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Beth Ferrell

@demilledancer

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New York•London•Hong Kong•ABT '85 to '98. Teacher at the JKO School of American Ballet Theatre.

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Happy (and a little devilish) Halloween 😈 🎃 everyone!!!!
OK not going to lie Thursday night’s gala was a little emotional for me seeing @abtofficial revive a ballet so near and dear to my heart- Three Virgins and a Devil, a little gem of a morality play by Agnes De Mille @agnesdemilleofficial . Seeing it back on stage was such a treat and so wonderful to see it embraced by the incredible ABT dancers and audience so wholeheartedly.
ABT revived it back in 1993 after at least a decade out of the repertoire for an evening devoted to Agnes DeMille’s work that was presented over a weekend at the Kennedy Center. We first learned it from the amazing Sallie Wilson, a former ABT principal who was well known for her amazing characterizations and had been a very memorable Priggish virgin. Once we learned it., Agnes was brought in to help us work on our characters and to get the style and energy correct. These rehearsals were some of the most meaningful rehearsals I had ever experienced as a dancer. Comedy is quite hard and to get the right amount of projection and yet not going over the top is a really hard combination. Our cast was super fun- Rob Wallace, an amazing actor/dancer, was funny, and menacing as the devil. @marie_france_levesque an adorable lusty virgin and our rehearsal Director, the incredible Georgina Parkinson was the greedy virgin. I played the Priggish (also called the Fanatical One) and @scottohkny stole the show with his hilarious passer by. The Kennedy Center audience ate it up and it was intoxicating to hear the hearty laughs in the audience. I could go on forever with these beautiful memories, but couldn’t be more grateful to see Agnes‘s work back on stage.❤️🥰❤️🥰
Photos by MIRA of our cast
I included a photo of Agnes as the Priggish Virgin and Sallie Wilson and Dennis Nahat from the ballet as well as some pics from the Metmuseum of Lucas Cranach paintings that inspired Agnes , and our bows from the Kennedy Center, a theater that holds such precious memories. 💔💔💔💔💔 by @demilledancer

Happy birthday, Agnes DeMille!!! I am forever grateful to have danced your ballets. There is nothing like being a human on stage feeling all the feels! You challenged us to find the honesty and humanity in all our roles. And if we were having trouble finding it you knew how to help us dig deep and get over any inhibitions I miss working with you- I miss those amazingly intense rehearsals when you were sitting in the front of the room. And I miss your big wedding ring hitting the mirror!!!😂💝❤️Those truly were the days, my friend.
Ballets pictured: Rodeo, The Informer, Three Virgins and a Devil @abtofficial and Brigadoon (@nycopera and North Shore Music Theater )
Photos from @abtofficial by Mira except where noted. Photos of Brigadoon at City Opera by Carol Rosegg.
And I couldn’t tag them but that’s Rob Wallace as the Devil, Ethan Brown as the Informer, and Gil Boggs as the Champion Roper! by @demilledancer

Happy birthday dearest Caroline!!!! I can’t believe my baby is 23 years old today!!!! And yet I am continually amazed at how much you’ve grown as a person and how wisely you see the world. Your Dad and I are so proud of the intelligent, artistic, passionate, beautiful, fun, creative young woman you are!!! Here’s to a year ahead full of wonderful and exciting possibilities and adventures in your new home of LA (she’s moving next week so I’ll be reaching out to my LA peeps!) and of course lots of time with your mom!!!! 😂🥰❤️
We love you Caroline and hope 23 is the best year yet!!! Happy birthday sweetie!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ by @demilledancer

I couldn’t be more thrilled and proud to be starting my 10th season teaching @abtschool and my 23rd year @abtofficial this upcoming week. Can’t wait to meet the new students and welcome back our dancers!
There are so many people I need to thank. First and foremost my wonderful bosses past and present. From @cyn_dicate for inviting me to the year round school and @juliekentofficial to the summer intensive to my present bosses @stellaabreradetsky and Kate Lydon. These women constantly inspire me with their passion for education, commitment to collaboration, and their wealth of knowledge. It is an honor to work for you.
I also have to thank the amazing teachers at the ABT school particularly my teaching partners over the years- @fabriceherraultarchive @robertwlafosse @carlakorbes @adrienneschulte @cornell_callender I love working with you and brainstorming how we can help the dancers achieve their highest potential. You all inspire me daily.
I’d also like to think the ABT school staff especially Lizzy Aymong!!! You are all an amazing support and I love gabbing with you all in the office! 😂❤️
Last but not least I have to thank all the amazing students and former students! You are why we are all here! Your commitment, passion, hard work, talent, and curiosity make teaching the most wonderful profession! I truly get excited to go to work every day! And to all of the graduates, I am amazed at what wonderful people you’ve become- both in the Dance world and beyond! Bravo!👏 ❤️🥰❤️🥰❤️🥰❤️🥰❤️
Photos and videos are courtesy of the ABT school or of parents of students already graduated. Sorry I wish I could tag everyone but I was only allowed 20.
OK fall semester let’s go! by @demilledancer

Budapest!!! What a magical, beautiful city that seemed like a fairy tale come to life! Bill and I kept having pinch me moments when we could hardly believe that what we were seeing and experiencing was real. The Danube River, the sights, the architecture, the pastries, the history, the food, the music, did I mention the pastries? 😂🥐🥖🥨. Every restaurant from the grandest cafes to the tiniest bistros had wonderful musicians serenading you. And to walk along the beautiful Blue Danube at sunset and to see the buildings lit at night was truly surreal. To top it all off I had a lovely visit with my former student @theamarine who’s thriving beautifully at the Hungarian national ballet and wasn’t it so kind of Budapest to greet us on our first day with an incredible fireworks and drone and light show for Saint Stephen’s Day!! Magical Budapest you have our heart! 🫶🇭🇺🎻🥨⛪️🏛️🎆🥐🍷🎭🎨❤️🥰 by @demilledancer

