Ballet Nouveau Colorado
Encyclopedia
Ballet Nouveau Colorado a contemporary ballet
company based out of Broomfield, Colorado
is the second largest ballet company
in the state. BNC operates in three programming areas:
and Denver's North Metro
area. In 2002 BNC transitioned to maintaining a full-time contemporary ballet company. Later in 2002 BNC was honored by the Colorado State House of Representatives with CO House Resolution #02-1009 "for its commitment to bringing arts to the metropolitan region and for providing a wonderful educational haven to individuals who are interested in dance". By 2005 BNC had grown into the second largest ballet company in the State of Colorado. At the start of their 2007-2008 season BNC made a significant adjustment to their marketing campaign and established a widespread presence on the internet including profiles on Facebook
and MySpace
as well as video postings on YouTube
. BNC has never had a permanent home performance venue. The school and offices are based out of their Broomfield location and the company performs in a variety of spaces, taking the position that "wherever there's a stage there can be dance as well."
BNC never disclosed the circumstances surrounding the firing of Garrison. However since her departure "Ballet Nouveau has changed its administrative structure. Instead of the artistic director being subordinate to the executive director as before, both now report directly to the board and are considered peers."
In the summer of 2010 Garrison's position was filled by Shari Ammon Mills, the sister of the artistic director, Garrett Ammon. On January 12, 2011 BNC appointed Christin Crampton Day, a former Colorado Ballet
board member and public relations professional to replace Ammon Mills.
Ballet Nouveau Colorado is a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts organization and as such is supported by donations, fundraisers, and ticket sales. BNC is also supported in part by the The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District of Adams
, Broomfield, and Jefferson
Counties and by the Broomfield Community Foundation. Ballet Nouveau earns 60 percent of its revenues from ticket sales and school tuition. BNC also partners with local communities and businesses to assist in fundraising.
One of BNC's partnerships has been with local businessman Don Ferguson, who donated time and services to the ballet company for free. Ferguson has provided BNC with about 200 hours a year of his time and has saved the organization an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 a year.
Due in part to profiles in Dance
and Pointe
magazines, the company is gaining a national reputation, standing alongside Colorado Ballet and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet as a leader in the Rocky Mountain West. However only half of the company's $1 million annual budget goes to professional performances, significantly less than either Colorado Ballet or Aspen Santa Fe.
On July 8, 2010 a message was e-mailed to all of BNC's "patrons, friends, and partners" requesting an additional $198,000 in donations before July 31, 2010. The message, which was also posted on the main page of the company's website warned that without the additional funds the company would need to suspend operations. The letter, signed by artistic director, Garrett Ammon and his sister, the newly appointed executive director, Shari Ammon Mills stated," We are determined to never find ourselves in this position again. We are diligently working on new strategies and objectives that will enable us to more effectively support and sustain the continued advancement of our school, company and community programs."
Nouveau at Night is an annual fundraising event held by BNC at the start of their professional season each year. It offers a silent auction with pieces ranging from gift certificates, art, and jewelry to classes, wine, and luxury travel packages. Complimentary glasses of Beaujolais Nouveau
are available to guests in addition to premiere performances by the professional company and a night of dancing to live music.
Proceeds from the fundraiser support various aspects of the organization, including arts in education
partnerships with four Title I elementary schools in North Denver
, The Ugly Duckling Anti-Bullying Program, and new performance pieces.
for the first time. Attendance at the fundraiser reached close to 400 people. On behalf of Denver's Mayor John Hickenlooper
, the director of the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships, Mike Roque proclaimed the day "Ballet Nouveau Colorado Day" in the city and county of Denver. More than 300 items were offered at the silent auction. The fundraiser featured Artistic Director Garrett Ammon's "Mediate", a performance choreographed to INXS
music.
