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 Joey Anderson and Fiona Katrine
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. These dancers will be performing classical ballet repertoire inspired by classical ballets such as Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet, and Masquerade. 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, Pointe CounterPointe features original contemporary choreography by our faculty, Director of Contemporary Dance Sharlee Peay, Julianna Velling, and Kalise Child, as well as guest choreographers Joey Anderson and Fiona Katrine. 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. Masquerade
Choreography by Juliana Vorkink Martin
Dancers: All Ballet Academy Dancers
2. Dream Scene from Don Quixote
Staging by Hannah Hurd
Dancers: Jade Academy:Isabelle Dixon, Hazel Dunn, Faye Hurd, Savannah Kern, Scarlett Shamy, Melody Tuitupou, Ivy van Rij
3. Splinters
Choreography by Kalise Child
Dancers: Rose Academy: Naomi Day, Hallie Dixon, Eden Dunn, Madi Earhart, Baylor Higgs, Amillya McCain, Ella Morrell, Rosie Shamy, Abigail Walker, Isabella Williams
4. Court Ladies from Romeo and Juliet
Staging by Juliana Vorkink Martin and Meleah Paishon
Dancers: Garnet Academy: Oakley Brown, Emma Burton, Audrey Glad, Jillian Hinckley, Dilainey Hinojos, Ahna Li, Julia Michaelis, McKenzie Nielson, Kate Wadsworth, Eunika Wang
5. Willis from Giselle
Staging by Hannah Hurd
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet and Utah Theatre Ballet 2: Alyssa Bingham, Leah Frandsen, Andrea Holker, Kali Kirton, Mahayla Chappell, Heidi Davidson, Elise Daw, Lola Firpo. Lila Gardner, Tayli Greenhalgh, Addison Hunter, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Clara Mitchell, Rosie Shamy, Amillya McCain
6. New Beginnings
Choreography by Julianna Velling
Dancers: Quartz Academy: Sophia Andoh, Ellie Baird, Charlie Doane, Maggie Glad, Bronte Perez, Scout Salter, Ashtyn Snow, Rose Wright
7. In Glory and in Grief
Choreography by Fiona Katrine
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet and Utah Theatre Ballet 2: Alyssa Bingham, Leah Frandsen, Andrea Holker, Kali Kirton, Mahayla Chappell, Heidi Davidson, Elise Daw, Lola Firpo. Lila Gardner, Tayli Greenhalgh, Jenna Hansen, Addison Hunter, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Clara Mitchell
Pleas note: this piece includes a brief, unexpected loud vocal sound created by a dancer onstage as part of the choreography. While it is artistic in nature and very short in duration, it may startle young children or sensitive audience members. Please plan accordingly if you or your little one is sensitive to sudden sounds.
10-Minute Intermission
8. Swan Lake Corps
Staging by Juliana Vorkink Martin
Dancers: Rose Academy: Naomi Day, Hallie Dixon, Eden Dunn, Madi Earhart, Baylor Higgs, Amillya McCain, Ella Morrell, Rosie Shamy, Abigail Walker, Isabella Williams
9. Neapolitan from Swan Lake
Staging by Hannah Hurd
Dancers: Quartz Academy: Sophia Andoh, Ellie Baird, Charlie Doane, Maggie Glad, Bronte Perez, Scout Salter, Ashtyn Snow, Rose Wright
10. Seguidilla from Don Quixote
Staging by Juliana Vorkink Martin
Dancers: Sapphire and Violet Academies: Savanna Bean, Margot Roeller, Tatiana Dorofeeva, Catalina Eddings, Hattie Hurd, Rosalie Cheryl Lamping, Isabella Michaelis, Isabella Preusz, Isla Morrissey, Chloe Shamy, Kate Sperry, Brighton Sutton, Macie Wasden
11. Manifest
Choreography by Julianna Velling
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet and Utah Theatre Ballet 2: Alyssa Bingham, Leah Frandsen, Andrea Holker, Kali Kirton, Mahayla Chappell, Heidi Davidson, Elise Daw, Lola Firpo. Lila Gardner, Tayli Greenhalgh, Jenna Hansen, Addison Hunter, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Clara Mitchell
