Spring Performance 2021 Program New England Academy of Dance & New England Dance Theater Present Swan Lake featuring The Company Anaya Agard 4 Alexondra Banford 4 Avery Baumel Abby Bouton 4 Addie Cannon 4 Charlotte Cape Katie Cota 4 Ava Fonss 4 Olivia Golden Madison Grenauer 4 Anna Grzymski 4 Alison LaForce Jamie Leahy 4 Morgan LeBlanc 4 Olivia Licata Samantha Markey 4 Julia Paine 4 Paige Phillips Julia Sarda 4 Evelyn Slatoff 4 Katie Stute Emily Twitchell 4 Maeson Wagner 4 Ella Grace Woraker The Enrichment Chloe Bortel 4 Annabelle Bristol 4 Elizabeth Cheng Alexandra Cota 4 Page Fields 4 Alessandra Gass Noa Gottlieb 4 Maddie Iulo 4 Zoe Jones Meredith Knauf 4 Ella Konrad 4 Ella Kurtz Sierra Lowell 4 Zara Maggard 4 Sadie Murphy Anna Paterson 4 Elly Patterson 4 Simone Snow Margaret Turner 4 Addison Welling Guest Artists Kenny Corrigan 4 Marc LaPierre 4 Charles Scheland Founder Doris Driver Directors Frances Ortiz Ginna Ortiz Ted Thomas Assitant Director Danielle Presar Lighting Design Kevin Gleason Credits Rehearsal Directors Ginna Ortiz Frances Ortiz Ted Thomas Benefit Show Jeanne Collins Booster Ads Samantha Goldman Amedee Maggard Costume Chair France Ortiz Costume Mistress Nicole Roque Costume Volunteers Mimi Leahy Tina Phillips Peggy Twitchell Anne Wagner Dance Physical Therapist Samara DiMattia Flowers Carriage Barn Flower Chair Anne Wagner Hair and Makeup Robyn Jones Headpieces Kristin Ruggieri Lighting Designer Kevin Gleason Music Editing Ted Thomas Photography Sarah Starling Poster Chairs Amedee Maggard Ginna Ortiz Poster Design Samantha Goldman Poster Distribution Jennifer Acerra-Markey Emily Cannon Alison Cape Kristen Grzymski Kate Licata Julie Murphy Yvette Slatoff Suzanne Turner Program Samantha Goldman Publicity Amedee Maggard Ginna Ortiz Rehearsal Assistants Danielle Presar Stage Managers Chelsey Thomas Tickets Amedee Maggard Volunteer Coordinator Tina Phillips Volunteers Katie Golden Emily Konrad Jennifer LaForce NEDT Board Anne Wagner Peggy Twitchell Tina Phillips Jeanne Collins Alberto Cota Beth DiRusso Meg Joyce Amedee Maggard Frances Ortiz Who’s Who - Directors Ginna Ortiz (Co-Director) received a BFA from SUNY Purchase. In recent years, she has danced professionally with the Dance Theater of Harlem and has been a guest teacher at Yale University. Ginna is a company member and rehearsal director with Thomas/ Ortiz Dance. She has been a teacher at New England Academy of Dance since 1996 and become co-director in 2003. Frances Ortiz (Co-Director) obtained a BFA from SUNY Purchase and a Masters in Dance Education from NYU. She received scholarships to the Dance Theater of Harlem, the Martha Graham School and the Alvin Ailey School. She has performed works by Kevin Wynn, Elisa Monte and Tim Martins among others. Her choreography has been showcased on PBS in City Arts. In 2002 Ms. Ortiz co-founded Thomas/Ortiz Dance with Ted Thomas. She is currently a teacher at Greenwich High School and the co-director of New England Academy of Dance. Ted Thomas (Associate Director) received his BFA from SUNY Purchase and his MA in Dance Education from NYU. He has performed with Ballet Hispanico, the Elise Monte Dance Company, The Paul Taylor Dance Company and the Nikolais/Louis Dance Company. In 2002 Mr. Thomas co-founded Thomas/Ortiz with Frances Ortiz. This year he was awarded the 2018 Connecticut Fellow for Artistic Excellence in Ballet, Modern and Choreography. Who’s Who - Guest Artists Kenny Corrigan (Prince Siegfried) is a native of Southwick, Massachusetts, currently residing in New York City as a freelance performer. He has studied in various forms of dance from acrobatics and ballet, to tap, jazz and hip-hop. Kenny received his BFA from Point Park University with a concentration in modern dance. Since then, he has worked with several dance companies such as Texture Contemporary Ballet, Bad Boys of Dance, Sheep Meadow Dance Theatre, Freckled Sky and Buglisi Dance Theatre. Kenny was featured on Season 9 of Americas Got Talent with the group Bad Boys of Ballet, making it all the way to the Semi-Finals. Kenny has been fortunate to dance for artists such as Silentó, Neil Patrick Harris, Karlie Kloss, Harry Styles and Jimmy Fallon. Kenny has toured through Europe with Sweetbird Productions, leading the show, “Best of Rock the Ballet”, as well as performing the role of Romeo in “Rasta Thomas’ Romeo and Juliet”. Most recently, Kenny performed throughout China and Taiwan with Christopher Wheeldon’s “An American in Paris” for their first international tour. He is grateful that his career has given him the opportunity to travel the world, and looks forward to seeing what the future has in store. Marc LaPierre (Pas de Trois, Neopolitan Divertissement) began his early training at Ballet Etudes in Norwalk CT under the direction of Nanette Vallas. While at Ballet Etudes he trained closely with Christina Fagundes. Later on, he attended Ballet Academy east in New York City under the direction