New Music for New Dance – Dayton Ballet

(submitted by Dayton Ballet)

Kettering Health Network and the Miriam Rosenthal Memorial Trust present Dayton Ballet’s New Music for New Dance – the culmination of a year-long choreography and music competition on March 24-27, 2011 at the historic Victoria Theatre.

Selected through a national competition sponsored by The Miriam Rosenthal Memorial Trust Fund, three composition and three choreography finalists will present their collaborations accompanied by an exciting new twist – live music with the Dayton Ballet Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Dr. Tim Olt.

While New Music for New Dance was a national competition, three choreographer finalists (Daniel Karasik, Susanne Payne and Cydney Spohn) have southern Ohio connections. Two composer finalists (Jesse Ayers and Jeff Olmsted) have had music premiered in Ohio. Jeff Olmsted has also had a composition premiered by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. The third composition finalist, James Barry, is from New York.

An overall winner of the choreographic competition will be announced, in a special ceremony immediately after the Saturday night, March 26 performances.

New Music for New Dance was the brain-child of Dayton Ballet Director Dermot Burke. “There is simply never enough music crafted specifically for the intricacies of dance – there is definitely a need for it,” says Burke. “New Music for New Dance addresses that need as well as provides opportunities for composers and choreographers to expand repertoire and exposure. Because the Miriam Rosenthal Memorial Trust Fund chose to support this adventure, the project could have an exponential effect on the careers of the artists, on the Miami Valley community, and on the music and dance world.”

Performances of Dayton Ballet’s New Music for New Dance will play Thursday, March 24 at 8 p.m.; Friday, March 25 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 26 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, March 27 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now and start at $20! Call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or (888) 228-3630 or visit online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.  Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Noon-4 p.m. and two hours prior to each performance.