Elemental Movement | Grand Rapids Ballet

ELEMENTAL MOVEMENT

Katita Waldo and Stephen Legate, courtesy of the San Francisco Ballet, photo by Chris Hardy.

Mary Panek

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MESSAGE

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the opening program of our 2022-23 season, Elemental Movement, a triple bill of ballets that demonstrate the quality of choreographers that come to work with us as well as the versatility of our wonderful dancers. We journey from the beauty of Katarzyna Skarpetowska’s Off the Canvas to the drama and contemporary sensibility of Dani Rowe’s Liar Lear King (a world premiere), and finish in the fun jazzy world of Lar Lubovitch’s Elemental Brubeck.

Even though this is our first program in our Peter Martin Wege theater this season, we have been busy performing around West Michigan during our Summer Series, with performances at the Frederick Meijer Gardens, Studio Park, ArtPrize and our new Summer Dance Festival. We love being able to bring our art to more people in this way, and I hope you were able to enjoy some of these outdoor performances during our beautiful Michigan summer.

I am very excited about the world premiere of Liar Lear King, which is a collaboration between Grand Rapids Ballet and Satellite Collective, a New York City based organization that produces and promotes collaborations across genres. When I was approached by directors Kevin Draper and Lora Robertson about a concept based on Shakespeare’s King Lear, I immediately thought of Dani Rowe as a perfect choreographer for this project. With her innate ability to convey emotion through contemporary movement and her willingness to collaborate, I knew that she would deliver something meaningful. Paired with a commissioned score from composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone and a new film by Lora Robertson, this ballet is the culmination of many artists’ efforts. Together they have boiled the tragic story of King Lear down to its core relationships, and I think they have created a timeless, powerful work. I am proud that we have been vital to its creation, and that it has been made possible by our new Grand Rapids Ballet New Works Fund.

Elemental Brubeck is a piece that I know intimately, having dancing it myself many times as a dancer at San Francisco Ballet. I was present in the studio during its creation with choreographer Lar Lubovitch, and it has been so much fun to revisit now. It is a joyous ballet, combining dances of the 1950’s with Lar’s signature circular style, although it is deceptively challenging, and our dancers have been digging into it with pleasure.

Finally, I am happy to bring Off the Canvas back from last season, a beautiful choreographic reaction by Katarzyna Skarpetowska to Cy Twombly’s Baccus paintings. I think our dancers embody the quality of the paintings, the music, and the movement perfectly.

Thank you for being here to experience these three ballets that each convey something unique. I like to think that there is nothing we can’t do well here at Grand Rapids Ballet, and a program like this is evidence of that!

Sincerely,

James Sofranko, Artistic Director

ELEMENTAL MOVEMENT

OFF THE CANVAS

Choreography: Katarzyna Skarpetowska

Music: Antonio Vivaldi (Cello Concerto in A minor) Adrian Klumpes (Why, Cornered, Alone)Costumes: Fritz Masten Lighting: Mark Stanley

Inspired by the ecstatic and mystery evoking vermilion loops of Cy Twombly’s Bacchus series painting.

Originally commissioned by BalletX.First performed at The Wilma Theater, Philadelphia, PA: 2019 Sponsored by: Marcus and Helle Haw intermission

LIAR LEAR KING

World Premiere | In partnership with Satellite Collective Choreography: Dani Rowe Music: Original music composition: Ellis Ludwig-LeoneMixed and engineered by Tyler McDiarmidRecorded at Better Company StudiosProject management by Fritz Myers - Past Future ConsultantsViolin: Jesse Mills Violin: Michelle Ross Viola: Colin Brooks Cello: Michael Nicolas

Original concept and writing: Lora Robertson and Kevin DraperScenic paintings by Kevin DraperFilm by Lora RobertsonCostume Design: Ronald AltmanLighting Design: Matthew TaylorUnderwritten by the Grand Rapids Ballet New Works Fund

King Lear challenges his three daughters to fight for his legacy. He unfairly divides the kingdomand the children go to war with each other until there is nothing left of value. Lear realizes themeaning of genuine love thanks to Cordelia and experiences a redemption, but is it too late tograsp this hard lesson learned?

intermission

ELEMENTAL BRUBECK

Choreography: Lar Lubovitch (2005)Music: Dave Brubeck* Restaging: Katarzyna SkarpetowskaCostume Design: Ann Hould-WardLighting Design: Jack Mehler

Elemental Brubeck was created in collaboration between the San Francisco Ballet and the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company.

