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A special thank you to Melvin and Christine Webb. Without their continuous generosity and support, we wouldn't be able to be where we are today. We love them beyond measure!
SERENA WEBB DANCE THEATER PRESENTS

ballet amplified

Director: Kirsten Tucker
Choreography by: Karyn Andrasko, Kirsten Tucker, and Serena Webb
Lighting Designer: Glenn Linder
Seamstresses: Juliana Beers, Cherie Duggar, and Sabrina Hardman
Videographer: Vincent Pelina
Photographer: Karyn Andrasko Photography
Executive Artistic Director: Serena Webb
Associate Director: Kirsten Tucker
Board of Directors: 
Board Chair: Brian Tucker
Secretary: Whitney Wyatt
Treasurer: Serena Webb
​Members: Karyn Andrasko, Melanie Atwood, Claire Bagley-Hayes, Michael Harrison, Meredith Nickle, and Kirsten Tucker

​*Photography and Videography of tonight's performance is strictly prohibited​​

director notes

Step into a world where tradition meets rebellion. Ballet Amplified takes the timeless elegance of seven classical ballets and electrifies them with the raw power of rock music. Iconic stories, once told through sweeping orchestras, are reimagined with driving rhythms, soaring guitars, and the pulse of amplified sound.

This is not a departure from ballet—it’s a celebration of it. Each excerpt honors the artistry, drama, and beauty of the original works while unleashing them in a bold new way, igniting energy that bridges past and present.

Prepare for a night where pointe shoes and power chords collide, and the classics you thought you knew are reborn—louder, bolder, amplified.
THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE QUEEN
Dates: December 19-20, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center
Tickets: On sale November 1st

Serena Webb Dance Theater presents… a Nutcracker like you’ve never seen! 

Step into a world of steampunk magic, a scrambled score, and a cast of children and adults bringing E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic to life in a bold new way. The only dancer on pointe? The Mouse Queen. Everything else? Pure MAGIC!

Don’t miss the show everyone’s talking about—this Nutcracker will surprise, delight, and enchant.
Dancer: Kirsten Tucker
​Photographer: Karyn Andrasko

PROGRAM


1. Swan Lake: Black Swan Duet
Dancers: Juliana Beers (Odile) and Rick George (Prince Siegfried)
Choreography: Kirsten Tucker
Music: AC/DC
Since its 1877 premiere, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake has stood as one of ballet’s greatest masterpieces — a story of love, magic, and betrayal.
Prince Siegfried pledges his heart to Odette, the White Swan, vowing to break the sorcerer’s spell. But at the royal ball, Rothbart’s daughter Odile appears in disguise as the Black Swan, dazzling and deceiving the prince. Entranced, Siegfried swears his love to the wrong swan, sealing the fate of this timeless tragedy.

"Reimagining the Black Swan pas de deux has been one of my most exciting challenges. Instead of Tchaikovsky, I chose AC/DC’s Back in Black to infuse the piece with fierce, rebellious energy. The music drives the movement into a space that’s powerful yet playful—where ballet’s precision collides with the unapologetic spirit of rock. For me, it’s a celebration of strength, individuality, and the thrill of breaking tradition while still honoring it."

2. Romeo and Juliet
Montagues: Breanne Burby,  Serena Webb and Aubrey Wright (Romeo)
Capulets: Elizabeth Duggar (Tybalt), and Raina Prescott
Choreography: Kirsten Tucker
Music: The White Stripes

Premiering in 1938, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet is a landmark of 20th-century ballet, blending Shakespeare’s tragic love story with soaring melodies and driving rhythms.
Among its most famous scenes is the Dance of the Knights at the Capulet ball — a dark, powerful march that embodies pride, wealth, and looming tragedy.

