2013 Nutcracker Guest Artists

Allison DeBona- Sugar Plum Fairy
DeBona returns to Lincoln Midwest Ballet for a second time as Sugar Plum Fairy. She joined Ballet West in 2007 and was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2011. She trained with the Parou Ballet Company under Debbie Parou, followed by the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet under Jean Gedeon. DeBona has performed leading roles in the works of Susan Shields, Michael Smuin, Mark Morris, Stanton Welch, Michel Fokine, Nicolo Fonte, Jiri Kylian, and George Balanchine. Before becoming a professional dancer, DeBona earned a bachelor of science degree in ballet from Indiana University and also spent one year with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's graduate program. DeBona was a featured dancer in the CW's reality television show "Breaking Pointe" which aired in the summers of 2012 and 2013 .

Adrian Fry - Cavlier
Fry returns to Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company for a fourth time. He danced the part of the Prince in the March 2012 LMBC production of "Cinderella," the Cavalier in the 2012 Nutcracker, and was an instructor at LMBC's 2013 dance camp. Originally from Elkhorn, NE, Fry joined the corps de ballet of Salt Lake City's Ballet West in 2010 before being promoted to soloist in 2012. He trained under Robin Welch at the Omaha Theater Ballet School with additional training at the School of American Ballet in New York and Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle. Prior to joining Ballet West, Fry danced for four seasons at Oregon Ballet Theatre in Portland. He's toured both nationally and internationally, most recently dancing at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and at the Chicago Dancing Festival. Chicago Dancing Festival.

Andrew Taft- Nutcracker Prince

Andrew Taft was born in Miami, Florida where he began his classical training at the age of nine with Ruth Wiesen at the Miami Conservatory. He studied also with Thomas Armour, Robert Pike, Nancy Raffa and other professional guest artists. Taft trained in both Limon and Graham technique at the New World School of the Arts. His ballet training continued in New York City with private coaching by Johan Renvall and David Howard. He has danced leading roles with Michael Uthoff Dance Theatre, Miami Ballet, Francis Owen/Cox Dance, Ballet Hawaii and Miami City Ballet.

Jake Casey- Snow King, Mouse King, Marzipan

Jake Casey was born in Syracuse, New York where he began his training with Kathleen Rathburn at the Syracuse City Ballet. In Philadelphia he trained on scholarship at the Rock School under the direction of Bo & Stephanie Spassoff, as well as Ballet Mistress Mariaelena Ruiz. Casey studied on summer scholarships with the Boston Ballet and at the Chautauqua Institution. At Chautauqua he worked with the North Carolina Dance Theatre directed by Jean Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. Casey was a 2013 New York City Finalist for the Youth American Grand Prix. He also completed nationally as a Level 10 gymnast with USA Gymnastics.

Alberto Liberatoscioli - Russian, Arabian, Harlequin

Originally from Italy, Alberto Liberatoscioli received his ballet training in the Vaganova and Balanchine styles while also studying modern dance. He was a member of Ballet of the National Theater in Brno, Czech Republic and Slovak National Ballet. Liberatoscioli was also a company member at Columbia Classical Ballet in South Carolina and Omaha Theater Ballet. he is the creator and organizer of Midsummer Ballet Festival which brings U.S. ballet companies to his home city of San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy. Certified by American Ballet Theater of New York City, he is an active ballet instructor both regionally and abroad. Currently a company member for Ballet Nebraska, Liberatoscioli has danced many featured roles in their productions.