Over 34 Years of Reinventing
DRAMATIC DANCE
Known for attracting the great talent of each generation.
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ABOUT
Dances Patrelle
Dances Patrelle was founded in 1988 by artistic director and choreographer, Francis Patrelle. He has taught generations of aspiring dancers to develop a profound love of dance.
MISSION
DANCES PATRELLE'S MISSION has always been to nurture and celebrate dramatic ballet. From those who want to learn – to those who are at the pinnacle of their careers and never want to stop – and for those who want to watch and experience excellence, artistry, and joy – Dances Patrelle exists to serve and celebrate them all.
Photo © 2018 Christopher Duggan | Courtesy of Ballet Academy East
CELEBRATING DRAMATIC DANCE
For Over 34 Years
From its inception in 1988, Dances Patrelle's mission has been to bring dramatic ballet to the stage, striving to address all elements of the human condition, and by doing so, making ballet accessible to a wider audience.
In addition, Dances Patrelle has performed The Yorkville Nutcracker every holiday season for the past 26-years, which has become a staple in New York City.
Francis Patrelle's body of work includes over 50 original ballets choreographed for Dances Patrelle and spans an incredibly wide range of styles, from his beloved American Songbook collection to such contemporary classics as Romeo and Juliet, Madame X, Macbeth and Rhapsody in Blue. Heralded by Lynn Garafola in Dance Magazine as a choreographer with “a personal vision…classical because it is rooted in metaphor and symbolic language [and] populist because of its legibility and broad cultural resonance,” Patrelle has also cultivated a long-time collaboration with composer Patrick Soluri, commissioning four original scores including 2009’s Murder at the Masque.
“
In Francis Patrelle’s ballets, the characters come alive.
His choreography is full of heart and soul.
”
— Cynthia Gregory, Prima Ballerina
ATTRACTING THE GREAT TALENT
of Each Generation
Known for attracting the great talent of each generation, Dances Patrelle is pleased to count ballet stars Marcelo Gomes, Maria Riccetto, Donald Williams, Lourdes Lopez, Jock Soto, Abi Stafford, Ask la Cour, Merrill Ashley, and prima ballerina Cynthia Gregory among its past and present dancers.
For over 34 years, Dances Patrelle has tapped into the human experience, connecting intimately with the audience and continuously reinventing dramatic dance.
DANCES PATRELLE
Staff
Choreographer & Artistic Director
Francis Patrelle
Rehearsal Director and Repetiteur
Ilona Wall Nambisan
Children's Repertory Director and Repetiteur
Anne Kelly
Children's Repertory Director and Repetiteur
Becka Vargus
Managing Director
Justin Allen
DANCES PATRELLE
Board of Directors
Dances Patrelle’s Board of Directors is composed of an exceptional group of volunteers who are firmly committed to Dances Patrelle’s mission and its importance to bring dramatic ballet to the stage, striving to address all elements of the human condition, and by doing so, making ballet accessible to a wider audience.
President
Simone Zeko
Co-Owner, Zeko Partners LLC
Treasurer
Samantha Cohen
Consultant, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Board Members
Graciela España
Language Professor
Elisabeth Halfpapp
Co-Founder, CoreBarrFit
Lisa Halmi
Ask la Cour Rasmussen
Principal, New York City Ballet
Artistic Director: NYDT & Ohman School of Ballet
Diana Pan
Business Strategist, Thomson Reuters
Rhoda Ribner
Buyer, Bloomingdales
Ariel T. Rose
Soloist and Choreographer, Miami City Ballet
Abi Stafford Lillo
Principal, New York City Ballet
Summer Intern at Robert C. Gottlieb & Associates PLLC
Faith Williams
Resident Physician, New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
Barbara Wood
EVP, GC & Corporate Secretary, Sellas Life Sciences Group, Inc.
Special Thanks
Julia Dubno
Owner & Director, Ballet Academy East
Emeritus Board Members
Sandra Burch
Anni Coden
Mary Stone Cove
Cynthia Gregory
AlexAnndra Ontra
Erica Marks Panush
Nancy Peters
Ruth Pickholz
Joan Dufresne Reisler
Carmen Tagle Rose
Barbara Rothschild
Sally Shreeves
Suzi Stadler
Jessica J. Rich Sturley
Cast: The American Dream: It’s Only Business (2019): Therese Wendler, Enrique Brown, Shoshana Rosenfeld, Lavinia Russo, Stella MacDonald, Charlotte Budzinsky |
Madame X (2019): NYC Ballet Principals Ask la Cour, Abi Stafford |
American Overture (2019): Twyla Tharp Company's Reed Tankersley |
Macbeth: Mary Beth Hansohn (2016), Martin Harvey, Nancy Cantine, Heather Hawk, Claire Mazza |
Romeo and Juliet, A Dazzling 25th Anniversary Performance (2014): Juliet - Chloé Sherman, Romeo - Alex Castillo, Mercutio - Matthew Dibble, Benvolio - Josh Christopher, Tybalt - Grant Dettling, Nurse - Julie Voshell, Lady Capulet - Heather Hawk, Lord Capulet - John Mark Owen, Rosaline - Amy Brandt & Therese Wendler
Romeo and Juliet (1993): Juliet -Mary Barton, Romeo - Douglas Martin, Mercutio - Fabrice Herrault, Tybalt - Robert Conn, Nurse - Darla Hoover, Lady Capulet - Leda Meredith, Lord Capulet - TBC, Rosaline - TBC
Gilbert and Sullivan: The Ballet (2013): Jesse Marks, Alexander Brady, Julie Voshell, Amy Brandt, Therese Wendler, John-Mark Owen, Justin Allen. With Music Director Warren Helms, Set Designer Gillian Bradshaw Smith, Costume Designer Rita B. Watson, Lighting Designer David Grill, and co-creation of the original story by award-winning novelist Justin Allen.
Photos: © Christopher Duggan Photography | © Courtesy of Ballet Academy East | © Rosalie O'Connor Photography | © Eduardo PATINO.NYC |
© Eugene Yates Photography | © Christopher Gagliardi Photography