On March 15, Sedona residents can enjoy a special performance by American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Studio Company, the junior company of American Ballet Theatre. The dancers range in age from 16 to 20 and are considered to be some of the best dancers in the world. About 80 percent of American Ballet Theatre dancers are alumni of the ABT Studio Company. Alumni of the program include Misty Copeland. “Part of our mission is to tour around the country and around the world,” says Sascha Radetsky, artistic director of the ABT Studio Company. “I’m excited to expose these young dancers to this beautiful corner of the world.”
Twelve dancers will take the stage. As of press time, some of the details of the program are in the works. Some new works are being choreographed. Audience members should anticipate a diverse mix of both classical and modern dance. Specifically, look forward to the George Balanchine choreographed Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux; a Pas de Deux created by Kenneth MacMillan will also be presented from the ballet “Concerto;” a jazzy solo by a Daniel Albrecht, a principal at New York City Ballet, called “Tatum Poll Bookie” by Art Tatum, an American jazz pianist. What ties together such a diverse group of dance performances? “Everything has to be anchored by the classics. ABT, at its heart, is a classical ballet company,” he says. “It all comes back to the classics, which are often the most the most difficult, that require the most training and the most finesse and the most nuance. That sort of base classical ballet is kind of the base for most modern and contemporary dance.”
“We want to show that ballet doesn’t just involve toe shoes, pointe shoes and pink tulle. That ballet is a big umbrella term for a wide variety of dance,” says Sascha. “To be an ABT dancer, you have to be particularly versatile in various genres of dance, and that’s part of our mission, as well as to is to develop these dancers.” Look forward to seeing world-class ballet in town. “Our purpose is to engage a broad audience and bring ballet to all corners of the country and the globe,” says Sascha. “It’s a chance to see some of the most promising and talented young artists in the world tackling some iconic choreography, and it’ll be fun.” − Teresa K. Traverse
SEDONA CALENDAR: Events, activities, shows, happenings
