"Winging It" was the title of
NUVO's recent review of ISB's October 3 Artsgarden performance. As each performance season gains steam, it certainly feels like we need wings around here to keep up with the pace of our pre-professional students.
Busy ISB dancers have given three outreach performances so far this year. The Drum Corp International Quarterfinals, held at Lucas Oil Field in August, hosted the first of these with a reprise of Scott Jovovich's "Blue Metallica", given its Indiana premiere at the 2009 Penrod Arts Fair. This performance centered on the 50-yard line of the field where the "men in blue" (the Indianapolis Colts) play many Sundays each year. NUVO Newsweekly reviewer Rita Kohn wrote of the performance, "Jovovich's concept of people exploring a new environment, experiencing individual parts of space for the first time felt on-the-spot real... the wonderment was in the diversity of movement..."
The 2010 Penrod Arts Fair, coined Indiana's nicest day, was the venue for the second of our outreach events. That crowd is always appreciative and ISB dancers always deliver... in all kinds of weather, from egg-frying heat to weather suitable for ducks. It was the latter this September, so alterations were made for the appropriate footwear to keep our dancers safe from injury. Repertoire diversity is a hallmark of these outreach performances. There needs to be a little something for everyone. This year's program featured "Save the Last Dance", a three-movement jazz work staged by Scott Jovovich, including two dances of Bob Fosse with a third one choreographed by Jovovich. "Oblivion", a sensuous tango by Astor Piazzolla, was danced by ISB graduates Michelle Meltzer and Chris Lingner, both now attending Indiana University's prestigious ballet program, also with choreography by Jovovich. A ballet waltz was set to
Roses from the South by Johann Strauss and choreographed by Paul Vitali and Victoria Lyras. Rounding out the program was a patriotic tap selection, with Level 4 through 6 dancers oufitted like "Troop ISB" dancing to music of the Andrews Sisters, choreographed by Emily Nord Womersley.
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| Save the Last Dance - photo: Laura Breece Photography |
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| Oblivion - photo: H. Rosenfeld |
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| Troop ISB - photo: Laura Breece Photography |
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| Artsgarden October 3 - photo: Freddie Kelvin |
Earlier this October, the Penrod program was repeated at the Artsgarden, with some minor adjustments. Our Indiana University graduates, committed to performances on their campus, made it necessary to alter the program, so "Winging It" was born. The Indianapolis Artsgarden, a venue of the
Arts Council of Indianapolis, regularly presents free programs. Twice each season, ISB dancers take the stage there. This time, the performance began with class... yes, it was elegant... but now read this literally. Artistic Director Victoria Lyras began with a lecture demonstration showing how classical ballet dancers learn, warm up and work at the barre...just like they do in class many times a week. Photographer Freddie Kelvin captured the beauty of the afternoon and the dancers in his picture of the final moments of the Strauss ballet. We'll be back at the Artsgarden with new repertoire for another free performance on April 17, 2011. In the meantime, I know where you can get some great tickets to see a fantastic
Nutcracker this December 17-19 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral Theater. Now there's something to look forward to!
