From Wunderland to New Works, Looking forward to Edwaard Liang's Next Piece

As an assignment for my Ballet II class at Ohio State, an intermediate class for non-dance majors who love to dance, we were required to go out and see BalletMet’s performance of Symphony in C. A group of us planned to attend the Sunday matinee performance together. As an intern at BalletMet, I had been excited about this production for months. I had quite a bit of insight as to what the show would consist of, as I had done a lot of research and produced some marketing materials for the show. In my excitement, on the way to the theatre, I asked my friends what they expected to see in the show. While all of us are dancers, none of the other girls really knew what to expect. I told them a little bit about what I knew of the show and we sat in the theatre anticipating the opening of the curtain.

The first piece in the production was by far my favorite and the favorite of each of the girls who attended with me. This piece was entitled Wunderland  and was Artistic Director, Edwaard Liang’s first showing of original choreography set on the BalletMet dancers. Especially to those who have the notion of Ballet as incredibly feminine and dainty, Wunderland  was unexpected and dynamic. Through his choreography, Edwaard showcased the inherent strength and athleticism dancers posses through intricate formations, innovative shapes, and impressive lifts. The choreography was filled with intensity and passion through the use of partnerships that tested gravity, showing both dependence and resistance. As the drama and beauty of the Wunderland came to a close, the audience around me rose to their feet for a standing ovation.

After seeing Wunderland I am really looking forward seeing to Edwaard’s next piece of choreography. The production is entitled New Directions, New Works and premieres April 25th at the Capitol Theatre. As this is a world premiere performance, BalletMet is keeping a lot of the details of the piece under wraps. The mysteriousness of the piece makes it even more anticipated and exciting! All I have been able to gather at this point, is that the new work will feature live music. Two pianists playing Rachmaninoff’s compositions are to accompany the dancers onstage, one of whom is Ty Boyle, BalletMet’s music director. Live music onstage is always a treat for audiences and really lends itself to the excitement and realness the dancing. I can’t wait to see how this piece will come together.

The production also features two other pieces to be performed by BalletMet dancers. The first is called Carousel and is choreographer, Christopher Wheeldon’s graceful and elegant interpretation of a 1945 broadway musical about new love. Lastly, the company will perform 18+1 a fun, Latin inspired piece choreographed by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano. 18+1 is a piece with a contemporary twist and is full of exciting, lively choreography. New Directions, New Works is set to be an exciting medley of three very different pieces of dance, and I am very excited to attend the performance!

Ohio State Athletic Trainer Keeps BalletMet on its Toes

At BalletMet, dancers work hard to maintain a strong and healthy physicality in order to perfect their art.  This is not easy.  Dancers often perform movements that are unusual and hard on the body, causing strain or in some cases more serious injuries.

Luckily for BalletMet’s company dancers, they have the luxury of receiving free services from Hope Davis.  Hope is a certified athletic trainer who works with BalletMet through the Ohio State Sports Medicine department.

According to Ms. Davis, the market for certified athletic trainers has expanded significantly over time.  Other professionals that share Hope’s title are typically found on the sports field, but more recently, they can be found in schools and in performing arts organizations.

Ms. Davis says she considers dancers to be performance athletes (along with gymnasts, musicians and others), and she thinks dance should be recognized as a form of sport.  She says that there are specific types of injuries for every sport.  For example, high-impact sports such as football and soccer are often correlated with collision injuries.  Injuries in dance can be acute or traumatic.  Most of them are chronic in nature and build up over time.  Hope explained that many injuries go ignored by dancers, because they do things with their bodies that are typically not normal, so they are not as concerned when their bodies start to feel sore or strained.  Injuries are often swept under the rug, in fear that they may hold the dancer back. 

When Davis was just 5 years old, she started dancing with hopes that the discipline would improve her awkward composure.  She loved to dance, and worked hard at it too.  She would occasionally encounter minor injuries, like any other dancer.  However, one back injury left her bedridden for weeks.  During this time, Davis saw multiple doctors, most of whom gave her the same piece of advice: stop dancing.  She didn’t want to stop, so she kept seeing different doctors, hoping for a different opinion.  Eventually, one doctor fixed Hope’s back defect, and she was able to return to dance.  Her experience with overcoming injury inspired her to help other dancers do the same.

