DANCERS
- William Cannon
- Sam Chittenden
- Katie Dehler
- Seth DelGrasso
- Katherine Eberle
- Samantha Klanac
- Nolan DeMarco McGahan
- Emily Proctor
- Seia Rassenti
- Joseph Watson
William Cannon is in his second season with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. At age 11, William entered BalletMet Dance Academy in Columbus, Ohio, and in 2001 was a scholarship student at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Lou Conte Dance Studio. In 2002, he was selected as a finalist in the National Foundation for the Advancement of Arts’ "ARTS Week" initiative. Upon graduation from BalletMet's Professional Training Program in 2002, he became a BalletMet company member. He has also danced with Hubbard Street 2 and Complexions. In 2005, William won a coveted spot in Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” roster. “(Dance) is a part of who I am and I can't conceive of doing anything else,” he says. “It's also an incredible way to connect to people, be it an audience or the other dancers on stage, without having to say a word.”
Sam Chittenden is in his twelfth year with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. A BFA graduate of the University of Utah Ballet Department and Colorado State University, he enjoys the physicality of dance and the pairing of that physicality with artistic intention. “I also love the mental challenges of dance and the thrill of performing,” says Sam. He has danced with the Utah Ballet and Canyon Concert Ballet in Fort Collins, Colorado, and has also studied at the Ballet West Conservatory and Ballet Arts Minnesota. Sam also does graphic design and is an avid rock climber.
Katie Dehler's passion for dance is palpable. “I love dancing because I love to perform on stage – you get to be somebody else for 20 minutes – or you get to just let go and see where the movement takes you. It’s like a different world that dancing allows you to glimpse.” Born and raised in St. Joseph, Minnesota, Katie began her ballet training at the Stroia Dance Studio. She continued her studies on scholarship with the University of Utah’s Department of Ballet where she received her BFA with a performance emphasis. Now in her tenth season with ASFB, Katie sees dancing as challenging, both physically and mentally. “It’s so inherently individual – it’s fun to see how everyone interprets the movements differently.”
Seth DelGrasso is a founding member of Aspen Santa Fe ballet, now beginning his thirteenth season with the company. "The relationship created between choreographer, dancer, and audience, whether expressing a character, or a choreographer's intention and feeling, is the most rewarding facet of dance" says Seth. The Colorado native moved to New York to study dance with David Howard, Nanette Charise, Simon Dow, Gelsey Kirkland, and Talara Ruth. Although Seth has made numerous guest appearances with Complexions, and other companies, he considers "ASFB (to be) the prime influence in my career."
Katherine Eberle grew up in Oklahoma City and began studying dance at the school of Ballet Oklahoma under Bryan Pitts and Laura Flagg-Pitts. At the age of 15, she joined the professional company of Ballet Oklahoma. As a guest artist with the Los Angeles Ballet Ensemble she also toured extensively through Taiwan and China. Katherine, who is in her seventh season with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, says she expresses herself through movement. “Dancing is demanding both physically and mentally, and I love to be challenged.”
Samantha Klanac, now in her eighth year with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, loves testing the limits, striving for something fresh, innovative and exciting. Growing up in Orchard Park, New York, Samantha trained at the American Academy of Ballet, later was on scholarship at The Chautauqua Institute, New York State Summer School of the Arts, and School of American Ballet. She also has the distinction of, upon graduating high school, having studied at SUNY Purchase where she performed with American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. “I love the feeling of being on stage, and the adrenaline of a performance.” In addition to her work with ASFB, she was a guest artist with Configurations Dance Company and recently completed her BA in the Arts, in February, 2008 from State University of New York (SUNY) Empire State College, Center for Distance Learning.
Nolan DeMarco McGahan, a native of Dallas, Texas, trained at Dallas Ballet Center, Ballet Academy of Texas, and with Fernando Bujones at the Orlando Ballet School. He also attended Booker T. High School of the Performing and Visual Arts before graduating from The Julliard School in New York, earning his BFA in Dance, and dancing works by noted choreographers. “There are many things I love about dancing. One thing I have loved about dancing from Day One is the athleticism.” This is Nolan’s third season with ASFB.
Emily Proctor, a recent graduate from Juilliard, is thrilled to be starting her third season with the company. “I love dancing because I love meeting the people that are involved in the field. It's fun to be a part of the small world that is dance.” A native of North Carolina, Emily trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts and graduated in 2003 with a concentration in ballet. Emily has trained at the Houston Ballet, ABT New York, and Montreal’s Ballet Divertimento professional summer program. Prior to joining ASFB she had the opportunity to join Hell's Kitchen Dance on a national and international tour of Aszure Barton's Come In, starring Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Seia Rassenti, originally from Arizona, danced with Flamenco Y Mas as a youngster and began her ballet training with Linda Walker at The Tucson Regional Ballet. In 2002 she was accepted to The Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C. under the artistic direction of Oleg Vinogradov, where she spent her high school years training in the classical Vagonova tradition. While at the Kirov she spent summers on scholarship with Jilana, Debbie Allen, Alvin Ailey, and the Miami City Ballet. As class president Seia graduated from the Kirov and joined North Carolina Dance Theater’s second company in Charlotte. She spent the following two seasons there as a member of NCDT’s first company under the co-direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride, who also invited her to participate in the Chautauqua Ballet. During the two most recent summers Seia accepted invitations to train with Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet and Dwight Rhoden’s Complexions. This is her first season with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.
Joseph Watson, started his formal dance training at an after-school program called T.W.I.G. S. (To Work In Gaining Skills). His training at T.W.I.G.S. led to his acceptance into the Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA), under the tutelage of Norma Pera. Upon graduating high school he was then accepted into The Juilliard School under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes and received a B. F. A. in dance. In 2007, Joseph joined North Carolina Dance Theatre where he performed both contemporary and classical roles by choreographers such Dwight Rhode’s Othello and George Balanchine’s 4 Temperaments. For Joseph, dance is a way to challenge himself both mentally and physically. It also is a way for him to do a lot of self discovery and realize that there is no limit to what a person can do artistically.