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Dayton Ballet

Dayton Ballet and DCDC Unite for a Historic Night of Funk and Dance

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Something unprecedented is about to go down at the Victoria Theatre. For the first time, Dayton’s two powerhouse dance companies, Dayton Ballet and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, are sharing the same stage for Rhythm of the City, a celebration of the funk music born right here in the Gem City.

Running April 10th through 12th, the production brings together choreographers Alia Kache, Gary W. Jeter II, and Brandon Ragland, who have each crafted new works set to the sounds of Dayton funk legends like Ohio Players, Zapp, Heatwave, Lakeside, Faze-O, and Shirley Murdock. The evening also features a world premiere composition by LaFrae Sci.

This isn’t a concert, and it isn’t a traditional ballet, it’s something entirely new. Dancers from both companies will perform together, translating Dayton’s musical DNA into movement. And between every act, Deron Bell & the Time To Groove House Band will be right there on stage keeping the funk live and loud.

The collaboration is a landmark moment for both organizations. DCDC, founded in 1968, and Dayton Ballet, one of the oldest ballet companies in the country, have operated in the same city for decades but have never come together on stage quite like this. Rhythm of the City is part of DCDC’s 57th season, themed “Dancing in Our Light,” and it feels like the kind of event that only Dayton could produce — a city where funk was invented now watching its two greatest dance institutions honor that legacy side by side.

HOW TO GO?

Performances are Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 PM, with a Sunday, April 12 matinee at 2:30 PM. Tickets are available through Dayton Live.

 

Dayton Ballet presents Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty

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Join the Dayton Ballet for an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages, THE SLEEPING BEAUTY unfolds like a beautiful dream – where good triumphs over evil, love breaks a curse, and music and dancing transport you to a world of fantasy. You’ve seen the movie, but the ballet is an immersive experience for the senses boasting lush scenery, gorgeous recognizable music, and dazzling dancing.

How to Go?
Friday, Feb 20, 7:30PM – Buy Tickets
Saturday, Feb 21, 7:30PM – Buy Tickets
Sunday, Feb 22, 2:30PM – Buy Tickets
At the Schuster Center

Free Tickets To Dayton Ballet’s 85th Celebration Via Dayton Metro Library

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Dayton Metro Library, in partnership with Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA), is offering free tickets to three upcoming performances of 85th Diamond Anniversary at the Victoria Theatre on Friday, February 10, 7:30-9 pm, Saturday, February 11, 7:30-9 pm, and Sunday, February 12, 2:30-4 pm.

 

85th Diamond Anniversary is a celebration of the Dayton Ballet’s 85th season and the 95th year of the Dayton Ballet School. This repertory program honors Dayton Ballet founders and includes a collection of beautiful ballets showcasing the physicality and virtuosity of the company of dancers who call Dayton Ballet their home.

Fifty tickets per show will be available on a registration basis, with a maximum of six seats per party. Seat locations will vary and can be picked up at the box office prior to each performance. While DPAA will try to seat groups together when possible, that’s not guaranteed. Tickets have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for other seats or performances.

  • Registration for the Friday, February 10 performance begins Wednesday, January 11, 8 am.
  • Registration for the Saturday, February 11 performance begins Thursday, January 12, 8 am.
  • Registration for the Sunday, February 12 performance begins Friday, January 13, 8 am.

The Victoria Theatre is located at 138 North Main Street, Dayton. For a detailed description of this performance and to register for a chance to receive free tickets, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Programs, and search for the program title, “85th Diamond Anniversary.” Additional questions may be directed to the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

Dayton Ballet Barre offers fun holiday tradition with Sugar Plum Tea

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Dayton Ballet Barre offers fun holiday tradition with Sugar Plum Tea, a children’s tradition before the December 18th matinee performance of the Dayton Ballet’s The Nutcracker.This is the first Tea back since the pandemic shutdown, and organizers are planning a fun comeback event at the Dayton Woman’s Club, which is within walking distance of the Schuster Center.

The Dayton Ballet Barre is the Dayton Ballet’s volunteer booster organization, and one of their signature events is the long-running Sugar Plum Tea. Held prior to one of the matinee performances of the Ballet’s beloved Nutcracker production, it’s become a holiday tradition that families look forward to. Geared towards children and parents / grandparents, the afternoon tea promises to provide many cherished memories.

“We love hosting this children’s event!” Libby Ballengee, the Ballet Barre’s Secretary and past President, shared with us. “It’s like Prom for five-year-olds. We adore seeing all the kid’s sparkly dresses & suits. It’s a really special afternoon, and we’re so happy to be back hosting this after two years off.”

The Tea lasts for 90 min, enough time for to enjoy hot beverages & tea sandwiches, make a craft, learn a short dance from the Sugar Plum Fairy, and hear the story of The Nutcracker under the Christmas Tree. Each moment provides a beautiful photo opportunity against the gorgeous back-drop of the Dayton Woman’s Club.

All children and adults need a ticket to attend. The ticket includes tea party foods (cute sandwiches, fruit, & yummy desserts, with hot beverages including hot chocolate, tea, and coffee. This ticket does not include a ticket to the Dayton Ballet performance. Those are purchased separately through DaytonLive.org.
 