For their 2009-2010 season BNC had 12 professional dancers. During the season the dancers report for a five-day workweek. In addition to rehearsals and performances, company members also participate in outreach programs at local public schools. Some company members also teach classes in the ballet school.
for BNC's debut at the downtown Denver, CO landmark, the Paramount Theater
. For the next three years the company performed Valentine's Day performances at this venue. At the end of the company's fifth season Robert Mills left to become the artistic director for the Oklahoma City Ballet
Following Robert Mills's departure BNC recruited Ballet Memphis principal dancers and married couple Garrett Ammon and Dawn Fay. Ammon, winner of the Individual Artist Fellowship for choreography in 2007 from the Tennessee Arts Commission stepped into the role of artistic director and his wife, named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" for 2007, took on the newly created position of associate artistic director. The new artistic team's first season with BNC took on the theme "Experience the Evolution" and premiered Ammon's "Love of My Life," a ballet choreographed to Queen
music, at BNC's annual showcase. The new show was later featured at the fundraiser, Nouveau at Night. Ammon went on to reinvent BNC's Valentine's Day show, "Moulin Rouge", which had originally been presented two years earlier as a one act set in a Toulouse Lautrec-esque Parisienne cafe choreographed by former artistic director, Robert Mills. Ammon's "Moulin Rouge," a full-length show, was a love story inspired by the 1894 Gothic horror novel "Trilby
," by George du Maurier
and featured the hypnotist character Svengali
. Collaborating with BNC's staff, Ammon and Fay developed the "21st Century Choreography Competition," an American Idol
-like contest for choreographers utilizing YouTube
, video blogs, and other forms of digital media as one method of making the company more modern.
For the 2007-2008 season BNC invited choreographers from around the country to submit their work via YouTube
as part of their 21st Century Choreography Competition. Then, based on public vote and the vote of BNC's artistic director, Garrett Ammon, three finalists were chosen. Each finalist was given around 25 hours of rehearsal time at BNC’s Broomfield, Colorado studios to set their work on the BNC dance company.
BNC posted behind-the-scenes video podcasts throughout the rehearsel process. The finalists were given a commission of $1,500 and the winner was awarded a cash prize and a contract to develop works for BNC. The winner is ultimately chosen by popular vote from the audience (via text messaging or paper ballot), Garrett Ammon, and guest judges from the "Arts Business Community" such as Daniel Cappello, assistant editor of The New Yorker
and dance professionals such as Wendy Perron
, editor of Dance Magazine
. The competition was continued for a second season and was rebranded "Dancemakers 2.0".
. Before joining BNC, Ammon had choreographed a work titled, "Mediate" set to INXS
music. On October 31, 2008 BNC premiered its second show of the 2008-2009 season, "Garrett Ammon's Rock Ballets." Accompanied by "Mediate" and "Love of My Life" was the world premiere of "An Occasional Dream," a ballet set to the songs of David Bowie
. According to Ammon, "Unlike traditional ballets that tell a story, movements in these ballets follow the inspiration of the music".
The 2009-2010 season of BNC featured "POP," a ballet that blends pop music and ballet in the style of Rock Ballets. Ammon was joined by 2008 choreography competition finalist, Alex Ketley and 2009 choreography competition winner, Joshua Blake Carter in creating contemporary works for the season's opener. "POP" consisted of four pieces, three premieres and one revival. Carter's piece, "Nothing is forever, darling" utilized the music of Rufus Wainwright
while Ketley's "Kill the Anthem" was a blend of indie rock
and electronic
featuring music from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
, Test Icicles
, The Knife
, and MGMT
. Ammon's two pieces included the world premiere of "Bang Bang" a piece choreographed entirely to Nancy Sinatra
's music and "and tomorrow came" a piece that originally premiered on April 4, 2008 at BNC and features music by the indie folk
artist Joanna Newsome.
BNC's professional company was featured at the top of Dance Magazine's "25 TO WATCH: WHO WILL SHINE IN '09" list in the magazine's January 2009 issue. The "25 to Watch" feature opened with a two page spread listing the 25 companies, dancers, and choreographers to make the list and an article on BNC superimposed over a photo taken by Garret Ammon of BNC dancer, Megan Coatney. One of only two dance companies listed in the 25, the article highlighted the company's 21st Century Choreography Competition, Garret Ammon's Rock Ballets, and BNC's collaboration with Colorado's Lighthouse Writers' Workshop on the February 2009 performance, "Love," featuring new choreography from Ammon, Ma Cong (winner of the 2008 choreography competition), and Canada-based choreographer Mark Godden.
system, the Italian Cecchetti method
, and the French system
. Classes in Jazz
, Modern
, Contemporary
, and Pilates
are also offered through the school. In 1999 The School of BNC was certified by the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts.
