We extend our congratulations to all the graduates from in the University of Utah Ballet Department.

Two students are receiving the MFA degree and twenty –eight students will receive the BFA. This is the largest BFA graduating class in recent memory.  Even more impressive is that half of them have either a double-major (8) or a minor (6). The double majors include: Mass Communication, Exercise and Sports Science, Political Science, Economics, English, Computer Science, and Marketing. The Minors include: Nutrition, Psychology, Entrepreneurship, and Human Development.

A number of our graduates have already received professional dance contract offers from organizations such as, Montgomery Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Charlottesville Ballet, and San Antonino Ballet..  Their success is a testament to their hard work and to the quality of the Ballet program.

Well done!

Congratulations  Rachel Osterman

Congratulations to Ballet BFA student Rachel Osterman
on receiving the Student Mentor of the Year Award
of the 2013 U of U Student Leadership Awards!

More

Choreographers of the Far East – Ma Cong, Dr. Jung Sik Roh, & Jay Kim.

March 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 – Tickets @ kingtix.com, 801.581.7100

Kelly Boal Master Class – February 9, 2013

Kelly Boal trained with Olga Kostritsky in her home town of Buffalo, New York and at the School of American Ballet under Suki Schorer, Alexandra Danilova and Stanley Williams among others. She joined the New York City Ballet in 1984 and received a promotion to the rank of soloist in 1989. During her career with NYCB she performed numerous works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins and created original roles in works by Twyla Tharp. In 1991 she left NYCB to pursue freelance opportunities which included national and international touring with Heather Watts and Darci Kistler, guest appearances with the Dutch National Ballet and France’s Ballet du Nord, and regular appearances in the Montreal Gala des Etoiles.

Ms. Boal has served as a faculty member for the Stamford City Ballet school in Connecticut and for the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, where she currently teaches advanced students technique and variations.

Kelly Boal Master Class Application

SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY, FEB. 9TH – COMMUNITY MASTER CLASS (intermediate/advanced) – $25

Community Master Class check-in @ 8:30am – Class from 9:00 am-10:30 am

SATURDAY, FEB. 9TH – COMMUNITY MASTER CLASS (advanced) + AUDITION MASTER CLASS (for students auditioning for UofU) – $25

Auditioning Student Master Class check-in @ 10:30am (unless you are auditioning) – Class from 11:00 am-12:30 am

SATURDAY, FEB. 9TH – TEACHER CLASS OBSERVATION & SEMINAR – $15

Saturday Teacher’s Observation – 9:00am-1:00pm

During the month of September, Professor Richard Wacko traveled to CSU to be an artist-in-residence, conducting lectures on character dance history in relationship to dance history, teaching masterclasses, and setting traditional character choreography on CSU dance students.

CSU students will be performing his choreography in November. Click here for more info.

CDE recently performed for invited guests at a celebration for UN Day in Utah.  This event titled “Solutions for a Prosperous World” was held in

the Panorama Room at the Olpin Union on campus, and featured speakers, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon and Michael Beard.  CDE performed several international choreographies from Italy, Belorussia and Uzbekistan.

Tamara Squires, Director of Jazz Dance has been asked to perform and choreograph for the Inaugural President’s Dinner at the Grand America. She will be performing with the Jazz Dance faculty and students. It is part of Inaugural Week. The theme this year is ‘Imagine U’ and will explore the wonderful relationships that exist between faculty and students all over this campus.

Performers to include:

Tamara Squires – Director of Jazz Dance

Jackie Bohn - Jazz Dance Assistant Teacher

Alissa Tucker – Jazz Dance Assistant Teacher

K.D. Rhodes – Jazz Dance Student

Lisa Hawkins – Jazz Dance Student

Read the full letter below. Also, check out some snapshots from last year’s ‘Live To Dance’ Jazz Dance Concert.

Chanel Kostich, Department of Ballet Freshman, was selected by Empath Media LLC to dance in a new music video with the band Cedar Breaks a local Utah band featuring unique, fresh, new age folk with strong harmonies & themes that cause thought & reflection. Chanel did an amazing job choreographing on herself to the song “Always Mine” from the bands debut CD, “Tyme Aspects of Home” which was released September 2012. www.cedarbreaksband.com

The shoot was held on the Bonneville Salt Flats, west of the Salt Lake Valley. Chanel, who only had two-weeks total to choreograph, rehearse, polish, and perform her piece, was a great representative of the quality of students we have attending the U of U Department of Ballet. It took from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm for the full video shoot. She danced the piece over and over wearing holes in two pairs of techniques shoes (because of the terrain and the risk of injury, pointe shoes were not used.) This video will feature Chanel, her dancing and campus life.