of Darla Hoover. At age 16 Marc furthered his training at The School of American Ballet. After graduating he received a Corps de ballet contract with Los Angeles Ballet, where he had the pleasure of dancing works by August Bournonville, George Balanchine, Aszure Barton and Alejandro Cerrudo. He also had the opportunity to teach in the LAB school, working closely with the young men’s division. Two years later he joined Oregon ballet Theatre as an apprentice, being promoted to corps de ballet in his second season. During his time with OBT, he had the opportunity to dance works by Alvin Ailey, Ben Stevenson, Nicolo Fonte, Christopher Stowell, and Trey MyIntyre. He had the opportunity to teach this past year at NEAD. Marc will be joining Smuin Ballet this fall. Charles Scheland (Rothbart) grew up in Germany, Austria, and the Washington DC area and graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University in the Ailey/ Fordham BFA in Dance program double majoring in Dance and Economics with departmental honors in both Dance and Economics. An alumnus of Jacob’s Pillow’s Contemporary Program, he has danced for RIOULT Dance NY, Michael Mao Dance, Awaken Dance Theater, Choreographer’s Collaboration Project, Princeton Dance Theater, and Vertical Shadows Dance Company. He has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Elana Anderson, Robert Battle, Clifton Brown, Amy Hall Garner, Tracy Inman, Jae Man Joo, Bill T. Jones, Jessica Lang, Michael Mao, Milton Myers, Elizabeth Roxas- Dobrish, Pascal Rioult, Henning Rübsam, Paul Taylor, and others. Charles has taught ballet, Horton technique, and the repertory of Michael Mao, domestically and internationally, as well as demonstrated for Milton Myers. Charles’ choreography is frequently presented both in- person and virtually under the company name, CES Danceworks. www.charlesescheland.com Who’s Who - Leading Roles Olivia Golden (Black Swan) is 17 years old and a senior at Darien High School. Olivia started dancing at the New England Academy of Dance at the age of four. She has enjoyed dancing many roles in the Nutcracker and other performances including her most recent portrayal of Kissing Doll in the NEAD production of the Nutcracker. Olivia has attended summer intensives at Bolshoi Ballet Academy and ABT. When she’s not dancing, Olivia enjoys swimming on her high school team. This is Olivia’s 11th year performing in shows at NEAD. Olivia would like to thank her artistic directors, Ted, Ginna and Frances for their support and encouragement and congratulates the entire cast and crew on an outstanding performance. Maddie Grenauer (Swan Maiden, Pas de Trio) is 17 years old and a senior at New Canaan High School. Maddie started dancing at the age of three and she joined New England Academy of Dance at the age of 11. This is her 7th and final Nutcracker with NEAD. She has participated in several summer programs including Bolshoi Ballet Academy for three years and Rosella HighTower in Cannes, France. She hopes to continue her passion for ballet through college whether that be through an extracurricular or a minor in ballet. Maddie would like to thank the directors, Ms. Ginna, Ms. Frances, and Mr. Ted along with all of her teachers as she appreciates all the love and support they have given her through this wonderful journey. Olivia Licata (White Swan, Spanish Divertissement) is 17 years old and a senior at New Canaan High School. Olivia began dancing ballet at the New England Academy of Dance at age four. Since that time she has preformed in over 25 shows in New Canaan, Norwalk and New York City with NEAD. During the summers Olivia has attended the American Academy of Ballet intensive and studied under Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky. Olivia was honored to be Snow Queen in her twelfth and final Nutcracker. She is incredibly grateful to Mr. Ted, Ms. Ginna, Ms. Frances and Ms. Mary Lynn for their continuous support and especially for working hard to make this year’s performances so special. Katie Stute (White Swan Lead) is a junior at St. Luke’s School. Katie began dancing at NEAD at the age of four and this is her 12th Nutcracker. In addition to her traditional training at NEAD, Katie competed for 3 years in the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and The Connecticut Classic ballet competitions. Katie has also danced for multiple summers with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy as well as The Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Irina and Maxim and ABT. Katie would like to thank the directors for their dedication to providing dance instruction and performance opportunities throughout the pandemic and send special congratulations to the Seniors as they all dance this special performance together. NEAD Seniors 2020-2021 Company 2020-2021 The Story Act I Scene I Princess Odette is taking a walk along the shore of the lake. She meets a mysterious stranger who frightens her.