Swan Lake: April 28 and 29 at the State · PDF filemusic of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Swan...
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his spring, the Ithaca Ballet celebrates its 50th anniversary season with a full-length production of Swan Lake. Considered the most popular and techni- cally demanding of the classical ballets, Swan Lake unfolds over four acts to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Swan Lake will feature guest stars from State Street Ballet Co. in Santa Bar- bara, California: Leila Drake (sister of longtime IB principal and local favorite Nadia Drake) portraying the challeng- ing dual role of Odette-Odile; and her partner, Ryan Camou, playing Prince Siegfried. Johann Studier is featured as the evil Rothbart, who controls all of the Swan Maidens, and Katarina Dvorak is joined by returning Ithaca Ballet alumni Rachel Myers and Trenton Loughlin in the Pas de Trois of Act I. Other featured roles include Allen MacNeill as Sieg- fried’s tutor, Melissa Schmidt as the Queen, and James Potter as the Jester. In addition, Swan Lake has 20 dancers in the corps de ballet in Act IV. When people hear the word “ballet,” the first one that comes to mind for many is Swan Lake. This ballet has long been a favorite repertory work of the major bal- let companies of the world. The Ithaca Ballet gave its premiere performance of Swan Lake in 2008, and it became an instant classic in the dance community. The fascinating history of Swan Lake began in 1877 with a production by the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. With choreography by Wenzel Reisinger, this version was not well-received and was soon dropped. A new Swan Lake was produced in 1894 featuring choreogra- phy by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. It was in this production that ballerina Pierina Legnani introduced the notori- ous 32 fouettes. The irresistible music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky carries the improbable tale of the Swan Maidens, who return to hu- man form at midnight for a few hours. The maidens have been turned into swans by the evil magician Rothbart. Prince Siegfried is urged by his mother, the Queen, to find a bride on his 21st birthday. But he has fallen in love with the beautiful swan queen, Odette. At the ball, he is deceived into believing Rothbart’s daughter—the black swan, Odile—is Odette. He vows his love for her and breaks his promise to love Odette always. Swan Lake: April 28 and 29 at the State Theatre T SPRINg 2012 (continued on page two) Photos: Allen Carstensen
Transcript of Swan Lake: April 28 and 29 at the State · PDF filemusic of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Swan...
his spring, the Ithaca Ballet celebrates its 50th anniversary season with
a full-length production of Swan Lake. Considered the most popular and techni-cally demanding of the classical ballets, Swan Lake unfolds over four acts to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Swan Lake will feature guest stars from State Street Ballet Co. in Santa Bar-bara, California: Leila Drake (sister of longtime IB principal and local favorite Nadia Drake) portraying the challeng-ing dual role of Odette-Odile; and her partner, Ryan Camou, playing Prince Siegfried. Johann Studier is featured as the evil Rothbart, who controls all of the Swan Maidens, and Katarina Dvorak is joined by returning Ithaca Ballet alumni Rachel Myers and Trenton Loughlin in the Pas de Trois of Act I. Other featured roles include Allen MacNeill as Sieg-fried’s tutor, Melissa Schmidt as the Queen, and James Potter as the Jester. In addition, Swan Lake has 20 dancers in
the corps de ballet in Act IV.
When people hear the word “ballet,” the first one that comes to mind for many is Swan Lake. This ballet has long been a favorite repertory work of the major bal-let companies of the world. The Ithaca Ballet gave its premiere performance of Swan Lake in 2008, and it became an instant classic in the dance community. The fascinating history of Swan Lake began in 1877 with a production by
the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. With choreography by Wenzel Reisinger, this version was not well-received and was soon dropped. A new Swan Lake was produced in 1894 featuring choreogra-phy by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. It was in this production that ballerina Pierina Legnani introduced the notori-ous 32 fouettes.
The irresistible music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky carries the improbable tale of the Swan Maidens, who return to hu-man form at midnight for a few hours.The maidens have been turned into swans by the evil magician Rothbart. Prince Siegfried is urged by his mother, the Queen, to find a bride on his 21st birthday. But he has fallen in love with the beautiful swan queen, Odette. At the ball, he is deceived into believing Rothbart’s daughter—the black swan, Odile—is Odette. He vows his love for her and breaks his promise to love Odette always.
Swan Lake: April 28 and 29 at the State Theatre
T
SPRINg 2012
(continued on page two)
Phot
os: A
llen
Car
sten
sen
PAGE TWO ITHACA BALLET NEWS
It was 1961, and so much was happening in the U.S. JFK was president, inspir-ing a generation with the creation of the Peace Corps and challenging the nation to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. Unemployment was at 5.5 percent, and a new car cost $2,850! While the kids were watching The Andy Griffith Show (it’s still in reruns!) and the last episode of I Love Lucy aired (still in reruns, too!), their parents were reading To Kill a Mockingbird and Franny and Zooey. Teens were dreaming of new love, listening to Roy Orbison and Ray Charles,
and dancing the Twist and the Bristol Stomp. Movie classics such as West Side Story and Splendor in the Grass appeared in single theaters—no multiplexes!—all across America.
An important local event that year was the premiere performance of the Ithaca Civic Ballet, now known as the Ithaca Ballet. Alice Reid, our co-founder, danced in that ballet, and though Alice is no longer with us, her legacy lives on. While much from that time is gone, and the world seems a whole lot bigger today,
the Ithaca Ballet is not only alive, but thriving in this, its 50th season.
