I believe in all of you!

Artists of Ballet Fantastique |
Bob Williams Photography

Ballet Fantastique would like to recognize that our ballet theatre production is being held on the traditional lands of the Kalapuya People. We offer respectful recognition to the Native communities in our region. 

We honor their enduring connection to the land, and acknowledge the contributions Indigenous people have, and continue to make to our region and beyond.

Letter
from the
President

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome you to Ballet Fantastique’s second show of the 2025-2026 season: Christmas in Toyland.

This year’s rendition of Christmas features an engaging storyline, lively characters, and festive music that capture the essence of the holidays. The program highlights our dedication to innovation by incorporating fresh artistic components, while strengthening community ties.

Mirroring our previous approach, the story telling featuring “Gramps,” played by David Snider and “Twyla” played by Bella Preston accompanies the audience on Mary and Tom’s adventure in Toyland, where imaginative toys and intriguing personalities come to life on stage. We thoughtfully reshaped the event sequence and enhanced the visuals with a custom backdrop—designed by local artist Kelle DeForrest and painted in Georgia—and an Austrian curtain crafted by BFan volunteers at the Oregon Genealogical Society.

Eye-catching set designs, colorful costumes, elaborate choreography, and a larger cast—including 48 students from our Academy aged 4 to 15—combine to amplify the artistic experience. Enjoy musical selections from Duke Ellington’s Jazz Nutcracker, Glenn Miller’s big band jazz Nutcracker versions, as well as beloved seasonal masterpieces.

Jeany Van Meltebeke’s script is brought to the stage by principal performers Isabelle Overstreet (Mary), Jacob Amey (Tom), Preston Andrew Patterson (Barnaby Barnacle), and Hannah Bontrager (Fairy Dragee), each enriching the show’s artistry.

This production combines classic ballet with modern energy, engaging audiences through dynamic movement and storytelling. It’s a great experience for children, families, and our community to come together in the Hult Center’s beautiful Silva Concert Hall.

End-of-year donations assist in funding our outreach program. Additionally, contributions to Toys for Tots may be made in the lobby.

We hope this performance will be both memorable and inspiring. Enjoy the show!.

PHILIP PIELE
BOARD PRESIDENT

Dear BFans,

Welcome to Christmas in Toyland, our second production of Ballet Fantastique’s 2025–26 VENTURE Season!

This year, we’re diving headfirst into the unexpected. From haunted forests and toyshop magic, to deep-sea kingdoms and the Wild West frontier, each ballet in this season dares to push storytelling further bringing iconic tales to life with the imagination, live music, and daring that defines BFan.

We’re so excited to kickstart the holiday season with Christmas in Toyland, set to the swinging holiday beat of Duke Ellington’s epic jazz Nutcracker and other holiday jazz classics, this original production is playful, heartwarming, visually enchanting, nostalgic and new.

Thank you for being here!

YOUR NEW ART IS HERE

DONNA MARISA BONTRAGER
& HANNAH BONTRAGER
FOUNDING CHOREOGRAPHER-PRODUCERS

People

Donna Bontrager, Founding Artistic Director
Hannah Bontrager, Founding Executive Director

BOARD PRESIDENT

Philip Piele

SECRETARY

Dianna Pounder

BOARD MEMBERS

Kate Eitenmiller

Stephen Webster

Brandy Rodtsbrooks

Darby Giannone

Isabelle Bloodgood / Dancer Representative

Board of Directors

Mary Spilde

Matthew King

Emily Dew

Thea Vandervoort

Amy Stoddart

Gina Bolles Sorenson

Steve Robinson

Advisory Board

  • Donna Marisa Bontrager, Founding Artistic Director, Costume Design/Vision
    Allison Ditson, Costume Design & Production
    Debora Peña, Set Design & Construction, Custom Paintings
    Sydney Elise Miller-Peterson, Stage Manager
    Gustavo Ramirez, Hannah Bontrager, Production Managers
    Lance Deal, Jeff Faust, Nancy Deal-Whitacre, Carl Peterson, Sets Design, Construction, Properties Masters
    JP Durand, Music Director
    Gerry Rempel, Resident Composer & Arranger
    Elizabeth Roberts, Costume Construction, Wardrobe Support
    Mitra Gruwell, Headpieces
    Deborah Speer, Libretto, Historical, Music Research, Creative Team
    Genevieve Speer, Artistic Associate; Libretto, Historical, Music Research Support
    Rebecca Welch, Wardrobe Support

