Made possible through the generosity of
Melony & Adam Lewis, Kelley & Mark Purnell, Bebe Schweppe
ASPEN DISTRICT THEATER
DECEMBER 6, 7:30PM
DECEMBER 7, 1:00PM & 5:00PM
DECEMBER 8, 1:00PM
ACT ONE
SCENE I THE PARTY
Mother…………………..Sadie Needham-Wood
Father………………………….Micheal Bushman
Clara…………………………………….Perrin Jones
Fritz….Cristian Montes (DEC 6 & DEC 7, 1:00)
Cole Honey (DEC 7, 5:00 & DEC 8)
Uncle Drosselmeyer……………Steven Cook
Governess…………………………………….La Emi
Guests…………………………………..ASFB Artists
Genevieve Boyle, Brooklyn Brown, Julian Cottrell,
Elijah Hartley, Brooke Huebner,
Cristina Landeros, Juan Lemus, Nicolas Pacholok
Children……………………………….ASFB School
Chase Landeros, Fernando Mercado,
Angel Tadeo Garcia, Trinidad Taffarelli
(DEC 6 & DEC 7, 1:00)
Reyna Andrews, Ava Marie Carr,
Lowri Hembury, Cole Honey
(DEC 7, 5:00 & DEC 8)
Fiona Rippy, Esla Skagen,
Savannah Buckingham
(DEC 7, 5:00)
Cristian Montes
(DEC 8)
Martel Silva
Clara Understudy……………..Ava Marie Carr
Little Party Children…………….ASFB School
Beatirce Muresan
Fabricio Horta (DEC 6 & DEC 7, 1:00)
Daniel Nunez (DEC 7, 5:00 & DEC 8)
Carolers………………………………..ASFB School
Karis Henderson, Shiloh Andrulaitis
Marionette…………………………Edythe Lozner
Doll……………………………………….ASFB Artists
Elizabeth Devaney (matinees)
Hannah Argyle (evenings)
Jack in the Box…………..Benjamin Nemmers
SCENE II THE BATTLE
Nutcracker Prince………………Julian Cottrell
Rat King……………………….Micheal Bushman
Mice………………………………………ASFB School
Clementine Garfield, Isla Gilmore,
Francesca Forero,
Beatrice Muresan, Hazel Parenti,
Sabrina Sztykiel, Cecilia Valentino
Mouse Understudy………………..Fiona Rippy
Soldiers…………………………………ASFB School
Reyna Andrews, Maggie Fitzgerald,
Sara Kershow, Italia Estefanía Ramírez,
Syd Romeyn, Eva Simpson
Toy Soldiers………………………….ASFB School
Sterling Drake, Vivienne Kelly,
Noey Von Stocken
(DEC 6 & DEC 7 1:00)
Cole Honey, Chase Landeros, Fernando Mercado
(DEC 7 5:00)
Cristian Montes, Angel Tadeo Garcia, Fernando Mercado
(DEC 8)
Marel Silva, Angel Tadeo Garcia, Fernando Mercado
Bear………………………………………..Juan Lemus
Rabbit………………………………Martin Camacho
Monkey…………………………Shiloh Andrulaitis
Blocks……………………………………ASFB School
Leola DelGrasso, Rowan Doherty
(DEC 6 & DEC 7, 1:00)
Alaina Gelroth, Zora Lahr, Elise Schuller
(DEC 7, 5:00 & DEC 8)
Ashton Berg, Finley Carlson, Elly Halsey
SCENE III KINGDOM OF SNOW
Snow Queen…………………Jackie McConnell
Snow King………………………….Elijah Hartley
Snowflakes……………………………ASFB Artists
Hannah Argyle, Genevieve Boyle, Brooklyn Brown,
Elizabeth Devaney, Nikki Ferry, Alina Gonzalez,
Brooke Huebner, Arianna Huglett,
Devin Larsen, Emily Ridings, Mary Ann Schafer,
Madeleine Scott
*INTERMISSION*
ACT TWO
A CAROUSEL TRIP AROUND THE WORLD
Sugar Plum Fairy……………….Haley Schwan
Cavalier……………………………..Patrick Yocum
Spanish Flamenco………………………..La Emi
Arabian Silk Dance………..Katrina Amerine
with Micheal Bushman
Dunhuang Ribbon Dance……..Zhongmei Li
Chinese Fu Dog……………………ASFB School
(DEC 6 & DEC 7, 1:00)
Sara Kershow, Eva Simpson
(DEC 7, 5pm & DEC 8)
Maggie Fitzgerald, Italia Estefanía Ramírez
French Mirlitons…………………..ASFB Artists
(DEC 6)
Mary Ann Schafer
with Brooke Huebner and Devin Larsen
(DEC 7 1:00)
Maria Gonzalez
with Genevieve Boyle and Arianna Hughlett
(DEC 7 5:00)
Maria Gonzalez
with Brooklyn Brown and Arianna Hughlett
(DEC 8)
Mary Ann Schaefer
with Brooke Huebner and Devin Larsen
Ukrainian Hopak……………Shumka Dancers
