Promotions and New Adventures

Our 2021/22 Season has come to a close as summer beckons. We are immensely proud of the dedication and passion our 23 company members brought to the studio and the stage, even in the most uncertain of times. Our dancers are more than beautiful and talented artists, they are brilliant and kind humans.

The change of seasons means some dancers are moving into new roles, and some are moving on to other companies or pursuits. Before we welcome new dancers in the fall, we want to take time to celebrate the accomplishments of our 2021/22 roster and bid farewell to dancers that will be greatly missed.

The 2021/22 Company Artists, photo by Ari Denison

Looking Back

First, a review of this stellar season that we thought might never happen:

• Cinderella—A magical production that brought live performance back into the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, with the largest audience the Hult had seen since March 2020.
• Nutcracker—Seven performances at the Hult (more than ever!) rekindling the holiday tradition of being together that we all needed.
• Celebration of the Uncommon Woman—Dancers worked with five brilliant female choreographers, stretching their range in new and wonderful ways.
• Heaven and Earth—Live percussion artists on stage with the dancers! We can still feel the drum and marimba reverberating in our bones from this electrifying collaboration.
• Taming of the Shrew—A long-awaited steampunk dream. Dancers were beautifully adorned in elaborate costumes as they brought Toni Pimble’s world premiere to the otherworldly stage.

The final bow of the season at Taming of the Shrew, photo by Katie Patrick

Promotions

We are thrilled to announce Sarah Kosterman’s promotion to Principal Dancer. Sarah joined Eugene Ballet as an Aspirant Dancer in 2016 and was promoted to Company Dancer in 2018. She has shined on stage as Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara in The Nutcracker, in Penny Saunders’ Ghost Light, and most recently as Bianca in Toni Pimble’s Taming of the Shrew. We can’t wait to see her in this new and exciting role in the Company.

Sarah Kosterman, photo by Ari Denison

Two dancers in our Aspirant program, Jade McAnally and Nina Nicotera, have been promoted to Company Dancers for the 2022/23 Season. Jade and Nina both joined Eugene Ballet in 2020. Congratulations!

Left: Jade McAnally, photo by Ari Denison. Right: Nina Nicotera, photo by Jeremy Kyle.

We are so excited for and proud of Eugene Ballet Academy dancer Selena Prince, selected as an Aspirant with the Company. Selena joined the Academy at the age of six, and has performed with the Company in productions such as The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, and Cinderella.

Selena Prince in Eugene Ballet Academy’s end of year showcase in June 2021

New Adventures

William Robichaud and Alexandra Carey are moving to San Antonio, TX to join Ballet San Antonio (BSA). Alexandra has been an Aspirant Dancer since 2019, and joins the BSA corps. William, a Company Dancer since 2017, joins BSA as a soloist. This season they each performed beautifully in many roles, especially in Cinderella as Winter Fairy and Winter Fairy Attendant. We will miss you both.

Alessandro Angelini came to Eugene Ballet in 2018 and has been a multi-talented member of the Company. You may know him from his electric presence on stage and his voice as the host of Eugene Ballet’s podcast, At the Barre (listen HERE). Alessandro’s new adventure is in Portland, OR as Associate Director of Canvassing Operations for Oregon Public Broadcasting

Left: William Robichaud and Alexandra Carey as Winter Fairy and Winter Fairy Attendant. Right: Alessandro Angelini, photo by Dillon Vibes.

Abigrace Diprima joined Eugene Ballet in 2020. We have enjoyed her grace, elegance, and kind spirit on and off the stage. She moves on to Texture Contemporary Ballet in Pittsburgh, PA for the 2022/23 Season. Abigrace also has a handmade jewelry business, Ballerina Trinkets. We wish Abigrace the best of luck in her new adventures.

Kyra Laubacher joined Eugene Ballet as an Aspirant Dancer in 2020. You may also know her as the artist behind The Painte Shoppe, creating several stunning embellished pointe shoes for Eugene Ballet this season. A talented journalist writing for Pointe Magazine, Kyra’s next step in the dance world is Assistant Editor of DanceMedia.

Left: Kyra Laubacher, photo by Jeremy Kyle. Right: Abigrace Diprima, photo by Antonio Anacan.

Nicholas Sakai joined Eugene Ballet in 2020. This past season, audiences enjoyed him as Hans in The Nutcracker, in Suzanne Haag’s Conduct, and most recently as Lucentio in Toni Pimble’s Taming of the Shrew. Though we are sad to see Nicholas go, you can still catch him on stage as he joins Oregon Ballet Theater in Portland, OR. Congratulations!

Nicholas Sakai, photo by Ari Denison

We are able to celebrate these artists and encourage future generations of artists because of your generosity and support. Thank you for helping us nurture the love of dance.