Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 8pm
Program
Umoja
-pause-
Fancy Me
It’s Not a Cry
Honey
-Intermission-
Exalt
Artistic & Executive Director
Christine Cox
Associate Artistic Director
Tara Keating
The Company
Eli Alford, Shawn Cusseaux, Francesca Forcella, Savannah Green, Annika Kuo, Jared Kelly, Skyler Lubin, Jonathan Montepara, Jerard Palazo, Ben Schwarz, Ashley Simpson, Andrea Yorita
Dance Fellows
Kara Covaleski, Isabella Nova, Demetrious Reed
Production & Stage Manager
Jason Pizzi
Production Coordinator
Kereni Sanchez
Lighting Supervisor
Alyssandra Docherty
Associate Director of Operations
Megan O’Donnell
Development Manager
James Ihde
Development & Box Office Associate
Emily Bernard
Marketing Manager
Rachel Core
Digital Marketing Associate
Li Tian Trick
Administrative Coordinator
Jean Hodges
Choreographer: Tiler Peck
Music: Umoja, Anthem of Unity by Valerie Coleman, courtesy of VColeman Music Publishing, LLC (ASCAP)
Lighting Designer: Michael Korsch
Costume Designer: Martha Chamberlain
Dancers: Shawn Cusseaux, Francesca Forcella, Savannah Green, Jared Kelly, Skyler Lubin, Jonathan Montepara, Jerard Palazo, Ben Schwarz, Ashley Simpson, Andrea Yorita
Umoja premiered on BalletX on July 13, 2022 at The Wilma Theater, Philadelphia, PA
Choreographer’s Note: The collaboration between Valerie Coleman’s score Umoja and the amazing company BalletX was very meaningful for me to work on. Umoja is the Swahili word for “unity,” and that is exactly what I want the dancers and audience to feel as they dance and watch it. After a long period of isolation, nothing seems more appropriate than presenting the Umoja that is so essential to our human existence.
Choreographer: Caili Quan
Music: Groove Me by King Floyd
Lighting Designer: Alyssandra Docherty
Dancers: Shawn Cusseaux, Andrea Yorita
Fancy Me premiered on BalletX on August 11, 2018 at the Vail Dance Festival in Vail, CO
Choreographer: Amy Seiwert
Music: Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley, after Leonard Cohen
Lighting Designer: Drew Billiau
Costume Designer: Amy Seiwert
Dancers: Skyler Lubin, Jonathan Montepara
It’s Not a Cry premiered on Sacramento Ballet on April 5, 2009 at the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts in Davis, CA
Choreographer’s Note: In a compelling portrait of a relationship, It’s Not a Cry explores the passing of strength between the partners during dark times.
Choreographer: Jamar Roberts
Music: How Deep is The Ocean (How Deep is The Sky); I Cried For You; Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me; This Nearly Was Mine by Don Shirley
Lighting Designer: Michael Korsch
Costume Designer: Mark Eric
Dancers: Shawn Cusseaux, Francesca Forcella, Jared Kelly, Ben Schwarz, Ashley Simpson, Andrea Yorita
Honey premiered on BalletX on July 13, 2022 at The Wilma Theater, Philadelphia, PA
Choreographer's Note: This work takes us on a journey from the fierce passion of young love, through the manipulative power plays of relationship dynamics, and ends with an aspirational love. One that has stood the test of time, balanced and mature. Though at different stages on their quest for companionship, all three vignettes concisely speak to the complexity of the human heart and our never-ending quest for love and human connection.
s during dark times.
Choreographer: Jennifer Archibald
Music: Meditation music-Sati-Salim-Sulaiman & Vijay Prakash Ft. Taufique Qureshi-Coke Studio @ MTV Season 3; Muyè (Black Coffee And Nduduzo Makhathini Journey Mix); Jonathan Kaspar - Maarifa (Original Mix); UThando- Black Coffee; DeMajor Feat. Lizwi - Traveller (Kususa & QueTornik Official Remix); Prince Kaybee - The Republic (Visualizer) ft. Afro Brotherz
Sound Engineer: Foremost Poets
Lighting Designer: Brandon Stirling Baker
Costume Designer: Olivia Mason
Dancers: Shawn Cusseaux, Francesca Forcella, Savannah Green, Jared Kelly, Skyler Lubin, Jonathan Montepara, Jerard Palazo, Ben Schwarz, Ashley Simpson, Andrea Yorita
Exalt premiered on BalletX on May 18, 2022 at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Choreographer’s Note: Music can heal the wounds that medicine cannot touch.
Debasish Mridah
BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet, whose dancers were named “among America’s best” by The New York Times and hailed as “technically brilliant...with vibrant personalities” by The Boston Globe, commissions choreographers from around the world to create dance that is “fresh, inclusive, and connects to what people want” (Philadelphia Citizen). Founded in 2005 by Christine Cox and Matthew Neenan, BalletX is led by Cox, whose tenure as Artistic & Executive Director has produced over 100 world premiere ballets by 60 choreographers, a record “few companies can match” (The New York Times). Under Cox’s leadership, BalletX has been hailed as a “place of choreographic innovation” (The New Yorker) and an “epicenter of creation” (Dance Magazine). The company has toured to Vail Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, New York City Center, The Kennedy Center, and The Joyce Theater, among many others, sharing the joy and passion of dance with audiences across the nation. To learn more about BalletX’s programming and dancers, please visit BalletX.org and follow the company on social media.
Margaret Selby
President, Selby/Artists Mgmt
212-382-3260 | mselby@selbyartistsmgmt.com
BalletX
1923 Washington Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19146
215-225-5389 | BalletX.org
Instagram: @balletx
Facebook: @balletx.official
Twitter: @balletx
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