If you had one night to relive the lessons of the past, present, and future, would you take it?
Adam Goldthwaite & Preston Patterson Andrew |
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 want to welcome you to Ballet Fantastique’s 2024-25 season, with four immersive story-based, dance theater, superably produced and choreographed by Donna Marisa and Hannah Bontrager with Gustavo Ramirez.
An American Christmas Carol, the second production of this outstanding season, is a remake of BFan’s 2020 Emmy nominated film. This stage version features jazz vocalist Halie Loren, as did the film, and her band playing original arrangements of holiday jazz standards by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Guided by consummate storyteller Adam Goldthwaite, this jazz-centric, Americanized interpretation of Dickens’s timeless classic is a delightful introduction to the holiday season for the entire family.
PHILIP PIELE
BOARD PRESIDENT
YOUR NEW ART IS HERE
Dear BFans,
When we unleash our imagination, we find new parts of ourselves. There’s unexpected raw humanity in the fantastical.
The new stories we’ve chosen to tell you in dance this season are filled with adventure, hope, loss, survival, love, grief, spirit, grit, passion. And not only do they showcase the humans and artists of this company like never before (and we’re so proud of them!)—but we hope that they speak to you in new ways, too.
Thank you for supporting art you love. We cherish this opportunity to share the art we make with you in this space, together.
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
Brandy Rodtsbrooks
Nicole Roselio
Steve Webster
Donna Marisa Bontrager
Hannah Bontrager
Izzy Bloodgood,
Dancer representative
Board of Directors
Mary Spilde
Matthew King
Emily Dew
Thea Vandervoort
Amy Stoddart
Gina Bolles Sorenson
Steve Robinson
Advisory Board
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Donna Marisa Bontrager, Costume Designer
Hannah Bontrager, Gustavo Ramirez, Production Manager
Allison Ditson, Costume Design & Production
JP Durand, Stage Manager
Debora Peña, Set Design & Construction
Jeff Forbes, Sets & Properties Master & Light Design
Kelle DeForrest, Sets & Austrian Curtain Design & Construction
Jeff Faust, Sets
Elizabeth Roberts, Wardrobe Support
Deborah Speer, Libretto, Historical, Music Research, Creative Team
Genevieve Speer, Artistic Associate; Libretto, Historical, Music Research Support
Gerry Rempel, Resident Composer & Arranger
Halie Loren & Matt Treder, Musical Arrangements
Adam Goldthwaite, Special Effects
Jeremy Bronson, Special Effects, Video, Sound
Gustavo Ramirez, Projection -
Ashley Bontrager, Development Director
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 Bloodgood, Marketing Coordinator
Elizabeth Chapa, Brooke Geffrey-Bowler, Emily Knowles, Olivia Schwartz, Marketing Support
Jeremy Bronson, Film, Audio, Marketing
Gustavo Ramirez, Film, Audio, Marketing
Hannah Bontrager, Graphic Design, Program Magazine Design -
Isabelle Bloodgood, Teen/Adult Division
Ashley Bontrager, Professional Division, Company
Donna Marisa Bontrager, Professional Division, Company
Hannah Bontrager, Professional Division, Company
Brooke Geffrey-Bowler, Professional Division, Young Dancer Division
Tavari Groesbeck, Professional Division
Jenavieve Hernandez, Professional Division,Teen/Adult Division
Lucy Pearce, Academy Program Director
Gustavo Ramirez, Company Rehearsal Director
Hadassah Slater, Young Dancer Division, Professional Division, Adult/Teen Division -
Attic Media
Bronson Studios
Miki Markovitch
Chappel Miller
Gustavo Ramirez
Bob Williams -
Dianna Pounder, Angel
Lance Deal & Nancy Deal-Whitacre, Angels
Jitendra Joshi, Web
Tessa Richards, Theater PT
Barbara Mossberg, Resident Historian
Cole Fowler, Backstage Support
Sara Stewart, Youth Cast Lead
Elizabeth Roberts, Costumes
Jeff Faust, Sets
Sarah & JoAnne Preston, Front of House
BFan’s Academy Families
BFan’s Board of Directors
& many, many more -
Local Austrian Curtain Construction Volunteer Corps
Teri Jones
Joanne Preston
Babs Sullivan
Kate Eitenmiller
Trish Thomas
Gayle Faust
Elizabeth Roberts
Jeff FaustWith Design Leadership Kelle DeForrest
Special Thanks to Jonna Hayden (TX) & Rosebrand (LA)
Oregon Geneological Society
LCC Theater Department
BFan Events Calendar
MEET THE MAKERS
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Choreographer - Producer
Founding Artistic Director
Costume Design DirectorBallet 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.