Joshua Pacholok, Nicolas Pacholok,
Alex Stasiuk, Mara Palahniuk, Alyssa Shukalek,
Rachel Starko
Candy Canes…………………………ASFB School
Sofia Baldwin, Aubrey Bates, Lydia Hancock
London Lanthrop, Lily Lynch ,Sofia Lopez
Kavryany Oshun Gonzalez Noyola, Meera Pradhan
Understudy………………………….Ashton Berg
Cooks…………………………………….ASFB School
Chase Landeros
(DEC 6 & DEC 7, 1:00)
Angel Tadeo Garcia
(DEC 7, 5:00 & DEC 8)
Fernando Mercado
Jalisco Celebration………….ASFB Folklórico
Martin Camacho Perez, Joel Garcia,
Mauricio Horta, Chase Landeros,
Juan Lemus, Juan Lemus, Cristian Montes
Ayalen Chavez, Cristina Landeros,
Vanessa Mercado, Athziri Lopez,
Stephanie Nuñez, Jaqueline Flores,
Katya Salgado, Alejandra Vasquez
Waltz of the Flowers…………….ASFB Artists
Hannah Argyle, Genevieve Boyle, Brooklyn Brown,
Elizabeth Devaney, Nikki Ferry, Alina Gonzalez,
Brooke Huebner, Arianna Huglett, Devin Larsen,
Emily Ridings, Mary Ann Schafer, Madeleine Scott
Dew Drop………………..Sadie Needham-Wood
Bumblebees……………………………ASFB School
(DEC 6 & DEC 7, 1:00)
Millie Borkovec, Penelope Chierotti, Mya Conklin,
Enni Cook, Anabelle Edmonds, Lauren Miller,
Sofia Mirich, Sena Ruiz, Henri Sachson,
Reese White
(DEC 7, 5:00 & DEC 8)
Cloe Baldwin Maisie Lopez Alice Nagey,
Lulu Nagey Olivia Schube, Eliza Sztykiel,
Laurel Weihs
(DEC 7, 5:00)
Rafaella Estabrook, Eloise Demden
Annalee Kenner, Ella Silverstein
(DEC 8)
Laila Andrade, Nora Hawley, Lillian Kraemer,
Ellie-Madison Vargas
GUEST ARTISTS
HALEY SCHWAN
Haley Schwan began her dance training at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., and later at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2010, she joined Staatsballett Berlin as a member of the corps de ballet. In her five seasons there, she performed a vast repertoire of classical and contemporary works, including solos created for her in Marco Goecke’s And The Sky on that Cloudy Day and Itzik Galili’s Open Square.
Her classical repertoire includes George Balanchine’s Ballet Imperial, Patrice Bart’s Swan Lake, Giselle, and The Nutcracker; John Cranko’s Onegin and Romeo & Juliet, Nacho Duato’s The Sleeping Beauty, Vladimir Malakhov’s Four Seasons, La Peri, La Bayadère, and Alexei Ratmansky’s Namouna. Her contemporary repertoire includes works by Maurice Béjart, Nacho Duato, Marco Goecke, Giorgio Madia, Tim Plegge, and Angelin Preljocaj.
Schwan moved to New York City in 2015 to explore her art form from a new perspective as a freelance dancer and choreographer. She worked with Emery LeCrone and Twyla Tharp, tried her hand at acting in the immersive theater production of S. Dylan Zwickel’s Here We Dance, and choreographed Iggy Azalea & Rita Ora’s performance of “Black Widow” for the MTV VMAs.
Schwan joined Boston Ballet as an artist of the Company in 2017. She was promoted to second soloist in 2020 and soloist in 2022.
PATRICK YOCUM
Patrick Yocum began his ballet training in his home state of Pennsylvania. His training continued with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School before joining Boston Ballet’s Trainee Program as its Sydney Leonard scholar. Yocum joined Boston Ballet II in 2009. BBII provided him many performance opportunities, including the works of August Bournonville and Jorma Elo. He joined Boston Ballet’s corps de ballet in 2011, was promoted to the rank of soloist in 2015, and became a principal dancer in 2017.
