“A perfect opportunity for people, young and seasoned, to encounter professional classical and contemporary dance in a wonderful collection of artistic visions.” – Dunn

 

Alisha Ear’s Captive’s Hymn honors the resilience of her husband’s family, who survived the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia but carried the trauma into their new lives in the United States. Drawing emotional and musical inspiration from the film Paradise Road—which tells the true story of women prisoners of war in WW2 who found strength through communal singing—this piece explores the journey through layers of grief, toward healing and freedom.

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Eden Hughes’ ch-ch-changes is an in-process pondering on the winds of change; how they both usher in the storm and spin the pinwheels. Where might that leave us?

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Elizabeth Huntley’s Storm Surge is a contemporary dance, choreographed with creative input from its dancers, exploring the powerful, unpredictable force of water. Through sweeping movement and abstract imagery, Storm Surge evokes the relentless energy, beauty, and danger of the tides.

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Marcelo Martinez’s Presence is inspired by the poem “At the Crossroads of Time”. In this work, Marcelo choreographs a trio representing the struggle to let go of the past and embrace the uncertainty of the future and to allow the “presence” of the now. His second piece, Resilience, is a contemporary ballet pas de deux where in moments of despair when everything seems lost, a simple touch like a hand gesture, a catch from a fall, or a lift can instill a profound sense of connection and reassurance. These acts of kindness and support unite us as one, reminding us that we are not alone in this journey.

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Regina Rice’s The Coriolis Effect describes how the path of an object moving over the surface of a rotating body, like Earth, appears to curve rather than travel in a straight line. This phenomenon occurs because different parts of the Earth rotate at different speeds; for instance, the equator moves faster than the poles. As a result, objects moving long distances across the Earth's surface are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

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Rachel Taylor’s Adrift in Eternity is a pointe piece that mixes romantic-style ballet with a contemporary sense of flow. Set to Finnish vocals that drift from light and airy to rich and cinematic, the choreography blends classical grace with modern energy to create a dreamlike, emotional experience.

 

Stephanie Wolfe’s White Tiger is a contemporary modern dance rooted in primal connection. Through grounded movement and intricate partnering, dancers move like a pack of tigers—fluid and fiercely attuned to one another.

 

Asheville is fortunate to have a resident ballet company of this caliber. The community essentially has a year-long resident repertoire company. Seasoned dance fans and novices alike have the opportunity to watch consummate professionals perform a wide variety of roles, from classical to contemporary.

 

Asheville Ballet has built a reputation on the belief that dance plays a vital role in the education and culture of the community. As a key component of its Educational Outreach Program, The Asheville Ballet performs its entire production of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, for school children every year.

 

Asheville Ballet is North Carolina’s oldest non-profit ballet company. First incorporated in 1963, the company has created and presented work in Asheville every year since. In an average season, formal and educational outreach programming affects a culturally diverse audience of approximately 23,000 people. An active advisory panel and a strong, well-organized volunteer base assist a committed board.

 

Asheville Ballet has produced residencies by historical choreographers (Anna Sokolow, Douglas Dunn, Lori Bellilove), hosted master classes and workshops by international dance stars (Sean Curran, Mark Dendy, Chuck Davis, David Dorfman), produced a three-week Fall Into Dance festival, and commissioned both classical and contemporary choreography.

 

Asheville Ballet productions reflect the region’s varied interests. Work has been produced for fund-raisers (The Health Adventure, The Arts Council), civic events (Martin Luther King Day, Bele Chere Festival), and commercial events (The Dirty Dancing Festival, opening for the Pointer Sisters).

 

Since its inception, Asheville Ballet has produced both cutting edge interdisciplinary work and full-length major work. The company has collaborated with other local art agencies (the Asheville Symphony, Asheville Bravo Concerts, Asheville Community Theater, Asheville Lyric Opera), and has worked live with the area’s major musical, poetic, and visual artists.

 

In addition to promoting new work and a year-round professional ballet company for our region, Asheville Ballet offers an annual lecture series on dance appreciation, in coordination with other local dance presenters, and generates educational articles on dance history and appreciation for national and local publications. The company has built a full library of dance-related materials.

 

Asheville Ballet’s commitment to supporting its professional adult members is evidenced by its challenging and stimulating performances, choreography, and teaching opportunities. The company also continues to nurture the careers of advanced youth members. Dancers who have worked with the ballet have performed with Alvin Ailey, Kirov Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Fort Worth Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Colorado Ballet, Hartford Ballet, Boston Ballet, Geneva Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. Company dancers have appeared in Broadway musicals, Hollywood films, and have won titles all the way up to Miss and Mrs. America. They have also been accepted at the schools of the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Juilliard, Boston Ballet, Jose Limon, Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Robert Joffrey, and The Dance Conservatory at Purchase.

 

Asheville Ballet has created and found funding for scholarships for advanced dancers to pursue professional work in New York and Europe, and for underprivileged children to study dance in Asheville. The company has worked with Project Steam, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Helpmate, Elida Home, Presbyterian Home for Children, and local churches to locate and encourage new dancers and dance-appreciators. The Tix for Tots program makes hundreds of tickets available to introduce young people to the wonders of dance.

 

For more information call Ann Dunn at (828) 215-3728 or email The Asheville Ballet at dance@ashevilleballet.com.