BalletX: Sunset, o639 Hours

Shawn Cusseaux

Shawn is an emerging performing artist hailing from Tampa Bay, FL, where he attended Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. He continued his studies in Pittsburgh, PA at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University, where he received his Bachelor in Fine Arts. During this time he was given opportunities to perform works by Garfield Lemonious, Jae Man Joo, Kiesha Lalama, Jennifer Archibald, Jose Limon, Jason Mcdole, Amy Hall Garner, Robert Priorie, Edwaard Liang, and Camille A. Brown. Before joining the company in 2020. This is Shawn’s third season with BalletX. 

Jonah Delgado

Jonah graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2019. His formative dance training began with The Academy of Dance Arts, in Illinois. During his time in college he also guested with Visceral Dance Chicago, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Illinois Ballet Theatre. After graduating from college, Jonah joined Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. He joined BalletX in 2021.

Francesca Forcella

Francesca Forcella started dancing for BalletX in 2013 after working with Houston Ballet II (HBII), the Washington Ballet Studio Company, and Los Angeles’ American Contemporary Ballet. She began her training with all styles of dance from tap and hip hop, to ballet and jazz with her aunt, Gina Forcella, at Dance Stop Education Center in New Jersey, and then later focused on her ballet training with Risa Kaplowitz and former ABT principal dancer, Susan Jaffe, at Princeton Dance and Theater in Princeton, NJ. At the age of 16, she joined HBII under the artistic direction of Stanton Welch with Claudio Munoz and Sabrina Lenzi as ballet master and mistress. Francesca had opportunities with HBII to perform alongside the main company and to tour both nationally and internationally. In 2011, she represented Houston Ballet at the International Youth Dance Festival in Budapest, Hungary. Along with performing in many Washington Ballet productions during Francesca’s time in DC, she was a 2012 recipient of a Helen Hayes award for her work in Imagination Stage’s production of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, in which she played the dancer roles of Lucy and the White Witch. In 2015, while on a vacation period with BalletX, Francesca briefly returned to guest with the Washington Ballet in Swan Lake under her former artistic director, Septime Webre. Since joining BalletX in 2013, Francesca has been a part of countless world premieres, processes, and collaborations, and has worked with many well-renowned choreographers.

Savannah Green

Savannah Green grew up in New York City, where she attended LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts as a Dance Major. She attended Manhattan Youth Ballet on a full merit scholarship, performing featured roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Larry Keigwin. In 2017, Savannah earned her BFA in Dance at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she was a member of the Senior Dance Company. She spent her senior year touring internationally, performing works by José Limón, Andrea Miller, and others. Upon graduation, she began working with Buglisi Dance Theater, performing new works in New York City and the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center. In 2019, Savannah became the inaugural Dance Fellow at BalletX, before being invited to join the company in 2020. Since joining BalletX, she has performed in ballets by Matthew Neenan, Jamar Roberts, Tiler Peck, Nicolo Fonte, Amy Hall Garner, Trey McIntyre, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, among others.

Zachary Kapeluck

Zachary Kapeluck hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he received his early training at Southwest Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. He trained at The Juilliard School and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Summer Intensives, and in the summer of 2011, he worked as a guest artist with Mary Miller Dance in Pittsburgh in a project titled Confluence. He graduated with a BFA in Dance from Point Park University, where he had the opportunity to perform works by such choreographers as George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Toru Shimazaki, Kevin Iega Jeff, Val Caniparoli, Jessica Lang, and Alejandro Cerrudo.  He received training there from Doug Bentz, Kiesha Lalama, Garfield Lemonius, and Dana Arey. Zachary joined BalletX in 2013.

