Made possible through the generosity of
Melony & Adam Lewis, Kelley & Mark Purnell, Bebe Schweppe

ASPEN DISTRICT THEATER

DECEMBER 5, 7:30PM✦
DECEMBER 6, 1:00PM✦ & 5:00PM✧
DECEMBER 7, 1:00PM✧

ACT ONE

GUEST ARTISTS

EMILY ADAMS

Emily Adams is from Newtown, Pennsylvania. She joined Ballet West II in 2005 and the main company in 2007. Emily was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2011, Soloist in 2013, and Principal in 2015.  Emily trained at Studio Maestro with Deborah Wingert and Francois Perron; Ballet Technique with Julie Caprio; with Nancy Bielski and David Howard at Steps on Broadway; and privately with Christina Fagundes.  At 15, she was awarded an honorary scholarship to train full-time at the School of American Ballet. She participated in summer programs at San Francisco Ballet School, School of America Ballet, Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, and the Royal Ballet School.  In 2007 she performed with Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center. With Ballet West, Emily has danced leading roles of Juliet in Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, Odette/Odile in Sklute’s Swan Lake, Diamonds Pas de Deux in Balanchine’s Jewels, and Cinderella in Ashton’s Cinderella, to name just a few.

Emily began choreographing as a student and was invited by Peter Martins to participate in the New York Choreographic Institute’s Spring Session 2004.  Emily has created six ballets for Ballet West. In her latest work in 2025, Emily collaborated with composer Katy Jarzebowski on Mass Hysterical, which explores the comedy and horror of group social behaviors and the challenge of being brave when fear and distrust abound.

The Thing with Feathers in 2021 featured an original score by Sundance Institute Fellow, Katy Jarzebowski. She was awarded the Utah Arts Festival’s Choreographic Commission in 2017. Her creation, Laden, is now included in Ballet West II’s repertoire. In August 2019, Emily collaborated with The Way of the Rain, Sibylle Szaggers Redford, and composer Tim Janis to create Earth Movements: A Symphony for Ballet. The ballet was presented at the UN 68th International NGO Conference, and featured dancers of Ballet West alongside the Utah Symphony. In July 2022, Emily was one of four choreographers chosen to participate in National Choreographers Initiative under the direction of Molly Lynch.

Emily has performed as a guest artist and in galas across the country, including for YAGP and the 50^th Re-Opening Anniversary Gala of the Chicago Auditorium Theater.  She collaborated with artists from the Utah Symphony and Pioneer Theater Company in Intermezzo Chamber Music’s performance of Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale Suite, both as a dancer and choreographer. Emily has been featured in Pointe Magazine and other publications multiple times for her work as a dancer, choreographer, and her artistic projects outside the studio. 

HADRIEL DINIZ

Hadriel Diniz is from Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.  He joined Ballet West in 2015 and was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2018, to Soloist in 2019, to First Soloist in 2020, and to Principal in 2021.  He began training at the age of twelve with Guiomar Boaventura at the Vórtice Escola de Danças.  Soon after, he started competing in international competitions and has won numerous awards.  He qualified for the Youth America Grand Prix NYC finals in 2010, 2011, and 2012, where he placed in the top 6.  He was offered a full-year scholarship from San Francisco Ballet School, and Hadriel left Brazil to study there at age seventeen. After two years of training on full scholarship, he joined the Trainee Program under the direction of Patrick Armand.  With Ballet West, Hadriel has danced the leading roles of Benno in Sklute’s Swan Lake, Hilarion in Sklute’s Giselle, Balanchine’s Prodigal Son, and Romeo in Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, to name a few.

Natalie Allenton is from Olympia, Washington. She trained at Johansen Olympia Dance Center and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet before joining Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division in 2021. She has danced as a company artist with Spectrum Dance Theater and ARC Dance in Seattle, and is in her first season with Diablo Ballet in Walnut Creek. Natalie is part owner of the dance store Fuzi Dance Etc. and is working towards her Bachelor of Science in Business Management. In addition to dancing, she is passionate about teaching, directing, and choreographing. Natalie is deeply honored and excited to be part of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s The Nutcracker!

