FAVORITES 2 SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 7:30 PM | EDISON THEATRE 19 | 20 SEASON 54 1 2019 -20 54TH PERFORMANCE SEASON PRESENTS CHRISTINE ROCAS DYLAN GUTIERREZ KATHERINE BARKMAN CARLO PEREZ ADIARYS ALMEIDA TARAS DOMITRO NAYARA LOPES STERLING BACA OPENING ACT ST. LOUIS BALLET *The presentation of the Annelise Mertz Visionary Award in Dance will be given to Gen Horiuchi and will take place before the program. AN EVENING OF BALLET STARS Major Underwriting Sponsor MARY STRAUSS Principal Dancer Sponsors MELINDA LIGON SAM AND MARILYN FOX FOUNDATION CONNIE SCHNUCK CHRISTINE MACKEY-ROSS AND JIM ROSS SUSAN AND DAN LUEDKE ANONYMOUS DONOR Additional support given by HARVEY AND JUDY HARRIS ELLEN AND JOHN K. WALLACE, JR. 2019 – 20 Season Sponsors Title Sponsor of Education Outreach The taking of flash photos and the use of recording devices are strictly prohibited. Program and artists subject to change. 2 The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) is at the forefront of eforts to transform St. Louis into a more vibrant, creative, and economically thriving community by elevating the vitality, value, and visibility of the arts. Visit us at racstl.org. REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION OF ST. LOUIS 6128 DELAMAR BLVD., ST. LOUIS MO 63112 /REGIONALARTSCOMMISSION @RACSTLOUIS /REGIONALARTSCOMMISSION 3 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTORS Welcome to Dance St. Louis’ 54th performance season. Tonight, we are thrilled to present An Evening of Ballet Stars 2 for our city. Due to last year’s sold-out success we decided to bring An Evening of Ballet Stars back with a totally different repertoire but still featuring the same world-class quality and artistry from some of the country’s best storytellers on toes. September marks the beginning of the season for many of the major dance companies throughout the country. To be able to gather these eight artists in the middle of one of their busiest schedules is a feat, and we are so grateful that they are sharing their art with all of us, offering further proof of Dance St. Louis’ thriving reputation and solidifying what we have been continuously working to do: keeping St. Louis as a major destination for professional dance. The Edison Theatre will once again provide a perfect backdrop for this evening, offering an almost up-close experience inside this state of the art facility. Adding to the excitement is the presentation of the Annelise Mertz Visionary Award in Dance. Tonight’s recipient is former New York City Ballet Principal and current Executive and Artistic Director of St. Louis Ballet—Gen Horiuchi. Gen came to St. Louis already armed with impressive experiences from some of the world’s best stages, and has transformed St. Louis Ballet and its school to what it is today. As always, we are extremely grateful for your loyal support and encour- agement. Inside tonight’s program we offer a brief rebuilding update from the business side of the organization. We are pleased to report that the last two consecutive seasons have finished in the black. This achievement belongs to everyone . our board, donors, season subscribers, single ticket buyers and collaborative partners. Thank you for joining us tonight. Enjoy the beauty and the artistry. Bravo! Christopher Mohnani Richard M. Dee Dance St. Louis Dance St. Louis Managing Director Managing Director Artistic Programs and Philanthropy and Community Engagement Administration 4 2019–2020 GEN HORIUCHI, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR NINE SINATRA SONGS BY TWYLA THARP Touhill Performing Arts Center Dance St. Louis Friends October 4, 7:30pm use code October 5, 7:30pm FRANKFRIEND19 for 20% off at touhill.org October 6, 2:30pm Also featuring George Balanchine’s “Concerto Barocco” THE NUTCRACKER Touhill Performing Arts Center November 29, 7pm December 20, 7pm November 30, 2:30pm December 21, 2:30pm November 30, 7pm December 21, 7pm December 1, 2:30pm December 22, 2:30pm December 19, 7pm December 23, 2:30 December 20, 2:30pm December 23, 7pm Special Narrated Performance for school groups and young children: December 18, 11am COULD THIS BE LOVE? Touhill Performing Arts Center February 14, 8pm February 15, 8pm February 16, 2:30pm Featuring Christopher Wheeldon’s “The American” with music performed by Arianna String Quartet SWAN LAKE Touhill Performing Arts Center April 3, 7:30pm April 4, 2:30pm & 7:30pm April 5, 2:30pm SWAN LAKE - A SHORTER TALE Special Narrated Performance for school groups and young children: April 3, 11am Sponsored by Kreidich Pratt by Photos FOR TICKETS: TOUHILL.ORG | (314) 516-4949 STLOUISBALLET.ORG Saint Louis Ballet is a not-for-proft organization. Our programs are also made possible by support from individual donors and the following leading sponsors: 5 There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them. Vicki Baum Dance St. Louis is one of over 550 quality arts programs supported by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. www.missouriartscouncil.org 6 ARTISTS NAYARA LOPES Nayara Lopes began dancing at age six. She trained at the School of Theatre Dance Guaira in Brazil and later at the American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York. Nayara also competed in ballet competitions such as the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) finals in New York, where she received the Mary Day Special Award, as well as the YAGP regionals in Columbia, SC, where she was the 2011 Grand Prix winner. Nayara joined Pennsylvania Ballet for the 2016/2017 season as a member of the corps de ballet, and promoted to Soloist for the 18/19 season. Prior to Pennsylvania Ballet, Nayara danced with Orlando Ballet II, which she joined in 2010; the National Ballet of Canada, which she joined as an apprentice in 2011; and the Dance Theatre of Harlem, which she joined in 2015. She has worked with choreographers that include Christopher Wheeldon, James Kudelka, Lindsay Fischer, Robert Hill, Raymond Lukens, and Jessica Lang. STERLING BACA Sterling Baca began his training at age 11 at the Academy of Colorado Ballet and later with world- renowned instructor German Zamuel. He then studied with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and later in their elite pre-professional program at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School with full scholarship. Sterling joined Pennsylvania Ballet as a Principal Dancer for the 2016/2017 season. Prior to joining Pennsylvania Ballet, Sterling danced with American Ballet Theatre, where he began in 2010 as a member of their second company. He received an invitation to join the main company as an apprentice in May 2011, and soon after promoted to the corps de ballet in December of that same year. Sterling has also appeared on season 4 of Dance212, a popular online series that follows dancers trying to make it in New York City. He was also in the short film, On a Grass Field, which won Best Short Film at the 2014 New Jersey Golden Door Film Festival. In January 2016, Sterling was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine for their “25 to Watch” issue. 7 ARTISTS ADIARYS ALMEDIA A product of the National Ballet School in Havana, Cuba and eventually a ballerina with the National Ballet of Cuba under the great ballerina Alicia Alonso, Adiarys Almedia is a Principal Ballerina with the Cincinnati Ballet and Corella Ballet in Spain, and a First Soloist with Boston Ballet. She was a participant and a finalist at several international ballet competitions including International Ballet Competition in Havana, Cuba, International Dance Competition in Nagoya, Japan and the USA International Ballet Competition. She won the Silver Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Havana, Cuba in 1997 and 1998, and the Gold Medal in 1999 and 2000. Adiarys was the first Cuban female finalist at the USA International Ballet Competition in 2006. Having performed almost all of the famous classical ballerina roles and a wide repertoire of contemporary roles from some of the world’s leading choreographers, Adiarys travels the globe performing as principal guest artist with several ballet companies and international festivals. TARAS DOMITRO Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Taras Domitro is a Principal Dancer with National Ballet of Cuba prior to joining San Francisco Ballet as a Principal Dancer. His repertoire includes principal roles in several full- length classical ballets as well as lead roles in some of the most exciting and cutting-edge contemporary works of today. He received a nomination for Best Male Dancer at Benois de la Danse 2013. He won the Gold Medal at the World Ballet Competition in 2008, the Grand Prix Award at Peru’s International Ballet Festival in 2003, and the First Prize and Revelation Award at International Ballet Competition of Havana, Cuba in 2000. As an International Ballet Star Mr. Domitro has performed with several renowned companies, Festivals, and Ballet Galas at some of the most important stages around the world. 8 ARTISTS KATHERINE BARKMAN Katherine Barkman joined The Washington Ballet in 2018, soon after winning consecutive Silver Medals from two of the world’s most prestigious ballet Olympiads — the XI USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MI, and the XXVIII Varna International Ballet Competition in Bulgaria. Originally from Pennsylvania, she moved to the Philippines in 2015 and began her professional career as a principal dancer of Ballet Manila, one of the most eminent classical ballet companies in Asia. At 18, she was the youngest artist to assume this position with the company. Her other major awards from international competitions include: Grand Prix Cup, 2015 Asian Grand Prix (Hong Kong); Gold Medal, Senior Women’s Classical Division, 2015 Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition (New Orleans, USA); Gold Medal, Senior Women’s Classical Division and Bronze Medal, Senior Women’s Contemporary, 2015 TANZOLYMP Festival (Berlin, Germany), and Bronze Medal, 2015 Concorso Internazionale di Danza (Spoleto, Italy).