He has appeared in leading roles in classical repertoire including Giselle (Albrecht), Frederick Ashton’s Sleeping Beauty (Prince Desire), August Bournonville’s La Sylphide (James), John Cranko’s Onegin (Vladimir Lensky), Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella (The Prince) and Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), Ivan Liska’s Le Corsair (Konrad), and Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake (Siegfried) and The Nutcracker.
He has especially enjoyed leading roles in neoclassical and contemporary works from esteemed choreographers including Val Caniparoli, Merce Cunningham, Alexander Eckman, Jorma Elo, William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, Wayne Macgregor, John Neumeier, Justin Peck, Tiler Peck, Helen Pickett, Jerome Robbins, Hans Van Manen, and Leonid Yakobson. He has created roles in works including Karole Armitage’s Bitches Brew, Jorma Elo’s Fifth Symphony of Jean Sibelius, William Forsythe’s Playlist (EP), Jose Martinez’ Resonance, and Ken Ossola’s The Space Between.
He has been frequently featured in the works of George Balanchine, enjoying principal roles in ballets including Chaconne, Serenade, Agon, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro Brilliante, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Donizetti Variations, and Apollo.
He has performed internationally in Spain, the U.K., Canada, France, Finland, South Korea, and in many cities in the United States.
Katrina Amerine was born and raised in southern California. A dancer from a young age, she graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and has been a long-time member of Nancy Evans Dance Theatre as a dancer, choreographer and recently designated costume designer. Through her exploration of dance, she found aerial arts. She has performed with production companies such as Way 2 Much Entertainment, Jumbo Shrimp Circus, and also coaches at Womack and Bowman the Loft. Her specialties are silks, hammock, single point trapeze and aerial straps. She is happy to be returning as a guest artist with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.
Hannah Argyle is a professional ballet dancer from Salt Lake City, Utah. Hannah danced for Ballet West as a Trainee while studying ballet at the University of Utah on scholarship. In 2022, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Ballet. Following graduation, Hannah has danced professionally with Chrysalis Ballet, dancing principal roles and traveling with the company to Italy for the Florence Dance Festival. Hannah is a guest artist for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and loves performing in The Nutcracker.
Genevieve Boyle was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She began her training at Salt Lake Dance Center and then went on to Ballet West Academy. She attended high school at Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts where she focused on ballet and contemporary dance. After graduation, she moved to Chicago and trained at Ballet Chicago under the guidance of Patricia Blaire and Dan Duell. After a year in Chicago, she was accepted into the Ballet Program at the University of Utah to further her training and education. While at the University, she choreographed a piece titled Subjects of Ymir involving her fellow students and which was performed at the Marriott Center for Dance. At the University she performed in many works including Carmina Terra by Susan Jaffe, Sur le Fil by Penny Saunders, Carmen by Chun-Lin Tseng and Jay Kim, and Becoming by Sayoko Knode. The summer before her senior year she was chosen to perform in the Choreographic Institute at the University of Utah. During this time Genevieve worked with select choreographers from around the country including Christina Ghiardi, James Kopecky, and Jenelle Figgins on premier pieces. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2023, she joined Diablo Ballet as a Senior Trainee in 2024. Genevieve will be an apprentice with Diablo Ballet for the 2024-2025 season.
Brooklyn Brown is originally from Gilbert, Arizona. She studied at Ballet Etudes, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Brigham Young University. She attended summer courses at Ballet West, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Carolina Ballet, Nashville Ballet, and the Hamlyn School in Florence. Brooklyn has professional experience with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Utah Metropolitan Ballet, and Chrysalis Ballet performing in ballets including George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ronald Hynd’s Sleeping Beauty, Jerome Robbins’ Fanfare, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Swan Lake, Paquita, and Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations. This is her first Nutcracker season with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and she is excited to share the stage with so many talented artists.
