FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Ruth Davis; ruth1davis@gmail.com, 401­497­6684

INTERNATIONAL ROSTER OF BALLET ALL­STARS CONVERGE ON PROVIDENCE TO CELEBRATELAUNCH OF 36TH SEASON OF FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) Festival Ballet Providence (FBP) kicks off its 36th Season with another exciting all­stargala ­ Together We Dance 3 on October 3 at The Vets in Providence, RI. This event, which began in 2011 asa fundraising benefit and is now a regular part of the FBP season, features a roster of international balletstars performing classic and contemporary works. The FBP professional company, along with students fromthe FBP School, will also perform, making the event a truly special evening of dance.

The event this year features dancers and choreographers representing five ballet companies and ten differenthome countries, including the United States. Artistic Director Mihailo “Misha” Djuric said, “This is a trulyinternational event, and it’s a thrill to have dancers from around the world come to Providence to help uscelebrate the beginning of our 36th season.”

Providence, Rhode Island native and principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada Greta Hodgkinsonwill return for a second year, after receiving a warm reception and homecoming during her first performancein 2012. Mr. Djuric said, “We are so proud of Greta, because she is from Rhode Island, of course, but alsobecause she took her first ballet steps at the FBP school.” During her appearance last season, Ms.Hodgkinson was honored with a citation by Gov. Lincoln Chafee, one of the highest civilian honors the Stateof Rhode Island can give.

She will once again be joined by her husband and fellow dancer Etienne Lavigne (originally from Montréal,Québec). Together, the pair will perform “Summer”, a pas de deux by acclaimed choreographer JamesKudelka, set to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. In a review, Dance Magazine proclaimed, “It [“Summer”] hasbecome one of Greta Hodgkinson’s signature pieces….She is a first­ rate ballerina who can only bedescribed as fearless, and her daring makes this pas de deux dangerous and stirring.”

Ms. Hodgkinson will also perform a brand new solo called “Disarmed.” The piece is set to music by PhilipGlass, and will have its world premiere at Together We Dance 3. “Greta has reached the point in her careerthat dancers around the world strive to achieve,” Mr. Djuric said. “Greta is a breathtaking dancer, throughand through. She is going to be spectacular.”

Megan Zimny Kaftira and Remi Wörtmeyer, both from the Netherlands’ Het Nationale Ballet, will perform twoof the most famous pas de deux in all ballet repertory: the grand pas de deux from Don Quixote, and thebalcony pas de deux from Prokofiev’s famous ballet ­ Romeo and Juliet. Ms. Kaftira is a soloist and isquickly rising through the ranks with Het Nationale. Even prior to her promotion to soloist in 2012, Ms.Kaftira was dancing principal roles in the company, including Giselle. Remi Wörtmeyer (originally fromAustralia) is one of the leading principal dancers in Europe; Dance Europe proclaimed Mr. Wörtmeyerfifteenth in a critical list of the world’s leading 100 dancers. Earlier in September, Mr. Wörtmeyer wasawarded the Alexandra Radius prize, the top decoration for classical ballet in the Netherlands. Together WeDance 3 will be the premiere of Ms. Kaftira and Mr. Wörtmeyer dancing the Don Quixote pas de deuxtogether, before the pair begin performances in Holland the following week.

Miami City Ballet dancers Emily Bromberg and Shimon Ito are returning to FBP after their last appearancein Swan Lake in 2012. “I am very excited to see my old student, Emily Bromberg perform again,” Mr. Djuric

said. “I have known her since she was nine years old when I was teaching in New Hampshire.” Ms.Bromberg was a company dancer with FBP from 2002 to 2006. “She has really grown into such a wonderful,mature ballerina. After she left for Miami, I remember reading in the New York Times that [dance criticAlastair] McCaulay’s eye had dwelt on her. When I read that, I smiled because I thought the same thingsince the first moment I saw her in class when she was nine years old.” Ms. Bromberg and Mr. Ito willperform a movement from the neoclassical work by Liam Scarlett titled “Viscera.” Rhode Island audiencesmight remember her as Owen in the original cast of Viktor Plotnikov’s Widow’s Broom, The Sugar PlumFairy in Mr. Djuric’s The Nutcracker, and Kitri in FBP’s Don Quixote. The San Francisco Bay Guardiancalled Mr. Ito’s performance of the Jester in Swan Lake “scene stealing.” He reprised the role in FBP’s SwanLake and was an audience favorite.

