thank you hello we are going to talk about ballet today well when you think
about ballet today well when you think
about ballet today well when you think about ballet what comes to mind do you
about ballet what comes to mind do you
about ballet what comes to mind do you think about a ballerina on point in a
think about a ballerina on point in a
think about a ballerina on point in a tutu scurrying across the floor do you
tutu scurrying across the floor do you
tutu scurrying across the floor do you maybe think about a packed theatre with
maybe think about a packed theatre with
maybe think about a packed theatre with lots of patrons maybe from high society
lots of patrons maybe from high society
lots of patrons maybe from high society and orchestra warming up a curtain about
and orchestra warming up a curtain about
and orchestra warming up a curtain about to rise so gigantic set maybe you think
to rise so gigantic set maybe you think
to rise so gigantic set maybe you think about Baryshnikov leaping in the air
about Baryshnikov leaping in the air
about Baryshnikov leaping in the air doing eight pirouettes striving for
doing eight pirouettes striving for
doing eight pirouettes striving for perfection when I was a little girl I
perfection when I was a little girl I
perfection when I was a little girl I used to dance around the house
used to dance around the house
used to dance around the house I’d force my parents to sit and watch me
I’d force my parents to sit and watch me
I’d force my parents to sit and watch me do all kinds of creative movement I’d
do all kinds of creative movement I’d
do all kinds of creative movement I’d grab a scarf I’d run around the music
grab a scarf I’d run around the music
grab a scarf I’d run around the music anything that was on I loved dancing I
anything that was on I loved dancing I
anything that was on I loved dancing I would even line up my stuffed animals I
would even line up my stuffed animals I
would even line up my stuffed animals I was like you’ve got to watch this it’s
was like you’ve got to watch this it’s
was like you’ve got to watch this it’s gonna be great you know and at the age
gonna be great you know and at the age
gonna be great you know and at the age of 10 I auditioned for the school of the
of 10 I auditioned for the school of the
of 10 I auditioned for the school of the Pennsylvania Ballet I did not know what
Pennsylvania Ballet I did not know what
Pennsylvania Ballet I did not know what I was doing
I was doing
I was doing I followed the girl in front of me I
I followed the girl in front of me I
I followed the girl in front of me I followed to do a couple Rhonda jobs and
followed to do a couple Rhonda jobs and
followed to do a couple Rhonda jobs and believe it or not they took me into the
believe it or not they took me into the
believe it or not they took me into the school and it was thrilling
school and it was thrilling
school and it was thrilling I loved dancing I loved studying
I loved dancing I loved studying
I loved dancing I loved studying classical ballet I loved the athleticism
classical ballet I loved the athleticism
classical ballet I loved the athleticism I loved the technique I loved just the
I loved the technique I loved just the
I loved the technique I loved just the competition even believe it or not I
competition even believe it or not I
competition even believe it or not I loved my first point shoes and the
loved my first point shoes and the
loved my first point shoes and the blisters and the pain and stretching my
blisters and the pain and stretching my
blisters and the pain and stretching my legs to all ends of the earth and it
legs to all ends of the earth and it
legs to all ends of the earth and it just really resonated with me and at the
just really resonated with me and at the
just really resonated with me and at the age of 17 I packed my bags I moved away
age of 17 I packed my bags I moved away
age of 17 I packed my bags I moved away from home and I started my career as a
from home and I started my career as a
from home and I started my career as a professional ballet dancer I was lucky
professional ballet dancer I was lucky
professional ballet dancer I was lucky to perform works leading works by some
to perform works leading works by some
to perform works leading works by some of the best most amazing choreographers
of the best most amazing choreographers
of the best most amazing choreographers of our time George Balanchine Jerome
of our time George Balanchine Jerome
of our time George Balanchine Jerome Robbins Alvin Ailey Agnes DeMille Paul
Robbins Alvin Ailey Agnes DeMille Paul
Robbins Alvin Ailey Agnes DeMille Paul Taylor amazing choreographers it was
Taylor amazing choreographers it was
Taylor amazing choreographers it was such a privilege and honor it really was
such a privilege and honor it really was
