During the summer of 1999, when I was dancing with Boston Ballet II, Devon Carney (former Cincinnati Ballet Associate Artistic Director) set the Act 3 Raymonda pas de deux on me for the summer program performance. I fell in love with the piece and always wanted to dance it again. What better time than now?

It is amazing how life can come full circle. The Raymonda pas de deux was the last ballet I danced before I became a professional ballet dancer and now it will be the last ballet I dance as a member of Cincinnati Ballet where I’ve spent 15 years of my professional career. Zack Grubbs has always been my favorite male dancer to perform with; we have a very special partnership. Our Cincinnati audience has never seen us dance this ballet and we both felt we must share this special pas de deux with you for our joint retirement performance. 

Another full circle celebration: Dawn Kelly, Zack Grubbs and myself all met in Boston Ballet’s Summer Dance Program in the late 90s. All three of us joined Cincinnati Ballet, rose through the ranks and are now together again as your new Academy leaders. Dawn has set the corps de ballet choreography on our Academy students and has coached Zack and I in the principal roles. We cannot wait to dance this jewel of a ballet as our gift to you in gratitude for the love and support you have given to all of us over the past 15 years. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!