Checking in with TB Apprentice Lawrence Knox: Summertime and the living is...busy!

by Lawerence Knox, Tulsa Ballet Apprentice



Backpacking in Europe. Skydiving. Riding in a hot air balloon. Zip-lining in Canada. I would love to tell you that these ambitious adventures described my summer, but, with four siblings, it has become increasingly difficult to find a common week of time off. So, what have I been doing during this break? My first thought, when Amy asked me this question, was "Well, I got my haircut," but I won't bore you with the excitement that brought me.

This summer is actually the first that I have not traveled to attend a summer ballet intensive, so I have been fortunate to be with my family for the past month. However, this is not the only reason that this break has been unusual for me. From 10am to 3pm, Monday through Thursday, I can be found in a classroom at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. I am now two days away from completing my first two college credits, Math and English. At this point, I'm hoping to major in Journalism, as I continue my college education along side my ballet career. I am planning on completing the second semester of my English Composition class while dancing in the fall. Although I have enjoyed using this side of my brain again, I will take a full day in the studio over five hours sitting in a desk any day!

I have also been teaching private ballet lessons to girls here in Fort Smith a couple days a week. This has provided me the opportunity to share my passion with those around me who are not as aware of the professional side of the ballet world. Unfortunately, the arts are not supported here like they are in Tulsa, granted it is a much smaller city.

The time I've had with my family this summer, whether it be watching movies, swimming, running errands with my parents, or bike riding with my sister and friends, is time that I will always cherish. The summer had started off with a trip to Colorado for my brother's college graduation, and was soon followed by my sister's high school graduation. Not long ago, my mom and I helped with microphones backstage during my sister's theater week of "Hairspray" here in town, in which she played Amber. It was a fun experience for me to be on the other side of the performance. (Guess I can't stay away from the theater for too long!)

I will be in Tulsa for a little while as well. Babysitting three wonderful children while their parents vacation for eight days, taking some morning classes at Pointe to the Future, and teaching a couple of the adult classes are on my list of things coming up soon and before I know it, the season will be starting!

So, although I have not traveled far this summer and I can't provide you with a tale of how I survived free-falling out of an airplane, I have had a great summer— fun, relaxing, accomplished, never dull, and exactly how I wanted it to be.

TBCDE Student Performances

Dear Friends,

I am excited to invite you to our 8th annual End of Year Performances! This marks the end of an incredibly successful year at Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education. We branched out in the competition arena attending the Youth America Grand Prix in New York and definitely put TBCDE on the map with a top 12 finish! Our Pre-Professional Ensemble had a fabulous year which resulted in two members being promoted into our main Company. And our summer workshop, Pointe to the Future, is shaping up to be a record breaking year. We have much to celebrate: our accomplishments, our wonderful faculty, and especially our talented students.

Students in our school are truly exceptional; they have a level of dedication and ability that allows them to thrive in the studio. Their desire to learn coupled with our extraordinary artistic faculty from all over the world is a definite road to success. I know their hours of hard work will be evident on the stage.

The purpose of our performances is quite simple: to showcase the training and technique of our students. Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education is a training facility for students who love the art of dance, from beginning ballet students to those pursuing professional careers. We want to ensure all levels of dancers receive the same quality instruction whether they attend one day per week or six days per week.

I hope you will join us as we showcase our dancers and I thank you for your continued support of Tulsa Ballet. I am extremely proud of our students, as I know you will be!

~Stacey Jenkins
Director of Education and Outreach

Pre-Professional Division Performances
Tulsa Ballet ~ Studio K
Friday, May 20th 7pm
Saturday, May 21st 7pm
Sunday, May 22nd 2pm

Tickets are available at the Tulsa Ballet reception desk Monday through Friday from 4-8pm; tickets are $10 and seating is general admission.

Marcello Angelini honors retiring principal dancer Ashley Blade-Martin

Ashley Blade-Martin in Sleeping Beauty. Photo by Sharen Bradford.

Ashley Blade-Martin and Alfonso Martin in Nacho Duato's Por Vos Muero. Photo by Sharen Bradford.




When I came to Tulsa 16 years ago, the thought of
a dancer spending most of his or her career and
retiring with my company was not something I ever
would have imagined happening. But at the end of
this season, this will become a reality when we see
one of Tulsa Ballet’s most dedicated dancers take
her last bow.

After 12 seasons with our company, Ashley Blade-
Martín, or just “Blade” as I like to call her, has decided
to hang up her pointe shoes. While it is heartbreaking
for all of us to think that we will no longer experience
Ashley’s beautiful artistry, it is important that we take
time during her last performances to celebrate her
career and many contributions to the company.
We are all going to miss Ashley. She is part of Tulsa
Ballet’s backbone, one of those handful of dancers
who made the company into what it is today. With
her husband Alfonso Martín, she has survived
many iterations of the company and inspired many
generations of dancers, patrons and audience
members. Her respect for the art form, commitment
to the company, willingness to set the standards for
the rest of the company not only on stage but every
minute of every day, in the studio or in the theater,
is the “stuff” that makes a dancer lead a company
of artists from all over the world into a cohesive,
polished and attractive troupe. The differences
people like Ashley make distinguish the ordinary
from the extraordinary.

Ashley will pursue a career in nursing, a calling she
identified early in her life. We all wish her a brilliant
career in the medical field and an equal amount
of success and personal accomplishment as she
achieved in dance. Ashley, you will be missed!

Marcello Angelini,
Artistic Director

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

In the studio: Slice to Sharp

Nancy Euvernik visited Tulsa Ballet to set Slice to Sharp, a ballet by Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo. Slice to Sharp will be performed as part of Tulsa Ballet's spring triple-bill, Exceptional Synergy, March 24-26.

Alfonso Martin and Alexandra Bergman

Jesus Pastor
Jesus Pastor, Hanae Seki and Soo Youn Cho
Nancy Euvernik, Jesus Pastor and Soo Youn Cho

Who is Jorma Elo?

Choreographer Jorma Elo was born in Finland and trained with the Finnish National Ballet School and the Kirov Ballet School in Leningrad. Prior to joining Netherlands Dance Theater in 1990, he danced with Finnish National Ballet and with Cullberg Ballet. Throughout his career as a dancer, Elo worked closely with numerous master choreographers, notably Jirí Kylián, Hans van Manen, William Forsythe and Paul Lightfoot. These influences led Elo to a choreographic career of his own. Elo was singled out as a “talent to follow” by Anna Kisselgoff in her 2004 Year in Review for The New York Times. Within a few short years, he has become one of the most sought-after choreographers in the United States and Europe. He has created numerous works in the US and internationally for companies such as New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Finnish National Ballet and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. The 2005 Helsinki International Ballet Competition awarded Elo a choreographic prize and he is the recipient of the Prince Charitable Trust Prize and the Choo-San Goh Choreographic Award in 2006. Dance Magazine (April, 2007) featured Elo on their cover with a corresponding article, Pointe Magazine named him a Dance VIP of 2006, and Esquire Magazine named him a “Master Artist” in 2008.

Alfonso Martin on Push Comes to Shove

Studio K's floor gets a facelift

The crew maintenance and resurface the subfloor in Studio K, just moments ago at the Tulsa Ballet Center.