DANCERS

Lauren Alzamora danced with Eliot Feld's Ballet Tech and Battery Dance Company in New York City before joining Aspen Santa Fe Ballet five seasons ago. She trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts, and also studied at School of American Ballet, The Kirov Academy, The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet and American Ballet Theater. For Lauren, dancing provides ways to challenge herself physically, mentally, and artistically. "In a physical sense, dancing can be quite grueling", she admits. "Ultimately, it is wonderful to experience those times when all the years of training and struggle pay off – you feel invincible!" Lauren is also a certified Pilates instructor.

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William Cannon is ASFB’s newest company member.  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.”

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Eric Chase is in his seventh year with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. "Dancing," says the Shelton, Connecticut native, "is a release for me. I love being on stage and letting the moment take me for a ride." Eric is an alumnus of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he received his BFA. He then spent two seasons with Milwaukee Ballet II, followed by another two seasons with Hubbard Street 2. "Contemporary movement enables me to have such a wide range of expression," he says. "I enjoy the idea that someone in the audience will leave the show affected by my performance."

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Sam Chittenden is in his eleventh 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. In his extracurricular moments, Sam has taught himself graphic design, and is an avid rock climber.

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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 ninth 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."

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Seth DelGrasso is a founding member of Aspen Santa Fe ballet, now beginning his 13th 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 only reference I have in my career."

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Katherine Eberle grew up in Oklahoma City and danced with Ballet Oklahoma for seven years in roles such as Cinderella, Sugar Plum Fairy, Wendy in Peter Pan and Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty, and she toured extensively with Los Angeles Ballet Ensemble, dancing the role of Jasmine in David Wilcox's Aladdin. Katherine, who is in her fifth year 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."

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Samantha Klanac, now in her seventh year with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet loves testing the limits, striving for something fresh, innovative and exciting. Born 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 is currently completing her BA.

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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 work by noted choreographers. "There are many things I love about dancing. One thing I have loved about dancing from Day One is the athleticism"

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Emily Proctor, a recent graduate from Juilliard, is thrilled to be a new member of 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 last summer of Aszure Barton's "Come In", starring Mikhail Baryshnikov.

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Stephen Straub began his training in Syracuse, NY with Marianne Gray and later at the Center of Ballet and Dance Arts. He then went on to study at the School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest and San Francisco Ballet Schools, on full scholarship. "I love dancing because I love art, music, math, anatomy and, of course, movement." Stephen was a member of The Suzanne Farrell Ballet prior to joining Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, where he is now in his fifth season. Last spring, he was guest with Ms. Farrell's company at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, dancing in ballets by George Balanchine and Maurice Béjart.

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