Micheal Bushman was born in Los Angeles, California. He received his training from Wilhelm Burmann, Ballet West, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Manhattan Youth Ballet, and Lisa Cuizon at Cuizon Ballet Center. He also danced Ballroom with Meagan Mendoza, competing, and winning multiple awards. Mr. Bushman moved to New York to train with Wilhelm Burmann and Manhattan Youth Ballet. While there he danced in many Balanchine ballets such as Serenade and Who Cares?. He then furthered his studies at the Pacific Northwest Ballet, where he danced the lead role of Beast and Prince in Bruce Wells’ Beauty and roles in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, and Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake. Mr. Bushman joined Ballet West II in 2022 where he performed in Les Noces, The Sleeping Beauty, John Cranko’s Onegin, Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker, and the pas de trois in Paquita. Mr. Bushman now Dances with Diablo Ballet based in the San Francisco bay area
Steven Cook joined the Chicago Ballet at age 16 and followed the company director Ben Stevenson to the Houston Ballet before coming to New York to appear on Broadway in the musical “Doonesbury”. He also danced with DANCERS, NYC, and Contemporary Ballet at City Center, NYC. In 1995 he joined the faculty of Stella Adler Studio of Acting where he was a full-time professor and director for more than 20 years. He created 12 original works and directed over 20 plays during his tenure at Adler. He founded MAD (Movement and Dance Theater) as a performing wing of the Adler Studio. As an actor he has performed with Riverside Shakespeare, Pulse Ensemble, Vermont Shakespeare and Adler’s Harold Clurman Lab among many others. He choreographed a full-length Cinderella for St. Louis Ballet, as well as original works for Arlington Dance Theater and Eglevsky Ballet. He has taught movement technique for The National Shakespeare Conservatory and The National Theater for the Deaf. Mr. Cook has had the honor to serve as an artistic advisor to the Margie Gillis Foundation along with his ongoing association as a guest artist with Stella Adler Studio. Mr. Cook is an avid Argentine tango dancer and has taught and performed tango in the United States, Argentina, and Europe.
Julian Cottrell is originally from Fort Worth, TX, where he began dancing at the age of seven with Margo Dean School of Ballet. He has danced at the Texas Ballet Theater Studio Training Company under the direction of Kathy Warakomsky-Li and graduated high school from Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. Cottrell has worked with Ben Stevenson of Texas Ballet Theater, Ryan Nye of Oklahoma City Ballet, Vincent Hardy, Ahmad Simmons, Robyn Mineko Williams, Jill Johnson, Yury Yanowsky and Penny Saunders. Cottrell is currently a senior at the University of Oklahoma where he is pursuing a degree in ballet performance with Michael Bearden, Boyko Dossev, Glenn Edgerton, Jan Fugit, and Mary-Margaret Holt. He is also double majoring in pre-veterinary sciences.
Elizabeth Devanney was born in Bel Air, Maryland and began her training with Dance Conservatory of Maryland and continued with University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA.) After graduating from high school in 2019, she was invited to join the professional division at Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). She has attended summer programs at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Boston Ballet, School of American Ballet, and Next Generation Ballet. In 2020, Ms. Devanney was selected for the Royal Danish Ballet – PNB Exchange Program and was one of 25 young dancers awarded a scholarship from the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet to support her continued training. Her repertoire includes Kent Stowell’s Cinderella, Ethan Steifel’s The Nutcracker, Helen Pickett’s Petal, Kingdom of the Shade’s from Natalia Makarova’s La Bayadére and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Concerto Barocco and Serenade. Ms. Devanney has previously danced with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Oakland Ballet. She joined Diablo Ballet in 2023 performing roles in Light Rain Pas de Deux by Gerald Arpino, Dr. Magic by Penny Saunders, The Nutcracker Suite by Julia Adam, Sinuosityby Sean Kelly, 4 in the Morning by Val Caniparoli, Sleeping Beauty’s Wedding staged by Sean Kelly, the Pas D’Action from La Bayadère staged by Christopher Lam and The Firebird by Brian Enos.