such a privilege and honor it really was while in a professional ballet company
while in a professional ballet company
while in a professional ballet company choreographers come in and that actually
choreographers come in and that actually
choreographers come in and that actually was a real highlight
was a real highlight
was a real highlight for me I love being a part of Newark I
for me I love being a part of Newark I
for me I love being a part of Newark I love the process of learning new ballets
love the process of learning new ballets
love the process of learning new ballets I loved collaborating there was
I loved collaborating there was
I loved collaborating there was something magical that happened when you
something magical that happened when you
something magical that happened when you brought artists together so a crazy idea
brought artists together so a crazy idea
brought artists together so a crazy idea happened a friend of mine Matthew Ninan
happened a friend of mine Matthew Ninan
happened a friend of mine Matthew Ninan who was in the Pennsylvania Ballet with
who was in the Pennsylvania Ballet with
who was in the Pennsylvania Ballet with me we decided who let’s go start our own
me we decided who let’s go start our own
me we decided who let’s go start our own ballet company while we’re in a ballet
ballet company while we’re in a ballet
ballet company while we’re in a ballet company a little crazy right we did it
company a little crazy right we did it
company a little crazy right we did it in 2005 we started ballet X we wanted to
in 2005 we started ballet X we wanted to
in 2005 we started ballet X we wanted to do something contemporary something new
do something contemporary something new
do something contemporary something new you know people have asked why did you
you know people have asked why did you
you know people have asked why did you call it ballet X well we definitely
call it ballet X well we definitely
call it ballet X well we definitely didn’t want to leave ballet we love the
didn’t want to leave ballet we love the
didn’t want to leave ballet we love the classicism we love the technique we love
classicism we love the technique we love
classicism we love the technique we love the lines but we wanted the X the X was
the lines but we wanted the X the X was
the lines but we wanted the X the X was something all new we wanted to
something all new we wanted to
something all new we wanted to experiment explore express we wanted xxx
experiment explore express we wanted xxx
experiment explore express we wanted xxx something completely new and different
something completely new and different
something completely new and different so we thought perfect let’s call it
so we thought perfect let’s call it
so we thought perfect let’s call it ballet X let’s keep it simple let’s
ballet X let’s keep it simple let’s
ballet X let’s keep it simple let’s strive to make new work let’s build a
strive to make new work let’s build a
strive to make new work let’s build a diverse company of dancers let’s focus
diverse company of dancers let’s focus
diverse company of dancers let’s focus on ballet technique and let’s keep the
on ballet technique and let’s keep the
on ballet technique and let’s keep the pointe shoes on so these dancers there
pointe shoes on so these dancers there
pointe shoes on so these dancers there are 10 beautiful dancers from all over
are 10 beautiful dancers from all over
are 10 beautiful dancers from all over the country the world they represent our
the country the world they represent our
the country the world they represent our world we love them they’re unique
world we love them they’re unique
world we love them they’re unique because not only are they great physical
because not only are they great physical
because not only are they great physical athletic dancers but they’re really
athletic dancers but they’re really
athletic dancers but they’re really expressive they’re able to articulate
expressive they’re able to articulate
expressive they’re able to articulate choreographers voices there are
choreographers voices there are
choreographers voices there are chameleons when a choreographer comes
chameleons when a choreographer comes
chameleons when a choreographer comes into ballet X they’re asked to create a
into ballet X they’re asked to create a
into ballet X they’re asked to create a new idea so they become like paint in a
new idea so they become like paint in a
new idea so they become like paint in a moving piece of art right so okorafor
moving piece of art right so okorafor
moving piece of art right so okorafor will come in it’ll be like a blank slate
will come in it’ll be like a blank slate
will come in it’ll be like a blank slate and he’ll say okay I want you to be red
and he’ll say okay I want you to be red
and he’ll say okay I want you to be red dynamic I want you to be green you know
