The many talents of Rye residents were showcased recently on stage as Rye Ballet Conservatory presented three shows at SUNY Purchase College.
The school’s pre-professional dancers opened the program with “Twinkliana,” a ballet choreographed by former New York City Ballet principal dancer Sean Lavery to the music of Mozart. Michael Philip Ward, a Rye resident, accompanied the dancers with live piano onstage.
“Mr. Lavery was one of my former teachers, and it is an honor to share his creation with my students and the community,” said Ashlee Stewart, Director of Rye Ballet.
Solo variations were performed by Rye Country Day students Eleanor Brown and Josie Choi, as well as Rye High School students Madeline Marino and Juliana Rothstein, among others.
The main event was the full-length story ballet, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The choreography was inspired by the George Balanchine original and adapted to Rye Ballet’s dancers by its faculty, including Tyler Angle, a current principal dancer with the New York City Ballet.
Whimsical set pieces of flowers and mushrooms were created by Gwen Millard, ballet teacher and a Rye resident. The lead role of Titania was performed by Sarah Hooper, a student at School of the Holy Child, and Puck was brought to life by Remi Patz.
Rye Ballet awarded its 2025 Lynne Stetson Achievement Award to Rebecca Philbrick, a Rye High School student. This annual award recognizes an exceptional student selected from all levels of the school’s student body in recognition of his or her consistent example of leadership, character and dedication.
