danceupsummer 2009providing Hope and Opportunity Through Dance, Academic and Family programs

Saint Joseph Balletmelanie ríos glaser,

executive and artistic director

Thursday - SundayMay 28-31

Fall Wine Tasting BenefitJoin us for a delicious evening featuring a wine tasting of 90+ point rated wines. For early reservations and sponsorship opportunities, please contact amy larson at 714-541-8314 x40

ThursdayOctober 1

Choreographer’s Chatenjoy a free pre-concert choreographer’s chat at the irvine Barclay theatre hosted by executive and artistic director, melanie ríos glaser and featuring guest chore-ographers mark Haim, Jeff slayton and nami Yamamoto.

FridayMay 29

From Here…experience a performance that unites choreographers who are shaping dance today with a cast of over 100 young artists.tickets available through the irvine Barclay theatre online at www.thebarclay.org or call 949-854-4646.

can dance end poverty?We begin with the body in dance

because it is the structure of our humanity, a root shared by every human being on earth.

dance frees the body, it animates the spirit and hope surfaces. the dance we value at saint Joseph Ballet is about possibility and expansion. You feel a sense of accomplishment and you yearn for more—you are able to discern opportunity.

self-actualization is the goal. We are working arduously to keep

offering the inextricable programs of dance, academic and family services to our youth in this economic climate. if you are able, i ask you, help us stay strong-send our roots rain. For all of you who do, i thank you on behalf of all the young lives that you have moved out of poverty and into the dance of possibility.

in the first personMelanie Ríos Glaser

mine, o thou lord of life, send my roots rain.”gerard manley Hopkins

“

2 Saint Joseph Ballet | summer 2009

Kathi SaageWhen Kathi saage walks in

at saint Joseph Ballet, many of our young ones swarm around her with hugs. Kathi has been a member of the saint Joseph Ballet family, as both a devout volunteer and financial supporter, for over a decade. Back in 1998, new to orange county, she had read newspaper and magazine articles on saint Joseph Ballet and decided she wanted to help the cause. saage volunteered as a teaching assistant for a bal-let class, when the organiza-tion was based at its former Fourth street location. “since there was just one studio, the classes would have upwards of 70 kids in attendance. i helped the students learn dance steps, and helped with the crowd control that was necessary for a class of that size.” From there, Kathi vol-unteered often and passion-ately. most recently, she has become synonymous with saint Joseph Ballet’s annual reading program, helping to faithfully lead the program twice a week. “i adore the kids, that is obvious. But what also keeps me at saint Joseph Ballet, versus another after-school program, is that i can see how very effective the programs are. i have been around long enough to watch a lot of these students grow up. i have seen them go from being uncertain they would make it, to finding an interest, a purpose, and then wanting to go to college.” she credits a lot of that success to the security and support students get at saint Joseph Ballet, “it is so important that it is safe for these children to find out who they are, to grow up being nurtured, to push themselves harder than they felt they could previ-ously do. it is brave to gradu-ate high school when your peers are not.”

Kathi will be moving to northern california this month and will be deeply missed. she leaves a lasting legacy of the power of volunteers to exert change. “When i think of saint Joseph Ballet, i think of comfort. i could enter that building after a hard day, and all the bad stuff is instantly gone.” We know that it was her touch that lifted the spirits of her young mentees here and we are forever indebted to Kathi for her constant service.

supporter spotligHt

Fall Wine Tasting

Join us for this 3rd annual event, which brings together our supporters, Board and alumni. this popular evening is once again generously hosted by John and Janice markley. Known for his atten-

tion to detail, John has been working since last spring’s event to curate another amazing collection of wines, all rated 90 points or higher by Wine Spectator and Robert Parker. there will be 11 wines, 6 whites and 5 reds. the “headliner” will be chateau d’YQuem sauterne. as noted in the Wine spectator, “everyone should have the chance once in their lifetime to taste this, best in the world sauterne.”

in addition to the wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and desserts, guests will have the opportunity to meet saint Joseph Ballet students and enjoy a short dance preview.

over 170 guests attended last year’s event, so space is limited. tickets are $175 per person. For early reservations and sponsorship opportunities, please contact amy larson (714) 541-8314, ext. 40, or amy@saintJosephBallet.org.

