L’Observateur / March 21, 1998

DESTREHAN – The River Region Ballet will present Eleanor Bernard and Ian Carney in the lead roles of Nikiya and Solor in its upcoming production of “La Bayadere, Kingdom of the Shades.”This will be a return engagement for Bernard and Carney, who performed the principal roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier in the River Region Ballet’s 1996 “Nutcracker.”Originally from New Orleans, Bernard began her dance training with Harvey Hysell and Joseph Giaccobbe. She graduated from Southern MethodistUniversity with bachelor of fine arts in dance and a bachelor of arts in anthropology. She has danced professionally with the Lexington Ballet,Delta Festival Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, Ballet Arkansas and Ballet Hysell of New Orleans.

Bernard’s principal roles include Aurora in “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Moor’s Pavane,” “Le Corsair” pas de deux, the peasant pas de deux in “Giselle,” Sugar-Plum in “The Nutcracker” and “Spring Waters.” She is currentlydancing with Montgomery in her fourth season.

Carney was born in Portsmouth, N.H., and raised in New Orleans, where hebegan his training with Harvey Hysell and Diane Carney. He continued hisstudies as a scholarship student with David Howard in New York and Devon Carney of Boston Ballet. Carney graduated from Tulane University with abachelor of arts degree in English Literature while continuing to perform extensively with Ballet Hysell in New Orleans.

Carney has also performed with Boulder Ballet, Ballet Arkansas and North Carolina Ballet. His principal roles include: Franz in “Coppelia,” Hilarion in”Giselle,” Le Corsair pas de deux, “Carmina Burana,” “Flower Festival,” Cavalier in “The Nutcracker” and Jonathan in Adam Miller’s “Dracula.”Carney is currently dancing with the Montgomery Ballet in his fourth season.

Both performers are excited to be performing so close to home. It enablesthem to share their passion for dance with their families and friends.

The River Region Ballet’s spring performances will be April 4 at 7:30 p.m.and April 5 at 2 p.m. at Destrehan Auditorium. For tickets call 764-1969.

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