About the Santa Clara Company For over 45 years, the Santa Clara Ballet Company has been bringing classical ballet productions to Santa Clara, including its annual Nutcracker production. The Company provides vital cultural programming, enriching the community and enhancing the profile of the City of Santa Clara. The Company affords the unique opportunity for aspiring young dancers and children to perform and learn alongside acclaimed professionals in a full scale production. A local favorite, the Santa Clara Ballet’s Nutcracker offers an intimate view of the stage and the performers with an entertaining and engaging rendition of this holiday classic.

JOSEFA VILLANUEVA-REYES started her training in the Philippines with Roberta and Ricardo Cassell (a student of Vincenzo Celli). She was formerly a member of the San Francisco Ballet Company and the San Francisco Opera Ballet. Previous to that, she performed as a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet Celeste for four years. Her performing experience included multiple lead roles from the classical repertory.

Villanueva-Reyes taught at the San Francisco Conservatory of Ballet and Theatre Arts as well as San Jose City College. Her teaching experience is enriched with classes from well known Russian teachers and distinguished teachers in New York City. She has taken classes in New York with Valentina Pereyslavic, Leon Danelien, Frederic Franklin, David Howard, Jurgen Schneider, and master classes with Sergeyev, Dudinskay Golovkina, Kirsten Ralov, and Dina Bjorn. She has also received a Certificate for taking part in the International Vaganova Conference/Demonstration in St. Petersburg, Russia, featuring the entire 8-year system which included Classical Dance, Character, History Dance & Variations.

Villanueva-Reyes was recognized by the Santa Clara Performing Arts Foundation with the 2013 Arts Pioneer Award and also honored by the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (the “Izzies”) with its Sustained Achievement Award for her work with the Santa Clara Ballet and for offering instruction and training in classical ballet and performance opportunities for children and Bay Area professional dancers.

Villanueva-Reyes holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music and has studied post-graduate in Early Childhood Education and Dance Education at both SF State University and San Jose State University. She holds a Lifetime Credential to teach Dance in Community Colleges.

She co-founded the Santa Clara Ballet with husband Benjamin Reyes in 1973. Founding Artistic Directors Josefa Villanueva-Reyes and Benjamin Reyes ANDRE REYES continues the legacy of the Reyes family as Artistic consultant and coach for the Santa Clara Ballet Company Guest Principal Dancers. A San Francisco Bay Area native, Andre received his early dance training from his parents Benjamin Reyes and Josefa Villanueva-Reyes at Santa Clara Ballet School and continued his training on scholarships at Joffrey American Ballet Center, American Ballet Theater School, School of American Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet School. Andre, a longtime favorite of Bay Area audiences, performed as a Principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet from 1980 to 1993, and Pacific Northwest Ballet from 1994 to 1996. He has worked with numerous world-renowned choreographers including David Bintley, Elliot Feld, James Kudelka, Jiri Kylian, Michael Smuin, and Glen Tetley. His work in television includes Dance in America’s “Cinderella” (Smuin/Christensen) and “The Tempest” (Smuin), as well as appearances in “Suites by Smuin” (KQED) and “Symphony in Three Movements” (KQED, Gladstein). Andre's extensive teaching career includes Boston Ballet School, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and guest instruction for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Smuin Ballet, ODC, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Kansas City Ballet School, UNCSA, English National Ballet School, Harvard and Stanford. He has also served as an adjudicator for Dance Masters of America, Denver YDC, and the Japan Grand Prix. In 2016 he and his wife, Cynthia Drayer, were chosen from a national search to direct ’s new Hardesty Center for Dance Education. Andre has recently returned to California as Ballet Master for Sacramento Ballet. Principal Guest Artists: RILEY HORTON began dancing at the Kansas City Ballet School at age six. He studied at the Kansas School of Classical Ballet for three years then trained at the Academy with Claudio Muñoz and Andrew Murphy. In Houston, Mr. Horton danced in many including John Neumeier’s Yondering, Ben Stevenson’s , August Bournonville’s Flower Festival in Genzano, Stanton Welch’s Young Person’s Guide to The Orchestra, The Gentleman, The Long and Winding Road, and had the privilege to travel with the company for the Australian tour of Stanton Welch’s Romeo and Juliet. Other credits include Mona Störling-Enna’s Underground and Ave Verum (Störling Dance Theater). Riley then danced for two seasons with The in Chicago, where he performed in Krzysztof Pastor’s Romeo & Juliet, Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit, Anabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Mammatus and Christopher Wheeldon’s premier of the Joffrey’s new The Nutcracker. He is currently a Company member with Indianapolis Ballet. This is Riley's first season with the Santa Clara Ballet. (appearance courtesy of Indianapolis Ballet)

