Stars of American Ballet Theatre will perform at UNCSA

UNCSA School of Dance, led by Dean Susan Jaffe, presents a special evening on Sunday, April 28, to raise funds for the Choreographic Institute, a summer program that fosters the development of new work by established and emerging choreographers. The event will feature 10 dancers from the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), including alumni Gillian Murphy and Blaine Hoven and former Dean Ethan Stiefel, and two dancers from Charlotte Ballet.

The evening begins with a champagne reception at 5:15 p.m. followed by a performance at 6 p.m., all taking place in the Agnes de Mille Theatre at UNCSA. Tickets are $150. Order tickets online or call 336-770-3210.

ABT Principal Dancers Gillian Murphy and James Whiteside

American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancers Gillian Murphy and James Whiteside performed at UNCSA in March 2016. / Photo: Peter Mueller

ABT dancers who will participate in the April 28 event include former Dean of the School of Dance Ethan Stiefel, Company Teacher who was a Principal Dancer from 1997 until his retirement in 2012; Principal Dancers Gillian Murphy (a UNCSA alumna), Stella Abrera, Isabella Boylston, and James Whiteside; Soloists Blaine Hoven (a UNCSA alumnus), Cassandra Davis and Catherine Hurlin; and Corps de Ballet members Gemma Bond and Tyler Maloney. Also featured will be UNCSA alumnus Ben Ingel and Elizabeth Truell from Charlotte Ballet.

The dancers will perform works by choreographers Susan Jaffe, Ethan Stiefel, James Whiteside, Gemma Bond and Helen Pickett.

“We are so pleased to welcome back some of our most esteemed alumni and friends to help celebrate and support the Choreographic Institute,” said Susan Jaffe, who was a Principal Dancer with ABT for 22 years. “This incredible program fosters the development of promising choreographers, helping us deepen our mission of developing original works, supporting artists and giving back to the broader community. It offers a tremendous opportunity for the choreographers as well as the dancers in our summer program, who get to work with emerging and professional talents.”

Ethan Stiefel and Gillian Murphy coached dancers for "the Nutcracker" in 2017

Former Dean of Dance Ethan Stiefel and alumna Gillian Murphy visited campus in November 2017 to coach dancers performing in "The Nutcracker." / Photo: Peter Mueller

The two-pronged Choreographic Institute, comprising the Choreographic Development Residency for emerging choreographers and Choreographic Essentials Workshop for professional and professional aspirant dancers, provides space, time and resources for innovative initiatives, mentorship and research, as well as the practice and application of original choreography in contemporary ballet and contemporary dance. The Choreographic Institute facilitates choreographers and students in the creation of groundbreaking new works and provides opportunities to work with some of the leading-edge performative technologies in today's dance world. 

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April 03, 2019