Digital Program


Mid-Columbia Ballet

Artistic Director

Debra Pearse Rogo

Company

Naomie Bracy Tessa Callister Curran Campbell Saffron Campbell Michael Cryan Brianna Deray Isabella Deray Alyssa Ekstrom Alanna Engler Emerie Fergusson Philippe Gonzalez Abigail Johnson Morgan Lowry Aislin Maloney Anniston Martin Emily Martin Leah Nguyen Salma Oummani Elissia Presti Reese Robinson Emme Scherer Natalie Scherer Sana Schiffern Lily Stout Elayna Thurston Josephine Whitney Lucy Williams Addison Wiser


About Mid-Columbia Ballet

The Mid-Columbia Ballet (MCB) is a nonprofit corporation, whose mission is to foster and advance the art of ballet in its various forms in the Mid-Columbia region. MCB is managed by a Board of Directors and the MCB Guild is responsible for managing volunteers and many fundraising activities.

The MCB consists of young dancers committed to the art of ballet. MCB’s repertoire includes classical, neoclassical, and modern works by choreographers from throughout the United States. MCB has been granted performance rights to several Balanchine works by the George Balanchine Trust and was the first pre-professional group to perform a work by Twyla Tharp.

MCB has performed at Chop Shop: Bodies of Work in Seattle, USA/International Ballet Competition, in Austria at the Tanzsommer Austrian Arts Festival and at SPRING TO DANCE in St. Louis, Missouri. MCB has hosted Regional Dance America/Pacific Festivals four times, each time bringing to the Tri-Cities over twenty amateur and professional ballet companies, internationally known dance teachers and lecturers, and university recruiters for the 4-day convention.

MCB has also grown to be a valuable community resource. MCB received the 2020 STAR award from the City of Richland for pivoting The Nutcracker to a free movie, Clara’s Tri-Cities Nutcracker Dream that had 14,000 YouTube views and featured over 30 local businesses and locations. In addition, MCB was selected as a grant recipient for Gesa’s Local Heroes program in 2020 and 2021 in recognition of the positive impact our outreach and educational efforts have had in our community. We are very honored to be recognized this way.


Guest Artists

NICOLE CIAPPONI

Nicole Ciapponi was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and trained with Goh Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and The San Francisco Ballet School. She was a top finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix in 2009 and received the silver medal at the Margot Fonteyn (formerly Genée) International Ballet Competition in 2008. Ms. Ciapponi joined the San Francisco Ballet in 2010, the Joffrey Ballet in 2015 and Diablo Ballet in 2022.

MARCO CLEMENTE

Marco Clemente was born in Chicago and began his dance training at the Ruth Page School of Dance. After his graduation he danced with Dayton Ballet, Minnesota Ballet, and Ballet Nebraska. In addition to company work, he has also performed as a guest artist with Visceral Dance Chicago, South Chicago Dance Theatre, and Chicago Repertory Ballet. This is his first season with Diablo Ballet.


GUEST REHEARSAL DIRECTORS

PATRICIA BARKER & MICHAEL AUER

World-renowned ballerina Patricia Barker was born in Richland, WA. Michael Auer was born in Austria. Patricia was the prima ballerina at Pacific Northwest Ballet for two decades and Michael a principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet, who was often the partner of Deborah Hadley. After retiring from the stage in 2007, Patricia was Artistic Director of Grand Rapids Ballet for seven years and the Royal New Zealand Ballet for six years, where this dynamic duo led these companies with great successes.

PATRICIA & MID-COLUMBIA BALLET

Patricia was Mid-Columbia Ballets Nutcracker guest artist from 1994-2003. In 1996 Patricia coached MCB’s first production of Swan Lake Act II and arranged a fundraising Barker & Friends performance that was instrumental in spearheading a campaign that raised funds for the creation of our current Nutcracker set. She has been an honorary Board Member of Mid-Columbia Ballet since 2000. We are grateful to have had Patricia coach our dancers for this production of Swan Lake, a role that she learned from Deborah Hadley.


