Newport Contemporary Ballet (NCB) (previously identified as Island Moving Company) has introduced particulars for Catch Fire!, the Company’s new Frontier Series manufacturing. The collection runs May 18-20, on the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence.
Catch Fire! is curated by NCB Artistic Director Danielle Genest and options two world premiere works. Working with hearth as a central theme, this system consists of an all-new FIREBIRD choreographed and staged by Genest, and a brand new work entitled ASHES by visiting visitor choreographer Tristian Griffin.
“The company is excited to return to Providence and the WaterFire Arts Center this spring with our inaugural Frontier Series production, Catch Fire! True to its name, NCB’s Frontier Series engages our artists to push past familiar boundaries and explore new perspectives and approaches to dancemaking,” mentioned NCB Executive Director Peter Bramante.
Genest added, “My idea for Catch Fire! started with FIREBIRD, which will be a unique blend of classical and contemporary ballet. I wanted to have a strong piece of contemporary dance on the program to create balance and, once again, highlight the broad spectrum of work that Newport Contemporary Ballet does. Tristian Griffin immediately came to mind. His choreography is full of power and originality, and I knew he would have a beautiful way of connecting to the theme.”
The Firebird is likely one of the world’s most well-known ballets and musical compositions, and a favourite ballet of Genest. Finding inspiration from the beloved story, Genest got down to create a brand new interpretation of the basic ballet set to Stravinsky’s fascinating rating. The authentic rating was written in 1910, and was commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev, founding father of Ballets Russes, for the Paris Opera House and choreographed by Michel Fokine. The profitable premiere of the Firebird in 1910 was the beginning of an 18-year collaborative partnership between Stravinsky and Diaghilev, leading to different well-known ballets, together with Petrushka (1911), The Rite of Spring (1913) and Apollo (1928).
“This is a ballet that I loved performing and have always wanted to choreograph,” Genest mentioned. “FIREBIRD explores themes of good, evil and magic at the intersection of the human and mythological worlds. I am intrigued by the concept, inspired by the music and excited to bring this folk tale forward in a fresh, dynamic way.”
Local artist/sculptor Shawndavid Berry is collaborating with Genest to supply scenic design and set items for FIREBIRD. Berry is a sculptor and painter working to specific motion and evoke emotion by his mediums. He describes his course of for creating set and scenic design parts for Genest’s FIREBIRD as “connecting matter from fluid, vapor to solid and metaphysical, hoping to provide a cohesive balance between dancers and scenery.”
NCB Resident Costume Designer Eileen Stoops will design the costumes.
Choreographer Tristian Griffin is happy to work with NCB once more. “This will be my second work for the company. I am looking forward to collaborating with the dancers as well as pushing myself as a creator and choreographer.” Griffin goes on to describe his new dance, ASHES, as a piece in regards to the flame that resides in each particular person. Composer Michael Wall and Costume Designer Naomi Tanioka contributed to the imaginative and prescient of Griffin’s new work.
“I’ve been thinking how the life of the flame represents the evolution of the soul as it progresses during our lifetime,” Griffin defined. “A life starts off with a spark, similar to kindling a fire. And the last breath we draw is like a flame being blown out.”
A local of Kansas City, MO, Griffin danced with Garth Fagan Dance and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Over the previous yr, he taught full-time on the University of Kansas as a Visiting Professor of Practice. Currently, Griffin is in his second yr as an Artist-in-Residence at Lawrence Arts Center.
For extra data, go to newportcontemporaryballet.org.
