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Preview: The Joffrey Ballet: Bold Moves

February 9, 2016 by 4dancers

*The Joffrey Ballet in RAkU. Photo by Cheryl Mann*

by Catherine L. Tully

The Joffrey Ballet opens its Bold Moves program Wednesday, February 10th at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre with one world premiere and two audience favorites. The evening will feature live music from The Chicago Philharmonic, with Joffrey Music Director Scott Speck at the helm.

Joffrey Ballet in Forgotten Land — *Christine Rocas and Rory Hohenstein in Forgotten Land. Photo by Herbert Migdoll*

Jirí Kylián’s Forgotten Land is the opening piece, set for 12 dancers, with music by English composer Benjamin Britten. Last performed by the company in 2012, this well-received ballet was inspired by an Edvard Munch painting of women staring at the sea from the beach. The choreography does indeed evoke water, its many lifts and swirling motions resembling the ebb and flow of waves.

Preview of world premiere:

Another work for 12 dancers, Ashley Page’s world premiere, Tipping Point, is the next item on the program. This piece is centered around the music, Thomas Adès’ violin concerto Concentric Paths. An award-winning choreographer, Page has a strong background in ballet, but this abstract piece focuses on highlighting human behaviors that are illuminated by the shifting tensions of the score. Take a closer look at how Page came to work with Joffrey in this post on Art Intercepts.

Joffrey dances RAkU — Fabrice Calmels and Victoria Jaiani in RAkU. Photo by Cheryl Mann

RAkU is the final piece in the Bold Moves program, and it is a truly unique offering. First created for San Francisco Ballet in 2011, Yuri Possokhov’s contemporary story ballet is based on the burning of Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion. The choreographer commissioned a score by composer Shinji Eshima, and the music illuminates the love story beautifully. A stunning visual piece as well, RAkU fits nicely with the program’s theme, as it leaves quite an impression.

Bold Moves runs from February 10th through the 21st at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre.

Take a quick peek at the three program pieces here:

Dance Students: The Importance Of Good Character

February 8, 2016 by 4dancers

"Surrey Celebration Dance Team" by Brendan. Licensed under CC Attribution 2.0 Generic. — “Surrey Celebration Dance Team” by
Brendan. Licensed under CC
Attribution 2.0 Generic.

by Lucy Vurusic Riner

There is a lot of talk that typically surrounds the plight of the millennial. Did their parents raise them to be self-sufficient? What sort of work ethic do they have? How do their values and morals play out in today’s workforce?

And, for me as a teacher, how do I impart my “Gen X wisdom” on them in dance class?

I wonder about this each day as I watch my students come into class. They really do toggle back and forth from being complete perfectionists and go-getters to being completely entitled and lazy. As a parent I wonder when their character will begin to take shape and how much influence their own parents have over the kinds of humans that are walking into my dance class each day. As an executive director of a dance company I wonder if I would hire more than a fraction of them upon graduating from college.

Attitude matters these days.

Teaching high school dancers (and I believe this extends well into college as well) is challenging in that most of our students are setting goals that are superficial; or what I like to call surface level. They read the syllabus or the rubric to see what they need to do to get the A or get cast in the role and then they simply do the bare minimum to make that happen. There is a preconceived notion that if you’ve done all the work, you now deserve the job. Period. The problem is that a lot of them can do the work. A lot of them can even do the work well; but there aren’t enough jobs for the amount of dancers we’re cranking out these days.

We need to teach them that doing the work is standard. It’s status quo. It’s the bare minimum expectation. It’s what happens after you’ve done part one that leaves an impression. It’s more than just bringing your skills and talents. Attitude, character and work ethic matter. [Read more…]

BDancewear Clothing Review

February 6, 2016 by 4dancers

Regular-Dance-Shrug-Lycra-2T — Cotton Shrug

by Catherine L. Tully

The staff over at BDancewear asked if I would like to check out some of their merchandise and write something up for our readers.* When I agreed, they shipped me a nice box of goodies to try out, and I’d like to share some of my favorites with you. But first, I wanted to mention a little bit about the company itself, as I think some background is always nice…

One thing I found fascinating about this business is that they offer items in 200+ different colors. The ability to get a piece you like in a shade you love it pretty impressive. And the pieces are all made in the USA, which to me is another selling point. Add to that the fact that you are supporting a small business when purchasing from them, and it stacks up to be a pretty good deal overall. Especially since the items I sampled were very well made.

By far my favorite item in the package was the pair of high-waisted pants. I got the cotton ones, and they are excellent quality, lasting a very long time. I washed and dried them repeatedly, and since they are a bit on the long side (which I love, because I have long legs and my pants always shrink too much), they stood up to it just fine.

I’ve had many types of pants like this – all name brands – and these held up better than any other one to the wear/tear and wash cycle of a dancer. No splitting seams, no see-through spots, no loose elastic. I’m still wearing them, many months later. The only caveat is they are long, so shorter people may have an issue with the fit. They also make a high-waisted brief that is very comfortable.

I love shrugs, and the ones offered by BDancewear are no exception. Besides keeping my arms warm in a tank top or sleeveless leotard, they look pretty. I find these are one of those “optional” pieces, like a dance skirt, that makes you feel more like a dancer. Decorative/fun pieces. And again, the ability to dial in the fabric and color is a nice touch.

The company sells a full compliment of skirts as well, which can be a good choice for dance school students, or possibly instructor attire. I find the high-low skirts appealing, but there are a variety of choices, including angle skirts, circle skirts and longer skirts. To me these were better suited for the casual student, not as much geared toward the pre-professional or professional dancer. Studios with a color-coded system will find they can get any shade they need here.

In addition to the different colors available, BDancewear also offers a number of fabric choices, including lycra, velvet, cotton, mesh and more. They also stock sports bras, gloves, tank tops, briefs, leotards and other items.

To learn more about the company and take a look at their full range of offerings, visit them on the web at BDancewear.

For additional information on the company and more clothing reviews, visit our friends at Dance Advantage for their take on BDancewear.

*BDancewear has purchased ad space with 4dancers in the past. Review items were sent at no charge. This is not an advertorial.

Paris, Passion, And Pointe Shoes: Atlanta Ballet Presents Moulin Rouge®

February 4, 2016 by Rachel Hellwig

Atlanta Ballet in Moulin Rouge®. Photograph by Charlie McCullers. — Atlanta Ballet in *Moulin Rouge®–The Ballet*. Photograph by Charlie McCullers.

By Rachel Hellwig

A tragic love triangle, the City of Lights, and the bohemian nightlife of the late nineteenth century—Atlanta Ballet brings Jorden Morris’ Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet back to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre from February 5-13.

Created in 2009 for the 70th anniversary of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the production has since toured internationally, been adapted into a ballet film, and was re-staged on Atlanta Ballet in 2010.

Inspired by the iconic French nightclub depicted in the art of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Moulin Rouge® blends ballet, Cancan, and tango to the music of composers such as Debussy, Offenbach, Shostakovich, Ravel, Johann Strauss Jr. and Astor Piazzolla, among others.

"At the Moulin Rouge" by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Wikimedia Commons Public domain image. — *At the Moulin Rouge* by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Wikimedia Commons public domain image.

A fantasia of history and imagination, the ballet follows the stories of Nathalie–a laundress turned cabaret dancer, Charles Zidler–the sinister proprietor of the Moulin Rouge (“The Red Mill”), Matthew–an aspiring painter, and, of course, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Atlanta Ballet veteran John Welker, now in his 21st season with the company, will portray Zidler and Toulouse-Lautrec. “What I really enjoy about these roles is that they are both based on real people,” he says. “They are not just a figment of the choreographer’s imagination. I love that, in some strange way, it makes you feel connected to that time period in Paris.”

The original Moulin Rouge circa 1914. Wikimedia Commons public domain image.

Interestingly, the historic Toulouse-Lautrec would not likely have been able to dance. After breaking his legs as a youth, the bones did not heal properly and stopped growing. As a result, he was disproportionately short and struggled to walk, even with a cane.

Nonetheless, Morris wanted to bring him to life through dance. In an interview for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, he explained, “When choreographing the dance for Toulouse, I wanted the audience to see the amazing and beautiful things going on in his mind – which is translated through dance. It would have been easy to make his choreography twisted and deformed, but then we would never see the beauty behind what was in his mind.”

John Welker and Christine Winkler as Matthew and Nathalie in Moulin Rouge®. Photograph by Charlie McCullers. — John Welker and Christine Winkler as Matthew and Nathalie in *Moulin Rouge®–The Ballet*. Photograph by Charlie McCullers.

As Nathalie, the rags-to-riches Moulin Rouge star whose life is fatefully intertwined with Matthew, Nadia Mara returns to a role she first visited in Atlanta Ballet’s 2010 production. She delights in the character’s creative and dramatic possibilities. “Nathalie goes through so many emotions and transformations during the story,” she says. “It allows me to explore and work on my acting, which I always love. I can’t wait to show the audience this beautiful ballet!”

If you would like to be in the audience of Moulin Rouge®–The Ballet, tickets starting at $25 may be purchased here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nHgU4g-Gro

Prix Rewind–Women’s Classical Variations

January 20, 2016 by Rachel Hellwig

by Rachel Hellwig

Prix de Lausanne is tough competition. Inevitably, many wonderful dancers aren’t counted among the prize winners. Here are some lovely non-winning performances from past competitions by dancers who are now in companies…

Preview: The Joffrey Ballet: Bold Moves

Dance Students: The Importance Of Good Character

BDancewear Clothing Review

Paris, Passion, And Pointe Shoes: Atlanta Ballet Presents Moulin Rouge®

Prix Rewind–Women’s Classical Variations

Tyler Donatelli – 2014. Now with Houston Ballet.

Thamires Chuvas – 2012. Now with San Francisco Ballet.

Mai Miyazaki – 2012. Now with Tokyo City Bal let.

Natsuki Yamada – 2014. Now with Semperoper Dresden.

Ayaka Fujii – 2012. Now with Stuttgart Ballet.

Anisa Sinteral Scott- 2011. Now with Ballet West.

Tyler Donatelli – 2014. Now with Houston Ballet.

Thamires Chuvas – 2012. Now with San Francisco Ballet.

Mai Miyazaki – 2012. Now with Tokyo City Ballet.

Natsuki Yamada – 2014. Now with Semperoper Dresden.

Ayaka Fujii – 2012. Now with Stuttgart Ballet.

Anisa Sinteral Scott- 2011. Now with Ballet West.

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Mai Miyazaki – 2012. Now with Tokyo City Bal let.