West Point Ballet and Utah Theatre Ballet
proudly present:
Artistic Director: Juliana Vorkink Martin
Associate Director of Performances: Hannah Hurd
Director of Contemporary Dance: Sharlee Peay
Choreography: West Point Ballet Faculty and guest choreographers: Rylee Ann Rogers & Sasha Rydlizky
A note from the Artistic Director
Dear families, friends, and supporters,
Welcome to our performance of Pointe CounterPointe! I am thrilled that you are in attendance to support our incredible dancers. This performance showcases our ballet academy dancers. In the first half of tonight’s show, they will be performing classical ballet repertoire inspired by classical ballets such as La Fille Mal Gardee, La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, Sleeping Beauty, and Giaconda, to name a few. Just like a classically trained musician will ultimately learn masterpieces by Beethoven and Mozart, it is important for classically trained ballet dancers to learn 'the classics.' With a history spanning almost 500 years, there is so much to be learned from studying and dancing classical ballets. Much of ballet technique is based on traditions that have been passed from one generation to the next, and a great way to learn this is by performing classical ballet repertoire. It has been rewarding to see our dancers learn and grow from tipping their proverbial hats to many classical ballets that you will see in this performance.
In addition to classical ballet repertoire, the second half of Pointe CounterPointe features original contemporary choreography by our faculty, Director of Contemporary Dance Sharlee Peay and Sara Mills, as well as guest choreographers Rylee Ann Rogers and Sasha Rydlizky. These guest choreographers are accomplished professionals who are currently in their performing careers. I encourage you to read more about all of these wonderful choreographers below. While West Point Ballet is a classical ballet studio through and through, I am proud of our expanding contemporary dance program. Today's ballet dancers are well-versed in classical ballet and contemporary dance. I am so happy that our dancers get the opportunity to train in both genres as they complement each other well and will set our dancers up for future success in dance. Contemporary dance pushes the limits of a dancer's technique, as well as hones their individual artistic voice, and builds confidence in their performing abilities. For some of these dancers, this is their first-ever contemporary dance performance. What an exciting night for them!
I would like to thank my amazing faculty for their time, talents, and energy. Their creativity, vision, and problem-solving skills are unparalleled. We would not be here without the class chaperones and other volunteers for contributing their time this week. I also need to recognize many members of my own family for their continued support and manpower to help these performances be successful. Thank you to my husband Mike, without whom West Point Ballet would surely not exist in any form. Finally, thank you parents for your faith in me and support of this program. This has been an amazing ride and I am looking forward to what's to come for West Point Ballet and Utah Theatre Ballet.
Enjoy the show!
Kind regards,
Juliana Vorkink Martin
Owner and Artistic Director
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
1. Maypole Dance from La Fille Mal Gardee
Staging by Juliana Vorkink Martin
Dancers: All Ballet Academy Dancers
2. Parrot Dance from La Bayadere
Staging by Madyson Wurtzbacher
Dancers: Sapphire Academy: Millie Katherine Atkinson, Naomi Day, Eden Dunn, Audrey Glad, Baylor Higgs, Addison Hunter, Sicily Savage, Rosie Shamy, Kate Wadsworth, Madi Earhart
3. Flower Sellers from Don Quixote
Staging by Juliana Vorkink Martin & Hannah Hurd
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet 2: Elise Daw, Madelyn Dubach, Lola Firpo, Tayli Greenhalgh, Jenna Hansen, Kali Kirton, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Lilly Miller, Penelope Slaugh
4. Valse Fantastique from Raymonda
Staging by Addy Boll
Dancers: Lilac Academy: Kendall Allen, Sophia Andoh, Rachel Baer, Ellie Baird, Lily Crosby, Charlie Doane, Kimberly Leavitt, Ellie Montgomery, Scout Salter, Clementine Thackeray, Ivy van Rij
