The Asheville Ballet: “Spring into Dance: An Artistic Bouquet”

“Spring Into Dance: An Artistic Bouquet” is a spectacular professional production, featuring a guest composer, of all original choreography by Western North Carolina’s own Ballet Company, The Asheville Ballet directed by Ann Dunn. Five resident choreographers present their exciting new work on May 13-14 at 7:30pm at Diana Wortham Theatre. Tickets range from $12-40 and are available at the box office, 828.257.4530. For more information, please visit www.ashevilleballet.com

“A perfect opportunity for young people to encounter professional classical and contemporary dance in a wonderful collection of artistic visions, from funny to powerful, in a real theatrical experience.” – Dunn

Guest composer Bruce Hemingway, of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, has taught such university subjects as music, digital photography, and topics in computer engineering, especially with regard to applications in the arts. Prior to joining the university he worked in Research and Development including co-founding his own digital audio company, which manufactured audio gear for Hollywood. He has presented at international conferences such as the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC) and the Australian Telecommunications Networks and Applications Conference; has published in his field; has conducted orchestras for symphonies and operas; and has composed for over fifty years. His first collaboration with Ann Dunn began in 1970 when they were both teaching at Indiana University – South Bend.
Ann Dunn’s new piece, “Sinfonia,” is a multi-media collaboration. With an electronic music score by Bruce Hemingway, poetry and choreography by Dunn, and performance by 26 dancers, the work plays with the ancient, tribal, human fascination with the world’s rebirth in Spring. Professor Hemingway will be present to tape the ballet and further expand the project into film.
“Ballet en Blanc et Noir, 1st Movement” was choreographed by Fleming Lomax in 2009 and premiered at the Festival of North Carolina Dance in Winston-Salem, NC. Set to music by Sir Charles Hubert Parry, this piece is a joyful collaboration of classical ballet and classical music.

“Other Stories”, choreographed by Jessica Hodgins to music by Ethel, is loosely based on Lewis Carrol’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. This abstract modern ballet explores the tumultuous and violent, but at times beautifully harmonious, world of the mad.

“Us” is a contemporary pas de deux choreographed and performed by Fleming Lomax and Jacob Walas, set to music by Regina Spektor. This playful yet poignant duet, inspired by the history of their dance partnership and kinship, offers reflection on the human experience.

Lindsey Brewer, artistic director of Lindsey Kelley Dance, is debuting a modern/dance theatre work for The Asheville Ballet’s 2016 Spring Concert. The piece (untitled) is full of unexpected quirkiness and random bursts of get-down-boogie moments. Ten female dancers, ranging in age and life experience, portray “Fembots” who serve up some whimsical pie for the audience.

Rebecca O’Quinn’s piece, “the shadow self”, set to music by massive attack and Helios, asks what is possible when we choose to accept, and integrate into our lives, our darker side; what could we be capable of, as individuals and as a society, if we practiced more self love, self acceptance, and self compassion?

Tricia Renshaw’s work, “Affect”, is inspired by Vivaldi’s popular and beloved The Four Seasons, and links movement to the feelings the music evokes.

“Asheville is so fortunate to have a resident ballet company of this caliber,” says Ann Dunn, Artistic Director. “The community has, essentially, a year-long resident repertoire company. Seasoned ballet fans and novices alike have the opportunity to watch consummate professionals perform a wide variety of roles, from classical to contemporary.”

Asheville Ballet has built a reputation on the belief that dance plays a vital role in the education and culture of the community. As a key component of its Educational Outreach Program, The Asheville Ballet performs its entire production of the holiday classic The Nutcracker for school children every year, brings dance to senior residences and inner-city and rural schools, and performs a free outdoor concert every Fall in downtown Asheville.

Asheville Ballet is North Carolina’s oldest non-profit ballet company. First incorporated in 1963, the company has created and presented work in Asheville every year since. In an average season, formal and educational outreach programming affects a culturally diverse audience of approximately 23,000 people. An active advisory panel and a strong, well-organized volunteer base assist a committed board.

Asheville Ballet has produced residencies by historical choreographers (Anna Sokolow, Douglas Dunn, Lori Bellilove), hosted master classes and workshops by international dance stars (Sean Curran, Mark Dendy, Chuck Davis, David Dorfman), produced the three-week Fall Into Dance festival, and commissioned both classical and contemporary choreography.

Asheville Ballet productions reflect the region’s varied interests. In addition to an ongoing relationship The Biltmore Estate, work has been produced for fund-raisers (The Health Adventure, The Arts Council), civic events (Martin Luther King Day, Bele Chere Festival), and commercial events (The Miss Asheville pageant, opening for the Pointer Sisters).

Since its inception, Asheville Ballet has produced both cutting edge interdisciplinary work and full-length major work. The company has collaborated with other local art agencies (the Asheville Symphony, Asheville Bravo Concerts, Asheville Community Theater, Asheville Lyric Opera), and has worked live with the area’s major musical, poetic, and visual artists.

In addition to promoting new work and a professional ballet company for our region, Asheville Ballet offers an annual lecture series on dance appreciation, in co-ordination with other local dance presenters, and generates educational articles on dance history and appreciation for national and local publications. The company has built a full library of dance-related materials.

Asheville Ballet’s commitment to supporting its professional adult members is evidenced by its challenging and stimulating performances, choreography, and teaching opportunities. The company also continues to nurture the careers of advanced youth members. Dancers who have worked with the ballet have performed with Alvin Ailey, Kirov Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Fort Worth Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Colorado Ballet, Hartford Ballet, Boston Ballet, Geneva Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. Company dancers have appeared in Broadway musicals, Hollywood films, and have won titles all the way up to Miss and Mrs. America. They have also been accepted at the schools of the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Juilliard, Boston Ballet, Jose Limon, Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Robert Joffrey, and The Dance Conservatory at Purchase.

Asheville Ballet has created and found funding for scholarships for advanced dancers to pursue professional work in New York and Europe, and for underprivileged children to study dance in Asheville. The company has worked with Project Steam, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Helpmate, Elida Home, Presbyterian Home for Children, and local churches to locate and encourage new dancers and dance-appreciators. The Tix for Tots program makes hundreds of tickets available to introduce young people to the wonders of dance.

For more information call Ann Dunn at (828) 215-3728 or The Asheville Academy of Ballet at (828) 252-4761.
Asheville Ballet
828.252.4761
www.ashevilleballet.com