Artistic Director Thom Clower and BALLET ENSEMBLE OF TEXAS PRESENT

December 4-6, 2020 | Irving Arts Center Thom Clower, Ar�s�c Director Presents

SPRING 2021

YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX | JANUARY 29-31

A CELEBRATION OF DANCE | APRIL 9-11 MARIUS PETIPA’S SWAN LAKE ACT II MUSIC BY TCHAIKOVSKY GERALD ARPINO’S CONFETTI MUSIC BY ROSSINI GEORGE SKIBINE’S FIREBIRD MUSIC BY STRAVINSKY PLUS TWO WORLD PREMIERES

PETER & THE WOLF | MAY 2021 CHOREOGRAPHY ARRANGED BY LISA SLAGLE & THOM CLOWER MUSIC BY PROKOFIEV PERFORMED IN PLANO, IRVING & COPPELL

Funded in part of the City of Irving throught the Irving Arts Board. THE DIRECTORS

Lisa Slagle - Execu�ve Director

Lisa Slagle began performing in Musical Theatre at the age of five in her hometown of Ft. Worth, Texas, where she was regularly cast in Casa Manana’s Summer Musicals, most notably as “Baby June” in Gypsy. She began her professional dancing career at the age of eleven when she appeared as a solo dancer in the Elvis Presley movie, Clambake. Her ballet training con�nued in southern California with Anna Cheselka, Sallie Whalen, and George Zoritch, and later in Houston with James Clouser and Eugene Collins. Upon gradua- �on from high school she was offered a posi�on with the Joffrey Ballet in New York, where she stayed un�l 1979. While there she had the opportunity to perform leading roles in ballets by choreographers Agnes de Mille, Gerald Arpino, Frederick Ashton, August Bournonville and Twyla Tharp. In the 1980’s she performed as a Soloist with the Ballet du Grande Theatre de Geneve in Switzerland, under the direc�on of Oscar Araiz, and as a Principal Dancer with Tulsa Ballet Theatre under the direc�on of Roman Jasinski and Moscelyn Larkin.

Upon her re�rement, she started teaching ballet in the Dallas, Texas area, and in 1999 became the founding director of the Ballet Academy of Texas, located in the Dallas suburb of Coppell. The school has since received “Outstanding School” awards from the Youth America Grand Prix organiza�on in the Southwest regional trials for six out of ten years, as well as the “Outstanding Teacher” award for Ms. Slagle in 2006, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. She is the founding director of the pre-professional company, Ballet Ensemble of Texas, which was an Honor Company with the Regional Dance of America organiza�on for thirteen years. Many of her students are now dancing professionally both na�onally and interna�onally in such companies as American Ballet Theatre, Oklahoma City Ballet, Ballet West, and Colorado Ballet.

Ms. Slagle is on the Advisory Board for American Ballet Theatre’s Na�onal Training Curriculum, and has been a master teacher since 2007 for ABT’s various Summer Intensive workshops, teaching ballet, pointe, varia�ons, and character. In 2014 she was invited to be a master teacher for ballet and character classes for the Interna�onal Ballet Compe��on School in Jackson, Mississippi. Her school, Ballet Academy of Texas, will host ABT’s Young Dancer Workshop for the third �me in summer of 2020. In 2016 she had the pleasure of being a master teacher for the Regional Dance of America Northeast Fes�val in Erie, Pennsylvania, served in 2018 as the Adjudica- tor for their RDA/NE Fes�val, and is honored to serve as Adjudicator for the RDA/MID Fes�val in 2020. She has also been a master teacher as well as staged her choreography for such noted na�onal schools as the Orlando Ballet School, Washington School of Ballet, and the Interlochen School of the Arts.

Thom Clower - Ar�s�c Director, Ballet Ensemble of Texas

The 2018-2019 season began a new era as Thom Clower joined Ballet Ensemble of Texas as Ar�s�c Director, and the faculty of Ballet Academy of Texas. Mr. Clower has a long history with Lisa Slagle as a dance partner and a collaborator. Mr. Clower has staged Coppelia and The Firebird on the company twice, staged many concert works, and served as Master Teacher numerous �mes.