La Emi began her Flamenco journey at the age of four and has emerged as a teacher and performer acclaimed for her artistry and craft. La Emi started studying Flamenco with the María Benítez Institute for Spanish Arts (ISA) when she was four years old and began working with the Institute’s youth company, Flamenco’s Next Generation, at the age of 10. Just two years later when she was only 12 – she started teaching within the Northern New Mexico public school system. She began instructing at Moving Arts Española in 2005 and ISA in 2006. As a performer, La Emi has danced on stages from New Mexico to Spain, appearing in the production of “El Pintor” at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque (2010), Entreflamenco, the company of Antonio Granjero and Estefania Ramirez, in the Benítez Cabaret at the Lodge at Santa Fe (2011, 2012 and 2015), Juan Siddi Flamenco Santa Fe (2013, 2014 and 2016), and Compañia Chuscales y Mina Fajardo (2010-2014). In 2011, La Emi was nominated and selected as one of the 12 young and emerging artists in Pasatiempo, and she received the 2012 Santa Fe Mayor’s Melissa Engestrom Youth Artist Award for Excellence in the Arts. La Emi studied intensively in Spain with Gala Vivancos, Carmela Greco, Belén López, Mónica Fernández, Anabel Moreno, and La Popi, as well as José Galván, Juana Amaya, Yolanda Heredia, Iván Vargas Heredia, Torombo, Rocio Alcaide Ruiz and many others. She has performed under the direction of Carmela Greco, José Galván, and Torombo and at major venues and events including the Carmela Greco Seminario de Flamenco y Danza Española and Café de Chinitas in Madrid; Cuevas Los Tarantos in the Sacramonte of Granada and the Teatro Alameda Festival Flamenco in Sevilla. La Emi currently teaches and is the Executive Director at EmiArteFlamenco Academy, as well as performing in many venues throughout the country. In the summer of 2018, she launched her professional career with Heritage Hotels and Resorts, and produces performances at the Inn and Spa at Loretto.
Nikki Ferry grew up in Carbondale, Colorado where she first began ballet at the Glenwood Dance Academy, followed by the School of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. As a junior in highschool, at the age of 16, she left Colorado and moved to Pennsylvania to begin training with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, under the direction of Marica Dale Weary. From there, Nikki moved to Salt Lake City, Utah continuing her training for three years as a student of the Ballet West Academy. In addition to her year around training, Nikki has also attended summer programs with Colorado Ballet, The Harid Conservatory, Milwaukee Ballet, The City Ballet of San Diego, and Boston Ballet. Nikki recently graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Ballet Department of the School of Dance.
Alina Gonzalez is an Apprentice with Diablo Ballet. She received her training from Contra Costa Ballet, Berkeley Ballet Theater, Diablo Ballet School, and summer intensives at the San Francisco Ballet School and Post: Workshop. She performed Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland by Robin Dekkers, Sugar Plum Fairy and Dewdrop Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Russian Girl in Serenade by George Balanchine. She has also performed in La Bayadere, Coppelia, Paquita, Le Corsaire, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and various pieces by Julia Adam.
Elijah Hartley is from Montesano, Washington. He began dancing at eight years old in small studios throughout Washington and Oregon. He then moved to Salt Lake City, UT in 2017 to join Ballet West Academy. In 2021 he joined Ballet West’s second company and performed in many of Ballet West’s productions, including: Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces, Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker, Michael Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, John Cranko’s Onegin, and Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Noces.
Brooke Huebner was born and raised in Newport Beach, California. She trained at Classical Dance Academy, under her mother & former Joffrey Ballet dancer, Elizabeth Molak-Huebner. She trained summers at Ballet West Academy, American Ballet Theatre New York City, and Radio City Rockettes Invitational. She graduated from the University of Utah Ballet Department, where she performed in works from notable choreographers like Gerald Arpino, George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Penny Saunders, Michele Wiles, and more. After graduating, she danced with Nevada Ballet Theatre, under Roy Kaiser, where she worked with Ben Stevenson, Septime Webre, Tiit Helmets, along with Cirque du Soleil. In 2021, Brooke was an invited performer in Nervi, Italy at the Nervi Music Ballet Festival. Along with performing, Brooke loves teaching, choreographing and sharing her passion for dance with the future generations. She was awarded the Outstanding Choreography award twice at the Youth America Grand Prix international ballet competition. Brooke is currently dancing in Las Vegas, NV, in the Tournament of Kings show at the Excalibur. She enjoys performing 6 nights a week, doing what she loves. Brooke is so excited as this is her 4th season performing with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet!
Arianna Hughlett is thrilled to be joining Aspen Santa Fe Ballet for her second production of ASFB’s The Nutcracker. She began her training in her hometown at Kansas City Ballet School. She received additional formative training at Kansas School of Classical Ballet and attended summer programs at The Royal Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, and others.
In 2019, she joined Boston Ballet School as a Trainee under Margaret Tracey’s direction and entered the Graduate Program a season later, training with Kathleen Mitchell and Peter Stark. During this time, she performed in the Company’s productions of Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, and Chaconne and danced featured roles in Boston Ballet II performances, including works by Balanchine, Petipa, Jorma Elo, and Mikko Nissinen. She then danced with Grand Rapids Ballet for the 2022-2023 season and in ASFB’s The Nutcracker in 2023.
In addition, she has choreographed works for Boston Ballet II, Boston Ballet School’s Graduate Program, Grand Rapids Ballet, and as an independent artist in Kansas City.
