ballet

by Marissa Ballantyne Brigham Young University’s Theatre Ballet will perform two works to honor master choreographer Antony Tudor in a diverse program that celebrates love on all its levels Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 21-23. The nightly performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre, and a matinee performance will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday. All tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the BYU Fine Arts Ticket Office or by calling (801) 422-4322. The performance will begin with the Spanish flair of the classical “Paquita,” featuring principal dancers Jenny Macdonald and Roman Avramenko, then continue with classical and contemporary works that reflect the types of love as described by C.S. Lewis in his book, “The Four Loves.” Antony Tudor’s “Little Improvisations” represents “affection”; his “Continuo” and guest choreographer Wilson Domingues’ “Solsticio” reflect “romantic love”; Theatre Ballet Company director Shani Robison’s “Adagio” illuminates the love found in “friendship”; and the premiere performance of Robison’s “Dances to Life,” choreographed to music by Mack Wilberg, defines “charity.” This year, Theatre Ballet will perform two works by Antony Tudor, one of the master ballet choreographers of the past century, said promotion director Lynne Thompson. The company is one of a few select groups performing Tudor’s works in honor of the centennial year of his birth. “The company received a BYU Fulton Grant to host Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner, former principal dancers with American Ballet Theatre, to mentor the students in this rare opportunity to celebrate Tudor’s life and choreographic genius,” said Thompson. “Having danced Tudor’s works under his personal direction, they now represent the Tudor Trust and take his works to professional companies throughout the world.” “The reason why you do this is to enhance the good spirit of the world, and you really feel it here, a lot,” Gardner said of working with BYU Theatre Ballet.“Their work is solid and great, but more than that, it’s the spirit here and that’s rare.” For more information, contact Lynne Thompson at (801) 225-1775. Source: BYU News

Brigham Young University