2023-2024 GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE
SEPT. 22 AT 7:30 PM IN THE HARTUNG THEATRE
FEATURING...BALLET VICTORIA
DEC. 2 & 3 IN THE HARTUNG THEATRE
PAST GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
2022-2023
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble
Cleo Parker Robinson and her ensemble of 11 dancers
brought an amazing performance to the Hartung Theatre at the
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
CPRDE performed seven exceptional works to an intimate and engaged audience of 162. The program featured contemporary movement with heavy influences from world dances- especially during the finale dance, “The Four Journeys” which tells a story of the four cultural roots of Mexico.
Throughout the week of residency, nine dance students from the University of Idaho Dance program worked with Cedric Hall, a CPRD choreographer of CLEO II company, preparing his debut piece, Springtime in Mourning which was also included in the CPRDE public performance. Cleo herself warmly greeter the attendees as if they were family.
The audience was thrilled . . .
“Absolutely Amazing work! Thank you for holding such space for voices and cultures to be shared so loudly and beautifully!”
-Bethany Laney, UI Faculty, Moscow ID
“It was the inspiration I was hoping for, plus so much more!"
-Allyson Bray, UI student, Moscow ID
Ballet Fantastique
Jones Theatre
Washington State University
Ballet Fantastique from Eugene, OR presented two fantastic performances of Babes in Toyland, set to the jazzy notes of Duke Ellington's The Nutcracker Suite to the delight of all at the Jones Theatre at WSU.
Our talented cast of students joined the professional team from BFan on stage as mice, children, and toy soldiers and more!
Tango Del Cielo
Kenworthy Performing Arts Center
Moscow, Idaho
As part of a new collaboration with Moscow Contemporary and the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center, Tango Del Cielo delighted the crowd with their presentation of authentic Argentine Tango accompanied by music from Spain and Latin America.
Prior to the public performance, more than 50 VIPs attended a fundraising reception at Moscow Contemporary, amidst an installation of paintings from local artist, Elvis Rosendo, whose cultural roots are in Venezuela. These images provided a beautiful backdrop for the reception, during which two Tango instructors from Spokane taught a lesson to the group.
Great Performances 2021-2022
Ballet Fantastique, Beauty & the Beast, The Hartung Theatre, Moscow ID
Ballet Fantastique travelled for the first time to the Palouse with a full stage production, impeccable costuming, and a performance to entice new audience members as well as seasoned dance lovers. Mother & daughter, artistic team, Donna and Hannah Bontrager chose to portray the “tale as old as time” through its Russian folk roots. Based on Sergey Aksakov’s 1858 version, “The Scarlet Flower”, the ballet challenges traditional representations of women in fairy tales as saved by fairies and magic. In this story, a brave young woman must journey a long way and endure terrible danger. In the end, it is the heroine’s own bravery, moral judgment, and fortitude that saves both Beauty and the Beast. Characters in the ballet include Natasha, the Beauty; her father; Prissy Sisters 1 and 2; Russian soldier, Ivan; the Beast; the teapot, Madame Samovara; a Flirty Butler; the Count; and the Feather Duster. The music ranges from Russian folk tunes to Tchaikovsky, to Shostakovich, to intricate Baroque Vivaldi.
We are grateful for these generous agencies and community sponsors who combined made this residency possible:
We are grateful for these generous agencies and community sponsors who combined made this residency possible:
Collision of Rhythm, Gladish Community and Cultural Center, Pullman, WA.
Photos courtesy of C. Rod Bacon
Photos courtesy of C. Rod Bacon
Our first in-person performance in nearly 20 months was with the amazing duo, Collision of Rhythm. Comprised of tap-dancing classical virtuoso, Aaron Williams, and beatbox-juggling keynote speaker, Bronkar Lee, they filled the stage as a 12-person ensemble would, moving from instrument to instrument with a high level of skill and diversity. What was created is a richly explosive experience like nothing else out there — rhythm-centered, but also full of melodic movement and dynamic depth. With drumming, tap dancing, rhythmic juggling, marimba, piano, saxophone, flute and so much more . Our audience loved the energy and inspiration of this talented team!
Both have achieved internet fame with “rhythmic” viral videos, Aaron, through his virtuosic rendition of Mario on Marimba (over 30 million views), and Bronkar, as the Beatbox Dad, through a video of him beatboxing with his son (over 144 million views). Together, they have worked with companies like GoPro, Coca-Cola, and Google, and have been featured on The Tonight Show, America’s Got Talent, and Super Bowl commercials.
If by chance you missed these performers you can view more about them at: https://www.collisionofrhythm.com/
The Collision of Rhythm Great Performance and free Youthreach program provided to area elementary students
was made possible by support from:
The Collision of Rhythm Great Performance and free Youthreach program provided to area elementary students
was made possible by support from:
