OU'S OKLAHOMA FESTIVAL
BALLET TO PRESENT ACT II,
SWAN LAKE WITH FOUR
OTHER WORKS NOV. 3-12
Courtesy OU Festival Ballet
Photo by Shevaun Williams Photography
OU student Caroline Preskitt, a ballet performance junior from Denver, Colorado,
dances the lead role of Odette in Swan Lake, Act II.
An
evening of grand and diverse ballet will be presented in November by
the School of Dance and University Theatre with this season’s production
of Oklahoma Festival Ballet at the University
of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma
Festival Ballet opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, with additional
performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Nov. 4, 9 and 10, and 3 p.m. Nov. 5
and 12. All performances will be held in the
Elsie C. Brackett Theatre, 563 Elm Ave., on the OU Norman campus. This
production is suitable for all audiences.
“Join us for an exceptional evening of contemporary and classical ballet with
Swan Lake, Act II
as its centerpiece,” said Michael Bearden, OU School of Dance director.
“There is something for everyone on this program
from the enchantment of classical storytelling to the intrigue of
thought provoking abstract works. We know that audiences will be swept
away by our dancers when they see this production.”
In addition, the
production includes
Simpatico,
Harlequinade
Pas de Deux,
and Estancia. To complete the evening,
guest choreographer Trey McIntyre will delight audiences with the premier of his new contemporary ballet,
Opaque, Unfazed as he joins School of Dance faculty choreographers Michael Bearden, Jeremy Lindberg, and professor emeritus Steve Brule in
creating a memorable, moving evening of ballet.
Oklahoma Festival Ballet
répétiteurs
are
Boyko Dossev, Rebecca Herrin,
Mary Margaret Holt and Clara Cravey Stanley,
all members of the OU School of Dance faculty.
Rehearsal Assistants are Carol Anglin, Alexis Leffel and
Barbara Marangon.
Swan Lake Act II is
one of four acts from the beloved dramatic ballet first performed at
the Maryinsky Theater, St. Petersburg, Russia on Feb. 8, 1895. It is one
of the most famous and popular of all classical ballets. Oklahoma
Festival Ballet's
Swan Lake Act II
is choreographed by OU School of Dance faculty after Lev
Ivanov, with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and glistening costumes designed by associate professor Lloyd Cracknell.
Opaque, Unfazed
by internationally acclaimed choreographer, Trey McIntyre, receives its
world premiere
with this production. McIntyre took the inspiration for this abstract
work primarily from the music of Tonstartssbandht, creating a feeling
similar to attempting to see through opaque fabric but being unfazed
when one's curiosity is not satisfied.
Simpatico
was created by Michael Bearden in 2013 and has been performed across the country and around the world since its' premiere.
Simpatico
is a work that explores movement based on the assumption that many of
us deal with conflict in our family, work and social lives.
Although conflict of some form is virtually inevitable for us as
humans, this work seeks to display the capacity in us for desiring and
working towards unity and a sense of simpatico.
Harlequinade
is a charming, light and comic ballet originally choreographed for
Oklahoma Festival Ballet by professor emeritus Steve Brule and restaged
for this season by professor Cravey-Stanley. The ballet's theme of love
between the Italian
Commedia dell'arte characters Harlequin and Columbine is performed as a
Pas de Deux.
Estancia
is a new work choreographed
by associate professor Jeremy Lindberg with stunning Spanish-style
costumes designed by associate professor Lloyd Cracknell. The ballet is
a fusion of classical and contemporary ballet, with Spanish stylings
inspired by Lindberg's background in Flamenco Dance.
It is set to the circa 1941 score of driving rhythms and melodies by
Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera.
The cast for the production includes School of Dance students
Amber Bailey,
Kara Bannister, Olivia Brooks,
Micah Bullard, Catherine Cobb,
Elena Damiani, Aedan Donovan,
Amanda Evans, Sydney Giles,
Kendall Glasgow, Joni Keaton,
Kieran King, Noah Klarck,
Hannah Knorr,
Mia Koshansky,
Hannah Lecomte,
Jessica Liske,
Sarah Mack,
Ruby Mather, Hannah Mayer, Breanna Mitchell,
Robert Montgomery,
Mary Morgan,
Lacey Moss,
Emily Nichols, Julia Payne, Michelle Peterson,
Lauren Peterson,
Laura Pratt,
Caroline Preskitt, Justin Rainey,
Colleen Reed, Abigayle Reiber,
Chiara Ruff, Julie Russel, Alexandra Smith, Demeri Sutula,
Emily Turpin, Joseph Van Harn,
Kate Wolfe, Caroline Young and Nicole Young.
The
design staff includes Uldarico Sarmiento, scenic designer; Lloyd
Cracknell, costume designer; and Carin Brooks, lighting designer.
The production staff consists of Michael Bearden, artistic director; Jeremy Lindberg, associate artistic director;
Brea Clemons and Christopher Sadler,
stage managers; Jeff Baldwin, technical director; Kasey Allee-Foremen, associate producer; and Mary Margaret Holt, producer.
Advance
purchase tickets for Oklahoma Festival Ballet are $25 for adult; $20
for senior adult, OU employee and military; and $10 for student, plus
processing
fee. Tickets at the door are $35 for adult and $15 for student, cash or
check only.
Tickets also may be purchased
online at theatre.ou.edu, by calling (405) 325-4101 or visiting the OU
Fine Arts Box Office in the Catlett Music Center, 500 W. Boyd St.
For accommodations, please call the OU Fine Arts Box Office at (405) 325-4101.
