7 replies to this topic

[dirac]

An interview with Ballet San Jose artistic adviser Wes Chapman.

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Indeed, he did. Sixteen years later, Chapman has returned to the Bay Area in the newly created post of artistic adviser of Ballet San Jose and he promises big changes in repertoire and the standard of dancing. Before all that, Ballet San Jose needs to raise some money, which is why the company is launching its 2012-13 season with a gala of dance and music Saturday evening.

One suspects that the ousting last year of founding Artistic Director Dennis Nahat may have alienated some of the company's financial backers and possibly encouraged new sources of support. But that is a matter that Chapman, who came aboard in January, cannot discuss.

[dirac]

Boston Balletcuts prices in a special Halloween offer. Item in brief.

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The Fall Program features a trio of performances, including the world premiere of Jorma Elo’s “Awake Only,” set to music by Bach; Christopher Bruce’s “Rooster,” set to the music of the Rolling Stones, and William Forsythe’s “The Second Detail,” set to music by Thom Willems.

[dirac]

The Australian Ballet celebrates its fiftieth anniversary with an international gala this weekend.

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The Australian Ballet's principal artist Adam Bull says Julie Kent will be a joy to dance with. "Julie Kent is a superstar on the world stage so I am so excited to be dancing with her," he said.

[dirac]

Alberta Ballet presents "Othello"

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Kirk Peterson (the choreographer who set his exquisite Swan Lake on Alberta Ballet last spring) accepted the Othello dance challenge more than five years ago when Grand-Maître called with the commission. His resulting 2008 Othello was nominated for The Benois de la Danse, one of the most prestigious awards for ballet.

Drawing on his past Afro-Caribbean dance studies (he once worked with the great Alvin Ailey at American Ballet Theatre), Peterson steeped his Othello in the spicy flavours of the Mediterranean and the vibrant colours of Africa, and set the dancing to Jerry Goldsmith’s score for the movie The Wind and the Lion.

[dirac]

A review of Cincinnati Ballet in “Alice (in wonderland)" by Katie Griffith in The News Record.

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Cincinnati Ballet conveyed the outlandish theme without the normal aspects of a story an audience usually relies on. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra had a lot to do with that.

The 55-musician ensemble provided suspense, comedy and sound effects when appropriate. Sunday’s performance was a world premier orchestration, said Victoria Morgan, artistic director and CEO of Cincinnati Ballet, and it corresponded to the show flawlessly.

[dirac]

Ballet San Jose's new season will feature live music.

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In its latest dramatic gesture, the ballet hired Emmy award-winning music director and conductor George Daugherty, while announcing that every performance this season will feature live music by Symphony Silicon Valley.

On Saturday, music takes center stage at the ballet's gala fundraiser to support live music as a central element in every production and for "Music and Motion," an outreach program teaching dance and music to underserved Santa Clara County elementary school students.

[dirac]

Royal Balletdancers meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh post-performance.

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Among those introduced to the Queen were Soares, the Royal Ballet’s principal dancer, and his Argentinian wife, fellow ballet star Marianela Nunez. The couple performed an excerpt from Christopher Wheeldon's After the Rain.


The Queen, dressed in a metallic silver dress by Angela Kelly, also met dancer Laura Morera and complimented her on her performance and her purple sequined tutu.

[dirac]

The English National Balletwill hold summer courses in Toledo next summer.

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Founder Nigel Burgoine has arranged for the English National Ballet to hold its first international summer course in the Toledo area next year. The week-long course for dancers age 13 and up is set for July 22-27 at the BTT studios.