members and Kathryn Anderson, selected Cecilia Hoff, who is studying at The College of William And Mary.

Culture4Kidz 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 per - formances. 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 01720-0892

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 over 300 free tickets locally.

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 13 14 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 CBC Spring perfom a nce

Circadian Rhythms

Circadian (adj.) recurring naturally on a twenty-four-hour cycle.

From microbes to the tides, the earth and its inhabitants are governed by the rotations of our solar system, manifested in daily patterns of life and geolgy. We are conscious of many of the cycles, but oblivious to most. How do they influence us, and what happens when they thwart our intensions and desires? Do they make for happiness or boredom, and what is our fate if we oppose them?

The dancers and choreographers of Commonwealth Ballet explore our daily rhythms through music and movement, with world premier contemporary and classical ballets by Denise Pons, Joseph Jefferies and CBC Artistic Director Chip Morris.

Friday March 20th: 7:30pm Saturday March 21st: 7:30pm

Boston University Dance Theater 915 Commonwealth Ave Boston, MA 02215

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 15 Friends of Co mmonw ealth Ballet

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) Two free reserved tickets to each production in the 2014-15 season, plus ticket exchange privileges and no handling fees.

Principal ($500 or more) One free reserved ticket to each production in the 2014-15 season, plus ticket exchange privileges and no handling fees.

Soloist ($250 or more) 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) Annual Program recognition, plus ticket exchange privileges.

Dancer ($40 or more) Annual Program recognition.

Please help us by sending your tax-deductible donation to: Commonwealth Ballet P.O. Box 892 Acton MA 01720 Become a Friend of CBC Today!

For more information, please contact [email protected]

16 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 Friends Donors

We wish to thank the following private and public donors for their generous support of CBC’s 2014-2015 season.

Prima Junior corps Chip & Melissa Morris The Lyman Feit Family In loving memory of Walter J. Moses Gie & Deborah Lee Tom & Sue Peterman Principal Ralph & Elizabeth Aarons dancer Doug & Eva Macarthur Kimberly Harriman Kristy Doyle Turner Elizabeth & Paul Green The Neale Family soloist Daria & Blaise Eckert The Zhong Family Cecilia Lardizabal Mary & Bill Tsacoyeanes Katherine Macarthur Shelley Moore The Benkert Family Patricia M. O’Toole Fiona Stevenson Dawn & Eric Solowey The Ross Family David & Laurie Light Eliot/Stuart Family Corporate Karen & Dave Sirois Matching Gift Edward & Yasuko Graham-Brown Redhat Craig & Sharon Muzilla Russell & Hazel Stevenson Culture4Kidz The Moncrieff Family Quisumbing-Villaseñor Family Frances Kotelly Corps de Ballet Megan Muzilla Jennifer Ablard Quisumbing-Villaseñor Family Martin Stevenson & Tess O’Toole The Lu Family The Bookis Family Amy & Ewan Milne The Lyman Feit Family Ola Patykowski Elizabeth Adams

Friends list reflects donations received from November 11, 2013 through November 11, 2014.

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 17 In Pe rfo rmance

The Secret Garden , Spring 2014

18 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 Artistic Dir ection

Artistic Director 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 choreo - graphed 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. Artistic Director Emerita Kathryn Anderson trained at in New York City, where she began her professional ballet career. As a soloist with the Company, Ms. Anderson danced leading roles in such ballets as The Sleeping Beauty , , , 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 co-founder 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 2004.

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 19 Guest Artists

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 from 1993-1996, before joining the American Ballet Theater in 1996. Anna rose to Soloist with American Ballet Theater in August 2000. Her roles with the Company include the first Shade variation in La Bayadère , the Winter Fairy in Cinderella , an Odalisque in , a Flower Girl in , 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 , 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 2007.

Vitali Krauchenka (Cavalier) 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 , ’s Tchaikovsky and Kchistof Pastor’s Carmen . Vitali joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2004. 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 , 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, , Latvia, Estonia. This is Vitali’s tenth season as Cavalier with Commonwealth Ballet.

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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 world-renowned dancers like Carlos Acosta and Sarah Lamb of , 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 7th year as the Snow King in The Nutcracker .

Régisseuse Lindsay Moncrieff Lindsay is a graduate of Butler University with a B.S. in Dance Arts Administration and a Marketing minor. While at Butler she performed soloist and principal roles including Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, as well as in ’s Walpurgisnacht Ballet and Nacho Duato’s Por Vos Muero . She received four different performance awards during her time at Butler in addition to the Eileen Poston Dance Scholarship given to one ballet student each year. She also had the opportunity to study and perform internationally at the Polish National Ballet School in , Poland and at the Rimsky-Korsakov Music Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia. Upon graduation, she joined as a member of their second company where she performed several Corps de Ballet roles and worked with world-renowned choreographer Steven Mills on Light, The Holocaust and Humanity Project , as well as Glen Tetley’s Rite of Spring , and George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations . Lindsay was a member of the Commonwealth Ballet Company from 2003-2008 and returned as a Guest Artist in the role of Sugar Plum Fairy with American Ballet Theatre’s Vitali Krauchenka for CBC’s production of The Nutcracker . Lindsay currently works at Walnut Hill in Development and is excited to return to CBC and as a teacher at the Acton School of Ballet.

