2026 Dance Company Concert
Our design team...
Choreographers: Susan Endrizzi
Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Scene Design: Szu-Feng Chen
Costume Design: Victoria Carot
Lighting Design: Lih-Hwa Yu
Assistant Lighting Design: Gianna Anthony
Stage Manager: Sierra Quigley
Assistant Stage Managers: Jayme Homen and Anujin Udaanjargal
Projection Design: Assaf Benchetrit
Peter and the Wolf
The 2026 Ballet Company presents...
Choreographers: Susan Endrizzi
Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Cast
Narrator: Christi McGaffigan
Peter: Nate Straussberg
Wolf: Hayden Wink
Bird: Ella Roberts
Duck:
Mariah Curtis (2/18, 2/20, 2/21 mat.)
Melanie Yelle (2/19, 2/21 eve., 2/22)
Cat:
Fiona Fitzpatrick (2/18, 2/20, 2/21 eve.)
Jordan Stanley (2/19, 2/21 mat., 2/22)
Grandfather: Jackson Bowser
Butterflies: Abigail Bailey, Anna Baker
Hunters:
Matt Clement
Mariah Curtis (2/19, 2/21 eve., 2/22)
Kristen Hansen
Erik Hilyard
Chase Johnson
Juliet O'Brienhalla
Ellie Varnum Reese Whittaker
Melanie Yelle (2/28, 2/20, 2/21 mat.)
Tree Nymphs:
Jenna Bobrowski
Meghan Bowden
Kylie Czarnik
Fiona Fitzpatrick (2/19, 2/21, 2/22 mat.)
Hannah Kuhlmeier
Katherina Sanromá
Jordan Stanley (2/18, 2/20, 2/21 eve.)
Water Spirits:
Mariah Curtis (2/12, 2/21 eve., 2/22)
Kristen Hansen
Charlotte Harnett
Emily Hourihan
Riley Levesque
Juliet O'Brienhalla
Ellie Varnum
Reese Whittaker
Melanie Yelle (2/18, 2/20, 2/21 mat.)
Understudies:
Hunter and Water Sprite: Tessa Dube
Water Sprite and Butterfly: Rose Jacquinet
Tree Nymph, Hunter, Water Sprite: Faith Maurais
Hunter and Water Sprite: Teagan McCausland
Pirates
Pirates is a rebellion in motion- bold, defiant, and unstoppable. Performed by a powerful all-female cast, this exciting dance production unleashes the pirate within, telling a fierce story of women who dare to rise, resist, and write their own legends. Through movement and theatrical storytelling, they take the helm, steer the storm, and ignite a revolution on stage.
Director: Gay Nardone
Choreographers: Mary Beth Marino and Gay Nardone
Assistant Choreographers: Natalia Covish and Kelsea Thomson
Aerial Choreographers: Gay Nardone and Shayla Wilkinson
Assistant Aerial Choreographers: Emilie Buchanan
Aerial Coaches: Hannah Beck, Gay Nardone, Alex Poulis, and Shayla Wilkinson
People of the Land
Music: "Tusk" by Fleetwood Mac
Choreography: Kelsea Thomson
Dancers: Emilie Buchanan, Katie Webber, Olivia Elliott, Reese Whittaker, Delaney Hodsdon, Emily Palermo, Jadyn Kyes, Leah Weeden, Olivia Van Buskirk, Ana Liz Bourassa, Hanna Pezzelli, Kelsea Thomson, Katherine Sanromá, Valerie Reynolds (U/S)
Sirens of the Sea
Music: "Se Lest" by Sigur Ros
