News...To the Pointe
The highly successful Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of American Ballet Theatre began its pre-professional ballet program September 4 and continues to December 15. Acceptance is by audition to the school that includes classes in ballet technique, pointe, variations, partnering, men's class, character, modern technique and Pilates. Contact mschnyder@abt.org for more information.
ABT's
Cross-country, highly competitive summer intensive programs will begin auditioning January-February 2008 in major cities. Dancers between the ages of 9-24 can audition for one of ABT's Summer Intensives, Young Dancer or College programs. For a complete audition schedule and program dates, e-mail summerintensive@abt.org.Olivier Wecxsteen
Former principal dancer of Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, the Boston Ballet, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, will participate in a residency sponsored by Hamilton College (located in Clinton, New York) from October 29 - November 10, 2007. During this residency Mr. Wecxsteen will teach master classes and will also restage excerpts from the ballet, "Raymonda." On November 9-10, Wecxsteen will appear as a guest artist dancing one of the principal roles in the Pas de Deux from "Raymonda."Leggz Ltd. Dance and the Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts
Presents the full-length production of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker." This ballet is the ONLY full length Nutcracker on Long Island with a LIVE 70-piece orchestra - the South Shore Symphony Orchestra.
Leggz Ltd. Dance's "Nutcracker"
Leggz Ltd. Dance's "Nutcracker"
The principal dancers in this production are from the Bolshoi, ABT, the Joffrey, Suzanne Farrell, Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Sacramento Ballet and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. This "Nutcracker" also features over 100 young dancers from the greater metropolitan area.
Performances for this wonderful holiday classic will be on November 30-December 2. Call 516-766-7171 for more times, location and further information.
Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet
Presents "The Nutcracker"
Who: Chicago Festival Ballet
What: "The Nutcracker," by internationally-renowned choreographer Kenneth von Heidecke. Orchestral accompaniment by New Philharmonic conducted by Kirk Muspratt.
When, Where & Ticket Info:
At the Rialto Square Theatre, 15 E. Van Buren St., Joliet, Illinois, 2 PM Sunday, November 25
Call (815) 726-6600 or visit www.rialtosquare.com.
At the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Dr., Chicago,
2 and 7 PM Saturday, Dec. 1
Call (312) 334-7777 or visit www.harristheaterchicago.org.
At the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, Illinois
7 PM, Friday, Dec. 21; 2 and 7 PM, Saturday, Dec. 22; 2 and 7 PM, Sunday, Dec. 23
Call (630) 942-4000 or visit www.AtTheMAC.org.
Tapestry Dance Company opens its 2007-2008 Season
Tapestry Dance Company, recently awarded two National Endowment for the Arts reconstruction and touring grants for its critically acclaimed touring production "The Souls of Our Feet - A Celebration of American Tap Dance,' will present a new and exciting evening of dance and world music in November! Bringing together a collection of eclectic Austin dancers and musicians the company and its special guests will weave a pulsating, colorful fabric of community rhythm called Footprints! This exciting community dance collaborative will explore the unique rhythms and instrumentation of a vast collection of global music and celebrate the common bonds that can bring us all together.Known for its fun-loving and rhythmic mix of rhythm tap, jazz, modern and contemporary ballet, Tapestry will continue to partake this season in a cultural and musical journey celebrating and touring American tap classics around the country and (between five touring trips) gather a new celebration in the pulsing and rhythmic family of world music and dance!
November 16-18th,
The Helm Fine Arts Center, Austin , TX;
For company information: 512/474-9846
www.tapestry.org
Houston Ballet Promotions and Additions to the Company
Jaquel Andrews and Christopher Coomer promoted to soloist; Michelle Carpenter, Peter Franc, and Nao Kusuzaki promoted to demi soloist; Linnar Looris joined the Company as demi soloist.
