No upcoming perfomances found for this event.
Principal Casting April 21, 2023
Christine Shevchenko
Calvin Royal III
Katherine Williams
Principal Casting April 22, 2023
Devon Teuscher
Aran Bell
Zhong-Jing Fang
Christine Shevchenko, Principal Dancer
Christine Shevchenko was born in Odessa, Ukraine where she was chosen to train in rhythmic gymnastics and ballet at an Olympic School. At the age of eight, she moved to the United States and trained for nine years at Pennsylvania Ballet’s Rock School. In 2003, Shevchenko became the youngest recipient of the Princess Grace Award. Other awards include the Bronze Medal in the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, 2005 Gold Medal and Title of Laureate at the Moscow International Ballet Competition, the George Zoritch of Ballet Russe Award for Talent Recognition, and the 2010 Margaret Moore Dance Award. S
Shevchenko joined American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in August 2006, joined the main Company as an apprentice in December 2007 and the corps de ballet in June 2008. She became a Soloist in 2014 and a Principal Dancer in September 2017.
Calvin Royal III, Principal Dancer
Calvin Royal III began his formal dance training under the direction of Suzanne Pomerantzeff and Patricia L. Paige at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix Scholarship Competition in New York City in April 2006 and joined the American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in September 2006.
Royal joined ABT II (now ABT Studio Company) in December 2007, became an apprentice with the main Company in October 2010, and joined the corps de ballet in April 2011. He was appointed a Soloist in September 2017 and a Principal Dancer in September 2020.
Royal was named a finalist at the 2013 Clive Barnes Awards and, in 2014, was awarded the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship to further his artistic development. He was named the 2020-2021 Artist-in-Residence for the Vail Dance Festival in Vail, Colorado.
Katherine Williams, Soloist
Katherine Williams was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and began her early training with the Hawaii State Ballet. After moving to Maryland with her family, she studied at the Ballet Royale Academy under the direction of Donna Pidel. She was awarded the Youth Grand Prix at the 2003 Finals of the Youth America Grand Prix in New York and was a Top 12 Finalist at the 2005 Finals. In 2003, she was awarded a full scholarship to the Boston Ballet Summer Dance program. From 2004 to 2006, she attended American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensives as a National Training Scholar and, in 2006, she attended the Stiefel and Stars Summer Program.
Williams joined the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in the Fall of 2005 and remained there until joining ABT Studio Company in January 2007. Williams became an apprentice with American Ballet Theatre in December 2007 and joined the corps de ballet in June 2008. She was promoted to Soloist in September 2018.
Devon Teuscher, Principal Dancer
Born in Pennsylvania, Devon Teuscher began her dance training at the age of nine under Deanna Doty at Champaign Urbana Ballet Academy in Champaign, Illinois, before studying at the Vermont Ballet Theatre School in Essex, Vermont under Alex and Kirsten Nagiba. Teuscher participated in summer intensives at The Kirov Ballet Academy and the Pacific Northwest Ballet, which she attended on full scholarship for two years. From 2002–2006, Teuscher attended American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive and was a National Training Scholar from 2003–2006. In January 2005, she began training at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School on full scholarship.
After joining ABT Studio Company in 2006, Teuscher became an apprentice with the main Company in December 2007. She joined the corps de ballet in June 2008, became a Soloist in August 2014 and a Principal Dancer in September 2017.
Aran Bell, Principal Dancer
Born in Bethesda, Maryland, Aran Bell began studying ballet at age four, receiving the majority of his early training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and with Denys Ganio in Rome, Italy. He spent several summers at the Royal Ballet School in London and at American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive in New York City. Between the ages of 11 and 16, Bell received the Hope Award at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York City, the Premio Positano, the Premio Amalfi Young Talent Award, a Gold Medal and Audience Choice Award at Rieti International Ballet Competition, and the Premio Capri Danza International Award, among other awards.
After joining ABT Studio Company in September 2014, Bell joined the main Company as an apprentice in May 2016 and became a member of the corps de ballet in March 2017. He was promoted to Soloist in September 2019 and appointed a Principal Dancer in September 2020.