Katrina Amerine was born and raised in southern California. A dancer from a young age, she graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and has been a long-time member of Nancy Evans Dance Theatre as a dancer, choreographer and recently designated costume designer. Through her exploration of dance, she found aerial arts. She has performed with production companies such as Way 2 Much Entertainment, Jumbo Shrimp Circus, and also coaches at Womack and Bowman the Loft. Her specialties are silks, hammock, single point trapeze and aerial straps. She is happy to be returning as a guest artist with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.  

Hannah Argyle is a professional ballet dancer from Salt Lake City, Utah. Hannah danced for Ballet West as a Trainee while studying ballet at the University of Utah on scholarship. In 2022, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Ballet. Following graduation, Hannah has danced professionally with Chrysalis Ballet, dancing principal roles and traveling with the company to Italy for the Florence Dance Festival. Hannah is a guest artist for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and loves performing in The Nutcracker.

Astrid Arvelo, born in Venezuela, began her ballet studies at the Terpsichore Dance School. At age 15, she joined the Nuevo Mundo Ballet in Caracas, under the artistic direction of Venezuelan teacher, director, and prima ballerina Zhandra Rodríguez, who was a prima ballerina with the American Ballet Theater and the Hamburg Ballet. Later, she joined the Teresa Carreño Ballet, where she performed solo and principal roles in Coppelia, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Flames of Paris, Spartacus, Paquita, Giselle, among others. In 2018, she competed in the Miami International Ballet Competition USA, where she won a silver medal in the fourth division. In 2021, she moved to the United States to continue her career as a dancer, performing with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami under the artistic direction of Heriberto Jiménez. She has also performed
with the Peninsula Ballet Theater and the Western Ballet. This is Arvelo’s first season with the Diablo Ballet

Genevieve Boyle was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She began her training at Salt Lake Dance Center and then went on to Ballet West Academy. She attended high school at Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts where she focused on ballet and contemporary dance. After graduation, she moved to Chicago and trained at Ballet Chicago under the guidance of Patricia Blaire and Dan Duell. After a year in Chicago, she was accepted into the Ballet Program at the University of Utah to further her training and education. While at the University, she choreographed a piece titled Subjects of Ymir involving her fellow students and which was performed at the Marriott Center for Dance. At the University she performed in many works including Carmina Terra by Susan Jaffe, Sur le Fil by Penny Saunders, Carmen by Chun-Lin Tseng and Jay Kim, and Becoming by Sayoko Knode. The summer before her senior year she was chosen to perform in the Choreographic Institute at the University of Utah. During this time Genevieve worked with select choreographers from around the country including Christina Ghiardi, James Kopecky, and Jenelle Figgins on premier pieces. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2023, she joined Diablo Ballet as a Senior Trainee in 2024. Genevieve will be an apprentice with Diablo Ballet for the 2024-2025 season.

Brooklyn Brown is originally from Gilbert, Arizona. She studied at Ballet Etudes, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Brigham Young University. She attended summer courses at Ballet West, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Carolina Ballet, Nashville Ballet, and the Hamlyn School in Florence. Brooklyn has professional experience with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Utah Metropolitan Ballet, and Chrysalis Ballet performing in ballets including George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^®, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ronald Hynd’s Sleeping Beauty, Jerome Robbins’ Fanfare, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Swan Lake, Paquita, and Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations. This is her first Nutcracker season with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and she is excited to share the stage with so many talented artists.

Micheal Bushman was born in Los Angeles, California. He received his training from Wilhelm Burmann, Ballet West, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Manhattan Youth Ballet, and Lisa Cuizon at Cuizon Ballet Center. He also danced Ballroom with Meagan Mendoza, competing, and winning multiple awards. Mr. Bushman moved to New York to train with Wilhelm Burmann and Manhattan Youth Ballet. While there he danced in many Balanchine ballets such as Serenade and Who Cares?. He then furthered his studies at the Pacific Northwest Ballet, where he danced the lead role of Beast and Prince in Bruce Wells’ Beauty and roles in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, and Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake. Mr. Bushman joined Ballet West II in 2022 where he performed in Les Noces, The Sleeping Beauty, John Cranko’s Onegin, Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker, and the pas de trois in Paquita. Mr. Bushman now Dances with Diablo Ballet based in the San Francisco bay area