12. Amiss
Choreography by Juliana Velling
Dancers: Rose and Garnet Academies: Naomi Day, Hallie Dixon, Eden Dunn, Madi Earhart, Baylor Higgs, Amillya McCain, Ella Morrell, Rosie Shamy, Abigail Walker, Isabella Williams, Oakley Brown, Emma Burton, Audrey Glad, Jillian Hinckley, Dilainey Hinojos, Ahna Li, Julia Michaelis, McKenzie Nielson, Kate Wadsworth, Eunika Wang
13. Nearing Resolve
Choreography by Joey Anderson
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet and Utah Theatre Ballet 2: Alyssa Bingham, Leah Frandsen, Andrea Holker, Kali Kirton, Mahayla Chappell, Heidi Davidson, Elise Daw, Lola Firpo. Lila Gardner, Tayli Greenhalgh, Jenna Hansen, Addison Hunter, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Clara Mitchell
14. Subsequent
Choreography by Sharlee Peay
Dancers: Jade Academy: Isabelle Dixon, Hazel Dunn, Faye Hurd, Savannah Kern, Scarlett Shamy, Melody Tuitupou, Ivy van Rij
15. We Call This Our Groove
Choreography by Sharlee Peay
Dancers: Rose and Garnet Academies: Naomi Day, Hallie Dixon, Eden Dunn, Madi Earhart, Baylor Higgs, Amillya McCain, Ella Morrell, Rosie Shamy, Abigail Walker, Isabella Williams, Oakley Brown, Emma Burton, Audrey Glad, Jillian Hinckley, Dilainey Hinojos, Ahna Li, Julia Michaelis, McKenzie Nielson, Kate Wadsworth, Eunika Wang
16. Connections
Choreography by Sharlee Peay
Dancers: Utah Theatre Ballet and Utah Theatre Ballet 2: Alyssa Bingham, Leah Frandsen, Andrea Holker, Kali Kirton, Mahayla Chappell, Heidi Davidson, Elise Daw, Levi Allen, Lola Firpo. Lila Gardner, Tayli Greenhalgh, Jenna Hansen, Addison Hunter, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Clara Mitchell
Guest Choreographers
Fiona Katrine
Fiona Katrine was born in Utah, raised in Washington, and trained in Oregon and New York. During high school, Fiona trained at the School of Oregon Ballet Theater, performing works by Josie Moseley, George Balanchine, Christopher Stowell, Bruce Wells, Anne Muller, Lew Christensen, and spent time there as a rehearsal assistant and substitute modern teacher.
Next she earned her BFA at the Juilliard School where she danced pieces by Shannon Gillin, William Forsythe, Jarek Cemerek, Pam Tanowitz, Bronislava Nijinska, Reawyn Hill, Andrea Miller, Jose Limon, Bob Fosse, Melissa Verdecia, James Lindsey Harwell, Tyler Phillips, Jenna Pollack, Julia Headley, Garth Johnson, and began developing her own choreography.
Upon graduating, Fiona spent time performing with The Metropolitan Opera House in New York, Jessie Jeanne and Dancers in Boston, Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theater and Cache Theater Company in Logan where she also taught at Utah State University, and then danced with Salt Contemporary Dance and Oquirrh West Project in the greater Salt Lake area, performing works by Ihsan Rustem, Garrett Smith, Ching Ching Wong, Courtney Mazeika, Eric Handman, Jen Pendleton, Amy Gunter Lolofie, Amanda Colangelo, Sharlee Paey, Rebecca Aneloski, and Haley Stassia.
Currently, and since 2023, Fiona has been Associate Director of Oquirrh West Project, as well as a creator, and performer.
Joey Anderson
Joey Anderson (he/they) is a dance artist and educator based in New York City.
In their career, Joey has performed with SALT Contemporary Dance, Adaptations Dance Theater, Verbal Animal, Selah Dance Collective, and more. In addition to these companies, Joey has also presented and performed their own work on stages in Salt Lake City and New York.
