Aurora’s Crown
Spring Dance Concert
Thursday, April 12, 13, 14 at 8 PM and April 15 at 2:30 PM
New Dance Theatre
Aurora’s Crown is a collaborative project which reinterprets the quartet divertissement from Act III in The Sleeping Beauty, a staple of 19th century ballet. An innovative and contemporary interpretation of this classic work has developed from an interdisciplinary approach by Joan Buttram as choreographer, Mark Maxwell as the sound designer of the well known Tchaikovsky score, Evan Ayotte as costume designer and the performing members of the UGA Ballet Ensemble. This fully realized performance art work will be presented at the UGA Department of Dance’s Spring Dance Concert 2012.
Merging the disciplines of music, dance, and costume, a visually creative and contemporary performance has emerged which specifically reinvents this famous ballet divertissement that celebrates Princess Aurora’s wedding and the elements of her crown. The four dancers perform as an abstract representation of silver, gold, amethyst and emerald – the precious jewels and metals which comprise Aurora’s crown. The entire passage includes an opening quartet, a solo for each dancer and a lively coda. The Aurora’s Crown project investigates new approaches to visualizing and presenting a classical work in a contemporary form. Choreographically, the work differs from the classical elements set forth by the originator Marius Petipa (1890) by including bent angles, the use of parallel postures, and contemporary design in the use of space. Musical reinterpretation of the well known Tchaikovsky selection by Mark Maxwell incorporates an electronic score which reflects each of the properties inherent in the individual elements of silver, gold, amethyst and emerald. Costume design by E.K. Ayotte redefines the principles of the classical tutu using advanced technologies of 21st century costume construction and employing woven textiles while creating the classical geometry required of a tutu; his costumes enhance and reflect the current aesthetics and requirements for movement in a contemporary ballet.
Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors and are available at the UGA Tate Center (706-542-8579) and at the door one hour prior to each performance.Aurora’s Crown is supported in part by an ICE Project Grant.
Photography by Tif Lester.