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Choreographer-Producer
Founding Executive DirectorHannah 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
OPEN CLASSES FOR TEENS/ADULTS
AGES 13+
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 7/1/23–11/27/24.
Anonymous Angel
Donna Marisa Bontrager
Juliet Bender
Stephanie & Ted Coopman
Kate & Bill Eitenmiller
Carla Hoeger
Matthew Johns
Philip & Sandra Piele
Dianna & Todd Pounder
Brandy Rodtsbrooks
Nancy Deal-Whitacre & Lance Deal
2025 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.
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A. L. Kingsley Fund of Oregon Community Foundation
Charles & Betti Saunders Foundation Fund of the Austin Community Fund
(gratitude to Erin Walter, who contributed in honor of Preston Andrew Patterson joining the BFan company)
Clement Family Charitable Fund
(gratitude to Judy Clement, contributing 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 #357
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
Mehlum Family Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
Neil Chinn Fund
of the Oregon Community Foundation
Oregon Arts Commission
Oregon Community Foundation
Oregon Cultural Trust
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
Ronald W. Naito Foundation
San Francisco Foundation
SHO — Support Hult Operations
Silva Endowment Fund
Western Oregon Community Fund
of the Oregon Community Foundation
Tamolitch Fund
of the Oregon Community Foundation
Walker Charitable Fund
of the Oregon Community Foundation
Woodward Family Foundation -
Stephanie & Ted Coopman
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Alpha IT
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Anonymous
Sandra Wright Piele & Philip K. Piele PHD -
Anonymous
Dianna & Todd Pounder
Dr. Averno & Wendlyn Rempel -
Downtown Athletic Club
Sherrie & David Kammerer
Merritt Bennett
Staszak Physical Therapy -
Summit Bank
Tirzah & Ravi Brounstein
Andrea Kingsley
Vicky Mello
Christine Cameron & Jeremy Zuidema -
Anonymous Angel
Martha & Ken Alderfer
Eugene Elks Lodge #357
Carla Hoeger
Charlcie Kaylor & Charles Crawford
Debby & John Phillips
Sue & Bob McClelland
Annette Briggs & Scott South (EmWest Powertrain Systems)
Polly & Brian Caughey
Stephanie & Ted Coopman
Brandy Rodtsbrooks
Jennifer & Mark Ensminger
Mary Bruskotter & John Thompson
Judy Grubbs & Barry Polonsky -
Cindy Bedell & Rich Blanton
Donna Bontrager
Judy Clement
Kate & Bill Eitenmiller
Margaret Hallock
Brian Obie
Dena McCoy
Elaine DeMartin & Steven Webster
Heather Harrison
Nancy Deal-Whitacre & Lance Deal
Gayle & Jeff Faust
Helmut Plant (in memory of Carol Hamrick Plant)
Eileen Loritsch & Irving Weiner
Marcy Hammock & Herbert Merker
Shirley & Michael Hull
Margie & Bill Van Dorn
Juliet Bender
Susan & Arthur Palsbo
Debra Peña
Jillyn & Graham Kaiser
Nicole & Daniel Roselio
Sarah & Adam Burner
Robert Cummings
Mary & Mike Staszak -
Tara Aarnio
Gregory Ahlijian
Sharlen Bennett
Sara Ferris
Joy & Mark Gall
Jill Hendrickson & Nathan Markowitz
Cindy & Stephen Leonard
Richard Maher, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream
Sally & Eric Overstreet
Clare & Alex Vonderhaar
Grace Godfrey
Summer & Travis Freeman
Polly Ashworth & Robert Horner
Nancy Nathanson & Steve Robinson
Ben Hughes
Becky & Garreth MacDonald
Patricia & Dennis Hyatt
Barbara Hoefener & Ernest Lessenger
Matt Kendall
Charles Merritt
Christine & Bruce Waugh
Sara & Kristopher Stewart
Natalie & Joe Sheild
Sheild Catering
Patricia Thomas & Russell Mecredy -
Michael Blevins
Sylvia Bender
Liz Cawood
Bill Cummings
Nicole Desch
Melissa & Jeff Gunnarson
Sylvia Hartman
Kathryn & Mark Heerema
Pam & Robert Hess
Reida & Charles Kimmel
Gina & Al King
Kathy & William McGuire
Randy McMillan
Jeffrey Morey
Kimberly OBrien & Steven Hecker
Catherine Simard
Andrew Sonabend
Bonnita Stahlberg
Danielle Uhlhorn
Shirley Vinson
