Don Quixote 2008 photo credit: Ellen Crane

Spring Edition!

As Spring is eternal, so is Princeton Ballet School's Spring performance.This year we are presenting Don Quixote (see more below), and as I watch the weekend rehearsals, I am reminded of all the wonderful ARBW/PB II cast members who have performed the ballet. First produced in 1869, it remains an amazing Ballet d'Action that entertains and educates new audiences.

Ashley Wegmann danced the role of Kiti in 2004- please see the Alumn Spotlight below to see where she has soared since leaving Princeton Ballet School. Alumni that have kept in touch from the 2008 photo above include Katie Pisano who will be graduating this May from Scranton University with a bachelors in Exercise Physiology and a minor in Nutrition. She has applied to graduate schools to attain a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Christopher Constantini graduated from The Lawrenceville School then spent a gap year at San Francisco Ballet as a trainee. 2011-2012 he attended Princeton University and will take a pause to pursue his dance career as a member of Oregon Ballet Theater. Linda Wang is attending New York University studying Nutrition and has been accepted as a Summer Intern at American Ballet Theater in the Development Department. Tori Jahn was promoted to apprentice after a two year trainee position with North Carolina Dance Theater.

I do hope you will join us at the theater and witness a new generation of dancers gracing the stage creating a sense of community though this comic ballet.   

Please contact me with updates about you and to share your ARB and Princeton Ballet School memories. We take great pride in the successes, both professional and personal, of those that have studied and worked here and hope that you are equally as proud of the work we continue to share with future generations and audiences.   

Please send updates to lderavel@arballet.org.

Sincerely,
Lisa de Ravel
Alumni Relations Coordinator

Saturday May 5th 2012

2:00pm & 7:00pm

Patriots Theater at the War Memorial

Trenton, NJ

 Princeton Ballet School's adaptation of the classical ballet featuring pre-professional dancers and students from Princeton Ballet School.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or visit www.arballet.org to download a form    

photo credit unknown

Ashley Wegmann began dancing at age 5, and received her early training at the National Ballet of New Jersey.  When she was fifteen, she began making the hour-long commute to Princeton to train at the Princeton Ballet School.  In Princeton, she was very fortunate to train with Mary Barton, Douglas Martin, Lisa de Ravel, and Maria Youskevitch.  While in the school she also performed with the American Repertory Ballet in The Nutcracker, A Midsummer's Night Dream, and Beauty and the Beast, and attended summer programs at American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet.  After graduating from high school, Ashley moved to Pittsburgh to study with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in their graduate program.  In 2007, she joined the corps de ballet at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.  At PBT, Ashley has had the great opportunity to dance a diverse repetoire, including full-length classical ballets, famous contemporary works, and cutting-edge new choreography.  Some of her favorite roles include "Sugarplum Fairy" in Terrence S. Orr's The Nutcracker, a "Stomper" in Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room, the "Nurse" in Jean Christophe Maillot's Romeo et Juliette, and "Isn't it a Pity" from Victor Plotnikov's Shall We Dance.  In 2011 and 2012, Ashley also performed with Texture Contemporary Ballet.  Ashley will be joining BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio for their 2012-2013 season.

A note from Ashley:

Looking back, some of my best memories were spent in the studios of the Princeton Ballet School.  I came to Princeton at a very crucial time in my training and I was very lucky to have such a wonderful faculty of teachers to help me grow as a dancer and an artist.  I was given opportunities to perform very challenging roles such as the "Lilac Fairy" in The Sleeping Beauty, "Kitri" in Don Quixote, and "Odette/Odile" in Swan Lake.  The coaching I received for these roles was invaluable, and provided me with a great foundation when I started my professional career.  But technique aside, the support I received from my teachers, their belief in me, is what I am most thankful for.  Without it, I don't know if I would have had the confidence to pursue a professional career.  I will always treasure my time spent at Princeton Ballet School and always remember it as one of the best times in my life.