"Creating this version of The March of the Knights from Romeo and Juliet has been a chance to unleash raw power on stage. I chose The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army for its driving beat and iconic bass line, perfectly capturing the relentless feud between Capulets and Montagues. The piece erupts into sword fights—brutal, urgent, and culminating in Romeo and Tybalt’s fierce duel after Mercutio’s death. For me, the music gives the scene unstoppable force, amplifying the tension between loyalty, violence, and fate."

3. Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty: Jennessa Howard
Suitors: Mackay Butler, Rick George, and Sabrina Hardman 
Choreography: Kirsten Tucker
Music: Seal

First performed in 1890, Tchaikovsky and Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty is often hailed as the crown jewel of classical ballet — a glittering blend of grandeur, romance, and pure technique.
On Princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday, the Rose Adagio shines as a pinnacle of grace and artistry, with four suitors presenting roses as she balances with radiant poise — a moment of innocence and beauty, soon to be shadowed by fate.

"Reimagining the Rose Adagio from The Sleeping Beauty gave me the chance to explore a softer, more contemporary vision of this iconic moment. While keeping some of the adagio’s most recognizable elements, I reshaped the scene to reflect a broader idea of love and connection. Instead of four traditional suitors, there are three—one a woman—expanding the meaning of partnership beyond convention. Set to Seal’s Kiss from a Rose, the music infuses romance and mystery, wrapping the scene in a lush, timeless atmosphere. For me, this version is less about formality and display, and more about vulnerability, authenticity, and the many ways love can be expressed."

4. Giselle
Myrtha: Karyn Andrasko
Wilis: Juliana Beers, Breanne Burby, Elizabeth Duggar, Sabrina Hardman, Jennessa Howard, Raina Prescott, Serena Webb, and Aubrey Wright
Choreographer: Kirsten Tucker
Music: Evanescence

Premiering in Paris in 1841, Giselle is a Romantic ballet masterpiece of love, betrayal, and the supernatural.
The story follows a peasant girl whose broken heart leads her spirit to join the Wilis — ghostly maidens who dance men to their doom. In the moonlit second act, their queen Myrtha commands one of ballet’s most haunting visions, where vengeance and forgiveness meet beneath the dawn.

​"This reimagined Wilis scene is one of the most haunting works I’ve created. Set to Evanescence’s Lacrymosa, the music drives its intensity and emotional weight. By focusing solely on Myrtha and the Wilis—removing Albrecht and Giselle—the scene becomes about the strength, unity, and power of these ghostly women. Dressed in black instead of white, the dancers shift from ethereal spirits to fierce, commanding figures. With sweeping, otherworldly movement and a darker, rock-inspired energy, this version honors the mystique of the original while amplifying its emotional core into something visceral and unforgettable."

5. Rite of Spring
Cult Leader: Mackay Butler
Prophetess: Juliana Beers
Priestess: Breanne Burby
Cult Followers: Heather Francis (guest), Sabrina Hardman, Jennessa Howard, Raina Prescott, Kirsten Tucker, and Serena Webb
Choreography: Karyn Andrasko
Music: Fifth Dimension

When it premiered in Paris in 1913, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring shocked audiences and redefined ballet.
With pounding rhythms and raw, angular movement, Nijinsky’s choreography evoked a pagan ritual of spring, culminating in the Chosen Maiden’s frenzied sacrifice. What began in riot and scandal has since become one of the most revolutionary works in music and dance.

"When Kirsten invited me to choreograph a piece for Ballet Amplified, I very quickly knew I had to do The Rite of Spring and that 'Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In' was the perfect song for it. The medley from the 1967 musical, Hair, that was popularized by 5th Dimension fits perfectly with the two part structure of the original Rite of Spring: Part One: The Adoration of the Earth, and Part Two: The Sacrifice. In addition to that, the upbeat and positive feeling of the song offers an interesting and, at times, unsettling contrast to the nefarious 'ritual' that is portrayed by that dancers. Thank you to my dancers for bringing this exploration of the darker side of human nature to life in a fun, humorous, yet poignant way."

