It's ballet tech ohio's first "Gala of International Ballet Stars." The concert will
feature ranking dancers from such noted companies as Russia's Bolshoi
Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre in New York and the National Ballet of
Canada.
National companies touring to middle-market cities like Cincinnati is on the
decline. Occasionally, the Cincinnati Performing Arts Association will bring in
a Dance Theatre of Harlem troupe
The Cincinnati Ballet may treat local audiences to guest stars such as
Broadway dancer Desmond Richardson and Alvin Ailey dancer Linda-Denise
Fisher-Harrell, as it did last season.
So, it's especially impressive that a small local company, with a dance studio
and school located in Foster, Ohio, a speck on the map near Kings Island,
has the moxie to spend $70,000 for the gala.
It's slated for one night only, Saturday (Aug. 10) at the Aronoff Center,
downtown. While soliciting sponsorships to support dancers performing in the
gala, the company basically is dependent on ticket sales to cover costs.
Claudia Rudolf Barrett, artistic director of ballet tech ohio (its official spelling
uses no capital letters), considers the gala a multi-cultural, multi-racial
concert.
It's also a follow-up to Barrett's recommending that the Cincinnati Ballet hire
the Russian Ballet stars Anna Reznik and Alexei Kremnev for the 1997-98
season. The Russian dancers had been attending Barrett's summer dance
seminar in 1997.
"I felt that Anna and Alexei were such an inspiration for the dancers," Barrett
said. Reznik and Kremnev went on to impress Cincinnati Ballet audiences for
four years with their superb dancing.
But the Russian wife and husband team left the company in fall 2001 after a
work schedule dispute with artistic director Victoria Morgan. Kremnev recently
was named associate artistic director of ballet tech ohio.
"By bringing this gala, it's really an inspiration for the entire city," Barrett said.
"The gala will give the public a smorgasbord of the many companies,
choreographers and repertoires that are in the world today.
"This is not about ballet tech ohio. It's much broader. It's about inspiring and
educating the public and to give them an opportunity to see some wonderful
dancers."
Barrett said ballet tech ohio was able to organize the concert "because I had
contacts, Alexei had contacts and Marvel Davis, our president, has done a lot
of the ground work in getting in touch with these people."`
Here is a preview of the dancers on the concert bill:
• Local stars: "Anna and Alexei will be dancing `The Three Preludes' by
(Bolshoi dancer and experi<147,1,7>mental choreographer) Kasyan
Goleizovsky," Barrett said. The non-narrative ballet, a '40s work reworked in
1965 at the Bolshoi, was the first modernist Russian ballet done during the
Stalinist regime, Barrett said. The Stalinists objected to the contemporary
style. Reznik and Kremnev, who performed for the Moscow Festival Ballet before
coming to Cincinnati, also will dance a contemporary ballet, "Fade to Black,"
by Val Caniparoli. Caniparoli choreographed the Cincinnati Ballet's new
"Nutcracker" this season.
• From the American Ballet Theatre: Principal dancer Paloma Herrera and
soloist Guennadi Saveliev in classical pas des deux from "Don Quixote" and
"Diana and Acteon."
• From the National Ballet of Canada: Principal dancers Greta
Hodgkinson and Geon van der Wyst, a dancer from Australia, in a pas de
deux from Kenneth MacMillan's "Manon," with music by Massenet and
William Forsythe's "In the Middle Somewhat Elevated."
• From the New York City Ballet: George Balanchine's one-act 1928 ballet
"Apollo" with NYCB principal dancers Charles Askegard, Jennie Somogyi and
soloist Kathleen Tracey.
And from the American Ballet Theatre, principal Amanda McKerrow will
complete the trio of the muses in "Apollo."
• From the Bolshoi: Anastasya Meskova will perform variations to be
announced. She may possibly dance solos from "La Esmeralda," based on
the mid-19th century ballet by Jules Perot.
• From the Houston Ballet: Principals Lauren Anderson and Dominic Walsh
will dance artistic director Ben Stevenson's "End of Time" and excerpts from
his "Cleopatra." Stevenson, artistic director of the Houston company since
1976, staged a 1987 production of the "Nutcracker" for the Cincinnati Ballet.
Desmond Richardson, now co-artistic director of this new New York-based
company, will dance a work titled "Solo" with music by Prince and
choreography by Dwight Rhoden.
And Donald Williams, a principal dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem
and Complexions, and Christina Johnson, a dancer with Complexions, will
dance in Rhoden's "Ave Maria."
All music for the gala will be recorded.
Gala of International Stars
• Contents: Principals and soloist dancers from national and international
companies in classical and contemporary dances.
• Sponsorships: Financial support sought to defray cost of dancers in gala.
• Performance: 8 p.m. Saturday.
• Theater: Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., downtown. • Reception: Black tie optional reception following the 3concert at the Aronoff Center: $25. Cash bar (513)608-6961.
• Tickets: $35-$55.
• Reservations: (513) 241-7469.
• Presenting company: ballet tech ohio.
• Artistic director: Claudia Rudolf Barrett.
• Associate artistic director: Alexei Kremnev.
• Studio and school: 7623 Old 3C Highway, Foster, Ohio.
• Enrollment: 140 students children and adults.
• Theater: Most company performances at Jarson-Kaplan Theater, Aronoff
Center, 650 Walnut St., downtown. Other sites as announced.
• Subscriptions: 100 for the 2001-2002 season.
• Season: Two concerts are planned for the 2002-2003 season. On Oct. 1,
ballet tech will perform Alexei Kremnev's new ballet ``Dances on the Rocks''
as part of the new 20/20 Start the Arts program encouraging young adults to
attend arts events. Final concert in May, 2003.
• Information: (513) 683-6860.