How to Go?

Sugar Plum Tea at Dayton Woman’s Club – 225 North Ludlow Street in Dayton
 
Sunday, December 18th
 
Note – Doors open at 12pm (due to event set-up, we cannot let patrons in earlier)
 
Event 12:30pm – 2pm (ballet performance starts at 2:30pm across the street – needs separate ticket)
 
Tickets $25 each (for adults and children)
 
Questions about the event can be directed to [email protected]
 
 

Dayton Ballet kicks off 85th Season with “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

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The Dayton Ballet proudly celebrates its 85th anniversary in an electric and exciting 2022–2023 Season. In this anniversary season, the company presents a spooky time with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the classic holiday story of The Nutcracker, a celebration of all things dance in the 85th Diamond Anniversary, and a family favorite with Peter Pan.

The launch to this anniversary season starts on October 28, 2022 with a historic spooky tale. Halloween weekend is the perfect setting for Dayton Ballet’s brand-new production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

The haunting story of the Headless Horseman comes to life with all the same characters of this familiar tale. Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, and the full ensemble of Dayton Ballet take the stage to bring to life Artistic Director Karen Russo Burke’s fresh approach to the timeless classic. Composer Austin Jaquith provides a brand-new original score, performed live by musicians from the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Dayton Ballet rehearses for Sleepy Hollow

How To Go?

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at the Victoria Theatre

7:30 pm Friday, October 28, 2022

7:30 pm Saturday, October 29, 2022

2:30 pm Sunday, October 30, 2022

Tickets to performances are $5 – $86 and available at https://www.daytonlive.org/events/legend-of-sleepy-hollow/






Free Tickets to Performances by Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic

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Dayton Metro Library, in partnership with Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA), will be offering free tickets to select performances by Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic through December.

The select performances, with start times and locations, include:

 

Pines of Rome and Brandon Patrick George: Friday, September 16 and Saturday, September 17, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

The “Eternal City” could find no more fitting tribute than Respighi’s vibrant PINES OF ROME, transporting you to famous pine stands around the Italian capital, a Renaissance family’s splendid estate, near a catacomb suggested by a mournful chant, the moonlit beauty of the Janiculum hill with the haunting song of a nightingale, and, along the Appian Way, triumphant trumpets and the thunder of marching armies. Brandon Patrick George, Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra alum – and hottest young flutist around – connects you to the Celtic inspiration of Christopher Rouse’s Concerto. The season opens with the DPO and Chorus giving the world premiere of a beautiful work by Daytonians Sierra Leone and Steve Winteregg inspired by the legacy of Miriam Rosenthal.

 

Charlie Parker’s Yardbird:

Friday, October 7, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, October 9, 2:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

While the body of tormented bebop saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker lies unidentified in a New York City morgue, his ghost travels back to the famed NYC jazz club Birdland, where he struggles to complete his final masterpiece. Fusing classical and jazz styles into an intriguing mix, CHARLIE PARKER’S YARDBIRD is a powerful expedition into the mind, heart, and personal purgatory of the jazz genius.

 

Far Away Places: Scheherazade:

Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

In the One Thousand And One Nights the Sultana Scheherazade nightly diverts her husband with cliff-hanger tales of the sea, shipwrecks, princes, and princesses to save her life – definitely pre-#MeToo! Rimsky-Korsakov’s alluring showpiece whisks you off to that exotic world with music that’s languid and sensuous, shimmering and romantic, stormy and terrifying! Debussy’s Nocturnes depicts clouds floating across the skies and boisterous village festivals punctuated by trumpets and drums. Reena Esmail’s musical roots let her look West and East as her composition about sisterhood soars to ecstatic heights, blending Hindustani and Western classical musical traditions.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow:
Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, October 30, 2:30 pm, at the Victoria Theatre

October is the perfect setting for Dayton Ballet’s brand-new production of The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow. The haunting story of the Headless Horseman comes to life with all the same characters of this familiar tale. Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, and the full ensemble of Dayton Ballet take the stage to bring to life Artistic Director Karen Russo Burke’s fresh approach on the timeless classic. Composer Austin Jaquith provides a brand-new original score, performed live by musicians from the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, to deliver the musical backdrop to this eerie legend that has been passed down through generations since the 1800s.

 

Symphonie fantastiqe and Vadim Gluzman:
 Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

Berlioz’s passion-propelled Symphonie fantastique – dazzling with fiery orchestral colors and effects – follows the love-sick hero’s drug-induced visions to a glittering ball, a scaffold, and a demonic Witches’ Sabbath with the Dies irae pounding out a hair-raising theme amid orgiastic tumult. Emotions also run high in Shostakovich’s Concerto, whose sonorities range from quiet contemplation, to the most spectacular cadenza you’re ever likely to witness, to a frenzied finale, guaranteed to leave you profoundly moved. Antoine Clark (“led from the podium with balletic poise,” Chicago Tribune), a rising star among young American conductors, makes his Dayton debut.