  • Ashley Bontrager, Development Director
    Emily Knowles, Administrative Support
    Rebecca Welch, Director of Community Engagement
    Elizabeth Chapa, Academy Coordinator, Administration Support
    Sara Stewart, Academy Relations Manager & Youth Backstage Coordinator
    Lucy Pearce, Academy Program Director
    Genevieve Speer, Finance Manager
    Dianna Pounder, Academy Billing
    Jeff Mecredy, Leadership & Growth

  • Isabelle Overstreet, Marketing Coordinator
    Elizabeth Chapa, Brooke Geffrey-Bowler, Emily Knowles, Marketing Support
    Jeremy Bronson, Film, Audio, Marketing
    Gustavo Ramirez, Film, Audio, Marketing
    Hannah Bontrager, Graphic Design, Program Magazine Design

  • Lucy Pearce, Academy Program Director, Youth Cast Lead
    Amanda Kay Arens, Young Dancer Division, Youth Cast Lead
    Sara Stewart, Youth Cast Costumes, Academy Manager
    Ashley Bontrager, Professional Division, Company
    Donna Marisa Bontrager, Professional Division, Company
    Hannah Bontrager, Professional Division, Company
    Brianne Falanga, Professional Division, Young Dancer Division
    Brooke Geffrey-Bowler, Professional Division
    Tavari Groesbeck, Professional Division
    Jenavieve Hernandez, Professional Division,Teen/Adult Division
    Preston Andrew Patterson, Teen/Adult Divison
    Gustavo Ramirez, Company Rehearsal Director
    Hadassah Slater, Young Dancer Division, Professional Division, Adult/Teen Division

  • Attic Media
    Bronson Studios
    Eddie Bruning
    Miki Markovitch
    Chappel Miller
    Gustavo Ramirez
    Bob Williams

  • Dianna Pounder, Angel
    Jitendra Joshi, Web
    Nancy Deal-Whitacre, Sets, Dancer PT
    Lance Deal, Sets, Welding
    Carl Peterson, Sets, Engineering
    Tessa Richards, Theater PT
    Barbara Mossberg, Resident Historian
    Elizabeth Roberts, Costumes
    Erin Whitaker, Costumes, Art
    Halie Henderson, Costumes
    Christie Rodewald, Costumes
    Kate & Bill Eintenmiller, Angels
    BFan’s Academy Families
    BFan’s Board of Directors
    & many, many more

  • LCC Theater Department, for use of their snow bag

BFan Events Calendar

CLICK HERE TO ADD ALL EVENTS TO YOUR CALENDAR

MEET THE MAKERS


  • Choreographer - Producer
    Founding Artistic Director
    Costume Design Director

    Ballet Fantastique's Canadian-born Artistic Director, Donna, is a choreographer, designer, and expert master teacher in the Vaganova Syllabus. Ms. Bontrager's performance résumé embraces work with New York companies, including Empire State Ballet, Buffalo City Ballet, Royale Dance Theatre New York, and Festival Choir Ballet. She was one of ten dancers invited to perform as part of the international Feast of the Tabernacles in Jerusalem, Israel, and has been invited to join the World Congress on Dance. Ms. Bontrager has overseen Ballet Fantastique repertoire and productions involving partnerships with choirs, opera, and soloist vocalists, symphony and chamber orchestras, literary and visual artists, and composers. Ms. Bontrager has visioned, choreographed, produced, and staged the entire critically acclaimed all-original Ballet Fantastique repertoire of over 92 original works since 2000—including 26 full-length contemporary narrative ballets, and 25 consecutive productions with live music, including creating new work during the Covid-19 pandemic and shutdown. She has also led BFan commissions for Eugene Symphony, Oregon Mozart Players, and many others. Under Donna's leadership, Ballet Fantastique has toured across the NW. Donna also oversaw BFan's sold out, critically-acclaimed international debut at the Palariviera Theater as the first US dance company invited to perform in San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy. Donna's love of the arts also extends to her design work as an alumna of the University of Oregon's School of Architecture and in the design of BFan's critically-acclaimed costumes. Donna has also developed the complete Academy of Ballet Fantastique curriculum.


