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Ballet Fantastique

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ballet Fantastique
IndustryPerformance dance, Education
Founded2000
HeadquartersEugene, Oregon, U.S.
Area served
Pacific Northwest
Key people
Donna and Hannah Bontrager
Websitewww.balletfantastique.org

Ballet Fantastique is an Emmy®-nominated[1] American ballet theater company based in Eugene, Oregon in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Ballet Fantastique creates and performs all-original dance theater repertoire and immersive audience experiences. Ballet Fantastique became a resident company at Eugene's Hult Center for the Performing Arts in 2014 and tours across the US and internationally.

About

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The company has been featured in The Washington Post,[2] heralded a "bold, cross-disciplinary dance company" by Dante Zuniga-West of the Eugene Weekly.[3] According to Portland Center Stage Reviews, Ballet Fantastique has "made a name for itself in out-of-the-box revisions of classic story ballets"[4] and is "not your grandmother's Swan Lake."[5]

Ballet Fantastique concerts feature collaborations with live artists and musicians and other cross-disciplinary collaborators.,[6][7][8][9][10][3] including Hollywood combat choreographer Michelle Ladd Williams (Lord of the Rings and Recognized Fight Director, Society of American Fight Directors[11]) for the world premiere of Ballet Fantastique's Robin Hood & Maid Marian in 2023.[12]

The company fields auditions from dancers across the US and internationally.[8]

Education: Academy of Ballet Fantastique

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The Academy of Ballet Fantastique offers dance instruction for children, adults, and aspiring professional artists ages 2–24, and also offers a separate Community-based Teen/Adult Dance Program.

In the Professional Training Division, dancers age 9 and up study the Vaganova Method of training in limited class sizes of 12 students or fewer.[13] Students participate in professional performances with the company, and may audition for company positions and apprenticeships upon graduation. Academy of Ballet Fantastique coaches are experienced in the well-recognized Vaganova method of training as well as in pedagogy and professional performance.

The Young Dancer Program at The Academy of Ballet Fantastique is for dancers age 2 and up, and follows a progressive training approach, introducing young children to creative movement, music education, and dance fundamentals.

Ballet Fantastique's outreach programming includes scholarships for dancers in financial need, free tickets for youth to attend concerts, in-school integrated arts residencies,[14] and school assembly performances.[15]

History

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Ballet Fantastique became an Oregon non-profit in 2003 and earned 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 2006.[14] The organization was established to bring dance training, performance opportunities and performances to the Lane County area. The company's first performance at the Hult Center was Danse Renaissance in June 2003. On October 30, 2010, Ballet Fantastique opened its highly visible City Center for Dance at 960 Oak Street, funded largely by a grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust.[16]

Ballet Fantastique was founded in 2000 by Choreographer-Producers and mother-daughter team Donna Marisa and Hannah Bontrager. Since 2003, the company has presented all-original contemporary ballet productions each season at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. Ballet Fantastique also tours, and has performed at the internationally recognized Oregon Shakespeare Festival[17] in Ashland, Oregon, at the Lincoln Performance Hall in downtown Portland, Oregon,[18] and across the NW and internationally.

Company repertoire

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Ballet Fantastique performs all-original repertoire created in house in collaboration with a wide range of multi-disciplinary artistic collaborators. Selected list of new works created and premiered by Donna and Hannah Bontrager, Resident Choreographer-Producers for Ballet Fantastique:

Title Music Premiere
Robin Hood & Maid Marian

(full-length stage production in two acts)

Nottingham, composed by Liza Carbé for Ballet Fantastique (premiere) May 11–14, 2023
ARRIVALS: RIO

(full-length stage production in two acts)