Dancers: Abby Lancaster, Bella Cannon, Ashley Hamilton, Hali Schwalb, Savannah Hayes, Ellie Francoeur, Julia McDevitt, Natalia Covish, Maggie Noon, Kylie Czarnik, Alyssa Green, Olivia Dragani, Emily Hill (U/S)
The Ship Enters
Music: "Si La Nieve" by Hevia
Aerialists: Katie Webber, Reese Whittaker, Ashley Hamilton
Spotters: Olivia Van Buskirk, Hannah Pezzelli, Kelsea Thomson
The Ship's Sails
Music: "Raven" by Hedningarna
Aerialists: Emilie Buchanan, Olivia Elliott, Leah Weeden
Spotters: Hannah Pezzelli and Julia McDevitt
Pirate's Pulse
Music: "Uccen" by Taalbi Brothers
Dancers: Bella Cannon, Olivia Elliott, Reese Whittaker, Emily Palermo, Hali Schwalb, Olivia Van Buskirk, Ana Liz Bourassa, Olivia Dragani, Emily Hill (U/S)
Pirate's Strength
Music: "The Pirate That Should Not Be" by Rodrigo y Gabriela
Dancers: Abby Lancaster, Ashley Hamilton, Delaney Hodsdon, Jadyn Kyes, Savannah Hayes, Julia McDevitt, Natalia Covish, Kelsea Thomson, Katherine Sanromá, Maggie Noon, Kylie Czarnik, Alyssa Green, Valerie Reynolds (U/S)
The First Alliance
Music:
Aerialists: Emilie Buchanan, Olivia Elliott, Leah Weeden, Reese Whittaker
Dancers: Katie Webber, Delaney Hodsdon, Hali Schwalb, Hannah Pezzelli, Maggie Noon, Kylie Czarnik
Spotters: Hali Schwalb and Katie Webber
The Warning- Spirits of the Ship
Choreography: Natalia Covish
Music: "Fires in Heaven" by Salem
Dancers: Emilie Buchanan, Olivia Elliot, Ashley Hamilton, Leah Weeden, Savannah Hayes, Hannah Pezzelli, Natalia Covish, Kelsea Thomson, Alyssa Green, Olivia Dragani, Olivia Van Buskirk
The Worlds Collide
Music: "Lion" by Kodo
Dancers: Full Company
Territorial Battle
Music: "Kuku" by Cameron Tummel
Dancers: Bella Cannon, Reese Whittaker, Emily Palermo Hali Schwalb, Olivia Van Buskirk, Ana Liz Bourassa, Elli Francoeur, Julia McDevitt, Natalia Covish, Kylie Czarnik, Alyssa Green, Olivia Dragani, Valerie Reynolds (U/S)
Caught and Captured
Music: "Mermaid" by Daugher Darling
Aerialists: Emilie Buchanan and Olivia Elliott
Spotters: Abby Lancaster and Maggie Noon
Strength Found in the Power of Many
Music: "Drommon Om Bagdad" by Hege Rimestad
Aerialists: Emilie Buchanan, Reese Whittaker, Leah Weeden, Olivia Van Buskirk, Kelsea Thomson, Katherine Sanromá
Base/Spotters: Katie Webber, Olivia Elliot, Hali Schwalb, Jadyn Kyes, Savannah Hayes, Hannah Pezzelli, Julia McDevitt, Ashley Hamilton
Finale
Music:
Dancers: Full Company
Lady and Bird
Lady and Bird is a choreographic study of consciousness under threat. A "model repair" begins by reducing ambiguity and rewriting perception- until the repair hardens into a rule, then a weight. What counts as rescue: an external hand, an internal story, or the capacity to recognize the moment gravity changes- when comfort becomes instruction, when closeness becomes force, and the edge begins to feel like an answer.
