Ma Cong on his new creation, premiering next week!

Ma Cong spoke to us about his new creation Tethered Pulse and the returning Blood Rush. Both ballets are a part of the Creations in Studio K series running April 29-May 8. Seating is limited and these shows will sell out - get your tickets now at 918-749-6006.

Is Ballet Dead? Not in Tulsa!

Soo Youn Cho and Alberto Montesso in the world premiere of Speaking of Each by Ma Cong, April 2010

There is no lack of cutting-edge, new works at Tulsa Ballet, the primary reason Jennifer Homans, author of Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet, thinks that ballet is dying.

“We are at a conservative moment in ballet, and dancers need to feel like they are doing new work,” Homans pointed out in an article printed by Independent.co.uk on April 5, 2011. “Unfortunately, for the most part, the new work is not living up to the old work.”

Not so at Tulsa Ballet. To date, ten new ballets have premiered in Studio K (Tulsa Ballet’s own theater located in Brookside) since the spring of 2008, to rave reviews. At least three of these works have been acquired by a number of companies in both Europe and the Far East. Tulsa has officially become an exporter of art worldwide.

“We are very fortunate in Tulsa to have a space like Studio K, dedicated to the creation of original works,” said Marcello Angelini, Tulsa Ballet Artistic Director. “At this time, there are only three other companies in this country that enjoy the luxury of an intimate, yet proper on-site theater in which to share dance with their audiences.”

On April 29 to May 8, the fourth annual Creations in Studio K series will premiere two more original works.

The first ballet, titled Tethered Pulse, is by Tulsa Ballet resident choreographer and principal dancer Ma Cong. This work is about people trying to understand different kinds of relationships, and the inspiration comes from Mr. Cong’s own personal experience.

“The emotion of this piece comes from the ideas and inspiration I have known in my own life,” said Mr. Cong.

The second new creation is Blur, by French choreographer Tony Fabre, who is a former principal dancer with companies ranging from The Royal Ballet I London to Compañía Nacional de Danza in Madrid. Recently, he served a decade long term as artistic director of Compañía Nacional de Danza 2. Blur is an ensemble work with the lead couple representing the struggle confronting every human being – that of choosing between instinct and conscience.

“That is when life becomes a bit of a "blur" and one struggles to find peace,” said Mr. Fabre. The third ballet, back by popular demand, is Ma Cong’s Blood Rush, which energized crowds at the opening of Studio K three years ago. Despite an absent storyline, Blood Rush is very direct in its presentation of the melding of two very different forms of dance – classical ballet and the tango.

“Tulsa Ballet has never played by the rules, and these three exciting pieces show that ballet can be fresh and new,” said Angelini. “Ballet is dying? Not in Tulsa.”

A new work by Ma Cong

Later this month, audiences will be treated to two new ballets created for Tulsa Ballet dancers, one by Ma Cong and one by Tony Fabre. We couldn't help snapping some photos of the artists at work.

Ma Cong, Diana Gomez and Jonnathan Ramirez Mejia

Diana Gomez and Jonnathan Ramirez Mejia

Erin Pritchard

Tickets for the Creation Series are available at www.tulsaballet.org

Photos by Julie Shelton

2011 Bella Cucina raises funds for outreach programs

Photo: Isaac Rocha and Rania Nasreddine

Isaac Rocha, this year’s chair of Tulsa Ballet’s unique fundraiser, Bella Cucina, reported a successful conclusion to the most anticipated evening of the year. The event, which raises funds for Tulsa Ballet’s artistic and educational programs, is an unparalleled evening of fine dining and fine wines set in some of Tulsa’s most beautiful private homes. With a renewed focus on sponsorships, in addition to individual donors, patron gifts have increased by 40% this year over last year.

According to Isaac, “A chair is only as good as his committee, and I have been blessed with a great group of people to work with.” Committee members are Cheryl Chambers, Pat Chernicky, Rosalie Childs, Rebecca Creal, Becky Dixon, Charlotte Edmundson, Janie Funk, Marcia Harris, Jim McCarthy, Marian McCarthy, Mia Oven, Isaac Rocha, Karen Young and Chris Zollinger.

Hosts and chefs for this year's "The Art of Food" include: Nancy and Bruce Bolzle with Timothy Sean Fitzgerald, Timothy Sean Fitzgerald Catering; Pat Chernicky with Justin Thompson, The Brasserie and Sonoma; Charles Faudree and Bill Carpenter with Terri Fermo, Bohemia Catering; Suzanne and Jim Kneale with Austin Terry, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar; Jackie Kouri and Gary Paxton with Nuhad Farhood, The Cedars Deli & Catering; Mike Krimbill with Hope Egan, Hope’s Table; Robin and Ron LaButti with Candace Conley, The Girl Can Cook; Susan and Lynn Fesperman with Orr Nalp, Just Catering by Orr; Evelyn Hatfield with Seth Smith, Taste Catering; Bob and Carol Skib and Samantha and Tony Henry with Richard Schlosberg, Wolfgang Puck Bistro; Meredith and Oliver Howard with Geoffrey van Glabbeek, Gilcrease Restaurant; Rita and Si Levit with Angie Johnson, Eats 2U Catering; Donna and Jim Ogez with Drew Flatt, D’Novo Lean Gourmet; Betty and Steve Pirnat with Tuck Curren, Biga and The Local Table; Rania Nasreddine and Macy Amatucci with Trula in the Mayo Hotel; Sylvia and Ed Taylor with Devin Levine, Tulsa Convention Center; Paul Woodul with Mandy Parkhurst and Megan Moore, In the Raw.

