Dale Posted May 17, 2021 Share Posted May 17, 2021 A press release: WORLD PREMIERES BY JESSICA LANG, YANNICK LEBRUN, ANNABELLE LOPEZ OCHOA, AND EMILY KIKTA AND PETER WALKER TO LEAD ABT STUDIO COMPANY SPRING FESTIVAL, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2 AND THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 7 P.M. ET ON YOUTUBE Scenes from ABT Studio Company Spring Festival. All photos by Erin Baiano. World Premieres by Jessica Lang, Yannick Lebrun, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Emily Kikta and Peter Walker will be performed over two evenings during the ABT Studio Company Spring Festival, Wednesday, June 2 and Thursday, June 3 at 7 P.M. ET on American Ballet Theatre’s YouTube channel. Featuring 15 exceptionally promising, pre-professional dancers, this two-night virtual festival will also include works by August Bournonville, Kevin McKenzie, Alexei Ratmansky, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, and Vasily Vainonen. The ABT Studio Company Spring Festival was filmed at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in Tivoli, New York following the Studio Company’s spring bubbles in March and April 2021 at Kaatsbaan and the Silver Bay YMCA Conference & Family Retreat Center in Silver Bay, New York. All works were created, rehearsed, and filmed following strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Speaking of the Spring Festival, ABT Studio Company Artistic Director Sascha Radetsky said, “During a four-week ballet bubble this spring, we prepared and created a range of ballets, including four original commissions from emerging and leading choreographers. The resulting program, filmed at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park by kw creative, features these world premieres plus select classical, neoclassical, (more) ABT STUDIO COMPANY SPRING FESTIVAL – Page 2 and modern works, and showcases our young dancers’ talent, versatility, and ardent devotion to their art form.” ABT Studio Company dancers featured in the Spring Festival are Elisabeth Beyer, Tristan Brosnan, Finnian Carmeci, Kyra Coco, Cy Doherty, Teresa D’Ortone, Tillie Glatz, Elwince Magbitang, SunMi Park, Andrew Robare, Jake Roxander, Yoon Jung Seo, Olivia Tweedy, Aleisha Walker, and Kotomi Yamada. Wednesday, June 2 – Act I The ABT Studio Company Spring Festival opens on Wednesday, June 2 and will feature three World Premieres, as well as excerpts from the classical and neo-classical repertory. Emily Kikta and Peter Walker, dancers with New York City Ballet, have choreographed Advice to the Young, a World Premiere and their first work for ABT Studio Company. A work for 15 dancers, Advice to the Young, set to Night Drive (Deconstructed) – Instrumental by Twiceyoung, with voiceover by Patti Smith, was created over Zoom with dancers filming themselves performing the choreography outdoors in their hometowns and at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park. Describing their creative process, Kikta and Walker said, “This ballet is set to a speech by Patti Smith. Although the speech dates to 2012, it feels just as relevant to the struggles of young artists today. Among other topics, Patti discusses the necessity of incorporating technology into art to adapt to our rapidly changing world. We worked with the Studio Company dancers in their homes around the world to create movement that complimented our customized filming directions. Advice to the Young is ourattempt at utilizing technology to keep dancing and creating during this unpredictable time.” The World Premiere of Yannick Lebrun’s Lora is set to music of the same name by Mpho Sebina. A solo, Lora was created over Zoom during the winter and spring of 2021. “For this solo, I was inspired to write a letter to my younger self about future dreams and hopes,” said Lebrun. Lora, Lebrun’s first work for ABT Studio Company, features costume design by Jermaine Terry. Annabelle Lopez Ochoa has choreographed Scurry Night, her first work for ABT Studio Company, which will have its World Premiere on June 2. Set to Dzovarev by Ara Malikian and Ciocårlia performed by Patricia Kopatchinskaja, the ballet for eight dancers features costumes by Mark Eric. “Scurry Night was inspired by Banksy’s work, and particularly by his alter ego, the rat,” said Lopez Ochoa. “The rat is a nocturnal rodent, who like the graffiti artist engages in activities without being caught. The