DEBORAH HADLEY, IN MEMORIAM

Deborah Hadley was born and raised in San Diego and began her studies at the San Diego Ballet continuing to the rank of principal dancer. She then became a charter member of Joffrey Ballet II in 1969. Taking time off to marry and have two boys, she returned to ballet in 1979 when she joined Pacific Northwest Ballet where she remained a Principal Dancer for the next thirteen years. In reporting on her retirement, Carole Beers of The Seattle Times described Hadley as “the ballerina who shaped PNB’s look.” Upon retiring from her PNB performing career, Debby found passion in shaping young ballet students. She created the Washington Academy of Performing Arts in Redmond, she was the Ballet Mistress of the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet (now known as Texas Ballet Theater), she served as Adjudicator for several Festivals and was instrumental in helping The Ballet Alliance specify its technical and artistic standards. She most recently taught for Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet and Mid-Columbia Ballet and served as a Guest Teacher and Ambassador for The Ballet Alliance. Deborah Hadley passed away peacefully on April 22, 2023.



Apis Cell

Choreography

Benjamin Rabe

Music

K. Estes-Brown (1), Matteo de Grandis (2), Felix Rösch, Mondëna Quartet, Matija Strniša (3), K. Estes-Brown (4)

Tessa Callister, Curran Campbell, Saffron Campbell, Michael Cryan, Brianna Deray, Isabella Deray, Alyssa Ekstrom, Alanna Engler, Emerie Fergusson, Philippe Gonzalez, Morgan  Lowry, Anniston Martin, Emily Martin, Salma Oummani, Elissia Presti, Sana Schiffern, Natalie Scherer, Emme Scherer, Lucy Williams, Josephine Whitney


Coppelia Waltz

Choreography

Debra Rogo

Music

Leo Delibes

Armelle Bonneville, Vianne Bricker, Eleanor Brown, Addison Chamberlain, Corinna Chu, Gwenyth Cook, Emily Croyle, Chloe Custodio, Maria Chmura, Brianna Dahl, Cornelia Darling, Lyra Davis, Juliann Diaz, Ellie Flynn, Addison Foy, Marisol Garcia, Emmaleigh Haugen, Liliana Littleton, Caetlyn Kovis, Ria Mascal, Claire McNeil, London Mulholland, Reilly Murray, Avery Ogden, Tabitha Orth, Claire Phillips, Hannah Smith, Hadassah Thomas, Keziah Thomas, Bella Viera, Rylie Walters, Isla Williams, Reagan Willis, Logan Wiser, Sadie Wysock


5 in Black

Choreography

Debra Pearse Rogo

Composer

George Friedrich Handel

Music

selections from: Water Music & Entrance of the Queen of Sheba

Natalie Scherer with Morgan Lowry and Curran Campbell, Michael Cryan, Philippe Gonzalez and Brianna Deray, Isabella Deray, Emerie Fergusson, Anniston Martin, Elissia Presti, Sana Schiffern, Emme Scherer, Lucy Williams, Josephine Whitney with Naomie Bracy, Tessa Callister, Saffron Campbell, Alyssa Ekstrom, Alanna Engler, Abby Johnson, Aislin Maloney, Emily Martin, Leah Nguyen, Salma  Oummani, Reese Robinson, Lily Stout, Elayna Thurston, Addison Wiser


Intermission (15 minutes)


Swan Lake Act II

Music

Peter Tchaikovsky

Choreography

(after) Lev Ivanov

Staging

Patricia Barker, Michael Auer & Debra Rogo

Lighting Design

Sara Staven

Cast List

Prince Siegfried
Marco Clemente
Odette
Nicole Ciapponi
Von Rothbart
Philippe Gonzalez (Sat), Michael Cryan (SFP), Curran Campbell (Sun)
Four Cygnets
Morgan Lowry, Anniston Martin, Sana Schiffern, Emme Scherer
Swan Quartet
Emerie Fergusson, Elissia Presti, Natalie Scherer, Lucy Williams
Swan Maidens
Naomie Bracy, Tessa Callister, Saffron Campbell, Brianna Deray, Isabella Deray, Alyssa Ekstrom, Alanna Engler, Abby Johnson, Emily Martin, Leah Nguyen, Salma Oummani, Reese Robinson, Lily Stout, Elayna Thurston, Josephine Whitney, Addison Wiser

Swan Lake Act II STORY

Prince Siegfried enters a lakeside clearing, intending to hunt swans with his crossbow. A beautiful creature, part women, part bird, dances into the clearing. She has the face and body of a woman, but the movements of her arms suggest the fluttering wings of a bird, while the quick motions of her head resemble preening.

