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This performance is funded in part by a Community Arts Development Grant from the Carroll County Arts Council and the Maryland State Arts Council.
Ballet Embody is Maryland’s premiere contemporary ballet company located in Carroll County. Co-founded in 2019 by Emily Runkle and Melissa Lineburg, Ballet Embody produces original classical and contemporary works.
NOTES ON BALLET EMBODY’S AN EVENING OF EDGAR ALLAN POE
It was nearly six years ago when I shared this “idea” with Melissa over a beer and some wings. I remember telling her “I think Edgar Allan Poe’s works are perfect for ballet and someday I’d like to choreograph a professional show!” The next day she called me up and said “Let’s make that happen”. 9 months later and a new full length show, along with a new little ballet company, Ballet Embody, was born!
And what a way to start. This show fully “embodies” Ballet Embody in a nutshell....unique, a blend of classical and contemporary, a little edgy, and of course a little humor. It was the perfect start for our company, and we are thrilled to see it in a bigger capacity, now with additional pieces and custom costumes. We hope you enjoy something a little different and a little unusual.... after all, as Poe said, “There is no exquisite beauty… without some strangeness......”
Emily Runkle
Artistic Director | Ballet Embody
Act 1 is a blend of the poetic, the strange, the psychotic, and the beautiful.
The Raven brings Poe’s most famous poem to life by exploring themes of truth, memory, and the acceptance of the fact that reality is unchangeable, even when distorted by grief.
Heathens and The Tell-Tale Heart exemplify the strange, spooky characters and moods that make Poe’s work exciting and scary. These two pieces allow the reader/viewer to connect with the morally weak antagonist, rather than a morally good and clean protagonist.
Annabel Lee lightens the evening with a tale of love and devotion so strong, it even made the angels in heaven jealous.
Act 2 exemplifies Poe’s macabre style with The Masque of the Red Death.
This cautionary tale explores the moral lesson of the ignorance of the plight of the poor. It exposes the folly of evading consequences for unjust and immoral actions. Ballet Embody creatively interprets Poe's seven rooms as an allegory for the seven deadly sins. Witness our central character confront the repercussions of falling victim to these tempting vices!
An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe
The Raven
Choreography by Emily Runkle
Poem written by Edgar Allan Poe | Narration by Geoff Castellucci
MADISON BONVISSUTO RYAN MELISSA LINEBURG
Heathens
Choreography by Emily Runkle
Music: Heathens by Twenty-One Pilots
MADILYN CONROY JULIA LATKO ISABELLA NALEWAK MARISSA POTOCKI
AINSLEY ROCKWELL ARIANNA SCHANBERGER LAUREN SCHREYER
The Tell-Tale Heart
Choreography by Emily Runkle
Music: Edvvard Grieg
Antagonist
JESSICA MARKIEWICZ
Inspectors
Saturday Cast
MADILYN CONROY ARIANNA SCHANBERGER LAUREN SCHREYER
Sunday Cast
LACEE BUCKHOLZ EMILY JARRETT JULIA LATKO
Annabel Lee
Choreography by Emily Runkle
Music: Edvard Grieg, Antonio Vivaldi, Franz Liszt, Twenty One Pilots
REBECCA DUNPHY FALKNER DISCHER
Angels
ELLEN BAST LACEE BUCKHOLZ MADILYN CONROY
KRISTEN FARACLAS RACHEL HULTQUIST JULIA LATKO
ISABELLA NALEWAK MARISSA POTOCKI MAYA RICHARD
AINSLEY ROCKWELL ARIANNA SCHANBERGER LAUREN SCHREYER
The Masque of the Red Death
Choreography by Emily Runkle
Cameron Fry & Addison Stacho (Greed, 2019), Marcelly Goncalves (Lust, 2019)
Music by Khachaturian, Bach, Saint-Saens, Glazunov, Grieg, Tchaikovsky,
Nine Inch Nails, Rebecca Phillips, Dustin O’Halloran
Costumes by Erica Johnston
Prologue + Ballroom Waltz
ELLEN BAST LACEE BUCKHOLZ MADISON BONVISSUTO RYAN (SUN)
REBECA DUNPHY FALKNER DISCHER KRISTEN FARACLAS
RACHEL HULTQUIST EMILY JARRETT JESSICA MARKIEWICZ
MELISSA LINEBURG MAYA RICHARD EMILY RUNKLE (SAT)
Pride
MADISON BONVISSUTO RYAN (SUN) EMILY RUNKLE (SAT)
Envy
ELLEN BAST
JULIA LATKO LAUREN SCHREYER
Sloth
MAYA RICHARD FALKNER DISCHER
Greed
LACEE BUCKHOLZ REBECCA DUNPHY
Gluttony
JESSICA MARKIEWICZ
Lust
KRISTEN FARACLAS MELISSA LINEBURG
Wrath
EMILY JARRETT
Ballroom Revelry
ANNA CARLISLE HEATHER LEITNER
LISA PONTON JOY PASSERINI
The Guest
ERIK HOFFMAN
**Curtain Call**
Costume Designer
Erica Johnston is a NYC-based costume designer and builder. Ballet Embody is honored to join the ranks of her design credits which include: Kansas City Ballet, Peridance Company, Cirio Collective, Nimbus Dance, Dance Kaleidoscope, J CHEN PROJECT, the Ailey School, Hudson Ballet Theatre, McKoy Dance Project, Joffrey Concert Group, and Marymount Manhattan College. Her build credits include: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, BalletX, Sidra Bell Dance NY, Limón Company, the Arpino Foundation, Ephrat Asherie Dance, Philadanco, ABT Studio Company, Jon Batiste, A$AP Rocky, Janelle Monáe, HBO, Disney Plus.
Photo of Erica by Ann Marie Amick
Management Team
Emily Runkle Artistic Director & Company Artist
Message from Emily
It’s been a privilege to see our little “project” re-imagined 5 years later….Thanks to ALL who have made this possible. Our community at BE is bigger than anyone can imagine, and stretches from anyone who's praised us by word of mouth or donated an empty box to be used for our prop department. We see you and we appreciate you.
I'd like to thank:
My Synergy fam- Jen, Katy, and all of our amazing teachers and collaborators for providing and maintaining such a wonderful home for Ballet Embody.
My parents- Pam and Dave Runkle- if you see them, give them a hug! They're a huge reason I have the courage and drive to choreograph and run a dance company.
My husband- for putting props and sets on wheels, for occasionally being my dance partner and for all of his support and brainstorming sessions and intellectual property since 2019. ;)
My students- teaching you and watching you perform is a joy. May you always give light to the world the same way that you are tonight.
Our ProCo dancers- working with you is fulfilling, uplifting, and an adventure. You all contribute so much to each rehearsal, and I hope you know how much you inspire your fellow dancers and audience members. I'm truly honored that you've chosen to dance with Ballet Embody.
Melissa- thanks for sharing a brain, and putting up with me getting ahead of myself on practically a daily basis. I love being able to reflect with you on Mondays and share the pride that we feel for our group. Onwards and upwards!
Melissa Lineburg Managing Director & Company Artist
Message from Melissa
It goes without saying that I cannot believe we’re celebrating 5 years of Ballet Embody. Nor can I imagine where I would be without this amazing company. I am so grateful to the many dancers who have shared creativity and talent with us. I never take for granted just how lucky I am to perform alongside so many amazing artists. I cannot adequately express just how grateful I am the commitment and passion our dancers bring to rehearsals each and every week.
I’m proud to be presenting a re-imagined and expanded version of Emily’s original vision and I hope you enjoy the show!
I would like to thank:
Emily, my partner in creativity, laughs, all the bunhead things, and continued pursuit forward. I cannot believe we are presenting yet another full length ballet in the span of 4 years. Our early morning talks, constant support, and never-ending supply of energy - I am so grateful for all of it and cannot wait to see what our future holds while we think, create, present, and dance. I never take for granted chances we get to perform together. 💜
Josh, my literal partner in love + life. For being that annoyingly calm human who’s there for me at the end of long days and your never-wavering level of support of my dancing, management, and ignoring my lack of completing chores when needed - thank you.
My family - you brought me up in life, dealt with my constant movement, guided me to utilize available resources, and to ask questions. Your continued support of my creativity and pursuits is unwavering.
Our company of artists! You all constantly leave me in awe, absolutely astounded + amazed with your talent, curiosity to push boundaries and see where your technique, artistry, and intuition can take you. Without each of you - our current, past, and future dancers - the company would not be what it has become nor where it is today. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for trusting and having patience with us on this journey together.
Our audiences, donors, volunteers, supporters, followers, anyone I have absent-mindedly left out - without you Ballet Embody wouldn’t be where we are today. Thank you so much, please relax and enjoy the show!
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Season Sponsors
Ballet Embody is grateful to many for helping to make An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe a possibility. This production would not have been possible without support from:
Our dancers
Our donors
Our volunteers
Our stage crew
Matt Ryan and Falkner Discher for managing the video recording of the show.
Click here to see Ballet Embody’s Season Sponsors.
Costumes Curated and Provided by
Erica Johnston, Emily Runkle, Melissa Lineburg, Jessica Markiewicz, Company Dancers
Seamstress + Prop Support by Parent Volunteers, David Witt
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation online through our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas.