Commonwealth Ballet Company 2009-2010

The Dancers

Kristen Carpenter

Kristen Carpenter is from Acton and studied ballet at the Acton School of Ballet 2000-2006 and Walnut Hill Dance Academy 2006-2009. This season Kristen returned to ASB and was invited to join the Company. She has attended summer intensive summer programs at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Walnut Hill, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Boston Ballet.

In this year's The Nutcracker, Kristen dances the roles of Columbine Doll, Spanish, Neapolitan Soloist, and Snow and Flower Corps.

Jessica Clements

Jessica Clements lives in Ayer and has studied ballet since 2003, when she began her training at L'Ecole de Ballet in Littleton. She later studied with Mary Demaso, and moved to Acton School of Ballet in 2007 where she is also a teaching assistant for Pre-Ballet. Jess danced with Dance Prism Ballet Company 2006-2008 where she performed over 60 roles. She has attended summer intensive programs at American Repertory Ballet of Princeton, NJ, and The Rock School. Jess is in her second season with Commonwealth Ballet and has danced in Canto Nuovo, The Nightingale, and Orton Dances.

In this year's The Nutcracker, she is featured in the roles of Arabian Soloist, Merliton, and Snow and Flower Corps.

Kelly Craig

Kelly Craig is a resident of Groton and began her training with Miami Valley Dance Company 2002-2004. She moved East and studied under Judith Koekhoven, and in 2007, Kelly began classes at Acton School of Ballet, where she is now a teaching assistant for First Steps. She joined Commonwealth Ballet for the 2007 season where she danced in Prom Waltz, Raw Velvet, and Orton Dances.

After a year's absence, Kelly has returned will dance the roles of Columbine Doll, Neapolitan Soloist, Spanish, Merliton, and Snow and Flower Corps in this year's The Nutcracker.

Leah Goss

Leah Goss lives in Stow and had her early training at L'Ecole de Ballet and Concord School of Ballet. She began studying at Acton School of Ballet in 2001. This is Leah's first year as a member of Commonwealth Ballet Company after five seasons dancing in non-Company roles in our productions, including the role of The Lieutenant in The Nutcracker. Leah has attended summer intensive programs at Walnut Hill, ASB, and Burklyn Ballet Theatre.

In this year's The Nutcracker, Leah is featured in the roles of Dewdrop Fairy, Spanish, Chinese Soloist, and Snow and Flower Corps.

Vanessa Lee

Vanessa Lee is from Acton and has been dancing at the Acton School of Ballet since 2000. Her summer intensive programs include The Rock School of Ballet, Walnut Hill, and ASB. Vanessa joined Commonwealth Ballet Company in 2008 and has danced in The Nightingale, Canto Nuovo, and Orton Dances.

In this year's production of The Nutcracker, Vanessa dances the roles of Spanish, Party Teen and Snow and Flower Corps.

Alyssa MacNeill

Alyssa MacNeill lives in Acton and has studied at Acton School of Ballet since 2001 where she is also a teaching assistant for Pre-Ballet. She has attended summer programs at Southern New Hampshire Dance Theatre, The Rock School, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Walnut Hill. Alyssa joined the Commonwealth Ballet Company in 2007 and has danced in Canto Nuovo, The Nightingale, Lost Concerto, and Orton Dances.

In this year's Nutcracker, Alyssa appears in the roles of Columbine Doll, Neapolitan Soloist, Russian Soloist, Merliton, and Snow Corps.

Malia Moses

Malia Moses resides in Leominster and began training at Acton School of Ballet in 2000, where she currently teaches First Steps. Malia joined the Commonwealth Ballet Company in 2005 and has danced in Pas des Trois des Odalisque, Trifles & Bagatelles, Orton Dances, Three Brahms Intermezzos, Stairway to Heaven, Raw Velvet, and performed the role of the Nightingale in The Nightingale. She has attended intensive summer programs at Steps on Broadway in NYC, Boston Ballet, Festival Ballet, Academy of American Ballet, and Ballet Workshop of New England.

In this year's The Nutcracker, Malia dances as Snow Queen, Dew Drop Fairy, and Arabian Soloist, and also serves as a Rehearsal Assistant.

Emily Neale

Emily Neale is from Acton and has been dancing at the Acton School of Ballet since 2003. In 2009, Emily was invited to participate in the Youth American Grand Prix final Intensive Workshop. She has attended summer intensive programs at The Chautauqua School of Dance, The School of American Ballet in NYC, and Boston Ballet. Emily joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2008 and has danced in The Nightingale, Orton Dances, and performed the Black Swan Variation for A Little Night Dancing 2009.