There is something about Kaatsbaan that leaves me rejuvenated, refreshed and so inspired! Maybe it’s the most beautiful natural and artistic surroundings and ballet studios to die for. Maybe it’s the enthusiasm, passion and brilliance of our fearless leader @palomaherrera_oficial and working alongside such amazing artists as @jessicalangchoreographer @lorin_mathis @wendyw and Martine Van Hamel all of whom I’m in supreme awe of but who I also love spending time with and who make me laugh!!!! Maybe it’s the students who worked so hard and made such leaps in their technique and artistry but still had the time and energy to make an amazingly clever Barbie movie!!! Or Maybe it’s the ice cream😂😂😂 seriously though, I think we all leave this idyllic place a little more energized and inspired!!!! Thank you Kaatsbaan and thank you Paloma!!!!❤️🥰
Next up- vacation here I come!!!!!!! by @demilledancer

Merde @emilywlson for the start of your 9th season @philadelphiaballet (7 as a main company member!). It’s wild to think that you have now been away from home for 9 years!!!! We are so thrilled for you and can’t wait to see you out there dancing your heart out! Merde to all dancers out there starting their new seasons!!! Exciting times!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Studio portraits by The Thief of Time. Performance photos from the 2025-2026 Philadelphia Ballet season.
Studio photos at Philadelphia Ballet’s magnificent new studios. by @demilledancer

As the @abtschool NYC summer intensive 2026 comes to a close i thought I’d post a few summer intensive memories from my youth (and from this summer!!!).
My first Summer intensive was at the School of American ballet, which I had to audition for twice (see my original rejection letter, which I triumphantly scribbled on when I got in at a later audition 😂 hey, never say never as they say). Over the summers of my teenage years, I participated at intensives in Saratoga (run by Robert Weiss), San Francisco ballet School (headed by Richard Cammack), SAB, and a special graduating year summer at the royal Danish ballet. I always came back to the fall semester 10 times stronger and with a slew of new friends.
I’m so grateful that now I get to teach at these summer intensives and watch the kids blossom and grow in strength and artistry. The talent we all witnessed yesterday at their end of the summer intensive performance was so thrilling I couldn’t stop smiling. Thank you to my class, The blue level, who outdid themselves with a beautiful performance of the sleeping beauty prologue (boys you were so awesome in the Seguidilla dance staged by ms Lydon!!!). You can see these amazing kids in the last few slides. So so proud of them.
Thank you to all the amazing @abtschool staff, Pianists, counselors (several who are former students of the ABT school, including my amazing and indispensable counselor, @mackd.12 , the superb faculty (loved catching up with you all and watching you share your expertise in the studio), ABT school Director extraordinaire @stellaabreradetsky and our fearless summer intensive leader, Kate Lydon! You’re all so inspiring! Congrats to all ❤️💛🧡💙💚💜🩵💙 by @demilledancer

Happy 32nd anniversary dearest Bill (32 years married- 36 years since our first date!)! There’s no one I’d rather go through this crazy life with than you! Couldn’t love you more- happy anniversary!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ by @demilledancer

Some days are just so lovely you don’t want them to end! Yesterday we celebrated Bill’s birthday and it couldn’t have been more special. The girls were both home so that was amazing. We did projects, hiked, heard fantastic music, and had a wonderful dinner at the restaurant where Caroline works. Love being together and Bill, happy birthday!!!!!🎂🎉🎁🎈🎊 🥰 by @demilledancer

Couldn’t be more proud of you dear @carolinethebuilder as you graduated from UC Santa Cruz yesterday! It seems as though the 4 years flew by and I’m sure it seems that way to you too! But in remembering all the experiences you’ve had, art you’ve created, friends you’ve made, research you’ve done, your semester in Singapore!, and the ability to spend your days seeking knowledge and inspiration- well it must also feel like a lifetime! Daddy and I loved this past week getting to know your friends and boyfriend Ben, talking to your professors, and seeing your senior art show and your 1st gallery show. Your creativity, passion and expressiveness are infectious!!!! While I know it will be tough to say goodbye to UCSC we couldn’t be more thrilled to see what the future holds for you!!!! Congratulations dear Caroline!!!! 🥳😘❤️🥰🌟💖
Drone footage curtesy Ben’s family 🥰 by @demilledancer

What a beautiful weekend in my hometown of St. Louis celebrating my Mom’s memory and reconnecting with friends and family! It’s rare indeed to squeeze so much laughter, shared memories, a few tears and so so much love into 3 days but boy we managed to!!! To have my sisters there, to see old friends, to visit with my cousins, Aunt Linda and Aunt Mary (soon to be 99 years old!!!) and mom’s best friend Candy and her boss Richard- this was priceless! We went on pilgrimages to our old homes, schools and the church where Bill and I were married. We ate some incredible meals (hello toasted ravioli!) and visited the zoo, art museum and went to a St. Louis cardinals baseball game. Pretty sure my mom was feeling the love and we sure were feeling her beautiful presence. Love you St Louis, love you dear friends and family, and love you Mom!!!❤️🥰❤️ by @demilledancer