Commonwealth Ballet Company
The Dancers
Jessica Clements
Jessica Clements lives in Ayer has studied ballet since 2003. She began her training at L'École de Ballet in Littleton and also studied with Mary Demaso and Miranda Bailey. Jess was a member of Dance Prism Ballet Company from 2006-2008. Jess moved to the Acton School of Ballet in 2007 and was invited to join CBC for the 2008-2009 season. Jess has attended The Rock School of Ballet Summer Intensive program the last two summers. Last year, Jess choreographed a dramatic piece to Wheel of Fortune from Pirates of the Caribbean. She's excited to be presenting a newly choreographed work to the mysterious Intro by Korn in January.
In this year's The Nutcracker, Jess is featured in the roles of Chinese soloist, Spanish, Party Teen, and Snow and Flower corps.
Danielle Gionet
Danielle Gionet is from Shirley and began her ballet training at the age of two. She studied at Maria's School of Dance for ten years and joined the Acton School of Ballet in 2003. Danielle became a member of the Commonwealth Ballet in 2005 and has danced roles in The Secret Garden, Raw Velvet, Stairway to Heaven, Prom Waltz, Three Brahms Intermezzi, and most recently, as a soloist in Orton Dances. Danielle has attended summer intensive summer programs at Ballet Hawaii, Boston Ballet, American Academy of Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and The Boston Conservatory. She also enjoys other forms of dance, such as tap, jazz,modern, and hip hop.
This is Danielle's 6th CBC Nutcracker and she will dance the roles of Dew Drop Fairy, Snow Queen, Russian soloist, Merliton, and the Snow and Flower corps.
Vanessa Lee
Vanessa Lee is from Acton and has been dancing at the Acton School of Ballet since 2000 and has attended summer intensive programs at Walnut Hill. She joined Commonwealth Ballet Company as an Apprentice this year after five years dancing in non-Company roles, including the role of Clara in The Nutcracker. In addition to ballet, Vanessa enjoys performing Chinese dance and has performed as a member of the Angel Dance Troupe since 2006.
In this year's production of The Nutcracker, Vanessa will be dancing the roles of the Party Teen and Flower corps.
Alyssa MacNeill
Alyssa MacNeill lives in Acton and has studied at Acton School of Ballet since 2001 where she is currently a teaching assistant for Pre-ballet. Alyssa joined the Commonwealth Ballet Company in 2007 after four years dancing in non-Company roles including the role of Clara in The Nutcracker. Alyssa has attended summer programs at The Rock School for Dance Education, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Walnut Hill School of the Arts.
In this year's Nutcracker, Alyssa will dance the roles of Spanish, Russian soloist, Merliton, Party Teen, and Snow and Flower corps.
Malia Moses
Malia Moses is from Leominster and began her ballet training at age four. She started studying at the Acton School of Ballet in 2000, where she is currently a teaching assistant. Malia joined the Commonwealth Ballet Company in 2006 and has danced in The Secret Garden, Three Brahms Intermezzi, Stairway to Heaven, Raw Velvet, and Pas de Trois des Odalisques. She has attended intensive summer programs at Boston Ballet, American Academy of Ballet, and Ballet Workshop of New England.
This is Malia's 8th CBC Nutcracker, where she will perform as Dew Drop Fairy, Arabian soloist, Columbine Doll, Merliton, and the Snow and Flower corps.
Aya Muramatsu
Aya Muramatsu resides in Sudbury and began her dance training at the age of three. She has been taking ballet classes at the Acton School of Ballet since 2002. Aya was invited to join the Commonwealth Ballet Company in 2005 and has danced in CBC's The Secret Garden, Prom Waltz, Three Brahms Intermezzi, Stairway to Heaven, Raw Velvet, and most recently, as a soloist in Orton Dances. She has attended summer intensive programs at the Walnut Hill School, Festival Ballet Providence,Alonzo King's Lines Ballet School in San Francisco, and most recently at The Boston Conservatory.
She dances the roles of Spanish, Arabian soloist, Neopolitan soloist, Columbine Doll, and Snow and Flower corps in this year's Nutcracker production.
Emily Neale
Emily Neale is from Acton and has been dancing at the Acton School of Ballet since 2003. She attended summer intensive programs at the Chautauqua School of Dance, The School of American Ballet in NYC, and The Boston Ballet Young Dancer's Summer Workshop. Emily joined Commonwealth Ballet Company this year after four years dancing in non-Company roles, including the role of Clara in The Nutcracker. In addition to ballet, Emily enjoys performing Chinese dance and is a senior member of the Angel Dance Troupe.
In this year's production of The Nutcracker, Emily will be dancing the roles of the Chinese soloist, Merliton, Party Teen, and the Snow and Flower corps.
