Friday, July 17
| 6:30PM
Festival Napa Valley Stage at Charles Krug
2800 Main Street | St. Helena
Melanie Hamrick, Joanna DeFelice, and Christine Shevchenko bring their exhilarating production, A Night at the Ballet, to Napa for the annual Dance Gala. The program features highlights from some of the world's most beloved classical ballets, including Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, and Carmen. The evening also includes a special appearance by guest artist Nicholas Palmquist, performing in the West Coast premiere of Can't You Hear Me Knocking, set to the music of The Rolling Stones.
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Performers
Joanna DeFelice is a producer, artist, dancer, and teacher. A graduate of the Kirov Academy of Ballet she trained under Alla Sizova, Nikolai Morozov and Adrienne Dellas. Joanna has worked with Debbie Allen at the Kennedy Center and in Los Angeles and has toured internationally with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company.
Adji Cissoko, a Munich-born dancer, trained at Ballet Academy Munich and ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. She joined the National Ballet of Canada in 2010 and LINES Ballet in 2014, creating major roles worldwide. A teacher, choreographer, and coach, she became Associate Artistic Director of LINES Ballet in 2026.
Sasha De Sola, born in Florida, trained at the Kirov Academy and Paris Opera Ballet School. She joined San Francisco Ballet, becoming Principal in 2017. Renowned for leading classical roles and new works, she’s an award-winning dancer, guest artist, and emerging leader with academic and business credentials.
Shuaib Elhassan, from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, trained at The Ailey School on full scholarship and at leading intensives. He danced with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and other companies before joining LINES Ballet in 2014, bringing a dynamic contemporary style shaped by diverse performance experience.
Francesco Gabriele Frola danced with English National Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada before joining San Francisco Ballet as a principal dancer in 2025.
Melanie Hamrick is a professionally trained ballerina whose career spanned over 16 years with American Ballet Theatre. Since her retirement from ABT in 2019, she has become further known internationally as a choreographer, producer, educator, and author, as well as co-founder of the company Live Arts Global.
Nicholas Palmquist is a New York–based choreographer, teacher, and performer whose work spans film, television, fashion, and stage. He has created for international ballet companies and taught worldwide, developing a genre-blending movement method. Committed to access and education, he continues to expand his influence through teaching, choreography, and digital platforms.
Christine Shevchenko is a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, where she has had a celebrated tenure since joining the Studio Company in 2006. She was the youngest recipient of the Princess Grace Award, and her additional accolades include Bronze Medal at the USA and Gold Medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competitions.
Connor Walsh, a Virginia-born principal dancer with Houston Ballet, rose rapidly through the ranks after joining in 2004. Renowned for leading roles in major classical and contemporary works, he has also choreographed premieres, co-founded the REACH project supporting arts education, and remains active as a teacher, coach, and creator.
Chae Eun Yang trained in Korea and graduated from Korea National University of the Arts. An award-winning competitor, she joined Houston Ballet in 2013, later dancing briefly with the National Ballet of Canada. She performs a wide classical and contemporary repertoire and continues her career with Houston Ballet.
Festival Orchestra NAPA is an all-star ensemble of musicians from major international orchestras and faculty from renowned institutions, together with participants from the Frost School at Festival Napa Valley's Blackburn Music Academy. As the central ensemble, the orchestra interacts with nearly every program the festival provides.
Venue