 

Hometown Holiday Featuring Amahl and the Night Visitors:

Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

The Dayton Philharmonic and Dayton Opera join forces to present a holiday spectacular that is sure to fill our hearts with the spirit of the season. On the first half of the program, the Dayton Philharmonic performs a selection of seasonal favorites in a festive atmosphere of music and song that will have the Schuster overflowing with holiday happiness. After intermission, Amahl And The Night Visitors brings to life the story of three mysterious kings who are following a star to bring gifts to a wondrous child in a fully-staged, brand new production created for Dayton Opera. The three kings stop for rest at the home of Amahl, a shepherd boy who lives in poverty with his mother, and when Amahl offers his own simple gift to the child, a miracle happens. Since its first performance on Christmas Eve 1951, this holiday classic has been performed on every continent in many languages and been seen by more people than any other opera in history. A heartwarming story of kindness and generosity, it is the perfect first opera – or hundredth!

Free tickets are limited to 50 per performance. Tickets are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to six tickets per party. Seat locations vary per show. Reserved tickets are held at the Box Office and are available for pickup one hour before each show.

For detailed information about each performance and to register, please visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Programs(search for the title of the performance in the keyword field). Questions may also be directed to the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

 

DAYTON LGBT FILM FEST Heading Into 12th Year!

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What do Bette Midler, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito, Laura Linney, Ian McKellen and Laverne Cox all have in common? They all have films playing at The Dayton LGBT Film Festival this year!

Titles are locked down, marketing materials are ready to go, and visiting artists are securing their travel plans for The 12th Annual Dayton LGBT Film Fest – taking place next month at THE NEON in Downtown Dayton.

During the weekend of Oct. 13-15, the festival will screen 17 films (a combination of shorts and features) with ties to the LGBT community – ranging from American comedies to International dramas…from narratives to documentaries. Directors, stars and other creative individuals from a handful of the selections are slated to attend.

One special guest will be Jill Alexander, an accomplished actress and co-star of SENSITIVITY TRAINING (pictured above on the left). The committee selected the film from over 100 submissions this year and was unaware (until after booking the film) that Alexander grew up right here in the Miami Valley and attended Beavercreek High School. The festival is thrilled to bring Alexander back home to share her work with the community and her family.

On Friday, October 13, attendees of the Opening Night Film FREAK SHOW will be invited to the Opening Night Party at The Mudlick Tavern – just a few blocks from THE NEON. For $8, guests will see the movie and then enjoy a complimentary cocktail and appetizers – this is certain to be a very hot ticket.

Though festival passes sold out in record time this year, patrons will have a chance to get single tickets for each of the screenings beginning Friday, September 8. Details about the films and how to get tickets can be found on the official site – www.daytonlgbt.com

Sponsors for this year’s festival include PFLAG Dayton, The Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus, Sue Spiegel & Lisa Hanauer, The Human Race Theatre Company, Miami Valley Fair Housing, AARP Ohio, The Greater Dayton LGBT Center, MJ’s On Jefferson, Johnny Dangerously, Equitas Health, David Lauri, Square Once Salon & Spa, Marion’s Piazza, Ken Byers, Kurt Fleagel & Warren Riffle, and Westminster Financial.

THE NEON is located at 130 E. 5th St in downtown Dayton. For additional information, visit the official site – www.daytonlgbt.com – or call THE NEON at (937)222-8452.

Dayton Ballet & DCDC Volunteers Duel Behind the Bar!

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Dayton is renowned for it’s incredible legacy in the history of American dance. In 1927, The Schwarz School of Dance (now Dayton Ballet School) was opened in Dayton, by the gifted Schwarz sisters, who returned home after performing professionally around the world. Ten years later, the sisters created “The Experimental Group for Young Dancers,” and staged a performance at the Dayton Art Institute. This was the first performance of what is now the Dayton Ballet, the second oldest regional ballet company in the US.

The Schwarz sisters instructed another pioneer of dance, Jeraldyne Blunden. In 1968, Jeraldyen went on to create her own school, Jeraldyne’s School of Dance. A few years later, she established the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, the first modern dance company in Ohio. The company regularly performs in Dayton, and around the world, including an upcoming trip to Russia and Kazakhstan next May as part of Dance Motion USA, a cultural diplomacy program organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

These incredible achievements and milestones are being celebrated with style over the next year or two. The Dayton Ballet celebrates it’s 80th Season, and next year DCDC hits their 50th Birthday! Volunteers from the Dayton Ballet Barre and DCDC Ambassadors are joining forces Tuesday, September 5th, 2017 at Brixx Ice Company to kickoff these spectacular seasons! They’ll be slinging drinks as dueling bartenders, and might even have a dance off or two!

Enjoy commradere, drink specials, and a fun way to support these historic arts organizations. Best of all – there will be random ticket giveaways for the exciting up-coming seasons! There will also be ticket discounts available to anyone interested. Tickets to these outstanding artistic events are perfect for date nights, girls nights, and gifts!

How to Go?

Dayton Ballet Barre & DCDC Ambassadors

Dueling Bartenders / 2017-2018 Season Kickoff!

Tuesday, September 5th, 2017 from 6pm-8pm

Brixx Ice Company – 500 E 1st Dayton, OH

 

This Must Be The Party!