  • Choreographer-Producer
    Founding Executive Director

    Hannah is Ballet Fantastique's Executive Director, Co-Choreographer Producer, and lead grant writer. Hannah graduated at the top of her class (summa cum laude and phi beta kappa) from the Robert D. Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon where, as a full scholarship student, she earned concurrent degrees in Dance and English Literature and a minor in Arts Administration, as well as the American Association of University Women Award, the Dance Achievement Award, and the Dean's Award for Service, and was the invited Honors College graduation speaker. Under Hannah’s leadership, Ballet Fantastique has earned touring invitations on behalf of Ballet Fantastique nationally and internationally; grant awards from major foundations; and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and in-kind corporate and individual support.

    Hannah is listed among the international Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals, is a Comcast Newsmaker, and Blue Chip "20 under 40" award recipient. Hannah also leads a number of educational initiatives for Ballet Fantastique, including Passport to Dance and The EXPERIENCE DANCE! Project, which have brought innovative dance experiences to thousands of schoolchildren across Oregon ever year for the past 20+ years.

    Also a trained professional dancer and performer, Hannah studied Vaganova pedagogy with her mother, Donna Marisa Bontrager. She also trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC. Hannah spent a season with Colorado Ballet Company and subsequently with Manassas Ballet Theatre in the Washington, DC metro area (where she performed leading roles including Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker and the lead in Vivandière/ Markitenka). Donna and Hannah have collaborated to produce bold cross-disciplinary Ballet Fantastique contemporary ballet premieres and collaborations at home and on tour, including the entire body of Ballet Fantastique's work. As a founding principal dancer with Ballet Fantastique, Hannah has earned rave critical reviews in myriad soloist roles.

    Hannah is proud mom to Finn (age three) and Liam (age one), and is thrilled to be back on stage with her BFan family.

Academy of Ballet Fantastique

CLASSES FOR YOUNG DANCERS
AGES 2-7

BROWSE CLASSES

OPEN CLASSES FOR TEENS/ADULTS
AGES 13+

BROWSE CLASSES

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION
Ages 7+
CONTACT US TO AUDITION

Ballet Fantastique

Secret Society

We would like to recognize the incredible generosity of the individuals, foundations, and businesses who support Ballet Fantastique’s mission and programs. Pledges and contributions received between 7/1/24–PRESENT

Juliet Bender
Stephanie & Ted Coopman
Kate & Bill Eitenmiller
Carla Hoeger
Matthew Johns
Darby Giannone & Marvin Re'Voal
Jillyn & Graham Kaiser
Dave & Sherrie Kammerer
Andrea Kingsley
Nancy Nathanson & Steve Robinson
Brandy Rodtsbrooks
Susan & Arthur Palsbo
Debra Peña
Philip & Sandra Piele
Helmut Plant (in memory of Carol Hamrick Plant)
Dianna Pounder
Nancy Deal-Whitacre & Lance Deal
Steven Webster

2025-26 Director’s Circle

Join our Director’s Circle today by making a gift to Ballet Fantastique of $1,000 or more. Please denote “Director’s Circle” on your gift.