ROWAN ALLEGRA was born in Seattle and raised in the Bay Area. A third generation ballet dancer, Rowan made her debut with the Santa Clara Ballet as Clara at the age of 10 and returned as the Sugar Plum Fairy, a role she has performed for eight seasons. She began her ballet training at Volée Dance in Palo Alto with her parents, Andre Reyes and Cynthia Drayer, and continued her training at world class institutions including Boston Ballet School and the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. Rowan has danced professionally with Texas Ballet Theater, Bay Pointe Ballet, and is currently with the Indianapolis Ballet under the direction of Victoria Lyras. Rowan's repertoire includes works by , Ben Stevenson, Val Caniparoli, Harald Lander, and Ohad Naharin. She is thrilled to be performing in her ninth season with Santa Clara Ballet. (appearance courtesy of Indianapolis Ballet) Guest Artists: MARCOS VEDOVETTO, began his studies in with renowned teachers at the Ballet Art Sandra Godoy School and Ballet & Cia Company. Marco is now in his seventh season performing with the Santa Clara Ballet, where he has been featured as the Cavalier, Snow King and Arabian. Marcos also performed with San Francisco Opera Ballet and Dance Theatre of San Francisco. Marcos has contributed choreography to their programs as well as for Connecticut Ballet, CelloPointe in New York and with the Santa Clara Ballet spring seasons. Marcos has performed in Coppelia and Sleeping Beauty with the Connecticut Ballet, and the Nutcracker with the Santa Clara Ballet and the Connecticut Ballet, as well as with Zhukov Dance Theater in San Francisco and Alpha Omega, Lydia Johnson Dance and Regina Nejman and Company in New York City. Marcos previously performed in Brazil including lead roles in Tarzan, Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre and Don Quixote and toured multi-nationally with pop duo Sandy & Junior. He was recently featured in Brazil’s version of , “Dancing Brasil.”

KRISTIN LINDSAY began her early training at Stapleton School of the Performing Arts as well as Marin Dance Theatre. Kristin spent her summers attending ABT, Boston Ballet and the Harid Conservatory. After graduating MDT she joined Ballet Florida under the direction of Marie Hale, performing some of the great classics and being exposed to an extensive repertoire. She most recently was a company member of Company C Contemporary Ballet; directed by Charles Anderson. SHARON KUNG was born in New York, and currently resides in the bay area. She received her early training at the Jean M Wong School of Ballet in Hong Kong, and continued in the bay area after graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of California, Irvine with a BFA in Dance Performance and BA in Economics. Her repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, Lucas Crandall, William Forsythe, Bob Fosse, José Limon, Graham Lustig, Dexandro “D” Montalvo, Robert Moses, Donald McKayle, and Amy Seiwert. Her experience includes Thodos Dance Chicago, Oakland Ballet Company, KAMBARA+ DANCERS, and freelance projects in , Morocco, Hong Kong, and San Francisco.

