STAGELINE
CAST OF CHARACTERS
ANA JURENEC as Julia — Driven and determined, Julia pushes to be the best yet learns that
real beauty comes from being loved as she is.
CALEB BALLANTINE as Levi — Curious and compassionate, Levi searches for balance between
strength and sensitivity while breaking free of conformity.
CHRISTIAN AVILA as Ignacio — Poised and contained, Ignacio carries quiet power, strength with
vulnerability, moving through life like water and fire.
EMILEE BARELA as Raquelle — A confident and playful dancer shaped by ballroom who learns
to open herself to new styles and new ways of thinking.
JEREMIAH PORTER as Pierre — A passionate mentor whose disciplined eye and demanding
heart push every dancer to find truth, not perfection.
JOSHUA GARCIA as John — From Harlem’s vibrant rhythm to the East Side’s polish, John
bridges two worlds and brings the heartbeat of culture to the floor.
MAIA SOPHIA BROWN as Sophia — New to ballroom yet bold and fierce, Sophia blends her jazz
and hip hop roots into Pierre’s world with fearless energy.
MARIA BILENKIS as Emma — Disciplined and passionate, Emma channels emotion through
precision, turning perfection into expression.
TANYA RAVINOVA as Audrey — Graceful and self-possessed, Audrey finds freedom in
imperfection and learns to move for herself, not for approval.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
MARIA TORRES (Program Director & Creator) Maria Torres is an acclaimed director, choreographer, and educator whose work spans Broadway, television, film, and international stages. Known for fusing Latin dance styles with contemporary storytelling, she has received numerous accolades, including a Dance
Magazine Award and nominations for the Tony, Lucille Lortel, and Drama Desk Awards. Her Broadway credits include Take the Lead, Swing!, On Your Feet, The Mambo Kings, and as consultant for Summer. Her choreography has been featured on So You Think You Can Dance, in the Disney film Enchanted, and in Enrique Iglesias’ iconic Bailamos music video. She is also the founder of MTEAF, a nonprofit that mentors emerging artists through cultural education and performance. Her interdisciplinary pedagogy, developed at Jacob’s Pillow, was recently featured through a collaborative project with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Maria serves on the Executive Board of SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society) and is a Trustee of SDCF (Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation). She is a proud member of SDC, SAG-AFTRA, and the Choreography Guild.
JOHN O' CONNOR (Executive Producer / MTEAF Co-Founder)
DILLON LEHMAN, DAKOTA PIZZI, SHEILA BARKER (Instructors)
CORBEN WILLIAMS (Associate Director)
ISABELLA SANTINI (MTEAF Intern)
LAUREN COCCARO (Stage Manager)
Acknowledgments With gratitude to Amas Musical Theatre for their partnership and continued belief increating pathways for emerging artists. Special thanks to the Maria Torres Emerging Artists Foundation (MTEAF) team for their dedication, and to the families and friends who make this work possible.
Special Thanks We extend our appreciation to all who contributed their time, resources, and heart to make this program and performance possible. Your support helps create opportunities foremerging artists and keeps the mission of Dare to Dance alive.
A.R.T./NY (Venue) Established in 1972 by an innovative collective, A.R.T./New York has matured into an indispensable cornerstone for over 475 theatres and more than 150 individual producers and artists throughout all five boroughs of New York City and across the state. As the singular membership organization dedicated to encompassing New York’s entire not-for-profit theatre sector, A.R.T./New York’s reach extends from playwriting collectives and developmental labs to producing organizations and pioneering independent artists. A.R.T./NY continues to serve the field through four essential service areas — Funding, Space, Professional Development and Advocacy — in order to help theatremakers put their creative ideas on stage.