dynamic I want you to be green you know
dynamic I want you to be green you know and this piece of art is formed and it’s
and this piece of art is formed and it’s
and this piece of art is formed and it’s so exciting because these amazing
so exciting because these amazing
so exciting because these amazing choreographers from around the world who
choreographers from around the world who
choreographers from around the world who join us we make new work at Ballet X
join us we make new work at Ballet X
join us we make new work at Ballet X typically we’ll do six to eight world
typically we’ll do six to eight world
typically we’ll do six to eight world premieres in ten years we’ve created 60
premieres in ten years we’ve created 60
premieres in ten years we’ve created 60 world premieres by 31 different
world premieres by 31 different
world premieres by 31 different choreographers so we love the challenge
choreographers so we love the challenge
choreographers so we love the challenge of making something new because you
of making something new because you
of making something new because you never know what’s going to happen you
never know what’s going to happen you
never know what’s going to happen you never know what magic will come from
never know what magic will come from
never know what magic will come from finding out the new now our audience at
finding out the new now our audience at
finding out the new now our audience at Bally X is really I think exceptional
Bally X is really I think exceptional
Bally X is really I think exceptional they’re all so different
they’re all so different
they’re all so different everybody generations come in to see a
everybody generations come in to see a
everybody generations come in to see a show I didn’t mention but we’re the
show I didn’t mention but we’re the
show I didn’t mention but we’re the resident Dance Company of the Wilma
resident Dance Company of the Wilma
resident Dance Company of the Wilma theater and we are based in Philadelphia
theater and we are based in Philadelphia
theater and we are based in Philadelphia this audience is so unique because they
this audience is so unique because they
this audience is so unique because they sit in the seat they basically get on a
sit in the seat they basically get on a
sit in the seat they basically get on a horse and go for a ride with us they
horse and go for a ride with us they
horse and go for a ride with us they have no idea where we’re going to land
have no idea where we’re going to land
have no idea where we’re going to land but they’re with us along the way
but they’re with us along the way
but they’re with us along the way there’s no expectations they just want
there’s no expectations they just want
there’s no expectations they just want to go on a journey to something that may
to go on a journey to something that may
to go on a journey to something that may surprise them and the beautiful thing is
surprise them and the beautiful thing is
surprise them and the beautiful thing is that they come to the theater in a
that they come to the theater in a
that they come to the theater in a traditional format but then we take the
traditional format but then we take the
traditional format but then we take the ballet to them we go to museums we go to
ballet to them we go to museums we go to
ballet to them we go to museums we go to parks we’ve been to hospitals we’ve been
parks we’ve been to hospitals we’ve been
parks we’ve been to hospitals we’ve been to retirement communities we want ballet
to retirement communities we want ballet
to retirement communities we want ballet to be accessible we want people to think
to be accessible we want people to think
to be accessible we want people to think of it in a new and different way so how
of it in a new and different way so how
of it in a new and different way so how can ballet be innovative you know we
can ballet be innovative you know we
can ballet be innovative you know we strive to do that
strive to do that
strive to do that you know let’s step back and think about
you know let’s step back and think about
you know let’s step back and think about full-length story ballets okay so what
full-length story ballets okay so what
full-length story ballets okay so what comes to mind the Nutcracker dun dun dun
comes to mind the Nutcracker dun dun dun
comes to mind the Nutcracker dun dun dun dun I did it for 30 years
dun I did it for 30 years
dun I did it for 30 years ha ha you think of maybe Sleeping Beauty
ha ha you think of maybe Sleeping Beauty
ha ha you think of maybe Sleeping Beauty Giselle Swan Lake ballet companies are
Giselle Swan Lake ballet companies are
Giselle Swan Lake ballet companies are trying to rethink this full-length
trying to rethink this full-length
trying to rethink this full-length ballet over and over again for centuries
ballet over and over again for centuries