State Ballet of Rhode Island's "Coppelia" from 2006, performed by The State Ballet of Rhode Island's leading dancers, Elizabeth Cyganoski and Mark Marsden. Photo: Lori Broess
The State Ballet of Rhode Island
Celebrates their 48th performing season on December 6-8 with a Rhode Island tradition, Herci Marsden's "Coppelia," an enchanting love story of a dancing doll. For tickets, call Rhode Island College box office at 401.456.8144, or online at www.ric.edu/pfa.City Ballet of San Diego
City Ballet, under the direction of Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich, celebrates its fifteenth crystal anniversary season with a spectacular array of dance performances showcasing the depth and strength of San Diego's leading classical ballet company.The fifteenth anniversary season begins with "Ballet on Fire," Nov. 3-4, 2007. The program includes two critically acclaimed Stravinsky works, "The Firebird" and "Stravinsky Suites," both choreographed by resident choreographer Elizabeth Wistrich. Additionally, the company will present "Flames of Paris" pas de deux (music by Boris Asafiev, choreography after Vasili Vainonen) and "Spartacus" pas de deux (music by Aram Khachaturian, choreography after Yuri Grigorovich) from the Russian repertoire. The program will conclude with George Balanchine's famous George Gershwin ballet "Who Cares?"
Harid Conservatory
The Harid Conservatory announced the recipients of the school's 2007 Rudolf Nureyev Education Fellowships, awarded in honor and memory of the late Rudolf Nureyev, one of the 20th century's greatest ballet dancers. Funded by the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation, in Chicago, Illinois, the fellowships support the training and education of qualified students at Harid.
Christophor Moulton. Photo: Nancy Loch
Gordon Wright, director of The Harid Conservatory, commented: "Rudolf Nureyev was, without a doubt, one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century. He had an enormous impact on several generations of dancers and balletomanes worldwide, and his work will continue to influence future artists for years to come. Harid is proud to honor him through the presentation of education fellowships, and we are grateful to the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation for making such an opportunity possible."
The recipients of Harid's 2007 Rudolf Nureyev Education Fellowships are Christophor Moulton and Francisco Preciado. Each student will receive $5,000 to assist with his living costs at the Conservatory. Moulton is a high-school junior from Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is currently in his second year of study at Harid. Preciado is also in his second year of study at Harid and will graduate in May 2008. He is from North Hollywood, California.
Says Wright, "The faculty and I are very pleased to recognize Christophor and Francisco with this year's Rudolf Nureyev Education Fellowships. Both young men are talented, hard-working students. I'm confident they'll do well in the dance world and I look forward to following their successes after they graduate from Harid."
Francisco Preciado. Photo: Nancy Loch
The Harid Conservatory is a privately funded, not-for-profit educational institution that provides superior professional training for gifted young dancers. All residential students receive full-tuition scholarships for study during the academic year. Harid is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance and is recognized as a high school by the State of Florida .
The Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation
Seeks to preserve and protect the history and tradition of dance while, at the same time, encouraging its progress and development. The Foundation aims to perpetuate Rudolf Nureyev's name and to advance his vision and work by supporting the study, performance, and appreciation of dance.Ballet San Jose
Presents "Carmina Burana" Nov. 15-18. Dennis Nahat's fully staged production will also include "Summerscape."
Ramon Thielen as The Roasted Swan in Part II 'In Taberna' from Dennis Nahat's "Carmina Burana" Photo: John Gerbetz (BSJ archive)
Set to Carl Orff's landmark musical score of 1937, Nahat's highly theatrical interpretation of "Carmina Burana" features the entire company of 40 dancers, the 56-member Symphony Silicon Valley, 100-voice Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale, and the 30-voice Cantabile Youth Singers.
Joining the production will be three operatic soloists: soprano Alison Collins, tenor Raymond Meyers, and baritone Michael Morris. Ballet San Jose Music Director Dwight Oltman will conduct Orff's popular cantata of secular and bawdy verses by 13th century Bavarian monks. BSJ Technical Director Kenneth L. Keith will flood the stage with moody and electric state-of-the-art lighting.
A scene from Dennis Nahat's "Carmina Burana"
The program opens with Dennis Nahat's SUMMERSCAPE, a refreshing affirmation of life and summer romance danced to "Concerto No. 2 in F Major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 102" by Dmitri Shostakovich with guest pianist Roy Bogas. It is a free-flowing abstract ballet that celebrates love, both lost and found, humorous and romantic. Large hanging sculptures are breathtakingly suspended above as the large ensemble of dancers flood the stage costumed in white leotards accented with rainbow colors that reflect the award-winning artwork of Dorothy Gillespie. For more information, visit www.balletsanjose.org.
Joseph Kolnicki as The Devil in Part II 'In Taberna' from Dennis Nahat's "Carmina Burana" Photo: John Gerbetz (BSJ archive)