About Momentum

World Premieres by Five Choreographers

Each spring, Boulder Ballet mounts a program of contemporary ballet that is one of the highly anticipated events of the season, for those in the know. Starting with small, adventurous audiences five years ago, word is spreading about this annual production, resulting in increased attendance and performances in venues throughout the metro area.

The title of this season’s program, Momentum, reflects Boulder Ballet’s continued growth as one of the region’s major dance companies, as well as the physics involved in dance. Momentum is set apart from typical contemporary offerings by the variety of the works chosen for inclusion. Consistent with Boulder Ballet’s highly theatrical approach, the program reaches audiences on many levels with its mix of abstract movement invention, characters and emotional content. Last season’s program, Comédia, was hailed by the Denver Post as “Cirque du Soleil meets classical ballet.”

Momentum will present world premieres by five choreographers, spanning local to national renown.

Boulder Ballet artistic director Ana Claire has long been a fan of Leonard Bernstein’s music for dance. In honor of the maestro’s 90th birthday, Ana creates new choreography for three classic pieces from “Fancy Free,” “West Side Story” and “On the Town.” Bernstein’s exciting melodies and rhythms fuel a captivating mix of classical ballet and expressive character dance.

Boulder Ballet artistic director Peter Davison, a recipient of the 2009 Ballet Builders Award from the New Choreographers on Pointe organization in New York, premieres Ragtime, in which a cast of ten characters express the emotional struggles, triumphs and giddiness of a depression era. The choreography mixes contemporary ballet, gestures, “eccentric” movement, percussion and acrobatics with Peter’s signature use of props, this time including an old door, several bicycle tires, tin cans and newspapers.

Ben Goodman, a Boulder Ballet School alumnus currently dancing with Eugene Ballet in Oregon, will add two new sections to a dance premiered in Boulder Ballet’s Sunday in the Park series. Ben’s choreography mixes ballet-based movement with strong images conveying the passage of a woman through life. This is an opportunity to catch a talented young choreographer on the rise.

After a career of performing the works of internationally renowned choreographers, Boulder Ballet principal dancer Lance Hardin turns to creating a contemporary pas de deux with complex lifts and intricate moves, exploring innovative partnering on pointe. The dance is set to music from the soundtrack of There Will Be Blood, by Jonny Greenwood. The dynamic, haunting music sets the tone for the piece.

In recent years, Boulder Ballet has begun to add works by major, established choreographers to its repertoire, in addition to the unique works created “in house.” This season the company is proud to commission a new work from Gabriel Masson, an internationally recognized contemporary choreographer and performer who has worked with some of the groundbreaking artists of the 20th century including Lucinda Childs, Doug Varone and Mark Morris. Gabe’s work for his own company, Gabriel Masson Dance, has been described as “breathtaking” by the New York Times. His new work for Boulder Ballet will be fresh on the heels of a recent commission for Ballet Memphis.

Boulder Ballet’s Momentum is a program suitable for adults and children seeking a sophisticated and engaging survey of what the art of ballet is today.

Performance length is 2 hours, including one intermission.

Momentum

Dairy Center for the Arts, February 20 - 22

Estes Park High School Theater, February 27 - 28

Lakewood Cultural Center, March 6 – 7

Legacy High School Theater, Broomfield, March 21

Copyright © 2008 by Boulder Ballet.

Return to Boulder Ballet Home