AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE Romeo and Juliet FEB
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WINTER/SPRING 2018 DANCE SEASON B R AVO AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE Romeo and Juliet FEB. 8-11 Dance Theatre of Harlem MARCH 24-25 Paul Taylor Dance Company APRIL 21-22 Isabella Boylston and JamesWhiteside. Photo: Gene Schiavone The 2017–2018 Dance Season is made possible by the Lear Corporation WELCOME elcome to the Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) he Royal Opera House, La Scala, Palais Garnier W2018 winter/spring dance season, featuring the T— the greatest opera houses in the world have American Ballet Theatre (ABT), the Dance Theatre of long recognized the importance of presenting dance Harlem, and the Paul Taylor Dance Company! Since alongside opera. We at Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) 1996, dance has been a key component of our artistic are proud to continue to prioritize this beautiful art offerings but one that would not be possible without form as well. Since opening the Detroit Opera House partnerships throughout the community. in 1996, MOT has presented more than 32 dance Following five sold-out performances of ABT’s The companies on its historic stage, including world- Sleeping Beauty in 2016, we are delighted to partner renowned companies such as the Joffrey Ballet, Alvin once again with University Musical Society (UMS) Ailey American Dance Theater and the Bolshoi Ballet. to present ABT’s exquisite This winter/spring season, we production of Romeo and Juliet. welcome the return of three This multi-year partnership three distinguished dance between MOT and UMS, with companies: American Ballet the support of the Community Theatre, the Dance Theatre Foundation of Southeast Michigan, of Harlem and the Paul Taylor has enabled us to present some Dance Company. of the most significant dancers in As the very first dance the world to Detroit audiences. company presented on the Additionally, the partnership has Detroit Opera House stage, enabled us to present numerous American Ballet Theatre dancers in schools as well as under the auspices of has performed nine times with MOT. Through our local organizations, furthering our commitment to arts partnership with University Musical Society, we are education and community engagement. delighted to present them again this February with During the ABT Residency, MOT and UMS will Romeo and Juliet. This production tells the classic join forces with the Greater Wayne County Chapter Shakespeare tragedy of star-crossed lovers but with of The Links, Inc., part of a national women’s service the power of music and movement that can express organization, to further dance exposure. Through our emotions in a way words alone cannot. Featuring some partnership, the Links are galvanizing the community to of the best dancers on the planet, we can’t wait to bring more than 500 audience members to the opening share this truly special experience with you. night of Romeo and Juliet. Additionally, the organization In March we welcome the return of the Dance is encouraging children in dance by providing a Theatre of Harlem, another long-term dance partner significant number of MOT dance series subscriptions to with MOT. Similar to MOT, the company shares the be used by children and also by offering full scholarships values of producing works that represent a gamut to two Ballet Detroit students. of experiences. With repertoire performed to music Finally, we express our appreciation to the Lear ranging from classical to jazz to pop, the company Corporation for its third consecutive year as our season aims to make ballet more representative and sponsor for the MOT Dance Series. Lear and CEO accessible to diverse audiences. It is a goal we share, Matthew Simoncini have been an exceptional champion and we look forward to sharing their work with of dance and dance education in our community and an Metro Detroit. incomparable advocate for the Detroit Opera House. Our dance season concludes with the Paul Taylor As he concludes his leadership role with Lear, all of Dance Company, considered among the best modern us associated with MOT extend our best wishes and dance companies in the world. Known for its work profound thanks! tackling hard-hitting issues, including mortality, As you experience one of our performances, morality, war, love and death, the company’s powerful we thank you for your support of MOT and hope program will touch the soul. you can join us for many more performances in the We invite you to join us for one or several of our seasons ahead! exciting performances this season and look forward to seeing you again at the Detroit Opera House! Wayne S. Brown President and CEO, Michigan Opera Theatre Stephen Lord Principal Conductor, Michigan Opera Theatre Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Winter 