, Pilates
, Yoga
, and Adult Modern.
. In addition advanced students may be invited by the professional company's artistic director to dance in other productions or to become trainees to the company.
class, the Young Choreographers' Showcase presents student created dance pieces. Students participate in all elements of production, including costume and lighting design.
Ongoing experiences with Ballet Nouveau Colorado professional artists and teachers encourage students to think more critically about the art they see, be more willing to participate in artistic activities, and learn through non-traditional modalities.
" put on by members of BNC's professional company. The show originally choreographed by Robert Mills as been called, "a delightful romp through 1980’s pop culture" and takes the classic story and presents it in modern times featuring the Ugly Duckling going to school. Following the performance key scenes are re-enacted to show students how one or two brave people can create a caring community and end bullying.
Contemporary ballet
Contemporary ballet is a form of dance which incorporates elements of both classical ballet and modern dance. It takes its technique and use of pointework from classical ballet, although it permits a greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines set forth by schools of...
company based out of Broomfield, Colorado
Broomfield, Colorado
The City and County of Broomfield is a prominent suburb and tier of the Denver metropolitan area in the State of Colorado of the United States. Broomfield has a consolidated city and county government which operates under Article XX, Sections 10-13 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. The...
is the second largest ballet company
Ballet company
A ballet company is a group of dancers who perform ballet, plus managerial and support staff. Most major ballet companies employ dancers on a year-round basis, except in the United States, where contracts for part of the year are the norm...
in the state. BNC operates in three programming areas:
- The professional contemporary ballet company
- The School of BNC consisting of 300 students
- BNC Outreach Program
History
Ballet Nouveau Colorado was founded in 1992 as a non-profit student performing company and school, providing outreach performances for elementary schools in Adams CountyAdams County, Colorado
Adams County is the fifth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the county population was 441,603 in 2010 census, a 21.4% increase since 2000 census. Adams County is named for Alva Adams, Governor of the...
and Denver's North Metro
Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area
The Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area in the State of Colorado that includes the City and County of Denver and nine suburban counties. The Census Bureau estimates that the population was 2,357,404 on...
area. In 2002 BNC transitioned to maintaining a full-time contemporary ballet company. Later in 2002 BNC was honored by the Colorado State House of Representatives with CO House Resolution #02-1009 "for its commitment to bringing arts to the metropolitan region and for providing a wonderful educational haven to individuals who are interested in dance". By 2005 BNC had grown into the second largest ballet company in the State of Colorado. At the start of their 2007-2008 season BNC made a significant adjustment to their marketing campaign and established a widespread presence on the internet including profiles on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
as well as video postings on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. BNC has never had a permanent home performance venue. The school and offices are based out of their Broomfield location and the company performs in a variety of spaces, taking the position that "wherever there's a stage there can be dance as well."
Garrison's Departure & Administrative Changes
In December 2009 BNC's Board of Directors made the decision to dismiss Lissy Garrison from her position as executive director, the longest holder of this position till that time. In 1995 Garrison joined BNC as a consultant to the Board of Directors, served as president of the board for two years and became Executive Director in 1999.BNC never disclosed the circumstances surrounding the firing of Garrison. However since her departure "Ballet Nouveau has changed its administrative structure. Instead of the artistic director being subordinate to the executive director as before, both now report directly to the board and are considered peers."
In the summer of 2010 Garrison's position was filled by Shari Ammon Mills, the sister of the artistic director, Garrett Ammon. On January 12, 2011 BNC appointed Christin Crampton Day, a former Colorado Ballet
Colorado Ballet
Colorado Ballet is a classical ballet company based in Denver, Colorado. Comprising two academies as well as a company, Colorado Ballet serves more than 110,000 patrons each year. The main performance venue is Ellie Caukins Opera House in downtown Denver....
board member and public relations professional to replace Ammon Mills.
Funding
Adams County, Colorado
Adams County is the fifth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the county population was 441,603 in 2010 census, a 21.4% increase since 2000 census. Adams County is named for Alva Adams, Governor of the...
