Including Act III of “Raymonda,” a Hungarian-style piece originally choreographed by Marius Petipa
Brigham Young University’s Theatre Ballet combined with Ballet Showcase will perform classics with an international flair in “Ballet in Concert” Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 23-25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre.
A matinee performance will be shown Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $8. To purchase tickets, call the Fine Arts Ticket Office at (801) 422-4322 or visit performances.byu.edu.
The ballet performance will feature the classical presentation of selections from “Raymonda,” a Hungarian style piece originally choreographed by Marius Petipa in 1898. Set to music by Alexander Glazunov, the ballet enjoyed one of its most inspiring full-length performances with Rudolf Nureyev and Cynthia Gregory and the American Ballet Theatre in 1975.
The premiere of this ballet, restaged for BYU Theatre Ballet by director Jan Dijkwel, will feature lead dancers Erin Hutchings and Matthew Chase. BYU Ballet Showcase and BYU Ballet Theatre will combine to perform this piece.
The international flavor is reflected throughout the program with “Celtic Dreams,” a Celtic-inspired, four-part ballet choreographed by Marsha Russell.
Dancers will premiere the Flamenco ballet “La Pasiòn Embridada,” by Shani Robison, Ballet Showcase director. The Spanish-style ballet will feature high energy definition and precision with dramatic costumes crafted by Marsha Russell with funds from the Mary Lou Fulton grant given to the College of Health and Human Performance.
Robison will also premiere “African Winds,” a piece with music composed of African singing, wind instruments and rhythmic drums.
Seven dancers will perform “Migrant,” which depicts the suffering of women in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl in the 1930s. Choreographed by Caroline Prohosky, the dance uses photographs by Dorothea Lange of women during the great depression as the backdrop for the piece.
“Apart from her wish,” choreographed five years ago by BYU Theatre Ballet director Dijkwel, portrays the journey of life—how people receive support and grow to independence—and celebrates individuality.
This performance will feature the first student piece ever selected to be performed in a ballet concert, “Bump” by Stephanie Haymore, a senior majoring in ballet. She received an Office of Research and Creative Activities grant from BYU to create a musically complex and contemporary piece with fast and lively movements.
For more information, contact Lynne Thompson at (801) 422-1830 or Jan Dijkwel at (801) 422-9185.
Writer: Angela Fischer
