Ballet Ariel’s newest endeavor is set to Gershwin’s orchestral classic “An American in Paris.” As a composition written to evoke the streets of Paris, this “rhapsodic ballet” is the perfect match for Ilena Norton’s gift of creating narrative ballets. A young American woman traveling to Paris for the first time is transformed by the magic and vibrancy of this magnificent city steeped in history and enveloped in romance. Gershwin’s jazz undertones create the perfect setting for her awakening. Director Norton’s sublime dances pair perfectly with beautiful duets by Ballet Ariel’s choreographer Gregory Gonzales.
No other woman in history embraced the indomitable spirit of Colorado more than Margaret “Molly” Brown. Ballet Ariel’s original ballet, “Tale of Molly Brown” poignantly tells the story of her humble beginnings in Leadville, her marriage to the soon to be fabulously wealthy JJ Brown that brought on a meteoric rise in Denver’s high society, and her near death experience during one of the biggest tragedies of the last one hundred plus years.
Drawn to Europe, Molly reveled in the culture and opulence of the early twentieth century. On one of these visits, Molly, and her entourage book passage home on the maiden voyage of the ill-fated luxury liner, Titanic. Artistic Director Ilena Norton creates a powerful dramatization of her survival on a crowded lifeboat in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic that earned her the title of the unsinkable Molly Brown. Described as “a daughter of adventure,” Norton accurately depicts Molly as a fearless yet charming and vivacious character and a visionary leader.
Rounding out the program is “Konservatoriet” (Ballet Conservatory) a classical ballet set at the Paris Opera Ballet in the romantic period famously painted by Edgar Degas, created by Danish choreographer and ballet master August Bournonville, and staged by Oleg Dedogryuk. Bournonville choreography is characterized by fast, intricate footwork creating an illusion of lightness.
Performances of the three ballets are April 9 at 7:30 pm at Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., and Lakewood Cultural Center 470 S. Allison Parkway, on April 23 at 7:30 pm and April 24 at 2:00 pm. Tickets start at $20 for children, $24, students and seniors, and $28 adults plus service charges. For additional information and ticket purchase, go to http://balletariel.org
