Reminders 2008

Next Ballet & Friends Board Meeting:

Soon !

NUTCRACKER  2006 Cast
ACT I * SCENE 1

* UNDERSTUDY

* UNDERSTUDY

ACT I * SCENE 2

* UNDERSTUDY

ACT II

* UNDERSTUDY

*UNDERSTUDY

* UNDERSTUDY

DEW DROP & CAVALIER

*UNDERSTUDY

Principal Soloists

Slawomir Wozniak
SUGAR PLUM & SNOW CAVALIER

Therese Miyoshi Wendler
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY
 

Slawomir Wozniak
 

Slawomir is the principal dancer with the Theatre Wielki in Warsaw, Poland. He began his early ballet training in the Warsaw School with teachers from the Bolshoi and Kirov schools in Russia. Later he studied at the state Ballet School in Poznan, where he became a soloist with the Wroclaw Opera Ballet in 1986. Slawomir then moved to the Grand Theatre in Lodz, where in 1989 he received the title of principal dancer. In 1991, he joined the Grand Theatre Ballet in Warsaw. Slawomir is the 1990 Bronze medal recipient from the prestigious New York City International Ballet Competition, as well as the Bronze medal recipient of the 1992 Japanese International Ballet Competition. Slawomir comes from a theatrical family in Warsaw. He is married to a ballerina in the Theatre Wielki and is the father of two boys. Mr. Wozniak received his highest acclaim for his rendition of John in Lorca Massine’s “Zorba the Greek,” for which he was nominated “Sensation of the Year 1992" by Dance Magazine in France. Slawomir recently danced this lead role in “Zorba the Greek” in Italy and on many other foreign tours. In 1998, at the Choreography Workshops at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw, he prepared his first choreography, “Only Love” to the music of Albinoni. In 2001 Slawomir debuted another ballet he choreographed about the life of Nijinsky with his son Slawomir Jr. dancing the role of Nijinsky as a child which received rave reviews. Ballet & Friends feel privileged to have Mr. Wozniak perform in his sixteenth production of Nutcracker.

Therese Miyoshi Wendler
 

Therese began her ballet training with Nina Marlow at the age of 6 and has danced her way up through many roles, beginning with Polichenelle, Angel, Chinese, Merleton, Waltz Dewdrop, and finally danced Snow Queen and Arabian with Jim Payne. Upon graduation, Miss Wendler joined Ballet Idaho followed by Albany Berkshire Ballet and Ballet Metropolitano de Caracas in Venezuela. She has also danced for Ballet International in Indianapolis, Indiana where she was coached by Irina Koplakova. In 1996 she was a semi-finalist in the New York City International Ballet Competition, where she was coached by Cynthia Gregory. She has most recently danced for Connecticut Ballet, Ballet Jorgen Canada in Toronto, and the 2002 International Fringe Dance Festival in Toronto. She was also chosen to perform in Ballet Builders Choreography on Pointe in NYC and had the opportunity to work with Oksana Konobeyeva and other soloists of American Ballet Theater in a production of “Paquita.” We are all so thrilled to have Therese return to dance with MBT again as Sugar Plum with Slawomir Wozniak.
 

SNOW QUEEN
Alison Yurcak

Alison is a 16 year old junior at Xavier College Prep, who hopes to become a ballerina on graduation. She has been dancing with MBT for the past 8 years. Her first Nutcracker she was a Gnome, and progressed through the ranks dancing a Soldier, Child Act I, Angel, Snow and Waltz Corps. Her first soloist role was as Chinese and last year danced the demanding role of Dew Drop. Miss Yurcak will thrill audiences with her grace and beauty in the technically exacting role of Snow Queen this year.
 

WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS
(Dewdrop)
Anna Sears
Anna has studied with Nina Marlow for the last 11 years. She has danced almost every role in Nutcracker including Polichenelle, Clara, Dolls Act I, Chinese, and Snow & Waltz Corps. Last year she danced the difficult role of Merleton. This year she will delight audiences as the vibrant Dewdrop Fairy. Anna is a junior at Veritas Preparatory Academy where she is in chorus, crochet club and on the school leadership committee

Christion Smalley
(Dewdrop Cavalier)
Christion grew up in San Diego, California and danced under the direction of Sylvia Palmer and Anita Ardalan at Black Mountain Dance Center. He has also trained with Joffery Ballet, ABT, and Ballet Austin and was a full time scholarship student at Houston Ballet Academy for 2 years. After moving to Phoenix, Christion began his studies under the direction of Nina Marlow. He was a company member with Ballet Arizona for 2 years. We are excited to have Christion back at MBT performing as Dewdrop Cavalier.
 

ARABIAN
Julia Giordano
Julia has been dancing with MBT for the past 11 years. She has performed the roles of a Polichenelle, Soldier, Angel, Waltz & Snow Corps, Dolls Act I and last year delighted audiences in the lively & delightful role of Chinese. This year she will dance the sultry role of Arabian. She is a 15 year old sophomore at AZ School for the Arts. This summer she attended ABT summer intensive in Alabama. Julia plays the piano and wants to be a professional dancer when she graduates.

Wendell Duncan
Wendell Duncan is from Salt Lake City where he trained with William Christensen and Conrad Ludlow. Wendell has danced in numerous productions at the University of Utah’s Ballet Company and has been guest artist in several operas and musicals. Audiences will be thrilled with his masterful and acrobatic portrayal of Arabian. We are very fortunate to have Wendell return. He is the proud father of adorable baby Amelia who he hopes will enjoy Nutcracker as much as he does.

RUSSIAN
Artour Sangueli
Artour Sangueli began his dance career in Moldova in 1981 where he received specialized training in ballet, character and folk dancing. He danced with “ZHOK” for 15 years in Moldova. We are sure our audience will enjoy his return as the exhilarating Russian.

SPANISH
Hillary Minich (Left)
Hillary is a 15 year old sophomore at AZ School for the Arts where she is a member of Sinfonia, the highest level in orchestra where she plays the violin and sings. She has studied for the past 8 years with MBT and danced the roles of Nutcracker, Clara, Snow and Waltz Corps & Spanish. This year she will reprise her role as the vivacious Spanish. She will also dance the demanding role of Merleton.
Caitlin Nothwehr (Right)
Caitlin is a 17 year old senior student at Shadow Mountain HS where she is in Student Government, National Honors Society and the Pom captain. Caitlin has studied ballet for 13 years and danced the roles of Gnome, Clara, Soldier and Harlequin Dolls, Snow and Waltz Corps. This year she will thrill audiences in her exuberant rendition of Spanish and delightful Merleton.

Eric White
Eric has been dancing with Marlow Ballet Theatre for 4 years and has danced the role of Child Act I, Fritz, Soldier and Nutcracker. Eric is an eighth grade student at Mountainside Middle School where he loves to play basketball. His favorite ballets are Don Quixote and Swan Lake and his favorite dancer is Mikhail Baryshnikov.

CHINESE
Alexis Quebbeman (Right)
Alexis has studied ballet for 12 years at Brighton City Ballet & NMSOB. She has danced the roles of Child Act I, Mouse, Angel, Waltz and Snow Corps. This year she will dance the lively and charming role of Chinese. Alexis is a 15 year old sophomore at Desert Mountain HS where she is in the Kids Helping Kids Club and in Honors classes.
Jacqueline Villa (Left)
Jacqueline is a 14 year old Freshman Honor student at Scottsdale Christian Academy where she sings in choir. Jacqueline has danced with MBT for 9 years and has danced the roles of Polichenelle, Soldier, Fritz, Dolls Act I, and Snow & Waltz Corps. This year she will delight audiences with her rendition of Chinese.
 

MERLETON
 Caitlin Nothwehr & Hillary Minich

See their bios under Spanish