  • A. L. Kingsley Fund of Oregon Community Foundation

    Clement Family Charitable Fund

    gratitude to Judy Clement, who contributed in honor of McKenna Morrigan

    Dorothea M. Lensch Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

    Ellen Glendel Hyman Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation

    Eugene Elks Lodge

    Fidelity Charitable

    Givinga Foundation

    Herbert J. Merker Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

    Hult Endowment Fund of the Western Oregon Community Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

    James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation

    Marie Lamfrom Foundation

    National Endowment for the Arts

    Neil Chinn Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

    Oregon Arts Commission

    Oregon Community Foundation

    Oregon Cultural Trust

    Percent Impact Foundation

    Renaissance Charitable Foundation

    Ronald W. Naito Foundation

    San Francisco Foundation

    SHO — Support Hult Operations

    Silva Endowment Fund of the Western Oregon Community Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

    Tamolitch Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

    Walker Charitable Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

    Woodard Family Foundation

  • Stephanie & Ted Coopman

  • Alpha IT

    Bicoastal Media

  • Anonymous Angel

    Dr. Averno & Wendlyn Rempel

  • Sandra Wright Piele & Philip K. Piele PhD

    Dianna Pounder

  • aktree Residential Living, Elman Babayev

    Stephanie & Ted Coopman

    Nancy Deal-Whitacre & Lance Deal

    Summit Funding, Sherrie & David Kammerer

    Andrea Kingsley

    Debra Peña

    Volt Strategies, Brandy Rodtsbrooks,

    Downtown Athletic Club

    Staszak Physical Therapy

    Summit Bank


  • Merritt Bennett

    Kate & Bill Eitenmiller

    Attic Media

    Vicky Mello

    Steven Webster

    Silvan Ridge Winery

    Bob Williams Photography


  • Martha & Ken Alderfer

    Zack Blalack

    Tirzah & Ravi Brounstein

    Judy Grubbs & Barry Polonsky

    Carla Hoeger

    Shirley & Michael Hull

    Matthew Johns

    Aubrey Lyche & Carlos Real

    Nancy Nathanson & Steve Robinson

    Gordon Tavern

    Gordon Hotel, Brian Obie

    Nicole & Daniel Roselio

    Sara Stewart

    Kristopher Stewart

    Mary & Mike Staszak

    Converted Kitchen

  • Gregory Ahlijian

    Irene & Kevin Alltucker

    Elizabeth Bates & John Coit

    Juliet Bender

    Sharlen Bennett

    Cindy Bedell & Rich Blanton

    Mary Bruskotter & John Thompson

    Robert Cummings

    Charlcie Kaylor & Charles Crawford

    Kay Crider & Patrick Phillips

    Darby Giannone & Marvin Re'Voal

    Margaret Hallock

    Marcy Hammock & Herbert Merker

    Jillyn & Graham Kaiser

    Linda Lawrence & Robert Canaga

    Laura Lee

    Leslie Lessenger

    Eileen Loritsch & Irving Weiner

    Sue McClelland

    Steven Milosevich

    Susan & Arthur Palsbo

    Helmut Plant

    Patricia Thomas & Russell Mecredy

    Sarah Sweet

    Barbara & James Walker

    Solid Ground Foundation, Margie & Bill Van Dorn

    Eugene Symphony

  • Margie & Logan Anderson

    Patricia Ahlen

    Zach Batt

    Sylvia Bender

    Annette Briggs & Scott South

    Polly & Brian Caughey

    Judy Clement

    Gayle & Jeff Faust

    Danny Havel

    Jill Hendrickson & Nathan Markowitz

    Ernest Lessenger

    Sarah Maggio

    Barbara Morris

    Linda & David Nelkin

    Susan Ordonez

    Debby & John Phillips

    Michelle Reid

    Tessa Richards

    Mike Shrum

    Clare & Alex Vonderhaar

    Wallpaper Northwest