Bossanaire and Juan Cruz Luqui (premiere), performing original music as well as music by Grammy Award-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla Dec. 31, 2021, Jan. 2, 2022
American Christmas Carol: A Ballet Movie (Feature film adaptation of the original Ballet Fantastique stage production) Halie Loren, singing original arrangements of 1940s holiday jazz standards. A co-production with Bronson Studios and Director Jeremy Bronson Nov. 28, 2020
Nevermore: Stories of Edgar Allan Poe(full-length stage production in two acts) Liz Dorman, Dale Bradley, Sergei Teleshev play the music of YouTube celebrity composers Peter Gundry and Lucas King Oct. 25–27, 2019
Cleopatra: The Ballet(full-length stage production in two acts) Beats Antique May 9–12, 2019
Babes in Toyland(full-length stage production in two acts) Swing Shift Jazz Orchestra play Duke Ellington's jazz Nutcracker score Dec. 10–12, 2018
Alice in Wonderland(full-length stage production in two acts) High Step Society (electro-swing band, represented by Gravitas Recordings) May 11–13, 2018
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow(full-length stage production in two acts) Dreos + Gerry Rempel Ensemble Oct. 27–29, 2017
Aladdin: A Rock Opera Ballet(full-length stage production in two acts) Satin Love Orchestra May 12–14, 2017
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon(full-length stage production in two acts) DaXun Zhang + Oregon Mozart Players under Music Director Kelly Kuo Mar. 3–5, 2017
The Book of Esther: A Rock Gospel Ballet(full-length stage production in two acts) Gospel classics, arranged and performed live by Andiel Brown + the UO Gospel Singers Dec. 9–11, 2016
Pride & Prejudice: A Parisian Jazz Ballet(full-length stage production in two acts) Gerry Rempel Jazz Syndicate Oct. 14–16, 2016
Scarlet Flower: Beauty and the Beast Retold(full-length stage production in two acts) Trio Voronezh May 6–8, 2016
Dragon & the Night Queen: Celtic Stories(full-length stage production in two acts) Gerry Rempel Ensemble with Eliot Grasso Feb. 26–28, 2016
The Odyssey: The Ballet(full-length stage production in two acts) Original live looping violin, Cullen Vance Feb. 27-Mar. 1, 2015
An American Christmas Carol(full-length stage production in two acts) Halie Loren, singing original arrangements of 1940s holiday jazz standards Dec. 12–14, 2014
The Book of Esther: A Rock Gospel Ballet(full-length stage production in two acts) UO Gospel Singers May 9–11, 2014
Tales from the Floating World(full-length stage production in two acts) Original music by Portland Taiko and Mitsuki Dazai Feb. 7–9, 2014
Zorro®: The Ballet(full-length stage production in two acts) Original music by Incendio, the Latin world guitar fusion band from LA, and violinist Kim Angelis (premiere) Oct. 17–19, 2013
Pride and Prejudice: A Parisian Jazz Ballet(full-length stage production in two acts) Gerry Rempel Jazz Syndicate May 4–5, 2013
(The Misadventures of) Casanova(full-length stage production in two acts) Antonio Vivaldi, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Jean-Baptiste de Lully, Johann Sebastian Bach Feb. 2–3, 2013
Cirque de la Lune(full-length stage production in two acts) Original music, played live by Betty & the Boy, Troupe Carnivale, and Mood Area 52 Oct. 20–21, 2012
Cinderella: A Rock Opera Ballet

(full-length stage production in two acts)

