Category Archives: Dance

Clinton School and River Market Present A RUSSIAN CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS

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New Year’s Eve Production at ARVEST on Ice in the River Market

The Grand Jete Dance Troupe is made up of children 10-16 years of age from Moscow, Russia. They are known as one of the best youth dance groups in the region and have toured the United States and Europe under the direction of Ekaterina Anseeva and Tatyana Duginova.

The troupe has prepared a special performance for Central Arkansas during the 2012 holiday season! Performances are FREE, but donations are encouraged and will go to support the initiatives of Peacework and partnering orphanages in Moscow. Previous tours have included the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, Russia; Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida; and various venues in Dallas, Texas.

River MarketDowntown Little Rock is where you will find festive holiday fun! Bring your family and friends to enjoy Russian ballet and ice skating on New Year’s Eve.
Monday, December 31, 2012
River Market East Pavilion
4:00pm
(The ice skating rink will be open from 9am – 7pm)

If you are unable to attend the New Year’s Eve production, join us at any of the other performance venues on tour – completely free and open to the public!

Dec. 29 First United Methodist Church – Carlisle 6:00pm
Dec. 30 First United Methodist Church – Benton 6:00pm
Jan. 2 St. James United Methodist Church – Little Rock 6:30pm
Jan. 3 Christ of the Hills UMC – Hot Springs Village 5:30pm
Jan. 4 Highland Valley UMC – Little Rock 6:30pm
Jan. 5 First United Methodist Church – Hot Springs 5:00pm

About Peacework in Russia
Peacework is a nonprofit global service organization that has worked with children’s homes in Russia since 1991, from Blagoveschensk in the far east, to Ulyanovsk, Ekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, Pavlovsk, and Moscow in the west. Peacework works alongside its Russian community partners to improve the living conditions for the children, provide educational and inspirational programs, and offer support for the rocky and difficult transition from the only home they’ve often known as a child into Russian society.

The children and youth in the Grand Jete Dance Troup work with the youth at Orphanages #51, #105, and others in surrounding Russian villages of Noginsk, Istra, and Serviev Posad, sharing their dancing talent and helping to smooth the challenges of growing up in Moscow and its surroundings.

ASO Happy Holidays Concerts

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The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra performs their annual, audience favorite holiday concert this weekend.  The first concert was last night but it repeats tonight, Saturday, December 15 at 8pm and Sunday, December 16 at 3pm. at Robinson Center Music Hall. This is the second concert of the Acxiom Pops Live! Series. This concert is sponsored in part by Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The audience will enjoy traditional Christmas carols, Arkansas stars, and special surprises that are sure to entertain the whole family. Everyone is invited to get cozy with the ASO as we celebrate the most wonderful time of year.

Bring the kids to the Holiday Children’s Fair at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Robinson Center Music Hall main lobby. Touch and play string, woodwind and brass instruments at the Instrument Petting Zoo, visit with Santa and join in on arts and crafts.

Tickets range from $14-$52 and can be purchased online at http://www.ArkansasSymphony.org or over the phone at (501) 666-1761. Thanks to the Entergy Kids Ticket, all kids through 12th grade are free on Sundays with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information, visit http://www.ArkansasSymphony.org.

Under the direction of Maestro Philip Mann, the concert will featured the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra joined by Ballet Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Vesper Choir (under the direction of Dr. Michael Bates), the Ted Ludwig Trio, mezzo-soprano Diane Kesling, the Central Arkansas Children’s Choir (under the direction of Dr. Ryan Fisher), Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra musicians and the Two Jewish Guys (the redoubtable Phil Kaplan and Leslie Singer).

Ballet Arkansas presents THE NUTCRACKER

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One of the sure signs of the Christmas season is the return of The Nutcracker to ballet companies across America.  Ballet Arkansas presents the annual production this weekend on December 7, 8 and 9 at Robinson Center Music Hall.  (School performances are going on throughout the week.)

Celebrate the season with your professional ballet company as we continue a favorite Christmas tradition performing The Nutcracker accompanied by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Geoffrey Robson. Every year this fun field production creates lifelong memories for hundreds of Arkansas families. With gorgeous scenery, enchanting costumes and original choreography, Ballet Arkansas will present The Nutcracker at Robinson Center Music Hall on December 7th – 9th.

The Nutcracker tells the story of Clara and her magical nutcracker doll and their wondrous journey to the Land of Snow and Kingdom of Sweets. This year’s production boasts new choreography from Ballet Mistress, Marla Edwards, new to the company this season, as well as co-director Allison Stodola Wilson. These directors along with choreographers Traci Presley and Jana Beard have taken this much loved holiday favorite to new heights creating an enchanting production that will delight audience members of all ages.

This year’s production will feature the nine professional company members of Ballet Arkansas, comprised of Anna Maris (Arabian/Dew Drop), Sean Porter (Arabian/Russian/Rat King), Lauren McCarty Horak (Spanish/Marzipan), Paul Tillman (Snow King/Russian), Katchiri Tillman (Snow Queen/Marzipan), Amanda Sewell (Doll/Marzipan), Laurel Dix (Chinese), Toby Lewellen (Nutcracker Prince/Russian/Spanish) and Leslie Dodge (Sugar Plum Fairy). In addition to these nine company members, Ballet West Principal Artist and Ballet Arkansas Artistic Advisor, Michael Bearden, will grace the stage, dancing the roll of the Cavalier. Other corps rolls will be danced by Ballet Arkansas II company members Akiko Kyong-McClain, Mysti Kirkpatrick, Rachael Schwartz, Haley Jones, Laura Russell and Elizabeth Wing in addition to 175 other Arkansas students and performers.

