Richmond Ballet Announces Choreographers For New Works

Choreographers Gina Patterson, Todd Rosenlieb and William Soleau will join Richmond Ballet’s professional company in celebrating a quarter of a century of “awakening and uplifting the human spirit.” Patterson and Rosenlieb participated in the critically-acclaimed New Works Festival this past April, and Soleau restaged his collaborative interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in February. Each of these artists will create a world premiere to add to the company’s repertory in this upcoming season.

Studio 1 begins Richmond Ballet’s 25th Anniversary line-up in September featuring a new commission by based choreographer William Soleau, which will be performed on the same program as Antony Tudor’s Jardin aux Lilas. Julinda Lewis of the Richmond Times-Dispatch deemed Soleau’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which featured not only the dancers but also live orchestral music, operatic solos, choral singing and dramatic narration, “a feast for the eyes and ears and a delight to the soul” and “a welcome midwinter diversion.” The popularity of Soleau’s work revealed itself when the production filled 2,000 more seats than its April 2006 premiere. Richmond Ballet’s repertory includes six works from this prolific choreographer in addition to Midsummer.

Norfolk-based Todd Rosenlieb will create a light-hearted piece for Richmond Ballet’s Studio 2 in November 2008 which also features a revival of Ancient Airs and Dances, the first piece choreographed for Richmond Ballet's professional company by Artistic Director Stoner Winslett. Rosenlieb choreographed Chance Favors the Prepared Mind for the Ballet’s successful New Works Festival in April 2008, of which Richmond Times-Dispatch Julinda Lewis wrote: “awakens images of the childhood and showcases delicate movement performed by strong men.”

For Studio 3, in March of 2009, Gina Patterson has been commissioned by Richmond Ballet to expand her stunning New Works Festival piece, Silence. Patterson will continue to explore the depth of Arvo Part’s score by extending Silence to its full-length for the official world premiere. The Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Julinda Lewis wrote that the “rise and fall of Texas-based Gina Patterson's Silence barely contained the work's raw intensity.” of Style Weekly also gave her opinion commenting that Patterson’s piece included “beautiful dancing by 11 company members -- curved backs, rippled spines, limbs flicked out in high lifts.” Patterson’s Silence will be paired with a Richmond Ballet favorite: Val Caniparoli's Djangology which will bring its soulful sizzle to the Studio stage.

Although Studio 4 will not include a world premiere, Richmond Ballet will present its latest acquisition during the production: The Four Temperaments, one of George Balanchine's “black and white” ballets. Vestiges, Colin Connor's thought-provoking and powerful work that premiered at Richmond Ballet in 2000, will add a more contemporary aspect to Studio 4.

Due to the popularity of the Studio Series, Richmond Ballet installed new risers in the Studio Theatre last season, providing seating for more than 40 extra patrons and allowing last season’s Studio 3 to draw a record audience for a Studio production.

Fans can also look forward to Cinderella, choreographed by Artistic Associate and Ballet Master Malcolm Burn, just in time for Valentine’s Day, and the anniversary season would not be complete without The Nutcracker to brighten the holidays with 12 performances in December. It’s time to mark those calendars in anticipation of another thrilling Richmond Ballet season. -- www.richmondballet.com