NYDT Spring Soirée performance & reception

CELEBRATING 51 YEARS

Sleeping Beauty
June 7th, 2025 4PM
Stage 74 – Suffolk Y JCC

Featuring NYDT artists and students of the Ohman School of Ballet

Reception immediately following
For all ages

Costume Contest for children – win a ballet birthday party with the characters of Sleeping Beauty!

Tickets NOW on sale. 

Who’s Who?

Nicole Loizides Albruzzese (Executive Artistic Director, Choreographer, Performer, Master Teacher)
After training at the Ohman School of Ballet, Nicole was invited to dance with Joffrey ll and continued her dance career directly out of high school. In addition to performing for NYC Contemporary, Ballet Hispanico, and Momix for a collective 25 years, Nicole has been featured on the cover of Dance Magazine and performed on Live with Regis and Kelly. She’s performed for HM Queen Elizabeth and HM Prince Philip at the Royal Variety Show in Liverpool, England, appeared in MOMIXs Target commercial, and helped re-create Le Rêve at The Wynn, Las Vegas while also coaching performers in Cirque Du Soleil’s Love.

After dancing and teaching in over 45 countries, Nicole settled back home on Long Island with her husband Lou and created MOVING ON, Live Arts in 2018 and the Gold Coast Dance Festival in 2021. Ms. Loizides choreographed for the 2014 Opening Ceremonies for the Sochi Olympics, directed Abu Dhabi’s 44th National Day celebration alongside Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi and has been an artistic advisor and associate choreographer for numerous galas both local and afar for dozens of automobile, dance, cosmetic, and tech industry leaders. She is the Executive Artistic Director at New York Dance Theatre and the Ohman School of Ballet, a medical massage therapist and scar tissue specialist, an adjunct professor at LIU Post Campus, a dance adjudicator and master teacher, and a Board Member at Orkestai Farm in Oyster Bay, NY. She looks forward most to offering unique experiences that challenge the public to unplug and reconnect with One another and the natural world around them. “Dance offers a powerful shared experience for both dancers and non-dancers alike, allowing us to speak and listen simultaneously in a moment of pure connection and silence”. -NLA

Princess Aurora – Graceanne Pierce is a New York City based freelance musical theatre and ballet artist. She is a former Corps Artist of Ballet West and American Ballet Theatre Studio Company member for two seasons. Her repertoire includes George Balanchine’s “Jewels”, Alexei Ratmansky’s “The Nutcracker”, Lauren Lovette’s “Le Jeune”, Ethan Stiefel’s “Overture”, August Bournonville’s “William Tell Pas de Deux”, and Claudia Schreier’s “Neon”. Graceanne was a guest principal artist at the Gala Internazionale at Teatro alla Scala where she performed the pas de deux from George Balanchine’s “La Source”. She has been a part of iHeart Dance NYC’s rooftop performance series. There, she has danced works by Ask la Cour, David Fernandez, and Gary Pierce. Graceanne was featured in Dance Magazine’s article “Indie Ballerinas”. She is a guest artist with Tabula Rasa Dance Theater. In summer of 2022, Graceanne had the principal role of “Sheila” in the international tour of “A Chorus Line”, directed by Baayork Lee. She is currently a principal cast member of “Dance Ballerina Dance” with stars of the Royal Danish Ballet and a permanent faculty member at the Ohman School of Ballet.

Prince Desiré – Benji Pearson, also a graduate of Harvard University with a Bachelors in English, is a freelance ballet dancer based in New York City. He was previously with the San Francisco Ballet and the Boston Ballet where he performed in a variety of classical ballets, including Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, and neoclassical works including Balanchine’s Agon and Robbins’ Glass Pieces. Benji also worked closely with choreographer William Forsythe on the premiere’s of three of his latest ballets. Benji is excited to perform in this production of the Sleeping Beauty.