In this year's production of The Nutcracker, Emily will be featured as Dew Drop Fairy, Arabian Soloist, Merliton, Spanish, and Snow Corps. In addition to ballet, Emily studies traditional Chinese Dance and is a senior member of the Angel Dance Troupe, where she performed the lead role Yueya in the Chinese Dance Drama: DunHuang, My Dreamland – Tales of the Silk Road in 2009.

Giorgia Nobili

Giorgia Nobili was born in Rome, Italy and began her ballet studies there with Renato Greco. She now lives in Sterling and after studying ballet at Hudson Studio of Ballet, she started classes at Acton School of Ballet in 2009. Giorgia has attended summer intensives with Sara Knight at the Baryshinikov Arts Center in NY, and Burklyn Ballet Theatre. She has performed with the Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble in 2007 and 2008, dancing the role of Jester in 2008.

This is Giorgia's first year with Commonwealth Ballet and she dances the roles of Russian Soloist, Party Teen, and Snow and Flower Corps in The Nutcracker.

Corre Steele

Corre Steele resides in Stow and has studied ballet at Acton School of Ballet since 2002, where she is also a teaching assistant for Pre-Ballet. Her summer intensive programs include Southern New Hampshire Dance Theatre and ASB. She joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2008 and danced in Canto Nuovo and The Nightingale.

In this year's The Nutcracker, Corre performs the roles of Chinese and Russian Soloists, Merliton, and Snow and Flower Corps, and also serves as a Rehearsal Assistant.

JoJo Tsacoyeanes

JoJo Tsacoyeanes lives in Acton and has been dancing at Acton School of Ballet since 2003. She has attended summer intensive programs at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Walnut Hill and ASB. JoJo joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2008 and has danced in Trifles & Bagatelles, The Nightingale, and Orton Dances.

In this year's The Nutcracker, JoJo is featured in the roles of Snow Queen, Dew Drop Fairy, Merliton, and Snow and Flower Corps.

Sonia Xu

Sonia Xu is from Acton and began her ballet studies in 2000 at Acton School of Ballet. She joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2006 where she danced in Orton Dances, Lost Concerto, Les Paons, and Stairway to Heaven. Last season she attended Boston Ballet School in their Advanced level and was placed in the new pre-professional program. She returned to ASB this fall and joined Commonwealth Ballet again. Sonia's summer intensive programs include Pacific Northwest Ballet, Chautauqua School of Dance, School of American Ballet in NYC, and Boston Ballet.

In this year's production of The Nutcracker, Sonia dances the roles of Arabian Soloist, Merliton, and Snow and Flower Corps.

Asia Yip

Asia Yip lives in Westford and studied at the Academy of Ballet Arts under Judith Koeckhoven for nine years. She moved to Acton School of Ballet in 2005 where she is also a teaching assistant for Pre-Ballet. In 2007, she joined the Commonwealth Ballet Company and has danced in Trifles & Bagatelles, The Nightingale, Orton Dances, Prom Waltz, and Raw Velvet. Asia has attended summer intensive programs at Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater and the Academy of Ballet Arts.

In this year's production of The Nutcracker, Asia performs as Snow Queen, Chinese Soloist, Merliton, and Snow and Flower Corps.

Annie Zhang

Annie Zhang resides in Acton and has studied ballet at Acton School of Ballet since 2000, where she is also a teaching assistant for Pre-Ballet. She joined Commonwealth Ballet in 2007 and has danced in Trifles & Bagatelles, The Nightingale, Orton Dances, Prom Waltz, Raw Velvet, and Lost Concerto. Annie attended summer intensive programs at Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Walnut Hill.

Annie dances the roles of Columbine Doll, Spanish, Merliton, and Snow and Flower Corps in this year's The Nutcracker.

The Apprentices

Cecilia Hoff

Cecilia Hoff is from Littleton and has studied ballet at Acton School of Ballet since 2000. She has attended summer intensive programs at Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Walnut Hill, and ASB. Cecilia joins Commonwealth Ballet this season as an apprentice after 4 seasons performing with Commonwealth Ballet in non-Company roles.

In this year's The Nutcracker, she will dance as a Party Teen and member of the Flower Corps

Katherine Macarthur

Katherine Macarthur lives in Acton and has studied at Acton School of Ballet since 2003. Her summer intensive programs include Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, American Academy of Ballet, Walnut Hill, Boston Ballet, and ASB. Katherine joins Commonwealth Ballet this season as an apprentice after 4 seasons performing with Commonwealth Ballet in non-Company roles.

In this year's The Nutcracker, she will dance as a Party Teen and member of the Flower Corps.

Emily Purdom

Emily Purdom lives in Acton and has studied at Acton School of Ballet since 2003. Her summer intensive programs include Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Walnut Hill, Boston Ballet, and ASB. Emily joins Commonwealth Ballet this season as an apprentice after 5 seasons performing with Commonwealth Ballet in non-Company roles.