Principal Dancer Aran Bell and Orlando native Chloe Misseldine to perform in Orlando’s iconic holiday program
ORLANDO, FL. – Tuesday, December 8, 2020 – American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Principal Dancer Aran Bell will perform this month as guest artist in several performances of Orlando Ballet’s The Nutcracker, and he will be joined by fellow ABT company dancer Chloe Misseldine, who began her award-winning dance career with Orlando Ballet.
Both dancers will appear together at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 19 and at 2 and 7 p.m., Sunday, December 20.
Like many major ballet companies, ABT was forced to cancel its performance season, including the holiday favorite due to the COVID-19 virus. Orlando Ballet is one of only eight professional dance companies in the country able to present the traditional holiday ballet to a live audience.
“Having these two guest artists is not just prestigious but it’s especially poignant,” said Orlando Ballet Artistic Director Robert Hill. “I began my career at ABT and danced there for more than a decade; Chloe was born in Orlando and began her training with Orlando Ballet School. Meanwhile, our community craves a sense of holiday spirit and we are able to provide that with a tradition shared around the world. It’s all quite remarkable.”
Bell, a native of Bethesda, Maryland and who joined ABT in 2014, was promoted to soloist in September 2019 and then to Principal Dancer earlier this year. He has won numerous competitive awards including the Grand Prix at the Milan International Ballet Competition, Gold Medal at Tanzolymp Berlin; Gold Medal and Audience Choice Award at Rieti International Ballet Competition, and the Permio Capri Danza International Award. He has performed in galas throughout Europe and the United States. Bell was featured in the 2011 film First Position: A Ballet Documentary.
Misseldine, whose mother danced principal roles with ABT and now teaches at Orlando Ballet School, has also won numerous prestigious competitions including the silver medal at the Youth America Grand Prix New York where she was subsequently invited to perform in its 2017 “Stars of Tomorrow” production. She also was a 2018 finalist at the Prix de Lausanne and in 2019 she earned the bronze medal at the Beijing International Ballet Competition in the junior category. She is currently an apprentice with ABT.
“It’s such a gift to be able to perform with Orlando Ballet because it’s a wonderful ballet company, but equally important to me, my family and dance roots are here,” Misseldine said. “This is a very special opportunity.”
