News Release
For Immediate Release
January 18, 2008
Contact: Logan McSwain, communications manager
704.372.0101 x2765
lmcswain@ncdance.org
Photographs: Available at http://www.ncdance.org/ImageLibrary.asp. Please credit photographer. Additional photographs available upon request.
There are many interesting interview opportunities available at NC Dance Theatre in association with Rhoden, Bolero & Balanchine. If interested, please contact Logan McSwain.
North Carolina Dance Theatre presents
Rhoden, Bolero & Balanchine
February 28- March 1 & March 6-8
Charlotte, N.C. – Rhoden, Bolero and Balanchine, set in the intimate Booth Playhouse, features a world premiere, a Charlotte premiere and excerpts from a George Balanchine work originally starring North Carolina Dance Theatre’s own Patricia McBride.
Rhoden
Dwight Rhoden, resident choreographer for NC Dance Theatre and co-director and founder of COMPLEXIONS Contemporary Ballet in New York City, presents a world premiere created for NC Dance Theatre. Hailed by The New York Times as “One of the most sought out choreographers of the day,” Rhoden joined NC Dance Theatre as resident choreographer in 2006. This season he has presented three premieres to Charlotte audiences: Artifice, Choke and Ave Maria.
Bolero
The program’s Bolero is a Charlotte premiere by Mark Diamond set to Ravel’s “Bolero.” With choreography inspired by Spanish and contemporary movements, Bolero features 14 performers, seven men and seven women. Bolero begins with male dancers lying around in “siesta,” or napping. As this ballet unfolds, the women dance with a growing intensity that entices the men to their feet. Diamond said the music inspired him to create this piece.
In 2006, NC Dance Theatre Artistic Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux described Bolero in The Chautauqua Daily saying, “It’s very steamy and sensuous, with a little bit of humor.”
Diamond is program director of NC Dance Theatre 2, a group of six young professional artists who offer educational presentations and appear in performances with the Company. He has choreographed over 20 ballets for NC Dance Theatre and serves as associate artistic director and resident choreographer for Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux at the Chautauqua Institute Summer Season. Bolero was first performed in the summer of 2006 by the Chautauqua Ballet Company.
Balanchine
When George Balanchine created Who Cares? on New York City Ballet, front and center was NC Dance Theatre's own Associate Artistic Director and former New York City Ballet Principal Patricia McBride. Balanchine is considered one of the 20th century's foremost choreographers and founders of American ballet. Who Cares? premiered in 1970, the same year Dance Theatre was founded.
In Patricia McBride’s official farewell performance for the New York City Ballet, she along with Robert La Fosse performed ''The Man I Love'' duet from Who Cares?. Anna Kisselgoff wrote about the 1989 performance in The New York Times. “Miss McBride and Mr. La Fosse deservedly brought the house down in this vision of big city romance: it was one of Miss McBride's sublime performances, full of emotion and typical rapport with a partner,” wrote Kisselgoff.
McBride is restaging excerpts from Who Cares? for NC Dance Theatre. This work was performed on tour this past fall as part of the American Masterpieces program with the NC Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts. Who Cares? features four artists and showcases the dancers' technical brilliance and playful exuberance. “Each dancer brings their personality to Who Cares?,” said McBride.
In 1937, songwriter George Gershwin asked Balanchine to come to Hollywood to work on the score of the Goldwyn Follies. While working on the music Gershwin, 38, died of a brain tumor. Thirty-three years after Gershwin’s death, Balanchine choreographed Who Cares? to the tune of Gershwin songs written between 1924 and 1931. Featured songs include “I Got Rhythm,” “The Man I Love,” “Embraceable You” and “My One and Only.” Balanchine used the songs to evoke energy in Who Cares? that is both broadly American and distinctly characteristic of Manhattan.
Rhoden, Bolero and Balanchine Details
Dates: Thursday, February 28, at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 29, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 1, at 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 7, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 8, at 8 p.m.
Location: Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, N.C.
Tickets: Students $10; General $27-$69; Children $13.50-$34.50
Ticket Purchasing Details:
Online: ncdance.org
By phone: 704.372.1000
In person:
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Box Office, Founders Hall
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Details:
North Carolina Dance Theatre has established itself as one of America’s premier dance companies. Led by internationally acclaimed President and Artistic Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, NC Dance Theatre is based on strong dancers, high energy and a versatile repertoire that ranges from classical ballet to bold contemporary works. NC Dance Theatre School of Dance parallels the professional company’s tradition of excellence.
North Carolina Dance Theatre is supported by individuals, the Arts & Science Council-Charlotte/Mecklenburg, Inc., corporations, local and national foundations, the North Carolina Arts Council, ArtsTeach and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Rhoden, Bolero and Balanchine is presented by NCR and Teradata
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