6. Midsummer Night's Dream
Hermia: Aubrey Wright
Lysander: Mackay Butler
Helena: Karyn Andrasko
Demetrius: Rick George
Puck the Janitor: Elizabeth Duggar
Choreography: Serena Webb
Music: Nirvana

Premiering in 1962, Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream brings Shakespeare’s comedy to life with Mendelssohn’s luminous score.
In the enchanted forest, Hermia loves Lysander, Helena loves Demetrius — but Puck’s magic turns everything upside down, making both men chase Helena while Hermia is left alone. At last, the spell is undone, restoring the rightful pairs and filling the night with wit, wonder, and fairy mischief.

"Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit brings a raw, restless energy that perfectly parallels the chaotic mischief at the heart of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The grunge anthem’s driving guitar riffs and rebellious tone echo the wildness of the enchanted forest, where rules dissolve and emotions erupt in unpredictable ways. Just as the song became a voice for youthful rebellion, Shakespeare’s lovers and fairies embody that same spirit of defiance, passion, and disorder. The gritty, pulsing soundscape heightens the sense of magic spun out of control, making the familiar tale feel both timeless and urgently alive. Special SHOUT OUT to Grassroots Shakespeare for giving me inspiration for this piece!"

7. Don Quixote
Don Quixote: Breanne Burby
Dulcinea: Sabrina Hardman
Queen of the Dryads: Elizabeth Duggar
Cupid: Raina Prescott
Fairies: Karyn Andrasko, Juliana Beers, Mackay Butler, Rick George, Jennessa Howard, Serena Webb, and Aubrey Wright
Music: Queen

Premiering in 1869 at the Bolshoi Theatre, Don Quixote is a vibrant celebration of Spanish life, love, and adventure, set to Minkus’s spirited score.
Amid lively markets and villages, a dream sequence reveals the knight’s vision of his beloved Dulcinea, joined by Cupid and the Queen of the Driads in a world of magic and wonder — a glimpse into his heart where romance and imagination collide.

"Reimagining Don Quixote’s dream scene with Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody transforms it into a surreal, rock-infused world. Dulcinea, Cupid, and the Queen of the Dryads—reborn as a fierce Rock Fairy—guide us through a landscape painted in blacks, greens, and purples, both mystical and electrifying. The music—epic, unpredictable, and dramatic—mirrors the chaos and wonder of Don Quixote’s imagination. For me, this piece celebrates fearless creativity, where ballet, theatricality, and rock collide to create something entirely new and unforgettable."​

Paranormal Percussion, the ONLY annual Halloween-themed percussion show in the world, is a rhythmic theatrical production of Halloween-themed songs played by Warehouse 5 Drum Theatre, a demented drum group, using only percussion instruments.

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
warehousefivedrumtheatre.com
Purchase your official Serena Webb Dance Theater Merch right here!

CHOREOGRAPHERS

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KARYN ANDRASKO
Karyn Andrasko received her BA in Dance Performance from SUU and her MA in Dance Anthropology from Roehampton University in London. She has trained in many different dance genres but claims modern dance as her true love. She loves telling stories through movement by choreographing for modern dance companies and community musical productions.

​Karyn is so excited to be back choreographing and dancing for this show. She is SWDT's official photographer and a resident choreographer. 'All my love to Jackson, Sonya, Jonas, and Simon!''
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KIRSTEN TUCKER
Kirsten Tucker started dancing at a very young age, and trained extensively in Ballet with Children's Ballet Theatre and Russian Institute of Ballet.  She also danced on Skyline High School's dance company for three years where she learned to teach and choreograph.  She was accepted into University of Utah's ballet program in 1994, and was a company member on their Character Dance Team.  There she worked with a variety of dance professionals on Utah Ballet and Ballet West. She danced in a number of productions such as "The Ice Queen," "Giselle," and was highlighted as a soloist in William Christensen's "Coppelia," one of the last productions he directed before he passed away. She is a current company dancer of Serena Webb Dance Theater, Webb Dance Academy Director, and a recent graduate of Utah Valley University with her BFA.​​
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SERENA WEBB
EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
 Serena Webb received her BFA Degree in Modern Dance from Utah Valley University, specializing in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz. During her time at Utah Valley University she performed with the pre-professional company, Contemporary Dance Ensemble. Serena has worked with a variety of other professionals in the dance community, such as Ballet West, Ririe-Woodbury, Repertory Dance Theater, Utah Metropolitan Ballet, and Alvin Ailey. Serena co-founded Body Logic Dance Company in 2009, where she took on the role of Artistic Director, dancer, choreographer, and board member. She also co-created Body Logic Dance Academy successfully ran it for 8 years.

