TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa Ballet’s second company Tulsa Ballet II is compromised of some the most promising young dancers from around the world. They will have an opportunity to shine in On Your Radar August 24-26, 2018. The program will feature the exciting World Premiere of Peter and the Wolf by Tulsa Ballet Resident Choreographer Ma Cong as well as the return of Jennifer Archibald’s powerful contemporary work, OMENS. On Your Radar will take place Friday, August 24th at 7:30pm and Sunday, August 26th at 2:30pm in Tulsa Ballet’s Studio K Theater with an additional performance Saturday, August 25th at the Zarrow Performance Studio located in the Hardesty Center for Dance Education in Broken Arrow.
The new vision of Peter and the Wolf will feature a cast of characters audiences know and love with a colorful narration to help young patrons follow the story. The production is one the entire family will enjoy and will feature all new sets, costumes, and choreography designed just for Tulsa Ballet II. Artistic Director Marcello Angelini says, “I have wanted to create a version of Peter and the Wolf for Tulsa Ballet for as long as I can remember. I believe it’s the perfect vehicle to introduce young people to dance: it contains all the elements that make a first encounter with our art form successful, starting with a well known, easily understandable story, great music, lots of humor, and most importantly a narration that adds the spoken word to the visuals of dance.”
Choreographer Ma Cong has been hard at work on his new creation. Angelini says “I have been watching rehearsals for the past two weeks and I am amazed at the work he has done. He seems to be truly and genuinely inspired by this project, infusing the high energy, highly musical choreography that we are accustomed to seeing when we watch one of his works.” Cong’s version for Tulsa Ballet II places a strong emphasis on storytelling and will be special in that it features additional theatrical elements like Chinese shadow play, as well as introduces other known fairytale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood. Angelini says, “We are all very excited about creating this work, one that will introduce tens of thousands of children to the art form of dance during the next few years.”
Tulsa Ballet is thankful for the generosity of the Hardesty Family Foundation, the leading sponsor for Peter and the Wolf, as well as The Stinson Family for supporting this new program.
Scott Black, Managing Director says, “Our funders realize that Peter and the Wolf provides an opportunity to introduce children to ballet performance, which is essential for building audiences for the future. We know that having access to the performing arts at an early age is important for helping to develop creativity and enhancing academic performance. This program will reach thousands of elementary school students in the coming years as one of Tulsa Ballet’s educational outreach programs.”
As part of On Your Radar, TBII will also perform Jennifer Archibald’s OMENS. Angelini says, “Jennifer has created two works for our second company, both of them so fresh, energetic, captivating and exhilarating. OMENS is an abstract dance meant to showcase the athleticism and power of the TBII dancers, and is the perfect companion for the opening program.” Angelini adds, “By virtue of working with choreographers like these, the TBII ensemble is challenged and nurtured to grow, producing great performances for our audience and great dancers for our company.”
About the Choreographers
Jennifer Archibald – Choreographer
Jennifer Archibald is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Arch Dance Company and Program Director of ArchCore40 dance intensives, and is at the forefront of today’s dance generation of choreographers and dance educators. Having graduated from the Alvin Ailey School and the Maggie Flanigan Acting Conservatory where she specialized in the Meisner technique, she draws on a variety of techniques, experience and styles. She has presented Arch Dance Company nationally, having been awarded two National Performance Network grants; and has performed by special invitation at notable dance festivals country wide.
Ms. Archibald has staged off-Broadway shows and has choreographed professional theater company musicals. She has worked with chart-listed musicians and actors as a movement specialist and choreographer. She is currently on faculty at STEPS on Broadway, Broadway Dance Centre, Ailey Extension, Gibney Dance and CAP 21 America’s Musical Theatre Conservatory in New York City. She has been on faculty at the Bates Dance Festival, Broadway Theater Project and Florida Dance Festival, Complexions, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and Howard University Intensives.
Ma Cong – Tulsa Ballet Resident Choreographer
Ma Cong has been widely recognized by the dance world as a passionate, bright, and inspired rising star choreographer. Critics have described his choreography as powerful and passionate.
