DEL E. WEBB CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS - WICKENBURG, AZ music * dance * theater * education

Home > Webb Center News > Latest News > Wellik Series to present new dance

Wellik Series to present new dance

Release Date: Oct 09, 2009 Author: Cathy Weiss

WICKENBURG, AZ - New Yorks American Ballet Theatres ABTII will take up residency at the Flying E Guest Ranch in Wickenburg Oct 17-Nov 2 to create a new dance for the first Wellik Series presentation at Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts.

The company of dancers will be under the direction of guest choreographer Roger Van Fleteren of the Alabama Ballet and artistic director for ABTII Wes Chapman. The working title of the new dance is “Pavlovsk.”

Based on the true story of a Russian general assassinated in 1799; after his death, a statue was erected in his honor on the grounds of the Pavlovsk Palace. This is where Van Fleteren and Chapman begin with the fantasy of the dance; the generals wife visits the statue to say a final goodbye to the husband that was taken from her to soon, when the statue comes to life. The general comes down off the pedestal and he and his wife enjoy one last romantic dance.

Chapman commissioned Van Fleteren to work on this piece with him because their work history is seamless. “Roger is creative in a way that is beyond what I could ever imagine,” stated Chapman. “But I am extremely practical and technical and I can take his vision and make it even better; we are a master team.”

The two men first met in 1980 at a summer dance program at ABT in New York. In 1984 both men were selected as featured dancers in the main company of ABT where they danced for 12 years. Later Chapman took a position in his home state, as director of the Alabama Ballet; he asked Van Fleteren to join that company as ballet master.

After years of creating brilliant work together Chapman returned to his beloved ABT and today Van Fletern remains at the Alabama Ballet. The music for the piece is also original; that commission went to composer and concert pianist Karen LeFrak. Mrs. LeFrak has a history with American Ballet Theatre; she created her first ballet score based on a dance about Marie Antoinette.

The Company will hold FREE open rehearsals each Wednesday and Friday, Oct 21, 23, 28 & 30 between 2PM-5PM. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend any time during those rehearsal periods to witness the creative process.

The world première of “Pavlovsk” part of the Wellik Series will be presented at the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 1 at 7:30 PM; Adults $37, Children/Students (under 18) always $5. For open rehearsal reservations, directions to the rehearsal studio and performance tickets contact the Webb Center Box Office, 928-684-6624 or www.delewebbcenter.org.

The Flying E Ranch Residency program is being underwritten with grant funding from private donors as well as the Wellik Foundation a support organization of the Arizona Community Foundation. ACF is among the top 30 community foundations in the nation with $420 million in trust and endowment assets. More information is available at www.azfoundation.org.

Top

1090 S. Vulture Mine Rd, Wickenburg, AZ 85390