August 25th, 2010
This next piece of news just makes me want to book a flight to New York, ASAP!
According to the New York Times, “On Oct. 4, Mikhail Baryshnikov will perform as part of a special benefit program to introduce a new collaboration between the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and Baryshnikov Arts Center. “BAC Flicks: Mondays With Merce,” a new monthly film series and programming collaboration, is intended to educate audiences about Cunningham’s legacy and creative process.”
This is sure to be a stellar event of epic proportions! To learn more about the kick-off event, the film series, or to purchase tickets, click here to read the rest of the article.
Tags: Merce Cunningham, Mikhail Baryshnikov
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August 24th, 2010
For Alonzo King, ballet is serious business indeed. The famed choreographer and artistic director of Alonzo King LINES Ballet recently interviewed with the Herald Scotland’s own Phil Miller to discuss his intense dedication to the art of dance:
“As a young dancer, training with many leading schools and based in New York, he was reprimanded for his intensity and drive. He says that, like many dancers, he did not want to evolve in a steady, normal way – he wanted to be the best he could be immediately. “If you find young dancers, they know what they want from life. They know. You go into these schools and you see them: they are focused and have a mental design of what they want to become. It’s a remarkable thing to see and I was like that. I remember teachers would say: ‘Calm down, take it easy, relax,’ and I would think: ‘What are they talking about? They’re crazy! I have a lot to do here.’ I was intense. I still am.” ~ Quote Herald Scotland. Read the rest of this fabulous article here. {FYI: He even discusses what it was like to teach Patrick Swayze during one of his last films!}
Alonzo King LINES Ballet performs in Edinburgh, Scotland August 26-29 at the Edinburgh International Festival.
Tags: Alonzo King, Alonzo King LINES Ballet
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August 20th, 2010
Robin Gilbert Campos performs with Carlos Fittante in Bali.
Even under the best conditions, dancing on pointe isn’t exactly a cake walk.
Now imagine how much harder it would be to glide across cement or worse–gritty, marble tiles? (Gasp!) Impossible, you say? Well, ballerina Robin Gilbert Campos of BALAM Dance Theatre begs to differ. In fact, this highly adaptable dancer is performing this month in Bali on some of the most challenging dance surfaces–from mud and moss to unsecured carpet! (Shudder)
Robin recently sat down with BALAM’s artistic director, Carlos Fittante to discuss the perils of pointe work in Bali: “Ballet and point dancing have a very specific training practice and environmental conditions, including being able to take ballet class and rehearse on a good floor on a regular basis. There is not an opportunity for any of that here in Bali. In this tour, we have had to rehearse on an outdoor cement courtyard, often wet with rain, mud and moss, while wearing our walking shoes. The temple stages we perform on are also cement with a thin carpet pieced together without being secured by tape, and sometimes the temple stage floors are bare marble tiles covered with grit. I have my point shoes rubberized as a precaution.” ~ Quote Robin Gilbert Campos
(I don’t know about you, but I definitely wouldn’t want to attempt such a feat!) To read the rest of Robin’s amazing interview, click here.
Tags: BALAM Dance Theatre, Carlos Fittante, Robin Gilbert Campos
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August 12th, 2010
You are cordially invited to attend this weekend’s festivities in honor of Atlanta Ballet’s Grand Opening of the new Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre! “The new Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre, almost twice the size of its West Peachtree Street predecessor, will be the permanent home for the professional company and its nationally respected Centre for Dance Education. It will also serve as a unique resource for the not-for-profit performing arts community, offering special event, rehearsal and performance space.” ~ Quote: Atlanta Ballet
The celebration kicks off on Saturday at 10:30am with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event, followed by facility tours, mini performances and short open classes. You can read all about it here! {PS: If you happen to attend, send us an email or leave a comment telling us all about it!}
Tags: Atlanta Ballet
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August 12th, 2010
The official announcement has been made! The 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of ”Oklahoma!” will be choreographed by Donald Byrd, the famed Artistic Director of Spectrum Dance Theater. “This season at Spectrum Dance Theater I have been exploring the theme of relationships, love and obsession,” says Byrd. “I was excited to be approached by The 5th Avenue Theatre to work on Oklahoma! The Rogers and Hammerstein classic offers a unique perspective on these themes and provides fertile ground for fresh interpretations.” ~ Quote: Seattle.BroadwayWorld.com Oklahoma! will run from July 8-August 6, 2011. To read more about exciting production, please click here.