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This Must Be the Party! is a brand new benefit show produced by the Dayton Ballet Barre, as a fundraiser for the Dayton Ballet. This “dance party for the dancers” is a special collaboration by the region’s most talented musicians, performing songs from The Talking Head’s epic 80’s rockumentary “Stop Making Sense.” This classic performance will be recreated by this fantastic ensemble on Saturday April 15th at Oddbody’s Music Room. Doors open at 8pm, and Show runs from 9pm–11:30pm. The best part is that it’s a super affordable way to support the Arts in Dayton: Just $15 for pre-sale tickets or $20 at the door, day of show. 18+

Libby Ballengee, President of the Dayton Ballet Barre and a local music promoter through her own music production company, Venus Child Productions, explains the origin and inspiration for this event: “It was an easy ‘win’ all around – the Ballet Barre needed a fundraiser, a group of musicians wanted a reason to perform this album (because it’s so fun!), and lots of my friends would be in heaven if we did this show. I could not be more excited for this show! This is truly going to be an extremely fun event!”

The incredible line-up of Dayton, Cincinnati and Louisville musicians performing include: Brian Hoeflich, Patrick Himes, Nathan Lewis, Erich Reith, Greg Lewis, Aaron Holm, Dan Hereford, Keith Cost, Khrys Blank, Mykal, John Dubuc, Nathan Peters, Brian Spirk, Eric Cassidy, and Matt Byanski.

Big thanks go out to the sponsors of this event: Houser Asphalt & Concrete, Nightstar Security, Turner Property Services Group, On-the-Go Prints, and Oddbody’s Music Room.

How to go?

Saturday April 15th 2017 at Oddbody’s Music Room.

Doors 8pm. Show 9pm. 18+ with valid ID.

$15 advance. $20 day of show.

For tickets: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1437688

Love, Yearning, Passion, Romanticism: Dayton Ballet Presents Daring Duets

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On Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 pm; Friday, February 10 at 8 pm; Saturday, February 11 at 8 pm; and  Sunday, February 12 at 3 pm in the Victoria Theatre, the Dayton Ballet is thrilled to present Daring Duets, the third ballet of the 2016–2017 Excite Season. The Thursday evening performance of Daring Duets includes a Pizza Prelude from Uno’s Pizzeria to be served in the Victoria lobby beginning at 7 pm.
Artistic Director Karen Russo Burke and Dayton Ballet bring an exciting new ballet repertory program entitled Daring Duets to the Victoria Theatre stage, celebrating the complexities of the relationship shared between couples. The program will feature the full Dayton Ballet Company as they partner with one another to present some of the most well-known and most exciting, new, original pas de deux ever to grace the Victoria stage. The program comprises eight unique ballets that range from classical to neoclassical to contemporary, in an in-depth look at how two people join together to dance on stage as one.  Interviews with dancers and choreographers will shed light between dances in a video presentation made possible by the generosity of the Miriam Rosenthal Foundation for the Arts.

“Pas de Deux is French for ‘Step of Two’ and is what partnering is called in ballet. By dancing with a partner, the lady can jump higher, take positions she would never be able to on her own, and ‘float’ about the stage as she is carried by her partner. A partner allows a man to extend his line and show off his strength.” (www.the-ballet.com) Dayton Ballet presents an exhilarating evening of duets, or pas de deux, choreographed with this very definition in mind.

Dayton Ballet is thrilled to be able to dance a pas de deux from the late dance legend Antony Tudor, a George Balanchine contemporary who has been hailed as the “artistic conscience of American Ballet Theatre” from the moment he joined ABT for its founding season in 1940. This February, Dayton Ballet will dance his famous pas de deux from the ballet The Leaves Are Fading. This exquisite pas de deux was originally danced under Tudor’s direction in 1975 by Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner, two of America’s most acclaimed and talented dancers of the 20th century. Ms. McKerrow and Mr. Gardner will work in studio directly with Dayton Ballet dancers to set this beautiful piece for Dayton Ballet. The Antony Tudor Ballet Trust was formed after Tudor’s death in 1987 with the mission of securing the legacy of Tudor’s great ballets. The Trust is exceptionally selective of the ballet companies with which it works, so Dayton Ballet is truly honored to be able to pay tribute to the ballet genius of Antony Tudor with this performance.

Dayton Ballet is also excited to welcome choreographer Nicole Haskins to its studios as she sets her engaging pas de deux La Linea Scura, choreographed to music of the same name by Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi. Haskins hails from Venice Beach, California, and has danced professionally with well-known companies across the country, including Sacramento Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and Washington Ballet. Haskins, an experienced choreographer as well, has worked in the past with several Dayton Ballet dancers, and she comes to Dayton to set her beautiful pas de deux La Linea Scura this month.  Ms. Haskins’ work on La Linea Scura is made possible by the Dermot Burke Fund.

The dancers of Dayton Ballet will also present more classical works, including the famous Grand Pas de Deux from Don Quixote, a dance teeming with passion, energy and bravado. Set to the impeccable music of nineteenth-century Czech composer Ludwig Minkus, Don Quixote was originally choreographed by French/Russian dancer and choreographer Marius Petipa in 1869.  It is Petipa’s original choreography that Dayton Ballet Artistic Director Karen Russo Burke will use to set this traditional ballet for this performance.

