|
|
RWB ANNOUNCES NEW ROSTER FOR 69TH SEASON
(Winnipeg, Manitoba; April 22, 2008) – Artistic Director André Lewis has just announced the new roster for Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s upcoming 69th season. Four current RWB dancers have been promoted from within the Company: Jennifer Welsman to Soloist, Amanda Green to Second Soloist, and Maureya Lebowitz and Eric Nipp to the Corps de Ballet. Joining the Company as a Corps de Ballet member is Thiago Dos Santos. Tao Kerr and Tristan Dobrowney will join the RWB as apprentices.
Born in Penticton, British Columbia, Jennifer Welsman began training at the Penticton School of Dance. She graduated with distinction from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division in 1998 where she was awarded the prestigious Prince Edward Award and was flown to England to receive the award from the Prince. Welsman joined the RWB immediately following her graduation for the 1998/99 season and was promoted to second soloist in 2002. It was in that season that Welsman danced her first lead role in a classical ballet performing the role of ‘Princess Aurora’ in The Sleeping Beauty. Most recently she reprised the challenging role for a third time, including on the Company’s tour to her home province of British Columbia.
“Jennifer Welsman was a charming Princess Aurora. Shyly innocent and tentative when first introduced to her suitors, she grew gradually in confidence as she turned their heads, spinning round and round, or balancing seemingly forever on one toe,” wrote Graina Litwin of the Victoria Times-Colonist about Welsman’s emotional homecoming performance. Welsman’s repertoire also includes leading roles in Nutcracker and Swan Lake and featured roles in Giselle, Romeo & Juliet, Allegro Brillante, Serenade, Concerto Barocco and Dracula. She has had roles created for her in Mark Godden’s The Magic Flute, Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story and Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmen, The Passion.
Hailing from Beaumont, Alberta, Amanda Green began her dance training with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division at the age of ten. While a student, she received numerous awards. Green graduated from the Harid Conservatory where she earned the Rudolf Nureyev Scholarship. She joined the RWB in 2004 as an apprentice and was promoted to corps de ballet the following year. Since joining the Company she has performed in various works including Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story, Nutcracker, Dracula, Hikarizatto, Angels in the Architecture and Mauricio Wainrot’s The Messiah. Green performed the role of a ‘Glamazon’ in Godden’s The Magic Flute, a role that she took to the big screen for the 2006 film version of the ballet titled The Tale of the Magic Flute. This past season, Green had a role created for her in Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmen, The Passion. She was also singled out both on tour and in Winnipeg by reviewers for her performance as the ‘Fairy of Generosity’ in The Sleeping Beauty. Alison Mayes of the Winnipeg Free Press commented, “RWB is currently showing an impressive depth of talent. In particular, there's emerging sparkle and poise among the women, such as … Amanda Green...”
Maureya Lebowitz was born in Malibu, California and grew up in Darby, Montana. She began training at the RWB School Professional Division in 2001 and graduated with distinction in 2007. During her time at the School, Lebowitz was awarded several scholarships including the Prince Edward Award. Lebowitz made her professional debut in 2001 when she played ‘Dieter’ in the RWB’s Nutcracker and in 2003 she was ‘Young Clara.’ Last summer at the Banff Festival Dance Lebowitz performed lead roles in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco and Brian Macdonald’s Tam ti Delam. Lebowitz joined the RWB this past season as an apprentice and danced in Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmen, The Passion, Nutcracker and performed the roles of ‘Fairy of Mischievousness’ and ‘Fairy of Diamonds’ in The Sleeping Beauty. “…charismatic new RWB apprentice Maureya Lebowitz, who throws sparks every time she's on stage as a star ballerina in the making,” describes Free Press reviewer Holly Harris of Lebowitz’s performance in this season’s Nutcracker.
Eric Nipp is from Salmon Arm, British Columbia and began dance training at the age of 11. He is a graduate of the RWB School Professional Division. As a student he was the recipient of the Antonio Klockow Memorial Bursary. Nipp graduated from the Professional Division in 2005 and then completed a year in the School’s Aspirant Program, under the direction of Stéphane Léonard. Nipp made his professional debut in 2005 in the RWB’s Nutcracker. In 2006, he joined Ballet Kelowna where he danced for a season. He returned to Winnipeg this past season to join the RWB as an apprentice dancing in Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Mauricio Wainrot’s new work Carmen, The Passion. Nipp’s performance repertoire also includes Serenade, Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet and Carmina Burana.
Thiago Dos Santos is originally from Brazil. He has trained at Espaço de Danças Ilusão e Vida and Escola de Ballet Sandra Amaral in Brazil, and most recently at the Pacific Dance Arts Centre in Vancouver. While training he was awarded scholarships from all three institutions. Santos’ classical repertoire includes Paquita, Blue Bird Pas de Deux, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, The Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker.
Originally from Victoria, British Columbia, Tao Kerr started her dance training at the age of five. She trained professionally at the RWB School Professional Division where she received a certificate of study in 2006. Kerr has spent the last two seasons in the RWB School’s Aspirant program. She made her professional debut this past December in the RWB’s Nutcracker and recently toured with the Company to her home province performing in The Sleeping Beauty. As a student Kerr has performed in several works including Bruce Monk’s Secret Favourite and Sigh, Cry and Hungry Kiss.
Tristan Dobrowney, originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan will graduate from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division in June. Dobrowney began Ukrainian dancing at age six and ballet at age 12. Since beginning his training at the RWB School, he has received several awards from the RWB School. Tristan has danced the role of ‘Julian’ in the RWB’s Nutcracker and the roles of ‘Page Boy’ and ‘Guard’ in the RWB’s Swan Lake. He has also performed in various RWB School productions, including the role of ‘Alain’ in La fille mal gardeé and will dance the role of ‘Basillio’ in the School’s year-end performance of Don Quixote.
The RWB’s closes its 68th season with All Balanchine! at the Centennial Concert Hall May 7 – 11. Tickets are now on sale at the RWB Customer Service Office at 380 Graham Avenue or by calling (204) 956-2792 or 1-800-667-4792. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling (204) 253-ARTS (2787).
-30-
For more information or interviews contact: Heather Saxton, RWB Publicity Manager, at hsaxton@rwb.org or (204) 957-3447
> back to top
|
 |