"Random Acts of Ballet: NYC"

From Anaheim Ballet's great YouTube collection.

Class with Michael Vernon

Pictures from last Saturday!

Brandywine Ballet performing works of Balanchine and Jovovich

Brandywine Ballet of Westchester, Pennsylvania will be performing Balanchine's Serenade, his first work ever performed in the United States, on May 3. The work will be set by former Pennsylvania Ballet ballerina and Balanchine repetiteur Jessica Gattinella.

The performance also marks the debut of Scott Jovovich's new work, Tango Talk. Scott will be in Indianapolis on June 8 as part of ISB's 'Dancing With the Masters' series. Here's a picture of Scott and the ISB family during last year's summer intensive:

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Amazing pirouettes!

NYC Ballet principal dancer Sofiane Sylve (www.sofianesylve.com)

Trivia: Can anyone identify the first piece of music?

Congrats Susannah!

Today in Bloomington, Susannah Jacaruso performed 'Paquita' beautifully and received an esteemed merit award at the National Society of Arts and Letters' annual Showcase of the Arts. Annalee, Emily and Ms. Victoria drove down to support her and had an absolute blast! After the ceremony, the girls all celebrated at Trojan Horse!

Congratulations, Susannah, on your wonderful accomplishment!

Pennsylvania Ballet's 45th anniversary season

Pennsylvania Ballet's 45th season features a diverse range of repertoire celebrating both classic and novel works.

Quoted in this article from PlaybillArts.com is the company's founder Barbara Weisberger, who will be coming to Indianapolis as part of ISB's 'Dancing With the Masters' series:

In the waning days of 1960, the country was poised for a new dawn. There was a renewed fervor for the arts, and building an American ballet tradition was a key facet of the agenda. During a colorful conversation at a cocktail party hosted by Lincoln Kirstein, the co-founder of New York City Ballet, the idea to found a ballet company in Philadelphia was crystallized. "Balanchine said to me 'We must have more ballet companies in this country'," recalls Pennsylvania Ballet's founder Barbara Weisberger. "My reply," she continues, "was 'Mr. B, if you're really serious about this--Philadelphia is the place'."

Blogged with the Flock Browser

IU Ballet's Choreography Workshop

The Indiana University Ballet Theater's annual choreography workshop features 13 new works choreographed and danced by ballet majors.

"There will be some live music, featuring Jacobs School composers and musicians, and some recorded music because we did not want to restrict the students' choices," said Vernon. "The selection will be very broad and varied, inspiring some very interesting choreography.

"The event is a rare opportunity to see world-class ballet students perform in an intimate setting, something you don't get at the larger productions in the Musical Arts Center," Vernon continued. "Just like the American Ballet Theatre company in New York, we use a smaller theater for experimental, more contemporary works. Since the audience members can see the dancers so well, they develop a very close connection to them, and it is an even more personal experience."

The workshop will take place April 15-16 at 8:00pm in Bloomington's historic Buskirk-Chumley Theater, and is free and open to the public.

Full Press Release

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Hip-Hop meets Ballet

Atlanta Ballet is teaming up with rapper Antwan Patton from OutKast for a new production titled "Big," to be performed tomorrow. Quite a bold new idea!

Read the NY Times article here and check out a rehearsal clip below.

"A Tharp Ballet That's Brand New"

After five years of concentrating on Broadway, Twyla Tharp takes up ballet's challenge again with "Nightspot," featuring an Elvis Costello score.

Read the full article from The Wall Street Journal

Class with Violette

Thanks everyone, for a wonderful day! Violette had a great time meeting and teaching you all!