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Pointes of Interest | 1Now at The BushnellDrum roll, please! Just in time for the 20th Anniversary production of The Nutcracker, we are announcing that The Nutcracker this December, and Aladdin in April 2022, will be performed at The Bushnell Center for Performing Arts! This is the rst time that BTC will present on this prestigious stage, made more glorious because The Nutcracker will be Ballet Theatre Company’s dancers’ rst main stage show in over a year of not performing in public theaters. We are proud to oer the ballet to Greater Hartford and beyond.Pointes of InterestAs we head into the holiday season, optimism is in the air! We see it all around us, the thrills and traditions that we love and have missed.Ballet Theatre Company (BTC) is a professional ballet company located in West Hartford that crafts cutting-edge ballet theater experiences. Now in its 23rd season, the Company’s performances showcase a variety of stunning local dancers, national ballet stars, and school-age ballet students from the Greater Hartford area. With each unique show, BTC provides joy and inspiration to everyone from ballet enthusiasts to children who want to experience the magic of dance.“We know that audiences are ready to experience the feel of live shows again,” says BTC’s Artistic Director Stephanie Dattellas, “and as we look at the season ahead, we are ready to dazzle with our fall and winter ballets.” Better Ballet for EveryoneBTC is a women-led organization and it’s rapidly growing. As the leadership looks to the future of the Company and of ballet in Connecticut, we are expanding performance possibilities and making ballet more equitable for its dancers.To walk the talk, BTC launched a paid Company Dancers in Residence for the rst time in its history for our 2021-2022 performance year. In the past, BTC paid dancers per performance, but now they are paid to train, rehearse and perform as an ocial Company. In a eld where working for free is often expected, BTC is ensuring that its ballet dancers are valued.At the end of September, BTC held an audition to hire its new dancers. When she looks back at the day Dattellas remembers the feel of a vision coming to life, “After a riveting audition, we oered contracts to a diverse and talented group of professional dancers. I truly cannot tell you how wonderful it felt to see these dreams come to fruition right in front of my eyes.”With the return of ballet to the main stage, dancers and audiences will reconnect in a way that online performances can never provide. “I’m thrilled to stage news works, and re-visit classics like The Nutcracker at The Bushnell,” says Dattellas. “And we are eager to make ballet more approachable for audiences and fair for dancers in Greater Hartford.”Ballet is back! Come see for yourself.Ballet is Back!Ballet returns to Greater Hartford stages bigger, and better than everwest hartford’s premier ballet Companynewsletter | fall 2021Season 23 Company Dancers in Residence | Photo: Thomas GiroirStephanie Dattellas, Artistic Director
2 | Pointes of InterestNutcracker Carnival for Kids!What could be better than the magic of The Nutcracker during the holiday season? On November 20th, BTC will transform its stu-dios into a Nutcracker-themed carnival for one day only. Battle the Mouse King, steep Chinese tea, create snowakes for the Snow Scene, and so much more through this magical holiday adventure. If your kids enjoy games, prizes, crafts, and delicious treats, don’t miss out on the Nutcracker Carnival! Details and tickets are available at: dancebtc.orgUp Close: Fall Kick o the performance season with the intimate performance, Up Close: Fall, on November 5 and 6 in the state-of-the-art Compton Studio at BTC. Audience members are oered a “close-up” perspective of the performing arts.The BTC company dancers in residence and the Junior Corps de Ballet will present Autumn Aurora, a 3-movement ballet choreographed by Artistic Director, Stephanie Dattellas, set to Vivaldi’s Autumn Concerto. Up Close will also feature two movements from Paul Mejia’s Serenade in A, a neoclassical ballet choreographed to Igor Stravinsky that Dattellas calls, “bold and striking.” The program will close with an original piece by guest choreographer, Derek Brockington, a dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem.The Nutcracker - 20th AnniversaryGet your toy nutcrackers and don your tutus! The beloved Nutcracker ballet is making its dazzling return to the stage. Experience holiday joy with The Nutcracker, with innovative choreography by Artistic Director Stephanie Dattellas and magical surprises in every scene.This special 20th-anniversary performance of The Nutcracker will be at The Bushnell’s Maxwell M. & Ruth R. Belding Theater. This exciting move to Connecticut’s premier theater is a signicant milestone in BTC history that we look forward to sharing with our dancers, crew, and patrons. The Nutcracker will take place on December 11th at 1pm and 6pm and December 12th at 2pm. Tickets are available at www.bushnell.org/shows-concerts.Become a Member of the Encore SocietyYOU can make a dierence! Help ensure that our non-prot can provide new and traditional ballets to the public for years to come. Your annual contribution of $100 or more makes you a member of the Encore Society. Members receive exclusive benets that can include early ticket access, open rehearsals, and much more. Join or renew today to make the best of your benets this season and support the ballet. Visit dancebtc.org/encore-society or use the enclosed remittance envelope to send your gift today!upcoming eventsMollie Petrizzo in BTC’s Sleeping Beauty, 2019 | Photo: Thomas GiroirLeft: Emily Silva, Up Close Fall, 2021, Above: Sarah McCahill, The Nutcracker, 2021 | Photo: Thomas Giroir**All events follow COVID-19 safety guidelines.