*Music for Solo: “Iberia.” Music for Duo: “Theme from Elementals.” Music for Combo: “Elementals.”

All music performed by the Dave Brubeck Quartet from “Time Changes.”

Approximate performance length is 1 hour 45 minutes, including a two 15-minute intermissions.

Support Our Next 50 Years

Grand Rapids Ballet relies on the support of the West Michigan community to move forward to sustain our mission of lifting the human spirit through the art of dance. Please consider contributing to Grand Rapids Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Campaign to expand our reach, programming, and audience.

Yuko Horisawa and James Cuningham, photo by Andy Terzes.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

OUR PLEDGE

Grand Rapids Ballet is dedicated to expanding the experience of world-class dance and artistic excellence. Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee, comprised of board members, staff, and dancers, is committed to examining our efforts, seeking out all voices in our community, and creating actions to be a more inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible cultural organization.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As a first important step in our ongoing mission for social justice, Grand Rapids Ballet would like to recognize the People of the Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potowatomi peoples on whose land we are gathered. The Three Fires People are indigenous to this land which means that this is their ancestral territory. The Grand Rapids Ballet is built on native land. As such, we are guests on their land, and one way to practice Right Relations is to develop genuine ways to acknowledge the histories and traditions of the people who originated here first, who are still here, and who tend to the land always. As we take this step, we understand that there are many more ahead as we continuously advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community.

James Cunningham

Rowan Allegra

Yuko Horisawa

Alexandra Meister-Upleger

Yuka Oba-Muschiana

Emily Reed

Nigel Tau

Julia Turner

Adriana Wagenveld

Nathan

Brodie Donougher

Josué JustizJulian Gan

Sarah Marley

Branden Reiners

Claudia Rhett

Isaac Aoki

Learn more about Grand Rapids Ballet’s dancers at grballet.com/dancers. Dancer headshots by Rebecca Humes Photography

Nia Lessard

Mackenzie Davis

Angelina de la Nuez

Isabella Marino

Arianna Hughlett

Evan Arrendondo Avery Held

Talia Lebowitz

Adrien Malof

Ashley Rosendahl

Josephine Shadle

Rianna Talento

Serafina

Wagenveld

ELEMENTAL MOVEMENT

LAR LUBOVITCH - CHOREOGRAPHER

Lar Lubovitch, one of America’s most versatile and widely seen choreographers, founded the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in 1968 which has produced more than 120 dances and performed before millions across the U.S. and over 40 countries. Major dance companies throughout the world have performed his dances, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and more. In 1987, he conceived Dancing for Life, the first response by the dance community to the AIDS crisis, and in 2007 Lubovitch co-created the Chicago Dancing Festival. Among many awards, he has been named Chicagoan of the Year by the Chicago Tribune, designated a Ford Fellow by United States Artists, awarded an honorary doctorate by The Juilliard School, and received the Dance Magazine Award and the Martha Graham Award for lifetime achievement.

DANI ROWE - CHOREOGRAPHER

Dani Rowe was born in Shepparton, Australia, and trained at the Australian Ballet School. From 2001-2015 Rowe was a Principal Dancer with the Australian Ballet and Houston Ballet, and also danced with the prestigious Nederlands Dans Theater. She has created works for San Francisco Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Idaho, Grand Rapids Ballet, SFDanceworks, Dance Aspen, Barak Ballet, Diablo Ballet, Oakland Ballet, and Berkeley Ballet Theater. Rowe has been dubbed a “choreographic storyteller” (Culture Vulture) and her work “merits much praise” (SF Chronicle). Her choreographic style has been described as “using a myriad of intricate hand and arm gestures that build on each other like the blocks in a Jenga game, along with a rich, flowing, contemporary ballet movement aesthetic.” (culturedGR). Rowe lives in San Francisco, California with her two daughters and husband.

