Harford Ballet Company
2012 Pre-Professional Division Dancers
Guest Artists:
Adam Hendrickson
Adam Hendrickson was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and began his ballet training at the age of six with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. In 1996, he was invited to continue his studies at the winter session of the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet. In the spring of 1998 he became an apprentice with New York City Ballet, and in the summer of 1998, Mr. Hendrickson became a member of the corps de ballet. In January 2005, he was promoted to the rank of soloist.Abbi Stafford
Abi Stafford was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and began her dance training at the age of six with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary. Ms. Stafford entered the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, full time in the fall of 1998. At SAB, she performed the role of Clarinet in Jerome Robbins' Fanfare and a role in Christopher Wheeldon's Scénes de Ballet for the SAB's Annual Workshop performances. Ms. Stafford was invited to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet in November 1999 and joined the corps de ballet in January 2000. She was promoted to the rank of soloist in January 2002 and principal dancer in December 2007.
Bruce Thornton received his dance training in his native Seattle, WA at the Cornish Institute and then with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. He was most recently a soloist with the Miami City Ballet and danced a range of roles with the company; including: the “Blue” gentleman from Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering, the principal “walking” pas de deux from Emeralds, the Elegie principal from Serenade, the principal male in Concerto Barrocco and Elegie, the role of Death in La Valse as well as the “turning” principal in La Valse, the Baron in La Sonnambula, the second Pas de Trois from Agon, the first and third themes from The Four Temperaments, all by Balanchine. He has a wide variety of experience with other choreographers, such as: Paul Taylor, Lynn Taylor Corbett, Richard Tanner, Margo Sappington, Sir Frederick Ashton, August Bournonville, Richard Weiss and Edward Villella. He has performed as a guest artist for the Carolina Ballet in their televised performances of Romeo and Juliet, and Lynn Taylor Corbett’s Cabaret at Café Marcovici. He performed for the former President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, in a televised performance of The Kennedy Center Honors; in honor of the award to Edward Villella. Mr. Thornton brings his expertise in the Balanchine repertoire through his work with the great Edward Villella, as well as his 15 years of professional work to the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet as a member of the faculty.
Katherine Richardson
Katherine Richardson is a recent graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, earning a BFA in Modern Dance Performance and the award for Outstanding Performance in Modern Dance. Katherine first received her dance training at Towson University’s Children’s Dance Division in Towson, Maryland. Additional training includes North Carolina School of the Arts, The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and the Doug Varone and Dancers Summer Workshop. She has performed works by Silvana Cardell, Christine Cox, Manfred Fischbeck, Gus Giordano, Martha Graham, Curt Haworth, Ronen Koresh, Molly Misgalla, Twyla Tharp, and Doug Varone. Other credits include the Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2008, 80th Anniversary Tour of the Martha Graham Company (guest ensemble work), Disney World, the CEC in Philadelphia, and MOMIX Industrial at the Smashbox Studios in LA during Fashion Week. In April, Katherine successfully self produced a show, consisting of six new works, in Philadelphia made possible through a grant awarded to her from the University of the Arts. Katherine is currently working in New York City as the Artistic Director of her own modern company KerPlunk Dance Company.
Edward Urwin
Edward Urwin was raised in Doylestown, PA and trained at American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School and attended summer programs at American Ballet Theatre – New York and Oregon Ballet Theater. As a student, he appeared with American Repertory Ballet in Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella. Edward has danced with Opera New Jersey and Boheme Opera (NJ), performing in West SIde Story as A-rab and Dream Ballet Tony. As a trainee with Ballet Florida, Edward performed in Marie Hale’s The Nutcracker, Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, and Vicente Nebrada’s Cinderella. Edward is dancing with the Louisville Ballet for his second season.
Sarah Walborn
Sarah Walborn, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, began her training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary. In her final year, she performed the role of Sugar Plum Fairy, Dew Drop, and Arabian Coffee in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, as well as the lead role in Paquita. Ms. Walborn also attended San Francisco Ballet School’s Summer Program for many years on full scholarship. In 2006, she was invited to take part in San Francisco Ballet’s Trainee Program. The following season, Ms. Walborn was asked to be an apprentice with the San Francisco Ballet. She performed many roles with the company, including George Balanchine’s Diamonds, and Helgi Tomasson’s The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Giselle, and Sleeping Beauty. This is Ms. Walborn’s second season with The Washington Ballet Studio Company.