Chanel has been invited to participate in future videos with the band. We congratulate her on this project and those that she will do in the future.

As soon as we receive a copy of the finished product we will post it for you to watch and enjoy.

Professor Laura Katz Rizzo of Temple University will be visiting scholar / master teacher in residence from October 24 – 26, 2012.  She is a ballet choreographer, scholar and pedagogue.  Holding a Ph.D. in Dance Studies and a graduate certificate in Women’s Studies, she will lecture and lead discussions about the agency of women in classical ballet, with particular attention to the ballets the department is presenting this semester.  She is certified in the Vaganova method of classical ballet pedagogy and by the ABT Teacher Graining Intensive Primary through 7 and Partnering, and will also offer master classes to our students.  Her teachers included Maria Tallchief, Allegra Kent, Larissa Sklyanskaya and Ben Stevenson.  She performed professionally in several classical ballet companies, including Ballet South, the Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware, the Santa Fe Opera Company and several contemporary and baroque companies.  Her repertoire includes principal roles in The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Cinderella and many other classical and contemporary ballets.

Dr. Laura Katz Rizzo Temple University Bio Page

Laura Katz Rizzo is a ballet choreographer, scholar and pedagogue.  She has received certification in the Vaganova method of classical ballet pedagogy, which she studied under John White and Margarita de Saá, as well as being an ABT certified teacher who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in levels Primary through 7 and Partnering of the American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum. She began her ballet training under Hortensia Fonseca at the Maryland Youth Ballet, later studying with Maria and Marjorie Tallchief, Melissa Hayden and Allegra Kent at the Chicago City Ballet, Helgi Thommason, Christopher Boatwright and Larissa Sklyanskaya at the San Francisco Ballet, and Ben Stevenson and Rosemary Miles at the Houston Ballet. As a student, she performed with The Joffrey Ballet and New York City Ballet. She has performed professionally with several classical ballet companies, including Ballet South, the Russian Ballet Theatre of Delaware, the Santa Fe Opera Company, and The Ballet Theatre of New Mexico, and several contemporary and baroque dance companies, including Dance Theatre X, Opus I Contemporary and Sprezzatura Dance Ensemble. Her repertoire includes principal roles in The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Les Patineurs, Firebird, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Dark Elegies, Raymonda, Paquita, and many other classical and contemporary ballets.

Dr. Katz has a BA in History and English from the University of New Mexico, an Ed. M from Temple University and a Certificate in Women’s Studies and Ph. D. in Dance Studies from Temple University.  She has trained in archive and oral history work through the Legacy Oral History Project, and written articles, book reviews and teaching guides for dance publications and institutions such as Dance Chronicle, Playbill Magazine, Critical Correspondence: Movement Research Journal and The Brooklyn Academy of Music.  She has participated in interviews and panels on dance for The National Museum of Women in the Arts and WRTI Radio, and presented papers, choreographic work and taught master classes at some of the following institutions: The University of Pennsylvania, The University of Chicago, Sarah Lawrence College, The University of the Arts, The University of Utah, Franklin and Marshall College, Muhlenberg College and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

In addition to her faculty position at Temple University, Dr. Rizzo has taught at Mount Holyoke College, Bryn Mawr College, Drexel University, the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, the Dance Theatre of the Southwest, Ballet Theater of New Mexico, among other institutions.

The Department of Ballet was pleased to welcome back Gerard Cuesta, Basque and Spanish dance master to work with CDE.

This was his second visit to share his knowledge and expertise with the Character Dance Ensemble.

Thank you Gerard!

On Friday September 28, 2012 three hundred children from East Midvale Elementary School, a Title I school, attended a performance of ballet.  They watched nine original works that ballet majors had choreographed, cheering loudly for each performance.  Rachel Osterman, Sorenson Dance Scholar, had provided their teachers with instructional material about ballet prior to the show.  She also served as MC, introducing the children to the theatre and hosting Q & A after each work.  The students identified “classical” and “contemporary” works, happy and scary music, and asked many interesting questions.  They wanted to know how our dancer kept so straight, what the ladies’ pointe shoes were made of, why the men wore tights, and how the dancers all managed to stay together.  Our dancers had an opportunity to impress upon them that hard work and practice pay off!