Choreography: Assaf Benchetrit
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach, Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582 La Ballade of Lady and Bird (spoken text)
Cast:
Lady: Reese Whittaker
Bird: Emily Hourihan
Hush: Erik Hilyard
The Vein: Hannah Kuhlmeier, Jenna Bobrowski, Kylie Czarnik, Katherine Sanromá
Bios
Gay Nardone
Gay Nardone teaches and choreographs grounded and aerial dance at UNH. She instituted the aerial arts program at UNH for the Department of Theatre and Dance in 2002. This was the first aerial program of its kind housed at a university in the United States. It has been featured on CBC Radio in Canada as well as on WMUR’s “Chronicle” in New Hampshire, and nationally by CBS Television. She received her M.F.A. and B.F.A. from the Boston Conservatory. Gay has performed in musicals, nightclubs, the concert stage and TV and began her career with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Gay also danced with the famed June Taylor Dancers of the Jackie Gleason television show. Gay has most recently performed at Lincoln Center in the Lifetime Achievement Awards for Dean Diggins, toured with tap great Brenda Bufalino in “Off The Beaten Path: A Jazz Tap Odyssey” also featuring Josh Hilberman, Drika Overton and Olivia Rosenkrantz. She choreographed and performed in “Clara’s Dream,” the “Jazz Nutcracker,” stage production. The film is currently being shown at theatres in New York and Portsmouth NH during the Holiday seasons 2017-2019. In the spring of 2017 Gay took three Dance Majors to perform in universities, theatres and Tea Houses in Chengdu China. This cultural exchange was a collaboration with the UNH Music Department. It is known as the Panda Project!
Assaf Benchetrit
Assaf Benchetrit began his dance and music studies at the Rubin Academy for Music and Dance in Jerusalem, Israel. Upon graduation, he danced with the Jerusalem Dance Theater, the Panov Ballet, and later with The Israeli National Ballet Company. During his military service, Assaf received the “Remarkable Dancer” prize from the Israeli government which allowed him to continue dancing while serving. After completing his military service, he arrived in the United States to dance with companies such as The Joffrey, Metropolitan Classical Ballet, Alabama Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, and Gelsey Kirkland Ballet. Throughout his career, Assaf toured through England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and numerous other countries. Assaf holds a joint B.S in computer science and B.F.A in dance degrees with academic honors from Montclair State University, and an M.F.A degree in dance from Hollins/ADF/Frankfurt. He was a faculty member at Yale University, Columbia University (Barnard College), Rutgers University, Montclair State University, and Raritan Valley Community College.
Susan Endrizzi
Susan Endrizzi received her B.F.A. in dance performance from Butler University. Her professional credits include performances with Ballet New England and Ballet Theatre of Pennsylvania. Endrizzi joined José Mateo's Ballet Theatre of Boston in 1995 where she danced original choreography for 9 years, taught all levels of ballet, and was a rehearsal assistant. Other teaching credits include University of Massachusetts Boston, Portsmouth School of Ballet, and Northeastern Ballet Theatre. Endrizzi teaches Ballet for Cross-Training, Ballet I, Ballet II, and Pointe. In addition to her courses, she is a rehearsal assistant for the UNH Dance Company and choreographed the following productions in collaboration with the UNH Orchestra: selections from the Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf, and Reminiscence for UNH’s 150th celebration at the Music Hall in Portsmouth. Most recently she restaged Michel Fokine’s Polovetzian Dances from the opera Prince Igor in collaboration with the UNH Orchestra and Choir.
Mary Beth Marino
Mary Beth has been a dance educator for over 20 years. She is a Senior Lecturer here at the University of New Hampshire teaching jazz, tap and dance history. She is a dance adjudicator on the regional and national level. Mary Beth’s most recent choreography projects include Beauty and the Beast for the Prescott Park Arts Festival, Bright Star and the Panda Project’s celebration of Music and Dance for the Confucius Institute in Chengdu, China. Much love to C and A for being my everything. For more, please visit: http://marybethmarino.wixsite.com/mbmarino
Production Staff & Crew
Director of Design & Theatre Technology
Szu-Feng Chen
Technical Director
Jason Wright
Costume Shop Supervisor
Victoria Carot
Manager of Theatre Operations
Alexander Velasco-Butler-Farlow
Marketing
Olivia Krick
Ella Roberts
Lead Fly Operator and Deck Chief
Natalie Ashline
Sound Engineer
Alexander Velasco-Butler-Farlow
Audio Engineer
Liah Dominguez
Master Electrician
Jayme Homen
Backstage Scenery Crew
Luna Natusch
Joe DePuydt
Nina Campos
Noelle Daigle
Wardrobe Supervisor
Frankie Minich
Stitchers
Caeli Aucoin
Addie Putnam
Wardrobe Crew
Zoe Eldredge
Ruski Harrington
Amelia Nudd-Homeyer
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