Zhong-Jing Fang , Soloist
Born in Shanghai, China, Zhong-Jing Fang received her early training at the Shanghai Ballet School where she trained for seven years. Before joining American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in 2002, Fang graduated with a major in ballet from the Performing Arts College of Shanghai Drama University.
In 2000, Fang was the winner of the famed Prix de Lausanne, and winner of the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation Prize at the Ninth International Ballet Competition in Paris. In 2001, Fang won First Prize in the Junior Division of the Helsinki International Ballet Competition and first place in the Junior Division of the Shanghai International Ballet Competition.
Fang joined ABT’s main Company as an apprentice in April 2003 and became a member of the corps de ballet in January 2004. She was promoted to Soloist in September 2018.
Fang has created three works for ABT’s choreographic workshops: The Final Frame (2011), An Observation of the Dress Code (2019), and The Unforeseen (2021).
Choreography after Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa
Staged by Kevin McKenzie
Libretto by Théophile Gautier, on a theme by Heinrich Heine
Music by Adolphe Adam
Orchestrated by John Lanchbery
Scenery by Gianni Quaranta
Costumes by Anna Anni
Lighting by Jennifer Tipton
World Premiere
(Original Production)
Ballet du Théâtre de l’Academie Royale de Musique
June 28, 1841
Théâtre de l’Academie Royale de Musique
Paris, France
Cast:
Carlotta Grisi (Giselle)
Lucien Petipa (Albrecht)
Adele Dumilatre (Myrtha)
Premiere
May 21, 1998
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, New York
Cast:
Amanda McKerrow (Giselle)
Vladimir Malakhov (Albrecht)
Irina Dvorovenko (Myrta)
ACT I: The ballet is set in the vineyard country bordering the Rhine. Hilarion, the village huntsman and a gamekeeper to the court, returns from his early morning chores and pauses before a neighboring cottage—the home of Giselle, with whom he is in love. Villagers pass by on their way to the vineyards, where they will harvest the last of the grapes before the Wine Festival.
Count Albrecht arrives with his squire and enters a cottage opposite Giselle’s. He emerges dressed as a peasant, submits his disguise to the squire’s inspection, and dismisses him. Hilarion has witnessed this exchange and is puzzled that the squire should show such deference to this youth, who is known to the villager as a fellow peasant named Loys. Loys excuses himself from joining the grape pickers so that he can be alone with Giselle. He swears eternal love, and she takes the traditional test with a daisy—“he loves me, he loves me not.” When it appears the answer will be “not,” she throws the flower away; Loys retrieves it and, by surreptitiously discarding a petal, comes up with the answer “he loves me.” Hilarion interrupts, protesting that he, and not Loys, truly loves Giselle. A quarrel ensues, and Hilarion’s suspicions deepen as Loys instinctively reaches for the sword that, as a nobleman, he is accustomed to wearing.
The villagers return, and Giselle invites them to join in a dance to celebrate the harvest. Her mother, Berthe, interrupts and warns her that her life may be endangered if she overexerts herself by dancing. She is struck by a momentary hallucination of her daughter in death. She sees her as a wili, a restless spirit who has died with her love unrequited.
A horn sounds in the distance, and Loys recognizes it as coming from the hunting party of the prince of Courland. As Loys hastily departs, Hilarion breaks into Loys’ cottage. Refreshments are served to the hunters, and the prince’s daughter, Bathilde, gives Giselle a gold necklace when she learns they are both engaged to be married. After the royal party has returned to the hunt, Hilarion emerges from Loys’ cottage with a hunting horn and a sword, further evidence that the supposed peasant is, in fact, a nobleman.
The villagers return and proclaim Giselle the queen of the Wine Festival. Hilarion interrupts to denounce Loys as an impostor. When Loys denies the charges and threatens the gamekeeper with his sword, Hilarion blows the hunting horn, a signal for the prince to return. Loys is exposed as an impostor when Bathilde reveals that he is her fiancé, Count Albrecht. The shock of learning of Albrecht’s duplicity is too great for Giselle’s frail constitution. Her mind becomes unhinged, and she dies of a broken heart—her love unrequited.