Nicole Ciapponi 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 and the Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan award for theatricality at the Genée International Ballet Competition in 2008. Ms. Ciapponi joined the San Francisco Ballet in 2010 and the Joffrey Ballet in 2015. She has danced principal roles in Helgi Tomasson’s Giselle, The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake and 7 for Eight, George Balanchine’s Coppélia, Scotch Symphony, Symphony in C, Theme and Variations, Divertimento No. 15, The Four Temperaments, Serenade, Tarantella and Stravinsky Violin Concerto; Rudolf Nureyev’s Raymonda—Act III, Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella, Number Nine and Ghosts and in ballets by Gerald Arpino, Nicholas Blanc, John Cranko, William Forsythe, Robert Joffrey, Jiri Kylian, Edwaard Liang, Wayne McGregor, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Justin Peck, Yuri Possokhov, Alexei Ratmansky, Jerome Robbins, and Myles Thatcher. She performed the Flames of Paris Pas de Deux at The Arts of Classical Ballet School in 2012 and the Pas de Deux from Le Corsaire with Tiit Helimets and Company on tour in Estonia. Ms. Ciapponi joined Diablo Ballet in 2022 performing roles in Confetti, Light Rain Pas de Deux and Reflections by Gerald Arpino, Stars & StripesPas de Deux and Donizetti Variations by George Balanchine, Sur le Fil and Dr. Magicby Penny Saunders, The Nutcracker Suite, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Cinderella’s Wedding by Julia Adam, 4 in the Morning by Val Caniparoli, Black Swan in Swan Lake Suite, Sleeping Beauty’s Wedding staged by Sean Kelly, Gamzatti in the Pas D’Action fromLa Bayadère staged by Christopher Lam and The Firebird and Alice in Wonderland by Brian Enos.

Marco Clemente began his dance training at the Ruth Page School of Dance under the directorship of Larry Long and Dolores Lipinski-Long. After his graduation he went on to dance 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. Mr. Clemente joined Diablo Ballet in January 2023 performing roles in Donizetti Variations by George Balanchine, Confetti, Light Rain Pas de Deux and Reflections by Gerald Arpino, Sur le Fil and Dr. Magic by Penny Saunders, The Nutcracker Suite, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Cinderella’s Wedding by Julia Adam, Elevator Operator by Amanda Farris, 4 in the Morning by Val Caniparoli, Sleeping Beauty’s Wedding, the Pas D’Action from La Bayadère and Swan Lake Suite staged by Christopher Lam and Sean Kelly, The Firebird and Alice in Wonderland by Brian Enos and Orange by Stanton Welch.

Steven Cook joined the Chicago Ballet at age 16 and followed the company director Ben Stevenson to the Houston Ballet before coming to New York to appear on Broadway in the musical “Doonesbury”.  He also danced with DANCERS, NYC, and Contemporary Ballet at City Center, NYC.  In 1995 he joined the faculty of Stella Adler Studio of Acting where he was a full-time professor and director for more than 20 years.  He created 12 original works and directed over 20 plays during his tenure at Adler. He founded MAD (Movement and Dance Theater) as a performing wing of the Adler Studio.  As an actor he has performed with Riverside Shakespeare, Pulse Ensemble, Vermont Shakespeare and Adler’s Harold Clurman Lab among many others.  He choreographed a full-length Cinderella for St. Louis Ballet, as well as original works for Arlington Dance Theater and Eglevsky Ballet.  He has taught movement technique for The National Shakespeare Conservatory and The National Theater for the Deaf.  Mr. Cook has had the honor to serve as an artistic advisor to the Margie Gillis Foundation along with his ongoing association as a guest artist with Stella Adler Studio. Mr. Cook is an avid Argentine tango dancer and has taught and performed tango in the United States, Argentina, and Europe. 

Julian Cottrell is originally from Fort Worth, TX, where he began dancing at the age of seven with Margo Dean School of Ballet. He has danced at the Texas Ballet Theater Studio Training Company under the direction of Kathy Warakomsky-Li and graduated high school from Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. Cottrell has worked with Ben Stevenson of Texas Ballet Theater, Ryan Nye of Oklahoma City Ballet, Vincent Hardy, Ahmad Simmons, Robyn Mineko Williams, Jill Johnson, Yury Yanowsky and Penny Saunders. Cottrell is currently a senior at the University of Oklahoma where he is pursuing a degree in ballet performance with Michael Bearden, Boyko Dossev, Glenn Edgerton, Jan Fugit, and Mary-Margaret Holt. He is also double majoring in pre-veterinary sciences.