Corey Wall
Jennifer Webster
Cynthia & Stephen Wright
Tom Wright
Andrea & Cole Inman
Charles Beaudet, Beaudet Jewelry
Design
Slavka Eberhart-Garah
Michelle Graham
Michael King
Jessica Mitchell
Mani Khinda
Kelly Johnson
Ed Breed
Christina Hula
Leigh A Rieder
Mary & Richard Rohl
David Stright
Linda Lawrence & Robert Canaga
Susan & Bahram Tavakolian
Wendy Westcott
Lily Belle Bistro
Louise & James Earl
Michelle Markovich
Linda & Fred Meyer
Pamela Roman
Elena Fracchia
Susanne Fountain
Allen Johnson
James Johnson
Sarah & Jeffrey Jordan
Kathy Magnusson
Barbara & Christer Mossberg
Martha Reilly & Paul Brown
Sharon & David Schuman
Cynthia Secrest & Douglas Pierce
Barbara & James Walker
Lindsey McCarthy & Brian Coombs
George Wood
Nicholas Hedden
Tabantha Davis
William Mazzoni
Jeff Mecredy
Heather & Gregory Fortner
Nancy Hershorin
Vicki Blackman
Peter Bahen
Gerald Morgan
Elizabeth Ovitt
Georgiana Kovell
Shelli Gramz
Michele Henney
Michelle Reid
Rose Marie & Mike Barber
Sarah Maggio
Karina Olch
Sheri & Mick Hoover
Barbara & James Walker
Sandra & Jerry South
Diane Horvath-Pearson
Patricia Ahlen
Marta Cuboni
Jessica Stedman
THE STORY
Photos by Bob Williams Photography
AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL PRODUCTION TEAM
FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, VISIONARY
Donna Marisa Bontrager
CHOREOGRAPHER-PRODUCERS
Donna Marisa Bontrager, Hannah Bontrager
REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Gustavo Ramirez
ORIGINAL MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS
Halie Loren, Matt Treder for Ballet Fantastique
RESEARCH, LIBRETTO TEAM
Donna & Hannah Bontrager, Gustavo Ramirez, with Deborah & Genevieve Speer
ASSISTANTS TO THE PRODUCERS
Elizabeth Chapa, Genevieve Speer
COSTUME DESIGN/VISION
Donna Marisa Bontrager
COSTUME DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Donna Marisa Bontrager, Allison Ditson/Allihalla, Mitra Gruwell/Upswell
HEADPIECE DESIGNS
Vikki Paschetto/Mascherina, Mitra Gruwell/Upswell
WARDROBE SUPPORT
Chelsea Lovejoy, Elizabeth Roberts
SET/PROPS DESIGN & VISION
Jeff Faust, Debra Peña
SET/PROPERTIES MASTER
Debra Peña
SET CONSTRUCTION
Lance Deal, Jeff Faust, Debra Peña
SETS SUPPORT
Kelle DeForrest, Alberto Peña, Aubre Real, James Pape, Kris Martes, Kyle Lyche, Michelle Bivens, Bill Eitenmiller
SET PAINTING
Erin Whitaker, Debra Peña with additional support from many BFan team members
SOFT & SCULPTED GOODS
Kelle DeForrest with support from Jonna Hayden - Austrian Curtain Design
Caitlin Alderfer (DC) - Snowflakes Design
Rosebrand (LA), Sydney-Elise Miller Peterson, Carl Peterson (3-D engineering and printing)
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Gustavo Ramirez - Projections
Adam Goldthwaite - Grandfather Clock
Debra Peña with Sydney-Elise Miller Peterson, Carl Peterson - Clock
Jeremy Bronson - Video
LIGHT DESIGNER
Jeff Forbes
SPECIAL THANKS
Oregon Geneological Society
LCC Theater Department
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Hannah Bontrager with Gustavo Ramirez
STAGE MANAGER
JP Durand with
Sydney-Elise Miller-Peterson, Carl Peterson, Liza Carbé
PROMO VIDEO
Jeremy Bronson, Gustavo Ramirez
PROMO PHOTOGRAPHY
Bob Williams, Gustavo Ramirez
PERFORMANCE VIDEO
Jeremy Bronson
OUTREACH & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Rebecca Welch with Elizabeth Chapa
MARKETING
Hannah Bontrager, Isabelle Bloodgood, Elizabeth Chapa, Brooke Geffrey-Bowler with Emily Knowles and Olivia Schwartz
PROGRAM DESIGN
Hannah Bontrager with Elizabeth Chapa
Meet the Singer
Halie Loren
Halie Loren Halie Loren is an international, award-winning jazz singer/songwriter. She brings a fresh and original perspective to time-honored musical paths, singing in several languages and channeling her innate understanding of connectedness across musical boundaries to forge bonds with diverse audiences in North America, Asia, and Europe. Her debut jazz album, 2008’s “They Oughta Write a Song,” won the International Independent Music award for best vocal jazz album of the year, and she was quickly signed in Asia by JVC/Victor Entertainment and then to the rest of the world with Canadian-based Justin Time Records. Her multi-genre and multi-lingual musical blend across her eleven albums to-date has earned several national and international awards in multiple genres as well as significant critical and chart success along the way, with her albums consistently charting at #1 on the Billboard/Japan Jazz Charts, iTunes (Canada and Japan) and Amazon Music. Along with recording and songwriting successes, Halie’s live performances have brought her around the world several times, with performances on 4 continents thus far, including tours across the U.S., Canada, France, the U.K., Japan, Italy, Egypt, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Haiti. Her concerts range from intimate to expansive, from a classic jazz trio format to lush orchestral collaborations both in the US and in Europe. Halie is currently touring internationally in support of her latest album "Dreams Lost and Found", recorded in Montreal, Canada and featuring several fellow Justin Time Records artists (released April, 2024).
Meet the Band
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PIANIST/BAND LEADER
Matt Treder’s credits include three Billboard Japan #1 jazz albums with Halie Loren. He is on faculty at The Shedd Institute for the Arts where he facilitates the Unforgettable senior memory care project. He has played with the Britt Festival Orchestra, the Deb Cleveland Band, Don Latarski, Satin Love Orchestra, the Inspirational Sounds, the University of Oregon Jazz Ensemble, and as an adjunct professor with the UO Gospel Choir. He enjoys arranging for symphony orchestras and sharing his love of music through teaching, outreach, and whimsical puns that fall flat.
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DRUMS/PERCUSSION
Ryan Biesack is a jazz drummer, percussionist, composer and educator who holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon. He is the current director of Jazz Ensembles at Oregon State University. He has played professionally for over two decades, and has performed with multiple, talented musicians both locally and throughout the US, Asia and Europe. Locally, he can be found performing regularly with a variety of regional artists such as The Olem Alves Trio, Todd Sickafoose, Trio Untold, BMW, Halie Loren and many others in the Eugene and Portland areas. Ryan is a Sabian Cymbal Artist. Some of Ryan’s most recent playing can be heard on the 2018 PJCE self titled release from Trio Untold, which he leads with pianist James Miley and guitarist Mike Nord.
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BASS
Sean Peterson is a double bassist and composer based in Eugene, Oregon. He specializes in jazz, and also performs classical, salsa, folk, and other genres. He appears regularly with Halie Loren, The Emerald City Jazz Kings, Laura Kemp, Girl Circus, and Sean Peterson’s Ess-tet. He has performed with art music groups including Michael Anderson’s Microphilharmonic, Oregon Bach Collegium, Cascadia Chamber Opera, and Central Chamber Orchestra. Previously he performed regularly with Tony Glausi, Eleven Eyes, Taarka, Torrey Newhart, Carl Woideck, the Shedd Theatricals orchestra, the Oregon Composers’ Big Band, Beta Collide, John Shipe, the Oregon Jazz Ensemble, Azuquita, and Paul Biondi. In 2015 he released his first album as a leader, Let It Show, which he composed, arranged, recorded, and mixed. Sean received his Master’s degree in jazz studies and his PhD in musicology from the University of Oregon, where he teaches classes on jazz history, the Beatles, hip hop history, blues history and music of The Americas.