Thursday, October 1, 20096:30 – 8:30 pm

an evening to benefit saint Joseph Ballet’s dance, education & family service programs.

save tHe date!

may 28th – 31st, saint Joseph Ballet pres-ents its 26th annual concert, From Here… the performance is an uplifting combina-tion featuring the youthful energy of a 100-person cast with the visionary artistry of the nation’s top contemporary dance choreographers: mark Haim, Jeff slayton and nami Yamamoto. the transformation during the concert process for everyone involved begs the realization, “From here, you can go anywhere.”

“the biggest change was in me.” Jeff slayton says of his time choreographing his new work, Tribute. “i have always been slightly afraid of teenagers, and have also shied away from working with a large number of dancers. i have found that i can do both and that these teenagers are far from scary.” slayton created Tribute in homage to mentors merce cunningham and viola Farber. Tribute elegantly weaves historical references with slayton’s current sensibility.

slayton’s piece will be served up along-side the work of mark Haim and nami Yamamoto. says Haim: “melanie ríos glaser says i make my best work here, and i must agree.” His piece, What Is Too Strong For Breaking, received ovations loud and long last year. “i felt so full of joy at the end of last year’s concert. i did not know there would be a reprise, but of course i kept my fingers crossed!”

two-time saint Joseph Ballet concert veteran, nami Yamamoto returns to create a new piece, Flying with my shooting stars, speaking to the power of individual growth and attaining aspira-tions above and beyond how they were first envisioned. once again, she strikes with searing, compassionate images. Yamamoto invites puppeteer matt acheson and his endearing puppet tony to collaborate in the dance. Yamamoto says, “When i am with the dancers at saint Joseph Ballet, they always surprise me - they bring such a fresh and sincere quality to the stage. it’s almost like they are giving me an opportunity to discover something new and fresh.”From Here…

Tickets start at only $20 and are available through Ticketmaster and www.thebarclay.org or 949-854-4646

Media Sponsor

Made possible in part by the Helen Sperry Lea Foundation and an award from:

From Here…May 28 – 30, 8 pmMay 30 & 31, 2:30 pm MatineeIrvine Barclay Theatre

www.SaintJosephBallet.org 3

the current average gpa for saint Joseph Ballet students is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 290 students have used the Betty Hutton education center since september 2008, working with 7 paid tutors and 5 volunteers specializing in math and science.

82 students are currently enrolled in one-on-one tutoring sessions. out of these 82 students, 41 students with gpas 2.0 or below are in mandatory tutoring.of the 10 current students that began the year in mandatory tutoring, 80%

averaged a 1.0 increase in gpa. evaluations for all students in tutoring are mailed to the student’s parents to keep them informed of their child’s progress.

in addition to dance classes and family services, one of the cornerstones of saint Joseph Ballet’s successful outcomes is our free one-on-one tutoring sessions.

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2009 Graduating ClassDiana Aguilarorange coast collegeJessica Camacho Wellesley collegeCecilia Canocalifornia institute of the artsYesenia Capellino university of california, santa cruzDavid Carmona california state university FullertonRocio Cruz california state university FullertonEvelyn Cortesorange coast college

Levi Cortes orange coast collegeSindy De La Cruzuniversity of california, los angelesAllison De Leónnorthern arizona universityEric Gamasanta ana collegeJacqueline Hurtadocypress collegeEsbeydy Pardocalifornia state university FullertonDesiree Perez orange coast college

Jocelyn Perezsanta ana collegeJeffrey Rodriguezcalifornia state university san BernardinoRosselle Sandoval san Francisco state universityVictoria Senechalcalifornia state university riversideViviana Sosa santa ana collegeEdna Tobiassanta ana collegeJudy Tranuniversity of california, los angeles

For the fourth year in a row, 100% of saint Joseph Ballet graduates plan to go on to college. this is three times the national average for their peers. many saint Joseph Ballet students are the first in their family to not only enroll in college, but to graduate from high school. congratulations to the saint Joseph Ballet class of 2009. support for saint Joseph Ballet’s pre-collegiate mentoring is made possible in part by the Junior league of orange county, california, inc.