Educating dancers on what to do to prevent injuries is one of the biggest parts of Hope’s job.  She teaches her clients specific exercises to help them be less susceptible to physical damage.

A typical day in the life of Hope Davis

·   8 a.m. - 10 a.m. - Start at clinic

·   10:15 a.m. – arrive at BalletMet and teach a conditioning class with pre-professional dancers for 45 minutes

·   11:00 a.m. - lunch break in between meetings with dancers

·   1:00 p.m - 4:30 p.m. – “open for business” in her BalletMet office

Davis works very closely with the BalletMet dancers, seeing anywhere between three and nine BalletMet dancers a day.  She is on location every day to work with them, and is with the dancers before, during, and after all performances.  When dancers visit Ms. Davis, she assesses any new or preexisting injuries and determines whether treatment requires a doctor.  Sometimes all she has to do is first-aid work and/or taping, but she stays prepared for any and all things.  Thanks to Hope’s assistance, BalletMet is able to keep their dancers on their toes and on the dance floor.

Dracula Rehearsal!

As soon as I walked into the studio today, I immediately knew the company was getting ready for Dracula. Crosses, lanterns, and capes were strung around the room; as well as a coffin and cage that I couldn't ignore. Seven company dancers were preparing for BalletMet’s upcoming show Dracula, on October 26^th through November 3^rd at the Capitol Theatre.

Only the men were at the rehearsal today due to the women and other characters actually getting their “fang fitting” for the show. The scene that was first being rehearsed included opening the coffin and a realistic beheading. Much of this scene was simply the dancers learning blocking around the coffin. Our Ballet Mistress, Rebecca Rodriguez-Hodory spoke with me about the difficulty of the rehearsal. She described that dancers don’t normally get theater exercises; they simply have to learn acting from the way in which they dance.  Ms. Rodriguez-Hodory also explained that with each show, a different set of dancers is used, and some dancers even have to learn more than one character.

Even with just the rehearsal process for this scene starting, the overall vibe of what each dancer was portraying fits Dracula perfectly. The disturbing props, powerful operatic music, and passionate dancing all form a BalletMet performance that is sure to fulfill your expectations; not to mention, all happening just in time for the Halloween season. 

Jonathan Hill - Marketing Intern 

It's Gala Time!

I hope everyone is getting as excited as we are for the Global Dance Stars Gala! It's right around the corner and this exclusive event is one you're not going to want to miss. Dancers are coming from all around the globe to perform at the Ohio Theater on August 18th. This global celebration is perfect timing with the Olympics going on as well! We'll have dancers from the New York City Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Northern Ballet of England, Tom Gold Dance, and Broadway!! But don't worry, the BalletMet company dancers that you all know and love will be right alongside them as well. Not to mention this will be the first performance of the season to see the new additions to the company! With this being the dancers' first week back, they've all been pretty busy with rehearsals. I, for one, can't wait to see this performance they've all been working towards! It's going to be a great kick off to the season, with a program pulling from both classical and contemporary repertory... there's bound to be something that everyone will enjoy!

We have New York City Ballet soloists performing a pas de deux from Balanchine's Agon (one of my personal favorites), as well as Gershwin's 3 Preludes. We'll also get a glimpse of David Nixon's Cleopatra, by Northern Ballet Dancers. The Houston Ballet will bring a pas de deux from Madame Butterfly, a favorite from former BalletMet Artistic Director Stanton Welch. We're even bringing some tap dancing to the stage! Coming from Broadway, Marshall Davis Jr. will perform two numbers that are bound to get your feet tapping too :) And for all you classical ballet lovers, the famous Black Swan Pas de Deux will be performed by the National Ballet of Canada dancers. In addition, BalletMet will bring back to the stage Pulses, Chords, and Passion, a crowd pleaser that premiered last season in Jazz Moves Columbus.

