Lyric Opera 2021-2022 Issue 4 Florencia en el Amazonas

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 25 JOSHUA LEON EGUIA | DANCER Lyric debut Joshua Leon Eguia is a dancer and choreographer based in New York City. He has had the pleasure of dancing for choreographers including Karole Armitage, Serge Bennathan, John Beasant III, Bill T. Jones, and Vladimir Varnava. Eguia also has been featured in commercial work for Marc Jacobs, Moroccanoil, and Imitation of Christ fashion. His work has been presented at venues including SUNY Fredonia, the Austin Dance Festival, the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, and the Tank NYC. JOSEPH HERNANDEZ | DANCER Previously at Lyric: West Side Story, Cendrillon (both 2018/19). The Chicagoan began his movement training by practicing Shotokan karate. He received his formal training from Western Michigan University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in dance. Hernandez’s professional credits include performances with the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, LED Boise, ODC/ Dance, Kate Weare Company, and River North Dance Chicago, among others. Most recently, he appeared in Broadway’s production of West Side Story , with international tours pending. Hernandez also is a passionate educator and choreographer and presently serves as an artistic associate for COMMON Conservatory in Chicago. MICHAEL FRANCIS MCBRIDE | DANCER Lyric debut Originally from Johnson City, New York, McBride was asked by Judith Jamison to join the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2009 while he was completing his bachelor’s degree at Fordham University. In his tenure performing with the Ailey Company from 2009–2019, he performed in over 65 ballets worldwide and collaborated with choreographers such as Alvin Ailey, Garth Fagan, George Faison, Geoffrey Holder, Bill T. Jones, Jirˇí Kylián, Wayne McGregor, Ohad Naharin, David Parsons, Paul Taylor, and Twyla Tharp. McBride has appeared in John Caird’s Estella Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with a Twist , Pose on FX, and Burning Man: the Musical on Amazon Prime. He also has performed several times for the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS organization and most recently appeared in Santa Fe Opera’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream . AKUA NONI PARKER | DANCER Lyric debut Parker has over 20 years of experience in the performing arts industry. She has performed as a principal dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet San Jose, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She also holds certification in the American Ballet Theatre National Teaching Curriculum (levels pre-primary through level five), the Zena Rommett Floor-Barre technique, and is a certified vegan chef. Parker also uses her artistic experience, knowledge of wellness, and love of all things “do-it-yourself” to guide others as a health and lifestyle coach. BENJAMIN HOLLIDAY WARDELL | DANCER Previously at Lyric: La traviata (2018/19). Benjamin Holliday Wardell is founder and creative director of The Cambrians. In his 14 years as a professional dancer, he has had the privilege to work with many of the world’s leading choreographers and movement researchers. Career highlights include work as a soloist with the Cincinnati Ballet and as a member of Alonzo King’s LINES ballet in San Francisco. Wardell performed as a part of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for over four years and continues to call Chicago home. He has toured internationally with Aszure Barton and created work with Ron de Jesus Dance and Lucky Plush Productions. Wardell also has performed with Lar Lubovitch and recently created a new performance with Alejandro Cerrudo. HANNAH ZIN | DANCER Lyric debut The New York-based dancer received her early training at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as well as many summer programs across the country. She graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University and the Ailey School with a bachelor’s degree in art history and dance. Over the past four seasons, Zin has performed in numerous operas, including appearances with the Metropolitan Opera in productions of Guillaume Tell , Rusalka , Parsifal , Don Giovanni , and Macbeth ; Opera Saratoga in Zémire et Azor ; and Washington National Opera in La traviata and Samson and Delilah , for which she also served as dance captain. JORDAN DE SOUZA | CONDUCTOR Lyric debut The Canadian conductor served as First Kapellmeister of the Komische Oper Berlin from 2017–2020. During this term, he collaborated with renowned director Barrie Kosky on four critically acclaimed new productions: Pelléas et Mélisande , La bohème , Weinberger’s Frühlingsstürme , and Candide . Following his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2020 Glyndebourne Cup Competition, de Souza was immediately invited to conduct a new production of La bohème at the 2022 Glyndebourne Festival. His 2021/22 season engagements include a debut conducting Don Giovanni at Opernhaus Zürich; Der fliegender Holländer / National Theatre Mannheim; and concerts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, which will include the world premiere of Simon Bertrand’s