Skyler Lubin

Skyler Lubin received her early training from The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, during which time she won third place for the Pas de Deux category at the Youth American Grand Prix Competition. In 2008, Skyler was asked to perform in The Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala. She then continued her training at the Miami City Ballet School. Skyler also attended summer programs at The School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. From 2010-2014, Skyler danced as a member of the Corps de Ballet with Miami City Ballet under the direction of Edward Villella and Lourdes Lopez. She has performed in featured roles including Flower Festival pas de deux, Swan Lake pas de trois, and Jerome Robbins’s Afternoon of a Faun, and has premiered pieces by Alexei Ratmansky and Liam Scarlett. Skyler joined BalletX in 2015 and has since performed in numerous world premieres.

Ashley Simpson

Ashley Simpson is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida and trained at A.W Dreyfoos High School of the Arts and School of Ballet Arts. In 2016, Ashley became a Young Arts Winner and went on to the Ailey/Fordham school as a Dance major and Communications minor, graduating Magna Cum Laude. During her time in college, Ashley performed the works of such choreographers as Dwight Rhoden, Alvin Ailey, Bradley Shelver, Nijawwon Matthews, Janice Rosario, Troy Powell, and Hope Boykin. While there, Ashley was awarded the Denise Jefferson Memorial Scholarship. Additionally Ashley joined XY Dance Project, a dance company led by Nijawwon Matthews, performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and was a trainee/apprentice for Complexions Contemporary Ballet, performing with the company during their Joyce season. During her senior year at Ailey/Fordham, Ashley joined the Collage Dance Collective and was able to work professionally while finishing her last year of college. While in New York, Ashley was part of the dance ensemble for the movie production of Lin Manuel Miranda’s ‘In The Heights’, and did promotional dancing for Elaine Welteroth’s book ‘More Than Enough’. To supplement her training, Ashley attended Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Program, Arts Umbrella, Alonzo King Lines, Juilliard, Orlando Ballet, BalletX, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Joffrey Chicago, and Next Generation Ballet summer intensives. In 2022 Ashley danced for Vogue’s New York Fashion Week event ‘Vogue World’, and became a recipient of the ‘Honoraria’ Princess Grace Award. This is Ashley’s third season with BalletX.

Richard Villaverde

RICHARD VILLAVERDE, born and raised in Miami, FL, he began dancing at the age of 13, privately coached by Maria Eugenia Lorenzo, is a New World School of the Arts graduate and received his B.F.A from University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. Notably, he was a part of Arsenale della Danza 2012 at La Biennale de Venezia under the direction of Ismael Ivo. He later joined BalletX (2012-2021) where he was featured in works by Matthew Neenan, Kevin O’Day, Dwight Rodan, Nicolo Fonte, Penny Saunders, Cayetano Soto, Trey McIntyre, Jodie Gates, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. He’s performed at the Vail International Dance Festival, Ballet Sun Valley, Belgrade Dance Festival as well as at Jacob’s Pillow.

Pete Leo Walker

From Jacksonville, Florida, Pete Leo Walker began his training at The Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. In 2010 Pete joined Charlotte Ballet under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride, performing a diverse repertoire including works by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Twyla Tharp, Jiri Kylian, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Dwight Rhoden, Sasha Janes, and Jiri Bubenicek. In 2011 Pete received the prestigious Princess Grace Dance Fellowship Award and in 2012 was promoted to Principal Artist with the Charlotte Ballet. The following year he was listed in Dance Magazine’s “Top 25 to Watch” and in December 2014, performed Who Cares at the Kennedy Center Honors Awards, as tribute to Patricia McBride. Following his tenure with the Charlotte Ballet, Pete joined Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, touring nationally and internationally and performing works by artists such as Gerald Arpino, Jorma Elo, Cayetano Soto, Alejandro Cerrudo, Alexander Ekman, Nicolo Fonte, and Cherice Barton. While a company member with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Pete had the privilege of performing Gerlad Arpino’s Light Rain pas de duex at the Jacob’s Pillow 2016 Season Opening Gala. Pete has been fortunate to return annually as a guest artist at Chautauqua Institution’s Alumni All-Star Ballet Gala. Pete joined BalletX in 2021.

