The Ballet Program Shows Strength, Versatility in Utah Ballet
Utah Ballet opens Thursday October 31st at the Marriott Center for Dance. This is the first of a two part concert series showcasing the strength and versatility of the U’s ballet program, featuring an eclectic mix of ballet classics and fresh choreographic works.
“The language of ballet has been evolving throughout generations and this is reflected in the repertories of countless ballet companies around the world,” says concert director Pablo Piantino. “As faculty members of the School of Dance, we have a responsibility to introduce and challenge our students, and our community, to these trends and changes in the field.”
Utah Ballet’s program includes the second act of Giselle, choreographed in 1842 by Jean Corelli and Jules Perrot and masterfully restaged by Assistant Professor Jay Kim. This ghostly romantic tale of deceit, forgiveness and the triumph of love will surely be an audience favorite. On the other end of the spectrum, as an African American artist committed to dance for social justice, Charles O. Anderson offers (Re)current Unrest We the People, a work that gives testimony through contemporary-dance expressions of the African Diaspora, performed by students from both the Ballet and Modern programs.
Alejandro Cerrudo is a choreographer sought after all over the world, and his piece Second to Last has been set on the students by School of Dance Assistant Professor Pablo Piantio. “It is truly a treat for me as a re-stager to be able to set Second to Last on our students, a work Alejandro choreographed for Ballet Arizona several years ago,” says Piantino. “When I asked him what the work was about he said, ‘…relationships perhaps, I’m not sure. I think the dance should speak for itself.’
The final work of the program is Carmina Terra, choreographed by Susan Jaffe, one of America’s greatest ballerinas. Declared by the New York Times as “America’s Quintessential American Ballerina” Jaffe was a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre from 1980-2002. Jaffe presents a challenging, yet fulfilling ballet that will further showcase our dancers’ ability to perform at the highest levels.
“The inspiration for Carmina Terra (Earth Songs) is inspired by the natural spirals in nature. You see these spirals in seashells, the way water spirals going down a drain, and the spinning spiral of the galaxy. These types of spirals twist and turn within the choreography, and coupled with the transcendent contemporary music, creates an otherworldly environment of rhythm, detail, and kinetic force.”
Utah Ballet Runs October 31 – November 7 at the Marriott Center for Dance
Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.utah.edu