Elizabeth Devanney was born in Bel Air, Maryland and began her training with Dance Conservatory of Maryland and continued with University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA.) After graduating from high school in 2019, she was invited to join the professional division at Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). She has attended summer programs at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Boston Ballet, School of American Ballet, and Next Generation Ballet. In 2020, Ms. Devanney was selected for the Royal Danish Ballet – PNB Exchange Program and was one of 25 young dancers awarded a scholarship from the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet to support her continued training. Her repertoire includes Kent Stowell’s Cinderella, Ethan Steifel’s The Nutcracker, Helen Pickett’s Petal, Kingdom of the Shade’s from Natalia Makarova’s La Bayadére and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Concerto Barocco and Serenade. Ms. Devanney has previously danced with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Oakland Ballet. She joined Diablo Ballet in 2023 performing roles in Light Rain Pas de Deux by Gerald Arpino, Dr. Magic by Penny Saunders, The Nutcracker Suite by Julia Adam, Sinuosityby Sean Kelly, 4 in the Morning by Val Caniparoli, Sleeping Beauty’s Wedding staged by Sean Kelly, the Pas D’Action from La Bayadère staged by Christopher Lam and The Firebird by Brian Enos.

La Emi began her Flamenco journey at the age of four and has emerged as a teacher and performer acclaimed for her artistry and craft. La Emi started studying Flamenco with the María Benítez Institute for Spanish Arts (ISA) when she was four years old and began working with the Institute’s youth company, Flamenco’s Next Generation, at the age of 10. Just two years later when she was only 12 – she started teaching within the Northern New Mexico public school system. She began instructing at Moving Arts Española in 2005 and ISA in 2006. As a performer, La Emi has danced on stages from New Mexico to Spain, appearing in the production of “El Pintor” at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque (2010), Entreflamenco, the company of Antonio Granjero and Estefania Ramirez, in the Benítez Cabaret at the Lodge at Santa Fe (2011, 2012 and 2015), Juan Siddi Flamenco Santa Fe (2013, 2014 and 2016), and Compañia Chuscales y Mina Fajardo (2010-2014). In 2011, La Emi was nominated and selected as one of the 12 young and emerging artists in Pasatiempo, and she received the 2012 Santa Fe Mayor’s Melissa Engestrom Youth Artist Award for Excellence in the Arts. La Emi studied intensively in Spain with Gala Vivancos, Carmela Greco, Belén López, Mónica Fernández, Anabel Moreno, and La Popi, as well as José Galván, Juana Amaya, Yolanda Heredia, Iván Vargas Heredia, Torombo, Rocio Alcaide Ruiz and many others. She has performed under the direction of Carmela Greco, José Galván, and Torombo and at major venues and events including the Carmela Greco Seminario de Flamenco y Danza Española and Café de Chinitas in Madrid; Cuevas Los Tarantos in the Sacramonte of Granada and the Teatro Alameda Festival Flamenco in Sevilla. La Emi currently teaches and is the Executive Director at EmiArteFlamenco Academy, as well as performing in many venues throughout the country. In the summer of 2018, she launched her professional career with Heritage Hotels and Resorts, and produces performances at the Inn and Spa at Loretto.

Nikki Ferry grew up in Carbondale, Colorado where she first began ballet at the Glenwood Dance Academy, followed by the School of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. As a junior in highschool, at the age of 16, she left Colorado and moved to Pennsylvania to begin training with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, under the direction of Marica Dale Weary. From there, Nikki moved to Salt Lake City, Utah continuing her training for three years as a student of the Ballet West Academy. In addition to her year around training, Nikki has also attended summer programs with Colorado Ballet, The Harid Conservatory, Milwaukee Ballet, The City Ballet of San Diego, and Boston Ballet. Nikki recently graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Ballet Department of the School of Dance.

Alina Gonzalez is an Apprentice with Diablo Ballet. She received her training from Contra Costa Ballet, Berkeley Ballet Theater, Diablo Ballet School, and summer intensives at the San Francisco Ballet School and Post: Workshop. She performed Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland by Robin Dekkers, Sugar Plum Fairy and Dewdrop Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Russian Girl in Serenade by George Balanchine. She has also performed in La Bayadere, Coppelia, Paquita, Le Corsaire, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and various pieces by Julia Adam.