5. Jewels from Sleeping Beauty
Staging by Meleah Paishon
Dancers: Gold Academy: Aspen Bryant, Isabelle Dixon, Hazel Dunn, Maggie Glad, Faye Hurd, Savannah Kern, Bronte Perez, Scarlett Shamy, Melody Tuitupou
6. Enchanted Garden from Le Corsaire
Staging by Faith Hymus
Dancers: Aqua Academy: Oakley Brown, Emma Burton, Madi Earhart, Dilainey Hinojos, Ahna Li, Julia Michaelis, Ella Morrell, Cora Slack, Abigail Walker, Eunika Wang, Isabella Williams, Rose Wright, Jillian Hinckley
7. Puss in Boots from Sleeping Beauty
Staging by Faith Hymus
Dancers: Rose & Ruby Academies: Eleanor Carter, Catalina Eddings, Isabella Michaelis, Isla Morrissey, Isabella Preusz, Nora Seat, Brighton Sutton, Ophelia Updike; Harley Chapman, Tatiana Dorofeeva, Hattie Hurd, Siena Judd, Rosalie Cheryl Lamping, Natasha Plata, Evelyn Rogers, Chloe Shamy, Kate Sperry, Macie Wasden, Faye Hurd
8. Dance of the Hours from Giaconda
Staging by Juliana Vorkink Martin
Dancers: Garnet Academy: Mahayla ChappellHeidi DavidsonHallie DixonLila GardnerAmillya McCainClara MitchellTetonia Wang
9. Odalisque Pas de trois from Le Corsaire
Staging by Amber Miller and Juliana Vorkink Martin
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet: Alyssa Bingham, Andrea Holker, Leah Frandsen
10-Minute Intermission
10. “Why are we?”
Choreography by Sharlee Peay
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet & Utah Theatre Ballet 2: Alyssa Bingham, Andrea Holker, Leah Frandsen; Elise Daw, Madelyn Dubach, Lola Firpo, Tayli Greenhalgh, Jenna Hansen, Kali Kirton, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Lilly Miller, Penelope Slaugh
11. “Dance With Me”
Choreography by Sarah Mills
Dancers: Aqua Academy: Emma Burton, Madi Earhart, Dilainey Hinojos, Ahna Li, Julia Michaelis, Ella Morrell, Cora Slack, Abigail Walker, Eunika Wang, Isabella Williams, Rose Wright
12. “Seven League Boots”
Choreography by Rylee Rogers
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet, Utah Theatre Ballet 2, & Garnet Academy: Alyssa Bingham, Andrea Holker, Leah Frandsen; Elise Daw, Madelyn Dubach, Lola Firpo, Tayli Greenhalgh, Jenna Hansen, Kali Kirton, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Lilly Miller, Penelope Slaugh; Mahayla Chappell, Heidi Davidson, Hallie Dixon, Lila Gardner, Amillya McCain, Clara Mitchell, Tetonia Wang
13. “A Transient State”
Choreography by Sharlee Peay
Dancers: Gold Academy: Aspen Bryant,Isabelle Dixon, Hazel Dunn, Maggie Glad, Faye Hurd, Savannah Kern, Bronte Perez, Scarlett Shamy, Melody Tuitupou
14. “Throughline Part 1”
Choreography by Sara Mills
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet & Utah Theatre Ballet 2: Alyssa Bingham, Andrea Holker, Leah Frandsen; Elise Daw, Madelyn Dubach, Lola Firpo, Tayli Greenhalgh, Jenna Hansen, Kali Kirton, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Lilly Miller, Penelope Slaugh
15. “Giving Way to Resolve”
Choreography by Sharlee Peay
Dancers: Garnet & Sapphire Academies: Mahayla Chappell, Heidi Davidson, Hallie Dixon, Lila Gardner, Amillya McCain, Clara Mitchell, Tetonia Wang; Millie Katherine Atkinson, Naomi Day, Eden Dunn, Audrey Glad, Baylor Higgs, Addison Hunter, Sicily Savage, Rosie Shamy, Kate Wadsworth
16. “Thinning of the Veil”
Choreography by Sasha Rydzlisky
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet & Utah Theatre Ballet 2: Alyssa Bingham, Andrea Holker, Leah Frandsen; Elise Daw, Madelyn Dubach, Lola Firpo, Tayli Greenhalgh, Jenna Hansen, Kali Kirton, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Lilly Miller, Penelope Slaugh
Guest Choreographers
Rylee Ann Rogers