Andrea Yorita

Andrea Yorita is from Irvine,California, where she received her classical ballet training at Academy of Dance, under the direction of Merle Sepel, Rebecca Tsivkin, and Mignon Furman. In 2012, she graduated as a Gillespie Scholar with a BFA in Dance Performance from the University of California, Irvine, where she studied under Jodie Gates, Molly Lynch, and Donald McKayle. Originally trained under the R.A.D. syllabus, Andrea has completed all Vocational R.A.D. exams with Distinction, as well as received the Solo Seal Award. In 2008, Andrea competed as a finalist in the Genée International Ballet Competition in Toronto, Canada. She has participated in the National Choreographers Initiative, as an apprentice, and the Traverse City Dance Project. Andrea was a 2016 Dance Finalist for the Clive Barnes Award. She joined BalletX in 2012.

Alexandra Day – Musician

Alexandra Day studied classical piano at Messiah College, and classical voice at Temple University. She received the honor of singing the national anthem and the alma mater at Temple’s 2006 Commencement Exercises. Since then, she has had a diverse and vibrant performance career: As a pianist-singer-songwriter, she has released 3 albums, and has toured from Boston to New Orleans, as well as in the Caribbean. She also sings regularly with jazz combos, and is in her 18th year as a wedding singer, performing all genres of popular music. This is her first production with BalletX.

Josh Machiz – Musician

Josh Machiz is a Philadelphia-based musician, comedian, and composer who’s been confusing and delighting audiences across North America for over 2 decades. He’s a 2-Time Barrymore Award Winner and co-recipient of an American Composers Forum Grant. He’s collaborated with Mickey Roker, Uri Caine, Bearded Ladies Cabaret, Wilma Theater, BalletX, Opera Philadelphia, and Pig Iron Theater Company. He’s currently a member of TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb, Arcana New Music Ensemble, and Dirty Dollhouse.

The New York Times described his music as “What the mail sounds like.” CBS called TJ Kong “entertainingly unhinged.” dosage Magazine calls him “Philadelphia’s giant musical force.” The Charm City Comedy Festival describes him as “Surrealist Stand-up Comedy.” Josh’s music has been featured on NPR’s Jazz Night in America, and his comedy is featured on Amazon Prime. He’s performed at Lincoln Center, Joyce Theater, 92nd Street Y, and the Guggenheim.

Tara Middleton – Musician

Tara Middleton is a 2019 Pew Fellowship nominated vocalist, violinist, and lyricist, and winner of the 2021 A2IM Libera Award. Currently, she is the vocalist for the world-renowned Sun Ra Arkestra. She also leads her own ensemble, Jupiter Blue. In the 1990s, Tara co-founded The Foundations Singers, an African folk a cappella trio that garnered wide acclaim. Since then, she has performed as a featured vocalist incorporating a broad range of styles, from straight-ahead jazz, Portuguese Brazilian, Afro-Cuban/Caribbean, and Operatic avant-garde.

Most recently she has worked as a vocalist, instrumentalist and recording artist with Bowerbird’s Arcana New Music Ensemble and Philadelphia Jazz Project. In 2019 Tara was commissioned by BalletX to co-compose the ballet Twelve Bells, and she has collaborated with Nick Millevoi’s Desertion Trio to rave reviews in Rolling Stone magazine. Tara’s most recent work can be heard on the newly released Grammy Acknowledged Sun Ra Arkestra album, Swirling, in which she wrote the lyrics for the title track. 

Isaac Stanford – Musician

Isaac Stanford plays the pedal steel, lap steel, and dobro in several projects around the Philadelphia area. His instrumental Hawaiian-inspired quintet, Slowey and the Boats, keeps an active playing schedule and can be found at tiki bars and luaus throughout the region. Isaac also works as a 7th grade teacher in the Cheltenham School District, where he has taught social studies for the past 15 years.