Devin Larsen originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, received her pre-professional training from the Ballet West Academy for 12 years prior to joining Ballet West as a Trainee on full scholarship. Devin has danced professionally with Ballet Memphis, Oklahoma City Ballet, Central West Ballet and Chrysalis Ballet performing works by choreographers such as Rene Daveluy, Agnes De Mille, George Balanchine, Dennis Spaight, Garrett Smith, Shani Robison, Jennie Creer King, Danielle Diniz and along with many others. This is Devin’s 6th season performing in ASFB’s production of The Nutcracker.
Zhongmei Li is a renowned Chinese-American dancer and choreographer. She began her career as a student at the Beijing Dance Academy, where she was one of 12 girls to be admitted from the 60,000 who auditioned. After several years as a principal dancer in China, she came to the US in 1991, winning full scholarships to the Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham schools. She performed on Broadway in the long-running musical “The King and I.” She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 1994, she founded the Zhongmei Dance Company, whose purpose was to bring the best of Chinese traditional dance to American audiences, performing sold-out programs at New York’s Joyce Theater and other venues across the country. “Zhongmei Li moves like a mist across the stage,” The New York Times dance critic wrote. “Offstage, she looks like a fragile-boned bird. But there is steel in those bones.” As a freelance choreographer, Zhongmei has made significant contributions to the field, fusing the Chinese dance tradition with a modern-dance sensibility. She conducts master classes and workshops at various universities and dance schools, inspiring the next generation of dancers. In 2023, she joined the faculty of the Mark Morris Dance Group, and she is a regular guest performer with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company. Zhongmei’s choreography for Dream of the Red Chamber Opera premiered at Ted Mann Concert Hall Opera Theater in 2024, with a year-long effort. Zhongmei Li’s inspiring journey is documented in the non-fiction book “A Girl Named Faithful Plum” by Richard Bernstein.
Jackie McConnell, from Salem, Oregon, trained with Pacific Northwest Ballet School and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She danced with Nevada Ballet Theatre, and toured with the Portland-based company, Bodyvox before settling in the Bay Area. She has danced with Company C Contemporary Ballet, Post: Ballet, Oakland Ballet, the San Francisco Opera and is currently a principal dancer with Diablo Ballet, based in Walnut creek. Since joining Diablo Ballet in 2015, Ms. McConnell has performed in works by George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Christopher Wheeldon, Julia Adam, Trey McIntyre, Penny Saunders and many other local choreographers.
Sadie Needham-Wood started dance at a young age in her hometown, Evansville, IN. From there she attended training programs at Boston Ballet and Harid Conservatory. Upon graduating high school, Sadie was handpicked by Patricia Barker to join Grand Rapids Ballet where she performed lead roles such as Juliet in a world premiere by Mario Radacovsky. This role took her to Austria where she guested in Ballet Bratislava’s production of Romeo and Juliet. After 3 seasons with Grand Rapids Ballet, Sadie signed a contract with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in January 2013. Here she enjoyed a full career dancing on some of the greatest stages around the globe and performing works by leading choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Jorma Elo, Nicolo Fonte, Alejandro Cerrudo, Cayetano Soto, and Fernando Melo. Upon the dissolution of ASFB, Sadie took on the position of rehearsal assistant at The Boulder Ballet.
Sadie continues to push her own artistry on the stage as a freelance dancer performing with companies such as Cirio Collective, Lemon Sponge Cake, and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet; and off the stage as a stager for choreographers such as Ben Needham-Wood, Andrea Schermoly, and Nicolo Fonte.
Benjamin Nemmers is currently enrolled as a student at the University of Oklahoma and is a company member of the Oklahoma Festival Ballet. At university, Benjamin double majors in Ballet Performance and Pre-Physical Therapy. Benjamin studied ballet for 10 years at the Ballet Academy of Texas and eventually joined the Ballet Ensemble of Texas in 2018. They have studied with various schools, including American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Texas, and Nashville Ballet. Benjamin also attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where they graduated with highest honors in Dance in the spring of 2022. A freelance dancer on behalf of OU, Benjamin has performed with multiple companies, including Victoria Ballet Theatre, Tupelo Ballet, and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.
