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Richmond Ballet's New Works Festival takes mission to the next level
2/29/2008
RICHMOND BALLET
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2008
Media Contact:
Aaron Sutten
Director of Marketing and Communications
Richmond Ballet
(804) 344-0906 x244
asutten@richmondballet.com
Richmond Ballet’s New Works Festival takes mission to the next level
RICHMOND
– In 1984, Richmond Ballet established the first major professional
dance company in Virginia. The fledgling company and its artistic
director, Stoner Winslett, adopted an ambitious mission: “to awaken and
uplift the human spirit, both for audiences and dancers.”
That mission included promoting, preserving and continuing the
evolution of the art form of ballet by keeping meaningful works of
dance alive and bringing new works to the stage. This April, Winslett
will lead the Ballet as it takes the element of contributing new works
to the next level with its inaugural New Works Festival.
“A cornerstone of Richmond Ballet’s mission is its ongoing commitment
to produce and foster new works,” Winslett said. “Through the New
Works Festival, Richmond Ballet continues its commitment to presenting
a wide range of works, by both experienced and promising
choreographers. The choreographers featured in the festival hail from
both ballet and modern dance backgrounds and include seasoned veterans
as well as dance artists who are just beginning their careers.”
The New Works Festival marks yet another milestone in Winslett’s
history with Richmond Ballet, which will celebrate 25 years as a
professional company next season. As governor, L. Douglas Wilder named
Richmond Ballet “The State Ballet of Virginia.” Then, in 2000, the
company moved into its Canal Street building. The new facility
presented the opportunity to produce new ballets at a reasonable cost;
thus, the increasingly popular Studio Series, now in its sixth year,
was born.
However, bringing two, three or even four new works to Richmond
Ballet’s Studio Theatre each year wasn’t enough, according to Winslett.
With a performance venue under the Ballet’s own roof and the
commissioning of many individual new works under its belt, Richmond
Ballet welcomed a new challenge. It’s now taking on seven
choreographers with six new pieces and scheduling nine performances
with varying programs featuring the work of different combinations of
artists.
“In this workshop setting, the participating choreographers will be
given the opportunity practice their craft and have their works
performed by a professional ballet company,” Winslett said. “Producing
these new works will not only keep the art form alive and evolving, but
will also provide a legacy for the future of dance.”
Audiences will have an opportunity to see these works as they solidify,
and their response will become part of the raw creative process. Local
audiences will find it both familiar and exotic, since the new ballets
will be created especially for Richmond Ballet and will utilize and
exhibit the unique talents of the hometown company.
“In order to provide Richmond dance enthusiasts with a truly exciting
array of works, the choreographers were chosen from locations across
the globe as well as from our own backyard,” Winslett said.
Among the eclectic list of choreographers, Eloy Barragán, born in
Mexico City, has successfully launched an international career,
creating dance in places such as Puerto Rico and Beijing. Ukrainian
Viktor Plotnikov formerly performed as a principal dancer with Boston
Ballet and now showcases his work in the United States and abroad.
Dancer Gina Patterson continues to perform with Ballet Austin in
Texas, but she has also won the prestigious Choo-San Goh award for her
choreography.
A bit closer to home, Todd Rosenlieb has established a dance company,
Todd Rosenlieb Dance, based in Norfolk, Va., after dancing as a member
the Erick Hawkins Dance Company and bringing his choreography to
various festivals and universities. Virginia Commonwealth University
professors Patti D’Beck, a Broadway veteran, and David Leong, a
prolific movement coach, have both contributed to dance and theater
education in many ways and will work as a team for the New Works
Festival.
Finally, accomplished choreographer Malcolm Burn, Richmond Ballet’s
beloved artistic associate and ballet master, will create a piece for
three men and one woman that will no doubt illustrate his consistency
as an irreplaceable asset to the Ballet.
Another step closer to fully realizing the vision of its founders,
Richmond Ballet will give Richmond another first with its New Works
Festival. Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at
804-262-8003 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
Richmond Ballet's inaugural New Works Festival is made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art. Additional support provided by U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, as well as the Richmond Times-Dispatch and community idea stations.
Fast Facts:
Who? Richmond Ballet, Stoner Winslett, Artistic Director. www.richmondballet.com
What? New Works Festival
Choreography by Eloy Barragán, Malcolm Burn, Patti D’Beck, David Leong,
Gina Patterson, Viktor Plotnikov and Todd Rosenlieb.
The New Works Festival program will vary from performance to performance.
There
will be two programs: A and B. Tuesday’s Choreographer’s Club will
offer the opportunity to view all six pieces in one program.
Click here to view program schedule.
When? April 1 - 3 at 6:30 p.m.
April 4 - 5 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
April 6 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The New Works Festival program will vary for the scheduled performances.
Where? The Richmond Ballet Studio Theatre at 407 East Canal Street,
Richmond, VA 23219.
How much? Tickets are $28; seniors $24, students $18, children $15. Call Ticketmaster at (804) 262-8003 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
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Richmond
Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, is dedicated to the education,
promotion, preservation and continuing evolution of the art form of
ballet. Richmond Ballet strives to keep meaningful works of dance
alive and to produce and foster new works that remain true to these
values. Now in its 24th professional season, Richmond Ballet's mission
is to "awaken and uplift the human spirit, both for audiences and
dancers."
***
For further press information contact:
Aaron Sutten, Director of Marketing and Communications
EMAIL: asutten@richmondballet.com; CALL: (804) 344-0906 x244