Serena made the exciting decision to create her own company and school in 2023, and continues to produce new works with her flare of dance theatrics.  Her overall mission is to create art that any audience can connect with, by telling stories in a new and exciting way.  Serena seeks dancers with commitment and passion for dance, professionalism, and the ability to get out of their comfort zones. ​

LIGHTING DESIGNER

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GLENN LINDER
Glenn has spent many years lighting theatre, dance, opera, live music, and corporate events around the country. He has no favorite shows, as every show can be fun and challenging. He also likes sunsets, long walks on the beach, and romantic dinners…usually by himself.

DANCERS

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JULIANA BEERS
Juliana Beers began dancing at the age of 7. She trained in many styles under ReNae and Charlee Sorenson at Spotlight Revue Dance Studio, while also dancing with her high school’s dance company and ballroom team. She went on to major in ballet at BYU where she performed and toured with their ballet company, Theatre Ballet. Since graduating, she has danced with Cache Valley Civic Ballet, Illume Dance Company, and Serena Webb Dance Theater. She was also a member and choreographer of the Antiques Dance Company, where she performed and choreographed many pieces over three years. She won multiple awards for her choreography with the Antiques at regional and statewide competitions. She has also taught and choreographed at dance studios throughout Utah for 14 years. 

​While not dancing, Juliana enjoys drawing, sewing and costume design, jigsaw puzzles, and anything related to Pokémon.  She is deeply grateful for the support and love of her family, friends, and especially her two beautiful daughters.
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MACKAY BUTLER
Mackay started dancing in high school as an experiment, and it quickly became his passion. He dabbled in every style he could, gaining a wide variety of training, with a strong foundation in modern. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Brigham Young University, where he competed ballroom openly and danced on the university’s ballroom and contemporary companies. He also had the opportunity to dance on salsa champion Jorge Rentería’s salsa team with the GioDanceworld studio in Pleasant Grove, UT and perform at the Las Vegas Super Congress. Mackay likes to say “If I get to move, I’m happy,” thus he is always looking for his next project and is glad for every opportunity that allows him to spread the joy of expression through movement. He also married the love his life, Victor, this summer, and they reside in Orem, Utah. 
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BREANNE BURBY
Breanne Burby started her Dance career in high school with a modern-contemporary dance class. After taking this class, she continued to dance through high school and into college, where she graduated from Dixie State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance. During her time at Dixie, she had the opportunities to explore different genres of dance such as ballet, jazz, tap, ballroom, ariel, and modern. Breanne has also had the opportunity to perform in multiple shows with the the Dixie State Dance Department, which included student  and faculty choreographed performances, along with collaborating with Repertory Dance Theatre. Breanne believes that dance will benefit dancers as long as they are willing to put their time and effort into growing as a dancer, as that is what she has done for herself.  As of recently Breanne continues to teach and perform with Serena Webb Dance Theatre. 
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ELIZABETH DUGGAR
Elizabeth Duggar graduated from SUU with her BS in Dance Performance. She loves dancing on the stage, whether it be as a dancing Police Officer in "Pirates of Penzance" or a strange human from the land of "Imago". Dance is more than just a form of expression for her - it is a means of connecting more deeply with humans and the human experience as she explores what that means through the mode of movement. She has two adorable young boys and is excited to show them you can always find ways to do the things you love, even when you’re old. ​
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RICK GEORGE
An Oregon native, Rick began his training through the dance program at North Bend High School, as well as Pacific School of Dance.  Afterwards he attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a BA in Dance. More recently, Rick has danced with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square for several of their Christmas performances, which were later broadcast nationally on PBS. He has also performed several roles with Illume Dance Company in their presentation of "Narnia." This is Rick's third year performing with Serena Webb Dance Theater.​
