Evening of Dance 2024 Fundraiser for ABT William J. Gillespie School April 14

The Pas de Deux Chapter of The Guilds at Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced the return of their annual fundraiser Evening of Dance 2024 on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the Samueli Theatre. Evening of Dance will feature wonderful dancing by students who received their formal training at the American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School or at the ABT Studio Company. Hosted by Artistic Director of ABT Susan Jaffe, dancers Anabel Katsnelson, Rachel Richardson, Carlos Gonzalez, Lea Fleytoux, and Jarod Curley will come together to perform the timeless classics Swan Lake Act I Pas de Trois and the Don Quixote Pas de Deux. The Evening of Dance audience will be awed by the glorious dancing while also providing support to the students of the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School. Tickets are on sale now.

Susan Jaffe – Photo by Jordan Bellotti.

“I am filled with hope and excitement for the future of the ABT William J. Gillespie School, knowing that with the continued support of the Pas de Deux Chapter of The Guilds at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, we can nurture and inspire the next generation of ballet dancers. As Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre and this year’s Honorary Chair, I envision the ABT Gillespie School growing into Southern California’s hub of excellent, world class dance training,” said Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre and Evening of Dance 2024 Honorary Chair. “Through Evening of Dance, we lay the foundation for this vision. The performances from current American Ballet Theatre dancers, who have honed their skills at the ABT JKO School or in ABT Studio Company, are a testament to the transformative power of ballet education. This fundraiser is vital in providing support for these young dancers, ensuring they have access to opportunities that will shape their futures and reach new heights of artistic expression.”

ABT Gillespie School Showcase – Photo courtesy of Gillespie School.

I spoke briefly over the telephone with Ms. Jaffe to gather more information relating to the connection between ABT and The Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Founded in 2015, the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an expansion of the longtime relationship between the Center and ABT. Jaffe meets with Susan Brooker and her team on a monthly basis to make certain that everything is fully aligned and to be as big a support as possible. “It’s really about cross-pollinating and when the students are old enough to come into the New York JKO (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School) level, it acts as a feeder school as well,” said Jaffe.

The ABT William J. Gillespie School utilizes ABT’s National Training Curriculum (NTC) incorporates elements of the French, Italian and Russian schools of training. It is an age-appropriate program designed to provide young dancers with a foundation of sound ballet values and techniques. NTC was formed in 2008, under the direction of then Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, and was designed and written by Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens in collaboration with ABT’s Artistic Advisors and the Medical Advisory Board. The current Director of the ABT William J. Gillespie School, Susan Booker, worked with Lukens and De Vita in Italy. “so she is one of the people who is closest to the curriculum as to the origins of it even before it was written down in books,” added Jaffe.

Susan Brooker – Photo: Alexander Robert Jarus

“Ballet education instills discipline, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the arts. Our annual Evening of Dance fundraiser reaffirms our commitment to inspiring youth through the joy of dance and embodies our mission at the ABT William J. Gillespie School; to nurture not just dancers, but hard-working, passionate individuals” said  Susan Brooker, Artistic Director of the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School. “Through the power of partnership with The Pas de Deux Chapter, we’re fostering the next generation of excellence by providing opportunities for students to not only pursue their passion for dance but reach their full potential. Simply put, this fundraiser enables us to continue providing top-tier ballet education alongside unparalleled standards of excellence that shape futures. I’ve witnessed some incredible growth this past year as the newly appointed Gillespie School director and I can’t wait to continue this positive change thanks to this very special celebration of dance.”

A Little More About ABT Dancers Performing on Evening of Dance 2024

Anabel Katsnelson performed with Houston Ballet II and joined the ABT Studio Company in 2016, joined the main Company as an apprentice in December 2016 and joined the corps de ballet in 2017; Rachel Richardson, joined ABT Studio Company in 2013, became an apprentice with the main Company in January 2015, and joined the corps de ballet in June 2015; Born in Madrid, Spain, Carlos Gonzalez joined American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in September 2015, became an apprentice with the main Company in December 2016, and joined the corps de ballet in June 2017. He was promoted to Soloist in March 2024;  Lea Fleytoux joined the ABT Studio Company in January 2017,  became an apprentice with the main Company in December 2018 and joined the corps de ballet in June 2019; and Jarod Curley  joined American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in September 2016, became an apprentice with the main Company in December 2018, and joined the corps de ballet in June 2019. He was promoted to Soloist in March 2024.

Poster – Courtesy of ABT William J. Gillespie School.

If you are wondering if alumni of the ABT William J. Gillespie School have moved on to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (JKO) School in New York, into the ABT company or joined other ballet companies, here is just a small list of alumni and where they are now. Kellan Hayag (winter 2022), now at JKO School; Lucas Matzkin (spring 2023), now at JKO School; Elinor Fucile (spring 22) not a trainee at Philadelphia Ballet; Alexandra Orradre (spring 2022) now a student at Canada National Ballet School; Mariana Vargas (2021) now dancing with imPerfect Dancers Company in Pisa, Italy; Bella Kelly (2020) is presently studying for her BA in Dance and Psychological Science at UC Irvine; Mallory Sweeney (2019) at BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio; Kendall Bottjer (2018) majored in Dance and Anthropology at Barnard College of Columbia University; Jaden Golden (2018) pursued a degree in Environmental Studies and Psychology and teaches children’s ballet classes in San Francisco.

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WHAT: Pas de Deux Chapter of The Guilds at Segerstrom Center for the Arts Presents their annual fundraiser Evening of Dance 2024
WHEN: Sunday, April 14, 2024
WHERE: The Segerstrom Center’s Samueli Theatre – 615 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
TICKETS: Prices range from $50 (students) to $10,000. To purchase tickets, please click HERE.
For more information about ABT William J. Gillespie School, please visit their website.

For more information about The Segerstrom Center for the Arts, please visit their website.

Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.

Featured image: ABT Gillespie School Showcase 2022 – Photo courtesy of Gillespie School.