Known as an energe�c, inspiring teacher, Thom Clower’s approach has touched the lives and careers of dancers around the world for 45 years. He began his training with George Skibine and Marjorie Tallchief at Dallas Civic Ballet and received two Ford Founda�on Scholarships to School of American Ballet. He performed with Dallas Ballet eleven seasons, eventually serving as Ballet Master. Mr. Clower was Founding Ar�s�c Director of Ballet Dallas, Ballet Master of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ar�s�c Director of Yuma Ballet Theatre, Ballet Master for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and serves annually as Ballet Master for Stars of Tomorrow Interna�onal. As a representa�ve of the George Skibine Trust, Mr. Clower helps maintain the integrity of the Skibine ballets, staging them across the country.

Mr. Clower has been a guest teacher for Regional Dance America Fes�vals since 1992, including three of the four RDA Na�onal Fes�vals. He was Director of Ballet at numerous RDA Cra� of Choreography Conferences (NCI), and has been Ballet Faculty at The Glenda Brown Choreography Project numerous �mes. Mr. Clower has served five �mes as Adjudicator for RDA Fes�vals across the country.

Lindsey Yoes Daniel - Ballet Master

Lindsey Yoes Daniel is in her fi�h season as Ballet Ensemble of Texas’ Ballet Master. She received her training at the Ballet Academy of Texas and was a leading dancer with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas for several years. She has performed professionally with The Dallas Opera, Texas Dance Theatre, Larwell Produc�ons and Dallas Black Dance Theater II; where she was also the Assistant Director to Nycole Ray. Lindsey has worked with many renown choreographers, including Fernando Bujones and Gordon Pierce Schmidt. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, Psychology, and Development and Family Studies from University of North Texas, she a�ended University of Oklahoma on scholarship for collegiate dance training, and is cer�fied in the American Ballet Theatre Curriculum for the Primary Level through Level Three as well as cer�fied in Progressing Ballet Technique. She is very excited to be on the staff of Ballet Academy of Texas, for this is her ninth year teaching.

ABOUT THE DANCERS

Gabriel Speiller (Prince Charming) Gabriel Speiller is a na�ve New Yorker raised in Queens. He received a BFA in dance from Belhaven University where he received the Bezalel Award for outstand- ing ar�s�c achievement. Speiller has danced with Paul Taylor 2, Ad Deum Dance Company, as well as many project companies. He has performed in works by Bruce Wood,® Yin Yue, Katarzyna Skarpe- towska, Andy and Dionne Nobel, Bridget L. Moore, Albert Drake III, Joy Bollinger, and Kimi Nikaidoh. In addi�on, he has performed in dances by Kevin Jenkins, Jessica Gaynor, Randal Flinn, Steve Rooks, among others. Speiller teaches throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth area and has choreographed for Wanderlust Dance Project, Zion Dance Project, Frank Sinatra School of Performing Arts, Awakening Movement, Belhaven University, Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, and American College Dance Fes�val. Speiller joined Bruce Wood Dance in April 2016.

Pearl Smith (Cinderella) has been part of the Ballet Ensemble of Texas and the Professional Preparatory Program for four years. This past summer she a�ended Texas Ballet Theater’s summer intensive on full scholarship, in addi�on to being accepted to Oklahoma City Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. She was awarded Top 24 Senior Classical Solo the last two years and won Second Place in Pas de Deux at the 2019 Youth America Grand Prix, dancing Flemming Flindt’s Sommerdances with Akihiro Yoshimoto. In the 2019 Nutcracker she performed as the Sugar Plum Fairy, receiving rave reviews from Theaterjones. The most remarkable ballet that she has performed is George Balanchine’s Four Temperaments. A�er gradua�on she hopes to join a professional ballet company.

Dani van Creveld (Fairy God Mother) is 17 years old and has been part of the Ballet Ensemble for three years. She has also happily been part of the Professional Preparatory Program for one year. For the past two summers she has a�ended Burklyn Ballet Theater’s summer intensive on par�al scholarship, in addi�on to being accepted into and receiving scholarships from Next Genera�on Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and Boston Ballet. She was awarded two scholarships from The Dallas Dance Council in 2018 and 2019. In the 2019 Nutcracker she performed as lead Arabian and received wonderful reviews from Theaterjones. A�er gradua�on she hopes to go to college and study to become a therapist that specializes with dancers.