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SABRINA HARDMAN
Sabrina Hardman  started dancing when she was 3 years old and has been dancing ever since. She has trained in various styles including ballroom, folk styles, and musical theater. She has danced at Spotlight Revue, Orem High Dance Co, Orem Ballroom Company, and NHSDA (National Honors Society for Dance Arts). This is her second year with Serena Webb Dance Theater.​​
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JENNESSA HOWARD
Jennessa started in Vaganova Ballet at the age of four in a studio run by her mother. She later went to Mt.San Antonio College to study different genres including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and etc. She was a student performer in the Palm Springs Choreography Festival, A.C.D.F.A., Santa Monica’s Mix n’ Match Choreography Festival, Symbiosis, Oregon Eclipse, and opened for Martha Graham Dance Company. Jennessa has choreographed multiple dance pieces shown in student showcases and dance competitions across the United States. She graduated with an A.S. degree in Dance, Kinesiology with a California Certification as a Dance Teacher. She has studied world dances and circus arts under multiple teachers that have taught genres such as Butoh, Capoeira, Hand Balancing, Contortion, Aerial Silks, and Static Trapeze. She founded and was the director of Touching Space Dance Company, and now performs with Serena Webb Dance Theatre.​
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RAINA PRESCOTT
Raina began her formal dance when she was 12. She danced with Webb Dance Academy until she graduated in 2022. After high school she took some time off from dance, and her passion reignited when she performed in the 2023 "The Nutcracker and the Mouse Queen." This past year she has experimented with creating a candle business, and is preparing to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing. This is her second year with Serena Webb Dance Theater.​
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AUBREY WRIGHT
Aubrey has been dancing since the age of four. She began in ballet and eventually extended her dance education through Graham and Horton Techniques. Performance, especially dancing, has always been a part of her life. Aubrey grew up in a Filipino household where karaoke and dance was almost always present.  She attended LaGuardia School for the Performing Arts in Manhattan, Alvin Ailey’s Move NYC program, and studied both neuroscience and dance at Brigham Young University. Now, she continues to pursue her dance career, and teaches dance to the younger generation. She continues dancing through life with her beloved husband, who also knows a thing or two performing! This is her first year performing and teaching for Serena Webb Dance Theater and Webb Dance Academy.

GUEST DANCER

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HEATHER FRANCIS
Heather Francis is a dancer, teaching artist, and instructional designer. She is excited to be making her second debut with Serena Webb Dance Theatre after 8 years. She’s grateful to be sharing the stage with her friends again! Professionally she is currently designing learning experiences for engineers and consultants in the transportation industry, a fun shift from her previous role designing arts-based professional development for classroom teachers. 

narrator

From the scorching deserts of Arizona to the snowy mountains of Utah to the smoggy streets of LA and finally landing in NYC, I have been living the actor's life hopping around working in what I love.  I am an actor, singer, musician, teacher and artist. 
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Recent Updates:
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Currently collaborating on a one actor play based on the Greek myth of Echo and Narcissus. 


Recently played Horatio in a Viking inspired production of Hamlet with Wolfbane Productions in Virginia
 Serena Webb Dance Theater is a registered non-profit organization.
We appreciate any donations that are made to support our future endeavors in bringing the arts to our community. ​Your donations help us to fund our shows with things such as; costumes, theater rental, staff salary, and lighting design. Donations will also help support our dancers, and help bring jobs to dance artists in the Midvale area.  We appreciate your donations Thank You!