Santa Clara Ballet... over 45 Years of Classical Ballet

Grand Pas de Quatre Don Quixote Alamat The Santa Clara Ballet Company: MIKHAIL GUZ was trained in Russia at the Krasnoyarsk Choreographic College and upon graduation joined the world famous Krasnoyarsk Dance Ensemble. Mikhail performed as a soloist with the Far East Army Ensemble, Academic Ensemble Siberia, Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet, and Moscow Classical Ballet, Kyoto Classical Ballet in Japan and has toured extensively in China, Japan and Korea. Mikhail is on the faculty of the Santa Clara Ballet School where he teaches ballet and Character Dance. Now in his seventh season with the Santa Clara Ballet Principal Dancer Company as principal dancer, Mikhail has been a featured soloist in Peter and the Wolf, Les Sylphides, Spring Waters and the Peasant Pas de Deux from Giselle, as well as the Nutcracker Prince and the Russian Trepak in The Nutcracker.

Ella Levine Diya Kapur Rachel Levin Melody S. Williams Soloist Soloist Soloist Soloist

Aaina Kapur Sophia Anderson Apprentice Apprentice

History of The Nutcracker Ballet

Marius Petipa created over 50 full-length ballets in his role as chief choreographer of the Imperial Russian Ballet. He teamed with Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky to produce some of the most beloved ballets of all time; The Nutcracker (1892), The Sleeping Beauty (1890), and (1895).

The first performance of The Nutcracker outside of Russia was not until 1934 in England, and the first American full-length Nutcracker was performed by the San Francisco Ballet in 1944 choreographed by William Christensen. George Balanchine then choreographed and premiered his version of The Nutcracker in the New York City Ballet in 1954 which popularized the ballet and brought it into the realm of holiday classic.

A true holiday tradition, The Nutcracker is staged each year at Christmas-time by ballet companies throughout the world to the enjoyment of millions who wish to get lost in a land of sweets and the enchanting auspices of a larger-than-life fairytale.

This year, and for years to come, we hope you enjoy your own journey through the land of sweets in this unforgettable holiday tradition with the Santa Clara Ballet! ACT I, Scene I Once upon a time, Herr and Frau Silberhaus and their children, Clara and Fritz, prepare for a festive Christmas party. A special guest is due to arrive... the mysterious toy maker and beloved family friend, Dr. Drosselmeyer. He arrives at the party with gifts for the children and magical dancing toys that amaze and entertain all of the guests. For Clara, his godchild, he brings a special gift - a Nutcracker. A very jealous Fritz tries to take the Nutcracker away from Clara, and breaks it! Dr. Drosselmeyer repairs the toy, and exhausted from the joyous celebration, the guests return home and Clara sleepily says goodnight.

Herr Silberhaus Vladimirovich Guz Frau Silberhaus JOSEFA VILLANUEVA-REYES

Clara Yaroslava Klymenko Fritz Emma Lenchenkova

Governess Deborah Hassy

Party Guests Cary Tucker, Christine Ibanez, Devika Kapur, Fred Ibanez, Molly Barber, Remington Stone, Tom Flynn, Weilan (Gabby) Shan Party Girls Dhriya Darji, Emma Jane Traverso, Nayeong (Lena) Yoon, Olivia Fritsch, Yukina Iwasaki Party Boys Anvitha Athreya, Isabella Flynn, Mia Danieli, Zoey Drew, Bethany Kim

Drosselmeyer Dennis Mullen Drosselmeyer's Nephew Matthew Lenchenkov

Mechanical Doll Ella Levine Toy Soldier Melody Summer Williams

Awakened in the middle of the night, Clara visits the Christmas tree to search for her Nutcracker. She finds him, but is startled by mice who are as big as Fritz! The Mouse King arrives and orders his mice to scare Clara away, but Dr. Drosselmeyer appears to help her. As he uses his magic to make the Christmas tree grow bigger and bigger, the toy soldiers and the Nutcracker come to life. A battle begins, and just when it looks as though the Mouse King might win, Clara throws her slipper and distracts him. The Nutcracker stabs the Mouse King, and wins the battle.