In addition to these three selections, Burke will present five other works, highlighting the strength, expertise, and superb partnering skills of each dancer in the Dayton Ballet company. Dayton is invited to spend a romantic Valentine’s Day engulfed by the beauty and elegance of the purest expression of emotion between two dancers—the pas de deux—in Daring Duets.

Before each performance, Ms. Burke will hold a pre-performance talk called “The First Step,” giving audience members a more in-depth look at the upcoming performance and a behind-the-scenes peek at Dayton Ballet.  “The First Step” will be held 45 minutes prior to curtain time for each performance in the Burnell Roberts Room at 126 North Main Street, beside the Victoria Theatre.  “Behind the Ballet,” a Q&A with dancers that gives audiences the opportunity to learn more about the life of a dancer with Dayton Ballet, will follow each performance in the theatre.  “The First Step” and “Behind the Ballet” sessions are free of charge for all ticketholders.

Tickets for Daring Duets are $21 to $72 and are available at Ticket Center Stage (937) 228-3630 or online at www.daytonperformingarts.org. Looking for a sweet deal for your sweetie this Valentines weekend?  All tickets now 50% off using code “DUETS” call (888) 228-3630Senior, teacher and student discounts available at box office.

The Ballet invites you to Show the Love!

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I love a good deal. I love downtown. I love our Dayton arts. ShowTheLove

So, I was pretty excited when I saw that the Dayton Ballet is inviting you to SHOW THE LOVE for the February Fantasy performances.

How’s it work? You shop at any downtown business from now until February 14 and bring the receipt to the Ticket Center Stage box office (at the Schuster Center, unless you’re going immediately before the performance). You can get the best possible tickets available (up to a $72 value!) for only $14. Buy your tickets now to get the best seats or go right before the show and get the best that’s still available. The show runs Thursday, February 11 – Sunday, February 14. Any show, any available ticket – only $14 when you show that downtown receipt.

What’s February Fantasy? More information on the show is online at the DPAA web site. With four separate pieces being performed in one night, there’s great diversity and it’ll be a fun introduction to ballet. PLUS, if you’re interested in learning a little something, too – you can attend the pre-show talk that starts 45 minutes before each show.

So – here’s my recommendation for you (no matter who you are):

Do you do the romantic Valentine’s Day celebration? Buy your sweetie something sweet from one of the awesome local downtown shops and then go get tickets. You get extra points for trying something new and being a hip, in-the-know local.

Do you stay away from the saccharine of the pseudo-holiday? Buy yourself something cool (or, y’know, be a pragmatist and just buy lunch) and treat yo self to a great show or plan a friends’ night out (two tix per receipt, so bring more receipts if you have a bigger group).

Do you procrastinate and stay away from making plans in advance? This still works out for you whether you’re planning a date or just looking for something new to do with your group of friends. Head downtown the night of the show, get dinner (or drinks at a local brewery/pub) and wander over the the Victoria right before curtain. Show that receipt and you can STILL get the $14 tickets (best available seat).

This is such a great idea, I reached out to Dave Bukvic from the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance to find out how it came about. He shared, “We’ve got a definite history working together with the Downtown Dayton Partnership. Much of our strategy is in alignment with the vision for growing downtown and showcasing the convenience and quality of all there is to offer. This was a great opportunity to encourage our arts patrons to explore a new restaurant or shop and invite those who are regular visitors to the downtown cafes, stores and pubs to enjoy a performance at the ballet.”

 

Cautiously Optimistic Step in the Right Direction

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10246470_10151947842630448_8714991152748457916_nAs I arrived at the Victoria Theatre on spring-like Sunday afternoon, I was curious to see how this season would end for this venerable troupe. While there were a few surprises, the final spring concert of the Dayton Ballet season ended on a quiet note.

The concert began with former artistic director Dermott Burke’s Fete des Courtiers; a swirling confection of neoclassical formalism, it was perfectly perfunctory in form and execution as couples moved through formations that hinted at a noble engagement. While Fete Des Courtiers broke no new ground choreographically, it nevertheless engaged both the performers and the viewer.

Susanne Payne’s Interactions was a winner of the choreographic competition that Dayton Ballet held three years ago and it has not lost1393537_10151910517295448_940011296_n any of it’s charm or choreographic vitality. I have always believed that Ms. Payne is a tremendous artistic asset to Dayton Ballet and to the cultural fabric of our community when she creates works like this. Her talents for generating unique movement vocabulary is wildly entertaining. This was the first time we had a chance to explore the talents that she possesses and she continues to grow and develop artistically. It is evident that over the past few years Dayton Ballet has benefited from an influx of new performers with their energy and ability to tackle the modernist movement vocabulary of Ms. Payne; in turn helping to illuminate her work to dazzling effect. Interactions felt as vibrant and thrilling now as its did during its world premiere a few years ago.

