OSCODA – Northeast Academy of Dance will wrap up its 27th year with “The 4 Seasons, Les Sylphides and Other Gems.”
The production will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15, at 7 p.m. Due to scheduling conflicts and renovations at Oscoda High School, the performances will take place at the Alcona High School Auditorium located at 51 N. Barlow Rd., Harrisville, at the corner of M-72 and Barlow Rd.
The program will encompass many dance styles and feature all NEAD students under the direction of Giuseppe Canale and Scott Heinrich and will also feature guest professional dancer Gavin Hounslow. Hounslow is originally from Oklahoma City, Okla. and has been a dancing member of Houston Ballet 2, the Boulder Ballet in Colorado, Oregon Ballet Theatre in Portland and most recently for the American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, N.J.
This is essentially the program that NEAD was unable to perform for audiences in December due to several illnesses and other unforeseen circumstances. The program promises to be highly entertaining as well as quite moving.
First up on the program will be director Canale’s version of the early 20th century ballet, “Les Sylphides.” Originally choreographed in 1909 by Michel Fokine for the famous Ballet Russe and featuring world famous ballerina of the time, Anna Pavlova, this ballet is considered to be the first of the Romantic era’s “white ballets” that does not tell a story per se but was simply about mood and pure dancing. The underlying idea of the work designed for one male lead and a corps of female dancers all dressed in long white tutus portraying a group of Sylphs or air spirits, giving inspiration to poet on his midnight walk in the woods.
The work has been a part of Canale’s career from a young age where he was chosen to perform the male solo in the prestigious Prix de Lausanne Ballet Competition, as well as his first major role after joining the Dutch National Ballet. As the work is being set on students from age nine to 16 years of age, the work has been adapted to suit the student’s level. That said, there is beautiful work from the core group, as well as soloists Emma Clarke, Emersyn Dembowske, Olivia Rowden and guest Hounslow. Exceptionally captivating will be the original pas de deux performed by Rowden and Hounslow. Music score for the entire work is taken from famous waltzes by Frederic Chopin orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov.
Second up on the program is Sparkling Gems that features the Academy’s Ballet 1 and Ballet 2 students. Choreographed by Heinrich, the students range in age from four to 11 years and display the steps they’ve been working on all year. Music selections are from Gioachino Rossini and Boris Asafyev. This group is usually the “heart melters” of the performance, and this year, Heinrich decided to allow each student to choose their own costume to match their personality. A fun experience, said Heinrich, so expect everything from colorful and sparkling, to soft and demure. The students in this group portray a shimmering array of moods and styles, just like gemstones! Audience members can delight as the students portray dolls and butterflies, a serene country dance, a German schuhplattler (or as we like to call it, the butt slap dance!) as well as some tricky weaving steps!
The final piece of the evening will be Heinrich’s reworking of his 2015 work “The 4 Seasons” and features all the students in the academy’s contemporary and jazz classes. Music for the work is based on Vivaldi’s famous “Four Seasons” but uses the incredible “Four Seasons Recomposed” score by Max Richter and also incorporates music by Peter Gregson, Ludovico Einaudi, Euphoria, Lumedia Musicworks and Alex Baranowski. The entire piece, (one hour without pause) is dreamlike in its shifting moods and colors as the dancers move with a constantly changing film that serves as a backdrop. Audiences were stunned when this premiered in 2015 and this new version of the work will not disappoint! Featured students in the work are Emma Clarke (Oscoda), Emersyn Dembowske (Tawas), Lily DeJohn (Greenbush), Kairie Miller (Oscoda), Olivia Rowden (Oscoda), Olivia Willas (Oscoda) and a moving film and dance section featuring Raven and Harper Whitefield (Harrisville). Especially captivating will be guest Hounslow’s incredible solos in the summer season, “Good”, as well as his introduction to the winter season, “Snow.” And because this is Heinrich’s work, be prepared for some quick humor as young beachgoers get an unexpected surprise of a lifetime!
This performance is possible in part through Inspiration Alcona and costumes for the performance have been made possible in part by a grant from Target Alpena. Other costumes have been hand crafted by Canale, Lisa Denney and Olivia Webb. Props for the program have been created by Heinrich and Canale, Ed Heinrich, Ben DeJohn and Nelly and Felipe Villalobos. Background film for the program have been created by Heinrich.
Intermediate/Ballet 5, Contemporary/Jazz Students are Emma Clarke, Lily DeJohn, Emersyn Dembowske, Maya Lopez, Kairie Miller, Emmaliene Rett, Olivia Rowden, Harper Whitefield, Raven Whitefield and Olivia Willas.
Ballet 3/4 and Ballet/Jazz Students are Brooklynne Allen, Ariana Cruz, Paige Hall, Evelyn Levshunov, Addison Lumsden, Rebeka Ratz, Romy Scamazzo, Ellie Webb and Skyla Whitefield.
Ballet 2 Students are Elena Benitez, Isabel Doherty, Mila Hernandez Imogen Miszak Camila Perez, Juniper Rett and Fatima Villalobos.
Ballet 1 Students are Lydianna Brissett, Elsie Brousseau, Annabelle Bulak, Ellianna Colak, Annie Jo Lumsden, Mia Mendoza, Ada Ratz, Mary Ratz and Sarah Ratz.
Tickets for the performances are $13 adults, $11 seniors, and $6 students and are available at the door. Program duration is approximately two hours with one intermission. This program is appropriate for all ages.
For more information about the academy and its programs, call 989-739-7955 or visit our website at neadancemi.org.