Dance Conservatory of Denver

The ’S NUTC EN RA R C D K IL E H R

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2019 1 0TH ANNUAL

NOVEMBER 29TH  DECEMBER 1ST

LAKEWOOD CULTURAL CENTER 470 South Allison Parkway, Lakewood, Colorado 80226 1 COMPANY DANCERS

Teagan Benavidez Elena Bonilla Lily Cahill Teagan is a junior in high Elena has been dancing for 13 Lily is so excited to perform in school at DSST. She has been years, and her favorite styles the Nutcracker this year! She dancing at DcD since she of dance are contemporary & has been dancing for over ten was three years old. Teagan ballet. Elena attended Boston years. Aside from dance, Lily enjoyed participating in Ballet’s summer intensive in loves hanging out with friends Joffrey’s summer intensive 2019. Outside of dance, Elena and family, participating in program in Colorado Springs loves to play the piano and debate, climbing, and baking. this past summer. spend time with family.

Norah Condon Regan Doyle Dylan Duran Norah has been dancing at Regan has been dancing at Dylan is thrilled to be cast DcD for 6 years and she’s DcD for four years, and she as Clara in DcD’s 10th really excited to be performing loves it. In her free time, she Anniversary Nutcracker in the Nutcracker this year! In likes to ski and play tennis. She and has been in all 10 years her free time, she enjoys skiing, is also a volunteer at Children’s of Children’s Nutcracker calligraphy, and drawing. She Hospital and she wants to be a performances! Dylan is also loves spending time with surgeon someday. a freshman dance major friends and family! at Denver School of the Arts. Dylan wants to be a Veterinarian and reminds you to please spay and neuter your pets.

2 Dilara Ertunc Tori Fowler Natalie Green Dilara has been dancing and Tori is 14 years old and in Natalie has been dancing for performing with DcD for eighth grade. She has attended 10 years. When she is not 13 years. Outside of dance, summer intensives at Joffrey dancing, she enjoys reading Dilara enjoys playing ultimate Ballet School in both New York and hanging out with friends. Frisbee and spending time City and Colorado Springs Natalie’s favorite book is with friends & family. Dilara is last summer. When Tori isn’t The Penderwicks. a high school senior and she’s dancing at DcD, you can looking forward to performing probably find her dancing in the role of the Sugar Plum her living room. Fairy this year!

Sophia Green Della Johnson Jojo Kinsella Sophia is a freshman in high Della has been dancing at DcD Jojo is happy to perform in her school. She has attended for 13 years. She is performing 3rd Nutcracker with DcD. She Boston Ballet’s 5-week in her 10th and final is a 9th grade dance major at summer intensive for the past Nutcracker this year. Della is DSA, who loves hip-hop and three years. In her free time a senior at Denver East High jazz dance. Outside of dance, she goes to ballet and takes school where she participates she serves on the SCFD teen the occasional nap with her in Honors Choir, A Cappella council, and on her church’s cat. Sophia is so exited Choir and Model UN. teen leadership team. to be Clara in the tenth annual Nutcracker!

Juliet Michalec Juliet has been dancing with DcD since she was 3 years old. She has attended summer intensives at ABT, the Jilliana School, and Boston Ballet. This is Juliet’s 4th year as a dance major at DSA. Outside of dance, she enjoys playing with her 4 younger brothers, reading, biking, and swimming.

3 Madeline Mills Janey Nollsch Madeline has been dancing for 13 years at Janey has been dancing since she was three numerous studios in Virginia, Rhode Island, and is thirteen years old. Outside of school and and Washington. She is very excited about her dance, Janey enjoys skiing and golf. Janey is very second year at DcD and performing the role of excited about this year’s Nutcracker! the Sugar Plum Fairy. Madeline will graduate from East High School in 2020.

Alexa Norman Cecilia Sherland Alexa has been dancing at DcD since she was 4 Cecilia has been dancing at DcD since she was 7 years old, and she is excited to still be dancing years old. After moving to CA for several years, in her senior year! She also enjoys skiing, hiking, Cici is delighted to be back and performing in and hanging out with her family and friends. the Children’s Nutcracker. She looks forward to performing her favorite role as Arabian.