Joshua Pacholok has been dancing in Shumka since 2019. At the age of 6, he enrolled in grade 1 at the Shumka School of Dance. He continued to dance for 5 years until leaving to pursue other interests. At age 13, after watching his brother and cousins perform on stage with Shumka, he rediscovered his passion for Ukrainian dance. With support from Shumka School Principal Peter Eeles, he was once again enrolled in the Shumka School of Dance Intensive Division. From there, he continued his dance training, studying not only Ukrainian dance, but also ballet and contemporary. Joshua feels Shumka has deep and important roots in our community, and is excited to not only celebrate Shumka’s past, but also its future and the evolving art form of Ukrainian dance. He is one of the Coordinators for the annual Shumka Summer Dance Camps and teaches throughout the year at the Shumka School.
Nicolas Pacholok began his dance education at the Shumka School of Dance, and upon graduation in 2016, he was offered an apprenticeship with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. Since then, Nicolas’ dance career with Shumka has included performances across Canada and the United States, dancing various roles in Shumka’s productions of Kobzar, Nutcracker, Ancestors & Elders, Mosquito’s Wedding, Echoes of Hopak, and UKRAINKA. Nicolas has had the pleasure of collaborating and guest performing with multiple internationally renowned performing companies, including the Victoria Symphony, Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America, National Ballet of Ukraine, and Virsky National Folk Dance Ensemble of Ukraine. This fall, Nicolas had the honour of joining Shumka to feature as part of the National Ballet of Ukraine’s Nadiya Ukraine tour across the eastern United States, in which the companies performed 18 shows across 16 cities including performances at the Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C. and City Centre Theatre in New York City. Nicolas possesses training in classical and contemporary ballet, in addition to Ukrainian dance, and appreciates the physical and artistic insights that different dance disciplines are able to provide.
Mara Palahniuk has been immersed in the world of dance since the age of three, starting with ballet and Ukrainian dance and later exploring Ballroom, Latin, Character, and Martha Graham Modern dance. Her unwavering dedication has taken her around the globe to study and perform with renowned institutions such as Alberta Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet in New York, and the Royal Academy of Dance in London. Recognized for her natural talent in teaching and choreography, Mara began teaching at just 14 and has inspired and mentored her students ever since. In 2015, Mara became a member of the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, where she continues to perform professionally, touring across Canada and the United States. A graduate of the University of Alberta with a major in English and minors in Creative Writing, Ukrainian Culture, Language and Literature, and Women and Gender Studies, she is now completing her final practicum in the Elementary Education After-Degree program at Concordia University of Edmonton. Beyond dance and teaching, Mara finds joy in reading, crafting, nurturing her plants, and spending quality time with her beloved puppy, Kozak.
Emily Ridings was born and raised in Aspen Colorado. She started her training at a young age with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet School. In 2015 she placed top 12 for Contemporary solo at the Youth America Grand Prix (Denver). She was also granted a full scholarship from US State Department for the National Security Language Initiative for Youth, allowing her to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. At the end of the scholarship, she was accepted to train at the academy in their four-year program, graduating in 2019. She went on to dance as an apprentice at State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara, and Ballet Fantastique in Oregon. During the 2020/2021 shut down, she returned home to Aspen Santa Fe Ballet as a teacher. Emily is excited to return to ASFB’s Nutcracker!
Mary Ann Schaefer, from Memphis, TN took her first ballet classes at the Allegro Ballet Academy with instructor Norah Curran. After moving to Indianapolis, IN at age 12, she studied at the Clara R. Noyes Academy of Ballet Internationale and continued her training under the instruction of Alyona Yakovleva, Tatiana Pali, and Sergey Sergiev at the Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana. In 2007, she won first place in the classical division at the Youth America Grand Prix competition, and in 2010, she competed at the World Ballet Competition, where she received a Jury Award and full scholarship to Ballet West’s summer program and year round trainee program in Salt Lake City, UT. In 2012, Artistic Director Adam Sklute invited Mary Ann to join Ballet West II, where she performed in Ballet West productions for two seasons and stayed on as a supplemental corps artist for their 2014-2015 season. In 2015, Mary Ann performed Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” for two seasons under Artistic Director Tom Mossbrucker, and was also a member of The Suzanne Farrell Ballet for two seasons, where she had the honor of performing numerous Balanchine ballets including Stars & Stripes, Tzigane, & Gounod Symphony on tour and at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
In 2017, Mary Ann returned to Indianapolis, IN as a founding company member of the Indianapolis Ballet. Over her four seasons there, Mary Ann performed many soloist roles, including “Dark Angel” in Serenade, “Tall Girl” in Rubies, & “Katerina” in The Firebird. Mary Ann is currently a faculty member at Ballet West’s Park City campus.
