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Doors open at 5:30 pm
Ballet superstar Roberto Bolle brings his celebrated production Roberto Bolle and Friends, to Napa for the annual Dance Gala, an event that invariably ranks among the year’s highlights. A principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre from 2009-2019, a principal dancer étoile at La Scala Theatre Ballet, and a guest artist with other top international companies, Bolle is one of Italy’s most beloved artists. Joined by internationally renowned dancers Aran Bell, Angelo Greco, Melissa Hamilton, Misa Kuranaga and Skylar Brandt, they perform solos and ensemble numbers from both treasured classic and modern ballets.
Performers
Roberto Bolle trained at the ballet school of Teatro alla Scala, Milan, where he was promoted Étoile in 2004. He has regularly danced as a guest artist with the most prestigious companies worldwide and has received such honors as Unicef Ambassador and Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his contributions to the country in the fields of culture and art.
Aran Bell was born in Bethesda, Maryland. He began studying ballet at age four, receiving the majority of his early training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and with Denys Ganio in Rome, Italy. He continued his training with Fabrice Herrault in New York City and Magaly Suarez in Florida. He spent several summers at The Royal Ballet School in London, and at American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive in New York City.
Skylar Brandt joined ABT II in 2009, became an apprentice with the main company in 2010, and proceeded through the corps de ballet before being appointed a Soloist in 2015 and a Principal Dancer in 2020. Brandt was a silver medalist at Youth America Grand Prix in 2004 and 2008, and in 2013, was the recipient of a Princess Grace Foundation-USA Dance Fellowship.
Angelo Greco has danced major roles in Tomasson’s Nutcracker (Grand Pas de Deux Prince) and the Sleeping Beauty (Prince Desiré), Scarlett’s Frankenstein (Henry Clerval), Wheeldon’s Cinderella (Benjamin), and Balanchine’s Prodigal Son (Son).
Melissa Hamilton is a First Soloist of the Royal Ballet in London, England. She joined the company in 2007 as an Artist and was promoted to First Artist in 2009, Soloist in 2010, and First Soloist in 2013. She created a role in Wayne McGregor’s Infra in 2008 and has since created several roles for McGregor, including in Yugen, Woolf Works, Limen, Carbon Life, Human Seasons and Acis and Galatea. In the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, she took a leave of absence from the Royal Ballet to dance with Semperoper Ballett, Dresden as a principal, making role debuts as Nikiya, Princess Aurora, and Odette/Odile.
One of the world’s foremost ballet artists, with an inspiring story of fearless strength and determination, irrefutable star Misa Kuranaga is much more than the Boston Ballet’s first-ever Principal Dancer from Asia. Beloved, dynamic, talented, and versatile, she inspires people all over the world with her indomitable spirit.
Venue
Charles Krug Winery