rat, also an anagram for the word ‘art,’ is a resilient entity that adapts to any given situation. During the pandemic, dancers have proven that nothing will prevent them from expressing and sharing the beauty of ballet.” The first duet from Alexei Ratmansky’s Seven Sonatas, staged by Stella Abrera, will receive its ABT Studio Company premiere on Wednesday evening, June 2. The duet is set to Keyboard Sonata in F Minor, K. 481 by Domenico Scarlatti, performed by Michael Scales. The ballet features costumes by Holly Hynes and original lighting by Brad Fields. Seven Sonatas was given its World Premiere by American Ballet Theatre in 2009. A suite from Seven Sonatas, featuring other excerpts from the ballet, was previously performed for the 2021 ABT Studio Company Winter Festival. Act I of the ABT Studio Company Spring Festival will also include a performance of the pas de deux from Kermesse in Bruges by Bournonville and the pas de deux from Flames of Paris. Set to music by Holger Simon Paulli, Kermesse in Bruges is staged by Petrusjka Broholm. Flames of Paris is set to music by Boris Asafyev and staged by ABT Studio Company Artistic Director Sascha Radetsky, after choreography by Vainonen Thursday, June 3 - Act II The ABT Studio Company Spring Festival (Act II) will continue Thursday, June 3 at 7 P.M., featuring a World Premiere and works from ABT’s extensive repertoire, including both classic and contemporary works showcasing a range of choreographic styles. Jessica Lang has choreographed Children’s Songs Dance for seven members of ABT Studio Company. Set to selections from Children’s Songs by the late American jazz composer Chick Corea, the ballet features film direction by Lang and Kanji Segawa, and costumes styled by Isabella Boylston. Children’s Songs Dance was created in January 2020 during a residency at The Pocantico Center in Tarrytown, New York, and will receive its World Premiere on Thursday, June 3. Segawa served ascreative associate to the work. “My creative process with Chick was magical,” said Lang. “He was extraordinarily generous, passionate about sharing his music, and excited about creating a ballet to his music, Children’s Songs. It was a true collaboration. Children’s Songs Dance draws its inspiration from the transition in life between being a child and becoming an adult, with the goal of never losing the spirit of play.” Twyla Tharp’s Known By Heart duet will have its ABT Studio Company Premiere during Act II of the Spring Festival. Set to selections from “Junk Music” by Donald Knaack, the Known By Heart duet has costumes by Santo Loquasto and original lighting by Jennifer Tipton. The Known By Heart duet was Act II of the ABT Studio Company Spring Festival will include excerpts from Paul Taylor’s masterwork Airs and the classic Swan Lake. Airs was staged for ABT Studio Company over Zoom by Laura Halzack. Set to music by George Frederic Handel, Airs features costumes by Gene Moore and original lighting by Jennifer Tipton. Airs received its World Premiere by the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1975 and was given its American Ballet Theatre Premiere in 1981. Odette’s variation from Act II of Swan Lake and the Pas de Trois from Act I will round out the ABT Studio Company performance. Set to music by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, Odette’s variation was staged over Zoom by Yan Chen and the Pas de Trois was staged by ABT Studio Company Artistic Director Sascha Radetsky. Swan Lake features choreography by Kevin McKenzie, after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, with costumes by Zack Brown. ABT Studio Company, under the artistic direction of Sascha Radetsky, is a classical ensemble of dancers of outstanding potential aged 17–21. As the highest level of the ABT training ladder, ABT Studio Company serves as a crucial bridge between ballet training and professional performance. 80% of the current dancers in American Ballet Theatre began their careers in ABT Studio Company, including seven Soloists and twelve Principal Dancers. Each season, ABT Studio Company commissions new choreography, allowing the dancers to participate in the process of new work creation. ABT Studio Company engages the broadest possible ballet audience by performing varied, vital repertoire in a range of venues around the globe. ABT Studio Company Spring Festival, streaming free through July 3, 2021, is produced by kw creative and filmed and edited by Emily Kikta and Peter Walker. Lighting direction is by Ash Umhey, courtesy of Kaatsbaan Cultural Park. Brad Fields served as lighting consultant for the Spring Festival. A complete schedule of works for ABT Studio Company Spring Festival follows. Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 7 P.M. – Act I Flames of Paris (Vainonen) Seven Sonatas, Pas de Deux (Ratmansky) Advice to the Young (Kikta and Walker) Lora (Lebrun) Kermesse in Bruges, Pas de Deux (Bournonville) Scurry Night (Lopez Ochoa) Known By Heart Duet (Tharp) ©Choreography by Twyla Tharp Airs excerpt (Taylor) Swan Lake, Odette Variation from Act II (McKenzie after Ivanov) Swan Lake, Pas de Trois from Act I (McKenzie after Petipa) Children’s Songs Dance (Lang) For more information on ABT Studio Company Spring Festival, please visit ABT’s website. Bank of America - Lead Corporate Partner of ABT Studio Company American Ballet Theatre recognizes the following donors for their extraordinary giving in support of ABT Studio Company: Rod Brayman, Sofia Elizalde, Bruce Grivetti, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and The Ted and Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund. Additional support provided by Sandra and Charles Carmeci, Mr. and Mrs. Peter L. Malkin, Nicole Boutmy de Katzmann and Stuart Gordon, Amy and Gary Churgin, Karen C. Phillips, The Agnes Varis Fund, and four anonymous donors. Special thanks to the ABT Education and Training Committee for their bold and steadfast engagement, advancing excellence in all our dancer training and education endeavors: Co-Chairs Carrie Gaiser Casey and Karen C. Phillips; Members Susan Feinstein, Suzanne Hall, Christian Keesee, Paula Mahoney, Nancy McCormick, Kara Moore, and Shari Siadat Commissions and presentations of new work by women choreographers are supported by the ABT Women’s Movement. Champion support for the ABT Women’s Movement is provided by Jenna Segal. Additional leadership support provided by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. ABT’s Choreographic Innovation and Inspiration and Inclusion programs are generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Additional major support of ABT’s Innovation and Inclusion programs is provided by Mark Casey and Carrie Gaiser Casey, the Ford Foundation, and through an endowed gift from the Toni and Martin Sosnoff New Works Fund. Special thanks to Denise Littlefield Sobel for her leadership gifts to: ABT's Media Fund, advancing the Company's digital endeavors; and ABT RISE, fueling the Company's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Link to comment
Dale Posted June 1, 2021 Author Share Posted June 1, 2021 American Ballet Theatre Studio Company Spring Festival, a two-night virtual showcase of filmed performances by 15 dancers of ABT Studio Company, will take place on Wednesday, June 2 and Thursday, June 3 at 7pm ET, streaming for free on ABT’s YouTube channel. The evenings will be hosted by Misty Copeland, ABT Principal Dancer and ABT Studio Company alumna. ABT Studio Company, under the artistic direction of Sascha Radetsky, is an ensemble of ballet dancers of outstanding potential aged 17–21. As the highest level of the ABT training ladder, ABT Studio Company represents the next generation of talent at American Ballet Theatre and other top ballet companies around the world. Highlights of ABT Studio Company Spring Festival include the World Premiere of Jessica Lang’s Children’s Songs Dance, created in January 2020 in collaboration with the late American jazz musician Chick Corea, and a World Premiere work by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Scurry Night, inspired by the artwork of Banksy. The Festival will also feature two World Premieres created over Zoom: Lora, a solo by Yannick Lebrun set to music by Mpho Sebina, and Advice to the Young, a work by Emily Kikta and Peter Walker for the entire company of dancers incorporating Patti Smith’s speech of the same name. The artistry and virtuosity of ABT Studio Company will be displayed in additional selections from ABT’s repertoire, including Alexei Ratmansky’s Seven Sonatas, Twyla Tharp’s Known By Heart duet, and Paul Taylor’s Airs, as well as in classical excerpts from Flames of Paris, Kermesse in Bruges, and Swan Lake. Wednesday, June 2 and Thursday, June 3, 2021 7:00 pm ET Link to comment
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