Dance Alive National Ballet

BACK STAGE JANUARY 2010

YOU ARE REALLY  IN FOR A TREAT! Where else can you see talented young dancers and superb professional dancers in a thoroughly entertaining evening ...  all while supporting exceptional arts education programs?   Next Generation works to be premiered include "Urchin" and "Escape" by DANB choreographer Judy Skinner, "Scherzo"  by DANB principal dancer Beth Ann Maslinoff, "Orange and Blue Rag" by NG Co-Director Lara Thomson (with music by DANB Choreographer In Residence Stella Sung) and "Dark Mountain" by guest choreographer Omoniyi Osoba.  DANB principal dancer and Assistant Director Andre Valladon has staged a new work for advanced dancers which will feature a pas de deux with Mr. Valladon and NG soloist Elizabeth Kessler.   DANB principal dancers Carla Amancio and Andre Valladon will thrill the audience with their performance of "Bailero" and as a special treat, DANB will present a sneak peak of a work which will be premiered at DANB's FUSED TUTU March 27th.   "Requiem" is but one part of a six part work that incorporates art work of three Olympians - Liston Bochette III, Al Oerter and Larry Young.   "Requiem" will be danced by DANB principal dancers Heather Martinez, Eivar Martinez, Reka Gyulai, Rostislav Dzabraev, Isabel Garcia-Rose and Tak Kwan Chu.    Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at Pofahl Studios or at the door.  For informaton, call 352-371-2986.         Photo of Carla Amancio by A. Casebolt.    COMING ATTRACTION ...FUSED TUTU! Saturday, March 27th  7:30 PM Phillips Center for the Performing Arts                                      Andre Valladon & Beth Ann Maslinoff.      Photo: Johnston Photography        Artistic Director Kim Tuttle began planning for this concert over two years ago. A major focus for FUSED TUTU is the bold and exciting partnership between AOTO (Art of the Olympians) and DANB. 'MISSION OLYMPUS' was established in 2009 featuring ballets, residencies and master classes based on art work by prestent and past Olympians. SOAR, a four work that will be performed March 27th, is inspired by the art work of Olympians Liston Bochette III, Al Oerter, and Larry Young.  The common thread between AOTO and DANB is the well-known Olympic ideal of the 'pursuit of excellence'.      Artistic Director Kim Tuttle selected sculptor Larry Young's "Tango" for the a pas de deux featuring Andre Valladon and Michele Incollingo that is entitled "The Passion".  Mr. Young generously provided permission to replicate his work and sent a small casting.  Gainesville artist Paul Costanza was given the job of duplicating the work so that it could be toured.  The work had to be light enough to travel AND be able to be hung or turned. It is HUGE!      Resident Choreographer Judy Skinner has selected three of Olympian Al Oerter's works for her section "The Athlete".  Again, with generous permission, the long process began!  Each piece had to be enlarged to four or five times its size.  Below, "Ignition", one of the works that will be showcased.   As you can imagine, there is MUCH MUCH more scheduled!   Stay tuned for our February newsletter for more on FUSED TUTU   More Good News!      1st Annual Nutcracker Festival was a Hit!      Photo of Isabel Garcia-Rose and Reka Gyulai by A. Casebolt.  Numbers for "Mommy & Me" doubled and the "Sugar Plum Teas" were virtually sold out!  (Those wanting to attend the event next year most certainly need to purchase tickets in advance.) "Chocolate & Champagne Holiday Gala" was highly successful and "NUTCRACKER" attendance far exceeded 2008 - and we added an extra show!  School shows were packed with many more wanting the 10:30 show than we were able to accommodate.   Sponsored in part by a grant from a Tourist Development Tax Grant from the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners in conjunction with the Alachua County Tourist Development Council, the project exceeded expectations.  Data reflected from credit cards, surveys and emails (license tags not yet in):   196 Florida visitors outside of Alachua County 33 Florida counties represented 46 out of State 11 states represented 5 out of US 4 countries represented   BRAVO to all the volunteers who made this event possible!  A special thanks to the hotels and businesses who were our NUTCRACKER PARTNERS.   On the Road Again  ... and Again ... and Again! Pictured above, Kim Tuttle's L'Amour.  From a comment on You Tube, "Absolutely WONDERFUL - this piece soars!!!"   While preparing for Fused Tutu, the Company also had to prepare for two totally different tour programs!   January 20th through 23rd found the Company presenting six performances of LADY BUG:ACTION HERO!  at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts; the sixth year the Broward County School System has brought the Company in to perform this work.  Sold out houses and wonderful responses from the children at all the performances made us feel GREAT!   From one of the teachers,   " BRAVO!!!  BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!  We loved the program today.  The children were captivated.  Everything and everybody was superb.  The dancing was perfection.  Thank you for a delightful morning!"                  North Lauderdale Elementary     The Company headed out for Delray Beach January 27th  for performances of L'AMOUR, DON QUIXOTE, MADAME BUTTERFULY PAS DE DEUX, FILLE MAL GARDE AND SOAR. Next, Artistic Director Kim Tuttle, Assistant Director Andre Valladon, Judy Skinner, Carla Amancio and Tim Heflin travel to Ft. Myers where Mr. Valladon will teach master classes at Cyprus High School and all will meet with the officials from AOTO.  Ms. Amancio and Mr. Valladon will perform BAILERO at a reception celebrating the soft opening of the AOTO Center of Excellence on January 29th.   The dancers returned to Gainesville for performances of LADY BUG:ACTION HERO! at Oak Hall School on February 1st.   It has indeed been a busy month!     Tim Heflin in ARIAS.   Photo by Colleen Rand.    As many of you know, Tim Heflin, DANB principal dancer for over thirty years, had a stroke December 20th. We would like all of his friends and fans to know that he is doing well thanks to his excellent health, strong constitution, mental strength and phenomenal drive! Company Trainer for the last several years, Mr. Heflin knows the body and what has to be done.  He has an excellent support group and with their help, improves daily.  It will take time, but he fully expects to be back in the classroom dancing.   Leading roles created for Mr. Heflin include BOLERO, DON QUIXOTE, FRANKENSTEIN, DRACULA, SPARTACUS, TOM JONES, CLEOPATRA, TRISTAN & ISOLDE, TSUNAMI and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Dance Alive National Ballet is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency in partnership with the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Dance Alive National Ballet is sponsored in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art, the City of Gainesville, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs and a Tourist Development Tax Grant from the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners in conjunction with the Alachua County Tourist Development Council. Granting Agencies or Organizations that DANB belongs to.