Graduation Ceremony Friday, June 12, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

the rsvp, please contact ellen reader at 714-541-8314 x24

Celebrate Saint Joseph Ballet’s Class of 2009!

Based on their gpa’s, 17 students will be receiving 4-year college scholarships from saint Joseph Ballet, ranging from $1,000 - $2,500 annually.

saint Joseph Ballet’s class of 2009, alongside the organization’s Board of directors.

Saint Joseph Ballet

2008-2009 Board of Directors

4 Saint Joseph Ballet | summer 2009

Non profit Org.US postage

pAIDOrange, CA

permit No. 356

Sponsor a Star

ERnESTO VASquEz, Board EmeritusAIA and Vice president, McLarand,

Vasquez, Emsiek & partners

SOCORRO VASquEz, Board EmeritaCommunity Leader

DAMiEn JORDAn, ChairSenior Vice president, General ManagerThe American Funds Service Company

JiM SLAuGHTER, Vice ChairAttorney at Law, Slaughter & Slaughter LLp

JACOB PREuS, Secretary president, Concordia University

RiCHARD C. HunSAkER, Treasurerpresident, Hunsaker Management

JOAn BEALLCommunity Leader

BETH BuRnSSaint Joseph Ballet Founder

and Artistic Director (’83-’05)

CATHERinE CHASESenior Vice president, Credit Suisse

ARLEnE CRAiGpresident, The Betty L. Hutton

Title Holding Co.Vice-president, The Hutton Foundation

JiM DRiSCOLLCommunity Leader

FRAnk FOSTERprincipal, Residential Strategies, LLC

JAn FOSTERCommunity Leader

GinniE HunSAkERCommunity Leader

YVOnnE M. JORDAnCommunity Leader

JuAn LAGunAAttorney at Law, parent Representative

CATHERinE MACiVERSenior Vice president

Bank of America Insurance Services Group

ROBERT MAiREnApresident, Office Solutions

DOnALD MCkAYLEprofessor of Dance,

University of California, Irvine

JACOBé MuRiLLOparent Representative

CYRuS PARkER–JEAnnETTEChair, Dance Department

California State University, Long Beach

LARRY STOFkOSenior Vice president,

Chief Information Officer Saint Joseph Health System

FERnAnDO ViVAnCODirector of International Communications

Boeing IDS Support Systems

BARBARA YinGLinGCommunity Leader

WiLLiAM YinGLinG iiiCommunity Leader

photos by: Mayra Avina, Kevin p. Casey,

and Kathi Kent.

Saint Joseph Ballet thanks pickle Group for graciously

underwriting a portion of the cost of this newsletter.

1810 north main streetsanta ana, ca 92706(714) 541-8314www.saintJosephBallet.org

return service reQuested

127 students will arrive at the irvine Barclay theatre on opening night of saint Joseph Ballet’s 26th annual concert, From Here… next to the bright lights of the dressing room mirrors, the children will see their names displayed on large silver stars.

this moment represents months of rehearsals and tremendous dedication. it also represents a personal evolution. When they take the stage and are witnessed by an audience, these students start to realize that who they are and what they have to say matters – despite the odds many of them must overcome.

You can make a difference in the lives of low-income youth by “sponsoring a star” today. star sponsorships start at only $25 per student star, $250 per senior star and $2,500 per choreographer star.

Sponsorships can be made:online at www.saintJosephBallet.org and clicking on the “make a donation” button, select “the star campaign” as your fund.By returning your sponsorship in the enclosed donation envelope.or, by contacting ellen reader at 714-541-8314 x24.

sponsors of $250 and above will be invited to a backstage tour to see their star(s).

SAinT JOSEPHBALLET

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