via THE FOUNTAIN OF BAKHCHISARAY (Ulanova-Zhdanov-Plisetskaya-Gusev, 1953) – YouTube.
Daily Archives: March 1, 2015
Atlanta Ballet’s World Premiere Ballet Adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ CAMINO REAL
Photo Flash: First Look- Atlanta Ballet’s World Premiere Ballat Adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ CAMINO REAL
February 27
3:36
2015
This spring, Atlanta Ballet will present the world premiere of a ballet based on “Camino Real” by Tennessee Williams, the renowned playwright who authored such American classics as “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. Choreographed by Atlanta Ballet choreographer in residence Helen Pickett, Williams’ “lost classic” of love, redemption and courage will debut March 20-22 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Check out pictures and renderings from the show below!
Inspired by Williams’ 1953 Broadway play of the same name, the story is told from the perspective of Kilroy, a character based on patriotic iconography from the WWII era. The young American soldier and onetime prizewinning boxer finds himself trapped in the surreal, dead-end town of Camino Real forced to grapple with mortality, the burning desire to connect and the will to live.
Through his journey to bring renewed hope to the town of lost souls, Kilroy meets a cast of unlikely characters from various periods of history and pop culture, such as Casanova, Esmeralda (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Marguerite (The Lady of the Camellias), and Lord Byron, who together struggle to escape their fates.
“This is your classic good versus evil story,” said Pickett, whose adventure with the play began five years ago when her father handed down his copy from his college theater days, suggesting it would make a good ballet.
“I read it once and put it away, not understanding how I might tackle the content,” said Pickett. “A year later, I picked up the play again, and found my way into the story: focus on the characters first. Now, it is such a part of my reality, I can’t imagine how I will let go of these characters.”
Pickett announced the project shortly after accepting her residency with Atlanta Ballet in 2012 and has been working on the production ever since. Every aspect of the ballet, from the music to the costumes to the set design, has been a collaborative effort between Pickett and the team of artists she assembled.
To design the whimsical costumes, Pickett chose award-winning designer Sandra Woodall, who she has known since her days as a student with San Francisco Ballet. Woodall then introduced Pickett to lighting designer David Finn, whose commissions include Cirque du Soleil and numerous other major U.S. ballet companies. Finn then recommended set designer Emma Kingsbury, who he subsequently worked in tandem with on the scenic design. The rich, textured score, which Pickett has described as a character all its own, is the creation of composer Peter Salem.
“All of these people truly enjoy the art of collaboration,” said Pickett. “They are magnificent artists that bring all their ideas to the table. We are like mix masters; we just throw all of our concepts into the bowl and stir and filter. I am in love with each of them and their visions.”
The final layer of the creative process was the choreography- a collaboration as well with Atlanta Ballet’s full 23-member company. Pickett began working with the Company in September, devoting full days to rehearsal to ensure that the 75-minute ballet would be complete by its March premiere. By opening night, more than 300 rehearsal hours will have gone into bringing the production to stage.
To add to the theatricality, Pickett has also challenged several of the dancers to learn lines. Williams’ text – actual excerpts from the play – will be spoken by the principal characters throughout the ballet.
“It’s a new situation for them,” said Pickett in a 2014 interview with Creative Loafing. “But they are opening and unfolding in incredible ways. I wouldn’t have asked them to do this the first time we worked together. You have to build trust between you and the performer so that a person feels like they can open up, so cracks can happen in those walls, maybe even a breakthrough can happen.”
Atlanta Ballet’s world premiere of “Camino Real” will open at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Friday, March 20 with a red carpet opening night. Three performances will follow, including the finale on Sunday, March 22.
Tickets start as low as $20 and are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.atlantaballet.com or call 404-892-3303. For groups of ten or more, call Atlanta Ballet Group Sales at 404-873-5811, ext. 207.
Via : Broadway World
Ballet tells Sacagawea’s story – Special – southcoasttoday.com – New Bedford, MA
ON STAGE-Reposted from South Coast Today Posted Mar. 1, 2015 at 2:23 AM
Ballet tells Sacagawea’s story
COMMENT
Dartmouth and Westport residents are among the local dancers bringing “Sacagawea’s Song” to life. Back row: Victoria Cameron, Caroline Mello, Elicia Cormier, Felicia Garro and Kenzie Waskiewicz; middle row: Lily Johnson, Sophia Cameron, Olivia Cornell and Sarah Hurteau; front row: Maddison Medeiros and Brooke Spencer.