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ALEXANDRA BOOKIS is from Acton and began her ballet studies at Acton School of Ballet in 2002. She has been a Teaching Assistant there since 2012 and currently assists a Pre-Ballet class. She has attended summer intensive programs at The American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School, Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Acton School of Ballet. Alexandra joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2010 and has performed roles in A Small Thing, Lost, Stairway to Heaven,Beauty and the Beast, Canto Nuovo, The Secret Garden, and Adjustable Wrench. In this season’s The Nutcracker Alex dances the roles of Maid, Snow Queen, Arabian Girl, Merliton and Dew Drop, and is in the Snow Corps.

CHINGTIEN “Z OE ” C HANG lives in Acton and has studied ballet since 2001 at Acton School of Ballet and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Her summer intensive programs include Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Acton School of Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Next Generation Ballet. Zoe joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2013 and has performed roles in The Secret Garden and The Nutcracker . In this season’s The Nutcracker Zoe dances the roles of Columbine, Arabian Girl, Merliton and Neapolitan Girl, and is in the Snow Corps and Flower Corps.

HEATHER ELIOT resides in Lincoln and has studied ballet since 2003 at Amherst Ballet School, Walnut Hill High School for the Arts, and Acton School of Ballet, where she is currently a teaching assistant for a Level 2 class. Heather has participated in summer intensive programs at Ellison Ballet, Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, the School of Richmond Ballet, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Acton School of Ballet. She has previously performed with Amherst Ballet, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Acton School of Ballet. Since joining Commonwealth Ballet in 2012 she has performed roles in Intrigue, The Nutcracker, The Secret Garden and Adjustable Wrench. In this season’s The Nutcracker Heather dances the roles of Maid, Snow Queen, Spanish Girl, Arabian Girl and Merliton, and is in the Snow Corps and Flower Corps.

KAYLA EDWARDS lives in Concord and has been training at Acton School of Ballet since 2006. She has attended summer intensive programs at Acton School of Ballet, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Burklyn Ballet Theatre. She has performed non-company roles in The Nutcracker, The Nightingale, Beauty and the Beast and The Secret Garden. This is Kayla’s first season with Commonwealth Ballet, and in The Nutcracker she dances the role of Party Teen, and is in the Snow Corps and Flower Corps.

ALISA GRAHAM -B ROWN lives in Westford and began her ballet studies at Acton School of Ballet in 2007. She has been a Teaching Assistant there since 2012, and currently assists Level 1 students. Additionally, this year Alisa worked as Assistant for the Back To Ballet Boot Camp. Her earlier training includes Westford Studio of Ballet Arts and Ekeby Dans Skolan in Uppsala, Sweden. She has attended summer intensive programs at the Academy, Princeton Ballet, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Acton School of Ballet. Alisa joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2011 and has performed in The Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast, Intrigue, Adjustable Wrench, A Boy and A Girl, and The Secret Garden. In this season’s The Nutcracker Alisa dances the roles of Governess, Snow Queen, Arabian Girl and Dew Drop.

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Scenes from Intrigue, Spring 2013

24 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 The Co mpany

BENJAMIN KUEFLER resides in Stow and began studying ballet at Acton School of Ballet in 2007. His summer intensive programs include Chautauqua’s Festival Dance Program, Briansky Ballet Center, Acton School of Ballet and Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Ben joined the company in 2011 and has performed roles in The Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast, Intrigue, A Boy and A Girl and The Secret Garden. In this season’s The Nutcracker Ben dances the roles of Harlequin, Spanish Boy, Chinese Boy and Neapolitan Boy.

REBECCA LIGHT lives in Maynard and has studied ballet at Acton School of Ballet since 2004. She has been a teaching assistant since 2013 and currently assists a First-Steps class. Rebecca’s summer intensive programs include The American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Acton School of Ballet. She joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2012 and has performed in The Nutcracker, Intrigue, The Secret Garden and Adjustable Wrench. In this season’s The Nutcracker Rebecca dances the roles of Governess, Spanish Girl, Russian Girl, Merliton and Dew Drop, and is in the Snow Corps and Flower Corps.

JENNIFER LU lives in Acton and has studied ballet at Acton School of Ballet since 2004. Her summer intensive programs include American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Acton School of Ballet, and Angel Dance Company where she was a member from 2006 to 2013. She joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2013 and has performed company roles in The Nutcracker and The Secret Garden. In this season’s The Nutcracker Jennifer dances the roles of Spanish Girl, Chinese Girl, Merliton and Neapolitan Girl, and is in the Snow Corps and Flower Corps.

AMELIA MAGUIRE lives in Groton and has studied ballet at Acton School of Ballet since 2004. She is currently a teaching assistant for Pre-Ballet. Her summer intensive programs include Walnut Hill School for the Arts, American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School and Acton School of Ballet. Joining Commonwealth Ballet in 2012, she has performed company roles in The Nutcracker, Intrigue, The Secret Garden and Adjustable Wrench. In this season’s The Nutcracker Amelia dances the roles of Columbine, Russian Girl, Merliton and Neapolitan Girl, and is in the Snow Corps and Flower Corps.