Ma is the Resident Choreographer of Tulsa Ballet, and continues to create and stage his existing works for companies internationally. Having started his dance career at the Beijing Dance Academy, where he trained in the art of Chinese Classical dance, Ma soon discovered his love for ballet and went on to graduate with honors. Ma danced with The National Ballet of China from 1995 until 1999, prior to joining Tulsa Ballet. During his 12-year tenure at Tulsa Ballet, he quickly rose to the rank of Principal Dancer. Ma was one of the most celebrated and loved Artists in the history of the company.
As a choreographer, Ma launched his career with Tulsa Ballet creating Folia in 2004 and has created many original works for many other groups around the world. For last two years, Ma Cong had world premiere works presented Internationally. He created his first original full-length ballet – The Crane Whisperer for The National Ballet of China which will make Germany debut in July 2017, he also created his brand new Four Seasons for the company to premiere at The 2nd China International Ballet Season. Ma’s most recent work Flight of Fancy for Tulsa Ballet became one of audience favorite works. Ma Cong continues to be in demand worldwide for his unique talent and creations. Ma was selected to choreograph the upcoming Broadway production of Julie Taymor’s M. Butterfly, which made its premiere in October of 2017 at the Cort Theater in New York City.
About TBII
The 2018/19 Season will mark the fifth year Tulsa Ballet II performs a stand-alone mini-season, separate from the main company. Tulsa Ballet II was founded in 2005 as a paid program designed to provide a bridge between the student phase of an aspiring classical ballet dancer and the professional career. TBII dancers receive a monthly stipend to help offset living expenses. Through an international audition search, the most talented and committed young men and women are invited to Tulsa to refine their artistic and technical skills by working on their own and alongside the professional company. This is accomplished through performances of repertoire ranging from pure classical ballets to the cutting edge of contemporary works. Tulsa Ballet II provides new dancers for the main company each year, and has promoted more than a dozen dancers since 2010. Tulsa Ballet II offers its members multiple additional performance opportunities throughout the year, including their own mini-season with two triple-bill shows, education outreach performances which includes a partnership with Any Given Child-Tulsa, as well as providing support to Tulsa Ballet’s Main Company.
TULSA BALLET II: ON YOUR RADAR
QUICK FACTS
Tickets for On Your Radar start at just $25. For tickets call (918) 749-6006 or visit www.tulsaballet.org. Single tickets go on sale August 1, 2018. Save $20 by purchasing a TBII mini-series subscription to both On Your Radar (August 24-26, 2018) and TBII: Next Generation (April 26-28, 2019)!
On Your Radar, an evening of new dance featuring:
OMENS
Choreography by Jennifer Archibald
Peter and the Wolf
Choreography by Ma Cong, Tulsa Ballet Resident Choreographer
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 24, 2018
2:30 p.m. Sunday, August 26, 2018
WHERE: The performance will take place at Studio K at the Tulsa Ballet Headquarters, 1212 E. 45th Place in Brookside Tulsa.
Additional Performance at Tulsa Ballet’s Hardesty Center for Dance Education:
WHERE: Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation Performance Studio
at the Hardesty Center for Dance Education.
1901 W New Orleans St, Broken Arrow, OK 74011
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 25, 2018
TICKETS: Start at $25, call the Tulsa Ballet Box Office at (918) 749-6006 or visit www.tulsaballet.org.
The 2018/19 Season opens with Tulsa Ballet II performing On Your Radar August 24 at 7:30pm and August 26 at 2:30pm in Tulsa Ballet’s Studio K Theater and August 25 at 7:30pm at the new Zarrow Performance Studio at Tulsa Ballet Hardesty Center for Dance Education in Broken Arrow. In September, the main company will premiere Creations in Studio K, featuring three exciting works by choreographers: Jennifer Archibald, Alejandro Cerrudo, and Ma Cong. Creations in Studio K will be showcased two weekends (Sept 14-16 and 20-23) in Tulsa Ballet’s intimate 300-seat Brookside theater Studio K. For tickets, please call (918) 749-6006 or visit us online at www.tulsaballet.org.
Hi-Res images and interview opportunities available:
Ryan Allen, Community & Public Relations Manager
918.392.5949, ryan.allen@tulsaballet.org
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