The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Nutmeg’s class of 2017 takes a bow
As The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory celebrates the final performances of the program’s 47th season on May 13, the Class of 2017 will take their final bow and leap into a world of new adventures and endless possibilities.
This year’s class represents a shining example of what dedicated discipline, focused attention to detail, and meticulous training can accomplish. Whatever their point of origin and regardless of their relentless pursuit of individual goals, The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory diploma and certificate recipients share at least one significant thing in common: their paths have converged to pursue a dream. For these 14 students, training at The Nutmeg Ballet is the very first step in a wonderfully exciting journey to realizing that dream.
“It’s hard to believe that another group of Nutmeg graduates will be leaving us. We are incredibly proud of everything they have accomplished during their time with us,” said The Nutmeg’s Artistic Director, Victoria Mazzarelli. “We wish the Class of 2017 all the best and hope that the ‘details’ we have taught them will serve them well in their lives.”
This year, two very special graduates have earned the 10-Year Pre-Professional Program diploma. Alma Evertz, who will graduate from Torrington High School with high honors this year, began her ballet training at the age of 3 with the Torrington School of Ballet. From her debut in the Nutcracker as Little Marie to her final bows as a Sugar Plum, she will always carry what she has learned at Nutmeg with her. Alma looks forward to attending Mount Holyoke College and beginning the first of many new and exciting adventures. Makenna Wollman of Burlington, Connecticut and student of Nutmeg’s Classical Academic Program, has been selected for membership to the National Society of High School Scholars for her outstanding scholarship. Makenna has been dancing in the studios of 58 Main Street since she was 7, and says she feels fortunate to have created so many amazing memories in this very special place.
Nutmeg’s class of 2017 includes two Four-Year Pre-Professional Program graduates. Brenna Budaj, selected for membership to the National Society of High School Scholars and student of Nutmeg’s Classical Academic Program, hails from Glastonbury. Brenna will attend Pace University in New York City where she will major in Arts and Entertainment Management. Grace Canfield of New Castle, Virginia looks forward to dancing at Oklahoma City Ballet this summer. As she looks forward to new roles, she counts among her favorites Les Sylphide, Clara, and the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Graduating from the TwoYear Pre-Professional Program are Emily Quarantillo (Berkeley Springs, West Virginia) who is headed to American Repertory Ballet as a trainee, Jada Schiller (Aspen, Colorado) who will attend University of Utah’s School of Dance, Demeri Sutula (Brookfield, Connecticut) attending the OU School of Dance at the University of Oklahoma, and Alexandra Wells (Cincinnati, Ohio) attending Johnson and Wales University as a Culinary Arts major.
Honorees completing one year of a Nutmeg program include Deaglan Erhart (O’Fallon, Missouri), Brynmira Kaplan (Charlotte, Vermont), Mollie Petrizzo (West Hartford, Connecticut), Sarah Santarsiero (Long Island, New York), Amber Hirshfield (Southbury, Connecticut), and Kyra Olson (Wolcott, Connecticut).
When Alma Evertz and Makenna Wollmann step up to the podium to address their fellow graduates and honorees on Saturday, May 13, they will remind those in attendance what it means to dream and then act upon that idea with a sense of commitment, devotion, and relentless discipline.
Dr. Jennifer Wojcik, Director of Arts for the Gunnery, will be the Class of 2017 keynote speaker. As she captivates the audience with her passion and commitment to the arts, she will inspire these young artists to reach new heights as they embark upon new challenges, endless opportunities, and fascinating adventures.
Graduation performances, which take place May 10-13, 2017 in The Nutmeg’s Premiere Studio Theatre, will enchant, inspire, and awaken the senses to reveal a journey of many small steps in pursuit of very large dreams.