CALENDAR:

BLAC FEATURES CARL V. MOORE TRIO,

OKC BALLET PRESENTS MASTERS AND MODERNS

CARL V. MOORE TRIO FEATURED IN SOUL FOOD DINNER THEATER 

The Carl V. Moore Trio will be presented in the upcoming Soul Food Dinner Theater on Saturday,

February 26^th at the Petroleum Club, 34^th floor, 100 N. Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City.  An all you can eat soul food buffet begins at 7:00 p.m. and the show starts at 8:00 p.m.

The Trio consists of bassist, Mike McKinney, an Oklahoma native who has toured and recorded with greats like the Jacksons, Ray Charles and Ronnie Laws.  McKinney was scheduled to play with Michael Jackson during his world tour before his untimely death.  He is the son of the well-known late June McKinney and her husband Temple McKinney.  New York drummer Quentin Hicks, an acclaimed producer of such hits as “Let the Music Play,” will thrill audiences as he adds his drumming skills to the trio.  Pianist and composer Carl V. Moore’s credits include recording with Reverend James Cleveland on the Grammy nominated, “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired,” and performing backup vocals for Janet Jackson, Paul Jackson Sr., Chuck Berry and the band Rufus. “The Carl V. Moore Trio is set to release its first single on GJN Records this year and will tour their electrifying performances in cities across the country!” wrote Anita Arnold, executive director of BLAC, Inc. in her press release.

Tickets are on sale now for $55 and may be purchased at Capitol Square Station, Charlie’s Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Store, Hopkins Haircare, KM66, and Learning Tree Toys and Books, or may be purchased through BLAC, Inc. using VISA, MasterCard, check or cash.  For more information, call BLAC, Inc. at

(405)524-3800.

This concert is funded in part by the Ad Astra Foundation and the Oklahoma Arts Council.

 From the press release

OKLAHOMA CITY BALLET PRESENTS EVOLUTION OF BALLET FROM THE ‘60’s TO CONTEMPORARY MASTERS & MODERNS

Oklahoma City Ballet’s Masters and Moderns will feature four different ballets by four different choreographers at 8 p.m., Saturday, February 12, and 2 p.m. Sunday, February 13 at the Civic Center Music Hall.  A choreographer’s lecture on Saturday night starts at 7 p.m. with artistic director and choreographer Robert Mills, choreographer Jessica Lang, and Maia Wilkins from the Arpino Trust.  A “Kids Kamp,” where children can try on costumes and learn basic dance movements prior to the matinee, is at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Oklahoma City Ballet will present two master works from two of the 20th century’s most influential choreographers, and two new world premiere’s from two talented artists who are making names for themselves in 21st century dance.   This is an  opportunity for Oklahoma audiences to experience ballet and its current evolution.

George Balanchine’s classic ballet Valse Fantaisie was first created in 1967 on the New York City Ballet and is a whirl of perpetual motion.  This is the first time the Oklahoma City Ballet has performed a piece by Balanchine since 1993.  Audiences will be treated to a beautiful but technically demanding ballet, with fast, light music composed by Mikhail Glinka.

Created in 1981 on the Joffrey Ballet, Gerald Arpino’s Light Rain is a slick and energetic ensemble work capturing a youthful and exuberant spirit in contemporary movement.  Mills chose it for the company because it highlights youth and energy, which meshes so perfectly with the talent of the current company of dancers.  The music is composed by Doug Adamz and Russ Gauthier. The Oklahoma City Ballet will be the first company to dance Light Rain outside of the Joffrey Ballet.

Jessica Lang is one of ballets’ most sought after choreographers, having created work for the American Ballet Theater and Pennsylvania Ballet among many others.  Lang will create a world premiere on the dancers of Oklahoma City Ballet for this program.

 “Lang will be one the 21st centuries’ most influential dance artists.” Chicagostagereview.com

 “Lang has established a reputation for concocting ingenious choreographic interactions between dancing bodies.” Kansas City Star. 

“The evening's most breathtaking work” – Chicago Sun Times

A new work from Artistic Director Robert Mills using the music of Philip Glass finishes out this exciting evening of classic and modern repertory.

From the press release