Oregon Ballet Theatre's Student Performance Series 2018-2019
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OREGON BALLET THEATRE’S STUDENT PERFORMANCE SERIES 2018-2019 THE AMERICANS June 7, 2019 Show starts at 12:00 Doors open at 11:30 Newmark Theater 1111 SW Broadway Portland, OR 97205 THE AMERICANS OREGON BALLET THEATRE’S STUDENT PERFORMANCE SERIES 2018-2019 Photo by Chris Peddecord Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert Katherine Monogue Michael Linsmeier and Xuan Cheng in Robust and Teddy Watler in TABLE OF CONTENTS American Love. Night Creature. What to know on the day of the show ....... 3 Robust American Love Night Creature Playbill ........................................................ 9 Playbill ........................................................ 4 The Choreographer .................................. 10 The Choreographer .................................... 5 The Cast .................................................... 11 The Composer ............................................ 6 The Music or Poetry? ............................... 12 The Stager .................................................. 7 Words to Know ......................................... 13 Try Some Moves ......................................... 8 Frequently Asked Questions ..................... 14 Learn More ................................................. 8 THANK YOU TO OUR FOUNDATION AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS! Oregon Ballet Theatre receives support from the Oregon Arts Commission, The Regional Arts & Culture Council, including support from the City of a state agency funded by the State of Oregon and the National Endowment Portland, Multnomah County, and the Arts Education & Access Fund for the Arts. AT&T Northwest Natural Starseed Foundation The Boeing Company OnPoint Community Credit Union Wells Fargo Clark Foundation PGE Foundation Wintz Family Foundation Hampton Family Foundation Schlesinger Family Foundation www.obt.org | 503.290.0012 | [email protected] 2 Kasandra Gruener, MA Ed. Director of Education Outreach DIRECTOR’STHE AMERICANS CHOICE OREGON BALLET THEATRE’S STUDENT PERFORMANCE SERIES 2018-2019 Thank you for joining us at Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2018-19 Student Performance Series: A Year to Read and Dance! WHAT TO KNOW ON We close the season at the Newmark Theatre this June 7th with “The Americans,” showcasing two works by American THE DAY OF THE SHOW artists: Night Creature (1974) by Alvin Ailey, set to the symphonic jazz score of the same name by Duke Ellington; The Newmark Theater is located at: and Robust American Love (2013) by Trey McIntyre, set to 1111 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205 the music of Pacific Northwest indie band, Fleet Foxes. We will be presenting these two works in their entirety. This study guide will The doors to the Newmark Theater will open 30 minutes before the show provide information about: begins. Please plan to arrive early so that you can settle in. The dancers may still be warming up onstage—a real treat to see. • the choreographers and their inspiration for creating the work, • the composers and their music, If traveling on a school bus, please follow directions • a special look at the job of a Stager, and for parking from the parking attendants. If driving • explore the idea of this art as being “American.” a personal vehicle, give time to find parking. There is a lot going on downtown at this time. Public The Study Guide also gives important information to know the day of the transportation is close by. show. As always, there are no tickets—one tells the lobby usher the group’s name for admittance. You will also find information about parking and There are no tickets to this show—the usher has your seating. Don’t hesitate to contact me if there are any questions. If you have registration information. Please tell the usher your changes in registered attendance, please contact me, we want everyone to group’s school name so that you can hear which level have a seat! Thanks to all who have made their payments! you will be seated in. Homeschools should also know See you soon in the theater! the organizer’s name as well. An usher will direct — Kasandra Gruener you to your seat. Please leave backpacks behind—if you must bring them, the ushers will ask that they be left in the lobby of your seating level. You will be asked to secure your seat before visiting restrooms. The arts are where learning starts, from a child’s first exploration of meaning on a page by finger painting to an adult’s use of the arts to develop, understand and communicate new ideas.” ~ Oregon Department of Education Would you like to further expand your students’ experience with dance? OBT teaching artists go out to local schools and dance with students, linking dance with other academic topics -- like science, math, language arts, or life skills! We bring the “A” to “STEM!” YAY STEAM! We have several types of Dance Residency programs that explore ballet along with other genres of dance – even hip-hop! Dance is something everyone can do. www.obt.org | 503.290.0012 | [email protected] 3 Kasandra Gruener, MA Ed Director of Education Outreach THE AMERICANS OREGON BALLET THEATRE’S STUDENT PERFORMANCE SERIES 2018-2019 NIGHT CREATURE Choreographer: Alvin Ailey Music: Duke Ellington, “Night Creature” I Movement - Blind Bug II Movement - Stalking Monster III Movement - Dazzling Creature Costume Design: Jane Greenwood Lighting Design: Chenault Spence Stager: Ronni Favors World Premiere: 1974 television special: Ailey Celebrates Ellington OBT Premiere: June 7, 2019; Newmark Theatre; Portland, Oregon By arrangement with G. Schirmer, Inc. publishers and copyright owner. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater photo by Paul Kolnik Photo by James McGrew by Photo www.obt.org | 503.290.0012 | [email protected] 4 Kasandra Gruener, MA Ed. Director of Education Outreach THE AMERICANS OREGON BALLET THEATRE’S STUDENT PERFORMANCE SERIES 2018-2019 NIGHT CREATURE: THE CHOREOGRAPHER Alvin Ailey was born in 1931 in Rogers, Texas. His experiences in the rural South inspired Lester Horton was among the ON TV some of his most memorable works. Lester first choreographers in the U.S. Night Creature, an effervescent Horton, founder of one of the first racially to insist upon racial integration in ballet, first premiered on a 1974 CBS integrated dance companies in the United his company. Alvin Ailey wrote in television special, “Ailey Celebrates States, became a mentor for Ailey. After Hor- his 1995 autobiography, “What it Ellington.” The stage premier occurred ton’s death in 1953, Ailey became director of came down to was that, for Lester, in May 1975. It is this version of the the Lester Horton Dance Theater and began his art was much more important work that OBT will perform. to choreograph his own works. In 1958 he than the color of a dancer’s skin.” founded Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater this groovy 70’s flash- to carry out his vision of a company dedicat- Mr. Ailey carried this same attitude Check out back video and hear Mr. Ailey speak ed to enriching the American modern dance forth in his own company. While about the ballet. (Of special note— heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the striving to provide an expressive the stage costumes have changed African-American cultural experience. Ailey forum for African American since this television version.) Photo by Jack Mitchell was a pioneer of programs promoting arts in dancers he welcomed non-African education, particularly those benefiting underserved communities. Through- American dancers to study his out his lifetime, he was awarded numerous distinctions, including the Kenne- work in his New York City studios. dy Center Honor in 1988. In 2014, he posthumously received the Presidential In fact, as a young man, Oregon Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor. When Ailey died in Ballet Theatre’s Artistic Director 1989, The New York Times said, “you didn’t need to have known [him] person- Kevin Irving studied at the Ailey ally to have been touched by his humanity, enthusiasm, and exuberance and school and danced in its training his courageous stand for multi-racial brotherhood.” ensemble. He speaks passionately of the deep impact Mr. Ailey had “One of Mr. Ailey’s happiest works. It has a joyful pulse, a sophisticated on his own trajectory as a both a entente with its sophisticated music that carries on the best of the mover and a thinker about dance. Ellington tradition.” The New York Times And now Mr. Irving brings some of that experience to OBT’s dancers Watch 3 minute video of the “…delectably sassy…” The New York Times and to Portland audiences. ballet in its present version. “This remains one of Ailey’s best curtain raisers, and the company throw themselves into its elf-like spirit with only rhythmic measure containing their dance abandon.” New York Post www.obt.org | 503.290.0012 | [email protected] 5 Kasandra Gruener, MA Ed. Director of Education Outreach THE AMERICANS OREGON BALLET THEATRE’S STUDENT PERFORMANCE SERIES 2018-2019 NIGHT CREATURE: THE COMPOSER Profile ofDuke Ellington by career, he played over 20,000 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performances in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East as Duke Ellington called his music “American Music” well as Asia. rather than jazz, and liked to describe those who impressed him as “beyond category.” He remains Simply put, Ellington transcends one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not boundaries and fills the world in all American music and is widely considered as with a treasure trove of music one of the twentieth century’s best known African that renews itself through every American personalities. As both a composer and a generation of fans and music- band leader, Ellington’s reputation has increased lovers. His legacy continues since his death, with thematic repackaging of to live on and will endure for his signature music often becoming best-sellers. generations to come. Winton Posthumous recognition of his work includes a Marsalis said it best when special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board. he said, “His music sounds Duke Ellington influenced millions of people both like America.” Because of the around the world and at home. He gave American unmatched artistic heights music its own sound for the first time.