KATARZYNA SKARPETOWSKA - CHOREOGRAPHER

Katarzyna Skarpetowska is a native of Warsaw, Poland. She is an alumna of the NYC High School of Performing Arts and received a BFA from The Juilliard School. She danced for The Lar Lubovitch Dance Company performing at New York City’s City Center, Washington DC’s Kennedy Center, and Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater. Skarpetowska has worked as a repetiteur and assistant choreographer to Lar Lubovitch, David Parsons, and Robert Battle, setting their works on major ballet and contemporary companies around the world. As a choreographer, she has been commissioned by BalletX, Richmond Ballet, Rochester City Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, Parsons Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater II, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Buglisi Dance Theater, Big Muddy Dance Company, Owen/Cox Dance Group, Bruce Wood Dance, and The Juilliard School. Kate was named Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2016 and was nominated for a NY Dance and Performance Award in 2017.

DAVE BRUBECK - COMPOSER

Dave Brubeck (1920-2012), designated a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress, was one of the most active and popular musicians in both the jazz and classical worlds. In 1951, Dave formed the Dave Brubeck Quartet with alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, and the 1959 recording “Time Out” which experimented in time signatures beyond the usual jazz 4/4 became the first jazz album to sell over a million copies. In the year 2000 the National Endowment for the Arts declared Dave Brubeck a Jazz Master. He was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2003 and in 2009, Dave received the prestigious Kennedy Center Award, which President Barack Obama bestowed on him on his 89th birthday.

CREATORS

ADRIAN LIM-KLUMPES - COMPOSER

Adrian Lim-Klumpes is a performer and composer from Sydney, Australia. He performs primarily on piano with electro acoustics and preparations. Adrian has composed a range of works and has undertaken commissions for chamber ensembles, choreog-raphers and filmmakers. As a member of several improvising post-modern jazz ensembles including Triosk, 3ofmillions and cur-rently Tangents, he plays piano, rhodes electronics, and mallet percussion. Adrian has released several albums including two solo albums, Be Still and Yield.

ELLIS LUDWIG LEONE - COMPOSER

Ellis Ludwig-Leone is a composer whose music combines lush, naturalistic textures with moments of thorny complexity. Ludwig-Leone has spent the greater part of the last decade balancing his work as a songwriter with a robust career as a composer of concert works written for many of today’s contemporary classical luminaries. In the 2022-23 season, Ludwig-Leone’s first opera, The Night Falls, with a libretto by Ludwig-Leone and Russell, and direction and choreography from Troy Schumacher (New York City Ballet), will premiere at Montclair State University. This season will also see the premiere of a new work for choreographer Dani Rowe and Grand Rapids Ballet. After graduating from Yale University Ludwig-Leone worked as a musical assistant for composer Nico Muhly.

ANTONIO VIVALDI - COMPOSER

Antonio Vivaldi, a 17th and 18th-century composer, is one of the most renowned figures in European classical music. A prolific composer who created hundreds of works, renowned for his concertos in Baroque style, becoming a highly influential innovator in form and pattern. Vivaldi was ordained as a priest though he instead chose to follow his passion for music. He was also known for his operas, including Argippo and Bajazet. In addition to his choral music and concerti, Vivaldi had begun regularly writing opera scores by 1715; about 50 of these scores remain including, La Constanza Trionfante and Farnace.

SATELLITE COLLECTIVE

Satellite Collective, formed in 2010, is led by Artistic Director Kevin Draper and executive director, Lora Robertson, with members of the New York City Ballet, visual artists, writers, and composers from across the country. Satellite has produced twelve seasons of multi-disciplinary work in New York City and in Michigan. Satellite has a unique approach to collaboration, engaging a wide spectrum of art forms toward a single purpose, cross- pollenating disciplines in a way that is even, according to the New York Times “peculiar.” Satellite Collective dedicates an enormous percentage of its operating budget to fairly compensating the artists.

