Cast in order of appearance:
Act One
Prologue
Clara’s Bedroom
Young Clara
Frederica Kolwey (Saturday)
Daphne Takahashi (Sunday)
Clara’s Mother
Nicole Miller
Clara’s Father
Peter Davison
Scene One
A Christmas Party
Drosselmeyer
Jon Held
Maids
Emily Fredrickson, Danielle Pite, Jordan Richardson, Azure Richmond
Fritz (Clara’s Brother)
Felix Levy
Nanny
Julia Abbott
Party Boys
Alex Davison, Ben Goodman, Jacob Taylor
Party Girls
Brittany Adams, Kate Drazen, Helen Driftmier, Zoé Henrot, Emily McNeely, Caitlin Radcliffe
Little Party Girls
Eva Coringrato, Ellie Driscoll, Sierra Govett, Heather Hilson
Party Parents
Katelyn Burgess, Ray Daniels, Kit Kyle, Michael Levy, Yanna Scheich, Kathryn Wagner
Clown Doll
Michelle D’Ippolito
Ballerina Doll
Elvira Stewart
Soldier Doll
Amy Hirschman
Scene Two
Battle Scene
Clock
Rachel Cavalier, Claire Davison, Christina Galligan, Annabelle Hemmeter, Rowan Jarrar, Claire Mollé, Lauren Mollé, Sarah Moley, Holly Prohs, Megan Pullen, Talia Scott, Audrey Underhill
Mice
Lindsay Barnes, Riley Jane Bergquist, Emily Englehardt, Xenia Mathys, Nefeli Southern, Bailey de Vries, Evan Young
Rats
Michael Levy, Danielle Pite, Jacob Taylor
Rat King
Peter Davison
Infantry
Ava Ashby, Claire Cox, Laurel Cox, Julia Donahue, Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan, Fiona Horner, Courtney Lindau, Johanna Martin, Melissa Pite, Melody Takahashi
Lieutenants
Alex Davison, Ben Goodman
The Nutcracker
Lance Hardin
Scene Three
A Snow-Covered Forest
Grown-up Clara
Jennifer Aiken
Nutcracker Prince
Lance Hardin
Snow Maidens
Julia Abbott, Katelyn Burgess, Rachel Haber, Amy Hirschman, Nicole Miller, Azure Richmond, Yanna Scheich, Elvira Stewart, Kathryn Wagner
Frost
Laura Arndt, Claire Davison, Josephine Einsel, Camille Henrot, Suvi Honkanen, Genevieve Waterbury
Act Two
Scene Four
Angels
Laura Arndt, Eva Coringrato, Ellie Driscoll, Sierra Govett, Heather Hilson, Suvi Honkanen, Holly Prohs, Jessica Smith, Genevieve Waterbury
Scene Five
Land of Sweets
Royal Color Guard
Carissa Chen, Helen Driftmier, Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan, Johanna Martin, Melissa Pite, Melody Takahashi
Dignitaries
Julia Abbott, Brittany Adams, Michelle D’Ippolito, Zoé Henrot, Danielle Pite, Azure Richmond
Sugar Plum Fairy
Nicole Miller
Sugar Plumettes
Lindsay Barnes, Emily Englehardt, Bailey de Vries
Spanish Dance
Alex Davison, Ben Goodman, Amy Hirschman, Elvira Stewart
Arabian Dance
Emily Fredrickson, Rachel Haber, Jordan Richardson, Kathryn Wagner
Chinese Dance
Claire Cox, Courtney Lindau, Ellen McCormack, Melody Takahashi
Mirlitons
Katelyn Burgess, Amy Hirschman, Yanna Scheich, Elvira Stewart
Tchaikovsky
Jon Held
Russian Trepak
Alex Davison, Ben Goodman, Jacob Taylor
Mother Goose
Laurie Clark
Little Boy Blue
Felix Levy
Mother Cat
Courtney Lindau (Saturday)
Ellen McCormack (Sunday)
Kittens
Annette Buvoli, Kayli Weiss, Chelsey Wiley
Little Miss Muffet
Claire Davison
Spider
Sarah Moley, Claire Mollé, Talia Scott, Jessica Smith
Mary Mary Quite Contrary
Camille Henrot
Flower Garden
Kate Adams, Christina Galligan, Marin Govett
Waltz of the Flowers:
Couples in White
Brittany Adams, Alex Davison, Ben Goodman, Caitlin Radcliffe
Demi Soloists
Julia Abbott, Katelyn Burgess
Flowers
Emily Fredrickson, Rachel Haber, Zoé Henrot, Amy Hirschman, Jordan Richardson, Azure Richmond, Elvira Stewart, Kathryn Wagner
Biographies
Artistic Directors
Ana Claire is the Director of the Boulder Arts Academy dance program, which has more than tripled in size under her direction. Although born in Boulder, Ana grew up on a ranch near Fairplay, Colorado. At the age of 8 she saw American Ballet Theater perform Swan Lake and fell in love with the art of ballet. In an extraordinary gift of support, Ana's mother then drove her to ballet classes in Denver throughout her childhood. Ana has studied ballet with Maxine Williamson, Fernando Schaffenberg, Milenko Banovich, Barbara Demaree and Larry Boyette. She has performed with Fort Worth Ballet, Fort Worth Opera, David Taylor Dance Theater, Aladdin Theater, Boulder's Dinner Theater, Jan Justis Dance Company, and Third Law Dance Theater, among others. Ana was a principal ballerina with Boulder Ballet for many years, and was twice voted "Boulder's Best" by the Daily Camera. She has produced, directed, and choreographed twelve Storybook Ballets, all with original music, scenery and costumes created in collaboration with local artists, and co-choreographed the 1998, '99, and all productions since 2001 of Boulder Ballet's Nutcracker. Ana is also the Director of Boulder Ballet's acclaimed outreach program Steps in Time which has been performed at numerous schools throughout the Boulder/Denver area. Ana studied dance pedagogy at Texas Christian University, attended the teacher training workshop with former New York City Ballet principal Jillana, and has over twenty-five years of teaching experience. She is a passionate teacher, dedicated to helping students achieve technical excellence while nurturing their individual artistry, and many of her students have gone on to professional careers in dance. Ana lives in Boulder with her husband Peter Davison, and children Alexander and Claire.