In addition to this being a wonderful display of dance around the world, let's not forget that this event will also serve as a send off for our beloved Artistic Director, Mr. Gerard Charles. What a perfect celebration to end on after 22 years of association with BalletMet. I know everyone is going to miss seeing him and those red boots around here. We're wishing him the best of luck at the Joffrey Ballet! There will be an exclusive post-performance party, Celebration of Stars, in which he will be recognized. It's also an opportunity to meet the internationsl guest artists you watched perform. Tickets to this event are seperate from the performance.

As always, visit our website for more details and ticket information on this event. And make sure to keep a lookout for event updates on Twitter and Facebook! Hope to see you all there, it's going to be a hit for sure.

-Alyssa-

It's Christmas in July!

For some people, The Nutcracker is a yearly tradition. For others, it’s an occasional escape back to childhood. For all, The Nutcracker is a timeless classic that keeps people wanting more.

For those who aren’t familiar with The Nutcracker, here’s a little bit of history.  The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet that was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, and includes the famous score by Pyotr Llyich Tchaikovsky. It premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on December 18, 1892 on a double-bill with Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta. The ballet itself is an adaptation of E.T.A Hoffmann’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by Alexandre Dumas called The Tale of the Nutcracker. The plot had to be greatly simplified and some parts, including a flashback that explains how the Prince was turned into the Nutcracker, had to be cut from the ballet.

The story takes place on Christmas Eve at the home of the Silberhaus family.  (With different productions, the names and plot of the story vary slightly). The Christmas tree has been decorated and the children are in awe of the sparkles and adornments. Herr Drosselmeyer is a local councilman, as well as Clara and Fritz’s godfather, and he’s brought gifts for the children. The toy that Clara takes a liking to is a wooden nutcracker in the shape of a little man. The play follows Clara as she goes on an adventure with The Nutcracker, who is turned into a handsome prince, to the Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy.

In honor of this timeless classic, BalletMet is celebrating an early Christmas in July! For a limited time, now through July 29^th, you can purchase tickets for The Nutcracker at half off! The half off tickets are only available for the Dec 7, 8, and 9 performances, excludes Prime Orchestra and Loge, and there is a limit of 6 tickets per purchase. To order you can call 800-982-2787, go online to Ticketmaster.com or visit the BalletMet Dance Academy Open House on July 24 from 6:30-8:00 pm at the downtown location. When ordering use the code CIJBMC to receive the discount.

It’s never too early to buy your Christmas gifts, so celebrate Christmas in July with us and get your Nutcracker tickets before the offer ends! Just don’t forget where you put them J

- Mackenzie 

It's Time to Leap and Twirl!

Leap and Twirl,
BalletMet's new children's book

Last week was the book launch for BalletMet’s own children’s book, Leap and Twirl!  There was a great turnout with kids, parents, and community members coming together to celebrate this wonderful picture book conceived by Ambre Emory- Maier, written by author Steven C. Anderson and illustrated by Sarah DeAngulo Hout.

Author and Illustrator,
Anderson and Hout

It might seem a little strange to have a children’s book as part of a dance education program, and it is. Leap and Twirl is the only children’s book associated with a dance company. The book is apart of the Magic in Movement- Grow up Great! Program, which is a collaboration between BalletMet, PNC Foundation, and the Columbus Urban League. The program is starting its third year as a way to develop and improve social growth and literacy skills, foster creative expression and better prepare children for kindergarten.

To start off the event, Ambre Emory-Maier, the Director of Education, and Cheri Mitchell, the Executive Director, talked about the numerous educational programs that BalletMet has, and how important dance and education is to BalletMet. Cheri summed up BalletMet’s mission statement by saying they believe that “dance is for everyone and everyone should have to chance and opportunity to experience it.”

After hearing about the book and programs, the audience finally got a chance to see the book as Steven Anderson read the book aloud, inviting all of the children in the audience to join him. We heard all about Leap and Twirl’s week at school, and how they got experience the joy of dance in their life. After the reading, the audience got a special treat as children from the Columbus Urban League gave a little demonstration of how the book is being used in the educational programs. The kids moved around to live music as they pretended to be butterflies, and bears, and to leap like a frog and twirl like a squirrel, which was inspired by the characters in the book.