Q&A WITH DANI ROWE & LORA ROBERTSON

Lora Robertson, Executive Director of Satellite Collective and filmmaker Dani Rowe, Choreographer of Liar Lear King

Q: Can you share an overview of Liar Lear King?

A: Lora – Liar Lear King is an adaptation of the Shakespeare play. We’ve taken some liberties; it’s set it in 1970s New York City. We go into the psychological family dynamic, featuring Cordelia as the flawed hero of the story. King Lear is, of course, a very flawed king but over the course of the storytelling, he has a redemption. There’s a lot of family drama and backstabbing.

Q: What can audience members expect?

A: Dani – I hope the audiences arrive with an open mind and open heart. They should feel welcome and excited even if they’ve never encountered the story of King Lear. It’s definitely an adaptation that is inspired by King Lear but there are parts of the story that are relatable for everybody, so I hope that everyone finds something that connects to them.

Q: What has the process entailed working on this piece with Grand Rapids Ballet’s dancers?

A: Dani – It’s always a pleasure to work with the dancers here. I came into the studio having a very clear idea of the story and understanding of the music, but I didn’t want to push the movement and vocabulary on the dancers without having really worked with them. So it’s really been a collaborative experience with the dancers as well. We’ve developed this language together and they are really receptive and generous with their approach to the movement.

They are very sweet and kind to each other, which makes it very pleasant in the studio. They are starting to take risks and finishing my sentences for me, which is lovely. It’s been a high-energy and intense, very focused couple of weeks in the studio.

Q: Share a brief overview of the inspiration behind Liar Lear King.

A: Lora – We were inspired by this piece of writing, historically it’s very important, but sometimes an overlooked Shakespeare work. It’s very rich material. Liar Lear King is going to be one of the most challenging pieces of the evening, so the audiences will have to bring something of themselves to the interpretation process. It’s always a good challenge to have.

Dani – I hope people talk about it, go home or to the bar and chat about it. It’s okay not to understand it straight away. Let it wash over you and soak in.

Oba-Muschiana and Josué Justiz, photo by Damion Van Slyke.

NEW WORKS FUND | WHY I GIVE

“Our contribution to the Grand Rapids Ballet New Works Fund allows the ballet to continue its excellent caliber of talent and work that it presents to the community.

The New Works Fund supports the creative process, artists, and dancers from start to finish. We look forward to seeing this program grow and strengthen new projects GRB has in store for the future.”

To learn more about Grand Rapids Ballet’s New Works Fund, contact Development Director Julie Lesniak at juliel@grballet.com

- Gina Ang and John Mitchell

O F G R A N D R A P I D S A C O M M U N I T Y F O R W O M E N C E L E B R A T I N G 1 0 0 Y E A R S !

9 2 4

2 0 2 4

Q&A WITH KATARZYNA SKARPETOWSKA

Q: Can you share the inspiration behind Elemental Brubeck?

A: Elemental Brubeck is inspired by a more innocent time in American history in the post-war 1950s. It is heavily influenced by the popular and social dances of the time such as the jitterbug. Lar calls it mid-century modern dance and he remembers a time when he was a teenager in the 1950s and people would gather at rooftop parties and would spontaneously start dancing the jitterbug and improvising the steps.

Q: What can audience members expect to see and hear?

A: The music is by Dave Brubeck and it’s a jazz score that is very energetic and fun to dance to. The costumes are by Ann Hould Ward featuring 1950s silhouettes, with dresses and skirts for women and slacks and dress shirts for men. The colors are very vibrant and are inspired by irises and roses and flowers from the garden space where the dance originally premiered.

Audience members can expect a big tour de force solo for a male dancer, which is very showy and exciting for the audience. There’s an element of lyrical style which Lar is very famous for and is based in classical lines so ballet dancers can respond to it very easily. The second movement is a very lyrical and sensual duet. The last movement, which is the bulk of the dance, is a very energetic jitterbug-style.