Joey’s choreography has been presented at Spark Theatre Festival, 12x12, Verbal Animal’s “Queer Noise” Festival, 801 Salon, Queer Spectra Arts Festival, Brigham Young University, and more.
As an educator, Joey’s approach is largely informed by the mentors they’ve had and they emphasize dancers’ agency in class. Joey has taught at Adaptations Dance Theater’s pre-professional workshop, PIVOT (HI), the Millennium Dance Complex franchise (UT), 6 Degrees Dance’s Affordable Class Series (NY), Forza Dance’s 5 for $5 class series (NY), ABBONDANZA open class (NY), as well as numerous studios and schools in Utah.
Julianna Veling is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and director. Growing up in San Diego, California, she trained in contemporary, ballet, lyrical, jazz and several other genres. At 15-years-old Julianna began choreographing for her home studio, North County Academy of Dance. Since then, she has choreographed numerous pieces for NCAD’s award-winning competition team. Julianna’s unique combination of movement and musicality have gained recognition and been awarded many prizes, both nationally and internationally. Julianna has trained under several renowned companies, choreographers and organizations. Beginning in 2024, she began training with Salt Contemporary Dance in their second company. Julianna constantly absorbs new information from all these places and people to help inspire her work. She has experience with competition pieces, production performances and directing dance films .
Julianna Velling
Kalise Child
Kalise began her training with Tatiana Baksheava. At 15 she participated in YAGP and qualified for New York. She then attended North Carolina School of the Arts on scholarship where she graduated from high school with an emphasis in ballet. While at NCSA she was selected to study and perform in Budapest, Hungary.
She earned her BFA and MFA from the University of Utah where she was a recipient of the William F. Christensen scholarship and a member of Utah Ballet. She performed various soloist roles including; Paquita, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Pas de Quatre, Don Quixote, multiple contemporary ballets and toured/performed in Seoul, South Korea. Kalise has had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers, some of which include; Alonzo King, Thaddeus Davis, Lucas Crandall, Donald McKayle, Giaconda Barbuto, and Robert Moses. She has studied and performed with the Lines Professional Workshop, North West Professional Dance Project, Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert, Utah Contemporary Ballet, Utah Opera (Aida), and Utah Ballet. She taught at Brigham Young University as a full-time faculty member. She choreographed Hansel and Gretel and Cendrillon for the Utah Lyric Opera and thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with various artists in the process. She is certified in mUvmethod yoga and Progressing Ballet Technique. She loves teaching ballet, coaching dancers for YAGP and teaching yoga. She has taught various levels and masterclasses throughout the valley.
Sharlee Peay
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
Kali Kirton
Utah Theatre Ballet 2
Addison Hunter
Brooklyn LaMela
Carson McIntosh
Clara Mitchell
Elise Daw
Heidi Davidson
Jenna Hansen
Levi Allen
Lila Gardner
Lola Firpo
Mahayla Chappell
Millie Katherine Atkinson
Olivia Hanson
Tayli Greenhalgh
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to...
*Our incredible faculty: Juliana Vorkink Martin, Hannah Hurd, Sharlee Peay, Lisa Vorkink, Kalise Child, Jessi Salter, Meleah Paishon, Addy Boll, Julianna Velling, Mikayla Milligan, Faith Hymas, Mercedes Stout, Carole Bingham, Ashley Chappell, Rocio Holker, and Jenni Sperry.
*All of our parents, parent volunteers, chaperones and backstage helpers
*Guest choreographers: Joey Anderson, Fiona Katrine
*Lighting Designer: Riley Merrill
*Sound Engineer: Daniel Bunker
*Costume Coordinator: Rocio Holker
*Costume alterations and seamstress: Rebecca Burton
*Stage and Production Manager: Lisa Vorkink
*Hallway Manager: GeriLynn Vorkink
*Volunteer Coordinator: Ashley Chappell
*Floor installation: Mike Martin and Ben Chappell
*Videographer: Matt Hepworth
*Photographers: Sharlee Peay Photography, Pro Pointe 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