4 replies to this topic

[driver of a dancer]

My dancing daughter and I attended the showcase Saturday August 31,2002.  It is located in Tivoli NY at the Kaatsbaan Center.
Remember now this is from a "driver of a dancer."
Martine van Hamel is the Artistic Director
John Meehan, Bonnie Mathis, and Jessica Lang were the Faculty.
27 performers, 4  of those were male.
I think of the names listed 2 were from the ABT Studio Company maybe another also.
The showcase lasted apporx. 1 1/2 hrs.No intermission. Free
It began with  a demonstration Class which had center, men's technique, pointe barre and center.
moved onto excerpts from Giselle Act II.  Very informal no scenery a lovely short talk by Martine setting the mood.  Some solos and most of the students were used in the cast.
Then Giselle Act I with a few solos
This as well as the demonstration class had Michael Kingon as Accompanist.
Then with CD: Excerpts from The long and winding road with some solo dancing again.
and then it finished with these short solo pieces: After Eden, Torso, After Eden and NO Sleep
A final new work by Jessica Lang and all the dancers called Studio Three. All really seemed to enjoy themselves in this piece.
At the end all performers were presented with a lovely flower from Martine.
It was very lovely and organized since Martine stressed they only were working on this program I believe for 4 days.
Kaatsbaan is located in lovely Tivoli NY. Probably about 2 3/4 hrs from NYC.

[Calliope]

Thanks for the report driver.
Is this something they'll eventually perform  for a paying audience?

[driver of a dancer]

This was the student performance for family and friends at the end of the program.

[Leigh Witchel]

I'm just curious what an "extreme" version of Giselle looks like ;)  But then again, it's the overused word of the moment, isn't it?  We have extreme sandwiches, extreme Christianity (really. . .)  Why not Extreme Ballet?  It's just as meaningless.

[Mel Johnson]

Kaatsbaan is an interesting animal; it's a sort of "dance tank" the way that Brookings or Rand runs a "think tank".   The summer student program is only a part of their total activity.  For a link to their site:

http://www.kaatsbaan.org/