One of the teachers reported: “The kids were excited by what they saw and came back to school twirling and standing on their toes, as well as talking about lighting, costumes, and creating straight lines, among other things.”

This performance was made possible by the generosity of the Sorenson Legacy Foundation.

Photos by Professor Richard Wacko.

Sandra Birch Allen, BFA 1964, MFA 1967, Associate Professor of Dance at Brigham Young University, was named the 2012 Distinguished Alumna of the Department.  Sandra began teaching at BYU in 1968, and rose to be the Ballet Division Administrator, basically creating, nurturing and growing the program of ballet studies at BYU for the past 44 years. The University of Utah Department of Ballet particularly wishes to honor Sandra Allen’s leadership in ballet studies in higher education.

Prior to her studies at the University Sandra was one of the charter members of the Utah Civic Ballet, the predecessor to Utah’s Ballet West.  During her studies and for a year following her graduation with the MFA, Sandra continued to perform with the Utah Civic Ballet, performing demi and solo roles in many of Willam Christensen’s classic works.

While at BYU Sandra also served as Associate Chair of the Dance Department, choreographed over 20 original works, restaged over 13 works for BYU Theatre Ballet, and wrote two textbooks: Reference Resource for Teaching Ballet Part I: The Teaching of Ballet, An Eclectic Approach, and Part II: Ballet Methodologies, A Comparative Analysis. In 2011 she received the Gerrit de Jong, J.r Gratitude Award. In 2008 the  CORPS de Ballet International, the organization of ballet professors in higher education, bestowed its Outstanding Service Award on Sandra.  

While visiting our campus on the occasion of the award, Sandra delivered a compelling lecture about the history of ballet in high education and Willam Christensen’s place within that history.

Senior Rachel Osterman, junior Meredith Jones, and sophomore Jessica Cetrone were selected by the faculty to serve as Sorenson Dance Scholars.  They will work to bring children from disadvantaged Title I elementary schools to campus to watch all of the department’s performances this year and to take the Character Dance Ensemble into local junior high and high schools. They have already prepared instructional materials for our first guests, 3rd to 5th graders from East Midvale Elementary School, who will attend the Showcase I performance on Friday September 29.

In July and August of this year, Rob Wood had the pleasure of serving as Director of Music for the National Choreography Intensive 2012 sponsored by Regional Dance America.  It is Rob’s seventh year serving in the capacity.  This year the Intensive was held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and brought together 12 choreographers and 50 dancers from all over the United States and Canada.  The Director of Choreography was Nally Van Bommel; choreographer, company director and faculty member at SUNY/Purchase.  Along with Nelly, Rob gave daily instruction and choreography assignments.  It was a wonderful opportunity to mentor up-and-coming choreographers.

The Sorenson Legacy Foundation has awarded the Department of Ballet and the Department of Modern Dance a $48,000 grant to support outreach and education in the public schools.  The funds will permit the Ballet Department to bring children from disadvantaged Title I schools to campus to attend Friday morning performances. Students will see classical ballets as well as contemporary ballet and jazz performances. Ballet Sorenson Dance Scholars will prepare instructional materials for the students about the art of ballet and will deliver pre-curtain lectures and lead post-performance discussions. The grant will also support the Ballet Department’s Character Dance Ensemble traveling to perform and teach character (folk) dance in area junior high and high schools.

Adam Sklute, Artistic Director of Ballet West, asked Professor Tesch to coach two of his young dancers for the 4^th Beijing International Invitational for Dance Schools held this June, 2012.  Dancers auditioned by DVD and the finalists were chosen to go to Beijing to compete in both classical and contemporary solos.  There were only 16 international competitors chosen in each age category and an equal number of Chinese competitors.  Both BW dancers were chosen to compete in Beijing and together with Professor Tesch traveled to this ten-day event. In the first round they performed two classical variations and both were among the top 12 who moved on to the contemporary round. Beckanne Sisk, the ingénue featured on Breaking Pointe (on the CW channel), ultimately took Third Place in her age group – an excellent result given that no First Place was awarded.  Congratulations to both dancers and to “Coach” Tesch!

