Photo of NYTB
Photo: @nytheatreballet on Instagram
BY: JESSICA WIKANDER, STAFF WRITER
The critically acclaimed New York Theater Ballet, a traveling dance troupe from New York City, made its St. Bonaventure University debut this past weekend with a two-day-long celebration of performance art.
The ballet company has traveled the country since 1978, aiming to bring dance to places where performing arts may not be as prevalent. They are now led by, Steven Melendez, its executive director, and dancers from across the country.
The troupe of nine dancers put on a series of masterclasses on Saturday to allow the St. Bonaventure community to learn more about the art of ballet. The classes were followed by a cumulative performance by the group on Sunday in the Regina A. Quick Center of the Arts, showcasing three different acts.
The Quick Center partnered with the Tri-County Arts Council to bring these performances to Bonaventure and ensure there was something new for everyone to enjoy.
“We came up with the funds to contract this Ballet troupe and provide three masterclasses: one for our community, one for our St. Bonaventure students and one for the local dance studios,” said Rachel Harris, the executive director of the Quick Center. “The masterclasses were inspiring to the attendees and the performances were a great success.”
Both the masterclasses and the Sunday performance sold out and received approval from students and community members alike. Attendees particularly enjoyed the question and answer sessions held at the end of each event, as it gave them the unique opportunity to learn about the life of a professional dancer, said Harris.
“I only heard positive reviews from each attendee that I spoke to,” said Paula Bernstein, the executive director of the Tri-County Arts Council. “Everyone wanted this opportunity of an event to happen again. The New York Theater Ballet was also very pleased with the events and campus of St. Bonaventure.”
The Sunday performance began with a showing of “The Dance of the Flowers” from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker,” followed by a New York Theater Ballet original piece called “Minetta Creek” featuring music composed for the performance by Grammy-winning composer, Pauline Kim Harris. Lastly, the group performed the entirety of Stravinsky’s “Firebird” to close out the show.
“It’s incredibly important to bring a wide range of art and dance to this region,” said Berstein. “This was extremely beneficial to bring the world of ballet to the community and the students at St. Bonaventure, who may have not otherwise been able to see this event with master classes.”
wikandjm23@bonaventure.edu
