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Civic Visionaries, Aesthetic Pioneers
The Richmond Ballet at The Joyce Theater
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Now in its 26th professional season, the Richmond Ballet is the materialization of artistic and community vision. Under Artistic Director Stoner Winslett, it has commissioned 50 original pieces from 19 choreographers from across the globe, instituted the first major touring company of professional dancers in Virginia and benefited the local community by establishing Minds in Motion in local schools, a program offered to fourth-grade students geared toward teaching self-awareness, cooperation, and discipline through the memorization of choreography.
“Our mission at Richmond Ballet,” Winslett says, “is to awaken and uplift the human spirit, both for dancers and audiences, and all of our programs have grown from this mission. The professional company fulfills the mission by providing dancers the opportunity to live their dreams and presenting inspiring, uplifting performances for our audience…dance is a powerful form of communication and connection, and we strive each day to communicate and connect every day through each of these programs.”
During her 29 years as Artistic Director, Winslett has guided the Richmond Ballet through three successful New York performances, including their New York debut at the Joyce Theater in 2005.
At the Joyce this April, the Richmond Ballet will perform six commissioned works that highlight the versatility of the dancers and challenge typical notions of the visual aesthetic of ballet itself. The diverse selection of pieces consists of Val Caniparoli’s “Violin,” an investigation of the concept of isolation; Colin Connor’s poignant examination of how humanity must reclaim its raw grace in the absence of our comfortable illusion of security entitled “Vestiges”; William Soleau’s testament to the human spirit “Misa Criolla”; Jessica Lang’s abstract ballet “To Familiar Places in Dream”; Mauricio Wainrot’s energetic “Voyages”; and Stoner Winslett’s own “Ancient Airs and Dances,” an exploration of “the true and essential emotions that reach across the generations and bind all of mankind together.”
Though the pieces represent the intense diversity of the company’s ability, Winslett believes they share a common capacity to uplift audiences. She hopes they will leave the performances with “the exhilaration that watching good dance can bring, that feeling of being transported to a beautiful, magical place for two hours.”
PROGRAM A: “Ancient Airs and Dances,” “To Familiar Spaces in Dream,” “Voyages”
Tue. 7:30 p.m., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., Sun. 7:30 p.m.
PROGRAM B: “Misa Criolla,” “Violin,” “Vestiges”
Wed. 7:30 p.m., Thu. 8 p.m., Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.
Tickets start at $10! Call JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800.
All other tickets can purchased online at www.richmondballet.com.