ballet over and over again for centuries how can we make Swan Lake new and
how can we make Swan Lake new and
how can we make Swan Lake new and different I was in even in a brand new
different I was in even in a brand new
different I was in even in a brand new Swan Lake years ago and it was thrilling
Swan Lake years ago and it was thrilling
Swan Lake years ago and it was thrilling to do but what we’re striving at Ballet
to do but what we’re striving at Ballet
to do but what we’re striving at Ballet X to do is figure out new full-length
X to do is figure out new full-length
X to do is figure out new full-length stories you know so recently we’ve
stories you know so recently we’ve
stories you know so recently we’ve choreographed the ballet I haven’t quite
choreographed the ballet I haven’t quite
choreographed the ballet I haven’t quite rough it but Mathew Ninan choreographed
rough it but Mathew Ninan choreographed
rough it but Mathew Ninan choreographed it and composer Rosie Langer beer came
it and composer Rosie Langer beer came
it and composer Rosie Langer beer came together to create this ballot what’s
together to create this ballot what’s
together to create this ballot what’s different about this ballet it’s a true
different about this ballet it’s a true
different about this ballet it’s a true story it’s not a swan it’s something you
story it’s not a swan it’s something you
story it’s not a swan it’s something you can relate to it’s a story about a
can relate to it’s a story about a
can relate to it’s a story about a captain named Edwin music he was the
captain named Edwin music he was the
captain named Edwin music he was the first pilot in 1938 to fly mail across
first pilot in 1938 to fly mail across
first pilot in 1938 to fly mail across the Pacific he connected two worlds the
the Pacific he connected two worlds the
the Pacific he connected two worlds the United States New Zealand and the Isle
United States New Zealand and the Isle
United States New Zealand and the Isle Hawaii he was on the cover of Time
Hawaii he was on the cover of Time
Hawaii he was on the cover of Time magazine he was a pioneer and this
magazine he was a pioneer and this
magazine he was a pioneer and this ballet was a pioneer you know it really
ballet was a pioneer you know it really
ballet was a pioneer you know it really was something unusual and different the
was something unusual and different the
was something unusual and different the dance and the music came together again
dance and the music came together again
dance and the music came together again it was original music composition the
it was original music composition the
it was original music composition the musicians were on stage with the dancers
musicians were on stage with the dancers
musicians were on stage with the dancers they were intertwined in the ballet the
they were intertwined in the ballet the
they were intertwined in the ballet the dancers sang in the ballet they also
dancers sang in the ballet they also
dancers sang in the ballet they also wore pointe shoes at certain times
wore pointe shoes at certain times
wore pointe shoes at certain times ballet slippers and bare feet these
ballet slippers and bare feet these
ballet slippers and bare feet these dancers can do all that now what was
dancers can do all that now what was
dancers can do all that now what was especially intriguing about this was
especially intriguing about this was
especially intriguing about this was that we had invented instruments that
that we had invented instruments that
that we had invented instruments that were on stage right down here
were on stage right down here
were on stage right down here some of the instruments look like a
some of the instruments look like a
some of the instruments look like a bowling ball you know and some of the
bowling ball you know and some of the
bowling ball you know and some of the instruments look like this a Magna
instruments look like this a Magna
instruments look like this a Magna pooter and it was a pill box with little
pooter and it was a pill box with little
pooter and it was a pill box with little ping-pong balls going now why all these
ping-pong balls going now why all these
ping-pong balls going now why all these invented instruments this ballet was
invented instruments this ballet was
invented instruments this ballet was about this pilot flying over the dancers
about this pilot flying over the dancers
about this pilot flying over the dancers became the airplane if you can believe
became the airplane if you can believe
became the airplane if you can believe it
it
it and this music simulated the sounds of
and this music simulated the sounds of
and this music simulated the sounds of the airplane and when Matthew Ninan said
the airplane and when Matthew Ninan said
the airplane and when Matthew Ninan said to me all I want to do a ballet about