Madeleine Scott: Originally from South Dakota, this is Madeleine’s 5th year dancing with ASFB & her 10th year performing in Aspen, Co. Madeleine has performed works by choreographers such as George Balanchine, Matthew Neenan, Jamar Roberts, Cayetano Soto, Penny Saunders, Yin Yue, Ana Maria Lucaciu, Dani Rowe, Caili Quan, Lauren Edson, & more. Madeleine has danced professionally with Ballet West, South Dakota Ballet, LED Boise, Sacramento Ballet, DanceAspen & more. Madeleine performed at Vail Dance Festival in 2022, 2023 & 2024. She earned her BFA in Ballet Pedagogy from the University of Utah in 2017. She is currently the founder & executive director of South Dakota Ballet. Madeleine is proud to be one of the 2024 Inaugural Cultural Vibrancy Grant Award Recipients from the City of Aspen.
Alyssa Shukalek has been a dancer with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers for seven years and has had incredible opportunities such as collaborating with other local and international artists, and being a part of numerous productions that have pushed her to grow as a performer. Outside of Shumka, Alyssa is finishing her Masters of Education in School and Clinical Child Psychology and has been involved in many research projects including studies of parenting, mentorship, and reading development during early childhood. As a proud Canadian-Ukrainian, Alyssa is thrilled and grateful to have the opportunity to showcase her culture with new audiences across Canada and the US.
Rachel Starko has been dancing in Shumka since the spring of 2022. Throughout her time in the company, she has danced across Canada on tours such as Shumka 60th/Mosquito’s Wedding, Nutcracker, and Whirlwind Summer. Rachel has trained in various dance styles including RAD ballet (having completed her Advanced 2 exam), tap, jazz, contemporary, and Ukrainian dance. Being part of the children’s cast in Alberta Ballet’s Nutcracker sparked Rachel’s interest in dancing professionally later in life. Her love of ballet and Ukrainian dance, combined with a desire to continue dancing at a high calibre after high school, led her to join Shumka.
Rachel is currently pursuing post-secondary studies at Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta’s francophone campus. She is in the third year of her degree in secondary education (in French), specializing in science and mathematics.
Alex Stasiuk’s passion for Ukrainian dance started at the age of three when he had seen the Ardrossan Yatran dancers in a parade and joined the group that fall. At Yatran’s year-end show his instructor Murray Steele had arranged for Shumka to perform for them and Alex had a goal of one day being like his instructor and dancing for Shumka.
After dancing ten years at Yatran, Alex took the leap to improve his dance career and joined Viter Ukrainian Dancers and Folk Choir in 2019, until finally achieving his goal of being a Shumka dancer in the fall of 2021. As Alex is one of Shumka’s youngest members he completed high school in Spring of 2024.
ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET SCHOOL
Education is essential to ASFB’s mission. With over 80 classes taught weekly, reaching over 500 children, education forms our very roots and gives children a needed creative and social outlet. Strong in our belief that dance education should be available to all children, ASFB awards over $40,000 in scholarships each year. We take pride in our alumni who have gone on to study at prestigious schools such as: Ailey/Fordham University, American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Boston Ballet, Interlochen Arts Academy, Joffrey Ballet School, North Carolina School for the Arts, Pacific Northwest Ballet and San Francisco Ballet School. The joyful optimism in the faces and bodies of aspiring young students fuels our resolve to preserve and strengthen our educational offerings.
ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET FOLKLÓRICO
Diversity and equity take center stage in this unparalleled community enrichment program. Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklórico, now in its 23rd year, has enriched the lives of thousands of local children through free after-school classes in traditional Mexican folkloric dance. Serving multiple locations in Roaring Fork Valley and Santa Fe area public schools, the program promotes positive youth development, creative expression, and the crossing of cultural boundaries. This truly unique program builds community by connecting families and keeping traditions alive.
UKRAINIAN SHUMKA DANCERS
Established in Edmonton, Alberta in 1959, the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers is Canada’s only professional Ukrainian dance company. Shumka presents dance-theatre touring productions, as well as intimate concert repertoire across the country and around the world. Seen by millions on international television broadcasts, the company has presented command performances for Queens, Prime Ministers, and Presidents, and have performed alongside the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Julie Andrews and Ukrainian artists including Ruslana. Along with Alberta Ballet and Edmonton Opera, Shumka is honoured to be a resident company of the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
More than 60 years of performance history has shaped Shumka’s signature music and dance style. While maintaining deep respect for their heritage, Shumka continually challenges conventional boundaries to define the experience of Ukrainian dance in the context of today’s society.