This last week Ballet West II worked with the six chosen Innovations 2013 applicant choreographers.  For anyone who doesn’t know how the Innovations process works, applications of music and a general idea of a ballet are submitted to Adam in the beginning of the summer.  Adam then chooses six applicants to workshop about three minutes of their ballet on Ballet West II for a week (this year the choreographers had three days!).  Later in the season Adam chooses three of the six choreographers to create a ten minute ballet on the main company to perform for Innovations.  This year’s six choreographers include soloist, Adrian Fry; soloist, Easton Smith; demi-solist, Christopher Anderson; artist, Alex MacFarlan; artist, Tyler Gum; and former Ballet West soloist, Peggy Dolkas.  Epic Brewing Company paired up with Ballet West to present “Beer and Ballet” on Thursday and Friday.  Patrons schmoozed and drank Epic beer in the Capitol Theater lobby before and after watching the showing from the six choreographers in one of the rehearsal studios.  After the showing everyone had an opportunity to talk with the dancers and choreographers.  I took a few pictures from the workshop process and showings.

Peggy Dolkas working with Jordan Veit

Tyler Gum working with Kimberly Ballard

Kaya Aman & Logan Martin in Easton Smith’s New Work

Kazlyn Nielsen & Chase O’Connell in Alexander MacFarlan’s New Work

Kaya Aman & Zachary Prentice in Peggy Dolkas’ New Work

Mary Ann Schaefer, Logan Martin & Jordan Veit in Adrian Fry’s New Work

Kazlyn Nielsen & Chase O’Connell in Christopher Anderson’s New Work

-Beau

On the road we go! From October 2 through October 15, some members of the company will be traveling to New York City and Las Vegas to perform Paquita and Emeralds (George Balanchine) . For the past month, the focus of most of the women in the company has been centered on the upcoming tour. For most of us this means really trying to zero in on the corrections we have been given by Elena Kunikova (who originally set Paquita on the company last March) and Sandra Jennings (staging Emeralds Balanchine ) and trying to apply them to our every move in run-throughs of each ballet. This focus is going to bring such clarity and refinement to all of our movements. I love that feeling that we all get the closer we come to a performance, as if the corp starts dancing as one while the principals and soloist portray their characters for each ballet.

Now that we’re only a month away from these performances, rehearsing both Emeralds (Balanchine) and Paquita helps us to build stamina, strength, and grace before we leave for tour and before our regular season begins. Paquita is such an uplifting, quick moving, Russian- style ballet, whereas Emeralds (Balanchine) is the epitome of the Balanchine style with glam, soft movements, and grace. This tour will really challenge our versatility and artistic abilities. I know I’m looking forward to curtain up in New York City at the “Fall for Dance Festival” or that first bow to the audience in Las Vegas! What an adrenaline rush this tour is going to be! I’m excited and nervous for what’s ahead of us. Here goes: our first tour of the 2012-13 Season!

~ Kat ~

Corps women in PAQUITA

Emily Adams and Adrian Fry in EMERALDS by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

EMERALDS by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

Arolyn Williams, Tom Mattingly, and Katie Critchlow in EMERALDS by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

PAQUITA