, Broomfield, and Jefferson
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
Counties and by the Broomfield Community Foundation. Ballet Nouveau earns 60 percent of its revenues from ticket sales and school tuition. BNC also partners with local communities and businesses to assist in fundraising.
One of BNC's partnerships has been with local businessman Don Ferguson, who donated time and services to the ballet company for free. Ferguson has provided BNC with about 200 hours a year of his time and has saved the organization an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 a year.
Due in part to profiles in Dance
Dance Magazine
Dance Magazine is an "influential" American trade publication for dance, currently published by the Macfadden Communications Group. It was first published in June 1927 as The American Dancer. William Como was its editor-in-chief from 1970 to his death in 1989. Wendy Perron became its editor-in...
and Pointe
Pointe (magazine)
Pointe is an international trade publication for ballet aimed toward ballet dancers and students. It is published by Macfadden Performing Arts Media, acquired with the purchase of Lifestyle Media, Inc. in 2006. Pointe covers international news on company debuts, competition results, and rising...
magazines, the company is gaining a national reputation, standing alongside Colorado Ballet and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet as a leader in the Rocky Mountain West. However only half of the company's $1 million annual budget goes to professional performances, significantly less than either Colorado Ballet or Aspen Santa Fe.
On July 8, 2010 a message was e-mailed to all of BNC's "patrons, friends, and partners" requesting an additional $198,000 in donations before July 31, 2010. The message, which was also posted on the main page of the company's website warned that without the additional funds the company would need to suspend operations. The letter, signed by artistic director, Garrett Ammon and his sister, the newly appointed executive director, Shari Ammon Mills stated,
Nouveau at Night
Beaujolais nouveau
Beaujolais nouveau is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. It is the most popular vin de primeur, fermented for just a few weeks before being released for sale on the third Thursday of November...
are available to guests in addition to premiere performances by the professional company and a night of dancing to live music.
Proceeds from the fundraiser support various aspects of the organization, including arts in education
Arts in education
Arts in Education is an expanding field of educational research and practice informed by investigations into learning through arts experiences. It is distinguished from art education by being not so much about teaching art, but focused on:...
partnerships with four Title I elementary schools in North Denver
Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area
The Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area in the State of Colorado that includes the City and County of Denver and nine suburban counties. The Census Bureau estimates that the population was 2,357,404 on...
, The Ugly Duckling Anti-Bullying Program, and new performance pieces.
Ballet Nouveau Colorado Day
On November 21, 2008, BNC held its annual fundraiser at the Westin Tabor Center bringing the event to Downtown DenverDowntown Denver
Downtown Denver is the main financial, commercial, and entertainment district in Denver, Colorado. There is over of office space in downtown Denver, with 130,000 workers....
for the first time. Attendance at the fundraiser reached close to 400 people. On behalf of Denver's Mayor John Hickenlooper
John Hickenlooper
John Wright Hickenlooper is an American politician and current Governor of Colorado. A Democrat, he was previously the Mayor of Denver, Colorado from 2003 to 2011.-Early life, education and career:...
, the director of the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships, Mike Roque proclaimed the day "Ballet Nouveau Colorado Day" in the city and county of Denver. More than 300 items were offered at the silent auction. The fundraiser featured Artistic Director Garrett Ammon's "Mediate", a performance choreographed to INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
music.
The Company
When BNC was founded in 1992 it hired professional dancers only on an "as-needed" basis. In 2002 BNC began to perform professionally maintaining a full-time professional company for the duration of its 25 week session, with only five dancers the first year.For their 2009-2010 season BNC had 12 professional dancers. During the season the dancers report for a five-day workweek. In addition to rehearsals and performances, company members also participate in outreach programs at local public schools. Some company members also teach classes in the ballet school.