to me all I want to do a ballet about
to me all I want to do a ballet about this man it’s gonna have an airplane and
this man it’s gonna have an airplane and
this man it’s gonna have an airplane and I was like okay let’s go for it let’s do
I was like okay let’s go for it let’s do
I was like okay let’s go for it let’s do it here’s an example
it’s hard for me to put into words so
it’s hard for me to put into words so it’s better that you see it so at the
it’s better that you see it so at the
it’s better that you see it so at the heart of what we’re doing is trying to
heart of what we’re doing is trying to
heart of what we’re doing is trying to push ballet forward be a voice for new
push ballet forward be a voice for new
push ballet forward be a voice for new work be a place where people can come
work be a place where people can come
work be a place where people can come and see ballet and think of it in a new
and see ballet and think of it in a new
and see ballet and think of it in a new a new light you know and so now we have
a new light you know and so now we have
a new light you know and so now we have something special we’re going to show
something special we’re going to show
something special we’re going to show you a duet by choreographer yo Morello
you a duet by choreographer yo Morello
you a duet by choreographer yo Morello this work was created on ballet X a
this work was created on ballet X a
this work was created on ballet X a couple years ago it’s a bigger piece
couple years ago it’s a bigger piece
couple years ago it’s a bigger piece called gran partita and we’re just
called gran partita and we’re just
called gran partita and we’re just showing you a stripped down version
showing you a stripped down version
showing you a stripped down version we’re not gonna have live music there’s
we’re not gonna have live music there’s
we’re not gonna have live music there’s no sense but what’s special about this
no sense but what’s special about this
no sense but what’s special about this piece is you can really see the
piece is you can really see the
piece is you can really see the classical ballet lines in it right
classical ballet lines in it right
classical ballet lines in it right you’re gonna really see you know moments
you’re gonna really see you know moments
you’re gonna really see you know moments where you can oh she’s a ballet dancer
where you can oh she’s a ballet dancer
where you can oh she’s a ballet dancer but then you’re gonna see examples of
but then you’re gonna see examples of
but then you’re gonna see examples of really contemporary choices that he has
really contemporary choices that he has
really contemporary choices that he has made the choreographer you know one
made the choreographer you know one
made the choreographer you know one moment struck me and it’s actually this
moment struck me and it’s actually this
moment struck me and it’s actually this where he layered the dancers together
where he layered the dancers together
where he layered the dancers together and when I walked in the studio and saw
and when I walked in the studio and saw
and when I walked in the studio and saw it for the first time I was like I’ve
it for the first time I was like I’ve
it for the first time I was like I’ve never seen that it looked like a beating
never seen that it looked like a beating
never seen that it looked like a beating heart to people coming together when you
heart to people coming together when you
heart to people coming together when you see it it’s like a beating heart and you
see it it’s like a beating heart and you
see it it’s like a beating heart and you know it’s those moments when my I get
know it’s those moments when my I get
know it’s those moments when my I get goosebumps I say this all the time when
goosebumps I say this all the time when
goosebumps I say this all the time when I’m at the Wilma I get goosebumps that’s
I’m at the Wilma I get goosebumps that’s
I’m at the Wilma I get goosebumps that’s what we’re looking to do get goosebumps
what we’re looking to do get goosebumps
what we’re looking to do get goosebumps touch you in new ways that you didn’t
touch you in new ways that you didn’t
touch you in new ways that you didn’t think possible and to touch the dancers
think possible and to touch the dancers
think possible and to touch the dancers and the choreographers and to create a
and the choreographers and to create a
and the choreographers and to create a place where we can be innovative and
place where we can be innovative and
place where we can be innovative and think about ballet
think about ballet
think about ballet for the future so please welcome ballet
for the future so please welcome ballet
for the future so please welcome ballet X dancers Francesca for cello Gary Jeter
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment