About Ballet22

Founded in 2020 by Roberto Vega Ortiz and Theresa Knudson, Ballet22 exists to push the boundaries of what is possible in ballet while focusing on producing and presenting works, ranging from classical to contemporary ballet, that break gender normative traditions, specifically by presenting men, mxn, and non-binary artists “en pointe.”

Since its founding, Ballet22 has commissioned nine new ballets that contribute to representation in the ballet world. The company has produced 4 digital programs, and this show marks the company’s 6th live production. Named by Dance Magazine as “25 to Watch in 2022,” the company continues to prioritize commissioning works that bring inclusion to the LGBTQ+ community and experience in ballet. Thank you for being here this evening to support the work and mission of Ballet22!

The Ballet22 Cast of Juntos

Evan Ambrose

Carlos Hopuy, sponsored by Lena Chang

Kyle Limin

Juan Magacho

Victor Maguad, sponsored by Downey Brand LLP

Ihosvany Rodríguez

Augusto Silva

Roberto Vega Ortiz, sponsored by Mary Lawrence Hicks & Rhodes L. Bruns

ACT I

Don Quixote Grand Pas de Deux

Choreography by: Marius Petipa

Staged by: Roberto Vega Ortiz

Music: Ludwig Minkus

Costumes: Ian Carlos Rojas & Alma del Valle Rodriguez

Dancers:

Carlos Hopuy as Kitri

Ihosvany Rodríguez as Basilio

Victor Maguad and Roberto Vega Ortiz as the Wedding Guests

Program Notes: The ballet Don Quixote, after the novel Don Quixote de la Mancha, by Miguel de Cervantes, premiered in Moscow in 1869 by the Bolshoi Ballet. The classic ballet still reigns in ballet cannon as one of the most well known and beloved ballets. It is Ballet22’s honor to present the Grand Pas de Deux from Act III with reimagined costumes and a cast of all mxn.

Intermission (15 minutes)

ACT II

Eirí-I’narú’ (World Premiere)

Choreography: Fernando Ramos

Original music by: Juan Pablo Ocasio

Costume: Ian Carlos Rojas & Alma del Valle Rodriguez

Dancer: Victor Maguad

Program Notes: Fernando Ramos is a celebrated and sought after dancer and choreographer. He currently dances with Claroscuro, a company he co-founded in Puerto Rico. This is Fernando’s first collaboration with Ballet22 and we are so proud to welcome him and his vision. Eirí-I’narú’ centers on LGBTQIA+ figures in native Puerto Rican Taíno culture. Eirí-I’narú’ represents both male and female energy in one body. Fernando reflects on how queerness has always existed, despite historical efforts to erase queer presence. He is currently researching indigenous queerness and his findings have heavily influenced this piece. The music to this work is original music by Juan Pablo Ocasio, commissioned by Fernando Ramos specifically for this work.

La Sylphide Grand Pas de Deux

Choreography: August Bournonville

Staged by: Roberto Vega Ortiz

Music: Hermann Lovenskjold

Costumes: Ian Carlos Rojas & Alma del Valle Rodriguez

Dancers: Roberto Vega Ortiz and Juan Magacho

Program Notes: La Sylphide, “the sylph”, is a romantic era ballet originally choreographed by Italian choreographer Filippo Taglioni in 1832. The ballet was re-choreographed by Danish choreographer August Bournonville in 1836. This version of the ballet is said to be one of the oldest preserved ballets. Tagiloni’s original version of the ballet was created for his daughter Marie Taglioni, and specifically utilize her mastery of pointe work as an intentional element in the ballet to create the etherial state of the sylph. It was also around this time in ballet history that skirts were shortened to the ankle to show the pointe work. This was controversial and scandalous for the time. As we know, as ballet progressed and entered the classical period, the tulle skirts shortened into the plate tutu we all now consider a standard ballet “tutu”. La Sylphide is a Scottish tale of romantic tragedy between the characters James a Scottish farmer, his fiance Effie, his friend Gurn, and etherial creature, the Sylph. The excerpt of the ballet being danced tonight takes place in the woods between James and the Sylph.