 

The book launch was a great success, and I think all of the kids in the audience enjoyed it. If you are interested in purchasing your own copy of the book, visit our website at https://www.balletmet.org/dance-education/education/education-materials.

Leap and Twirl, the title characters

And don’t forget, as Steven Anderson writes in Leap and Twirl, “Every day is a day to dance!” 

- Mackenzie :) 

Dance, Friends, and Fun - It's Summer Camp!

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year again – Summer Camp! Here at BalletMet, the Summer Dance Camp is well underway. It’s only the second day, but the studio is already bustling with students ready to get their tap shoes on, and leap and twirl across the floor. For me, summer camp was always my favorite part of the summer. New friends, new experiences, and most importantly, a whole lot of fun! Since I can hear them downstairs already best friends with each other, I think it’s safe to assume they’re having fun.

This week there are two camps going on here at the Downtown location. For the 4-6 year olds, there is the Fancy Nancy Tea Party class, inspired by the book series. From 9-11 am every day this week they are enjoying a full on adventure complete with tiaras, fairy wings, tutus and more! There probably aren’t too many boys in this camp, but for a little girl it will sure be a week for her to remember! This same camp will be offered again for kids aged 3-5 at the Vista Plaza-Gahanna location from July 16-20.

For our campers that are a little bit older, there’s the Summer Celebration! This camp is a full day of dance for boys and girls ages 7-12. They’ll spend the whole week learning various types of dance like Ballet, Tap, and Jazz, and even get to do a little Improvisational Acting, Drumming and other cool things! I know this morning they were learning a tap dance to Yankee Doodle with flags as props. It sure looked like a lot of fun to me! These dedicated campers are here all day from 9am-4pm experiencing the joys of dance. This afternoon they even got a special treat with a guest appearance from BalletMet Company dancer, Olivia Clark! She showed them a few dances as well as answered a lot of questions about dancing, Pointe shoes, and her career with the Company. The kids even pressured her into showing them a fouette turn, right after admitting it was one of the hardest moves she’s ever learned, and that she still struggles with them.      

Summertime is a great time for kids to get out there and make new friends, try new experiences, and just be kids. Summer Camp is the place to make all of that happen. If your child loves dance, it’s also the perfect time for them to try out new styles, improve their technique, and spend time doing what they love! If you haven’t signed up for one of our Summer Dance Camps yet and you feel like you’re missing out, don’t fear. There’s still time! This is the only week camp will be at the Downtown location, but there are still camps going on in July and August at the Gahanna and Reynoldsburg locations. For more information, check out https://www.balletmet.org/images/documents/summer_main.pdf. 

- Mackenzie :) 

Ballet on Television!

Before I dive into the heart of this post, let me take a minute to introduce myself. My name is Alyssa. I am one of the marketing and communications interns and I am thrilled to be part of the BalletMet team for the summer.  As of yesterday, I am a graduate of THE Ohio State University with a BFA in dance and a minor in arts entrepreneurship. This statement is normally followed with ever present questions such as, “So, what’s next for you?” or (my personal favorite) “A dance major?? So…what do you want to do with that?” Well, to be perfectly honest, I’m still figuring that out for myself. What I do know is that dance will continue to be a part of my life for a very long time. I may not be sure what the future holds for me, but I could not be happier with my decision to major in dance. Yes, many assume that a dance major means getting credit for prancing around like a fairy and stretching all day, but I know quite different. The knowledge, discipline, and experience I have gained in these past four years are invaluable to me.

As a Columbus native, I have always admired the work BalletMet is doing, both on the stage and in the community. Having been on the performance side of dance for quite some time now, I am very excited to learn about the administrative and marketing aspects of dance. Now that you know a little bit about me, let’s turn our attention to the recent boom ballet is making in television!

Until recently, most dance on television has been commercialized with contests and celebrities. Does this mean there is no room for the timeless art of classical ballet on television? Upcoming shows and documentaries such as “Breaking Pointe”, “Bunheads”, and FIRST POSITION say differently. These shows are giving real life insight into the different aspects of being a classical ballet dancer. This gives audiences who are used to popular shows like “So You Think You Can Dance” a new appreciation for classical dance. These shows are aiming to break the notion of ballet being old-fashioned and outdated. Let’s face it; a good majority of people in the U.S. do not attend classical ballets on a regular basis. Seeing ballet on modern day television may give classical dance performances the boost in attendance we’d all like to see.