Nutcracker Prince MIKHAIL GUZ

Mouse King ANDRE REYES

Mice Alexandra Day, Dev Darji, Dhriya Darji, Eiden Roman-Cabral, Eivie Roman-Cabral, Elizabeth Traverso, Emilija Sutic, Emma Traverso, Evelyn Pond, Josephine Traverso, Luna Trisko, Matthew Lenchenkov, Olivia Fritsch, Zoey Drew

Soldiers Lead Soldier - Diya Kapur Drummer - Sylvia Heslin Trumpeteer - Ella Levine

Aaina Kapur, Anastasiia Klymenko, Anvitha Athreya, Bethany Kim, Emma Lenchenkova, Isabella Flynn, Mia Danieli, Sophia Anderson Scene II

Thankful for her help in the battle, the Nutcracker Prince takes Clara to celebrate in the Kingdom of the Sweets. They begin their journey through the beautiful Winter Forest where they meet the Snow Queen and King, and dazzling snowflakes dance joyously around them.

Snow Queen Kristin Lindsay Snow King Marcos Vedovetto

Snowflakes Ailen Videla-Ortiz, Alyson Abriel Salomon, Dasha Maximovich, Jena Wijtman, Michelle Ellis, Madeline Little, Rachel Levin, Virginia Di Paolo

Clara: Catherine Klicek

– 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION –

ACT II

Arriving in the Kingdom of the Sweets, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince are welcomed by the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier. Upon hearing the exciting story of victory over evil, the Sugarplum Fairy declares that there will be a festival in honor of their guests. All the Sweets in the Kingdom appear to dance for Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, including the Sugarplum Fairy! But soon it is time to go home, and as she waves goodbye to her magical friends, Clara knows that this will always be her most special Christmas.

Sugarplum Fairy ROWAN ALLEGRA

Cavalier RILEY HORTON

Clara Yaroslava Klymenko, Melody Summer Williams (Arabian & Russian), Samantha Schmidt (Buffoons)

Angels Alexandra Day, Denis Feldman, Dev Darji, Dhriya Darji, Elizabeth Traverso, Emilija Sutic, Evelyn Pond, Josephine Traverso, Kaitlyn Pond, Matthew Lenchenkov, Natalija Sutic, Zoey Drew Aaina Kapur, Christine Ibanez, Diya Kapur, Ella Levine, Melody Court Flowers Summer Williams, Rachel Levin, Signa Love, Sophia Anderson Buds: Be thany Kim, Em ma Lenchenkova

Moors Aaina Kapur, Ella Levine

Spanish Chocolate Diya Kapur, Melody S. Williams Spanish Corps Isabella Flynn, Mia Danieli, Nayeong (Lena) Yoon, Yukina Iwasaki Arabian Coffee Marcos Vedovetto & Sharon Kung Arabian Attendants Jessica Lew, Kelsey Blair, Melody Summer Williams, Michelle Huang, Peyton Dillehay

Chinese Tea Aaina Kapur, Sophia Anderson

China Dolls Alexandra Day, Denis Feldman, Dev Darji, Dhriya Darji, Elizabeth Traverso, Emilija Sutic, Evelyn Pond, Josephine Traverso, Kaitlyn Pond, Matthew Lenchenkov, Natalija Sutic, Zoey Drew

Russian Trepak MIKHAIL GUZ Russian Cookies Diya Kapur, Kaitlyn Ellis, Mikayla Nagy, Melody Summer Williams, Simone Pond

Ribbon Candies Diya Kapur / Ella Levine / Rachel Levin

Mother Gigonne Dennis Mullen

Arabella Klose, Bethany Kim, Emma Lenchenkova, Emma Traverso, Her Buffoons Hannah Peters, Samantha Schmidt, Sarah Vender, Sophia Anderson,

Yaroslava Klymenko

Waltz of the Flowers Rose Melody Summer Williams

Flowers Aaina Kapur, Cindy Heen, Diya Kapu r , El la Levin e , Kayla Lee Kane, Rache l Le vin, Sig na Lo ve, Sop hia An ders on

Grand Pas de Deux ROWAN ALLEGRA and RILEY HORTON

Finale & Apotheosis ENTIRE CAST

Guests Artists Courtesy of Indianapolis Ballet, Dance Theatre of San Francisco, Oakland Ballet and Berkeley Ballet Theater.

