Butler Ballet will warm up the cold winter nights with the sizzling modern dance tango Piazzolla Caldera and three world premiere pieces as part of Midwinter Dance Festival, Feb. 14-18 at the Schrott Center for the Arts.
Audiences have the opportunity to see two separate shows, each featuring Piazzolla Caldera, choreographed by the legendary American choreographer Paul Taylor, and three other pieces.
Program A will be presented:
Wednesday, February 14, at 7:00 PM
Friday, February 16, at 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 17, at 2:00 PM
Program B will be presented:
Thursday, February 15, at 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 17, at 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 18, 2:00 PM
Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors 62 and older, and $7 for students and children under 18. They are available at Clowes Memorial Hall during regular box office hours and at the Schrott Center for the Arts beginning two hours before each performance.
Piazzolla Caldera, created in 1997, has been described as “a sensual exposé of tango as reinterpreted and reimagined with modern dance.” The piece will be set by Butler Dance Professor Susan McGuire, who was a principal dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company from 1977 to 1988 and served as rehearsal director in 1989.
On February 9, the week before the Midwinter performances, the Paul Taylor Dance Company will perform at Clowes Memorial Hall. The company will present a masterclass for Butler Ballet dancers, and two members of the Paul Taylor company—including Heather McGinley ’05—will coach the student-dancers.
“The circle has completed itself,” Attaway said. “We’re all excited about that.”
Program A also will feature:
Farewell to the Singing Earth, choreographed by Professor Stephan Laurent and set to the music of Gustav Mahler. “This is a bittersweet moment for us because Stephan is retiring at the end of this year and this will be his last Midwinter with us,” Attaway said. “He thought it would be fitting for him to revive a piece he did in 2003 that is a farewell.”
Like Water for Dancers, choreographed by Assistant Professor of Dance Ramon Flowers. The piece represents the elements of water, fire, air, and earth. Initially developed for three dancers, it will feature 16 dancers in this new incarnation.
Dawn, choreographed by Professor Marek Cholewa. This world premiere also will feature an original score by percussionist Jordy Long ’16.
Program B also will feature:
The grand pas de deux from La Bayadère, set by Assistant Professor of Dance Rosanna Ruffo. “This is a technical tour de force for our dancers,” Attaway said. “It’s more traditional than other pieces in Midwinter. It’s certainly been reworked by Rosanna, but it will be familiar to people.”
Stardust, a world premiere by Professor Cynthia Pratt, featuring music by David Bowie. “It’s a technical challenge – very aerobic,” Attaway said. “It doesn’t stop moving.”
Flying Wings, by Associate Professor of Dance Derek Reid. “We carry thoughts/burdens that weigh us down and search for opportunities and moments to feel free, to feel happy,” Reid said, explaining the dance. “A friend passed a scripture reading on to me one day which sparked my inspiration. Roman 5: 3-4: “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”
Media contact:
Marc Allan
mallan@butler.edu
317-940-9822