Laytana (World Premiere)

Choreography: Natasha Adorlee in collaboration with Kyle Limin

Music: Le Trio Joubran- Sama Sounounou, Tanâsim 1, Laytana

Costume: Jamielyn Duggan

Dancer: Kyle Limin

Program Notes:

Natasha Adorlee has been a critical collaborator of Ballet22, filming all of our digital productions with her company Concept o4. We are excited to be broadening our relationship with Natasha through this choreographic commission. Natasha’s personal notes on Laytana are as follows:

Pow·er (noun): The ability to control people or things.

Pow·er (verb): To move or move something very quickly and with great force in a particular direction.

Laytana explores life's external forces that can shape or conform us and the internal power we possess, when cultivated through self-exploration, to combat them.

Intermission (15 minutes)

ACT III

Juntos

Choreography: Joshua A. Stayton

Staged by: Joshua A. Stayton and Roberto Vega Ortiz

Music: Antonio Vivaldi

Dancers:

Evan Ambrose, Carlos Hopuy, Juan Magacho, Victor Maguad, Ihosvany Rodríguez, Roberto Vega Ortiz

Program Notes:

Originally choreographed for Tulsa Ballet II, Joshua created Juntos (the Spanish word for together) to celebrate togetherness and love in all of its forms: friendship, family, and romantic partnership. Ballet22 produced a digital version of Juntos for our very first digital production filmed by Concept o4 in October of 2020. Juntos had it’s live premiere with Ballet22 in Santa Barbara in August of 2021, and we are thrilled to be bringing back Juntos to the live theater in San Francisco. Ballet22 has performed Joshua A. Stayton’s work Six, and also commissioned Joshua to choreograph His Romeo which has quickly become a fan favorite. His Romeo was originally captured for film by Concept o4 and has since been performed live in San Francisco and San Jose, CA and Boise, ID.

Ballet22

Ballet22 Leadership:

Co-Founders: Roberto Vega Ortiz and Theresa Knudson

Artistic Director: Roberto Vega Ortiz

Executive Director: Theresa Knudson

Company Manager: Joanne Kim

Ballet Master: Carlos Hopuy

Board:

President: Roberto Vega Ortiz

Treasurer: Theresa Knudson

Secretary: Joanne Kim

Inaugural Board Member: Megan Somogyi

Production Crew:

Lighting Designer: Daniel Weiermann

Stage Manager: Theresa Knudson

The Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture Crew:

Amanda Matthews, Director of Sales

David Coffman, Production Manager

Kathryn Yost Saturay, Patron Services Manager

Christine Cochrane, Technical Director

George Georges, Audio Engineer

Ballet22 Crew:

Costumes: Ian Carlos Rojas, Alma del Valle Rodriguez, Jamielyn Duggan

Company class teachers: Carlos Hopuy, Theresa Knudson, Roberto Vega Ortiz

Rehearsal coaching: Carlos Hopuy, Joshua A. Stayton, Roberto Vega Ortiz

Pointe shoes sponsored by: Nikolay Grishko

Filmmakers: Alexander Irwin & Lázaro González

Poster photography: Isaac Hall

Photography: Reneff-Olson Productions

Thank you to our donors and supporters!

Patrons $2,200 and beyond

Downey Brand LLP: California Law Firm sponsor for Victor Maguad for Juntos

Lena Chang sponsor for Carlos Hopuy Winter Gala 2022 & Juntos

Mary Lawrence Hicks & Rhodes L. Bruns sponsor for Roberto Vega Ortiz for Juntos

Megan Somogyi

Supporter $1,000-$2,199

Judy Flannery

David Meders

Karen Rosenberg

Contributor $100-$999

John Hamill & José Tinito Caratini

Doug & Jean Knudson

Christina Knudson & Cheonho Yoon

James H. Lowry

Gregg Mattner

Peter B. Nye

Jose Rivera Lluberas

Ballet22 is proud to be sponsored by Nikolay. Nikolay has worked carefully to provide custom pointe shoes to each Ballet22 artist, tailored to their specific sizes and needs. Thank you for your support!

Special Thank you!

BlackBox Studios

Alondra Flores

Kimberly Giannelli

Joanne Kim

Ian Carlos Rojas

Ryan Rouland Smith

Allison Snopek, Intersection for the Arts

Sol Hot Yoga & Movement