St. Paul ballet group performs at Mt. Carmel

• Ballet

The St. Paul City Ballet Touring Company will perform at Mt. Carmel.

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The St. Paul City Ballet Touring Company is scheduled to perform at Mount Carmel near Alexandria on Sunday, June 21.

The ballet will feautre classic works such as Raymonda to contemporary pieces recently choreographed by company members.

This newly formed company, though small, will bring an eclectic program of dance. The familiar “Simple Gifts” piece will be shared in dance as each dancer represents a particular instrument.

This performance launches Fine Arts Week at Mount Carmel, where the arts are celebrated as a sacred outcome of God’s creative hand.

The ballet performance will be held in the Mount Carmel Chapel at 8 p.m. A free will offering will be received for the company. For more information, call (320) 846-2744.

The ballet ensemble’s debut occurred February 14-16, 2008. Currently they are comprised of seven dancers – Allison Doughty, Ross Edwards, Laura Janson, Andrew Lester, Breanna Meyer, Jennifer Rockwell-Edwards and Kristina Vozni.

Fifty-five years ago, the Andaházy Ballet Borealis Company brought a strong ballet influence to central Minnesota directly from the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo – a well-known international company during this era.

This is the company whose foundation the St. Paul City Ballet Touring Company claim and whose artistry they resurrect, moving forward with their professional ensemble.

One of the pieces included in the Mount Carmel program titled Enticed was commissioned by jazz composer George Maurer of St. Cloud, with choreography by modern/jazz choreographer Christa Anderson-Hill of Minnetonka, and costumes by Ann Marie-Ethan of Royalton.

Examples of the extensive repertoire to be performed include works ranging from exacting classical Russian technique – a dynamic suite from the Ballet Raymonda, as well as lyrical Neo-Classical works akin to those of iconic New York City Ballet Choreographer George Balanchine.

The range of dance styles reaches beyond classical to include insightful modern works performed barefoot and an entertaining jazz work to two Miles Davis scores.

Tags: mount carmel, faith, events, ballet