Since the inaugural performance of Together We Dance, Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen hasbeen generous in allowing his dancers to share their talents with a Rhode Island audience. This season, twostars of the world­renowned company join us to carry on the partnership. Having just been promoted toprincipal dancer this season, Ashley Ellis will join veteran principal dancer Nelson Madrigal (originally fromCuba) dancing the “Black Swan pas de deux” from Act III of Swan Lake.

For the company of FBP, this program will be as busy as any, with four different pieces in the programshowcasing a diverse range of talents. The repertoire that the FBP company are chosen to preview worksthat will be performed later this season.

Highlights include: two pas de deux danced by powerhouse partners Vilia Putrius and Mindaugas Bauzys(Smoryginas’ “Pieta” and Balanchine’s “Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux”); an energetic, spirited all­male pas detrois set to the music of Ray Charles (“Heaven Can Wait”); and a lyrical, passionate pas de quatre byup­and­coming choreographer Joseph Morrissey (“In Passing”).

For two years running, Together We Dance has featured dancers in the FBP School’s most celebratedprogram ­ the Adaptive Dance program for children with Down Syndrome. “The spirit and emotion of theseyoung, talented performers shines on stage,” School Director Mary Ann Mayer said. “Every year they justlove performing. They just soak up the spotlight and that is so heartwarming to see.”

Ticket prices for all of FBP’s programs at The Vets range from $23 ­ $85. Having recently undergone andcompleted renovations, The Vets now features a new, expanded Mezzanine area that FBP plans to use fortheir exclusive “Director’s Circle” ticket holders. The private reception includes complimentary wine.

“This season is packed full of some really incredible works. We needed to kick off with something equallyincredible and I think we are going to do it on October 3.” Mr. Djuric said.

Information about the guest dancers, ticket prices, and program lineup is attached. To arrange interviewswith the FBP artistic staff, FBP Company Dancers, or any of the guest dancers, please contact Ruth Davisat ruth1davis@gmail.com, or 401­497­6684.

Festival Ballet Providence presentsTOGETHER WE DANCE 3An all­star gala performance

October 3, 2013 7:30pmThe Vets ­ One Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI

PROGRAM(Not in order of appearance)

GUEST DANCERS

VISCERA (2nd Movement)Dancers: Emily Bromberg & Shimon Ito (Miami City Ballet)Choreography: Liam ScarlettMusic: Lao LiebermanLength: 6:00

SUMMERGreta Hodgkinson & Etienne Lavigne (National Ballet of Canada)Choreographer: James KudelkaMusic: Antonio Vivaldi (The Four Seasons)Length: 5:44Preview: http://youtu.be/jEigKBM_QQs

An undisputed classic and an audience favorite from its first performance in 1997, James Kudelka’sravishing, witty and always surprising The Four Seasons is set to Vivaldi’s renowned sequence ofbaroque concerti of the same name.

A work of inspired levity, intense emotion and always exquisite dancing, Kudelka’s ballet, whichintegrates brilliant ensemble work with virtuosic solos and breathtaking pas de deux, exploresnothing less than the seasons of a man’s life, from the youthful brio of Spring and Summer to themelancholy acceptance of Autumn and Winter.