Rylee Ann Rogers is from Orem, Utah. She joined Ballet West II in 2020 and was promoted to the main company in 2022. Her ballet training began in Utah County at the age of 3 with the Barlow Arts Conservatory and The Dance Club. As a pre-teen, Rylee Ann spent her summers in New York City training with The School of American Ballet on full merit scholarship. At 14, she was invited to join SAB’s year-round program. She graduated with honors in 2020 from The School of American Ballet and the Professional Performing Arts High School. Rylee Ann thrived in the competitive dance world for several years where she was awarded top honors and scholarships from the most renowned dance and ballet organizations in the world. Most notably, she was a two-time recipient of the Grand Prix Award at the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition. Rylee Ann has performed on some of the world’s most celebrated stages, including Radio City Music Hall, where she danced the role of Clara in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and the David Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center in various roles with the New York City Ballet and SAB. With Ballet West, Rylee has danced roles in Robbins’ Glass Pieces, Christensen’s The Nutcracker, Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, and Stevenson’s Dracula, to name a few.
Rylee Ann’s passion for dance and ballet have only deepened during her opportunity to teach the upcoming generation and explore her artistry and creativity through her original choreography. Faith, family and beauty are Rylee Anne’s inspirations and hard work, devotion, and determination are making her dream of being a professional ballet dancer come true.
Sasha Rydlizky
Sasha Rydlizky grew up in Ellsworth, Maine. She graduated summa cum laude from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance and minor in Arts Administration, with additional training abroad at the Taipei National University of the Arts. She has had the pleasure of performing work by Christina Robson, Lucinda Childs, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Taryn Russel and Kevin Wynn, among others while in school. After working in NYC with collaborators including Chloe London Dance, Michelle Thompson, and Alison Cook Beatty Dance, she recently relocated to Salt Lake City. Currently, she is dancing with Peter Stathas Dance, Oquirrh West Project and Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company, and is a passionate teacher of dance and yoga.
Sara Mills
Sara began her classical ballet training as a member of Utah Regional Ballet's professional ballet program under the tutelage of Jacqueline P. College. After completing her studies as a Utah Regional Ballet apprentice she transferred to Jenny Creer-King's Classical Ballet Academy. There, she took on an intensive study of classical and contemporary ballet, under master instructors Jenny Creer-King, Attila Ficzere, and Yi-Qi Cheng.
She performed lead roles in various productions during her training and was commissioned to perform various roles in the Nutcracker. While dancing with Classical Ballet Academy, Sara had the opportunity to compete in Youth American Grand Prix where she performed pieces from Don Quixote, Esmerelda and original contemporary works choreographed by herself. She placed in the top twelve for her classical and contemporary pieces in ther classical and contemporary pieces in the Youth American Grande Prix competition.
She has studied at numerous summer intensive programs and has been awarded scholarships from Alonzo King Line's Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, and Ririe Woodbury. Sara later went on to study at Utah Valley University on scholarship in Ballet and modern dance and studied and performed in Scotland and England. After her education, Sara danced professionally with SALT Contemporary Dance in Salt Lake City working with world renowned choreographers.
She has been on the faculty of several ballet and contemporary studios around Utah for eleven years and has developed original choreography for several of her students who have been given numerous awards. Her students have been awarded the prestigious YAGP Hope award and two 1st place titles at the Youth American Grande Prix Competition. She has had students receive scholarships from San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Alonzo King Line's Ballet, New York City Ballet, Brigham Young University, University of Utah and Utah Valley University. Her choreography has been seen at ACDFA, UVU'S Synergy Dance Company, Youth American Grande Prix, and NYCDA. The most rewarding aspect of her career is seeing her students love for dance grow.