The Nutcracker is the perfect yuletide gift, the ideal means of introducing children to the power and beauty of classical dance, and a delightful way for the entire family to ring in the holiday season. Make Ballet Arkansas’ Nutcracker part of your holiday celebration this December! To purchase tickets for the December 7th, 8th or 9th public shows to The Nutcracker, visit www.balletarkansas.org or call 501-666-1761. Tickets range from $20-$45.

Ballet Arkansas performances of The Nutcracker are generously sponsored by: Orthodontic Associates, Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Pleasant Ridge Towne Center, The Dance & More Store, Arkansas Times along with support from the Arkansas Arts Council.

Moscow Ballet NUTCRACKER in LR on November 25

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arabian-new

Karyna Shatkovskaya in Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker

On Sunday, November 25, the special 20th Anniversary production of Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker will be performed at Robinson Center Music Hall.

This production features a spectacular new “Dove of Peace,” where 2 dancers become one stunning bird, inspired by the early works of Stanislov Vlasov, original choreographer and director of Moscow Ballet’s inaugural Great Russian Nutcracker. The production also features a Christmas tree that grows to 7 stories tall; falling snow and Troika-styled sleigh escorted by Russian folk characters Ded Moroz (Father Christmas) and Snegurochka (Snow Maiden); towering hand-made silk puppets; 200 all new, lavish costumes; and 9 hand-painted backdrops, all set to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s complete Nutcracker Suitescore.

For 20 years, Great Russian Nutcracker performances have featured the finest Russian ballerinas and danseurs. From former Bolshoi soloist Stanislov Vlasov and partner Lilia Sabitova (People’s Artist of Russia) in 1993 to the classic Marina Alexandrova and Vitaly Zabelin in 1996; danseur and upstart choreographer Anatolie Emelianov and Honored Artist of Russia Tatiana Predenia in 2002; Varna IBC Gold Medalists Cristina and Alexei Terentiev in 2006; and award winning partners Karyna Shatkovskaya and Vladimir Tkachenko in 2011. Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker celebrates 20 years of soaring holiday spirit!

Tickets can be purchased here.

Fall Dance Harvest at UALR

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UALR’s Dance Program (the only  degree granting dance program in Arkansas) will be presenting Fall Dance Harvest this weekend.  Performances started Thursday evening and continue tonight at 7pm and Sunday at 2:30pm.   Performances will take place in the University Theatre.

Concertmaster Rhythm McCarthy for the show “9 Voices” organized the production and mentored the student choreographers who are senior dance majors in the bachelor of fine arts degree program.

Tickets are $7 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors.For tickets, contact the Theatre Arts and Dance department at 501-569-3456.

 

Earlier in the day on Saturday, UALR will be sponsoring a Fall Dance Festival.  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 Dance Harvest, featuring original works choreographed by UALR dance majors.

The cost for participation is just $5. This includes three (3) master classes, bottled water and light refreshments, and a ticket to the Saturday evening performance of the UALR Dance Harvest concert.

Governor’s Arts Awards

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Governor Mike Beebe and the Arkansas Arts Council will present the Governor’s Arts Awards at a ceremony and luncheon at noon, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, at The Peabody Little Rock.

Sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council, the Governor’s Arts Awards recognize individuals and corporations for their outstanding contributions to the arts in Arkansas. The recipients were nominated by the public and then selected by an independent panel of arts professionals from around the state. Each recipient will receive an original work of art created by glass artists Charles and Michael Riley of Hot Springs, owners of Riley Art Glass Studio in Hot Springs. The following is the list of 2012 recipients. Click HERE to read each recipient’s bio.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Zeek Taylor – Eureka Springs

ARTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Jeff Baskin – North Little Rock

ARTS IN EDUCATION AWARD
Christen Burke Pitts – North Little Rock
Clayton Scott – Fayetteville

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OF THE ARTS AWARD
TRUE Marketing − Jonesboro

FOLKLIFE AWARD
Marty Phillips – Crossett

INDIVIDUAL ARTIST AWARD
John Jeter – Fort Smith 

PATRON AWARD
Drs. Mack and Vern Ann Shotts – Paragould

JUDGES RECOGNITION AWARD
Jim D. Johnson – Little Rock

Ballet Arkansas premieres AMERICAN IMAGES

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Just a few short years ago, Ballet Arkansas pretty much existed to produce the annual production of The Nutcracker.  Now, they are in the position to present an evening of six newly commissioned dance pieces!  Congratulations to all who have made this possible.

Tonight, Ballet Arkansas kicks off the 2012-2013 season with American Images, an evening of six commissioned works each built around the American cultural landscape.  The works are:

Times Torn
A Civil War ballet by Marla Edwards, the ballet’s new Ballet Mistress, herself a former soloist with Ballet Arkansas and a veteran of the Houston Ballet School.
American Dream
Choreography by Stephanie Thibeault, Associate Professor of Dance at UALR.
Pop
Choreography by Michelle Alexander, based on the art and writings of pop culture icon Andy Warhol.
Delta…Push Up Open
Choreography by Little Rock native Leslie Schickel, which premiered in March, 2012.
Spectre
A silent-film era pas de deux choreographed by former Ballet Arkansas guest dancer Edmond Cooper
Nowhere/Now Here 
Choreography by Tong Wang, currently assistant professor at University of California – Irvine Department of Dance. Wang is a former principal dancer at Ballet West in Salt Lake City and has worked with Shanghai Ballet, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Dayton Ballet,
and Colorado Ballet, among many others.

 

The works premiered last night and will continue today at 4:00pm and tomorrow at 2:00pm at Wildwood Park for the Arts.  Also, while at Wildwood, enjoy this weekend’s Harvest Festival.