Dancers
| Dancer | Hometown | Joined BNC |
|---|---|---|
| Candice Bergeron | Littleton, CO | 2011 |
| Ben Delony | Baton Rouge, LA | 2011 |
| Peter Doll | Ithaca, NY | 2011 |
| Marian Faustino | Manila, Philippines | 2011 |
| Colby Foss | Fargo, ND | 2008 |
| Brooke Frandsen | Yuma, AZ | 2011 |
| Brandon "Private" Freeman | Colorado Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains... |
2011 |
| Corbin Michael Kalinowski | Tucson, AZ | 2011 |
| Julie King | Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
2005 |
| Julia Meng | Escondido, CA | 2002 |
| Damien Patterson | Baltimore, MD | 2009 |
| Meredith Strathmeyer | Plano, TX | 2006 |
| Sarah Tallman | Greeley, CO | 2004 |
Robert Mills
Robert Mills, two-time National Choreographic Plan Award winner and teacher acted as artistic director for the company from the 2004-2005 season through the 2006-2007 season. Mills choreographed various contemporary pieces for the company during his three year term such as "face.2.face", a collaboration between BNC and the all-male, all-vocal Boulder, CO based rock band, Face. He is also known for choreographing the one-act show "Moulin Rouge" to music by Jacques OffenbachJacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
for BNC's debut at the downtown Denver, CO landmark, the Paramount Theater
Paramount Theatre (Denver, Colorado)
The Paramount Theatre is a concert venue in Denver, Colorado, located on Glenarm Place, near Denver's famous 16th Street Mall. The venue has a seating capacity of 1,870, but is a popular destination for large acts looking for a smaller concert setting...
. For the next three years the company performed Valentine's Day performances at this venue. At the end of the company's fifth season Robert Mills left to become the artistic director for the Oklahoma City Ballet
Oklahoma City Ballet
The Oklahoma City Ballet is a professional dance company and school located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma City Ballet’s earliest beginnings were in 1963 as the Oklahoma City Civic Ballet. Located in the Science and Arts Foundation building on the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds, it was...
Ammon and Fay
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
music, at BNC's annual showcase. The new show was later featured at the fundraiser, Nouveau at Night. Ammon went on to reinvent BNC's Valentine's Day show, "Moulin Rouge", which had originally been presented two years earlier as a one act set in a Toulouse Lautrec-esque Parisienne cafe choreographed by former artistic director, Robert Mills. Ammon's "Moulin Rouge," a full-length show, was a love story inspired by the 1894 Gothic horror novel "Trilby
Trilby
A trilby hat is a type of fedora. The trilby is viewed as the rich man's favored hat; it is commonly called the "brown trilby" in England and is much seen at the horse races. It is described as a "crumpled" fedora...
," by George du Maurier
George du Maurier
George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier was a French-born British cartoonist and author, known for his cartoons in Punch and also for his novel Trilby. He was the father of actor Gerald du Maurier and grandfather of the writers Angela du Maurier and Dame Daphne du Maurier...
and featured the hypnotist character Svengali
Svengali
Svengali is a fictional character of George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby. Svengali "would either fawn or bully and could be grossly impertinent. He had a kind of cynical humour that was more offensive than amusing and always laughed at the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong place...
. Collaborating with BNC's staff, Ammon and Fay developed the "21st Century Choreography Competition," an American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
-like contest for choreographers utilizing YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, video blogs, and other forms of digital media as one method of making the company more modern.
Contemporary Ballet
BNC, as a contemporary ballet company presents performances with modern highlights such as ballet choreographed to rock music, collaborations with poets and music groups and internet driven choreography competitions. "Partly out of financial necessity and partly in keeping with its youthful spirit" the company has also worked to utilize various emerging choreographers"We Dance, You Vote"
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
as part of their 21st Century Choreography Competition. Then, based on public vote and the vote of BNC's artistic director, Garrett Ammon, three finalists were chosen. Each finalist was given around 25 hours of rehearsal time at BNC’s Broomfield, Colorado studios to set their work on the BNC dance company.
BNC posted behind-the-scenes video podcasts throughout the rehearsel process. The finalists were given a commission of $1,500 and the winner was awarded a cash prize and a contract to develop works for BNC. The winner is ultimately chosen by popular vote from the audience (via text messaging or paper ballot), Garrett Ammon, and guest judges from the "Arts Business Community" such as Daniel Cappello, assistant editor of The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
and dance professionals such as Wendy Perron
Wendy Perron
Wendy Perron is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and currently the editor-in-chief of Dance Magazine.Perron graduated from Bennington College in 1969. She began her career in New York as a choreographer and dancer with the Trisha Brown Dance Company and studied with Twyla Tharp...
