Tapas – Not your typical ballet
Feb 1st, 2011 | By | Category: Archived Articles
by Brian Mengini for The Dance Journal
Fresh from the resurrection of “Gaspar Ballet – a Pirate Fantasy” performed at the Straz Center in Tampa, Choreographer Christopher Fleming and his new company, Ballet Fleming, are hard at work in the studio preparing for their official Philadelphia premiere in February. TAPAS, the name of their debut program is just that, a taste of what Fleming and company have to offer Philly. His unique style of neo classical ballet is both inventive and fun!
The night will feature excerpts from longer ballets based on icons or music such as Edgar Allen Poe, Janis Joplin, Harrick Connick Jr, Bernstein and a sports ballet, Play Ball! When talking of the show, Fleming says, “Since we are new to Philly, I thought I would present an evening of parts to various ballets of mine that we are doing in other cities. If you have a new restaurant you would do a “Tasting” to expose yourself to the public. So I thought we should do the same.” New works will also be presented!
Fleming is no stranger to the Balanchine ballets, however. Coming up through SAB and a member of NYCB for many years, Fleming worked directly with Balanchine, Robbins and Martins dancing solo and principal works of theirs. He also headed a group of soloists and principals from the New York City Ballet, which toured Europe and performed his choreography as well as that of George Balanchine. In fact, it was with Mr. Balanchine’s encouragement he embarked on a career as a choreographer and received a Fellowship from the National Choreographic Institute.
Tapas will premiere at the Painted Bride for one night only, February 20th @ 7pm. There’s certain to be something for every taste bud there! Just bring an appetite for good ballet!
To purchase tickets to Tapas visit http://www.paintedbride.org/
For more information on Ballet Fleming, www.balletfleming.org