DISARMED (World Premiere)Greta Hodgkinson (National Ballet of Canada)Choreography: Guillaume CôtéMusic: Philip Glass (Metamorphosis Four)Length: 7:00

BLACK SWAN PAS DE DEUX (From Swan Lake Act III)Ashley Ellis & Nelson Madrigal (Boston Ballet)Choreography: Marius PetipaMusic: Pytor Ilyich TchaikovskyLength: 10:00Preview: http://youtu.be/1L79DnxV­Os?t=2m16s

GRAND PAS DE DEUX (From Don Quixote Act III)Megan Zimny Kaftira & Remi WörtmeyerChoreography: Alexander Gorsky after Marius PetipaMusic: Ludwig MinkusLength: 9:00

BALCONY PAS DE DEUX (From Romeo and Juliet)Megan Zimny Kaftira & Remi WörtmeyerChoreography: Rudi van DantzigMusic: Sergei ProkofievLength: 9:21

FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE

PIETAVilia Putrius & Mindaugas BauzysChoreography: J. SmoryginasMusic: Gustav MallerLength: 9:00

TCHAIKOVSKY PAS DE DEUXVilia Putrius & Mindaugas BauzysChoreography: George BalanchineMusic: Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyLength: 8:05

HEAVEN CAN WAITIlya Burov, Alex Lantz & Ian MatysiakChoreography: George BirkadzeMusic: Ray CharlsLength: 2:48

IN PASSINGRuth Withney, Alan Alberto, Emily Loscocco, Ian MatysiakChoreography: Joseph MorrisseyMusic: Yann TiersenLength: 3:40

Joseph Morrisey, joining the FBP roster of choreographers choreographer for the Up Close on Hopeseries, created “In Passing” for a festival for emerging choreographers at Stuttgart Ballet. The balletportrays two couples moving intricately within themselves, while maintaining a distant relationship toeach other. Though separated, the couples cross paths while in passing, as if in transition from onedestination to another.

PRICING / PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

There are five levels of pricing: Director’s Circle ­ $85 (a new, premium seating that includes a private

intermission reception), Golden Circle ­ $58; Mid Orchestra ­ $48; Rear Orchestra, 1st Balcony ­ $38; 2ndBalcony ­ $23. The Vets is a handicapped accessible venue.

Festival Ballet Providence and the Festival Ballet Providence School are together a not­for­profit artsorganization whose EIN is 05­0377245 and whose Rhode Island Corporate ID number is ND­27­137. Thevenue is handicapped­accessible.

DANCER BIOS AND MEDIA

For High­Resolution images, please contact Dylan Giles ­ dylan@festivalballetprovidence.org; 401­654­6662.

Emily BrombergMiami City BalletCorps de ballet

Emily trained with Ballet New England (under direction of Mihailo Djuric), Kirov Academy of Ballet, andBoston Ballet School (where she performed with the Boston Ballet). Emily danced in Festival BalletProvidence, Colorado Ballet, Ballet San Jose and is currently in her fourth season with Miami City Ballet.

Miami City Ballet dancers Emily Bromberg and Chase Swatosh in Polyphonia; Photo © Gio Alma.

Ashley EllisBoston BalletPrincipal Dancer

Ashley Ellis from Santa Monica, California joined Boston Ballet as a second soloist in 2011. She waspromoted to soloist in 2012. Ellis began her professional career by dancing with the American Ballet

Theatre’s studio company and later joined ABT. She has performed in Spain with Angel Corella’s touringgroup and joined Corella Ballet in 2008 as a soloist. Ellis received her dance training at the South BayBallet. She received other instruction from Alicia Head, Mario Nugara, Charles Maple, and Kimberly Olmos.Ellis was the recipient of the Coca Cola scholarship award in 2000 and 2001, and won the prize at the LosAngeles Music Center Spotlight Award 1999.

Her repertoire includes Natalia Makarova’s La Bayadere, Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, ClarkTippet’s Bruch Violin Concerto, Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room, Stanton Welch’s Clear, Angel Corella’sString Sextet, Christopher Wheeldon’s VIII, Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free and A Midsummer Night's Dream,among others.

Ashley Ellis, Principal Dancer with Boston Ballet in Black Swan Pas De Deux.