2018 Welcome from UMS President he University Musical Society of the University of Michigan (UMS) is delighted to partner with Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) for these A recipient of the 2014 Tperformances of American Ballet Theatre’s production of Romeo and National Medal of Arts, UMS Juliet February 8-11. We join our wonderful friends and colleagues at MOT in (also known as the University welcoming you to the Detroit Opera House, truly one of the most beautiful and Musical Society) contributes to beloved opera and dance houses in the Midwest. a vibrant cultural community Over the past three seasons — starting with the ABT by connecting audiences with performances of The Sleeping Beauty in 2016 — UMS performing artists from around and MOT have worked together to raise the visibility of the world in uncommon and dance in Southeast Michigan. In addition to the two ABT engaging experiences. One productions, we collaborated last year on performances of the oldest performing arts by Mark Morris Dance Group of Layla and Majnun at the presenters in the country, UMS Power Center in Ann Arbor. is an independent non-profit Our collaboration has meant an expanded audience organization affiliated with the for all of these productions, not to mention the related University of Michigan, presenting educational and community activities that have reached over 70 music, theater, and dance hundreds of students and young people throughout the state. And by working performances by professional together, we have also been able to ensure that everyone is welcome; as part of touring artists each season, along this year’s Community Day initiative, we set aside 1,000 free or low-cost tickets with over 100 free educational for underserved communities to attend the Saturday matinee performance of activities. UMS is committed to Romeo and Juliet. bold artistic leadership, engaged All of these efforts are made possible thanks to the Community Foundation learning through the arts, and for Southeast Michigan, which provided a three-year grant to inspire this access and inclusiveness. Since powerful collaboration. 1990, the organization has co- UMS is excited about and proud of our relationship with Detroit. Our commissioned and supported collaborations with Detroit arts organizations — including the Detroit Symphony the production of nearly 80 new Orchestra, Sphinx Organization, Mosaic Youth Theatre, COMPÁS, and College or reimagined works. Matthew for Creative Studies, in addition to MOT — are very rewarding. In addition, we’ve VanBesien joined UMS as its presented world-class music, theater, and dance performances over the past seventh president in July 2017. few years at the Detroit Boxing Gym (Nora Chipaumire’s portrait of myself as my father), Trinosophes (Dawn of Midi), The Schvitz (Bubble Schmeisis, coming up this March), and El Club (Steve Lehman and Sélébéyone, also in March). UMS has been presenting dance since the 1961-62 season — in fact, ABT performed a repertoire evening in Ann Arbor that same year. Over the next few months, we are presenting several dance companies in Ann Arbor, and we invite you to join us at the Power Center for Company Wang Ramirez, which combines breakdancing, classical dance, and an aerial rigging system in an innovative approach to movement (March 9-10); the thrilling Nederlands Dans Theater, which presents three different works by Crystal Pite and by Paul Lightfoot and Sol León (March 23-24); and the creative team from Belgium’s Charleroi Danses presenting Cold Blood, creating an ephemeral and dreamlike world in which fingers dance, cavorting in delightful miniature settings and taking on human- like forms, all while projected in real time on a large screen (April 19-21). It’s hard to describe, but utterly captivating. We would love to see you there! Matthew VanBesien President UMS is recipient of the 2014 National Medal of Arts from President Obama BRAVO • Winter 2018 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre February 8-11, 2018 Romeo and Juliet American Ballet Theatre Kevin McKenzie Kara Medoff Barnett Artistic Director Executive Director Alexei Ratmansky Artist in Residence STELLA ABRERA · ISABELLA BOYLSTON · JEFFREY CIRIO · MISTY COPELAND · HERMAN CORNEJO DAVID HALLBERG · SARAH LANE · ALBAN LENDORF · GILLIAN MURPHY · HEE SEO CHRISTINE SHEVCHENKO · DANIIL SIMKIN · CORY STEARNS · DEVON TEUSCHER · JAMES WHITESIDE SKYLAR BRANDT · THOMAS FORSTER · JOSEPH GORAK · ALEXANDRE HAMMOUDI · BLAINE HOVEN LUCIANA PARIS · CALVIN ROYAL III · ARRON SCOTT · CASSANDRA TRENARY · ROMAN ZHURBIN Alexei Agoudine · Joo Won Ahn · Mai Aihara · Nastia Alexandrova · Alexandra Basmagy · Hanna Bass · Aran Bell · Gisele Bethea Gemma Bond · Lauren Bonfiglio · Kathryn Boren · Luigi Crispino · Gray Davis · Claire Davison · Brittany DeGrofft · Zhong-Jing Fang Scout Forsythe · Patrick Frenette · April Giangeruso