ACT II: The scene is laid in a clearing in the forest near Giselle’s grave. The wilis are summoned by their queen, Myrta, to attend the ceremonies that will initiate Giselle into their sisterhood. Their love unrequited, they can find no rest. Their spirits are forever destined to roam the earth from midnight to dawn, vengefully trapping any male who enters their domain and forcing him to dance to his death. Hilarion, in search of Giselle, meets his death at their hands. Albrecht arrives to leave flowers on Giselle’s grave. He too is trapped and commanded to dance until death. Giselle resolves to protect him. She dances with him until the clock strikes four, at which hour the wilis lose their power. Albrecht is rescued from death.
Support for this program is made possible by the Peter Glenville Foundation and other generous donors who have committed time and resources to the Charleston Gaillard Center’s Dance Initiative.
Please note: Row DD will be the front row for this performance.
The Charleston Gaillard Center’s Education & Community Program is pleased to announce student tickets are available for this performance. Limited availability. Limited to two tickets per person with valid student/teacher ID.
Tickets available in advance: Tickets are $20 (plus applicable fees) for green seats on seatmap. Ticket purchasers must pick up their tickets at Will Call the night of the performance. NOTE: Please make sure to select Student/Teacher when purchasing tickets to receive your discount.
Day of Rush: Tickets are $25 (plus applicable fees). Available two hours prior to show time, best available.
Click here to sign up for education emails, including those regarding our student and teacher ticket program.
Join American Ballet Theatre, a leading performing arts institution dedicated to the legacy of classical dancing, onstage in the Martha & John M. Rivers Performance Hall. Register your interest in auditioning in April!
Supernumerary Requirements
Dance experience is not required, but movement or acting training is helpful! Supers must be available for all rehearsals and performances. Those cast are considered volunteers. There is no compensation.
- Boys, Age 8 – 10; Height: 4’6” to 4’8”; Shoe Size US 5.5 and Smaller
- Females, Age 14 – Mature; Height: 5’5” – 5’10”; Body Type: Various
- Males, Age 14 – Mature; Height: Various; Body Type: Various
Audition Date:
April 19 | 5:00PM – 7:00PM
Rehearsals:
April 19 | 7:00PM – 9:00PM
April 20 | 5:30PM – 9:00PM
April 21 | 11:30AM – 3:15PM
Performances:
April 21 | 7:30PM
April 22 | 7:30PM
Learn more & register your interest.
Friday, April 21, 2023 | 6:00pm-6:45pm
Charleston Gaillard Center’s Grand Ballroom
For ticket holders only. RSVP required. Please RSVP here.
President and CEO of the Charleston Gaillard Center, Lissa Frenkel, and Host and Executive Producer of FOX24 News Now, Leyla Gulen, in conversation with ABT’s Artistic Director, Susan Jaffe, and ABT principal dancer since 2002, Gillian Murphy.
Susan Jaffe, American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director
Declared by The New York Times as “America’s Quintessential American Ballerina,” Susan Jaffe enjoyed a career as a Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre for 22 years. After retiring from the stage in 2002, Jaffe taught in the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and served as an advisor to the chairman of the board of ABT until 2007. In 2010 she became a Director of Repertoire at ABT. Two years later, she was appointed Dean of Dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) in Winston-Salem, NC, a position she held for eight years. During her tenure at UNCSA, Jaffe and her faculty implemented a syllabus based on the ABT National Training Curriculum and established the Choreographic Institute of UNCSA. Additionally, she raised $3.5 million in endowed scholarships and other scholarships. In 2020 Jaffe was appointed the Artistic Director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. She helped to lead the company through the pandemic with digital programs, outdoor performances, and performances in museums. As audiences began returning to theaters, Jaffe curated programs that included classic ballets and diverse, innovative voices of today. Jaffe was appointed Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre in December 2022.
Gillian Murphy, Principal Dancer
Raised in Florence, South Carolina, Gillian Murphy began her ballet training at the age of three in Belgium and continued her studies in South Carolina. After training in South Carolina as a member of the Columbia City Ballet, she continued her training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with Melissa Hayden.