Professor Laird was invited to teach and choreograph for the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, the resident classical ballet school in Balboa Park. During the week of July 9^th-13^th Professor Laird taught Ballet Technique and Dance Conditioning classes to workshop participants and choreographed an original piece on the company. Her piece is schedule to be performed either during the Summer Showcase or the annual fundraiser performances at the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park.

In June, 2012 Professor Kim was invited to serve as faculty for the Korea International Ballet Competition, a UNESCO-registered event in its 5^th year. Professor Kim taught ballet technique classes and presented lectures to both competitors and workshop participants. In addition, he lectured on the subject of ‘The New Millennium Approach to Ballet’ at Sejong University in Seoul, South Korea. The organizers wrote to Professor Kim:  “Your gracious presence, experience and knowledge in the field of classical ballet have been an invaluable contribution to the success of the Korea International Ballet Competition.”

The graduating class of 2012 presented its final Ballet Senior Showcase on May 3, 2012 before dancing across the stage at Kingsbury Hall to receive their diplomas. They’re now off to perform and teach throughout the country.  Congratulations to the following graduates on their employment:

• Madeline Bay accepted an apprenticeship contract with Ballet Idaho
• Morgan Butler accepted a company contract with Nashville Ballet II
• Brittane Hughes accepted an apprenticeship contract with Ballet Nebraska
• Jessica Mariner accepted an apprenticeship contract with Ballet Nebraska
• Anna Marra is a full company member with Bodyvox2
• Katie Van Der Mars accepted an apprenticeship contract with Ballet Nebraska
• Juliana Vorkink accepted a position as faculty with Utah Dance Artists, where she will unveil a new character dance program Fall, 2012
• Kayley Winfield accepted a full company contact with Le Ballet du Eddy Toussaint

The Department of Ballet graduating class of 2011-12 said farewell through movement on May 3rd, 2012, by gracing the stage of the Marriott Center for Dance one last time as undergraduate students. They did so with a dazzling concert featuring choreography, re-stagings, and performances by the Seniors, themselves. The production was produced by the Senior class under the direction of faculty member, Calvin Kitten.

The Department of Ballet is incredibly proud of our outstanding Seniors for all that they have accomplished thus far, and wishes them all the best of luck with their future careers!

March 22 – 5:30pm

March 23 – 7:30pm

March 24 – 2:00pm and 7:30pm

March 29 – 5:30pm

March 30 – 7:30pm

March 31 – 2:00pm and 7:30pm

A state-of-the-art LED lighting system will soon be installed in the Hayes Christensen Theater thanks to a grant from the University of Utah Office of Sustainability and additional contributions from Rocky Mountain Power, the College of Fine Arts and the Departments of Modern Dance and Ballet.  The nearly $65,000 project for the Marriott Center for Dance was spearheaded by Cole Adams,  Associate Professor (Lecturer). The new system will replace the current aging lighting units that illuminate the stage’s cyclorama. The project is funded to help highlight the University’s commitment and ongoing efforts to “GO GREEN”. The project boasts an impressive savings of nearly $1.2 million dollars to the University over the life span of the lighting units in electricity and consumable products.

Anna Marra, Fall 2011 graduate, was nominated by the Ballet Faculty for the College of Fine Arts Outstanding Senior Award.

Anna’s excellence in academics was an important reason for her nomination, given that Anna completed all three emphases in the Department (Performance, Teaching and Character Dance), completed a double major, getting a degree in Spanish as well as her BFA in Ballet, and graduated on the Dean’s List.  Also important was her dedication to her art. Anna has achieved success in the world of employment as she is currently dancing for Bodyvox in Portland Oregon.

Anna’s Bodyvox Bio

Junior Holly Martin entered her choreography from Student Showcase I into a choreography competition called Breaking Ground, created by CONDER/dance company in Tempe, Arizona.  The competition was designed to select the pieces that would be presented in the Breaking Ground festival in January of 2012 from both student and professional choreographers. Holly’s choreography was selected as one of the 10 Student Choreographers’ pieces, out of over 50 applicants. She and her dancers Haley Rasmussen, Jessica Liu, Devon Joslin and Alyse Morgan, all current or former members of the ballet department,  attended the festival this past January and put on the best performance of the piece, yet.

(From left: Haley Rasmussen, Devon Joslin, Holly Martin, Jessica Liu, and Alyse Morgan)