APPRENTICE COMPANY DANCERS

Carolina Anderson Lia Bach Elena Bates Carolina is a sixth grade dance Lia plays the violin, is a Elena has been dancing at major at Denver School of the voracious reader, and she DcD for 8 years. She is looking Arts and has been dancing for loves to cook and bake. Lia forward to participating in this 8 years. Outside of dance, she started in ballet when she year’s Nutcracker with her likes to do crafts and bake. was three years old, and she is friends. She likes to hang out Carolina is so excited performing in the Nutcracker with her family and play with to dance in this year’s for the third time. her puppies! Nutcracker 4 on pointe! Aila Benavidez Lauryn Carr Catherine Cramer Aila has been dancing since Lauryn is so excited to Catherine is thrilled to she was three years old. In her be performing in her 7th be performing in her first free time she loves reading, Nutcracker with DcD! She Nutcracker with DcD. dancing, singing and hanging attended the Joffrey summer Catherine was born in Chicago out with family and friends. intensive in Chicago this past and began dancing at age 4. summer, and she aspires to be Catherine is a 7th grade dance a professional ballet dancer. major at DSA .

Mary Frances Ennis Vivian Harp Julia Hoody Mary Frances has been Vivian began dancing with Julia, now 12 years old, had dancing at DcD since DcD in January 2018, and her first dance class ever with 2010, and this is her 8th she’s very excited to dance in DcD at age 3! Since then, she performance in The Children’s her second DcD Nutcracker has developed some of her Nutcracker. An animal performance - particularly closest friendships through lover, Mary Frances has two as the Mini Ballerina Doll! dance and looks forward to dogs and wants a kitten for Outside of ballet, Vivian enjoys seeing them in class each Christmas. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, week. Julia also enjoys skiing crafting and artwork when family and her dog, Foxy. and spending time with family. she’s not dancing.

Hope Levy Jem Michalec Kate Mosher Hope loves ballet at DcD, and Jem has been dancing with This is Kate’s 2nd Nutcracker her new favorite style of dance DcD for almost 8 years. Jem is with DcD, and her favorite is modern. She has a twin very excited to share the role subject in school is art. Kate sister named Campbell. Hope of Fritz with his friend, Tristan, would read all day long if her is a 7th grade dance major at and to dance onstage with parents let her. She loves DSA, and outside of the studio his sister Juliet and youngest singing, piano, and ballet she enjoys spending time with brother, Rhett. Jem loves to and she’s very excited to dance her friends & family. play, draw, and make comics onstage with her with his siblings; Juliet, Oliver, sister and friends. 5 Charlie, & Rhett. Addy Owen Maya Owen Catherine Ream Addy is 12 years old and goes Maya has been dancing since Catherine has been dancing to Blessed Sacrament Catholic she was two years old. She at DcD for six years, and School. She has been dancing enjoys traveling with her she is excited to perform in at DcD for almost 10 years family and she has been to this year’s Nutcracker. Her and is really excited for her 9th Hawaii and England twice, and ballet hero is Misty Copeland. Nutcracker! When she’s not to the Netherlands and Spain. Outside of the studio, she likes dancing, she enjoys traveling, She is very excited to get a to play with her dog, Maggie, skiing, and hanging out with puppy this Christmas! and read and write. family and friends.

Ainsley Ryan Sophie Stern Teah Stern Ainsley has been dancing at Sophie has been dancing at Teah is fluent in French and DcD for nine years and been DcD for 7 years and is excited English and loves dancing and on pointe for three years. to continue dancing at DcD traveling with her family. She Her favorite styles are ballet, with her friends. Outside of also loves spending time contemporary and modern. dance, she loves to hangout with her friends and In her free time, she likes with her brother and to play trying new foods. running, swimming, with her dogs. She is excited to and baking. dance in the Nutcracker this year!

