Category Archives: Dance

Purple Moon Dance Project performs in gallery of Arkansas Arts Center

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purple-moonThe Arkansas Arts Center presents a one-of-a-kind experience today at 2pm in the Townsend Wolfe Gallery which is currently displaying the exhibit Wendy Maruyama: Executive Order 9066.

In a special collaboration, emerging within the gallery installation, Purple Moon Dance Project and Artistic Director Jill Togawa will present When Dreams Are Interrupted, a riveting site-specific performance that uncovers the profound imprint left on a neighborhood by the forced removal and mass evacuation of Japanese American communities in 1942.

Dancers Jill Togawa, Ruth Ichinaga and Sharon Sato will explore and infuse with the “Tag Project” to draw out the stories and memories amassed by artist Wendy Maruyama and to highlight local history and stories.

This production captures the painful experiences of hundreds of thousands of Americans of Japanese ancestry forced into concentration camps during World War II through a poignant and stunning combination of original choreography, music, visual art and poetry. It is through artistic and historically authentic expressions such as these that we remember, pay tribute to and honor those who suffered this unspeakable injustice, in hopes that we may prevent such a dark episode in America’s history from ever happening again.

UALR Dance presents “Body Works” April 19-21

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20130418-21-UALR-body-works-800x1236UALR’s Department of Theatre Arts and Dance will present “Body Works,” the Spring Dance Concert, at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 19 through Saturday, April 21, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22, in University Theatre in the UALR Center for Performing Arts.

Tickets are $7 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. “Body Works” is an eclectic dance concert that will present works based in the human experience and the human body. An array of different choreographic ideas and styles will be showcased.

On Saturday, April 20, UALR will present its Spring Dance Workshop for dance students.  Registration is required.  This year’s festival gives dancers from across the region the opportunity to network and dance side-by-side with other dancers as they participate in MASTER CLASSES taught by UALR dance faculty.

After a full afternoon of classes in ballet, modern, and jazz, participants will enjoy an evening performance of UALR Body Works, featuring original works choreographed by senior UALR dance majors.

The cost for participation is just $10 at the door (as space allows). This includes three (3) master classes and one ticket to the Saturday evening performance of the UALR Dance concert.

UALR dance faculty include Stephanie Thibeault (head of dance for the department), Rhythm McCarthy and Stephen Stone.

Ballet Arkansas Springs in to Motion

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SpringIntoMotionWeb2World premiere choreography as well as classic ballet performed by Ballet Arkansas’ Professional Company is coming to the stage at The Arkansas Repertory Theater.

Ballet Arkansas’ new concert, Spring into Motion, will run from April 5-7, 2013 at The Rep. Directed by former Ballet Arkansas dancer Michael Bearden – currently a principal dancer at Ballet West in Salt Lake City – Spring into Motion will not only present dances by national choreographers, but also showcase the immense physical talents of Ballet Arkansas’ Professional Company.

“This show brings Arkansas audiences high-quality choreographers who are currently creating works on ballet companies throughout the country,” Bearden said. In addition to classics such as Don Quixote and Black Swan, Spring into Motion boasts two newly commissioned works by nationally known choreographers Darrell Grand Moultrie and Peter Zweifel, as well as a contemporary work titled Mobile, which has recently delighted audiences of Joffrey Ballet Co., San Francisco Ballet and Kansas City Ballet.

Spring into Motion marks an important step in the evolution of Ballet Arkansas. For the first time, the company will perform at Arkansas Repertory Theatre in downtown Little Rock.   This production will be the first collaboration between Ballet Arkansas and The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and “this collaboration adds a new dimension to what arts patrons can enjoy on The Rep stage,” said Bob Hupp, producing artistic director at Arkansas Rep.

Tickets are available through The Rep box office at (501) 378-0405 or online at http://www.balletarkansas.org.  Tickets are $35 for Orchestra and First Mezzanine seating and $30 for Second Mezzanine seating. Spring into Motion will open Friday, April 5, 2013 with an evening performance starting at 7:30 p.m. Other show times include an evening performance on Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee on Sunday, April 7 at 2:00 p.m. Student Matinees for Spring into Motion at The Rep are currently scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on April 3, 4, and 5 for statewide student groups.

Spring into Motion will travel to the University of Central Arkansas’ Reynolds Center for a student matinee and an evening performance on Thursday, April 18. Show times include 1:00 p.m. for the student matinee and 7:30 p.m. for the evening performance. To purchase tickets for the evening performance, visit http://uca.edu.ticketforce.com/. All student matinee program reservations can be made by calling (501) 223-5150 or emailing erin@balletarkansas.org for reservation information.

There is still time to ENVISION Little Rock

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envisinolrIn honor of the 100 year anniversary of John Nolan’s 1913 document Report on a Park System for Little Rock, THE 2013 ENVISION Competition seeks to challenge design professionals and the public to generate imaginative ideas about a new gateway into the City.

“I’m so excited about this project, I’ve been dreaming about it for 25 years,” said Keep Little Rock Beautiful Commissioner Bob Callans. “The partnership we’ve formed with the City of Little Rock and studio MAIN is making this historically significant event possible.”

The competition site lies at the eastern terminus and intersection of Capitol Avenue and I-30 in Ward 1.  Nolan’s plan envisioned Capitol Avenue as a ceremonial boulevard and this site as an iconic gateway to the City with the capitol building forming the western terminus.

“Right now Capitol Avenue ends on I-30 and it just kind of falls apart in terms of any design significance,” said studio MAIN spokesman James Meyer. “The inherent question is how do we build a structure that forms a gateway that makes it important for Little Rock residents and all the people who drive through the City on I-30.”

