News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Logan McSwain, communications manager
704.372.0101 x2765
lmcswain@ncdance.org
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With Kennedy Center Appearance!
Charlotte, N.C. - North Carolina Dance Theatre is making Magnificent Moves in its 2009-2010 Season. The first occurs in January 2010, with a Company-sponsored Gala to celebrate the debut of the Knight Theater, followed by the highlight of the Season in March, when NC Dance Theatre makes the Knight Theater its new performance home. Spring ushers in the opening of the Company’s new center for dance in Uptown Charlotte, and, in June, dancers travel to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where NC Dance Theatre will be featured in Ballet Across America. Under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride, this historic season showcases NC Dance Theatre’s magnificent moves and talents in classic family-favorites, signature pieces and contemporary works.
“I was inspired by the 100th anniversary of Ballets Russes and dance impresario Sergei Diaghilev when creating this season,” said President and Artistic Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. “Diaghilev was known for producing grand performances and collaborating with great artists. This season is going to be a grand one, with our move to the Knight Theater and into a new center for dance. In the spirit of Diaghilev, I’ve put together a company of talented dancers, enlisted exceptional choreographers and built a diverse repertoire that I know audiences will enjoy.”
NC Dance Theatre’s move into the new Knight Theater, located at 430 South Tryon Street, adds to the excitement of the season. Part of the Arts & Science Council’s Campaign for Cultural Facilities, the state-of-the-art, 1,150-seat theater with unparalleled sight lines, becomes NC Dance Theatre’s primary performance venue for all productions, excluding Nutcracker, which remains in the Belk Theater.
A Season of Magnificent Moves
The 2009-2010 Season begins in September with Ballet, Ballroom & Bluegrass in the Belk Theater. Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s Shindig returns to Charlotte for the first time in six years. Featuring live bluegrass music from Asheville’s The Greasy Beans, Shindig has received critical acclaim and experienced nationwide success. When NC Dance Theatre performed Shindig in New York in 2004, an article in The New York Times claimed “A lively mix of toe shoes and bluegrass set the audience cheering at the Joyce Theater.” Also on the program is Twyla Tharp’s ballroom-inspired Nine Sinatra Songs, with music by Frank Sinatra and costumes by Oscar de la Renta. Each dancer in Tharp’s work has a distinct personality, which fits well with the trademark diversity of NC Dance Theatre’s dancers. Rounding out the program is Alonzo King’s MAP, called “exquisitely crafted” and “gem-like” by The Charlotte Observer. MAP is a metaphor for the different paths individuals choose in life.
Also in September is the world premiere of Mark Diamond’s Once Upon A Time. This family-friendly ballet begins with a grandfather reading his granddaughter beloved bedtime stories. As the grandfather dozes off, the little girl’s imagination runs wild and her bedtime stories come to life and become intermingled. Once Upon A Time features appearances by classic characters including Little Red Riding Hood, Peter Pan, the Ugly Duckling, and the Tortoise and the Hare, although the classic characters don’t always follow their traditional story lines.
The annual Innovative Works series opens November 5. One of NC Dance Theatre’s signature performances, Innovative Works showcases contemporary choreography in the intimate Booth Playhouse. Uri Sands, former NC Dance Theatre member and current director of Minnesota-based TU Dance, returns to present his Tearing for a Cure, last staged in 2005. Sands says Tearing for a Cure explores the “common idea of having a cause” and is about “our captivation with ribbon campaigns.” From breast cancer awareness to supporting military troops, Sands describes the piece as starting with the idea of “marking ourselves or our cars with a ribbon” and “explores — through movement — a range of engagement, from raising awareness to taking our own action in support of a cause.” In addition to Sands, NC Dance Theatre 2 Program Director Mark Diamond, dancer Sasha Janes and Resident Choreographer Dwight Rhoden are all presenting premieres as part of Innovative Works.
Charlotte’s favorite holiday tradition, Nutcracker, takes the Belk Theater stage for two weekends in December. Called “visually stunning and dramatically pleasing” by Classical Voice of North Carolina, Nutcracker is NC Dance Theatre’s grandest production and is enjoyed by thousands every year. Choreographed by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Nutcracker leads audiences on a journey beginning with a holiday party, where the mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer presents young Clara with a Nutcracker doll, and concludes in the majestic Land of Sweets. NC Dance Theatre’s production boasts a cast of over 100 dancers, including students from the NC Dance Theatre School of Dance and the community.