, editor of Dance Magazine
Dance Magazine
Dance Magazine is an "influential" American trade publication for dance, currently published by the Macfadden Communications Group. It was first published in June 1927 as The American Dancer. William Como was its editor-in-chief from 1970 to his death in 1989. Wendy Perron became its editor-in...
. The competition was continued for a second season and was rebranded "Dancemakers 2.0".
| Year | First Place | Audience Favorite |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ma Cong | Heather Maloy |
| 2009 | Joshua Blake Carter | Joshua Blake Carter |
Ballet & Popular Music
At the beginning of BNC's 2007-2008 season the then new artistic director, Garrett Ammon premiered his ballet "Love of My Life," a performance choreographed to the music of QueenQueen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
. Before joining BNC, Ammon had choreographed a work titled, "Mediate" set to INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
music. On October 31, 2008 BNC premiered its second show of the 2008-2009 season, "Garrett Ammon's Rock Ballets." Accompanied by "Mediate" and "Love of My Life" was the world premiere of "An Occasional Dream," a ballet set to the songs of David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. According to Ammon, "Unlike traditional ballets that tell a story, movements in these ballets follow the inspiration of the music".
The 2009-2010 season of BNC featured "POP," a ballet that blends pop music and ballet in the style of Rock Ballets. Ammon was joined by 2008 choreography competition finalist, Alex Ketley and 2009 choreography competition winner, Joshua Blake Carter in creating contemporary works for the season's opener. "POP" consisted of four pieces, three premieres and one revival. Carter's piece, "Nothing is forever, darling" utilized the music of Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright
Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. He has recorded six albums of original music, EPs, and tracks on compilations and film soundtracks.-Early years:...
while Ketley's "Kill the Anthem" was a blend of indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
and electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
featuring music from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is an American indie rock group based in Brooklyn, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their debut album, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, was self-released in 2005.-History:...
, Test Icicles
Test Icicles
Test Icicles were a short-lived dance punk band that formed in England, primarily influenced by indie rock but containing musical elements from a variety of genres . The band was formed in 2004 by Rory Attwell and Sam Mehran, who were later joined by Devonte Hynes...
, The Knife
The Knife
The Knife are a Swedish electronic music duo from Gothenburg, formed in 1999. The group consists of siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer, who together also run their own record company, Rabid Records. They first received international attention after their song "Heartbeats", covered by...
, and MGMT
MGMT
MGMT is an American alternative rock band founded by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their first album, the members of their live band, Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman, joined the core band in the studio...
. Ammon's two pieces included the world premiere of "Bang Bang" a piece choreographed entirely to Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
's music and "and tomorrow came" a piece that originally premiered on April 4, 2008 at BNC and features music by the indie folk
Indie folk
Indie folk is a music genre that arose in the 1990s from singer/songwriters in the indie rock community showing heavy influences from folk music scenes of the 50s, 60s and early 70s, country music, and indie rock. A few early artists included Lou Barlow, Beck, Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith...
artist Joanna Newsome.
25 To Watch
The School of BNC
The School of BNC offers two sessions: the 38-week Session that runs from August to May and the Summer Programs including Adult and Interim Classes and a Summer Camp. The ballet training is based on a mixture of the English RADRoyal Academy of Dance
The Royal Academy of Dance is an international dance education and training organization, and examination board that specialises in the teaching and technique of Ballet. The RAD was established in London, England in 1920 as the Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain, and received its...
system, the Italian Cecchetti method
Cecchetti method
The Cecchetti method is a ballet technique and training system devised by the Italian ballet master and pedagogue Enrico Cecchetti . The Cecchetti method, is a strict training system with special concern for anatomy within the confines of classical ballet technique, and seeks to develop the...
, and the French system
French ballet
The "École Française" , is characterized by an emphasis on precision, elegance, and sobriety.Mega-star dancer & choreographer Rudolf Nureyev choreographed re-worked versions of the great academic classic ballets , and directed the Paris Opera...
. Classes in Jazz
Jazz dance
Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance...
, Modern
Modern dance
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.-Intro:...