Q: What has the process entailed working on this piece with Grand Rapids Ballet’s dancers?

A: Grand Rapids Ballet’s dancers are very responsive and very enthusiastic and generous in their art and how they process movement, so it’s been a lot of fun. We’ve been laughing a lot in the studio, especially while doing the jitterbug, and finding ways to feel comfortable in the movement. Every time I come here, I love working with them and it’s a smooth process the entire time.

Q: Is there anything people should know as they watch Elemental Brubeck?

A: Audience members should prepare to be entertained. There are a lot of fun moments in the dance and people always leave the theatre feeling uplifted and feeling excited about coming back.

Grand Rapids Ballet Company dancers in Serenade Choreography by George Balanchine

Katarzyna Skarpetowska, Choreographer of Off the Canvas and stager of Elemental Brubeck

Thank

all the passionate individuals, past and present, that have made up the Grand Rapids Ballet for 50 years.

COMPANY

Artistic Director James Sofranko

Executive Director Glenn Del Vecchio

Marketing Director Jessica Meldrum M.S.

Development Director Julie Lesniak

Production Stage Manager Megan Marie Thompson

Costume Shop Manager Ronald Altman

Costume Shop Assistant Nancy Greiner

Company/Facilities Manager John Ferraro

Artistic Coordinator/Ballet Master

Dawnell Dryja Black

Company Teachers:

Dawnell Dryja-Black, James Sofranko, Jon Upleger

Guest Services Manager Errol Shewman

Box Office Manager Melissa Anderson

Marketing & Development Specialist

Meghan Dolata

Pianists Ryan Blok, Justin Gray, Margi Peterson

Housekeeping Bruno Martinez

SCHOOL

Director & Junior Company Artistic Director

Attila Mosolygo

Curriculum Coordinator Mindy Mosolygo Administrator SarahJean Bos

Faculty Melanie Brossiet, James Cunningham, Jillian Gasper, Nicholas Gray, Lydia Hart, Anna Mainero, Kate Riegler Matlack, Yuka Oba-Muschiana, Nigel Tau, Jessica Winter-Troutwine

Pianists Ryan Blok, Idalmira Lopez, Mark Moran

Receptionists Mary-Ann Carpenter, Audrey Walker, Arianna Wisniewski

PRODUCTION CREW

Production Carpenter Andrew Steers

Production Electrician Matt Taylor

Asst. Production Electrician Glenn Gould

Production Properties Ben Knudstrup

Projectionist Marc Savage

Assistant Stage Manager Maragaret Peterson

Grand Rapids Ballet

50th Anniversary!

MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND THURSDAY EVENINGS

Adult classes in ballet are an excellent way to stay fit, flexible, and happy. Our adult classes are taught by experienced Grand Rapids Ballet Company dancers and GRBS School Faculty and are open to all ranges, abilities, and experience levels.

Visit grballet.com/adult for more information.

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EXPLORER DANCE

EXPLORER DANCE is a free 60-minute, beginning-level ballet class that emphasizes balance, coordination, and creative expression for children and young adults, ages 10-19, with disabilities.

The class features an inclusive and respectful space with an emphasis on developing a positive class environment. Instruction moves at a slower pace, using more frequent teacher-modeling and making connections between shapes that are created with the body.

The class also includes opportunities for the dancers to move creatively through improvisation. Students enjoy interacting and building community with their fellow classmates and receiving support from one another each week.

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Second Chances – Thinking outside the box to fill business needs in unique ways. We accept and leverage growth that comes through failure and life challenges.

People Before Profits – Doing the right thing is key to our families’ success and growth.

This is all to achieve our Vision to be the premier choice for peace of mind in responsive and reliable transportation solutions. Built on family values, we focus on team goals that drive customer and employee loyalty.

We would like to wish a Happy 50th Anniversary to the Grand Rapids Ballet.