History is made in March, when Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s Cinderella runs for two-weekends to celebrate the opening of the Knight Theater. One of NC Dance Theatre’s signature productions, this colorful and classic fairytale features new additions, which add to the revelry. With costumes by world-renowned designer A. Christina Giannini and elaborate sets by the famous New York City Ballet set designer Alain Vaes, Bonnefoux’s Cinderella whisks audiences to the fairytale settings of a sumptuous ball at the King’s palace, a lush garden and a quaint cottage. “Cinderella is our most beautiful production. The sets and costumes are wonderful,” said Bonnefoux.
NC Dance Theatre’s 2009-2010 Season concludes with Director’s Choice. Artistic Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux handpicked three ballets for this program based on their significance, artistic excellence and creativity. Bonnefoux chose a premiere by Dwight Rhoden, George Balanchine’s Apollo and Mark Godden’s Constructing Juliet. Choreographed by Balanchine at age 24, Apollo is widely regarded as Balanchine’s first public success. It premiered in 1928 as part of Ballets Russes in Paris. Apollo was Balanchine’s second ballet set to the music of Stravinsky and began his lifelong partnership with the composer. The ballet centers on Apollo, the young god of music, who is visited by three Muses: the Muse of poetry, the Muse of mime and the Muse of dance. “Apollo is one of Balanchine’s masterpieces,” said Bonnefoux. Also on the program, Mark Godden’s Constructing Juliet explores the “ancient grudge” from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and how it is passed from one generation to the next.
NC Dance Theatre performs for a national audience in Washington, D.C., during the Kennedy Center’s Ballet Across America, June 15-20, 2010. The Company will perform Bonnefoux’s Shindig, as one of only nine dance companies invited to take part in Ballet Across America.
Tickets and Subscriptions
A variety of subscriptions to the 2009-2010 Season are currently available at many price levels, beginning at only $46 for three performances.
Subscriptions are available online at ncdance.org, by phone at 704.335.1010 or in person at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Box Office.
Tickets for individual shows are available beginning July 1, 2009, a month earlier than in previous years. Tickets for Nutcracker go on sale May 14, 2009. All evening performances, excluding Nutcracker, are now at 7:30 p.m. Evening performances of Nutcracker remain at 7 p.m. Single tickets are available online at ncdance.org, by phone at 704.372.1000 or in person at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Box Office.
2009-2010 Performance Schedule
Ballet, Ballroom & Bluegrass
Belk Theater
September 17-19, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Once Upon A Time
Belk Theater
September 19-20, 2009, 2 p.m.
Innovative Works
Booth Playhouse
November 5-7 & 12-14, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Nutcracker
Belk Theater
December 11 & 18, 2009, 7 p.m.
December 12, 13, 19 & 20, 2009, 2 & 7 p.m.
Cinderella
Knight Theater
March 4, 5, 11 & 12, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
March 6 & 13, 2010, 2 & 7:30 p.m.
March 7 & 14, 2010, 2 p.m.
Director’s Choice
Knight Theater
May 13-15, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
About North Carolina Dance Theatre
Founded in 1970, North Carolina Dance Theatre is the oldest professional ballet company in North Carolina. NC Dance Theatre has established a national reputation for artistic excellence and is widely regarded as one of America’s premiere mid-size dance companies. Under the artistic direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride, the Company has attracted superb dancers from across the world and built a versatile and diverse repertoire ranging from full-length classical ballets to innovative contemporary works. North Carolina Dance Theatre School of Dance parallels the Company’s excellence.
NC Dance Theatre announced plans in March 2009 to begin construction on a new 34,000 square-foot facility located at 701 North Tryon Street, next to the McColl Center for Visual Art. “Dance Theatre has explored building a new facility for several years. Due to many reasons, including construction costs and land acquisition, we have not been able to build before now,” said Loy McKeithen, past board chair and building committee chair. “Although the economic climate is challenging, current construction costs make it possible for us to build a new facility that accommodates Dance Theatre’s growth. This, coupled with the gifts we received during the years of the capital campaign, including those from Knight Foundation, Arts & Science Council, generous supporters and board members, has allowed everything to fall into place now.” NC Dance Theatre expects to move into its new facility in spring 2010, with a grand opening scheduled for fall 2010.
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Details:
North Carolina Dance Theatre is supported, in part, with operating support by the Arts & Science Council. Dance Theatre is also supported by individuals, corporations, and local and national foundations; the North Carolina Arts Council; ArtsTeach; and the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more, visit ncdance.org.
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