Savannah Graff began her training at Classical Ballet Academy and continued at Ballet West Academy, where she later became a Trainee. She trained at Ballet West, The Rock School, and Houston Ballet, and received scholarships at the 2016 YAGP Finals. Savannah danced with Ballet West II for two years, performing in Swan Lake, Jewels, Beauty and the Beast (as Belle), and with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s Nutcracker. She has been on faculty with Ballet West Academy and the Ballet Director at Utah Dance Academy. She currently is teaching at Joan Kathy dance studio in Louisiana.

Elijah Hartley is from Montesano, Washington. He began dancing at eight years old in small studios throughout Washington and Oregon. He then moved to Salt Lake City, UT in 2017 to join Ballet West Academy. In 2021 he joined Ballet West’s second company and performed in many of Ballet West’s productions, including: Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces, Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker, Michael Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, John Cranko’s Onegin, and Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Noces.

Brooke Huebner was born and raised in Newport Beach, California. She trained at Classical Dance Academy, under her mother & former Joffrey Ballet dancer, Elizabeth Molak-Huebner. She trained summers at Ballet West Academy, American Ballet Theatre New York City, and Radio City Rockettes Invitational. She graduated from the University of Utah Ballet Department, where she performed in works from notable choreographers like Gerald Arpino, George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Penny Saunders, Michele Wiles, and more. After graduating, she danced with Nevada Ballet Theatre, under Roy Kaiser, where she worked with Ben Stevenson, Septime Webre, Tiit Helmets, along with Cirque du Soleil. In 2021, Brooke was an invited performer in Nervi, Italy at the Nervi Music Ballet Festival. Along with performing, Brooke loves teaching, choreographing and sharing her passion for dance with the future generations. She was awarded the Outstanding Choreography award twice at the Youth America Grand Prix international ballet competition. Brooke is currently dancing in Las Vegas, NV, in the Tournament of Kings show at the Excalibur. She enjoys performing 6 nights a week, doing what she loves. Brooke is so excited as this is her 4th season performing with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet! 

Arianna Hughlett is thrilled to be joining Aspen Santa Fe Ballet for her second production of ASFB’s The Nutcracker. She began her training in her hometown at Kansas City Ballet School. She received additional formative training at Kansas School of Classical Ballet and attended summer programs at The Royal Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, and others.
In 2019, she joined Boston Ballet School as a Trainee under Margaret Tracey’s direction and entered the Graduate Program a season later, training with Kathleen Mitchell and Peter Stark. During this time, she performed in the Company’s productions of Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, and Chaconne and danced featured roles in Boston Ballet II performances, including works by Balanchine, Petipa, Jorma Elo, and Mikko Nissinen. She then danced with Grand Rapids Ballet for the 2022-2023 season and in ASFB’s The Nutcracker in 2023.
In addition, she has choreographed works for Boston Ballet II, Boston Ballet School’s Graduate Program, Grand Rapids Ballet, and as an independent artist in Kansas City.

Devin Larsen originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, received her pre-professional training from the Ballet West Academy for 12 years prior to joining Ballet West as a Trainee on full scholarship. Devin has danced professionally with Ballet Memphis, Oklahoma City Ballet, Central West Ballet and Chrysalis Ballet performing works by choreographers such as Rene Daveluy, Agnes De Mille, George Balanchine, Dennis Spaight, Garrett Smith, Shani Robison, Jennie Creer King, Danielle Diniz and along with many others. This is Devin’s 6th season performing in ASFB’s production of The Nutcracker.

Zhongmei Li is a renowned Chinese-American dancer and choreographer. She began her career as a student at the Beijing Dance Academy, where she was one of 12 girls to be admitted from the 60,000 who auditioned. After several years as a principal dancer in China, she came to the US in 1991, winning full scholarships to the Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham schools. She performed on Broadway in the long-running musical “The King and I.” She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 1994, she founded the Zhongmei Dance Company, whose purpose was to bring the best of Chinese traditional dance to American audiences, performing sold-out programs at New York’s Joyce Theater and other venues across the country. “Zhongmei Li moves like a mist across the stage,” The New York Times dance critic wrote. “Offstage, she looks like a fragile-boned bird. But there is steel in those bones.” As a freelance choreographer, Zhongmei has made significant contributions to the field, fusing the Chinese dance tradition with a modern-dance sensibility. She conducts master classes and workshops at various universities and dance schools, inspiring the next generation of dancers. In 2023, she joined the faculty of the Mark Morris Dance Group, and she is a regular guest performer with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company. Zhongmei’s choreography for Dream of the Red Chamber Opera premiered at Ted Mann Concert Hall Opera Theater in 2024, with a year-long effort. Zhongmei Li’s inspiring journey is documented in the non-fiction book “A Girl Named Faithful Plum” by Richard Bernstein.

Benjamin Nemmers is currently enrolled as a student at the University of Oklahoma and is a company member of the Oklahoma Festival Ballet. At university, Benjamin double majors in Ballet Performance and Pre-Physical Therapy. Benjamin studied ballet for 10 years at the Ballet Academy of Texas and eventually joined the Ballet Ensemble of Texas in 2018. They have studied with various schools, including American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Texas, and Nashville Ballet. Benjamin also attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where they graduated with highest honors in Dance in the spring of 2022.  A freelance dancer on behalf of OU, Benjamin has performed with multiple companies, including Victoria Ballet Theatre, Tupelo Ballet, and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.

Emily Ridings was born and raised in Aspen Colorado.  She started her training at a young age with the School of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.  In 2015 she placed top 12 for Contemporary solo at the Youth America Grand Prix (Denver).  She was also granted a full scholarship from US State Department for the National Security Language Initiative for Youth, allowing her to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow.  At the end of the scholarship, she was accepted to train at the academy in their four-year program, graduating in 2019.  She went on to dance with State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara and Ballet Fantastique in Oregon. This is her forth year with ASFB company and each year she is excited to participate in this wonderful production. 

Madeleine Scott Originally from South Dakota, this is Madeleine’s 6th year dancing with ASFB & her 11th year performing in Aspen/Santa Fe. Madeleine has performed works by choreographers such as George Balanchine, Matthew Neenan, Jamar Roberts, Cayetano Soto, Penny Saunders, Yin Yue, Ana Maria Lucaciu, Dani Rowe, Caili Quan, Lauren Edson, & more. Madeleine has danced professionally with Ballet West, South Dakota Ballet, LED Boise, Sacramento Ballet, DanceAspen & more. Madeleine performed at Vail Dance Festival in 2022, 2023 & 2024. She earned her BFA in Ballet Pedagogy from the University of Utah in 2017. She is currently the founder & executive director of South Dakota Ballet.
Madeleine is proud to be one of the 2024 Inaugural Cultural Vibrancy Grant Award Recipients from the City of Aspen. Madeleine choreographs, teaches and produces dance films for dance companies, universities and schools across the country.

Lauren Wattenburg grew up in Oregon training in the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus with teachers June Taylor-Dixon and Valerie Holgers. In 2017 she moved to Salt Lake City, UT to attend the University of Utah. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance in 2021 receiving the Outstanding Senior Award in Performance. While at the University she had the opportunity to perform a variety of classical and contemporary soloist and corps roles. Lauren has danced professionally with Chrysalis Ballet in Lehi, UT and BalletNext in New York City. She currently is a ballet teacher, choreographer, and guest performer at Utah Dance Institute. Lauren is a first-year guest artist with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and is thrilled to be performing in The Nutcracker.

ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET SCHOOL 

Education is essential to ASFB’s mission. With over 80 classes taught weekly, reaching over 500 children, education forms our very roots and gives children a needed creative and social outlet. Strong in our belief that dance education should be available to all children, ASFB awards over $40,000 in scholarships each year. We take pride in our alumni who have gone on to study at prestigious schools such as: Ailey/Fordham University, American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Boston Ballet, Interlochen Arts Academy, Joffrey Ballet School, North Carolina School for the Arts, Pacific Northwest Ballet and San Francisco Ballet School. The joyful optimism in the faces and bodies of aspiring young students fuels our resolve to preserve and strengthen our educational offerings. 

ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET FOLKLÓRICO 

Diversity and equity take center stage in this unparalleled community enrichment program. Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklórico, now in its 24^th year, has enriched the lives of thousands of local children through free after-school classes in traditional Mexican folkloric dance. Serving multiple locations in Roaring Fork Valley and Santa Fe area public schools, the program promotes positive youth development, creative expression, and the crossing of cultural boundaries. This truly unique program builds community by connecting families and keeping traditions alive.