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Jessica Lang

Next up on the bill was Jessica Lang’s From Foreign Lands and People. And what a powerful and unique work. When the curtaine opened we were presented with several four-sided columns from five to ten feet tall as well as a group of dancers. As a viewer you were automatically expecting some interaction or engagement with the columns. As the work progressed you were surprised just how farthat interaction would go. The dancers manipulated the columns into slides and hurdles that they moved across, rolled and leaped under and over, respectively. They then proceeded to stack the columns into evocative sculptural tableaus. The choreography was sublime in the economy of its construction. Jessica Lang weaved a magical spell on the audience that left more than one person in the theatre swooning with giddy satisfaction. This is a work that bears repeating and deserves to be in the repertory of the company. It is a sure fire audience pleaser and beautifully constructed work of art.

The concert concluded with Karen Burke Russo’s Canyons, a semi-abstract work that highlights her skills as a choreographer to maximum effect. Canyons evoked a Native-American motif in the imagery and movement vocabulary without being so literal as to fall into tropes and mawkish triviality. The dancers danced it with a beautifully modulated sense of control and abandonment, which they displayed consistently throughout the concert. Dayton Ballet is benefiting from a similar scenario that exists for Dayton Contemporary Dance Company; an A company of young and eager performers that are pushing the performance quality of older works in the rep as well providing a blank canvas for new and thrilling choreographers in which to create their particular form of artistic alchemy. Now is the time to be bold and decisive. While it may not draw record crowds, it makes a better case for relevancy and the right for continued support from the community.

A couple of sublime moments at the ballet

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1978894_10151888675020448_416275382_nWith the “Diversity in Dance” concert, Dayton Ballet highlighted what works well for this regional ballet company. Once again the tantalizing prospects for a full fledged renaissance  are on display.  From the work of legendary  choreographer and co-founder of the Joffrey Ballet to the rich and tantalizing movement construction of Susie Payne, This was a concert of bountiful returns.

I have to impress upon the Dayton  arts community what a rarity it is to see classical and or neoclassical ballet repertory being presented with a live orchestra. This symbiosis of elements adds a third contextual layer of interpretation and experience for the viewer. Having performed to live orchestration many times myself as a performer it changes how and what is being danced at the molecular level not to mention the spiritual. The fact that we got to see it in conjunction with the re-staging of a Gerald Arpino masterwork is worth the price of admission.

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Dayton Ballet in Gerald Arpino’s Reflections. Photo Credit: Scott Kimmins

“Reflections” was a neoclassical master class in what is usually missing from present day choreographers, innate musicality and the ability to translate it into choreography. With it’s almost  Balanchine-like phrasing and musical weaving, The Dayton Ballet dancers accompanied by the Dayton Philharmonic under the masterful baton of Neil Gittleman kicked off this concert with a Joie de Vivre that was at once effervescent  and steely in design. In shades of gray and pink, the women and men weaved beautifully rendered lattice work of patterns and tableaus. with particular attention being payed to several playful, athletic  variations and Pas de Deux’s, most notably Abby Phillips and Evan Pitts, which left an indelible impression long after the bows.

The second work on the concert was “Dreams of Flight” by Dayton original,  Susanne Payne. This was a bravura choreographic work that showcased the incredible skills of the Dayton Ballet men. In her program notes she says the work was loosely inspired by “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coehlo and that it is rigorously athletic. The latter part was an understatement as the piece evolved and built to it’s rousing conclusion.  While Susanne was weaving her metaphoric choreographic alchemy, you could not help but be pulled into its intoxicating adrenaline-spiked power. This was a visceral, heart-stopping epic work that in lesser hands could have been maudlin and overwrought. “Dreams of Flight” tapped into layers of emotional, intellectual and spiritual connectivity wrapped up in a rich and utterly original movement vocabulary. It was in turns, playful and childlike, mature and insightful. While it was danced with athletic vigor and panache,  this  was a triumphant success for not only the dancers and the choreographer but also the company itself. I have always stated that when a dance company breaks out of routine and embraces the new and unexpected, we all walk away winners.

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Case Bodamer and Abby Phillips in Susie Payne’s “Interactions”.

Your next chance to see the Dayton Ballet in action will be in the upcoming show, New Directions.
The show opens this Thursday March 20th and runs through Sunday March 23rd at the Victoria Theatre.

This performance includes:
Dermot Burke’s “Fête des Courtiers”
Susie Payne’s “Interactions”
Jessica Lang’s “From Foreign Lands and People”
Karen Russo Burke’s “Canyons”

Buy New Directions tickets online or by calling
the box office at (888) 228-3630.

Brilliant Leaps and Cautious Steps A Review of Dance in Dayton 2013 and What to Watch for in 2014

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Another year has waltzed by, creating a beautiful stir in the Dayton dance community. I have been privileged to bear witness to some incredible moments of sublimeness amidst the cautious backdrop of these uncertain times in regards to patronage and audience building. Now more than ever we as patrons of the arts have to reinforce our commitment to the arts in our community. While financial support is critical to keeping the lights shining, an education and connoisseurship is vital to elevating our community collectively. These moments and individuals made this year a tantalizing appetizer for a brighter future.

