Kansas City Ballet Announces Retirement of
Christopher Barksdale and Lisa Choules
Christopher Barksdale’s 21 Year Career with Kansas City Ballet A Rare Accomplishment

KANSAS CITY, MO (April 16, 2009) – W illiam Whitener, artistic director of the Kansas City Ballet, has announced the retirement of Christopher Barksdale and Lisa Choules. Barksdale will retire after an illustrious 21-year career as a dancer with the company. Choules has been with the company for 9 years. Both will dance their final performances in the Kansas City Ballet Spring Program at the Lyric Theater May 7-10.

“Christopher was trained in our school. Todd Bolender, Diana Adams and Una Kai trained him and helped to shape his brilliant career,” said Whitener. “His regard for classical ballet, his verve, joyous spirit and physical and mental agility have thrilled audiences and we wish him well in the new chapter of his life. It has been my pleasure to work with him for the past thirteen years.”

“Lisa came to Kansas City Ballet after a distinguished career at Ballet West in Salt Lake City. Her strength and beauty were immediately noted by our local audiences,” said Whitener. “Whether dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy or Merce Cunningham’s Duets, her artistry, fortitude and range of expression came shining through.”

About Christopher Barksdale
Barksdale will star in William Whitener’s new work, Salute, honoring his remarkable tenure. The heartfelt and playful piece is set to 20th century cornet music by Arthur Smith, Scott Joplin and Jean-Baptist Arban—a fitting tribute to such an accomplished athlete, thespian, and comedian.

Christopher Barksdale received his training on scholarship at the Kansas City Ballet School, the School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet School and Chicago City Ballet School. He has performed leading roles in Agon, Allegro Brillante, Danse Concertante, Valse Fantaisie, La Sonnambula, The Four Temperaments, Coppélia, Jardi Tancat, Lambarena, Rodeo, and the title role in Prodigal Son. Mr. Barksdale was honored to create an archival video of Balanchine's Phlegmatic variation from The Four Temperaments coached by Todd Bolender in New York at the George Balanchine Foundation and the Gigue from Mozartiana with Stanley Zompakos. Mr. Barksdale was filmed in Renard for the Balanchine Trust, and performed the title role with Kansas City Ballet at Symphony Space in New York City in March 2004.

“Mr. Bolender greatly respected Chris’ musicality, thirst for knowledge and attention to detail,” remembers Ballet Master James Jordan. “I think that Todd recognized in Chris many of the same qualities he possessed as a dancer and worked tirelessly to nourish that talent.”

Future plans for Mr. Barksdale include playing a significant role in dance and theatre in Kansas City and beyond as a performer and choreographer.

About Lisa Choules
Ms. Choules began her training in Arizona and Utah before attending San Francisco Ballet School on full scholarship. Her career began at Ballet West where she spent five years performing a variety of ballets from classical to contemporary. Her principal roles included the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Myrtha from Giselle, the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella and Odette in Act II of Swan Lake. Ms. Choules' other affiliations include L.A. Classical Ballet, Utah Ballet and Utah Regional Ballet where she danced principal roles in Coppélia, Serenade and The Nutcracker. While dancing with Kansas City Ballet she performed the Sylph in La Sylphide Pas de Deux, the Ballerina in Deuce Coupe, the Lark in Lark Ascending, All the Way from Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, Alonzo King’s Handel Trio and Mary Wigman’s Hexentanz. Ms. Choules also appeared in the first solo of Antony Tudor’s Dark Elegies and the role of Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet.

Ms. Choules’ future plans include theatre and dance costume design. Her designs include William Whitener’s First Position and this season’s Salute.

2009 SPRING PERFORMANCE AT A GLANCE
May 7-10, 2009
Lyric Theatre
1029 Central
Kansas City, Missouri

Salute
Choreography: William Whitener
Music: Arthur Smith, Scott Joplin and Jean-Baptist Arban

World Premiere
Choreography: Karole Armitage
Music: Einojuhani Rautavaara

Nine Sinatra Songs
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Music: Frank Sinatra

Thursday, May 7                     7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 8                          7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 9                      2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 10                       2:00 p.m.

About Kansas City Ballet
Founded in 1957, Kansas City Ballet is a 26-member professional ballet company under the direction of Artistic Director William Whitener and Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley. The company’s mission is to offer dance experiences of the highest quality to our community, region and profession. The Kansas City Ballet also is home to the Kansas City Ballet School for nearly 600 children and adults, offering professional training for the career-minded student as well as for those seeking a healthy lifestyle. Through our professional company, school and community outreach programs such as ROAD, Project X, and Dance INFORMances, we seek to nurture and develop our artists, audiences and students in the creativity, diversity and joy of dance. For more information, visit www.kcballet.org.

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