The CW recently premiered “Breaking Pointe”, a reality show following the behind the scenes operations of Salt Lake City company, Ballet West. The show focuses on the dedication, vigor, and strength it takes to be a professional ballet dancer by following the dancers in class and rehearsals. In addition to life inside the studio, the dancers’ social lives are also documented, focusing on their relationships with one another and how they manage their careers as dancers. You can even watch full episodes on the CW website! The ABC Family original series “Bunheads” is also set to premiere on June 11th (as in tonight!!), focusing on a Las Vegas dancer who ends up taking a position at a ballet school. The series will follow her growth as a teacher and journey with the students. Episodes of this will also be available online.

And let's not forget to check out the upcoming documentary, FIRST POSITION at BalletMet night on June 14^th at 7:30 PM at the Drexel movie theater. This film follows six young ballerinas on their journey to the Youth American Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world. Their sacrifices, dedication, and perseverance give the dancers a glimpse into the life of a professional ballerina. Call (614) 231-1050 for tickets, or visit http://www.drexel.net/.

Now let’s give it up for ballet making it on the big screen. Bravo, ballet. Bravo!

-Alyssa-

Start of Summer!

Summertime may mean lots of sunshine, days by the pool and cool nights catching fireflies, but it doesn’t mean the work has stopped! BalletMet is hard at work preparing for its next season and it looks like it’s going to be a good one! I’m Mackenzie, the new marketing intern for BalletMet this summer, and I’m ecstatic to get to spend my summer working here. A little bit about myself, I’m a Marketing major with a minor in Communications at The University of Toledo, GO ROCKETS! While I go to school up in Toledo, I grew up here in Central Ohio and get to spend my summers back home.

So far in school, it’s seemed that people often equate business students with plain personalities and a rather dull list of interests. I’ll be the first to tell you that is most definitely not true, as seen with my love of dance. I started dancing when I was only two years old, only stopping for a brief hiatus when I moved from Southern California to Ohio in preschool. Throughout the years I dabbled in various styles such as ballet, lyrical, baton, jazz, and even clogging! While I may have thought about quitting from time to time during the teenage years, I don’t regret sticking with it for an instant. I won’t lie, I definitely wasn’t the greatest dancer, nowhere near good enough to get into a company per say, but my dance studio was always my home away from home. I’m sure every dancer can agree with me on this one, that there’s just something magical about performing where you feel outside of yourself. Oftentimes I wish I would have pushed myself a little harder, practiced a little more, and been a little better than I was, but it in the end I still enjoyed it nonetheless.

Since dancing was such a huge part of my childhood, it was tremendously hard for me to quit when I moved off to college. With that, I couldn’t imagine a better place to be interning for the summer. Since I’m only home for the summer, however, it unfortunately means I won’t get to see any of the performances during the season. Disappointing, I know. I can only hope to catch a showing of The Nutcracker over Christmas break! Throughout the summer I’ll highlight all of the upcoming shows for the season, so stay tuned!

- Mackenzie J   

Back to the Costume Shop

A little more than one week until the opening of BalletMet’s next performance, DanceTech! I snuck down to the costume shop again today to chat with Erin Rollins about the final show of the season. (For those of you who don’t remember, she’s the Assistant Costume Shop Manager and Wardrobe Manager here at BalletMet.)

Q: Can you tell me a little about the costumes?

A: We are making a lot of costumes but they are simple and don’t take up much room. While it is less work than Sleeping Beauty, we are all still busy. We started on DanceTech after Sleeping Beauty ended. The costumes are very fun and space-agey and all of the fabric is hand-dyed. We have a woman who is helping us specifically with the dye because there are different dyes for different fabrics depending on the fabric content.

Q: What are you most excited for?

A: I am super excited about the tutus. In all my years here, we have never gotten the chance to make an abnormal tutu and we finally get to! They are handmade by our shop and we are making one for every girl in the company. It’s a whole new tutu and it is completely different than anything you’ve seen before.

(Since the tutus are a secret until the show, you will have to come see DanceTech to see them!)

Q: Will you be working up until the show?

A: Yes, but it won’t be manic, just some minor tweaking.

Q: What’s next for the Costume Shop once DanceTech is over?

A: We will be finishing up (cleaning, stocking, and refurbishing the machines) before shutting down for the summer. We will be reconvening in July to start on next season.

Q: Most importantly, which costume is your favorite?

A: There are a lot of cool costumes but the tutus are definitely my favorite!

Thanks for letting me talk to you again Erin! I cannot wait to see the finished costumes (especially those abnormal tutus!) DanceTech opens next weekend so make sure to get your tickets! (https://www.balletmet.org/current-performance)

-Kelsey :)

Once Upon A Dream...

You only have to wait a few more days until BalletMet’s Sleeping Beauty opens at the Ohio Theatre! In order to prepare myself for the show, I watched the 1959 Disney film, based on the ballet, over the weekend. As I was watching, I realized that there are vast differences between the ballet and the animated classic. Here are just a few tidbits to help you make the transition from the movie to the ballet:

1. Characters: When you are reading your playbill, don’t be surprised when some familiar names do not appear, such as Maleficent and Prince Phillip (the evil fairy is named Carabosse and the Prince is Désiré.) There are a few more good fairies in the ballet and some unexpected appearances by other classic fairy tale characters, such as Red Riding Hood and Puss in Boots.
2. Plot: Now I don’t want to give away too many details, but let’s just say that it’s not a spinning wheel that causes Princess Aurora to fall into her 100-year sleep (which in the ballet actually lasts 100 years!). Also, she does not live in the forest under the pseudonym Briar Rose.
3. Music: The music for the Disney film was inspired by Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s composition for the ballet. However, since this is a ballet, no one will be belting out “Once Upon a Dream” or “I Wonder” (except maybe me at intermission).

Other fun facts about the ballet Sleeping Beauty:

• This is Tchaikovsky’s longest ballet, clocking in at around 4 hours with intermission. (BalletMet’s version is much shorter.)
• The first time Sleeping Beauty was performed was in 1890.
• Sleeping Beauty was the 2nd most popular ballet in the Imperial Ballet’s repertoire.

Two weeks ago, I attended the open rehearsal BalletMet had for Sleeping Beauty. Even though the characters were not in costume and did not have any props, I could tell this is going to be a beautiful show. Visit https://www.balletmet.org/sleepingbeauty to get your tickets now and I hope to see you out this weekend!

-Kelsey :)

To the Costume Shop We Go!

Only one week until the opening of BalletMet’s next performance, Sleeping Beauty. I had the opportunity today to visit the costume shop and talk to Erin Rollins, the Assistant Costume Shop Manager and Wardrobe Manager, about the upcoming show!

Q: Can you tell me a little about the costumes?

A: We have been working on the costumes for Sleeping Beauty since July and have been working on them at the same time as working on costumes for other shows, such as The Nutcracker.

All but around 12 costumes are new, leaving around 300 new costumes and 70 new headpieces. Most of the fabric was purchased from New York City’s Garmet District. Costumes were tailored in China and hats were made in Pennsylvania. All the tutus are custom made and some of the costumes were outsourced to factories to make sure everything is done correctly. We had two specially created road-boxes just for the tutus to get them to the Ohio Theatre. The bodices for both the men and women’s costumes are lined with a heavy canvas; which we’ve used at least 120 yards. I don’t even want to think about how many #6 hooks we have gone through!

Q: Since there are two different casts for this show, how will that work for the costumes?

A: Dancers will be able to share the costumes. However, there are at least 2 extras for each costume just in case, which adds a lot of work!

Q: Will you be working up until the show?

A: Yes. Most likely we will be working through the show. Since the costumes are brand new, they will stretch after the dancers dance in them for the first time, so we will be working through the show and refitting. There are at least 12 artisans and plenty of volunteers who have been helping since July! We have specialty make-up for Carabosse and her minions. There is a special team just to be backstage doing makeup for the children.