Children’s roles are danced by the students of the Santa Clara Ballet School and participating schools: Academy of Classical Ballet, Creative Culture Dance Academy Almaden, Dance Attack Los Gatos, Dance Boulevard, East West Music and Dance, Jun Lu Performing Arts Academy, Kirkpatrick’s School of Dance, Rachel's Ballet, and Sunnyvale Community Center. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Rehearsal Assistant Mikhail Guz Production Crew Lighting Design: Craig deManty, SLC Design Sound: Paul McElherne Mask Construction: Patty de Loche Stage Management: Paul Vaskelis Scenery: Margaret Graziano (Act I), Paul Manchester (Act II), Christmas Tree - Lotus Song Sunflower Art Academy Wardrobe Deborah Hassy (Supervisor), Danielle Drew, Galyna Klymenko, Mariko Gjovig,Olga Lenchenkova, Valerie Williams, Zulema Vallejo Volunteer Staff Backstage Manager: Rajeshri Darji Publicity / Marketing: Prakash Darji Concession: Rajeshri Darji & Tom Flynn Ticket Sales : Missy Kim Boutique: Ellen Akerlund-Gonella Parent Coordination: Missy Kim Program, Graphics: Molly Barber, Efrat Orkin Board of Directors President Dennis Mullen Treasurer Josefa Reyes Publicity/Marketing Molly Barber Members Prakash Darji, Deborah Hassy, Missy Kim

Become a Member

Your contribution will help talented young dancers achieve their artistic growth and development.

For more information on how to donate or become a volunteer, please speak with any volunteer in the lobby during intermission, call 408.247.9178 or email us at [email protected]

SANTA CLARA BALLET ASSOCIATION MEMBERS (2019-2020)

The Santa Clara Ballet is funded by the generous contributions of the Silicon Valley Bank, the City of Santa Clara, Mission City Community Fund and our many valued supporters GOLD SPONSOR ($1001-9,999) The City of Santa Clara Silicon Valley Bank Mission City Community Fund SILVER SPONSOR ($250-$1000) AmazonSmile, Apple, Intel Corporation, Google, Anonymous, Christine Ibanez, Ford Tamer, Fiona Newell Kaufman, The Barber & Klicek Family, Network for Good BENEFACTOR ($150-249) Anonymous, The Kim Family, Dennis Mullen, Paul & Rosemary McElherne, Traverso Family PATRON ($50 - $149) Lakewood Dental Care, Lola Brooks, Meera Prahlad, The Klymenko Family, Venie Smith,

CONTRIBUTOR (under $50) Elizabeth Marie Traverso Aaina Kapur Ella Levine Melody Summer Williams Alexandra Day Emma Lenchenkova Mia Danieli Anvitha Atheya Emma Jane Traverso Nayeong (Lena) Yoon Aurora Xiu Freddie Ibanez Jr. Olivia Fritsch Ava Lai Hana Dormer Sophia Anderson Bethany Kim Isabella Flynn Tiffany Markum Cary Tucker Josephine Makena Traverso Xavier Jentet Christine Ibanez Juli Pelham Yaroslava Klymenko Dhriya Darji Karen Hinden Yukina Iwasaki Diya Kapur Matthew Lenchenkov Zoe Chi Efrat Orkin Melissa Glynn Zoey Drew

Thank you to our Sponsors, Supporters and Volunteers for their immeasurable gift to the art of ballet.