Eden Lim (Spring Fairy) is 15 years old and is in her fi�h year with the Ballet Academy of Texas and is a student in the Academy's Professional Preparatory Program. Eden has a�ended Colorado Ballet's summer intensive and this past summer a�ended the Glenda Brown Choreography Project on scholarship. She is dancing her third season with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas, and has had the joy of performing in Napoli, Diamonds, Unity, Nightcrawlers, Gaîté Parisienne and Generation .# She has enjoyed past roles in The Nutcracker including Cupid, Ballerina Doll, Chinese, Waltz of the Flowers, Snowflake, Mirliton Lead, Clara (2018), and this past year performed as the Snow Queen.

Kate Durden (Summer Fairy) is 15 years old. She passionately par�cipates in the Professional Preparatory Program for home schooled students at the Ballet Academy of Texas (BAT). Kate’s love of ballet began at a young age in East Texas. She commuted BAT part-�me for two years and has been full-�me for three. Kate a�ended ABT Summer Intensives in NY, TX, CA, and Texas Ballet Theatre in Ft. Worth. This is Kate’s third year with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas. Past roles include Clara, Lead Mirliton, Snow, Lead Hungarian, Cupid, and Waltz of The Flowers.

Amber Li (Autumn Fairy) is 16 years old and has been dancing with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas for two years. She was invited to a�end the Colorado Ballet and Kaatsbaan summer intensives in 2019, as well as being invited to take part in the New York YAGP finals for her solo and ensemble pieces earlier this year. Ballet aside, Amber enjoys exploring her ar�s�c crea�vity through various other mediums, such as figure drawings, oil pain�ng, digital art, photography and fashion. She wishes to extend this explora�on a�er gradua�on in hopes of sharing her passion for the arts to the world.

Avery Jerina (Winter Fairy) is 17 years old and has been part of the Ballet Ensemble for three years. In the past, she a�ended two American Ballet Theatre summer intensives in 2016 and 2017, as well as the Colorado Ballet summer intensive in 2019. In addi�on to that, she was awarded a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School summer intensive in 2017 with an invita�on to take part in their trainee program. In her free �me outside of dance, Avery loves to travel, spend �me with friends & family, and prac�ce photography. A�er gradua�on, Avery hopes to pursue film or photography and con�nue to dance on the side.

Rouge Neige (Step Sister-Fabulousa) made her first public appearance in a KGB lineup under dubious circumstances. A�er a seven-year-to-life hiatus, she now returns to her adoring fans. When ques�oned about her forced sabba�cal, Rouge's only comment was "I did it for Art's sake." Art said nothing however.

Izquierdista Verano (Step Sister - Marvelosa) was discovered, along with Raspu�n’s boot, adri� in a basket on the River Neva by kindly peasants. Her debut at the Maryinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg was marred by her overzealous grand jete into the Tsar’s box, impaling a Grand Duchess. Banished from Russia, she made her way arduously to New York, where she founded - and s�ll directs - the Ecole de Ballet de Hard-Nox. Her most famous exercise is the warm-up, which consists of a mar�ni and an elevator.

(Thank you to Peter Anastos for biography assistance!) CINDERELLA Music: Serge Prokofiev Choreography: Original Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton Recreated And Restaged: Thom Clower A�er Anne Burton Avery

ACT 1– The Invita�on Scene 1 – Cinderella’s Kitchen The ragged and overworked Cinderella, at the mercy of her vain and shrewish Stepmother, is obliged to work hard by cleaning the house with the help of her only friends, the mice and the birds. The two ugly Stepsisters constantly abuse the shabby girl, who is potentially beautiful. When the invitation to the Prince’s Ball arrives, the “ladies” practice their dance steps. Cinderella is ignored in the busy preparations to attend the ball, and they depart, leaving Cinderella hapless and hopeless in her ragged and threadbare clothes by the hearth. The Fairy Godmother first appears as an old hag asking for alms to test the goodness of Cinderella's heart. After receiving crumbs from the poor girl's breadbasket, the old hag reveals herself as The Fairy Godmother.

Cinderella - Pearl Smith

The Birds Peyton Finn, Vanessa Jenks, Rose Sombito, Avery Stafford

The Mice Sophie Chris�e-Smith, Rita Marie Hicks, Melanie Larson, Megan Li

The Family The Stepmother Superbia - Dame I’ve Got Pre�y Hairsava The Cat Luxuria - Marissa Thompson The Stepsisters - Fabulousa: Rouge Neige and Marvelousa: Izquierdista Verano

The Cour�er - Patrick Simons

Scene 2 – The Transforma�on in The Enchanted Garden The Fairy Godmother leads Cinderella into an enchanted garden. With the help of the four generous season fairies and their gifts, Cinderella is adorned and encouraged to attend the ball. The gifts are beautiful glistening shoes, a filmy cape, a brilliant tiara, a magic pumpkin which turns into a coach with beautiful white dancing horses to pull it. The Fairy Court wishes to speed Cinderella's journey to the ball, but The Fairy Godmother cautions that Cinderella must return to her house before midnight, or the magic spell will be broken.

The Fairy Godmother - Dani van Creveld

The Season Fairies Spring Fairy - Eden Lim, Summer Fairy - Kate Durden, Autumn Fairy - Amber Li, Winter Fairy - Avery Jerina

The Sapphire Fairies Evelyn Bales, Gillian Brown, Skyler Clay, Isabella Desabrais, Anna Dang, Victoria Gonzalez, Mary Gu�errez, Malia Hall, Miisha Masterson, Charley David, Maria Salman, Grace Weir

The Royal Licorn - Luke Gentry, Will O’Gorman

The Dragonflies Audrey Amundson, Eden Cameron, Molly Drechsler, Sofia Exposito, Olivia Guerra, Savannah Harvey, Allison Jacobs, Namrata Menon, Emma Minor, Gabriella Nieto-Pessoa, Alyssa O’Gorman, Natalie Roles, Anna Rodriguez, Claire Wang, Sadie Wiethoff, Emma Zhao, Nina Zucconi

The Fireflies Lucy Clark, Lilly Danko, Bailey Fisher, Evelina Gomez, Eva Hopkin, Tiffany Jang, Nicole�e Jidkov, Arim Kim, Nina Niebuhr, Gauri Parab, Ingrid Pomposhova, Cori Shannon, Lillian Tainter, Lauren Tang, Jane Thurgood, Audrey Yoes-Gillings

The Bu�erflies Audrey Kate Daniel, Arabella Erfe, Giada Ericksen, Elise Faber, Carrington Foland, Alexandria Harvey, Anouk Houdier, Trisha Khatua, Sophia Medina, Hanako Nishihara, Mariana Roque, Anisa Sanders, Lydia Simmons, Payton Woods

The Magical A�endants Anju Anand, Kadance Cunningham, Sofia Grafflin, Victoria Hertel, Alexa Navarro, Olivia Reagor, Trisha Sengupta ACT 2 – The Ball Scene 1 - The Palace

Members of the Court dance, and when the Prince arrives, the Court Jester entertains. Mazurka dancers in their colorful character costumes perform. Princesses from various lands are presented to the Prince as possible choices for his future wife. The Fairy Godmother arrives along with the Sapphire Fairies who charm the courtiers and other guests at the ball. At a dramatic moment, Cinderella arrives, and the Prince immediately falls madly in love with her. The ugly Stepsisters and Stepmother try to gain the Prince’s favor by dancing for the King and Queen, but with no success. After a lovely, tender pas de deux the happy couple are torn apart by the clock striking midnight. The Fairy Godmother appears again to warn Cinderella that the spell will soon be broken. As the last stroke of midnight sounds, Cinderella runs frantically from the ballroom, but in her haste, she leaves behind one of her beautiful slippers. The Prince discovers Cinderella’s shoe and sets out to find her.

Cinderella - Pearl Smith

Prince Charming - Gabriel Speiller*

The Family, The Fairy Godmother, The Season Fairies, The Sapphire Fairies, The Chamberlain, The Dragonflies, The Fireflies

The Court Jester - Joseph Dang The King and Queen - John Durden, Mair Cawston The Chamberlain - Luke Gentry The Cour�er - Will O’Gorman

Mazurka Evelyn Bales, Gillian Brown, Mary Gu�errez, Malia Hall, Grace Weir, Adrian Fite, Gavin Kippes, Kyler Valen�ne

Waltz Stanzi Castella, Peyton Finn, Vanessa Jenks, Paola Hernandez, Micah Huber, Jessica Liang, Campbell Reed, Rose Sombito, Avery Stafford

The Noblemen Ben Nemmers, Trevin Ralph

The Princesses Spanish - Isabella Desabrais, Russian - Miisha Masterson, Egyp�an - Victoria Gonzalez, French - Anna Dang

A�endants Ava Barre�, Amy Cheng, Lauren Cho, Ava Daniel, Maya Dorrity, Julia Gawel, Ellie Heatherington, Iris Kim, Annabelle Knight, Abigail Miller, Sophia Moralez, Madison Niebuhr, Viktoria Pomposhova, Emma Santos, Julia Savova, Allegra Scheuing, Emma-Kate Swenson, Marissa Thompson, Abigail Thurgood

The Court Audrey Dunn, Katelynn Kim, Stephanie Lutz, Reagan Nasky, Shiloh Peterson, Danica Xiao, Adrian Fite, Gavin Kippes, Ben Nemmers, Trevin Ralphs, Patrick Simons, Kyler Valen�ne

ACT 3 – The Slipper Scene 1 – The Morning A�er Sitting by the fire, Cinderella think she has only dreamed about the Ball. She finds the slipper in her apron and knows that she really did dance with the Prince. The Stepsisters, feeling poorly after the rough night, taunt Cinderella unmercifully. Suddenly, a Royal Procession announces that the Prince wishes to find the owner of the shoe that was left behind at the ball. Try as they may, the Stepsisters and Stepmother cannot stuff there calamitous clompers in the slipper. When the matching slipper falls from Cinderella's apron, the Prince sees it, and realizes that he has found the one for whom he has been searching! The Prince and Cinderella embrace, and the family is speechless when the Prince announces that she will be his bride!

Scene 2 – Going To The Happy Kingdom The Fairy Godmother appears, waves her magic wand and transports the wedding couple to a land of enchantment amid the fairies. Cinderella and her Prince live happily ever after! CREDITS

Stage Manager: Lisa Slagle Client Protocol Coordinator and Assistant to the Director: Heather King Ligh�ng Director: Julie Hohman Wardrobe Mistress: Gayel Smith Seamstresses: Amy Miller, Renee Phillips Costume Team: Cathy Castella, Dana Huber, Susan Li, Chisato Masterson, Alana Ralphs, Libbie Reed, Victoria Stafford Props: Rachel Fite Backstage Crew: Irving Arts Center Staff, Rachel Fite, Dany Smith, Sarah Brown, Cheryl Moore Photography: Cathy Vanover Photography Design/Graphics: Mair Cawston, Heather King Videography: DFW Mul�media Publicity/Electronic Media: B. Kevin Stewart, Mair Cawston, Heather King, Thom Clower, Lindsey Daniel, Ingrid Slagle Usher Coordinator: Jessica Nemmers Community Outreach: Jennifer Wheeler

Special Thanks To: Kass Prince, Andy Pate, Ruben Rosas, John Aspholm & Staff of Irving Arts Center

…and Mr. Thom would like to say THANK YOU to all the addi�onal BAT/BET volunteer angels who have made this produc�on possible!

Thank you to the Ensemble’s 2019-20 Program Advertising Sponsors

Avery’s Face Painting Bailey Orthodontics Bliss Orthodontics Children’s Dental Specialists Diamond Factory – Dallas Ebby Halliday Realty – Anna Hudson Ebby Halliday Realty – George Clift Freedom Windows Gary L. Brueggeman, Attorney at Law Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa - Coppell Joodle Jack The Law Office of Maduforo & Osimiri, PLLC Lingenfelter Custom Homes Norway Irrigation Paradise Fruits & Vegetables Plano Symphony Orchestra Pure Water Technology of North Texas Ruby Olivia Photography Southcoast Produce Steele Dental Suffolk Dance Boutique Turner Massey Realty Unique Cakes by Paola United Fresh Produce Waddell and Reed, Inc.