Peter Davison brings over 30-years of diverse performing experience to the Boulder Ballet. His childhood idols were Alexander Calder and Batman, influences that led to training in visual art, juggling, and dance. While a teenager, Peter began his professional career street performing in Los Angeles, and as a variety artist for Hollywood films. He moved to Boulder in 1980. Peter studied ballet with Larry Boyette, Ana Claire, Barbara Demaree, Finis Jhung and Donald Mahler, modern dance with Danelle Helander, and tap with Susan Hadley and Lynn Dally, among others. In 1982 Peter became a founding member of the trio Airjazz with whom he appeared at venues such as the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, New Zealand International Festival of the Arts, Hong Kong Arts festival, and on national television programs in seven countries. Peter has also been a member of David Taylor Dance Theater, Jan Justis Dance Company, Kim Robards Dance, 3rd Law Dance/Theater, and has performed principal roles with Boulder Ballet since 1987. He has performed solo shows at the Carmel/California Performing Arts Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse, and Utah State Arts Tour, and has appeared as a featured soloist on the CBS, BBC and Fox television networks. Peter has received numerous awards and grants including the Arts Innovation Award from the Colorado Federation of the Arts, and the Performance Fellowship from the Colorado Council on the Arts. Peter has choreographed works for several Colorado-based companies. His major works include Bella Luna, Crimson Butterfly, Diana Krall Songs, Grounded, and Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat.
Boulder Ballet Guest Artists
Lance Hardin, Co-Artistic Director of Avant-Garde School of Dance, is a native of Chicago, IL. Mr. Hardin received his training at the Ruth Page Foundation School of Dance, where he studied with Larry Long, and at the Academy of Houston Ballet. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree
in Ballet from Indiana University, where he studied under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Patricia McBride and Jacques Cesbron. As a professional dancer, Mr. Hardin has danced with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, North Carolina Dance Theatre, and the Milwaukee Ballet Company. He has performed principal roles by world-renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine ( Allegro Brilliante, Four Temperaments, Western Symphony and Who Cares ), Paul Taylor (Esplanade and Company B), Dwight Rhoden ( Verge), Nacho Duato ( Jardi Tancat), William Forsythe (In the Middle Somewhat Elevated), Michael Pink ( Romeo and Juliet), and Alonzo King ( Map). Since relocating in the Denver area Mr. Hardin has enjoyed invitations as a guest artist with Ballet Nouveau Colorado, Kim Robards Dance, as well as the Springfield Ballet Company and the Yoko Kasai Ballet Studio in Japan. Mr. Hardin has taught ballet for the past 14 years and holds numerous choreographic credits. He has served as Ballet Director at Elite Dance Academy and Dance Intensity. Presently, Mr. Hardin is enjoying many requests as guest artist, teacher and choreographer.
Jon Held is well known for his perennial role as Drosselmeyer in Boulder Ballet's Nutcracker and for his work with the internationally acclaimed performance troupe Airjazz with whom he toured internationally for many years. Jon performed in Russell Davis' The Second Death of Priscilla at the 2003 Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, Kentucky, and he has collaborated with Boulder astronomer Dr. Cheri Morrow in an educational program at the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Washington. Jon has performed his one-man shows Tales of Lunacy and Coeur de Lune at venues across the country.
Boulder Ballet Company Dancers
Principal Dancers
Jennifer Aiken trained at the Arvada Center with Christina Noel, Eve Paris, and Lisi Elsey; at Colorado College with Debra Mercer, and at the Boston Ballet Summer Program. Jennifer has performed at the American Collage Dance Festival, at Colorado College (where she earned a BA in History/Political Science) and with the California Ballet, David Taylor Dance Theater, Arvada Civic Ballet, and 3rd Law Dance/Theater. Jennifer has been a member of Boulder Ballet since 2001. She has danced numerous principal classical and contemporary roles including the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Izzy in Bella Luna, the Princess in L’Histoire du Soldat, the Student in Grounded, and the Fox in The Little Prince.