  • Tara Aarnio

    Patricia & Dennis Hyatt

    Rachel & Bob Williams

    Katheryn & George Wood

    Susan Hekimoglu

    Diane Horvath-Pearson

    Deborah Carver & John Pegg

    Kate & Dave Moss

    Charles & Merissa Merritt

    Shelly Kane

    Jeff Mecredy

    Polly Ashworth & Robert Horner

    Kevin Riley

    Jennifer Ulum & Tim Gleason

    Vanessa Toney
    helli Gramz

    Barbara & Brent Stone

    Melva Bowler

    Elizabeth Hughes

    Corinne & Greg Klein

    James Meadows

    Gerald Morgan

    Carolyn Rasche

    Sandra & Jerry South

    David Stright

    Bradley Garrigus

    Erika Backstrom

    Vicki Blackman

    Olivia Batt

    Jennifer Clark

    Reida & Charles Kimmel

    Steven Heckern & Kimberly OBrien

    Sally & Eric Overstreet

    Cynthia Secrest & Douglas Pierce

    Lynn & Tom Lamoree

    Wendy Westcott

    Michele Henney

    Peter Hollens

    Bailee Seeley

    Coastline Housekeeping

    James Johnson

    Anna Lagattuta

    ighten Up with Jill

    John Li

    Nicholas Hedden

    Kathy Magnusson

    Julie Moffenbier

    Elizabeth Ovitt

    Shirley Vinson

    Jennifer Webster

    Cynthia & Stephen Wright

    Patty Ferguson

    Beaudet Jewelry, Charles Beaudet

    Mike Blevins

    Alandra & Steven Duncan

    Mark Heerema

    Judith Horstmann & Howard Bonnett

    Jason Krakow

    New Twist

    Colin Overstreet

    Leigh Rieder

    Andrew Sonabend

    Josephine & Peter von Hippel

    \Adele Walter

    Kimberly Wilbur & Dennis Fisher

    Shauna Stec & Corey Harmon

SUPPORT ART YOU LOVE

THE CHARACTERS

Photos by Bob Williams,
Eddie Bruning

THE STORY

Click to learn more

Photos by Bob Williams Photography & Eddie Bruning

Academy Youth Cast

  • Bella Preston

  • Beauregard Grimes

  • Meridian Hula

  • Kayleigh Jordan

  • Emelia Stewart
    Ruth Tanner
    Chloe Whitaker

  • Beatrix Alldritt
    Jora Bates
    Finley Bontrager Mecredy
    Breanna Broadbent
    Lydia Clemens-Stephens
    Minna Eitenmiller
    Hazel Henderson
    Poppy Lewis
    Emelia Stewart
    Louisa Stewart
    Aviana Marie Rodewald
    Martha Rodes Wikander
    Petra Wren Wikander
    Liv Zarraga

  • Audrey Rose Angeletti
    Lily Arnold
    June Dawson
    Mila Doperalski
    Vera Hayden
    Genevieve Ingham
    Jocelyn Jimenez
    Addison Ann Miller-McDiffett
    Calliope Miller-Peterson
    Ameliana Pearls
    Brigid Saulgrove
    Emelia Stewart
    Louisa Stewart
    Winter Wilson
    Malia Wong
    Novali Zoll

  • Annabelle DeHart
    Olivia Ingram
    Kayleigh Jordan
    Aijah Preston
    Esper Ritch
    Eva Singh
    Emelia Stewart
    Ruth Tanner
    Chloe Whitaker

  • Beatrix Alldritt
    Madeline Alldritt
    Haven Amabisca
    Minna Eitenmiller
    Hazel Henderson
    Ada Hubbard
    Mirabel Poppy Lewis
    Aviana Marie Rodewald
    Morrigan Smith
    Fiona Stacey
    Louisa Stewart
    Eloise Whitaker
    Maddison Zundel

  • Dancing Doll —
    Emelia Stewart

    Soldiers —
    Meridian Hula
    Kayleigh Jordan
    Ruth Clarisse Tanner
    Chloe Whitaker

SPECIAL THANKS

LCC Theater Department, for use of their snow bag

Our amazing Academy of Ballet Fantastique Families

CHRISTMAS IN TOYLAND
PRODUCTION TEAM

FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, VISIONARY
Donna Marisa Bontrager

CHOREOGRAPHER-PRODUCERS
Donna Marisa Bontrager, Hannah Bontrager

REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Gustavo Ramirez

MUSIC
Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, and other holiday favorites, as arranged by Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, and Glenn Miller