, Contemporary
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
, and Pilates
Pilates
Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates in Germany, the UK and the USA. As of 2005, there were 11 million people practicing the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States....
are also offered through the school. In 1999 The School of BNC was certified by the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts.
Boys Program
The Boys Program focuses on learning men's jumps and turns and strengthening the muscles needed to partner with women dancers.Pre-School Ballet
This program is for students ages 3 and 4. Students learn basic vocabulary and music skills and focus on building coordination in basic dance steps.Adults
Adults are offered classes in Adult Ballet, Body ConditioningPhysical exercise
Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of...
, Pilates
Pilates
Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates in Germany, the UK and the USA. As of 2005, there were 11 million people practicing the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States....
, Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, and Adult Modern.
Performance opportunities
Throughout the course of the year students enrolled in the school are offered various opportunities for performance.Professional productions
Students aged 7 and older who meet certain requirements are given the opportunity to audition for roles in the professional company's annual stage production, The NutcrackerThe Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
. In addition advanced students may be invited by the professional company's artistic director to dance in other productions or to become trainees to the company.
Student Company
The Student Company, established in 1992 is a pre-professional company designed for intermediate and advanced students who have met certain requirements including those required to audition for The Nutcracker. The Student Company has various performance opportunities including an annual spring concert presented to the public at the end of the season. Their schedule includes 20 hours a week of classes and rehearsals.Young Choreographers' Showcase
The culminating production of the CompositionDance composition
The term dance composition is used to describe the practice and teaching of choreography and the navigation or connection of choreographic structures....
class, the Young Choreographers' Showcase presents student created dance pieces. Students participate in all elements of production, including costume and lighting design.
Outreach
BNC offers educational outreach programs providing free arts programming to 20,000 residents each year. They develop develop year-long partnership with local elementary schools to provide dance education that supports the schools' curricular goals as well as free performances to students. BNC also provides over 1,000 free tickets each season a diverse group of low-income, senior and at-risk individuals.Year-long Elementary School Partnerships
The various elements of the program are designed to give students multiple dance and movement experiences. These include:- Two interactive lecture/demonstrations in their own facility
- An on-site performance for the entire school that will reinforce concepts from the periods of time discussed in the history presentation
- Two in-depth residencies designed to enhance and support the school’s specific curricular priorities
- Two performances where students are bussed to a theatre
Ongoing experiences with Ballet Nouveau Colorado professional artists and teachers encourage students to think more critically about the art they see, be more willing to participate in artistic activities, and learn through non-traditional modalities.
The Ugly-Duckling Anti-Bullying Program
A performance workshop where students and company dancers work together to create lifelike scenarios of everyday school life using discussion and creative choreography. The program utilizes best practices from the anti-bullying field and provides schools with an artistic method of assisting students in creating a caring community. Teachers begin by leading their students in activities provided by BNC that emphasize the concepts of respect, empathy, and teamwork. Students are then bussed to a live performance of "The Ugly DucklingThe Ugly Duckling
"The Ugly Duckling" is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen . The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from his neighbors until, much to his delight , he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all...
" put on by members of BNC's professional company. The show originally choreographed by Robert Mills as been called, "a delightful romp through 1980’s pop culture" and takes the classic story and presents it in modern times featuring the Ugly Duckling going to school. Following the performance key scenes are re-enacted to show students how one or two brave people can create a caring community and end bullying.
Reviews
- Ballet Nouveau Colorado's latest offering ambitious, but mixed 21 Apr. 2010
- Ballet Nouveau Colorado lunges into the abstract with piece by Lauri Stallings 16 Apr. 2010
- Broomfield-based Ballet Nouveau serving up 'Nutcracker' for holiday treat 09 Dec. 2009
- Ballet Nouveau Colorado has a winner with "Pop." 01 Oct. 2009
- Bowie and Ballet? Why Not? 31 Oct. 2008
- BNC Presents A Winner – Tallman Knocks One Out Of The Park 03 Oct. 2008
- Ballet Nouveau Colorado Takes Dance To Cyberspace 06 Mar. 2008
- Ballet Nouveau Colorado presents all new “Moulin Rouge” 09 Feb. 2008