Sharlee Peay
Director of Contemporary Dance, Ballet Instructor
Sharlee began her dance training in Salt Lake City, Utah and went on to graduate with a BA in dance performance from Brigham Young University. While pursuing her college degree, Peay performed with ballet and contemporary companies, touring performances in Idaho, Colorado, India, and China. While pursuing her college degree, Sharlee received several awards including Rookie of the Year, Outstanding Female Performer, and All-Around Excellence in Performance, Academics, Leadership and Choreography. She was also honored to graduate magna cum laude and be on full tuition scholarship for both dance and academics through the duration of her college education; which included the prestigious Leona Holbrook Scholarship,Phyllis C. Jacobson Scholarship, and Abrelia Clarissa Hinckley Scholarship.
Sharlee began her professional career, immediately following graduation, with SALT Contemporary Dance in June 2014. As a performer she has studied with and performed works by Peter Chu (chuthis), Jermaine Spivey (Kidd Pivot), Modern Dance Guru Donald McKayle, Alex Ketley (The Foundry), Loni Landon, Joni McDonald, Ching Ching Wong, and Ihsan Rustem amongst others. Peay has also had the opportunity to work with Summer Lee Rhatigan at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance where she studied Ballet, improvisation, contemporary and Ohad Naharin's "gaga" technique and repertoire with Bobby Jene Smith and Tom Weinberger (Batsheva).
Sharlee began teaching at the age of 14 and has taught throughout Utah at various studios teaching ballet and contemporary and setting work on students across the valley. Including work for full length ballets, Nutcrackers, and YAGP. Her 15 years of teaching have brought her to love the unique study, investigation, exploration and hard work that can be found in the studio space. She was recently honored to be a featured choreographer for SALT Contemporary Dance "LINK" Festival in 2019. Sharlee co-founded Oquirrh West Project in May of 2017 where she danced with, choreographed for, and acted as Associate Artistic Director for two seasons. As the current Artistic Director and resident choreographer for the project, she looks forward to continuing her research and exploration.
Utah Theatre Ballet
Alyssa Bingham
Andrea Holker
Leah Frandsen
Utah Theatre Ballet 2
Brooklyn LaMela
Carson McIntosh
Elise Daw
Jenna Hansen
Kali Kirton
Lilly Gardner
Lola Firpo
Madelyn Dubach
Penelope Slaugh
Tayli Greenhalgh
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to...
*Our incredible faculty: Juliana Vorkink Martin, Hannah Hurd, Sharlee Peay, Lisa Vorkink, Madyson Wurtzbacher, Kalise Child, Jessi Salter, Megan Fuhriman, Meleah Paishon, Addy Boll, Sara Mills, Abbie Perry, Mercedes Stout, Carole Bingham, Ashley Chappell, Rocio Holker, and Jenni Sperry.
*All of our parents, parent volunteers, chaperones and backstage helpers
*Guest choreographers: Rylee Ann Rogers, Sasha Rydlizky
*Lighting Designer: Riley Merrill
*Sound Engineer: Daniel Bunker
*Costume Coordinator: Rocio Holker
*Costume alterations: Rebecca Burton
*Stage and Production Manager: Lisa Vorkink
*Hallway Manager: GeriLynn Vorkink
*Volunteer Managers: Carolyn Nottingham and Ashley Chappell
*Volunteer Coordinator: Ashley Chappell
*Floor installation: Mike Martin, and Ben Chappell
*Maypole creation: Mike Martin
*Videographer: Matt Hepworth
*Photographer: Sharlee Peay Photography
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Event Manager: Tyler Smith
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Technical Directors
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center staff
*ArtTix staff