Georgia Upson Riayn Wagner Georgia has been at DcD for almost 11 years. Riayn has been dancing at DcD for 7 years, Outside of dance, she enjoys reading, running, and she’s a dance major at Denver School of scuba diving, free diving, and sleeping. Georgia the Arts. When Riayn is not dancing, she enjoys loves performing, and she is really excited about skiing with her family and going this year’s Nutcracker! to the mountains. 6 JUNIOR COMPANY DANCERS

Claire Ball Tristan Broderick Hadley Cooke Claire is 9 years old and has Tristan has been dancing for Hadley started dancing at the been at DcD for 5 years. She five years and he is in 4th age of 3, and she has been loves playing with her dog, grade. His favorite subject in dreaming of getting pointe Max, writing, drawing and school is reading and outside shoes ever since. Hadley loves reading. She is so excited to of dance he likes to play video dancing, performing, reading, be dancing in the Nutcracker games, tennis and spend time and being with her friends this year! with his family. Tristan also and family. loves hiking and Telemark skiing.

Dale Deane Karoline Freitag Elsa Geppelt Dale has been dancing at DcD This is Karoline’s 6th Elsa has been dancing with for 4 years. When not doing Nutcracker with DcD and she DcD for four years. She ballet she enjoys ice-skating, is happy to finally be in Junior loves dancing, acting, art and reading and drawing. She is Company this year! She is 9 reading. She also loves playing excited to be dancing as part of years old, and started dancing board games and hanging out the Junior Company this year. when she was 2. Outside of with friends & family. dance, she likes to ski race, cook, read and play with her dog, Bee.

7 Maddie Green Lucca Heller Norah Landeck Maddie has been dancing Lucca has been dancing at Norah has been dancing at since she was three. Outside DcD since she was 3, and DcD for 5 years. She loves of ballet, she enjoys reading, she recently get her first pair skiing, swimming, baking and writing, drawing, math and of pointe shoes. Lucca was playing with her dogs. She climbing. Her favorite ballet is lucky to spend two weeks in wants to be a Veterinarian the Nutcracker. Spain and one week in Israel when she grows up. in October. Outside of ballet, she loves gymnastics, ballet, alpacas, her friends and her cats.

Emma McNutt Giana Mosher Reina Nemann Emma has been a dancer with Giana has been dancing for Reina has been dancing with DcD since she was three and four years and her favorite the DcD for the past seven is currently in 5th grade at the subject in school is math. Her years and this is her fourth Denver Waldorf School. Emma favorite hobbies are playing Nutcracker performance. also loves to spend her time violin and ballet. Her favorite Reina also loves to play soccer, with family, friends and her 2 place she’s ever traveled enjoys skiing with her family, dogs, Pickles and Chloe. to is Germany. and spending time with her friends.

Tessa Pineiro Libby Sauer Ella Sewell Tessa has been dancing with Libby has been dancing since Ella has been dancing at DcD DcD for four years. Her she was 3. In her free time since she was 3 years old. favorite subject in school is Libby also enjoys rock wall When Ella is not dancing, she math. Outside of ballet, Tessa climbing, skiing, gymnastics likes to read, ski, and hang enjoys reading, coloring, and spending time with her with her friends. Her favorite playing the piano, and hanging family. This is her third year subjects in 4th grade are art out with friends. performing in DcD’s and literacy. Children’s Nutcracker. 8 Maya Steinbecker Cate Wittemeyer Maya has been dancing at DcD for 7 years. Cate has been dancing with DcD for 6 years Her favorite dance styles are ballet and and loves ballet. Outside of dance, Cate enjoys contemporary, and her favorite ballet is Swan reading, skiing, and lacrosse. She is thrilled to Lake. Maya speaks Spanish, and she enjoys be in the Nutcracker again this year! hanging out with her family and friends, shopping and going to the park.