Katelyn Burgess is from Durango, Co where she trained with the Durango Ballet Academy and Dance in the Rockies and spent summers at the Colorado Ballet, the Jillana School, and the San Diego Academy of Ballet. Katelyn is a recent graduate of the University of Utah with a B.F.A. in ballet including an emphasis in character dance, performance, and teaching, as well as a minor in history. While studying at the University of Utah, Katelyn had the opportunity to perform various works by Bené Arnold, Sharee Lane, Maureen Laird, Conrad Ludlow, and Rick Wacko; traveled and performed with Character Dance Ensemble in Nevada, Oregon, London, England; Vancouver, Canada; and Beijing, China; and choreographed for Ballet Showcase. Katelyn is excited to be dancing in Colorado again in her first season with Boulder Ballet.
Amy Hirschman began her ballet training as a child at Ballet Arts/ Boulder Ballet. After a move to Illinois, her teachers included Larry Long, Dolores Lipinsky, Birute Barodicaite, Carl Corry, and Elise Flagg, and she performed with the Civic Ballet of Chicago for three years. She has attended summer programs with companies in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Boston, Washington DC, and Kansas City. Amy returned to Boulder to attend CU, and will receive a degree in Applied Mathematics and Finance this spring. She has performed soloist roles with Boulder Ballet since 2003, including the Rose in last spring’s production of The Little Prince.
Nicole Miller, originally from Chicago, Illinois, trained in England with the London Junior Ballet, and summer courses including the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet. She was accepted into the three-year college, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, England, where she gained her dance diploma. While living abroad, Nicole performed with the National Youth Ballet and the London Junior Ballet at Royal Albert Hall and Sadler’s Wells, under the direction of Wayne Sleep and Harold King. Nicole joined the Illinois Ballet, where she performed many classic ballets and was invited to perform with the National Ballet of Panama in their national theater in 2004. Moving to Colorado in 2005, Nicole performed with the David Taylor Dance Theater, and as a guest artist in Boulder Ballet’s production of The Little Prince. This is Nicole’s first season as a principal with Boulder Ballet.
Elvira Stewart began dancing as a child at Ballet Arts/Boulder Ballet. She trained at numerous summer programs including Pacific Northwest Ballet and Vail International Dance Festival, both on scholarship, and was an apprentice with Colorado Ballet. She performed soloist roles with Boulder Ballet, then trained and toured for two years with Rudra Béjart Ballet in Lausanne, Switzerland. Elvira has been a principal dancer with Boulder Ballet since 2003, dancing roles such as Grown-up Clara in The Nutcracker, Ina in Bella Luna, and the Geisha in Crimson Butterfly. She has choreographed works for Boulder Ballet and BB2, and co-produced, choreographed and danced in Pandora's Muse, an evening of dance, theater and film at the Dairy Center for the Arts.
Soloists
Alex Davison is an honor role sophomore at Boulder High School. He began studying karate at the age of four, eventually earning a second-degree black belt. A member of a dancing family, Alex began his formal dance training with Boulder Ballet at the age of eight. He won first place in the junior division at the Denver Ballet Guild Competition, and attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet summer program on full scholarship. He has danced soloist roles in numerous Boulder Ballet, Boulder Ballet II and Storybook Ballet productions. Alex is also an accomplished juggler and trombonist.
Ben Goodman has been dancing since he was 5 years old, and began serious training at age 12. After experience with gymnastics, soccer, swimming and music, Ben’s priority became dance. Ben has participated in summer dance programs with Kansas City Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Juilliard. Ben has competed in the Youth America Gand Prix and won third place in the senior division of the Denver Ballet Guild Competition. Also an aspiring choreographer, Ben has created highly acclaimed works for the BB2 Junior Company. Ben is an honor role senior at Boulder High School.
Rachel Haber was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She trained at The Academy of Colorado Ballet on scholarship under the direction of Inessa Plekhanova, Meelis Pakri, and Kim Robards. In June of 2003, Rachel graduated from the academy with honors and joined the company as an apprentice. She performed in numerous ballets such as Dracula, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Peter Pan, and Rubies. The following summer Rachel was invited to the Cerri Ballet Academy in Tokyo as a guest artist. Rachel has also danced with Ballet Austin, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, and Denver Ballet. Currently, she is studying at PIMA Medical Institute to become a physical therapist assistant. This is Rachel's first season with Boulder Ballet.
Kathryn Wagner, a native of Colorado, has trained at the Arvada Center with Christina Noel-Adcock, Eve Paris, and Lisi Elsey. Kathryn has performed in numerous productions with the Arvada Center Dance Theater, including the title role in the 1999 production of Peter Pan, and outreach in venues such as the Children’s Museum, Oxford Hotel, and local schools. Kathryn is a co-artistic director and choreographer for the Arvada Center Dance Theater, and an instructor for the Arvada Center’s Dance Department and summer integrated arts camps. Kathryn holds a BA from Regis University and a Colorado Department of Education Elementary Teacher License. This is Kathryn’s second season with Boulder Ballet.