Table for Ten: $3000

SOLD!

Dine with... Lauren Jonas, Artistic Director & Co-Founder

Lauren Jonas, co-founder and Artistic Director of Diablo Ballet, trained at the Marin Ballet under Maria Vegh and Margaret Swarthout, and then studied under Sally Streets. She performed with the Milwaukee Ballet, the Oakland Ballet and the Southwest Ballet, dancing a wide range of repertoire. She toured the United States with the Moscow Ballet directed by Bolshoi Ballet's Vaslav Gordeyev, represented the United States at Expo '86 in Vancouver, Canada, and danced in a PBS film documentary about Isadora Duncan. Since Diablo Ballet's premiere on March 10, 1994, Ms. Jonas has recruited dancers from around the world to present the finest in contemporary and classical ballets. A firm believer in the need to stimulate the cultural development of future generations, Ms. Jonas has also sought to provide programs and performances designed specifically for children through the Ballet’s Dance Development Educational Outreach Program, which she co-created. She has guest taught for various schools and colleges throughout California and nationally. Ms. Jonas was honored with the 1998 Contra Costa County Woman of Achievement Award for the Arts and the 2000 Arts and Culture Commission Award of Contra Costa County. In 2005, she was a National Philanthropy Day honoree. She was named “Who’s Who” in the 21st Century Awards Program. She has served as an advisory board member on several non-profit boards and on Scholarship and Dance Festival Committees. Ms. Jonas and Diablo Ballet are committed to satisfying audiences' interest and passion for the performing arts.

Table for Ten: $3000

Dine with... Nikolai Kabaniaev, Co-Artistic Director

Nikolai Kabaniaevwas trained at the famed Vaganova School in St. Petersburg, Russia. He performed with the internationally renowned Kirov Ballet for seven years during which time he danced principal and soloist roles. In 1989, he joined the Oakland Ballet as a principal dancer. He has also performed with Smuin Ballet. Mr. Kabaniaev has taught master classes and has choreographed for numerous companies and schools in the Bay Area, Hawaii and Mexico. Since joining Diablo Ballet in March 1994 as an original founding member, he has performed many memorable roles including George Balanchine’s Apollo. In September 1995, Mr. Kabaniaev together with one of Diablo Ballet's female dancers won fourth place at the International Ballet Competition in Osaka, Japan. In October 1996, Mr. Kabaniaev was named Associate Artistic Director of Diablo Ballet and Co-Artistic Director in September 2002. In September 1996, he appeared on national television performing one of his original works on the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. Mr. Kabaniaev has choreographed over twenty-five new works and six story ballets for the Company. Many of them are now seen in repertoires of ballet companies across the country.

Table for Ten: $2000

Dine with... Tina Kay Bohnstedt

Tina Kay Bohnstedt received her training at the Heinz-Bosl Academy in Munich, Germany. From 1989 to 1998, she was a member of the Bavarian National Ballet in Munich. While in Munich, Ms. Bohnstedt performed a wide range of soloist and principal roles including Juliet in John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Kitri in Don Quixote, Lise in Frederick Ashton's La Fille Mal Gardee and Gamzatti in La Bayadere. Additionally, she has danced principal roles in the ballets of George Balanchine, John Neumeier and Hans Van Manen and toured extensively to China, the Philippines, Korea, Spain, Poland, Italy and Switzerland. Ms. Bohnstedt made her debut with Diablo Ballet in September 1999. Since then she has been featured in various ballets by world-renowned choreographers. In September 2005, she and Viktor Kabaniaev were named directors of Diablo Ballet’s Apprentice Program. In May 2007, Ms. Bohnstedt created her own work for Diablo Ballet entitled The Mirror. It was received with public and audience acclaim. 

Table for Ten: $2000

Dine with... David Fonnegra

David Fonnegra was born in Venezuela and was a principal dancer for the Ballet de Caracas directed by the legendary choreographer, Vincente Nebrada. After seeing him perform on tour, Mr. Fonnegra was invited by Edward Villella to join the Miami City Ballet. During his tenure, he appeared in principal roles in ballets such as Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote. Mr. Fonnegra joined State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara for their 2002-03 Season and appeared in principal roles in Taming of the Shrew, Hollywood Nutcracker, and Romeo and Juliet. Since joining Diablo Ballet in 2004, Mr. Fonnegra has been featured in The Legend of Taj Mahal, Petrushka, They’ve Lost Their Footing and Who Cares?

Table for Ten: $2000

Dine with... Victor Kabaniaev, Company Teacher & Choreographer

Viktor Kabaniaev was trained at the famed Vaganova School in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has worked as a principal dancer in various ballet companies in the former Soviet Union, including Leningrad State Ballet Theatre under the directorship of Mr. Boris Eifman, the Jacobson Foundation and the Russian Ballet. Since first appearing with Diablo Ballet in September of 1996, he has danced several principal roles including the Bronze Idol Solo from La Bayadere, George Balanchine's Sylvia Pas de Deux, the Pas de Deux from Stars and Stripes, Tarantella Pas de Deux and Who Cares? In 2004, Mr. Kabaniaev won first prize in the “Third International Serge Diaghilev Competition of Choreographic Art” in Gdynia, Poland. In 2005, he won first prize in both the pre-professional and professional divisions at the “Dance Under the Stars Competition” in Palm Desert, California. Mr. Kabaniaev has created two world premieres for Cincinnati Ballet and served as a coach at the 2006 International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. He’s a company teacher and Resident Choreographer for Diablo Ballet. Mr. Kabaniaev has choreographed eight world premieres for the Company. In September 2005, he and Tina Kay Bohnstedt were named directors of Diablo Ballet’s Apprentice Program.

Table for Ten: $2000

Dine with... Jekyns Palaez

Jekyns Pelaez began his studies at Incolballet in his birthplace of Cali, Colombia. He danced with Ballet De Cali, Ballet Arizona, Chautauqua Ballet, Ohio Ballet, Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley and others before joining Diablo Ballet. He has also toured extensively throughout the United States, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba (XIII Festival de Ballet de la Habana), and appeared at the International Children’s Festival. His repertoire includes The Nutcracker, Carmen, Cinderella, Lilac Garden, Rodeo, Giselle, Don Quixote, Carmina Burana, Serenade, La Fille Mal Gardee, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Flames of Paris, Napoli, Le Corsaire, Esplanade, and Hymn for Her. Since joining Diablo Ballet in 2003, he has danced roles in The Magic Toy Store, Carmen, Amadeus, La Vivandiere Pas de Quatre et Pas de Six, Lady of the Camellias Pas de Deux, They’ve Lost Their Footing, Walk before Talk and Who Cares? Mr. Pelaez appeared as a non-competing partner at the 2006 International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. His website is www.jekyns.com.

Table for Ten: $2000

Dine with... Edward Stegge

Edward Stegge received his training on full scholarship at the San Francisco Ballet. He also received training at the School of American Ballet, Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. He danced with the Colorado Ballet for ten seasons, dancing soloist and principal roles, including the Cavalier in The Nutcracker, Franz in Coppelia, Bluebird in Sleeping Beauty, Dark Angel in Balanchine's Serenade, the principal role in Flower Festival at Genzano and alternate leading roles in Alvin Ailey's The River. He was a guest artist with Minnesota Dance Theater, under direction of the late Loyce Houlton, and has performed extensively throughout Japan. He returned to California in the Fall of 2000 and performed with Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Oakland Ballet, and with the San Francisco Opera Ballet. Since joining Diablo Ballet in the spring of 2002, Mr. Stegge has performed in The Magic Toy Store, Carmen, Amadeus, Petrushka, George Balanchine’s Tarantella Pas de Deux, Walk before Talk, Opus for a Table and Val Caniparoli’s Aquilarco Pas de Deux.

Table for Ten: $2000

SOLD!

Dine with... Derek Sakakura

Derek Sakakura, a Bay Area native, began his training at The Ballet School in Walnut Creek and has studied with San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Sally Streets. His professional career began in 1997 with a national tour of The King and I starring Haley Mills, and he has since performed with companies such as Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Opera Ballet, Ballet Austin, and most recently, Ballet Met Columbus, where he danced principal roles such the Prince in Cinderella, the Cavalier in Nutcracker, Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and in George Balanchine’s Rubies and Stars and Stripes. Mr. Sakakura's most recent accomplishments include playing Bernardo in Woodminster’s West Side Story and enrolling in St. Mary’s College LEAP program. He is excited to be joining Diablo Ballet for the 2007-2008 season!

Table for Ten: $2000

Dine with... Mayo Sugano

Mayo Sugano began her ballet training at the Aoyama Ballet School, Tokyo in 1982. From 1992 to 1997, Ms. Sugano was on full scholarship at the Academy of Colorado Ballet and in 1997 won the scholarship prize in the 25th Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. She was awarded a full scholarship to study with the San Francisco Ballet School in 1997 and was one of the selected students to appear in the documentary video “Encore For Ruby: The Story of an American Ballerina”. Ms. Sugano joined the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in 1998, where she danced for two seasons and danced leading roles in various ballets. She danced with the San Francisco Ballet from 2000 to 2004. Since joining Diablo Ballet in 2005, she has been featured in The Magic Toy Store, Pas de Quatre et Pas de Six, Allegro and Earthquake. Ms. Sugano is also currently a faculty member of City Ballet School in San Francisco.