Greta HodgkinsonNational Ballet of CanadaPrincipal Dancer

Born in Providence, Rhode Island and trained at The National Ballet School, Greta Hodgkinson joined TheNational Ballet of Canada, where she has been a Principal Dancer since 1996. An artist acclaimed for herdazzling technique, delicate physicality and articulate characterization, she is a brilliant and versatileBallerina. Ms. Hodgkinson has performed every leading role in the classical repertoire and her talentsextend to the contemporary repertoire as well. She has had numerous roles created for her by worldrenowned choreographers and has worked closely with such icons as William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, GlenTetley, John Neumeier, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Wayne McGregor, James Kudelka andCrystal Pite.

As a guest artist, Ms. Hodgkinson has appeared with The Kirov Ballet (International Ballet FestivalMariinsky), Teatro alla Scala, The Australian Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Munich Ballet, Teatro Comunale di

Firenze, at the Opening Gala of the Royal Opera House, London, the Gala des Etoiles, Stars of the 21stCentury and International Ballet Galas in the United States, Canada, Russia and Europe. Ms. Hodgkinsonwas invited to tour Japan dancing Swan Lake with K­Ballet, partnered by Tetsuya Kumakawa. She alsoperformed at The World Ballet Festival in Tokyo, with frequent partner Roberto Bolle.

Ms. Hodgkinson has graced the covers of Dance Magazine and Dance International Magazine and has beenfeatured in various fashion publications including; Vanity Fair, Lucky, W, GQ Italia, ELLE, NUVO, Flare andFASHION.

Ms. Hodgkinson’s film credits include the title role in the film Roxana, based on the novel by Daniel Defoe,the title role in The Firebird, The Four Seasons (starring in Summer), A Dancer’s Story­50 Years of TheNational Ballet of Canada ( dancing The Sleeping Beauty pas de deux ), and a featured role in The Rings ofSaturn, directed by Moze Mossanen. She appeared as Margot Fonteyn in the Bravo! TV docudrama,Nureyev and made a guest appearance on the premiere of the Canadian comedy television series Baxter.

Greta Hodgkinson, Principal Dancer with National Ballet of Canada. Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic.

Shimon ItoMiami City BalletCorps de ballet

Shimon was raised in NYC. He trained at School of American Ballet, National Ballet of Canada and SanFrancisco Ballet School (as a trainee). Shimon danced with Ballet San Jose and is now in his third seasonwith Miami City Ballet.

Shimon Ito, Miami City Ballet dancer in Diana and Acteon.

Megan Zimny KaftiraHet Nationale Ballet (Netherlands)Soloist dancer

Megan Zimny Kaftira (formerly Megan Zimny Gray) grew up in Harlingen, Texas and began dancing at theage of 4. She trained with the Corpus Christi Ballet, Deborah Case Dance Academy, and The HARIDConservatory in Boca Raton, Florida on full scholarship.

At the age of 17, Megan joined Boston Ballet II, and later the main company Boston Ballet (MikkoNissinen). Searching for change in 2010, she made the move to Europe and joined the Dutch National Ballet(Ted Brandsen). Quickly rising through the ranks, she was promoted to Soloist in 2012.

Megan’s growing repertoire includes principal and leading roles in the classics Romeo and Juliet, Giselle,Don Quichot, Paquita, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, andmany others. She has performed Balanchine works including Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Symphony in C,Serenade, Agon, Four Temperments, and has danced a variety of other works by William Forsythe, Hansvan Manen, John Neumeier, Rudi van Dantzig, James Kudelka, Krzysztof Pastor, and Jiri Kylian. She hashad the fortunate opportunity to work with renowned choreographers during the creations of many WorldPremieres:Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella (stepsister Edwina), Alexei Ratmansky’s Souvenir d’un Lie Cher, JormaElo’s Sacre du Printemps and Carmen, and David Dawson’s Timelapse and Overture.

Megan received a Bronze medal in the 2005 Helsinki International Ballet Competition, a Rudolf NureyevEducation Fellowship Award, and a Princess Grace nomination in 2006. She has also been featured in

numerous magazines and newspapers around the world.