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SAXOPHONE & CLARINET
Joe Manis is a SteepleChase recording artist. He is a current faculty member at the University of Oregon and Lane Community College and is the Director of the Oregon Jazz Workshop. Recent Joe Manis Trio appearances include Fat Cat NYC, the Shedd Institute’s jazz series, Jimmy Mak’s, Tula's, the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, and the Montavilla Jazz Festival. Manis has toured Europe as a duo and trio with David Friesen, where they recorded Structures, a live album. He also appears on Risky Notion (four stars & Best Albums of 2015, DownBeat Magazine) on Origin Records with George Colligan’s Theoretical Planets. Manis has played with Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, including a performance at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, and appears on their album Rise Up! on Real World Records. He has also performed with the George Colligan Quartet, the Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra, and the Ken Schaphorst Big Band. Manis’s live performance was recently featured on NPR’s Jazz Night in America, hosted by Christian McBride. The recipient of a 2013 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship, Manis has been published in JazzEd magazine and has presented jazz masterclasses across the country. He received a Master of Music in Jazz Studies-Performance with Academic Honor from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon. Additional studies were at the Eastman School of Music.
Artists of Ballet Fantastique
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Ashley Bontrager
PRINCIPAL
Marilyn, Angel, Skatersponsored by Dave & Sherrie Kammerer
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Hannah Bontrager
PRINCIPAL
Christmas Future, Mrs. Fezziwig, Skater, Ghost Bride -
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Isabelle Bloodgood
PRINCIPAL
Christmas Present, Skater, Ghost Bridesponsored by The Bennett-Hooper Family
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Gustavo Ramirez
PRINCIPAL
Fred -
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Preston Andrew Patterson
PRINCIPAL
Scrooge -
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Jenavieve Hernandez
SOLOIST
Judy, Angel, Ghost Bridesponsored by Anonymous
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Brooke Geffrey-Bowler
SOLOIST
Christmas Past, Skater -
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Tavari Groesbeck
SOLOLIST
Mr. Cratchit, Mr. Fezziwig, Ghost Guy -
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Lucy Pearce
ARTIST
School Teacher -
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Hadassah Slater
CORPS DE BALLET
Mrs. Cratchit, Ghost Bride
Dancer Portraits by Bob Williams Photography
GUEST ARTISTS
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Adam Goldthwaite
Smokey Joe Marley
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Emmaline Melton
CORPS DE BALLET
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Narrator, Custom Sculptor, Prop Commission
EXPERIENCE: Adam's performance resume boasts performances with myriad NW performing arts organizations, including Artist Repertory Theater in Portland, as well as Willamette Repertory Theatre, Lord Leebrick Theatre Company, and Actor's Cabaret. He is a regular guest of Ballet Fantastique, and has designed work for our world premieres of Scarlet Flower: Beauty & the Beast Retold (Beast Mask), Tales from a Floating World (Dragon), The Odyssey (Cyclops mask), American Christmas Carol (Scrooge's clock), and critically acclaimed Legend of Sleepy Hollow Headless Horseman/horse.
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Originally from Salem, Oregon, Emmaline began dancing at 3 years old at Inspiration Dance Company, under the direction of Valerie Bergman. At 13, she continued her ballet training at American Ballet Academy with Annie Joslin, Dana Bliss, and Lisa Sundstrom. Throughout her time there, she performed roles such as Sugar Plum Fairy and Dewdrop in The Nutcracker. Emmaline attended summer intensives at University North Carolina School of the Arts and Summer Dance Lab, under merit scholarship. At UNCSA, she had the honor of working with Marika Brussel on the creation of Still Time for Impossible, and at Summer Dance Lab, she performed works by Amy Swiwert and Olivier Wevers. Emmaline is thrilled to join Ballet Fantastique as a guest artist while continuing her studies toward a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Planning, Public Policy, and Nonprofit Management. Emmaline is also a proud member of the Blackfeet Tribe located in Browning, Montana.
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