In no particular order:

Sheri “Sparkle” WilliamsDCDC

How often do we have a goddess walking amongst us? For over forty-five years Sheri has illuminated and turned up the heat on the stages of Dayton and around the world. When they describe DCDC as a “world class” organization, they are really describing Sheri. What she brings to the world can only be attributed to the divine. Her artistry is on the level of Dame Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep and Aretha Franklin, an ageless category defying artistic genius that we are privileged to witness. She is worthy of our continued attention.

Dayton Ballet-crop of new choreographic voices

Kudos to Dayton Ballet and their commitment to elevating female choreographers in the realm of classical ballet. This season saw the beautiful work of Gina Gardner-Walther, Amy Seiwert and Susanne Payne. They released the aesthetic beauty and artistic abilities of the dancers and challenged them to new heights and we as an audience were grateful to witness.

DCDC Urban Impulse

This is what a satisfying concert looks like; one that combines community outreach and artistic ambition. It was a gamble that payed off brilliantly. I cannot imagine any lover of dance not leaving that show ecstatic.

DCDC Emergence
This company came back in the fall with a concert of original works that was inspired. The luscious, diverse choreographic works that made Boll Theatre feel like Lincoln Center for a brief autumn evening.

Paul Gilliam, Dayton Ballet

A physically gifted performer who brightens the stage with charm, grace and intelligence. I have been very fortunate to briefly witness his choreographic skills. And I believe we are witnessing a diamond in the rough. Breakout star of 2014

Jammie Walker, Dayton Ballet

A welcomed soulful and passionate presence at Dayton Ballet. A dancer who can handle classical and contemporary work with ease. I look forward to seeing more of him in 2014.

Shed by Kiesha Lalama

Ms. Lalama set an energetic work that was wonderfully constructed and rendered by the dancers at DCDC. The company came roaring back to prominence with this piece and this reviewer was incredibly grateful.

Extremely Close by Alejandro Cerrudo

Okay, so this piece was performed by Cincinnati Ballet, but I would be remise in not discussing it. I had no expectations for this evening of dance at the Aronoff, but as we entered the auditorium, we were greeted with a blank stage, except for a white wall partition and a steady stream of feathers lazily drifting into a pile center stage. It took this reviewer/audience on an unexpected journey, one that we all gladly took. Note to artistic directors in Dayton this guy is worth the investment.

Prodigal Son by George Balanchine

Closing the same concert for Cincinnati Ballet was a re-staging of Prodigal Son with coaching by Edward Villlella. They delivered a bravura performance that brought down the house.

Smag Dance Collective

Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of Smag Dance Collective. The tenacious Artistic Director Michael Groomes fights for his vision of dance that is interwoven into the fabric of our community quilt. This is dance by the people and for the people. He is truly an urban visionary walking amongst us and he and the company deserve our support.

The Brown Dance Project

A poignant, funny and beautifully rendered work created by choreographer Rodney Brown and danced by members of DCDC. MODULE is an educational community outreach work that deals with HIV prevention. A brilliant example of the power of art to address social issues. I was particularly impressed by the audience Q & A afterwards and the fact that they came out on a Saturday afternoon to embrace this necessary work.

Dayton Ballet2014

I am looking forward to several things: The choreography of DeShona Pepper Robertson for Dayton Ballet in the fall. The site specific installation piece being presented by Ohio Dance and created by Crystal Michelle Perkins. Amy Seiwert and Susanne Payne creating new choreography for Dayton Ballet. Dance concerts returning to the Blair Hall Theatre stage at Sinclair Community College. The return of DCDC to the Victoria Theatre stage and the revival of the Dayton Arts Project.

I can think of no better resolution than to see more dance. And in the immortal words of London Coe, #dateyourcity.

Jane’s Best Bets (10/19 – 10/23)

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At the Ghosts N' Goblins 5K - Can you guess my costume?!?!

Even though Halloween is about two weeks away, the Halloween festivities have officially begun with the Ghosts N’ Goblins 5K downtown on Tuesday night!  There are many more great Halloween themed, as well as non-Halloween themed options for this week!

On Wednesday, if you love a good scare, then be sure to make your way to the Haunted Butcher House.  To be honest, the name of it alone scares me!  In addition to seeing lots of Halloween decorations this time of year, you also see lots of political signs, commercials, etc.  The task of choosing who to vote for or how to vote on certain issues can be daunting.  Get some help by attending the Voters Guide LIVE at Stivers.  History buffs should make plans to attend Soaring at Kitty Hawk, 1911: Buster’s Vacation at The Engineers Club of Dayton.  At the Dayton Convention Center, attend the TechNet-Aero Conference if you work in or are interested in business and defense information technologies (hopefully if you work in it, you are also interested in it!).  And finally, I hope you were lucky enough to get tickets to the sold out Mix 107.7 Concert For A Cure at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, with some great acoustic performances by Safetysuit, Christina Perri, and Andy Grammer.  And if you weren’t, it’s okay.  As Andy Grammer would say, “you gotta keep your head up.”