Tags: 5th Avenue Theatre, Broadway, Donald Byrd, Spectrum Dance Theater
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August 3rd, 2010
Over 200 dancers prepare to break the Guinness World Record of the most dancers en pointe in Central Park on Monday. Photo courtesy: DNAinfo.com
“American Ballet Theatre principal dancers Michele Wiles and Craig Salstein led the record attempt, which was also a fundraiser for the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club dance program. Dancers from the club’s ballet school, which is part of the Angelina Ballerina Stars of Tomorrow program, performed before the attempt.” ~ Quote DNAinfo.com
Read more about this exciting event here. While you’re there, be sure to check out their awesome photo slide show!
Tags: American Ballet Theatre, Angelina Ballerina, Break the Ballet Record, Guinness World Record
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July 30th, 2010
This is by far one of the most touching stories we’ve ever read! Check it out…
“A South African ballet dancer from a poor township outside Cape Town has been given the chance to train in the United States — all because of a documentary film, and an email from a caring viewer.
“Ghetto Ballet” is a documentary that chronicles the lives of four young ballet dancers living in one of the poorest towns on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa….One of the four dancers featured in the movie was Sibahle Tshibika. In the film, she is seen failing to make the cut for the dance company — the end of her dream, or so she thought.” ~ Quote: CNN
Click here to read all about Sibahle Tshibika’s extraordinary journey of hope, compassion and perseverance. For more information about the documentary, Ghetto Ballet please click here.
Tags: Atlanta Ballet, Ghetto Ballet, Sibahle Tshibika
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July 29th, 2010
Geometry + Grace; photo courtesy Scottish Ballet
“In the past two weeks at Scottish Ballet I’ve been writing less for the press and more for audiences who want to learn about ballet and the myriad activities that contribute to the finished product of a performance. In the process, I’ve been learning a fair bit myself.” ~ Quote: Amanda Grimm, press intern at Scottish Ballet.
Have you ever wanted to get a “behind the scenes” look at life on the inside of a top ballet company? Well, look no further! Amanda Grimm, a summer press intern at Scottish Ballet, is blogging about her many adventures week-by-week. She covers every aspect of the company, from the spectacular to the ordinary. Stop by the Scottish Ballet Blog and read all about life on the inside!
Tags: Scottish Ballet
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July 28th, 2010
Be a part of ballet history! On Monday, August 2nd hundreds of ballerinas will descend upon New York’s Central Park in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for “The Most Ballerinas On Pointe” at one time. All ballet dancers age 13 and up–and their pointe shoes–are encouraged to join in. The goal is to have 1,000+ dancers (current record is 220) standing en pointe for one minute. Special hosts include Michele Wiles (principal dancer) and Craig Salstein (soloist) of American Ballet Theatre, and every little girl’s favorite dancing mouse, Angelina Ballerina.
Participants are asked to donate $10 which benefits the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Dance Program.
You can learn more about this awesome record-breaking event here and register to participate here.
Tags: Break the Ballet Record, Guinness World Record
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July 23rd, 2010
Courtesy of La Vie Photography Houston Ballet principal Melody Herrera and Lucien Postelwaite rehearsing a new work by Annabelle Lopez Ochao with Whim W'Him, a new Seattle dance company directed by Olivier Wevers.
“Vacations are better put to use as immersion excursions. Apparently, I am not the only dance nerd in town. Others are spending their precious down time doing just what they love, dancing. For this crop, summer seems to be more about changing the where than the what.”~Quote Nancy Wozny, CultureMap.com
This article was just too good to keep to ourselves! Nancy Wozny of Culture Map-Houston, reveals what some of the world’s top dancers are up to this summer. Our favorite dancers of note include Whim W’him’s Olivier Wevers, Lucien Postlewaite, Melody Herrera and Annabelle Lopez Ochao! You can read all about it here.
Tags: Annabelle Lopez Ochao, Houston Ballet, Lucien Postlewaite, Melody Herrera, Olivier Wevers, Whim W'him
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