Jennifer Micek, Artistic Director Jennifer Micek founded the Dance Conservatory of Denver in 2001. Professionally, Ms. Jennifer danced with both the Colorado Ballet and Sarasota Ballet of Florida. Jennifer trained on full scholarship at the Joffrey Ballet New York, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Broadway Dance Center and Steps in Manhattan. Ms. Jennifer began the Children’s Nutcracker in 2009 in order to provide a professional performing opportunity for her students, similar to her own childhood Nutcracker experience in St. Louis, Missouri. Ms. Jennifer and her husband, Michael have three children; Emily, Michael, and Mark, and together they love to ski, hike, camp and travel, and spend time with family and friends. Ms. Jennifer has a Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in Art History from Webster University in St. Louis

Cori Winchester, Assistant Artistic Director Cori is a native of Colorado and trained under Carol Roderick at Ballet Academy and the Academy of Colorado Ballet. Ms. Winchester was a full scholarship student with the Boston Ballet School and the Academy of Colorado Ballet. At age fifteen she began her professional career at Boston Ballet ll. She continued her professional career with Colorado Ballet where she danced corps de ballet and soloist roles. Ms. Winchester has taught at Colorado Ballet South, The Arvada Center, Adrenaline Gymnastics and other ballet schools throughout Denver. She is also a yoga teacher and has taught at Udaya Yoga, Mountainside Fitness, The DAC and The Rocky Mountain News. Ms. Winchester is a mother of three children, and she considers this her most important role of all. Her passion for ballet is now paired with the knowledge that it is a privilege to work with children.

Thank you students and volunteers for your support, the success of DcD wouldn’t be possible without you!

Design con Carne / designconcarne.com Brandon J. Scott Photography / [email protected] Floral Design: Poppy & Pine / poppyandpinefloral.com 9 The CHILDREN’S NUTCRACKER 2019

Sugar Plum Fairy...... (1) Alexa Norman (3 & 5) Dilara Ertunc (2 & 4) Madeline Mills

Clara...... (1, 3, 5) Sophia Green (2 & 4) Dylan Duran

Nutcracker Prince...... Diego Gonzales

Fritz...... (1, 3, 5) Jem Michalec (2 & 4) Tristan Broderick

Mouse Queen...... (1, 3, 5) Alexa Norman (2 & 4) Teagan Benavidez

Heiress Drosselmeyer...... (1, 3, 5) Dilara Ertunc (2 & 4) Della Johnson

Drosselmeyer’s Niece...... (1, 3, 5) Mary Frances Ennis (2 & 4) Elena Bates

Snow Queen...... (1, 3, 5) Teagan Benavidez (2 & 4) Lily Cahill

Dew Drop Fairy...... (1) Madeline Mills (3 & 5) Della Johnson (2 & 4) Dilara Ertunc

Angel Queen...... (1, 3, 5) Elena Bonilla (2 & 4) Norah Condon

Head Mother...... (1, 3, 5) Della Johnson (2 & 4) Dilara Ertunc

10 ( 1 ) Friday, 6:00 p.m ( 2 ) Saturday, noon ( 4 ) Sunday, noon ( 3 ) Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ( 5 ) Sunday, 4:00 p.m.

Harlequin Doll: (1) Natalie Green (2) Riayn Wagner (3) Regan Doyle (4) Lauryn Carr (5) Hope Levy

Rose Doll: (1) Norah Condon (2) Lily Cahill (3) Elena Bonilla (4) Jojo Kinsella (5) Madeline Mills

Soldier Doll: (1) Juliet Michalec (2) Sophia Green (3) Lily Cahill (4) Tori Fowler (5) Diego Gonzales

Party Parents: All Casts: Sophie Stern, Lia Bach, Teah Stern (1 & 2) Tori Fowler (1, 3, 5) Janey Nollsch, Jojo Kinsella (2 & 4) Juliet Michalec (4) Sophia Green

Maids...... (1-4) Madeline Mills & Cecilia Sherland (5) Cecilia Sherland & Lily Cahill

Clara’s Best Friends...... (1, 3, 5) Aila Benavidez (1 & 5) Regan Doyle (3) Ainsley Ryan (2 & 4) Natalie Green & Janey Nollsch

Clara’s Friends: Carolina Anderson, Lauryn Carr, Catherine Cramer, Julia Hoody (2, 3, 4) Hope Levy, Kate Mosher, Addy Owen, Maya Owen, Ainsley Ryan, Maya Steinbecker, Georgia Upson (3, 4, 5) Riayn Wagner

Cousins...... (1) Hope Levy & Lauryn Carr (3 & 5) Juliet Michalec & Tori Fowler (2 & 4) Norah Condon & Julia Hoody

