fourth annual Arts in Concert
LITTLE ROCK (September 21, 2010) – Ballet Arkansas will stage its fourth annual Arts in Concert performance October 23rd-24th at Wildwood Park for the Arts. Arts in Concert is a celebration of all art forms: The performing arts of dance and live music are staged together; in addition, the inspired visual art of local painters and sculptors will be on display for audience members to enjoy.
Arts in Concert will feature Ballet Arkansas’ professional and junior companies. Professional company members are: Jonathan Bostick, Katchiri Feys, Kelsee Green, Lauren McCarty Horak, Grace Tilley and Paul Tillman. Junior Company members include: Annie Browne, Jake Catlett, Hannah Fairman, Haley Jones, Akiko Kyong-McClain, Marissa Marriott, Julianne Mott, Taylor Quick, Laura Russell, LaVerta Straham, Connelly Weeks, and Katherine Wise.
Because of its success and critical acclaim, Ballet Arkansas will be reprising “Pressing On,” a piece choreographed by Kiesha Lalama-White for the professional company. Named in Dance Magazine as one of the top 25 to watch in 2009, Ms. White’s projects include master classes with Cirque Du Soleil, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and Carnegie Mellon University.
The work of Shawn Stevens, a choreographer who spent years growing up in Arkansas, will also be featured. Ms. Stevens danced with New York City Ballet and Twyla Tharp and is one of the few official répétiteurs who is sanctioned to stage works for the Balanchine Trust and Twyla Tharp.
"Adagio for Strings," choreographed by Arkansas native Natalie Smith Berry, MFA, will be performed by the Junior Company. They will dance to the live accompaniment of the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Geoffrey Robson.
Ballet Arkansas’ Artistic Director Arleen Sugano and company member Jonathan Bostick have choreographed numbers for the production as well. Sugano is a ballet coach, teacher, choreographer and director, and has a master’s degree in choreography. She has taught at the Joffrey Ballet School (American Ballet Center) in New York City, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and Lula Washington Dance Academy/Company in Los Angeles and the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. Bostick received a BFA in dance performance before studying with Repertory Dance Theatre in Salt Lake City and participating in So You Think You Can Dance "Vegas Round" in 2007 and 2008. Since then, Bostick has created and performed various concert works along side such performers as Lawrence Hamilton, Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson.
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Arts in Concert will be held Saturday, October 23rd at 7:00 pm and Sunday, October 24th at 3:00 pm. An Art Reception begins one hour prior to each performance. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for children for prime seating. Side stage seating is priced at $15. To purchase tickets, call 501-223-5150 or visit BalletArkansas.org. Ticket prices include light hors d’oeuvres and drinks during the Art Reception and intermission.
About Ballet Arkansas
Ballet Arkansas is committed to the enrichment of communities and development of the arts throughout the state. One component of its mission is providing a strong arts education. With its annual production of The Nutcracker, students across the state have the opportunity to participate and attend a professional ballet production. To further this goal, Ballet Arkansas is slated for a tour in the spring of 2011.
In 2009, the organization formed Ballet Arkansas Dance Company, a full time professional group of dancers, and hired Arleen Sugano as Artistic Director. These dancers are from varied backgrounds and have unique capabilities in the area of teaching as well performing. The first year of the Ballet Arkansas professional company was touted as an “overlap between art and athleticism” by the Arkansas Times.
