|
Collaboration is what distinguishes the Saint Paul City Ballet.
For example, ‘Tis the Season, Saint Paul City Ballet’s 2005 holiday production of dance and music, was a collaboration among the most popular performing arts organizations in the region. ‘Tis the Season included music performed by the Minnesota Chorale, Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Youth Symphonies, Land of Lakes Choirboys and Central Minnesota Music School.
The production featured new choreography by Phillip Carman, Concertina, to excerpts of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons; A Sentimental Tale, a contemporary ballet by Wilor Bluege to music of Claude Bolling; jazz works Sleigh Ride and A Christmas Festival by Christa Hill to music of Leroy Anderson; and performance of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite by Central Minnesota Music School protégés, Leeza Ali and Colton Peltier.
In addition, following encouragement from the McKnight Foundation for performing arts groups in the Twin Cities to reach out to greater Minnesota, Georgia Amdahl, SPCB President, met jazz musician George Maurer in St. Cloud last January to talk about collaboration.
In the St. Cloud area, the George Maurer Jazz Group has a loyal following, performing music from traditional jazz to swing, blues to bebop and original compositions. The group’s 1999 CD debut, “Jazz In Black & White,” is a tribute to the centennials of George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. The CD was met with much enthusiasm by jazz lovers and has brought the group increasing recognition and airplay. The George Maurer Jazz Group has performed at the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant in Minneapolis, the Fitzgerald and McKnight theaters in St. Paul, Carnegie Hall, Montreaux, and for members of Congress and the White House.
Amdahl introduced Maurer to Saint Paul City Ballet choreographer Christa Hill, and the result is a newly commissioned jazz work featuring Saint Paul City Ballet dancers to premiere in the 2006-07 season at The O’Shaughnessy.
As well, bringing the visual arts together with dance, artist Charles Gilbert Kapsner from Little Falls, Minnesota, is producing a series of oil paintings in the tradition of the French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas. A studio and fresco artist whose collection includes portraits, figures and still lifes, Kapsner has been sketching and painting Saint Paul City Ballet dancers this past summer and fall. Art lovers will be able to view these new paintings at performances in 2006-07.
|