Mini-Ballerina Doll...... (1, 3, 5) Vivian Harp (2 & 4) Tessa Pineiro

11 Mini-Soldier Doll...... (1, 3, 5) Tristan Broderick (2 & 4) Jem Michalec

Granny/Gramps...... (1, 3, 5) Alexa Norman (2 & 4) Diego Gonzales Party Children: (1) Monroe Persinger (1, 3, 5) Norah Landeck, Edith Malone, Rhett Michalec, Jacqueline Rochon, Riley Kessler, Cecilia Romer, Chloe Snow, Lila Vanderveen

(2 & 4) Mary Frances Ennis, Elena Helbach, Molly Trujillo, Amelia Roth, Betsy Llewellyn, Lily Meyer, Maxwell Shultz, Isabelle Scott, Lizzy Stevensen

Lead Mice:...... (all casts) Hadley Cooke, Elsa Geppelt, and Libby Sauer (1, 3, 5) Tessa Pineiro (2 & 4) Karoline Freitag

Baby Mice:...... (1, 3, 5) Karoline Freitag (2 & 4) Tessa Pineiro

Soldiers: Claire Ball, Elena Bates, Tristan Broderick, Dale Deane, Mary Frances Ennis, Maddie Green, Vivian Harp, Lucca Heller, Norah Landeck, Jem Michalec, Emma McNutt, Giana Mosher, Reina Nemann, Catherine Ream, Ella Sewell, Catherine Wittemeyer

Mice: Intermediate Level Dancers + ...... (1, 3, 5) Cecilia Romer, Lila Vanderveen (2 & 4) Betsy Llewellyn, Elena Helbach

Gum Drop Attendants: ...... (1) Georgia Upson & Carolina Anderson (3 & 5) Riayn Wagner & Carolina Anderson (2 & 4) Aila Benavidez & Georgia Upson

12 Snow Fairy Attendants: Regan Doyle, Natalie Green, Janey Nollsch, Ainsley Ryan

Snowflakes: Elena Bonilla, Lily Cahill, Norah Condon, Dylan Duran, Teagan Benavidez, Sophia Green, Dilara Ertunc, Tori Fowler, Della Johnson, Jojo Kinsella, Juliet Michalec, Madeline Mills, Alexa Norman, Cecilia Sherland

Snow Fairies & Gum Drops: (1, 3, 5) Sophia Ayerstaran, Charlotte Cramer, Ayana Del Hierro, Leilani Del Hierro, Leona Kerr, Claire Percival, Vivian Reiling, Sonia Rochon, Riley Sanders, Sadie Schaefer, Evelyn Waelke

(2 & 4) Madeline Dankner, Fiona Dunn, Magnolia Klamser, Taryn Lutz, Maeve McHale, Isla Miller, Ziah Miller, Elizabeth Peterson, Anna Remsen, Kaitlyn Trujillo

INTERMISSION 15 MINUTES

Sugar Plum Attendant...... (1, 3, 5) Hope Levy (2 & 4) Catherine Cramer

Candy Cane Solo: (1) Natalie Green (2) Riayn Wagner (3) Julia Hoody (4) Lauryn Carr (5) Regan Doyle

Sugar Plum Princesses: (1) Vivian Reiling & Ayana Del Hierro (2 & 4) Taryn Lutz & Magnolia Klamser (3 & 5) Vivian Reiling & Sadie Schaefer

Angels: Carolina Anderson, Lia Bach, Aila Benavidez, Lauryn Carr, Catherine Cramer, Hope Levy, Julia Hoody, Regan Doyle, Natalie Green, Mary Frances Ennis, Kate Mosher, Addy Owen, Maya Owen, Ainsley Ryan, Maya Steinbecker, Sophie Stern, Teah Stern

13 Peppermint Candies: Carolina Anderson Aila Benavidez, Hope Levy, Kate Mosher, Janey Nollsch, Addy Owen, Maya Owen, Maya Steinbecker, Sophie Stern, Georgia Upson, Riayn Wagner

Flowers: (1, 3, 5) Madeline Mills, Alexa Norman, Ainsley Ryan, Elena Bonilla, Cecilia Sherland