The prince steps forth and the frightened Odette, the Queen of the Swans, attempts to escape. He reassures her of his concern for her and asks who she is. In mime, she tells him she has fallen under the spell of an evil magician, Von Rothbart. She will not be released from the enchantment which transforms her into a swan, except during the hours between midnight and dawn, until a man falls in love with her, marries her, and forswears all other women.

The prince promises to marry Odette just as Von Rothbart appears. Odette pleads with the magician while Siegfried reaches for his crossbow to slay the evil creature. Odette, however, rushes towards Siegfried to stop him from shooting, for she will remain a swan forever if Von Rothbart dies.

When Odette and Siegfried leave the glade, the swan maidens enter and fill the stage with their dancing. Siegfried returns in search of Odette and looks for her among the many swan maidens. The search is in vain and the prince is despondent, when suddenly Odette appears and the two dance as their love deepens.

As dawn approaches and the swans prepare to flee, Odette rushes toward Siegfried to say her sad farewell. She turns his head away so he doesn’t watch her transformation and disappears. Siegfried is devastated as he sees a flight of swans passing overhead.


MCB Company Dancers

Naomie Bracy

Tessa Callister

Curran Campbell

Saffron Campbell

Michael Cryan

Brianna Deray

Isabella Deray

Alyssa Ekstrom

Alanna Engler

Emerie Fergusson

Philippe Gonzalez

Abigail Johnson

Morgan Lowry

Aislin Maloney

Anniston Martin

Emily Martin

Leah Nguyen

Salma Oummani

Elissia Presti

Reese Robinson

Emme Scherer

Natalie Scherer

Sana Schiffern

Lily Stout

Elayna Thurston

Josephine Whitney

Lucy Williams

Addison Wiser


Intermediate Company

Maria Chmura, Addison Foy, Bella Viera, Brianna Dahl, London Mulholland, Caetlyn Kovis Ria Mascal, Mylinh Nguyen, Juliann Diaz, Avery Ogden, Sadie Wysock, Reagan Willis 

(Not pictured: Hadassah Thomas)


Junior Company

Emmaleigh Haugen, Marisol Garcia, Emily Croyle, Hannah Smith, Reilly Murray, Addison Chamberlain, Keziah Thomas, Logan Wiser, Eleanor Brown, Lyra Davis, Gwenyth Cook, Tabitha Orth, Corinna Chu, Rylie Walters, Claire Phillips, Chloe Custodio, Vianne Bricker, Cornelia Darling, Claire McNeil, Kayla Davis, Ellie Flynn, Armelle Bonneville, Isla Williams, Liliana Littleton


MCB Staff

Susan Presti, Lily Wutzke, Rebecca Rogo, Willow Busselman, Debra Rogo, Allie Yates, Torrie Mower, Baleigh Bierman, Veronica Andersen

Artistic Director

Debra Pearse Rogo

Administrator

Gaye Wutzke

Artistic Assistant

Torrie Mower

Artistic Assistant & INCLUDE Dir.

Rebecca Rogo

Wardrobe Supervisor

Allie Yates

Outreach Coordinator

Susan Presti

Social Media

Willow Busselman

Administrative Consultant

Renée Kolman

Artistic Intern

Baleigh Bierman

Artistic Intern

Lily Wutzke

Debra Pearse Rogo, Artistic Director

Debra grew up in Melbourne, Australia where she trained in the Cecchetti (Italian) Method of Ballet passing all exams, including her teaching certification, with Honors. She also received teaching and performing opportunities with the National Theatre and Ballet Victoria. After finishing her schooling, she performed with the Sydney City Ballet for three years before moving to the United States where she was the Assistant Director and then Artistic Director of Ballet Omaha, a professional company with its own school. In 1987, Debra and her husband, Joel, moved to Washington State to buy a small ballet school; the Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet. After more than 30 years it is now the Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet and Music and includes a Performing Arts Pre-School.

Debra has served as Chairman of Regional Dance America/Pacific, President of Regional Dance America, on the Honorary Committee for the USA International Ballet Competition and as Executive Director of Regional Dance America’s Craft of Choreography Conference. Debra has been a guest teacher at many US schools and universities, the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda, the 2013 Australian Cecchetti Conference, the 2014 USA International Cecchetti Conference and the 2016 Cecchetti USA Summer School. In recognition of her work in the Tri-Cities, Ms. Rogo received the City of Richland 2014 Contribution to the Arts Award.