Q: After Sleeping Beauty, what’s next for the costume shop?

A: DanceTech and a little bit of rehabbing (which consists of cleaning, filing, etc.)

Q: Which costume is your favorite?

A: That’s tricky. Right now, I really love the White Cat costume. She is so sassy and fun.

Q: What are you most excited for?

A: I am most excited to see the costumes on the stage! The costumes have enormous detail and are very rich. It is going to be a beautiful show.

Thank you so much for your time Erin! I know how busy you are and I enjoyed getting to visit down there! Sleeping Beauty opens next week so make sure to get your tickets!

-Kelsey :)

JazzMoves Columbus

Jazz Moves Columbus! I was lucky enough to see the performance last night…you do not want to miss it!

The show celebrates Columbus’s 200th birthday in a truly unique way. The jazz band is front and center onstage for the audience to see as they play throughout the entire show. During the instrumental interludes between pieces, a video montage is played on the scrim, featuring old clips of Columbus back in the day. (My favorite being the one featuring clips from old Ohio State games.) The music kept my toes tapping throughout the night and I know I wasn’t the only one enjoying the music.

The dancing was superb; it blew other shows I have seen right out of the water. The costumes were simple and elegant and all of the group movements were perfectly synchronized. My favorite piece was the Motown number, which was the one I was able to get a sneak peak of at the director’s circle a few weeks ago. Another crowd favorite was the Gospel piece before it.

My words alone cannot describe how wonderful the show is so you should definitely come see for yourself. Still not convinced? There is an ice cream social after each show featuring free Jeni’s ice cream and a chance to mingle with the dancers! Hope to see you out this weekend!

If you have already seen the performance, share your favorite part with us down below :)

-Kelsey

All That Jazz

There is nothing better than unwinding to jazz music after a busy day, grooving to Motown, or rejoicing with Gospel music. What’s even better? Experiencing a show that has all that and more, Jazz Moves Columbus at BalletMet!

Everyone here is preparing for the opening of BalletMet’s next performance, Jazz Moves Columbus. The show features dance from jazz to ballet with music ranging from jazz to Motown. BalletMet, along with the Jazz Arts Group, celebrates the 200^th birthday of Columbus by honoring the original Jazz Moves (which won the Greater Columbus Arts Council's Artistic Excellence Award) by showcasing the past, present, and future of Columbus life through dance.

The show features pieces choreographed by local and Tony nominated talent. Last week, I had the honor of watching the company rehearse a piece by Dan Knechtges, Tony nominated for his work in Xanadu. Not only has Dan choreographed numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, but his work is also seen in movies and music videos. His piece in Jazz Moves samples all your favorite oldies, such as The Temptations “My Girl”.

A quick look at the other choreographers in Jazz Moves:

-Lynne Taylor Corbett: Lynne was nominated for 2 Tony awards and some of her work can be seen in the original “Footloose” film.

-Randy Duncan: Randy was the three-time winner of Chicago’s prestigious Ruth Page Award for the Outstanding Choreographer of the Year and was nominated for the American Choreography Award for his work in the movie Save the Last Dance, featuring Julia Stiles.

-Stella Kane: Stella was the founding Artistic Director of BalletMet’s JazzMet and was a featured dancer in the national tour of Bob Fosse’s Broadway hit, Dancin’.

-Harrison McEldowney: Harrison has worked with multiple ballet companies and his work was featured in the closing ceremonies of the ’92 Olympics in Barcelona.

-Darrell Moultrie: Darrell is both a choreographer and performer; he starred opposite Toni Braxton on Broadway in Aida and danced in the original Broadway productions of Hairspray, The Color Purple and Billy Elliott.

After a sneak peek of just one of the pieces, I am so excited to see Jazz Moves! The performance opens February 2 and runs through February 12 at the Capitol Theatre. For more information on show times and tickets, visit https://www.balletmet.org/current-performance#1. Hope to see you all for Jazz Moves Columbus :)

-Kelsey

For a sneak peek, check out this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBccc90bLUU&feature=player_embedded