To celebrate this wonderful achievement, the Ballet is planning a 50th Anniversary Celebration at the State Theatre. On June 2 at 7 p.m., please join us for a special performance showcasing pivotal ballets in our history, danced by both profession-al alumni and current company dancers. A celebratory party will follow onstage at the State, with delicious treats and drinks. Tickets are $20 for adults, and children under 13 are admitted free of charge.
Come see old friends and make new ones. Check our website for more updates and how to purchase tickets in advance. Don’t miss this night that promises to be a memorable evening crowning 50 years of dance in Ithaca!
Come Celebrate our 50th Anniversary!
A major milestone: our 50th anniversary celebration!
JUNE 2, 2012, AT 7 P.M.AT THE HISTORIC STATE THEATRE IN ITHACA
Join us for a dance performance, followed by a gala with delicious eats and drinks. The performance will feature
both professional alumni and current Ithaca Ballet Company dancers, and will tell the history of the
company through some of its pivotal ballets.
visit our website, ithacaballet.org, for details. tickets are available through stateofithaca.com.
This production is staged and directed by Artistic Director Cindy Reid, who uses much of the Petipa and Ivanov choreogra-phy with some additions of her own. The lighting design is by Ithaca Ballet Techni-cal Director Craig Eagleson.
Performances will be at Ithaca’s beautiful historic State Theatre on April 28 and 29, 2012. Tickets can be ordered by calling 607-27-STATE. They are also available at the State Theatre box office at 105 W. State St., two hours before curtain.
This produc-tion of Swan Lake was made possi-ble with grant support from the Com-munity Arts Partnership.
Swan Lake(continued from page one)
SPrING 2012 PAGE THrEE
Scenes From Swan Lake
Dasha Kittredge: “I’ve been living in New York City for the past six years, and I’m actually making the transition over to California this summer. I went to NYU for drama and graduated with honors and an acting award from my Meisner Studio. After doing a lot of indie films and music videos, I’m very excited for my television debut this June on Nurse Jackie opposite Edie Falco (Showtime). It’s a tiny role, but it’s a start, and I was waiting to get a non-indie recognizable credit before going over to Los Angeles to pursue more film and television. I’ve actually been singing and dancing in films a lot recently! State Debate, a musical movie I was a dancer in, has already premiered at the First Run Festival in New York, and we’re hoping it will get into Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, or Tribeca.”
Send us your news! Let us know what you’ve been up to. Email [email protected], and please put “alumni news” in the subject line.
Alumni NewsThe Ithaca Ballet is pleased to announce that we will have limited- edition commemorative T-shirts available in celebration of our 50th anniversary. Pre-shrunk 100% cotton tees are available in pink or black, in youth sizes medium (10/12) or large (14/16), and adult sizes small, medium, large, extra large, and extra-extra large. The price is $15, and pre-ordering ensures a T-shirt in the size and color you want, as we will have limited quantities for sale at Swan Lake and at the 50th anniversary celebration. So order your shirts now and celebrate in style! Orders will not be submitted until payments have been received. Please make sure your name and contact information are clearly written and included on your check, and make checks payable to “Ithaca Ballet.” If you would like to order sweatshirts or sweatpants with our classic Ithaca Bal-let logo, please be looking for an email to follow with a separate order form. Questions may be directed to Helene Finn via email at [email protected]. Send payment by April 8, 2012, to Ithaca Ballet, P.O. Box 4341, Ithaca, NY 14852-4341.
50th Anniversary T-shirts
Want to ensure that the Ithaca Ballet is able to create memorable performances for the next 50 years and beyond?
Please consider a GeneroUs donation to the alice reid endowment FUnd.In partnership with the Community Foundation of Tompkins County, this fund will ensure a permanent, stable
financial foundation for the future of the Ithaca Ballet. Please make your check payable to the Community Foun-dation of Tompkins County and note “Alice Reid Endowment Fund” in the memo line, and mail to Community
Foundation of Tompkins County, 309 N. Aurora St., Ithaca, NY 14850. Your gift is fully tax-deductible.
(all photos by Allen Carstensen)
The Ballet guild of Ithaca will offer its annual Summer Day Camp in dance this year from June 25 until August 3, Monday through Friday. The first session is from June 25 until July 13, and the second session is from July 16 until August 3.
This intensive program is designed for kids 8–18 years old. Along with our talented and distinguished faculty, we include guest instructors for workshops.
Daily activities include: • dance technique classes including ballet, pointe, modern, jazz,
stretch, and character • workshop covering music, mime, stagecraft, anatomy, nutrition,
and more • daily recreational activities including swimming • performance experience
Camp hours are 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Ballet Center of Ithaca, 504-506 N. Plain Street in downtown Ithaca.
A deposit of $100 is due by June 1 to register your child, with the balance to follow by June 15 (or July 6 for second session); balance payments received after that date will be subject to a $50 late fee. Call 257-1967 or visit our website at ithacaballet.org for more information.
Summer Day Camp in Dance
Be sure to visit us on the web atwww. .org!
Ballet Guild of Ithaca, Inc.P.O. Box 4341Ithaca, NY 14852-4341
ADDrESS SErVICE rEQUESTED
NON PrOFIT OrG.U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDITHACA, NY
PErMIT NO. 74
Phot
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Car
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