MCB Board of Directors

Honorary Board Member

Patricia Barker

Former Artistic Director, Royal New Zealand Ballet

Honorary Board Members in Memorium

Curt Colvin Patty Taylor Wally Weimer


MCB Guild

Guild Officers and Committee Chairs

Chair
Dawn Cryan
Vice-Chair
Ashley Lowry
Treasurer
Neil Henson
Secretary
Jen Chamberlain
Apparel
Angie Scherer & Lesley Paslean
Ballet Café
Bouchra Oummani & Aimee Kovis
Flowers
Pam Campbell & Lot Deray
Mementos
Travers Bracy & Brandie Bracy
Photos/DVDs
Christina Stout
Poinsettias
Kay Nguyen & Emily Maloney
Restaurant Fundraisers
Aimee Kovis
Cooklies & Water
Sandra Cortez & Shawna Ekstrom
Raffle
Jen & Travis Chamberlain
Online Store
Jason Paslean
Front of House
Ashley Lowry & Nicole Wiser
Greenroom
Shevaun Martin
Makeup
Kelly Bright & Lauri Whitney
Security
Jody & Ron Longwell
Ushers
Naoko Schiffern

The mission of the Guild is to support and promote the Mid-Columbia Ballet in their commitment to providing high quality performing arts to our community. The Guild assumes responsibility for organizing volunteers to support MCB productions such as The Nutcracker. Guild funds help MCB with production costs such as theatre rental, costumes, guest artists, and outreach. Volunteers organize a series of various events throughout the year to raise funds for MCB.

The Guild welcomes any new members who wish to ensure that the Tri-Cities will always have an opportunity to enjoy the cultural experiences of ballet. To learn more about the Guild and how to become a member visit our Guild page.

2022-2023 Season Guild Members

Ryan & Melany Bickford
Delphine & Alain Bonneville
Travers & Brandie Bracy
Paul & Tina Branson
JoAnn & John Brehm
Bradley & Talena Bricker
Amanda & Brandon Brown
Pamela & Dale Campbell
Travis & Jen Chamberlain
Robert & Svitlana Chmura
Rosey Chu
Sandra Cortez
Tim & Katie Croyle
Dawn & Mike Cryan
Brett & Stephanie Dahl
Rob & AmyLynne Darling
Amber Davis
Michelle Dearlove
Jeremy & Annie Debban
Arnulfo & Lot Deray
Jonathan & Erin Dickey
Karen Nguyen & Gene Dorendorf
Brett & Shawna Ekstrom
Caleb & Michelle Engler
Martin Family
Aaron & Kelly Fergusson
Anita Petra & Horacio Gonzalez
Rick Graff
Kim & Mark Hattrup
Kriste & Neil Henson
Ron & Jody Longwell
Ashley Lowry
Chris & Scott Lowry
Jill Lunde
Craig & Emily Maloney
Byron & Nancy Martin
Anitha & Srinivas Mascal
Sean & Kirsten McNeil
Harry & Terri Miley
Sara & Ty Mulholland
Katherine & Loc Nguyen
Fenton Norman
Jeremy & Esther Ogden
Bouchra Oummani
Lesley & Jason Paslean
Larry & Jennifer Peterson
Thomas & Kelly Precechtel Bright
Susan Presti
Sarah & Jeremiah Robinson
John & Kerrilynn Robinson
Joel & Debra Rogo
Blake & Angie Scherer
John & Naoko Schiffern
Christina & Ryan Stout
Victoria Suryan
Krista Thurston
Katherine Torelli
Christina & Mario Viera
Ethan & Ashley Walters
Al & Jan Wells
Mark & Signe White
Gerry & Lauri Whitney
Molly & JJ Williams
Cole & Jamie Willis
Matt & Nicole Wiser
Michael & Gaye Wutzke

Our 2022-23 Season Supporters

The Mid-Columbia Ballet (MCB) is incorporated in Washington State as a non-profit corporation and is exempt from federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information on MCB’s finances, including funding spent on programs, do a charity search at https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov.

Join those mentioned below by giving a gift that will help MCB sustain our efforts to provide artistic excellence in our productions and community outreach programs.

Donate Now

Please patronize the local businesses and other arts groups that support MCB