Central Florida’s prized professional ballet company is bringing its newest collection, featuring three guest choreographers, to life. These performances will take place at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre on select dates from March 17-27 with tickets available now.
Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the premiere of three productions by talented choreographers Jessica Lang, Heath Gill and Val Caniparoli, all of whom bring modern dance and classical ballet together in a joyous merging of culture and style.
Jessica Lang, the creator of over 100 pieces throughout ballet companies around the globe, starts off the evening with “Lyric Pieces,” utilizing balletic vocabulary and elegant grandeur to 10 Edvard Grieg compositions fueled by passion and spirit, incorporated into Lang’s exploration of space, landscapes and the use of light. Orlando Ballet’s pianist Angelyn Traylor will accompany the bright and graceful “Lyric Pieces.”
Lang is accredited with years of experience working with international ballet companies, including commissioned work for the Guggenheim Museum, Harris Theater, Chicago Architecture Biennial, and the Kennedy Center in conjunction with the National Symphony Orchestra. She will kick off the evening with vibrancy and energy.
Following the lyrical beauty by Lang is Heath Gill’s “Confronting Genius.” Being an experienced dancer himself, Gill is the resident choreographer with Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre in Georgia’s capital and has previously worked with the Orlando Ballet’s artistic director Jorden Morris.
“Confronting Genius” is a celebration of creativity, inspired by a popular TED Talk by Elizabeth Gilbert on the same subject. The piece exhibits frustration, joy and all else that accompanies creativity and genius. It depicts the concept of creativity in a way many artists may be able to relate to, with the rises and falls that come with creation. The piece features alleged musical geniuses like Paganini and Tom Waits, using stark musical contrast to address the various emotions of the theme.
Concluding the evening is Val Caniparoli’s “Lambarena.” Caniparoli fuses traditional African themes with classical music by Johann Sebastian Bach. His goal was to bring the two together both musically and through his choreography in a light and vivid production with a common rhythm serving as adhesion. Caniparoli attributes his creation to his own experience with ballet and his own vocabulary, with influences from African Dance consultants Dr. Zakariya Diouf and Naomi Gedo Diouf.
Caniparoli’s extensive experience includes working with over 50 dance companies and working with the San Francisco Ballet for more than 45 years. Previously, his work with the Orlando Ballet included a colorful rendition of A Cinderella’s Story. His contribution to the Premiere Collection, “Lambarena,” was nominated for Best Choreography in the Prix Benois de la Danse in 1997 and was even portrayed for the little ones in Sesame Street.
The combination of culture, creativity and lyrical celebration bring a monumental night of ballet throughout March that is sure to be a must-see event. The variation in each choreographer’s work will unite in spirit and skilled choreography and make for an excellent performance.
Dates for the upcoming performances, subject to change, are listed below:
Thursday, March 17 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 18 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 19 – 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 19 – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 20 – 2 p.m.
Thursday, March 24 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 25 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 26 – 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 26 – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 27 – 2 p.m.
Further details, including date changes, pricing, group discounts, and more regarding the Premiere Collection, can be found online at OrlandoBallet.org.
