Ballet choreographers showcase their talents

Friday, March 8, 2013

AnnMarie Lidma photo
Saving Grace Dance Ensemble performs "Renew" at the 2012 N.H. Choreography’s Showcase, choreographed by Ashley Walton.

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Southern NH Dance Youth Ballet, presents the N.H. Choreographer’s Showcase at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, at the Stockbridge Theatre in Derry, at Pinkerton Academy.

Tickets available in advance for $15 at www.snhdt.org or $20 per person at the door. This performance is a unique collaboration of 11 choreographers and six local dances companies showcasing New Hampshire’s dance at its best. Featured dance companies include Ballet Misha of Manchester, Paper Moon Dance Center of Nashua, Northern Ballet Theatre Youth Ensemble of Nashua, dSun Dance Experience from Windham, Saving Grace Dance Ensemble of Milford and Southern NH Youth Ballet of Bedford. This is the first time a large collection of dance companies, choreographers and dancers have come together to display their talents. From classical ballet to tap, ballroom and contemporary dance – this performance will feature a wide array of genres from artists of local and national reputations.

The evening will showcase 12 original works that have been choreographed and staged by various choreographers with acclaimed resumes as dancers, professionals and choreographers.

“This evening is truly a celebration of how far dance has grown over the years right here in New Hampshire,” said Patricia Lavoie, artistic director for Southern NH Youth Ballet, and founder and producer of the NH Choreographer’s Showcase, and a Bedford native.

Many of the companies appearing in this showcase have been performing throughout the various stages of New Hampshire for years. Ballet Misha, founded by director Amy Fortier in 2008, is the affiliate company of Dimensions in Dance. This young company will present an original work choreographed by Ashley Carrier, a dancer, instructor and member of Ballet Misha. Northern Ballet Theatre Youth Ensemble, established in 2000 by former director Doreen Cafarella, will present two original works, a lively Tarantella choreographed by the company’s new artistic director, Tina Cassidy, and a trio choreographed by Tracy DiJulia of Paper Moon Dance Center of Nashua will take the stage with a collection of Ballroom dances.

Established by Maria Brown in 2003, the troupe will perform a rumba, a cha cha and a Viennese waltz. Saving Grace Dance Ensemble, a liturgical dance ensemble, founded by director Robyn Goulette, will present a contemporary piece by guest choreographer Ashley Walton.

“The real stars on stage here are the works themselves and the choreographers that have crafted them,” Lavoie said. “We really expanded the Showcase this year to include a wider variety of dance styles. We also have pieces submitted by independent artists, Tracy DiJulia, Kristina Griffin and David Sun.”

Five pieces on the program have been staged exclusively for Southern NH Youth Ballet by its resident choreographers Lynn Cote, Douglas Davis, Robyn Goulette and guest choreographer Ashley Walton.

Cote has been working with Southern NH Youth Ballet for four years. As a choreographer, she has worked with professionals and youth companies all over the United States. A former soloist with Boston Ballet, Cote was a founding member and principal dancer with the Washington Ballet where she served as resident choreographer for several years and received many significant awards for her choreography.

“It has been a great honor and pleasure to have Lynn working with our dancers. Her choreography is so inspiring and fun - our dancers really respond to her,” Lavoie said.

With Cote is Douglas Davis and Robyn Goulette both resident choreographers at Southern NH Dance Theater who have been staging works for the SNHYB for more than seven years. Goulette’s choreography credits include “The Prayer Basket,” which was chosen to perform opening night at the 2007 Regional Dance America’s National Festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Davis’ works “Smetana Suite & Symphonic Variations” were selected for Regional Dance America’s Northeast Festival in 2008 and 2010 respectively.

This is guest choreographer Ashley Walton’s fifth year working with SNHYB. Over the years Ashley has received numerous awards for choreography from Regional Dance America including the Monticello Award, the Barbara Wiesenberger Award, the Project Tier Award and the National Choreographic Award.

Tickets for showcase are on sale at www.snhdt.org in advance for $15 per ticket or at the door for $20. For more information, visit www.snhdt.org.