In 1995, she was awarded the Prix de Lausanne Espoir at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. In 1996, she was a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Level I awardee and a Presidential Scholar nominee. In 1998, she was honored with a Princess Grace Foundation-USA grant. The Princess Grace Foundation awarded her its highest honor, the Statue Award in 2009.
Murphy joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in August 1996, was promoted to Soloist in 1999 and to Principal Dancer in 2002.
Advanced/Pre-Professional Masterclass
Saturday, April 22 | 1:00PM-2:30PM
Dance Conservatory of Charleston 1632 Ashley Hall Road
Recommended 4-5 of years training | 13 years of age and older
$25
Scholarships are available. Please contact Sterling deVries at sdevries@gaillardcenter.org to learn more.
Instructor: ABT Principal Calvin Royal III
Please join the Charleston Gaillard Education & Community Program and our partner, Dance Conservatory of Charleston, for an Advanced/Pre-Professional Masterclass with American Ballet Theatre’s Principal Calvin Royall III.
Support for this program is made possible by the Peter Glenville Foundation and other generous donors who have committed time and resources to the Charleston Gaillard Center’s Dance Initiative.
About Calvin Royal III
Calvin Royal III began his formal dance training under the direction of Suzanne Pomerantzeff and Patricia L. Paige at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix Scholarship Competition in New York City in April 2006 and joined the American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in September 2006. Royal was the recipient of the Ethan Stiefel Scholarship in 2006 and 2007. While at the ABT JKO School, Royal appeared in original works by Raymond Lukens and Jessica Lang.
Royal joined ABT II (now ABT Studio Company) in December 2007 and danced leading roles including Prince Siegfried in the White Swan and Black Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake, George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Jerome Robbins’ Interplay, Antony Tudor’s Continuo, and works by Edward Liaang, Aszure Barton, Jodie Gates, and Brian Reeder.
Royal joined the main Company as an apprentice in October 2010 and the corps de ballet in April 2011. He was appointed a Soloist in September 2017 and a Principal Dancer in September 2020. His repertoire with the Company includes the title role in Apollo, a Cavalier in Cinderella, Dorcon in Daphnis and Chloe, Espada in Don Quixote, the third sailor in Fancy Free, Albrecht in Giselle, Persian Man in The Golden Cockerel, Pierrot in Alexei Ratmansky’s Harlequinade, Reverend Brocklehurst in Jane Eyre, Lescaut in Manon, Nutcracker, the Prince, Recruit, and the Arabian Man, and the Spanish Dance in Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker, Chaereas in Of Love and Rage, a Carnival Dancer in Othello, Romeo and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet, the Spanish Prince and Prince Fortune in The Sleeping Beauty, Prince Siegfried, von Rothbart, Benno, and the Spanish Dance in Swan Lake, Jaseion in Sylvia, Prince Coffee and Prince Cocoa in Whipped Cream, leading roles in Bach Partita, The Brahms-Haydn Variations, Her Notes, Piano Concerto #1, Seven Sonatas, Symphonic Variations, Thirteen Diversions, and ZigZag, and featured roles in AfterEffect, Black Tuesday, Clear, Company B, Deuce Coupe, Duets, In the Upper Room, Raymonda Divertissements and Sinfonietta.
He created the North Wind in A Gathering of Ghosts, Bacchus in The Seasons, a Fairy Cavalier in Ratmansky’s The Sleeping Beauty, Adam in Touché, leading roles in AFTERITE, Lifted, Serenade after Plato’s Symposium, Single Eye, and Songs of Bukovina, and featured roles in After You, AfterEffect, Dream within a Dream (deferred), New American Romance, and Praedicere.
Royal was named a finalist at the 2013 Clive Barnes Awards and, in 2014, was awarded the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship to further his artistic development. Royal has been featured in global campaigns for GAP, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Target, Ralph Lauren, and Canali. He was featured in the 2019 Pirelli Calendar alongside Misty Copeland, photographed by famed Scottish fashion, celebrity, and art photographer Albert Watson.
Royal was named the 2020-2021 Artist-in-Residence for the Vail Dance Festival in Vail, Colorado.