 

Lilac Fairy – Alana Lewis has been studying ballet since the age of two and at the Ohman School of Ballet since 2022. She has performed in New York Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker as the Dew Drop Fairy and in the coveted role of Neapolitan, a Frank Ohman original. While studying at OSB’s Summer Intensive, Ms. Lewis was chosen by New York City Ballet’s Amana Edge to perform as a soloist in George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco as part of NYDT’s Spring Soirée in 2024. Summer Intensives include the Ohman School of Ballet and the Manhattan Youth Ballet. Outside of ballet, Alana enjoys performing in musicals. Some of her favorite roles were in The Little Mermaid, Pippin, Newsies, and Frozen.Alana has just graduated Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian of her class at St. John the Baptist High School and in the Fall of 2025 Alana will begin her journey into the world of Bioengineering at Binghamton University. She plans to keep dance an integral part of her life.

Suitor #1/ Bluebird – Craig Wasserman, originally from New York, received his dance training at the School of American Ballet in New York City, Often performing with New York City Ballet. He then joined Pennsylvania Ballet (now Philadelphia Ballet) in 2011. Working his way through the ranks, he perform numerous Principal and Soloist roles, including in works by Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck, Wayne McGregor, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, and Trey McIntyre. He then joined Kansas City Ballet in 2019 for 3 seasons as a leading dancer. Returning to New York, Craig has since been performing as a freelance dancer. Throughout his career, Craig has received several prestigious accolades, notably being included in “Wendy Perron’s Best of 2016”, Dance Magazine”.

Princess Florine – Galina Hellman, 17 is a Division 5 student at the Ohman School of Ballet and a New York Dance Theatre Pre-Professional Trainee. She performs annually in New York Dance Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker since age 6 performing most of the children’s roles including Clara before joining the corps de ballet at age 14, and most recently performed the soloist role of “Hot Chocolate.” In OSB’s 2024 Spring Showcase, Galina was a soloist in “Vitruvian Woman” in the gender-swapped role originated by Ask la Cour (NYCB) in “Vitruvian Man.” Galina was selected by former New York City Ballet principal Maria Kowroski for New Jersey Ballet’s inaugural summer intensive in 2024 as one of only 80 dancers from an international pool training with Megan Fairchild (NYCB), Sarah Lane (ABT), Abigail Simon (ABT/Joffrey), Matthew Dibble (Royal Ballet) and more, and will return for their 2025 program. Galina is a High Honors junior at Half Hollow Hills High School East taking Advanced Placement classes and is a member of National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, and a board member of the National Science Honor Society HSE chapter. Beyond ballet, Galina is an accomplished artist in both fine arts and her small business @enpointecrochet, through which she donates funds for non-profits.

Suitor #2 / Hunter’s Friend – Trevor Montgomery is from Teaneck, NJ, and a recent graduate from Butler University. He has danced the roles of Benno in Swan Lake, Snow King in Tchaicovsky’s The Nutcracker, Flowers Cavalier in Tchaicovsky’s The Nutcracker, and a Drosselmeyer Doll in Tchaicovsky’s The Nutcracker. He was a part of the original choreography by Jennifer Archibald titled Ourfire. Trevor has performed a few of George Balanchine’s repertoire, such as Serenade, Who Cares, and Divertimento No. 15. Mr. Montgomery has also attended the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive for two consecutive years on scholarship as well as American Ballet Theater’s Colligate Summer Intensive for four years on full scholarship. He has studied with Nancy Bielski, Deborah Wingert, and Daniel Ulbricht and privately with Maxim Beloskerkovsky and Irina Dvorovenko. This is Trevor’s first season with New York Dance Theatre.

