Ballet Tennessee, in collaboration with the official school, VanCura Ballet Conservatory, presents The Swan Lake Project at the Roland Hayes Concert Hall in the UTC Fine Arts Center on May 21 at 7 p.m.
The concept for the project is to introduce the community to the rich beauty and historical significance of Swan Lake and to use this iconic ballet as a vehicle to educate the students of VanCura Ballet Conservatory and the dancers of training companies in all aspects of the art form.
According to Artistic Director Anna Baker VanCura, Swan Lake as a story-ballet is intense and dramatic. She said, "Our goal is to inspire our dancers and the community with all of the compelling elements of this ballet—the music, artistry, drama, and dancing."
The Swan Lake Project, through its educational and artistic goals, will prepare the company to perform the full version of Swan Lake in the 2011-2012 Season as part of Ballet Tennessee’s 25th Anniversary.
Ballet Tennessee alumnus and Montgomery Ballet trainee, Joseph Lynch, will perform the role of Prince Seigfried. The role of the white swan, Odette, will be danced by Breanna Houston of Sale Creek and a cameo appearance of the black swan Odile will be performed by Jenison Owens of Lookout Valley.
The performance will feature Ballet Tennessee company dancers in the Act II lakeside scene and students of the Conservatory’s Professional Training Program, Junior and Teen divisions in Act III royal celebration.
"The dancers first worked with the style and emotional content of their roles, along with the technical elements," says Ms. VanCura. "It is very exciting to see that they are embodying their roles and through that transformation, surpassing artistic and technical goals that we initially set for The Swan Lake Project."
In addition to The Swan Lake Project the evening’s program will feature two unique and substantial modern works. Wind Dancers choreographed by Ballet Tennessee alumna and faculty member Brittany Johnson-Mills’ is set to the music of White Stones. Faculty member Jennia Shanley’s work, Voyage, set to music of Philip Glass, is inspired by early 20th Century immigrants who came through Ellis Island.
Tickets are on sale at the UTC Fine Arts Center Box Office 425-4269.