RESEARCH, LIBRETTO TEAM
Donna & Hannah Bontrager, Deborah & Genevieve Speer

PLAYWRIGHT FOR NARRATIVE SCENES
Jeany Van Meltebeke

ASSISTANT TO THE PRODUCERS
Elizabeth Chapa, Emily Knowles

COSTUME DESIGN/VISION
Donna Marisa Bontrager

COSTUME DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Sam Fox, Allison Ditson/Allihalla, Noelle Guetti, Primadonna Tutus/LA, Rita Perini-Vance

YOUTH CAST COSTUMES
Sara Stewart

SET/PROPERTIES MASTER
Debra Peña

SETS DESIGN & VISION & CONSTRUCTION
Donna & Hannah Bontrager with
Kelle DeForrest, Debra Peña, Lance Deal Whitacre,
Jeff Faust, Mike Ricker

SETS SUPPORT
Lance Deal, Nancy Deal-Whitacre, Jeff Faust,
Sydney Miller-Peterson, Carl Peterson

CANDYLAND BACKDROP
Kelle DeForrest for Ballet Fantastique, with Backdrops Fantastic (GA)

LIGHT DESIGNER
Jeff Forbes

PRODUCTION MANAGER
Hannah Bontrager, Gustavo Ramirez

STAGE MANAGER
Sydney-Elise Miller-Peterson

ACADEMY PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Lucy Pearce

YOUTH CAST LEADS
Lucy Pearce, Amanda Kay Arens

YOUTH CAST COACHES
Amanda Kay Arens, Ashley Bontrager, Brianne Falanga,
Brooke Geffrey-Bowler, Lucy Pearce, Hadassah Slater

YOUTH CAST COORDINATOR
Sara Stewart
with Heather Amabisca, Kate Eitenmiller, Julissa Favela, Halie Henderson, Jenn Pfeifer,
Sarah Preston, Christie Rodewald, Erin Whitaker
and our Academy of Ballet Fantastique Families

PROMO VIDEO
Jeremy Bronson

PROMO PHOTOGRAPHY
Bob Williams, Jeremy Bronson, Eddie Bruning

PERFORMANCE VIDEO
Jeremy Bronson

OUTREACH & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Rebecca Welch, Emily Knowles

MARKETING
Hannah Bontrager, Isabelle Overstreet, Elizabeth Chapa, Emily Knowles

DIGITAL PROGRAM DESIGN
Elizabeth Chapa

FRONT OF HOUSE
Emily Knowles with Rebecca Welch

Guest Artists

  • Playwright for Narrative Scenes

    Jeany has loved stories since listening to them on records and cassette tapes as a child. She especially enjoys adapting Scripture into theatre. Jeany has recently returned to her hometown of Eugene after spending the last 25 years in Canada, most notably at the Chemainus Theatre (BC) and Rosebud Theatre and School of the Arts (AB). Other plays include: Conversation with a Cucumber; An “L. M. Montgomery” Christmas; The Way of the Wolf; The Kindling Box; The Provision of Ishmael; On the

    Road; Hannah and Anna; The Good Shepherd; A Lion Has Roared; Washing His Hands

    of the Truth; and The Journey to Bethlehem.

  • Gramps

    David has recently returned to the area after twenty-five years in Canada working in theatre. In Alberta, he spent seventeen years in the arts village of Rosebud as a resident actor, director and sound designer with Rosebud Theatre and as a post-secondary acting instructor for Rosebud School of the Arts. He also co-directed the Canadian Badlands Passion Play, an epic outdoor production. Prior to that, he spent eight years as a resident company member with Chemainus Theatre Festival on Vancouver Island. Selected roles include: Charlie Cowell in The Music Man, Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Toad and Dragon in A Wind in the Willows Christmas, and Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. In 1992, he played Jesus in Godspell for the Eugene Festival of Musical Theatre.

Artists of Ballet Fantastique

Dancer Portraits by Bob Williams Photography

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