Dances from the Heart will address much that inspires passion. Our history, our homeland, our habitat, and our humanity will be on full display.
Opening the program is Heartland, a new piece by Elizabeth George-Fesch, inspired by imagery of the vast golden fields and blue skies of farmlands, the figurative “heart” of America. The ballet is set to music by Myroslav Skoryk for thirteen women.
Live harp and dance come together in Drift a new piece that explores glacial deterioration as an offering to ongoing conversations about honoring our natural environments. This work is a collaborative effort between UA School of Dance Assistant Professor Autumn Eckman, harpist Dr. Michelle Gott of the Fred Fox School of Music who will perform live with UA harp ensemble HarpFusion, and multi-media artist Jonathan Marquis.
The centerpiece of this concert will be a work by guest, Nacho Duato, referred to in Paris recently as “One of the most beautiful choreographers of our time…” Since its world premiere in 1990, Na Floresta has been performed exclusively by professional ballet companies in Spain, France, Russia and Canada and in the United States by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. UA Dance is honored to be in the company of those who have performed this rare gem.
One of his best early works, Na Floresta made Nacho Duato world famous. In this one-act ballet, he penetrates the savage mystery of the Amazonian Selva. By analogy, the bustling variety of nature represents the ocean of human feelings. Its metaphysical currents again and again give rise to a new and unrestrained tide of life…
Stories of love and life are illustrated by three new works. Michael Williams brings us a new tap piece, AlittleSAXophoneSTORY, about a young man’s desire to play sax and his journey to achieve his goal. Tammy Dyke-Compton reflects on three stages of relationship in Morning, Noon and Night; falling in love, the ups and downs of sharing a life together, and the departing of the one we love. She brings together three duets and familiar tunes, “Georgia On My Mind,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Wee Small Hours of the Morning.” A Love Once New, by Autumn Eckman, also portrays love and the passage of time. The piece was inspired by the title and opening passage of the sonnet “I know I am but summer to your heart; And not the full four seasons of the year” by Edna St. Vincent Millay. The piece is set to a score by UA Dance musician Joe Venegoni.
In a stunning interpretation of an 8th century Japanese legend, Jessica Lang’s Among the Stars brings to life a celestial love story about two gods who are forbidden to see each other except for one night a year. This piece was originally commissioned by TITAS for the Command Performance Gala and premiered in 2010 to a magical score by composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. In a recent review Philip Gardner writes, “In this ecstatic duet, the dancers share fleeting moments of intimacy while ever-aware that the sea of stars will soon separate them again.”
Dances from the Heart. Come see and be moved.
Tickets: Adult $35; Senior/Military/UA Employee $30; Student $15
Season Subscriptions Available
- Wednesday Feb. 13, 7:30 PM
- Thursday Feb. 14, 7:30 PM
- Friday Feb. 15, 7:30 PM
- Saturday Feb. 16, 1:30 PM
- Saturday Feb. 16, 7:30 PM
- Sunday Feb. 17, 1:30 PM
Na Floresta and Among the Stars are made possible through the generous support of The James H. and Frances R. Allen Family Foundation, Sandy & Elliott Heiman, Ruth & Ron Kolker, the Fikkan and Sherwood Artist in Residence Fund and the Ballet Masterworks Fund.
Photo: Na Floresta by Nacho Duato, courtesy of Universal Ballet-Seoul, South Korea