The Christmas Ballet Program 24-25 FINAL - WEB - Flipbook - Page 9
JACOPO CALVO
Jacopo Calvo, from Asti, Italy, began training at his hometown
school, Ritmo Danza. He moved to New York City to attend
The Ailey School on scholarship, performing alongside Alvin
Ailey American Dance Theater for its 60th anniversary season.
After graduation, he joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
In addition to working with artist Nick Cave in The Let Go at
the Park Avenue Armory, he has worked with choreographers
Ricardo Amarante, Francesca Harper, Marcus Jarrell Willis, Brice
Mousset, Ray Mercer, and Earl Mosley to name a few. Calvo
joined Smuin in 2024.
MAGGIE CAREY
Maggie Carey, of Dayton, OH, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree in Dance Performance from Butler University, where she
performed works by choreographers including George Balanchine,
Nacho Duato, and Paul Taylor. Upon graduating, Carey performed
as a guest artist with Dayton Ballet. She spent two years with the
Cincinnati Ballet Second Company, performing works by Victoria
Morgan, George Balanchine, Ohad Naharin, and working with
choreographers such as Garrett Smith, Nicolo Fonte, and Jennifer
Archibald. Carey joined Smuin in 2018.
MENGJUN CHEN
Mengjun Chen, a native of Wenzhou, China, trained at the Beijing
Dance Academy and Joffrey Ballet Academy of Dance. After
receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Beijing Dance Academy, he
joined Milwaukee Ballet where he performed major roles in Giselle,
Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Cinderella,
Dracula, and La Bohème. Chen also performed contemporary works
by Matthew Neenan, Gabrielle Lamb, Ma Cong, Amy Seiwert, and
Val Caniparoli. In 2014, he was a finalist in the USA International
Ballet Competition. Chen joined Smuin in 2015.
GABRIELLE COLLINS
Gabrielle Collins, from West Hartford, CT, trained at the Hartt
School. From 2014-2017, she danced with Atlanta Ballet II. In 2017
Gabrielle joined Tulsa Ballet II and appeared in a soloist role in Helen
Pickett’s Meðal, among others. In 2020, Collins performed the
title role in Septime Webre’s Carmen with Dayton Ballet. Collins
joined Cincinnati Ballet in 2020, performing William Forsythe’s
In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Helen Pickett’s Petal, Stephanie
Martinez’ Kiss, Alejandro Cerrudo’s Extremely Close, and Annabelle
Lopez Ochoa’s Written and Forgotten. Collins joined Smuin in 2023.
SMUINBALLE T.ORG • 9