Sponsors for Bella Cucina include: Jo and Jack Babbitt, The Bama Companies, Margery F. Bird, Hall Estill, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Howard, Suzanne and Jim Kneale, ONEOK, Inc., Lisa Owens and Craig Anderson, Betty and Steve Pirnat, Roy M. "Skip" Teel, Jr., Kathy and Bob West, The Williams Foundation, and The Zarrow Families Foundation. Gourmand Patrons are The Barnett Family Foundation, Irene and Stan Burnstein, Bill Cameron, Patricia Chernicky, Lon Foster and Mary McMahon, Janie and Earl Funk, HoganTaylor, Greg Holt, M.D., Bonnie Klein, Jackie Kouri and Gary Paxton, Laurie Bowen-Krimbill, Robin and Ron LaButti, Marian and Jim McCarthy, Julie and John Nickel, Ludmila and Frank Robson, Tamra and David Sheehan, Max R. Vowell, Mary Wheeler and Spencer Brown, Patricia W. Wheeler, Paul Williams, and Mollie Williford. Gourmet Patrons are Nameplates, Inc. - Colorvue Digital, Hannah and Joe Robson, Summit Bank, and Karen and Carl Young. Foodie Patrons are Lisa and Steve Antry, Linda and John Bates, Rita E. Bell, Leta Bell, India Carter, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Childs, Kathleen Coan, Virginia Cohlmia and Mark Eagan, Laura and Keith Colgan, Penny L. Downing, Jacqui and Roger Haglund, Charles and Gretchen Heinberg, Joan and Bob Hunt, Carol Bailey Kamp, Genny and Kirby Lehman, Leigh Ann Moss and Eric Sherburn, Dennis Neill and John Southard, Oklahoma Surgical Hospital, Janet B. Pagano, Drs. Heather and Andrew Revelis, Francine Ringold, Rich and Cartmill, Inc., Rita and George Singer, Jane B. Sneed, Bob Stewart, Marilyn S. Strange, and Kathy Taylor and Bill Lobeck.

In-kind support was provided by Collins Midtown Liquor, Toni's Flowers, Rick Fortner, Abco Party Rentals and Thirst Wine Merchants. Oklahoma Magazine was the Media Sponsor.

Bella Cucina funds Tulsa Ballet's community outreach programs, which provides cultural and artistic enrichment programs for adults and children, including students in Tulsa Public Schools. Thousands of at-risk children are served through the educational outreach programs Leaps Ahead, Leaps In Motion and Journey Through Dance. Targeted at schools with large populations of students on the free or reduced lunch program, indicating financial need, these programs establish a foundation in arts education for students who might not receive the opportunity elsewhere.

TBCDE Student is "Driven"

15 year old Calley Skallnik is interviewed by Mike Simons of the Tulsa World. Watch the video here.

The evening sunlight hits Calley Skalnik as she sits on the floor of Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education.

She smiles as she stretches with others in the top level of the pre-professional division. She knows that at 15 she has already chosen a career with a 100 percent injury rate. She hopes the big injury doesn’t come until she’s ready to retire.

Sometimes she sees herself in the mirror during practice and thinks it’s good enough. Her teachers are quick to tell her it isn’t. She knows, “it seems harsh.” She appreciates it because, “you realize you can do more than you thought you could.”

She practices four and a half hours a day, 6 days a week. She attends a mixture of formal school and home school.

Her dream is to be in a professional company somewhere, “just to be able to get paid to do what you love; just to be an artist would be amazing.”

TB students experience success at YAGP

While most high school students spend spring break at the beach or on the slopes, our top ballet students prove once again they are not the typical teenagers. Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education level 6 students spent their spring break dancing alongside the top ballet students in the world. TBCDE students and faculty traveled to New York to compete at the Youth America Grand Prix International Finals held March 17th – 22nd. And it was well worth the work!

The YAGP competition was massive and the talent was amazing. To advance to the finals, schools had to qualify by attending a semi-regional competition. Only the top few students at each regional receive the opportunity to compete in New York, so we were truly among the best of the best. Being a first time competitor in a field representing 35 countries was truly an eye-opening experience for our 11 students from TBCDE. We hoped to gain experience, gain exposure, and gain opportunities for our talented students. We received much more than we expected!

Our 10 female students competed in the ensemble category, which included 96 pieces representing 8 countries. They performed both a contemporary and a classical piece choreographed and coached by Liudmila Polonskaya and they danced both beautifully. TBCDE ensemble was named as Top 12! These talented young women include: Grace Chanslor, Joy Chen, Reagan Collins, Michaela Harrington, Brittan Jenkins, Bobbie Lynn Kandravi, Hana Lethen, Madison Pride, Calley Skalnik and Rachel Wells.

The senior women’s category hosted 121 young women from 16 different countries. Calley performed a variation from Sleeping Beauty and a contemporary piece choreographed by Liudmila Polonskaya. The top 21 made it to the final round and our Calley Skalnik was among those who advanced! The final round was held at the New York City Center and Calley performed with confidence, grace, and beauty.

In the senior men’s category there were 49 dancers and Nikolas Gaifullin was a strong contender. Nikolas performed a variation from La Fille Mal Gardee and a contemporary piece choreographed by Stephanie Murrish. While he did not advance to the final round, he was noticed by many and received two scholarship offers for summer training. Nikolas and Bobbie Lynn Kandravi also competed in the pas de deux division, coached by Daniil Gaifullin and Stephanie Murrish, and danced well.

The students were wonderful and represented Tulsa Ballet extremely well. We are very proud and already looking forward to returning next year to showcase the talent and the training we have here at Tulsa Ballet.

by Stacey Jenkins, Director of Education and Outreach