Posted Mar. 1, 2015 at 2:23 AM
New Bedford Ballet will host its annual spring fundraiser Sunday, March 8, 1 to 4 p.m. at NBB Community Theatre, 2343 Purchase St., New Bedford. The celebration of the arts will include an array of elegant desserts and beverages, live music provided by members of the New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestra and performances of “Sacagawea’s Song” by the New Bedford Youth Ballet at 1:30 and 3 p.m.
Proceeds will benefit New Bedford Ballet’s arts education and dance scholarship programs.
“Sacagawea’s Song” is an original historical ballet created and choreographed by New Bedford Ballet’s artistic director Rebecca Waskiel-Marchesseault. The family-oriented ballet describes the story of Sacagawea, the Native American woman who served as interpreter and guide on the historic Lewis and Clark expedition across the western United States. Audience members will have the opportunity to travel back to the early 19th century and experience the renowned journey of an American icon who has become a symbol of women’s strength and independence.
The New Bedford Youth Ballet will also perform “Sacagawea’s Song” for elementary schools in Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion and New Bedford in March as part of their Bringing History to Life through the Arts program. An educational curriculum, including workbooks, will be provided.
Sponsored by Alves Chiropractic Center, two special additional performances of “Sacagawea’s Song” will be presented in March: one for patients, their families and staff at Boston Children’s Hospital, and the second for PACE Head Start students and families.
New Bedford Youth Ballet is a company of the New Bedford Ballet Foundation Inc. Founded in 1987, the foundation is a non-profit whose mission is to promote and present classical ballets, grant scholarships and educate the community about the beauty of the art. Aided by the financial support of the foundation, thousands of local children and senior citizens have witnessed live ballet.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $5 for children.
More information is available by calling (508) 993-1387 or visiting newbedfordballet.
via Ballet tells Sacagawea’s story – Special – southcoasttoday.com – New Bedford, MA.
In the middle. Svetlana Zakharova, Andrei Merkuriev on Vimeo
Tamara Rojo: Axing dance in schools will restrict ballet to wealthy – Telegraph
Tamara Rojo: Axing dance in schools will restrict ballet to wealthy
Tamara Rojo, the artistic director of the English National Ballet criticised the decision of former education secretary Michael Gove to cut dance from the school curriculum
Artistic Director and principle dancer Tamara Rojo & Fabian Reimair from English National Ballet rehearse Akram Khan ‘s new work: Dust, as part of a program entitled ‘Lest We Forget’ in commemoration of the start of World War I, at The Barbican Centre in London Photo: Araud Stephenson
By Keith Perry 11:47PM GMT 05 Dec 2014
Tamara Rojo, the artistic director of the English National Ballet has criticised the decision of former education secretary Michael Gove to cut dance from the school curriculum, saying it risks making dance a preserve of the better off.
Ms Rojo said it was unfair as it meant “those that don’t have the means won’t have access to dance”.
She told the Evening Standard that is was particularly unwise to take dance out of schools as there was evidence of overwhelmingly improved results in maths taught through movement and 100 per cent increase in confidence.
The ENB itself offers tickets for as little as £10 to enable people to enjoy live dance. “We try to ensure that it is an art form that is accessible to everybody,” she said.
The Spanish dance star and her company are preparing to open their traditional Christmas production of Nutcracker followed by a run of Swan Lake.
Rojo said Nutcracker was important because the company had been performing it for more than 60 years. She added: There are two dozen Nutcrackers going round the United States. it is a very important tradition because for so many people it’s the first time they come to see ballet at all or to see a live performance in an orchestra.
“It’s a family tradition that goes from generation to generation and serves as an introduction to the art form.”
The challenge, she said, was to keep those first-time visitors – but audiences for dance have been growing. She praised both Billy Elliott, which overturned many prejudices about boys doing ballet, and Strictly Come Dancing for helping to foster a new passion.
But she rejected any notion she might follow Darcey Bussell in becoming a judge on the BBC show saying: “I think Darcey does a wonderful job.”
Rojo, 40, boosted the ENB’s fortunes when she returned as principal and boss two years ago but she said the pressure was shared with the arrival of major dancers such as Alina Cojocaru and guests including and guests including Ivan Vasiliev.
But she warned she would not be able to dance for as long as Sylvie Guillem who will retire next year at 50.
“She has an incredible physicality that I sadly don’t have. My end will come much earlier than that.
The Nutcracker runs at the London Coliseum from Thursday to January 4.
via Tamara Rojo: Axing dance in schools will restrict ballet to wealthy – Telegraph.
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