In June 2013, Megan married ex­principal dancer and current filmmaker, Altin Kaftira.

Megan Zimny Kaftira, Soloist with Het Nationale Ballet. Photo by Kim Kennedy.

Megan Zimny Kaftira, Soloist with Het Nationale Ballet. Photo by Altin Kaftira.

Etienne LavigneNational Ballet of CanadaSoloist Dancer

A native of Montréal, Québec, Etienne Lavigne trained at L'École Supérieure de Ballet Contemporain deMontréal, San Francisco Ballet School and National Ballet of Cuba. He joined The National Ballet of Canadain 1997 where he rose through the ranks and was promoted to First Soloist in 2007.Mr. Lavigne's repertoire with the National Ballet of Canada includes principal roles in The Sleeping Beauty(Nureyev), Giselle (Wright), The Merry Widow (Hynd), Madame Butterfly (Welsh) as well as John Cranko’sOnegin, Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew. He has worked closely with such notedchoreographers as Glen Tetley, John Neumeier, Christopher Wheeldon, Crystal Pite and Christopher Bruce.In addition, he has danced the lead in James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker, Desir and Musings as well asprincipal roles in his Swan Lake, The Firebird and Cinderella. Mr. Lavigne has also performed the lead rolein Kenneth MacMillan’s Song of the Earth, Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces and George Balanchine’sSymphony in C amongst others. In 2011, he created the role of Tybalt in Alexei Ratmansky’s newproduction of Romeo and Juliet.

As a guest artist, Mr. Lavigne has danced Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty, Prince Siegfried inSwan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle, Colas in La Fille Mal Gardée, the Prince in Cinderella and The Nutcrackeras well as the pas de deux from The Leaves are Fading, La Bayadere “Shades” and Paquita.

His film credits include A Dancer’s Story­50 Years of The National Ballet of Canada (dancing The Snow Triofrom The Nutcracker), The Firebird and the Bravo! TV docudrama Nureyev, portraying Erik Bruhn.

Etienne Lavigne, Soloist with National Ballet of Canada. Photo by Sian Richards.

Nelson MadrigalBoston BalletPrincipal Dancer

Nelson Madrigal trained with Cuba's National Ballet School and joined the National Ballet of Cuba in 1994where he was a distinguished primeros bailarines. Madrigal was a principal dancer with Cincinnati Balletfrom 2002­2003. He joined Boston Ballet in 2003.

As a member of Boston Ballet, Madrigal has danced a wide repertoire, including leading roles in ValCaniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias, Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, August Bournonville’sLa Sylphide, James Kudelka’s Cinderella, Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée, John Cranko’s TheTaming of the Shrew, Jorma Elo’s Plan to B, George Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15 and Serenade, PeterMartins’ Distant Light, Jiri Kylián’s Sarabande, Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty and Le Corsaire pas dedeux, and William Forsythe’s Inthe middle, somewhat elevated. Madrigal is married to Boston Ballet

principal dancer Lorna Feijóo.

Nelson Madrigal. Principal with Boston Ballet. Photo by Essdras M. Suarez, courtesy of the Boston Globe.

Remi WörtmeyerHet Nationale Ballet (Netherlands)Principal Dancer

The Australian dancer Remi Wörtmeyer (Adelaide) joined the Dutch National Ballet in 2010 as a grand sujetand was promoted to soloist the following year. He trained at the Australian Ballet School and went on todance with The Australian Ballet in Melbourne and with American Ballet Theatre in New York for a year. Hewon the Walter Burke Award in 2005 and silver at the 8th Asian Pacific International Ballet Competition in2001. In 2011, the leading dance magazine Dance Europe placed Remi fifteenth in their top 100 international

dancers who performed outstandingly.From 2013, January 1st, Remi is a principal dancer with the DutchNational Ballet.

Remi Wörtmeyer, Principal with Het Nationale Ballet, in Don Quixote.

Remi Wörtmeyer, Principal with Het Nationale Ballet, in Forsythe’s Second Detail.