(2 & 4) Lily Cahill, Sophia Green

(1, 2, 4) Lauryn Carr, Catherine Cramer, Regan Doyle, Norah Condon, Natalie Green, Julia Hoody, Della Johnson, Juliet Michalec

(2, 4, 5) Tori Fowler

(1-5) Dylan Duran

Flowers Corps: Hadley Cooke, Dale Deane, Elsa Geppelt, Maddie Green, Karoline Freitag, Emma McNutt, Giana Mosher, Tessa Pineiro, Catherine Ream, Libby Sauer, Ella Sewell, Cate Wittemeyer

Lead Spanish...... (1, 3, 5) Lily Cahill (2 & 4) Elena Bonilla

Spanish Corps...... (1, 3, 5) Dylan Duran & Tori Fowler (2 & 4) Juliet Michalec & Cecilia Sherland

Arabian...... (1, 3, 5) Cecilia Sherland & Diego Gonzales (2 & 4) Jojo Kinsella & Diego Gonzales

Arabian Corps: Elena Bates, Lia Bach, Mary Frances Ennis, Vivian Harp, Lucca Heller, Kate Mosher, Sophie Stern, Catherine Ream

14 Lead Chinese...... (1, 3, 5) Juliet Michalec (2 & 4) Alexa Norman

Chinese Corps: Carolina Anderson, Aila Benavidez, Addy Owen, Maya Owen, Hope Levy, Riayn Wagner

Mini-Chinese: Karoline Freitag, Maddie Green, Libby Sauer, Ella Sewell, Reina Nemann

Lead Russian...... (1, 3, 5) Teagan Benavidez (2 & 4) Tori Fowler

Russian: Regan Doyle, Janey Nollsch, Ainsley Ryan, Sophie Stern

Russian Corps: Claire Ball, Dale Deane, Norah Landeck, Tristan Broderick

Marzipan: (1, 3, 5) Dilara Ertunc, Juliet Michalec, Madeline Mills, Alexa Norman, Cecilia Sherland

(2 & 4) Teagan Benavidez, Lily Cahill, Sophia Green, Della Johnson, Juliet Michalec

Mini-Marzipan: Hadley Cooke, Elsa Geppelt, Emma Mcnutt, Giana Mosher, Tessa Pineiro, Cate Wittemeyer

Bon-Bon Soloists: Maddie Green, Reina Nemann, Libby Sauer, Maya Steinbecker, Lucca Heller, Jem Michalec

Bon-Bon’s: All Intermediate Level Dancers

FINALE & Bows All Company & Intermediate Level dancers

15 Once upon a time, A battle between the mice and soldiers begins. Drums Clara and her brother, Fritz, beat! Trumpets blare! Clara’s had a holiday party. All of their Nutcracker is attacked by the friends and family came to Mouse King. Clara throws her the party bringing presents. magic ballet slipper at him, and Clara’s Godmother, the Heiress he falls to the ground. And, Drosselmeyer, also came to the before her eyes her Nutcracker party, bringing dolls with her Doll turns into a handsome that could dance by themselves! prince... Heiress Drosselmeyer gave Clara the best present of all- The handsome prince thanks the wooden Nutcracker Doll! Clara for saving his life, and Clara loved her new Nutcracker he leads her through the doll, and she danced with him Enchanted Woods; where the happily. Then, her brother snowflakes taste like sugar, Fritz broke her Nutcracker doll and little snow fairies dance and made Clara cry. Heiress all around them. Clara and her Drosselmeyer fixed Clara’s doll, Prince travel through the Land and everyone leaves the party of the Angels to the Land of feeling both tired and happy. the Sweets, where everything is made out of candy! The After the party, Clara cannot Prince introduces Clara to the sleep. She tip-toes downstairs beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy, to find her Nutcracker doll. She who orders all of the sweets of finds him and curls up in the the kingdom to perform their chair and falls fast asleep. Then, special dances for her. Clara starts to dream that mice are chasing her, and that her After everyone says good-bye Nutcracker Doll comes to life! to Clara, she wakes up holding Her Godmother appears to her Nutcracker Doll! Was her help her, but more and more journey real or only a dream? mice come. Clara and her family live happily ever after.

The End.

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