On Thursday, make your way to the Dayton Racquet Club for their $10 Wine Tasting.  Afterall, what could be better than sipping some great wine and enjoying their amazing views?!?!  Head to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  And if you would prefer to celebrate in honor of the ballet, then dress in your favorite black and white costume and participate in the Ballet Barre’s 2001 Halloween Pub Crawl, which will take place in the Oregon District.  Or wear your Halloween costume for Boo in the Burg in Downtown Miamisburg.  If you want to do something fun with the kids, then take them to see Disney On Ice – Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey at the Nutter Center.  And if you can’t take them Thursday night, there will be shows all weekend long!

On Friday, get a start on your holiday cooking plans by attending Tasty Party Appetizers at 2nd Street Market.  It is FREE!  Attention all you yoga lovers – make your way to Practice Yoga on Fifth for the screening of the new documentary ‘Yogawoman’ to benefit the YWCA of Dayton.  If you have never been to the opera, now is your time, as the Dayton Opera will be presenting La Bohème at the Schuster Center.  In addition, they are offering “Friday Nite Tweet Seats” for members of area Young Professional Networking Groups and their guests.  These seats are valued at $66 but are being sold at the promotional rate of $15!  So, if you think the arts are too expensive for young professionals, think again!  At Victoria Theatre, you will be able to see the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  There are a couple other shows you can catch on Friday as well, including Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) and The Crucible (Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater).  And if you prefer to have fun in a less formal environment, then check out my friend’s band Buddha and the Boogie Down as they play at Flanagan’s!

On Saturday, start the day off high on carbs with the Centerville Rotary’s 11th Annual Pancake Breakfast.  Then, make your way to The Salvation Army Kroc Center for their Chili Cook Off.  In the afternoon, take the kids to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Children’s Halloween Party.  And in the evening, take your date to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  Head to the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra’s Fall Concert at Shiloh Church.  At Schindler Banquet Center, get a new wardrobe without spending a fortune as part of the 3rd Annual Fashion Swap ‘N Shop.  If you are Irish (or just like Irish music), then purchase tickets to see bohola, featuring dancers from the Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance at Stivers School For the Arts.  Theater options will still include Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) and The Crucible (Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater).  And finally, support United Rehabilitation Services, a wonderful organization who works to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities, by attending their 55th Anniversary Gala at Sinclair’s Ponitz Center.

On Sunday, listen to the Duquesne Tamburitzans at the Centerville Performing Arts Center, the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra at Kettering Fairmont, or to the sounds of the Dayton Opera as they perform La Bohème at the Schuster Center.  Watch the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside at Victoria Theatre or the Dayton Theatre Guild’s performance of Lost in Yonkers.  And finally…if you have been craving chocolate, you are in luck as there will be an All You Can Eat Chocolate Party at the Bellbrook Chocolate Shoppe!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why didn’t the skeleton go to the movies?

Because he had no body to go with.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Holiday Tradition On Pointe at the Schuster Center

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The NutcrackerThe Nutcracker

DAYTON BALLET

onStageDayton would like to welcome a guest contributor, Gretchen Hindson.  Gretchen has performed  The Nutcracker with Dayton Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Charleston Ballet, and Festival Ballet Atlanta.  She has also performed with the Young People’s Ballet Theatre, and most recently SMAG Dance Collective here in Dayton, along with multiple musical theater groups in the area.

‘Tis the season for warm holiday moments with your friends and family. Every family has their own special traditions. One of these may include a visit to the theater to watch the magical story of “The Nutcracker”. If you have never experienced the journey to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy, I highly recommend you attend a performance! It is a classic story loved by all children and adults alike.

Bring the whole family to see a performance of this holiday classic and make it a new tradition of your own!

The story involves a little girl who receives a special gift from her mysterious uncle on Christmas Eve. As the story unfolds, you are lead through a battle with the Rat King, a beautiful Land of Snow, and a trip around the world through the Kingdom of Sweets! Bring the whole family to see a performance of this holiday classic and make it a new tradition of your own!

Dayton Ballet NutcrackerThere are multiple ballet companies in the Dayton area that bring this story to life. Some of these include Pontecorvo Ballet Studios, Miami Valley Dance Company, South Dayton Dance Theatre, and Dayton Ballet.  Unfortunately, many of these production dates have already passed.  Dayton Ballet however, runs through this weekend at the Schuster Center. Their particular cast of characters is uniquely designed around some of the most influential Dayton families of the early

The Nutcracker

1900’s. You will find familiar names, such as the Kettering’s and Schwarz sisters. The music of Tchaikovsky and artistic scenery also grace the stage.

“The Nutcracker” is a great way to introduce your children to the world of fine arts in dance and music. Hopefully this Christmas and, in years to come, you will be attending a local performance by any or all of our ballet companies in Dayton!

It’s not too late to start a great family tradition this holiday season!

Happy Holidays!

Tickets & Performance Information

Dayton Ballet’s THE NUTCRACKER  – Friday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, Dec. 18 at 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm;  Sunday, Dec. 19 at 2:30p.  Performances  at The Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center at One West Second St. Dayton, Ohio 45402

Visit TicketCenterStage.com for ticket information.  Tickets also available by calling (937) 228-3630 or toll-free (888) 228-3630

Visit www.DaytonBallet.org for more information about the company and upcoming productions.

-GH

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to [email protected].