1960s Billboard hits, arranged and played live by Shelley & Cal James and the Agents of Unity Band May 12–13, 2012
Arabian Nights(full-length stage production in two acts) Traditional, with narrations performed by Deepti Khedekar Jan. 28, 2012
"Tango Para Abel," "St. Margaret's Tears," "Illumination," "Misterioso," "Magie Noire," "Viheula," "Jaco y Paco"(suite of dances) Original music, written and performed live by Incendio, the Latin world guitar fusion band from LA Oct. 22, 2011
Shakespeare'sAs You Like It: A Wild West Ballet(full-length ballet; two acts with silent film prologue) Aaron Copland, Hershy Kay, George Gershwin, Jacques Offenbach, Leroy Anderson, John Philip Sousa, Ferde Grofé, traditional saloon music, and original compositions for honkytonk piano by Jeremy DeKyle Schropp Apr. 16, 2011
"Sunday Table" Pink Martini Jan. 29, 2011
"Gaucho, De Ushuaia a la Quiaca, Pampa" Gustavo Santaolalla Jan. 29, 2011
"Jongo No. 3 Suite Brasileira" Lorenzo Fernandez Jan. 29, 2011
"Cinquenta Anos de Soledad" Original score by NW composer Charles Gurke (premiere) Jan. 29, 2011
"Dime Amor" Enrique Cardenas, arranged and performed live by Jessie Marquez Jan. 29, 2011
"Folk Suite" Traditional Irish and Celtic folk medleys Nov. 20–21, 2011
"Desperation, Obsession, Passion" John Corigliano, music from The Red Violin Nov. 20–21, 2011
"Bulgarska Tantsova Suita" Original score Jeremy DeKyle Schropp (premiere) Nov. 20–21, 2011
Tales of Beatrix Potter(stage production in one act) John Lanchbery Apr. 30, 2010
Love at the Cafe Terrace(stage production in one act) Original score (world premiere) by composer Jeremy DeKyle Schropp 2009
"Pourquoi me Reveiller," "Je Crois Entendre Encore," "Song to the Moon," "Apres un Reve" Jules Massenet, from the opera Werther; Georges Bizet, from the opera The Pearl Fishers; Antonín Dvořák, from the opera Rusalka; Gabriel Fauré 2009
"Lagrima," "Adelita" Guitar meditations arranged and played live by classical guitarist John Jarvie 2009
"Argentinian Dance," "Besame Mucho," "Russian Ragtime," "Waltz for Nicky," "Strauss Polka," "NY Tango" Original arrangements and new work arranged and played live by Trio Voronezh 2009
Breakfast at Tiffany's(one-act suite of dances) Henry Mancini 2009
Carnival of the Animals(one-act suite of variations) Camille Saint-Saëns, played live by Eugene Symphony 2008
Four Novelettes(one-act suite) Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, played live by Oregon Mozart Players 2008
Daphnis et Chloé(one-act suite) Maurice Ravel 2008
"La Soledad," "Brazil" Pink Martini 2008
"La Musica Notturna Delle Strade Di Madrid No. 6, Op. 30" Luigi Boccherini 2007
Goldilocks & the Three Bears(suite of dances) Ferdinand Hérold, John Lanchberry 2005
Madama Butterfly Giacomo Puccini 2005
The Cakewalk Ballet(full-length stage production in two acts) Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Hershy Kay 2005
"Casta Diva" Vincenzo Bellini (from the opera Norma) 2003
"Water Music" George Frideric Handel 2003
"Chopin Waltzes"(suite of dances) Frédéric Chopin 2003
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References

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  1. ^ "Northwest Regional Emmy® Award 2023 Nominees" (PDF). www.natasnw.org/. May 12, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  2. ^ Sachs, Andrea (Nov 8, 2017). "Eugene: A harmonious symphony of dichotomies and diversity keeps "Track Town" running". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ a b Zuñiga-West, Dante (2011). "Incendiaries and Artistry". Eugene Weekly. Archived from the original on 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  4. ^ "Portland Stage Reviews – Portland Stage Reviews". portlandstagereviews.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  5. ^ Reid, Alexis (Dec 5, 2019). ""A Legacy in Dance: MEET THE BONTRAGERS OF BALLET FANTASTIQUE"". Eugene Weekly. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "Parisian Drama". Archived from the original on 2009-12-13. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  7. ^ "A Novel Experience" (PDF). Oregon Mozart Players. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  8. ^ a b "Visions of loving the dance". Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  9. ^ "Bravo Event Calendar 2009". Eugene Weekly. Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  10. ^ Curran, Gwen (14 May 2012). "1960s 'Cinderella' is a fun, rock 'n' roll ballet". The Register-Guard. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  11. ^ "Society of American Fight Directors". Society of American Fight Directors. 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  12. ^ Bjornstad, Randi (May 11, 2023). "TAKE A BALLET FANTASTIQUE TRIP TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND WITH ROBIN HOOD AND MAID MARIAN". Eugene Scene. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  13. ^ "Family flair for fantastique - Eugene, Oregon". projects.registerguard.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  14. ^ a b Olson, Ariel (24 February 2012). "Pirou-what?". Eugene Weekly. Archived from the original on 2012-06-19. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  15. ^ Oppliger, Sarabeth (5 May 2010). "Local Ballet Hops Onward". Ethos. Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  16. ^ Steffen, Suzi (23 February 2012). "Room to Move". Eugene Weekly. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  17. ^ "Oregon Shakespeare Festival - 404 Error". Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  18. ^ "For its Portland debut, Eugene's Ballet Fantastique takes Cinderella to a sock hop". oregonlive.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2018.