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Home , BalletMet, Benjamin Millepied, Holly Hynes, Jewels (ballet), Melissa Barak, Robert Fairchild

BARAK JUN 29 – 30 / 7:30 PM

Melissa Barak, artistic director

ensemble Sadie Black, Xuan Cheng, Julia Erickson, Jessica Gadzinski, Zachary Guthier, Stephanie Kim, Robert Mulvey, Francisco Preciado, Brian Simcoe, Tiffany Smith, Evan Swenson, Lauren Veyette, Jorge Villarini, Hannah Wilcox © Nick Rasmussen © Nick

There will be one 15-minute intermission.

38 PROGRAM World premiere: June 24, 2017, The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, CA Cypher Choreography by This ballet has been made possible by a Music by Molly Joyce generous grant from the Edward F. Limato Costume design by Foundation. Lighting design by Nathan Scheuer Dancers: Xuan Cheng, Jessica Gadzinski, COMPANY CREDITS Zachary Guthier, Brian Simcoe, Tiffany Artistic Director: Melissa Barak Smith, Lauren Veyette Board of Directors: Rachel Weber (Chair), World premiere: June 29, 2018, The Broad Julia Cherlow, Craig Olsen, Dr. Michael Stage in Santa Monica, CA Sheps, Victoria Yust Production Manager: Nathan Scheuer This ballet has been made possible by a Costume Mistress: Ruth Fentroy generous grant from the Virginia B. Toulmin Company Chiropractor: Dr. Michael Sheps Foundation. Company Assistant: Paloma Connolly Rehearsal Coordinator: Francine Taylor Desert Transport Choreography by Nicolas Blanc BARAK BALLET SUPPORTERS Music by Mason Bates Costume design by Ruth Fentroy and Producer’s Circle ($25,000+): The Edward Nicolas Blanc F. Limato Foundation, Lloyd E. Rigler Lighting design by Nathan Scheuer - Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation, Dancers: Sadie Black, Julia Erickson, Westside School of Ballet Stephanie Kim, Robert Mulvey, Francisco New Choreography Fund ($10,000+): Preciado, Evan Swenson, Jorge Villarini, Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, The Joyce Hannah Wilcox Theater Foundation, Inc., California World premiere: June 29, 2018, The Broad Community Foundation Stage in Santa Monica, CA Artist Sponsors ($5,000+): Terri and Kim This ballet has been made possible by Avila, Bill Bloomfield, Thao and Sherman a generous grant from the Lloyd E. Rigler - Ma, Dr. Michael Sheps, Victoria Yust and Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation. Ian Mcllvaine Collaboration Fund ($2,500+): Justin Intermission Connolly, Sharon Christie, Anna Sanders Eigler, Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family E/SPACE Foundation, Rachel Weber Choreography by Melissa Barak Music by David Lawrence Costume Fund ($1,000+): Elizabeth and Media design by Refik Anadol Stanislas Debreu, Patricia and Gregory Costume design by Holly Hynes Penske, Kathy and Michael Moray, Lee Lighting design by Nathan Scheuer and Ann Cooper, Toshiko Honda, Warren Dancers: Sadie Black, Julia Erickson, Weber, Elisabeth and Bryan Wolf Jessica Gadzinski, Zachary Guthier, Pointe Shoe Fund ($500+): Jeff Assaf, Francisco Preciado, Tiffany Smith, Lauren Hannah Cox, Mary and Peter Gross, Veyette, Jorge Villarini, Hannah Wilcox Melissa Reid and David Lillard, Virginia

VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 39 Coffin, Robert Schulman, Patricia Brown, June Workshop performance that quickly Mithra Sheybani and William Schoenholz followed up with encore performances Encore Circle ($250+): Austin and Virginia on NYCB the following season. Later that Beutner, Joel Cherlow, Jacquelyn Frohlich, year, another choreographic commission Ellen McCormick, Dea Benson, Jeff Plass, was offered by NYCB for their prestigious Ken Wells, Susanne Meline, Richard and Diamond Project, making her, at the time, the Leslie Curtis, Deborah Collodel, Philippe youngest choreographer to create an original Perebinosoff, Maya Varnell work on the company. She has created new works for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Friends ($100+): Bosko Family Trust, Bradley Richmond Ballet, , American Bernstein, Sara and Steven Boyers, Susan Repertory Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Los Friedman, Hilary and Bayard Maybank, Tracy Angeles Ballet and, of course, Barak Ballet. Kinell, Carla and Gerald Du Manoir, Andrea She has had the honor of choreographing Tracy, Michele Yacso, Renae Niles, Becca on dance luminaries , , Hartmeier, Clara and Larry Yust, John and and Robert Fairchild. In Gia Thompson, Christina Benson, Andreana 2009 and 2010, she was invited to return to Berry, Patricia Brown, Mark Kelsey, Marie the where she created Maclennan, Margaret Nevins, Melissa Oman, two more works, A Simple Symphony and Call Kenneth Phillips, Desiree Samuels, Catharine Me Ben respectively. Her film and commercial Soros, Sandra Wisot credits include original choreography for Mattel’s feature film in the Pink Shoes, 2017/18 Fiscal Year Xayron in Hungary, Illusions in China and a Samsung commercial working alongside ARTIST BIOS director Mark Romanek. Melissa has been CHOREOGRAPHERS awarded the Mae L. Wein and Choo San Goh awards for Outstanding Choreography and MELISSA BARAK is a choreographer and has been named a Dance Magazine “Top 25 former professional dancer with New York to Watch.” City Ballet (NYCB) and . Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Barak After a 13 year career as a ballet dancer, began her ballet training at the age of eight Barak sought to focus on her work as a at Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica, choreographer and to build a company CA under the direction of Yvonne Mounsey dynamic based upon personal philosophies and Rosemary Valaire. Her training continued deeply rooted in the significance of the in New York City at the School of American human spirit, true collaboration, individuality Ballet (SAB), the official school of NYCB. In and artistic maturity. 1998, Barak was invited to join NYCB where NICOLAS BLANC started his dance training she performed in numerous works by George in Montauban, France, continuing at the Balanchine and as well as ‘Academie de Danse Classique Princesse originating roles in new by Christopher Grace’ in Monte-Carlo. After winning a Wheeldon, Eliot Feld and Robert Garland, scholarship in the 1994 , he among others. completed his education at the Paris Opera Barak began exploring her choreographic Ballet School. He went on to dance for Nice talents throughout her time at SAB and NYCB. Opera Ballet, Deutsche Oper am Rhein in At the age of 21, she premiered her work Dusseldorf, Zurich Ballet and San Francisco Telemann Overture Suite in E Minor at the SAB Ballet, where he was made Principal Dancer

40 MAY/JUN 2018 in 2004. His repertoire included lead roles in 2013. She has also danced with Guangzhou in Balanchine’s , , Ballet of China, La La La Human Steps and Les Divertimento no 15, Grands Ballets Canadiens. and pas de deux. He also danced the leads in Robbins’ and Mats Ek’s JULIA ERICKSON is a Seattle, WA native Carmen, Benvolio and Mercutio in Romeo and celebrated, longtime principal with and Juliet and Cavalier in , Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. This season marks and danced in various ballets by Mark Morris. Julia’s second with Barak Ballet. Blanc originated roles in Wheeldon’s Rush and Quaternary; Welch’s Falling and Naked, JESSICA GADZINSKI is from Riverside, CA Possokov’s Study in Motion and Reflections; and has danced with Barak Ballet since 2013. and Tomasson’s 7 for Eight and Blue Rose. She has performed works by artistic director Blanc was awarded a special prize in Melissa Barak as well as choreographers Frank performing arts by the city of Dusseldorf Chaves, Norbert de la Cruz, Nicolo Fonte and in 1998, and a special award of recognition Pascal Rioult. by his hometown in 2004 (and 2013), and ZACHARY GUTHIER is from Madison, he was named one of the “25 to Watch” by Wisconsin and was the recipient of the Dance Magazine. In 2010, he was nominated Rudolph Nureyev Scholarship during his time with Tina LeBlanc for an Isadora Duncan at the School of in New York. Dance Award (Best Ensemble in Wheeldon’s This is Zachary’s second season with Barak Within The Golden Hour). Blanc was Ballet. He also dances with California Ballet in selected to participate in the 2015 National San Diego, CA. Choreographers Initiative (NCI) and created Orphee, which was presented at the Barclay STEPHANIE KIM hails from Northern Theater in Irvine, CA. He was also chosen to California. She has danced with Barak Ballet participate in New York City Ballet’s New York since the fall of 2015 while juggling a busy Choreographic Institute where he created schedule as a model and commercial dancer. Mothership, which premiered at New York City Ballet’s 2016 Spring Gala. Earlier this ROBERT MULVEY is originally from year he premiered Beyond the Shore on the Washington, D.C. This is his second season to critical acclaim. Desert with Barak Ballet and first time working with Transport marks his second choreographic choreographer Nicolas Blanc. commission for Barak Ballet. FRANCISCO PRECIADO trained at Los DANCERS Angeles Ballet Academy in Encino, CA. This marks his first season with Barak SADIE BLACK is from Long Beach, CA. and Ballet. He joined Memphis Ballet in 2017 has been dancing with Barak Ballet since and has performed works by a variety of 2014. She has danced professionally with choreographers including Jessica Lang, Jorma , Columbia City Ballet and Elo and Ohad Naharin. Los Angeles Ballet. BRIAN SIMCOE is from Grants Pass, Oregon XUAN CHENG is from Chen Zhou, Hu Nan and currently a principal dancer with Oregon Province of China. Currently a principal with Ballet Theater. He has performed with Oregon Ballet Theater, she has performed Barak Ballet numerous times, including the with Barak Ballet numerous times including company’s official launch performance in the company’s official launch performance 2013.

MAY/JUN 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 41 TIFFANY SMITH is from Portsmouth, New Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Hampshire. This marks her first season Symphony Orchestra, and the New Juilliard, with Barak Ballet. She has also danced Decoda, and Contemporaneous ensembles. professionally with Nashville Ballet, Milwaukee Additionally, her work has been performed at Ballet and Missouri Ballet Theatre. She is TEDxMidAtlantic, Bang on a Can Marathon and currently a soloist with California Ballet. VisionIntoArt’s FERUS Festival, and featured in outlets such as Pitchfork, WNYC’s New EVAN SWENSON trained and performed with Sounds, Q2 Music, I Care If You Listen and The before working with Atlanta Log Journal. Ballet and New York Theater Ballet. This is Evan’s fifth season working with Barak Ballet. Her debut EP, Lean Back and Release, was released in January 2017 on New Amsterdam LAUREN VEYETTE is originally from Orlando. Records to much acclaim. Featuring violinists FL. Formerly a principal dancer with Monica Germino and Adrianna Mateo, the and currently a principal EP was praised as “energetic, heady and soloist with , she has blisteringly emotive” by Paste Magazine and performed works by , “arresting” by Textura. Additionally, Molly’s , Jiri Kylian and many others. This piece Rave was included on pianist Vicky is Lauren’s first season with Barak Ballet. Chow’s recent album on New Amsterdam, and the work was subsequently featured on JORGE VILLARINI hails from San Juan, Puerto Pitchfork and WNYC’s New Sounds. Rico. He has danced professionally with As a performer, Molly often plays on her BalletMet, Martha Graham Dance Company vintage toy organ, an instrument she bought and . This is his first on eBay and has performed on in multiple season with Barak Ballet. capacities, including solo, with toy piano and with a beatboxer. She is additionally active as HANNAH WILCOX is from Santa Clarita, CA. a DJ, spinning under the moniker “DJ MJ.” This is Hannah’s third season with Barak Ballet. She is a former member of Grand MASON BATES was recently named the Rapids Ballet under the direction of Patricia most-performed composer of his generation Barker. and the 2018 Composer of the Year by Musical America. Bates serves as the first COMPOSERS composer-in-residence of the Kennedy MOLLY JOYCE is a composer and active Center for the Performing Arts. Championed performer whose music has been described by legendary conductors such as Riccardo as “impassioned” (The Washington Post), Muti, Michael Tilson Thomas and Leonard written to “superb effect” (The Wire) and Slatkin, his symphonic music is the first “energetic, heady and blisteringly emotive” to receive widespread acceptance for its (Paste Magazine). Joyce studied at The unique integration of electronic sounds, Juilliard School (graduating with scholastic and his opera The (R)evolution of Steve distinction), the Royal Conservatory in Jobs was hailed as one of the best-selling The Hague as a recipient of the Frank productions in the history of Santa Fe Opera. Huntington Beebe Fund Grant, and the As both a DJ and a curator, he has become Yale School of Music. Her works have been a visible advocate for bringing new music to commissioned and performed by several new spaces, whether through institutional distinguished ensembles including the New partnerships such as his former residency World Symphony, New York Youth Symphony, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, or

42 MAY/JUN 2018 through his club/classical project Mercury Photography and Video. Soul, which transforms commercial clubs As a media artist, designer and spatial into exciting hybrid musical events. He has thinker, Refik Anadol is intrigued by the ways also composed for films, including Gus Van in which the transformation of the subject of Sant’s starring Matthew The Sea of Trees contemporary culture requires rethinking of McConaughey and Naomi Watts. the new aesthetic, technique and dynamic perception of space. Anadol builds his works DAVID LAWRENCE is a film and television composer and songwriter/producer whose on the nomadic subject’s reaction to and scores and songs can be heard in the interactions with unconventional spatial orientations. Embedding media arts into American Pie series, Jericho (cult hit for architecture, he questions the possibility of CBS), Muppet Classic Theatre, Frank Oz, a post digital architectural future in which the High School Musical trilogy, Disney’s The there are no more non-digital realities. He Descendants (for which he received a 2016 Primetime Emmy Nomination for Best Original invites the viewers to visualize alternative realities by presenting them the possibility Score) and the HBO documentary Becoming of re-defining the functionalities of both Mike Nichols. He has been commissioned to write three ballets for Barak Ballet and interior and exterior architectural formations. Anadol’s work suggests that all spaces and composed the music for the Lake of Dreams show at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. He is a facades have potentials to be utilized as the two time recipient of the ASCAP Award for media artists’ canvases. Most Performed Film Score and a graduate He has been given awards, residencies of the Mannes Conservatory of Music. He is and has served as a guest lecturer. He the son of singers Steve Lawrence and Eydie is the recipient of a number of awards Gorme. He currently live in Los Angeles with including Microsoft Research’s Best Vision his wife/collaborator Faye Greenberg. Award, German Design Award, UCLA Art+Architecture Moss Award, University MEDIA ARTIST of California Institute for Research in the Arts Award, SEGD Global Design Award and REFIK ANADOL is a media artist and director Google’s Art and Machine Intelligence Artist born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1985, and Residency Award. His site-specific audio/ currently lives and works in Los Angeles, visual performances have been seen in Walt CA. He is a lecturer and visiting researcher Disney Concert Hall (USA), Hammer Museum at UCLA’s Department of Design Media Arts. (USA), International Digital Arts Biennial Anadol works in the fields of site-specific Montreal (Canada), Ars Electronica Festival public art, with parametric data sculpture (Austria), l’Usine | Genève (Switzerland), Arc approach, and live audio/visual performance, De Triomf (Spain), Zollverein | SANAA’s School with an immersive installation approach. of Design Building (Germany), santralistanbul Particularly, his works explore the space Contemporary Art Center (Turkey), Outdoor among digital and physical entities by creating Vision Festival SantaFe New Mexico (USA), a hybrid relationship between architecture Istanbul Design Biennial (Turkey), Sydney City and media arts. He holds a master of fine Art (Australia), Lichtrouten (Germany). arts degree from University of California, Los Angeles in Media Arts, master of fine arts degree from Istanbul Bilgi University in Visual Communication Design, as well as a Bachelor of arts degree with summa cum laude in

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