in the spotlightEmily Silva, Ballet MistressEmily Aubrey Silva completed her early trainingat Boston Ballet School. She trained in PittsburghBallet Theatre School’s Graduate Program and taught on their Children’s Division faculty. Emilywent on to attend the University of Hartford’s HarttSchool, and graduated summa cum laude with aBFA in Dance Performance and Ballet Pedagogy.While pursuing her BFA, Emily performed works byGeorge Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Martha Graham,Arthur Saint-Leon, Claudia Schreier, and ManuelVignoulle. Emily is a former soloist with BalletHartford and has performed in leading roles suchas “Snow White” in Snow White, with Ballet TheatreCompany since 2017.Mollie PetrizzoMollie Petrizzo, a local ballet star, was raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, where she began her dance training at the age of three. Throughout her young dance career she danced with Ballet Theatre Company, then trained at Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. Mollie was accepted into the Ailey Fordham BFA program at Fordham University in New York City, graduating in the spring of 2021. Mollie is currently dancing with Dimensional Dance and teaching at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in Hartford, Connecticut. She is thrilled to be joining BTC for its 2021-2022 company season!Sarah McCahillSarah started dancing at the age of four at Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. She trained at School of American Ballet and Miami City Ballet School and competed in the Youth America Grand Prix, winning rst place in the junior division and placing in the top 10 every year afterwards. She apprenticed under Edward Vilella in MCB and later danced under Lourdes Lopez in Balanchine pieces and others from world-renowned choreographers like Justin Peck, Twyla Tharp, and Liam Scarlet. Currently, Sarah teaches at Woodbury Ballet in addition to dancing professionally. This is her rst year with Ballet Theatre Company.Gennaro Della RagioneGennaro is a professional dancer from Naples, Italy. His teachers included Carmela Pirozzi, Margherita Veneruso, and Ferdinando Arenella in Italy. Gennaro studied in Germany at the ocial school of the Semperoper Theater. He was chosen as solo dancer for the show Una Voce for Padre Pio, a prime time show on Italian TV. In the US, Gennaro has been principal dancer for Sonia Plumb Dance Company as well as Dimensional Dance. He also performed as a principal dancer in La Bayadere with Centro Danza Sheherazade, at the Teatro Mediterraneo in Naples. Gennaro also apprenticed with Mystic Ballet company directed by Goran Subotic.Jo-ann Burke Jo-ann began her ballet training in Massachusetts with Irina Vakhromeeva (Moscow Ballet, Vaganova MFA, Bolshoi PHD,) and Carlos Molina (Boston Ballet, ABT, Hartford). She continued her training at The School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, under Ms. Arantxa Ochoa and Artistic Director Angel Corella, as well as The Kansas City Ballet, under Artistic Director Devon Carney. She studied on scholarship with The School of American Ballet, The Pacic Northwest Ballet, and Texas Ballet Theater. Last season Jo-ann danced the leading role of the “Wicked Queen” in Snow White. Most recently, she has worked with world-renowned choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, earning a Professional Advancement Award.Victoria JaensonOriginally from Kampala, Uganda, Victoria began her formal dance training at the age of seven in Vermont. She later studied at the Rock School in Philadelphia, then joined the faculty. In 2017, Victoria began studying at The Hartt School. In 2018, Victoria joined Charlotte Ballet II where she had the opportunity to perform Alonzo King’s Map; Medhi Walerski’s Petit Cérémonie; Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s Nutcracker and Peter Pan; Christian Spuck’s Leonce and Lena; and Matthew Hart’s Sleeping Beauty. This past summer, Victoria performed with Des Moines Metro Opera as a dancer for the operas Platée and Queen of Spades.Naomi LangillNaomi Langill trained with Capitol Ballet Company under the direction of Stuart Carroll and Sharon Newton. Naomi has danced with Ballet Frontier of Texas and guested with Capitol Ballet Company. Some of her favorite roles have been ‘Titania’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, ‘Clara’ and the ‘Snow Queen’ in The Nutcracker, as well as the title role in Sylvia. Naomi enjoys sharing the love of dance through every new role and is excited to be participating in Ballet Theatre Company’s inaugural season. BTC also welcomes Naomi as the Company’s rst Social Media Coordinator.meet the season 23 company dancers in residenceBecome a Pointe Shoe Sponsor - an excellent way to directly help artists succeed. To inquire, email Development Director Brianna Dunlap at giving@dancebtc.orgSeason 23 Company Dancers in Residence | Photo: Thomas GiroirSHOW YOUR SUPPORTPointes of Interest | 3
BALLET FOR ALL CHILDREN Ballet Theatre Company’s Community Youth Outreach Program (CYOP) provides children the opportunity to participate in studio dance education classes and experience live professional dance performances free of charge, despite community or personal resources, socioeconomic backgrounds, nances, ability, and limitations. BTC’s four dierent programs aim to inspire and nurture children and forge life-long connections to the arts. A Children’s Ballet is a fully dedicated performance of The Nutcracker and full-length spring production oered to area children’s social service agencies free of charge. Raising the Barre provides children in under-resourced communities opportunities to participate in studio education dance classes and workshops free of charge. Behind the Curtain is a program where BTC dancers and artists visit schools and provide educational activities to expose children to the arts and teach them about the many aspects of a dance production. Everybody Dance Now is an adaptive dance program for children with exceptionalities in partnership with local fellow non-prot, The Miracle League of CT.If one of these programs moves you to become involved, either as a partner or a nancial sponsor, please email outreach@dancebtc.org.4 | Pointes of InterestWelcome Brianna Dunlap joined Ballet Theatre Company in 2021 as the organization’s rst Development Director. Brianna is interested in connecting with passionate people and is focused on stewarding strong relationships with our BTC supporters. Say hello to her at giving@dancebtc.org.Kyleigh Olivier joined Ballet Theatre Company in 2021 rst as an intern with the Community Youth Outreach Program, then in July took on the Outreach Administrator position. She created a digital storybook and six activity workbooks with the aim of exposing children to the array of possibilities in the performing arts world and to encourage them to practice essential school skills through fun activities. Kyleigh enjoys connecting with youth groups and schools to spread the joy of dance to children of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds throughout the Greater Hartford area.Congratulations to the Junior Corps!Kudos to the 2021-2022 members of the Junior Corps de Ballet. These elite students have achieved the highest level of skill in The School of Ballet Theatre Company. The mission of BTC’s Junior Corps de Ballet is to provide serious high-school-aged dancers the opportunity to train at a high caliber, experience professional dance at a young age, and prepare for a future in dance.THANK YOU! Ron and Nancy ComptonDuring the worst of the pandemic, the Comptons, longtime supporters of BTC, showed how much they care by remaining dedicated to and believing in the organization.
Pointes of Interest | 5letter from the artistic directorBallet Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) not-for-prot organization. BTC is supported in part by:I was rst presented with the opportunity to choreograph The Nutcracker in 2019. As an Artistic Director who was new to the area, I had the chance to produce my own take on this staple of ballet culture. Historically, The Nutcracker is molded by directors to tell stories within stories or weave in lo-cal lore. Because Ballet Theatre Company is in West Hartford, I thought that it would be inter-esting to integrate the community’s history within the choreography of my original production. The thought sparked conversations with residents and friends, who graciously guided me in a direction that t the natural storyline of The Nutcracker while tipping the hat to the history of West Hartford.In the storyline of The Nutcracker, the Stahlbaum family hosts a party for friends and family on the eve of Christmas. Drosselmeyer, a dear friend to the Stahlbaum family and godfather to young Clara Stahlbaum is a jolly toy-maker. He brings gifts to the Stahlbaums —two life-sized dancing dolls to entertain the Stahlbaum’s guests and of course, the nutcracker doll for young Clara. In other ballets, I have seen these dolls change into characters that reect a fun, historical reference prevalent to a city, community, or time. After weeks of research, I decided to make a visit to the Noah Webster House because I thought that weaving these characters into the ballet as dolls could be the perfect ode to West Hartford.I won’t give away all the best details because I want you to enjoy the surprises within The Nutcracker. Look for a connection to local history and anticipate laughing with your family and friends.Ever thrilled to share the magic of the ballet with you,Stephanie DattellasThe School of Ballet Theatre CompanyEnrolling Children and Adults Now Through The School of Ballet Theatre (SBTC), dreams of becoming ballet dancers transform into the reality of main stage debuts. A carefully constructed curriculum focuses on developing its students’ technique and artistry through a faculty of distinguished professionals. SBTC is specically designed to meet the needs of its students by developing the tools for success for both those seeking to pursue dance professionally and those with other career aspirations.Students share a facility with the professional company, enriching each student’s experience by allowing them to observe dancers in classes, rehearsals, and performances. SBTC prides itself on allowing students the chance to perform in two main-stage performances with the Company Dancers in Residence and national guest artists. Ruth Whitney, Soa Brummitt, and Joseph Beltre, The Nutcracker 2019 Photos: Thomas GiroirLearn more at www.dancebtc.org/ 2021-2022-school-year20 Jeerson Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110 | 860-570-0440 | www.dancebtc.org The Long Foundationseason sponsorsLaurelgraphic DesignSBTC | Photo: Walt Jedziniak
Non-Prot Org.U.S. Postage PAIDHartford, CTPermit #19620 Jefferson AvenueWest Hartford, CT 0611020 Jefferson Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110 | 860-570-0440 | tickets: www.dancebtc.org Ballet Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) not for prot organization