Apr 9 Arts and Culture Review: Louisville Ballet At Home With Balanchine This weekend’s three-Balanchine ballet program follows last spring’s “New World” program, in which Balanchine’s “Square Dance” was one ballet in that mixed program. By Kathi E.B. Ellis Apr 9 Arts and Culture Review: Louisville Ballet At Home With Balanchine Kathi E.B. Ellis
Mar 19 Arts and Culture Review: Alvin Ailey Dance Dazzles In Louisville Those of us who were lucky enough to be in the Whitney on Tuesday experienced one of the most quintessentially American dance companies. By Kathi E.B. Ellis Mar 19 Arts and Culture Alvin Ailey Dance Dazzles In Louisville Kathi E.B. Ellis
Mar 5 Arts and Culture Review: ‘Spring Collaboration’ Brings Vitality, Intensity An all-Hougland evening of choreography, two of the pieces are world premieres, one composed by LO music director Teddy Abrams. By Kathi E.B. Ellis Mar 5 Arts and Culture Review: 'Spring Collaboration' Brings Vitality, Intensity Kathi E.B. Ellis
Jan 31 Arts and Culture Review: Louisville Ballet’s Studio Performance Makes Right Connections The best of the Studio Connections programs make intentional connections between the works being presented, and this program goes further connecting those dots through more than 40 years of Louisville Ballet history. The Friday evening’s works were staged by former Artistic Directors Alun Jones, Helen Starr, and Bruce Simpson, and also Ballet Mistress Mikelle Bruzina, […] By Kathi E.B. Ellis Jan 31 Arts and Culture Review: Ballet's Studio Connections Kathi E.B. Ellis
Jan 25 Arts and Culture Review: Pimsler Dance Performance Brings Tension, Balance The Kentucky Center’s recommitment to modern dance programming continued this month with the Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater company. Saturday’s public performance was the tip of the iceberg, as the group will be in Louisville for the rest of the month doing a series of programs with area organizations. The most accessible piece of the […] By Kathi E.B. Ellis Jan 25 Arts and Culture Review: Pimsler Dance Performance Brings Tension, Balance Kathi E.B. Ellis
Dec 14 Arts and Culture Review: Louisville Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ a Familiar Holiday Treat The Christmas season must definitely be upon us, as Louisville Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” has arrived. This Saturday brought the annual tradition to the Whitney Theatre at the Kentucky Center. Part of the delight of an annual tradition is in recognizing the familiar; equally, as dancers are rotated through the myriad roles, and children age out […] By Kathi E.B. Ellis Dec 14 Arts and Culture Review: Louisville Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ a Familiar Holiday Treat Kathi E.B. Ellis
Nov 8 Arts and Culture New Music, Dance Pairings An Exciting Twist For Louisville Ballet’s ‘Showcase’ The Louisville Ballet studio bleachers were packed last week as audiences came to see not only new choreography but to hear live music composed by area musicians for the new works. Focusing on only four longer works — three by company members and one by a guest artist — the final performance on Saturday had a […] By Kathi E.B. Ellis Nov 8 Arts and Culture New Music, Dance Pairings An Exciting Twist For Louisville Ballet’s ‘Showcase’ Kathi E.B. Ellis
Oct 4 Arts and Culture Review: The Louisville Ballet’s ‘Coppélia’ Delights Robert Curran begins his second season with the Louisville Ballet, and the first that he has programmed in its entirety, with a revamp of the late 19th century ballet Coppélia. The season’s kickoff production, at the Brown Theatre, brings together a wealth of local talent. It is a joy to have the Louisville Orchestra playing; local artist […] By Kathi E.B. Ellis Oct 4 Arts and Culture Review: The Louisville Ballet’s ‘Coppélia’ Delights Kathi E.B. Ellis
May 25 Arts and Culture Wendy Whelan Gives Impeccable Hometown Dance Performance in Louisville The Brown Theatre was packed on Saturday night as Louisvillians came out to support and enjoy native daughter Wendy Whelan in her groundbreaking four-duet program. The performance Saturday night was impeccable. Much has been made of Whelan’s “retirement” from the New York City Ballet; but with her Wendy Whelan New Works Initiative it is clear […] By Kathi E.B. Ellis May 25 Arts and Culture Wendy Whelan Gives Impeccable Hometown Dance Performance in Louisville Kathi E.B. Ellis
Apr 12 Arts and Culture Review: Louisville Ballet’s ‘A New World’ The 2014-2015 season of the Louisville Ballet came to a close this weekend with Artistic Director Robert Curran’s “A New World” program, the first mainstage performance fully programmed by Curran in his first season with the company. Curran’s new worlds include Louisville premieres, work from Australian choreographer Lucas Jervies, collaborations with Louisville-based artists, introducing new […] By Kathi E.B. Ellis Apr 12 Arts and Culture Review: Louisville Ballet’s ‘A New World’ Kathi E.B. Ellis
Mar 6 Arts and Culture Shifts and Changes in Louisville Ballet’s Choreographers Showcase The Louisville Ballet’s Choreographers Showcase has been in performance this week, despite the late-season snowfall that has once again paralyzed the city. There are two more performances (at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday) – and you should not miss them. Artistic director Robert Curran has curated an eclectic and fascinating mix of programming. A new […] By Kathi E.B. Ellis Mar 6 Arts and Culture Shifts and Changes in Louisville Ballet’s Choreographers Showcase Kathi E.B. Ellis
Feb 14 Arts and Culture Louisville Ballet’s ‘Cinderella Story’ a High-Energy Bundle of Fun Val Caniparoli’s ballets have been a staple of Louisville Ballet programming for several years. And this season is no different as we move from his staging of “The Nutcracker” over the holidays into his jazzy, sassy retelling of the Cinderella story, set to the music of Richard Rodgers and reimagined into an America of the […] By Kathi E.B. Ellis Feb 14 Arts and Culture Louisville Ballet’s ‘Cinderella Story’ a High-Energy Bundle of Fun Kathi E.B. Ellis
Dec 11 Arts and Culture Louisville Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ Again a Crowd-Pleaser Louisville Ballet’s “Brown-Forman Nutcracker” Credit Sam English This is the sixth year this particular iteration of “The Nutcracker” takes the stage at the Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center. It plays through Dec. 21, with multiple casts. It’s possible that you could see five different combinations of dancers in the principals’ roles this month—a […] By Kathi E.B. Ellis Dec 11 Arts and Culture Louisville Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ Again a Crowd-Pleaser Kathi E.B. Ellis
Dec 11 Blog Louisville Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ Again a Crowd-Pleaser This is the sixth year this particular iteration of “The Nutcracker” takes the stage at the Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center. It plays through Dec.... By Kathi E.B. Ellis Dec 11 Blog Louisville Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ Again a Crowd-Pleaser Kathi E.B. Ellis
Sep 13 Blog ‘Giselle’ Offers Possible Glimpse of Louisville Ballet’s Future This week sees the beginning of a new era at the Louisville Ballet. Its 2014-2015 season kicks off with Giselle, the first production at which audiences... By Kathi E.B. Ellis Sep 13 Blog ‘Giselle’ Offers Possible Glimpse of Louisville Ballet’s Future Kathi E.B. Ellis