One of Ohio’s best kept secrets will be revealed when the
26-year-old BalletMet Columbus makes its long-anticipated New York
City debut at The Joyce Theater, May 25–30. To celebrate the
occasion, the Columbus-based company will bring three of its newest
ballets, each displaying a different aspect of BalletMet’s
renowned versatility: James Kudelka’s “Gazebo Dances,”
Stanton Welch’s “Play” and Deanna Carter’s
“Colores de Alma.” The 28-member troupe is directed
by Gerard Charles, with Stanton Welch serving as Artistic Associate.
In “Play,” part one of Welch’s newly premiered
trilogy entitled “Evolution: Mozart to Moby,” the choreographer
takes a noticeably different direction from his previous works.
The music is from Moby’s 1999 Grammy-nominated album of the
same name and the movement suggests glimpses of various relationships
taking place among the frenzied crowds on urban streets.
James Kudelka’s “Gazebo Dances,” set to music
by the contemporary composer John Corigliano, reflects on the innocence
and joy associated with small towns of a young America. Kudelka
looks back with a certain wistfulness for times still undarkened
by our worldly power, a point made especially poignant in the duet
entitled “Waltz,” which suggests the shadowing to come.
The dance premiered in March 2003.
The third work, Deanna Carter’s “Colores de Alma,”
is a theatrical series of short dances performed to contemporary
Spanish flamenco music. The performers’ swirling bodies and
complex, rapid partnering reinforces the lyrical sensuality of the
songs to which they are dancing.
BalletMet Columbus has throughout its 26 years developed a large
and varied repertory including works by Alwin Nikolais, David Parsons,
Paul Taylor and George Balanchine, as well as 63 pieces commissioned
by the company itself. In addition to its national touring and local
seasons that take place in both the 2700-seat Ohio Theatre and the
750-seat Capitol Theatre, the company runs BalletMet Dance Academy,
which has over 1000 students who study all forms of dance including
jazz, modern dance, tap and creative movement as well as ballet.
BalletMet is one of the country’s largest ballet troupes and
its Academy, one of the five largest professionally-affiliated dance
schools in the United States.
Gerard Charles, who was born in Folkestone, England, began his dance
training at the Royal Ballet School in London, where he received
the Harold Turner Award for most promising new student. After dancing
with Ballet International in London, Milwaukee Ballet and BalletMet,
he became BalletMet’s Ballet Master in 1987, where he remained
until 1991 at which time he was appointed Ballet Master at Les Grands
Ballets Canadiens. He returned to BalletMet in 1995 to serve jointly
as Ballet Master and Associate Artistic Director, becoming the company’s
Artistic Director in 2001. His recent works for BalletMet include
productions of “Cinderella,” “Coppélia”
and “The Sleeping Beauty.”
Recently named Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet, BalletMet
Artistic Associate Stanton Welch has choreographed works for American
Ballet Theatre, the Royal Danish Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and
The Australian Ballet, among others. Born in Melbourne, Australia
to dancers Garth Welch and Marilyn Jones, Welch performed for several
years with The Australian Ballet before becoming the company’s
resident choreographer for the next eight years.
James Kudelka, whose more than 80 works are performed by ballet
companies throughout the world, danced with The National Ballet
of Canada and in 1981 became a principal dancer with Les Grands
Ballets Canadiens; in 1984, he was appointed the company’s
resident choreographer, a position he held until 1990. Kudelka rejoined
The National Ballet of Canada in 1992 as Artist in Residence and
became Artistic Director in 1996.
For the past two seasons, Deanna Carter, a Seattle, Washington native,
has been Ballet Mistress of the Dessau Ballet and Guest Choreographer
of the Anhaltisches Theater in Germany. Her works have been performed
in more than 16 countries and she has choreographed for “Zar
& Zimmerman” as well as the musical “Les Misérables.”
Next season, BalletMet’s performances in Columbus, Ohio will
include “Swan Lake” (September 30–October 3);
“Carmina Burana” (October 28–November 6); and
“The Nutcracker” (December 10–December 23). In
2005, the company will also perform “Cinderella” (April
14–17) and “Firebird” (May 12–15).
The evening curtain for BalletMet Columbus at The Joyce Theater,
Tuesday through Saturday, is at 8pm. There will also be 2pm matinees
on Saturday and Sunday. Please note: there will be no Sunday evening
performance. Tickets are $38, and are available at The Joyce Theater
box office, by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or online at
www.joyce.org.
The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.
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Lead funding is provided by
Greater Columbus Arts Council. BalletMet Columbus wishes to express
its thanks to the Theatre Development Fund for its support of this
engagement.
This Joyce performance of “Colores
de Alma” is underwritten by Barbara K. Fergus. This Joyce
performance of “Gazebo Dances” is underwritten by Battelle.
This Joyce performance of “Play” is underwritten by
Chase Home Finance. “Play” costumes are provided by
EXPRESS.
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