A jury panel will award a $1500.00 prize to the winners in the Professional, Public and Student categories.  Also, the public will vote for Best Iconic Design, Best Thorough Plan and an anything goes category called Wildcard. These winners will each receive $250.00 in prize money. ENVISION ideas competition is open to all students, design professionals, artists and anyone with a strong affinity for the future of Little Rock’s urban agenda.

“I’m excited to see what’s going to happen with the ideas and having been a part of an exercise of this with the Broadway Bridge, I’m particularly pleased to see these partners coming up with some competition and money that people can win by virtue of being selected,” said Mayor Mark Stodola. “This is a great opportunity to stimulate a lot of different ideas. Participants will have a nice window of time to think about this and look at what can be created.”

Participants can go to http://envisioinlittlerock2013.tumblr.com to register.

Ballet Arkansas Master Class Tomorrow

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FBLOGOBallet Arkansas presents the fourth in a series of open master classes tomorrow.  Guest artist Darrell Grand Moultrie is will be teaching a class on Saturday, February 2, from 10:30 to noon at the UALR Dance Studios.

Mr. Moultrie is choreographing a new work for Ballet Arkansas’ spring concert, Spring into Motion, which premieres at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre April 5-7, 2013.

The class fees are: $25 to participate, $10 for UALR students (with ID) and $15 to observe.  Reservations are required. Space is limited. Reserve your spot now by emailing info@balletarkansas.org

DarrellHS-bioDarrell Grand Moultrie has quickly emerged as one of America’s most sought after choreographers and master teachers. Not one to be pigeonholed into any particular genre, Moultrie has carved out an impressive career that seamlessly weaves his distinctive and highly praised ballet and modern dance choreography, to on-stage Broadway performer (most recently seen in Billy Elliot), and to television work where he has choreographed national commercials for Mastercard, Mod’s hair products, Schick Quattro 4razor, and has worked on the Dave Chappelle Show.

His work is often marked by sharp contrasts and bold patterns with an eye for form, a strong theatrical sensibility, and a knack for showcasing the great athleticism of his dancers.

A proud recipient of the 2007 Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship Award, Darrell’s work has been performed by Ailey 2, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Colorado Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, The Juilliard School, BalletMet Columbus, Milwaukee Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Rasta Thomas and his Bad Boys of Dance, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Tulsa Ballet, and Ballet X. In 2010 he participated in Sacramento Ballet’s Capital Choreography Competition where his work “Moved” won both the judges and the audience awards.

Ballet Arkansas: Open Master Class with Peter Zweifel

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FBLOGO 2Former Texas Ballet Theater artist, Peter Zweifel, will teach a master class for dancers in the Ballet Arkansas studio at Shuffles & Ballet II, 1521 Merrill Drive, in Little Rock on Sunday, January 13.  The class begins at 3 pm and will conclude at 5 pm.
This class is the third in a series of Master Classes to be taught by Ballet Arkansas’ guest choreographers and guest dancers throughout the 2012-2013 Season.  Mr. Zweifel is choreographing a new work for Ballet Arkansas’ spring concert, Spring into Motion, which premieres at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre April 5-7, 2013.
It will take place at the Ballet Arkansas Studio at Shuffles & Ballet II (1521 Merrill Drive).  Please arrive early to register.  The class fee is $25 and the observer fee is $15.  Both participants and observer numbers are limited; advance reservations are required. Email info@balletarkansas.org to reserve your spot. Female dancers should bring pointe shoes. 

PETEROriginally from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Peter Zweifel began his ballet training at the Jean Wolfmeyer School of Dance. After continuing his studies at the Virginia School of the Arts and Houston Ballet Academy, Mr. Zweifel joined Texas Ballet Theater where he danced for eight seasons under artistic director Ben Stevenson.

While at Texas Ballet Theater, Mr. Zweifel enjoyed dancing principal roles in Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Dracula, Cleopatra, Giselle, Mozart’s Requiem, Endangered Species, and Four Last Songs. He also performed principal roles in Val Caniparoli’s Lamborena and Dominic Walsh’s Flames of Eros, as well as a soloist role in George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations. In 2011, he was awarded the Ben Stevenson Award for Excellence.

Mr. Zweifel first began choreographing as a student at the Virginia School of the Arts and has since choreographed for various national and international ballet schools. He has multiple ballets in Texas Ballet Theater’s repertoire including “Absence,” “Sweet and Tangy,” “Glimpse,” “Love Always Remains,” and “The Finding.”

In December of 2010, he was named by Dallas Modern Luxury Magazine as one of the top ten artists to watch, and in 2006 he received a New York Choreographic Institute Fellowship Initiative Grant. In the summer of 2012, Mr. Zweifel moved to New York City to attend Parsons The New School for Design.

Martha Miller new director at Department of Arkansas Heritage

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MARTHA MILLER: New Heritage leader.Last week, Governor Mike Beebe announced that Martha Miller would be the new Director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.  She succeeds Cathie Matthews, who retired at the end of 2012 after serving for 15 years.

In making the announcement the governor noted, “Martha is a life-long Arkansan who has strong experience within the department and with state government. Promoting her from her position as deputy director was an easy and sensible decision in light of Cathie Matthews’ retirement.

Miller, 60, previously served as Deputy Director for the Department of Arkansas Heritage Museums. Formerly a self-employed attorney and lobbyist, she has served on the boards of Lyon College (her alma mater), the Little Rock Interfaith Hospitality Network and Audubon Arkansas.

The Department of Arkansas Heritage’s mission is to identify Arkansas’ heritage and enhance the quality of life by the discovery, preservation, and presentation of the state’s cultural, historic and natural resources. The agency oversees the Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Delta Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Old State House Museum.