SAMUEL MAYER lives in Acton and began studying at Acton School of Ballet in 2009. His summer intensive programs include Acton School of Ballet, Walnut Hill School for the Arts and Burklyn Ballet Theatre. He has performed in non-company roles in The Nutcracker,The Nightingale, Beauty and the Beast and The Secret Garden. This is Sam’s first season with Commonwealth Ballet, and in The Nutcracker he dances the roles of Fritz, Lieutenant Boy, Spanish Boy and Chinese Boy.

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 25 Convenient Office Hours

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26 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 The Co mpany

MEGAN MUZILLA resides in Acton and since 2004 has studied at the Acton School of Ballet, where she is currently a Teaching Assistant. Megan has attended summer intensive programs at The School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre in New York, Walnut Hill Summer Youth Dance and Acton School of Ballet. Megan joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2013 and has performed company roles in Adjustable Wrench, The Secret Garden and The Nutcracker. In this season’s The Nutcracker Megan dances the roles of Spanish Girl, Chinese Girl and Merliton, and is in the Snow Corps.

ALYONA OSADCHA lives in Acton and began dancing at the age of three. She has been studying at the Acton School of Ballet since 2012. Her summer inten - sives include The Koltun Ballet Academy in Boston and Acton School of Ballet, and she has danced non-company roles in The Nutcracker and The Secret Garden . This is Alyona’s first season with Commonwealth Ballet, and in The Nutcracker she dances the role of Party Teen, and is in the Snow Corps and Flower Corps.

OLA PATYKOWSKI lives in Stow and began her ballet studies in 2004 at Acton School of Ballet, and later at Boston Ballet School. She now studies ballet at Acton School of Ballet. Her summer intensive programs include Acton School of Ballet, Odoriko in Poland, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Chautauqua School of Dance. She joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2013 and has performed in The Nutcracker and The Secret Garden. In this season’s The Nutcracker Ola dances the roles of Spanish Girl, Russian Girl, Merliton and Neapolitan Girl, and is in the Snow Corps and Flower Corps.

FIONA STEVENSON lives in Acton and began her ballet training at the age of four. She has attended summer ballet programs at Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Summer Stages: The Apprentice Program, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Acton School of Ballet. This is Fiona’s first season with Commonwealth Ballet Company. She has previously danced in non-Company roles in The Nutcracker, The Secret Garden, Beauty and the Beast, and The Nightingale. In this season’s The Nutcracker Fiona dances the role of Spanish Girl, and is in the Snow Corps and Flower Corps.

CECILIA VILLASEÑOR resides in Acton and began studying ballet at Acton School of Ballet in 2007. She has attended summer intensive programs at Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Acton School of Ballet. Ceci has performed in non-company roles in The Nutcracker. In this season’s The Nutcracker Ceci dances the role of Party Teen, and is in the Snow Corps and Flower Corps.

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 27 28 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 The Co mpany

KATE ZHONG lives in Acton and started to dance at the age of three. She has studied at Acton School of Ballet since 2006. Her summer intensive training includes: Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Acton School of Ballet. Kate joins Commonwealth Ballet this season after performing non-company roles in The Nutcracker, Beauty and The Beast, and The Secret Garden . In this season’s The Nutcracker Kate dances the roles of Party Teen, Chinese Girl and Merliton, and is in the Flower Corps.

JOY ZHONG resides in Acton and began her ballet studies in 2003 at Acton School of Ballet, where she is currently a teaching assistant for the pre-ballet class. She has attended summer intensive programs at American Repertory Ballet's Princeton Ballet, Next Generation Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet in both Connecticut and New York City, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Acton School of Ballet and Angel Dance Company where she had been a member between 2006 and 2012. Joy joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2011 and has danced in Stairway to Heaven, Canto Nuovo,Adjustable Wrench, Beauty and the Beast, Intrigue, and The Secret Garden. In this season’s The Nutcracker Joy dances the roles of Maid, Columbine, Russian Girl, Merliton and Dew Drop, and is in the Snow Corps.

C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 29 Index to Adver tisers

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 ...... 10 Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House . . .22 Acton Real Estate ...... 14 Margherita Santoro, D.D.S...... 12 Acton School of Ballet ...... 6 Peterman Architects, Inc ...... 12 Angel Performing Arts ...... 29 Reasons to be Cheerful ...... 18 Boston Children's Hospital ...... 12 Sven Supplies, D.M.D...... 26 Boxborough Insurance Agency ...... 26 Thomas Buckborough & Associates . .32 Caprara Law ...... 26 Top Dog Design ...... 30 Dance This Way ...... 8 Village Subaru ...... 2 Danny’s Place Youth Services ...... 8 Walnut Hill School for the Arts ...... 4 Enterprise Bank ...... 26 Westford Regency ...... 28 H. Ivan Orup, D.M.D...... 8 Workers' Credit Union ...... 14

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30 C OMMONWEALTH B ALLET 2014-2015 COMMONWEALTH BALLET CIR CADIAN H Y T H M

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