Carabosse – Olivia Fohsz began dancing at the age of three at a local dance studio before starting formal ballet training at the Frank Ohman School of Ballet at age eight with former New York City Ballet Soloist, Frank Ohman. Olivia attended summer intensives at Manhattan Youth Ballet, Adelphi University, Boston Ballet, and the Rock School. Throughout her training with the Ohman School of Ballet, Olivia performed with New York Dance Theatre in their production of The Nutcracker. After graduating high school in 2015, Olivia continued her training as a dance major at Adelphi University. Olivia continued to perform in NYDT’s The Nutcracker while in college and performed the role of Dew Drop Fairy each year. Olivia performed in every main stage production at Adelphi University in pieces such as Harlequinade Pas de Deux by Frank Augustyn and Play Ball! by Christopher Fleming. After graduation in 2019, Olivia joined the Ballet Theatre of Maryland as a Corps de Ballet dancer performing in many classical ballets including Giselle, Les Sylphides, Coppelia, Swan Lake, and Don Quixote. Olivia is thrilled to be back in New York performing with NYDT once again in addition to her role as a Membership Associate with American Ballet Theatre.

Queen Cecilia – Cecilia Saia trained originally in classic dance and ballet in her home country of Argentina. She earned a BA in Contemporary Dance from the Teatro San Martin and an MFA in Dance from the Universidad Nacional de Las Artes in Buenos Aires. Ms. Saia was a Principal Tango Performer and Choreographer in the original Tony nominated production of Forever Tango. After touring both nationally and internationally, she returned to New York to teach, heading up the Tango Division at DanceSport Dance Studio, made famous by Al Pacino in “Scent of a Woman”. With her partner, Ronen Khayat, she performed at venues such as Lincoln Center, Town Hall, and Carnegie Hall. Ms. Saia also performed with international ballet star, Julio Bocca. In 2013, Ms. Saia was honored with an Hola Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Artist, for her work in Tango Fever at Teatro Latea.

Elle Guarda – Jaileen Vargas began her Balanchine training at the late age of 14 years old. She trained at The Ballet Center, in Old Bethpage, and later expanded her technique under former artistic director and founder Frank Ohman from 16 to 21 at The Ohman School of Ballet. Jaileen continued herstudies at Adelphi University as an English/ Education major with a minor in dance. In the dance program, Jaileen broadened her technique, in both Ballet and Modern, through Vaganova, Graham, Taylor, and Forsythe style training under Orion Duckstein, Frank Agustyn, Adelheid B.Strelick and Jen Kreichman. During her time at Adelphi University, Jaileen was featured in guest pieces, choreographed by Rasta Thomas and Joy Douglas and dance films, choreographed anddirected by Sarah Rehm. It is an annual tradition for Jaileen to be involved in NYDT’s Nutcracker since 2016. She has danced in lead roles, such as Arabian Coffee, and as Dew Drop and continues to star in spotlight pieces through NYDT’s new artistic director, Nicole Loizides. Her training has now expanded into Latin International and American Rhythm Ballroom dance under Stephanie Falciano at Dance with Us Long Island. Jaileen has participated in Latin International competitions, such as Manhattan Dance Championships, winning 1st in the pro/am bronze division. Now, Jaileen dances American Rhythm professionally with her Pro partner Bob Gai. Jaileen is a versatile teacher and dancer who continues to expand and nurture her love for the art form.

Diamond Fairy – Sandra Cieslak began her performing arts journey at the American Ballet Studio of Bayport, where she developed a deep passion for dance. During summers, she trained intensively with the Joffrey Ballet throughout high school. Her dedication to her academics took her to Stony Brook University, where she was able to pursue theatre arts and dance as a minor, majoring in French Literature, thus merging her interests in linguistics and the performing arts. During her time at Stony Brook, she had an incredible opportunity to study abroad in Lyon, France and continue her bilingual education at Université Lumière Lyon II. While overseas, she studied classical ballet under the direction of Florence Allard-Meunier at the Académie de Danse Lyon VII. In 2022, she earned her first NYS teaching license in secondary world languages and in 2024 graduated with her Masters of Science in Childhood Education from Hunter College. In the spring of 2024, she graciously accepted an invitation to dance with Tau Dance Theatre of Honolulu as a company member, performing classical ballet alongside artists specializing in traditional Hula and Native Hawaiian dance. This is Sandra’s second season performing with NYDT and is on permanent faculty at the Ohman School of Ballet.