Kelsey O'Neill
Kelsey O'Neill lives in Boxborough and began her ballet training at the age of four at The Vermont Conservatory of Ballet in Essex, Vermont. She has continued her training at the Acton School of Ballet, The School of Dance in Ottawa,Ontario and The Brindusa-Moore Ballet Academy in Pocatello, Idaho. She is currently a teaching assistant at the Acton School of Ballet. Along with attending summer programs at The School of Dance and The Brindusa-Moore Ballet Academy, Kelsey has attended summer intensives at The Walnut Hill School of the Arts, Boston Ballet, Festival Ballet, and The Boston Conservatory.Kelsey joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2006 and has danced in The Nutcracker, Stairway to Heaven, Lost Concerto, and Orton Dances.
She dances the roles of Dew Drop Fairy, Columbine Doll, Neopolitan soloist, Russian soloist,Merliton, and the Snow corps.
Kelsey is the winner of the 2009 Kathryn Anderson Scholarship Award.
Carly Patterson
Carly Patterson began her ballet training at age three with Gail McLaughlin in Cincinnati, Ohio. At age five, she moved to Acton and entered the Acton School of Ballet in 2001. Carly joined the Commonwealth Ballet Company in 2006 and has danced in The Nutcracker, Prom Waltz, and Orton Dances. Carly has participated in summer intensive ballet programs at Jose Mateo's Dance Theatre and Festival Ballet, Providence.
In this year's Nutcracker, Carly will be performing as Columbine, Spanish,Merliton, and in the Snow and Flower corps.
Meredith Stapleton
Meredith Stapleton lives in Harvard. She started studying at the Acton School of Ballet in 2004, where she currently teaches First Steps. She joined the Commonwealth Ballet Company in 2005 and has performed in The Nutcracker, The Secret Garden, Three Brahms Intermezzi, Stairway to Heaven, Lost Concerto, and most recently, as a soloist in Orton Dances. Meredith has attended intensive summer programs at Ballet Workshop of New England, Burklyn Ballet Theater, Alonzo King's Lines School of Ballet, Festival Ballet, and Boston Conservatory. Meredith is also interested in choreography and last year she choreographed a modern trio, "Unsquare Dance," to music by Dave Brubeck.
In CBC's 2008 production of The Nutcracker Meredith will be featured in the roles of Snow Queen, Merliton, Spanish, Arabian soloist and the Snow and Flower corps.
Corre Steele
Corre Steele is a resident of Stow and has studied ballet at Acton School of Ballet since 2000. She danced in non-Company roles in CBC productions for four years and this year joins Commonwealth Ballet as an Apprentice. Corre has attended the past three summer intensives at Acton School of Ballet. Along with dancing, Corre plays the recorder.
In this year's Nutcracker, Corre will dance the roles of Party Teen and Flower corps.
JoJo Tsacoyeanes
JoJo Tsacoyeanes lives in Acton and started ballet when she was five. She moved to the Acton School of Ballet in 2003. This is JoJo's first year as a member of Commonwealth Ballet Company, after five years dancing in non-Company roles including the role of Clara in The Nutcracker. She has attended summer intensive programs at The Walnut Hill School and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.
This year in The Nutcracker, JoJo will dance the roles of Neapolitan soloist, Chinese soloist, Party Teen, and in the Snow and Flower corps.
Kristina Wright
Kristina Wright is from Milford, and has been dancing for fifteen years. She has studied at Metrowest Ballet, Lexington School of Ballet, Studio Ballet of Hudson and New England Ballet with Edra Toth. Kristina now studies at the Acton School of Ballet where she is also a faculty member teaching First Steps, Pre-Ballet and Acting for Dancers. She has attended summer intensive programs at American Ballet Theatre and Burklyn Ballet Theatre. Before joining CBC, she danced with Dance Prism for five years.
This is her first season with Commonwealth Ballet Company and Kristina will dance the roles of Dew Drop Fairy, Snow Queen, Merliton, and the Snow and Flower corps.
Asia Yip
Asia Yip lives in Westford and began her ballet studies at the age of four. She studied at the Academy of Ballet Arts under Judith Koeckhoven for nine years and started taking classes at the Acton School of Ballet in 2005. In 2007, she joined the Commonwealth Ballet Company and has danced in The Nutcracker, Prom Waltz, Raw Velvet, and Orton Dances. Asia has attended summer intensive programs at the Academy of Ballet Arts, and this past summer the Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater.
In this year's production of The Nutcracker, Asia will be performing the roles of Neapolitan soloist,Merliton, Spanish, and in the Snow and Flower corps.
Annie Zhang
Annie Zhang resides in Acton and has studied ballet since 2000 with the Acton School of Ballet. She joined CBC in 2007 and has danced in The Nutcracker, Lost Concerto, and Orton Dances. Annie has attended summer intensive programs with the Walnut Hill School of the Arts and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.
Annie dances the roles of Spanish, Merliton, Chinese soloist, Party Teen and the Snow and Flower corps in this year's Nutcracker.