Pictured above: Jonathan Philbert and Juliana Missano (photo by Gene Schiavone)
Atlanta Ballet’s February programs will bring a rich combination of Gospel and jazz music as the company premieres Alexander Ekman’s Tuplet, Lar Lubovitch’s Elemental Brubeck, and Sunrise Divine, a unique fusion of live song and dance by Dwight Rhoden. Featuring original music by Kevin Johnson and performed live by members of Spelman College Glee Club, it also features Golden Gate Singers, Lydia Pace of the Anointed Pace Sisters and more.
“I wanted to find a way to present ballet in a way that would resonate with and bring together diverse audiences within the metro Atlanta community,” says Atlanta Ballet Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin. “Featuring digital innovations as well as modern-day arrangements of traditional jazz and gospel, the works in this program will give patrons the chance to experience a special collaboration of new movement in music and dance.”
Quick Facts
Atlanta Ballet’s mixed repertory program, Heart/Beat, runs for six performances from Friday, February 7 to Sunday, February 15 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre – 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339.
About Tuplet*
Following Atlanta Ballet’s popular performance of Cacti last season, Alexander Ekman returns with Tuplet, an explosive and inventive work. Using their own bodies as percussion instruments, the dancers generate driving tempos that, when intermixed with popular jazz standards and an original electronic track, create an immersive, symphonic experience.
About Elemental Brubeck*
In Lar Lubovitch’s Elemental Brubeck, swaying hips, breathtaking leaps and powerful turns channel the iconic style of Dave Brubeck’s rhythmically complex music. Atlanta Ballet is presenting Elemental Brubeck as part of the Dave Brubeck Centennial – a world-wide celebration of the 100th birthday of Dave Brubeck, the jazz composer, pianist, cultural ambassador and visionary musician, which takes place on December 6, 2020.
About Sunrise Divine*
Described as a performance for the soul, Atlanta Ballet welcomes Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s Co-Founder Dwight Rhoden for a special world premiere, Sunrise Divine. Under the direction of Kevin Johnson, members of the Spelman College Glee Club and the Golden Gate Singers will share the stage with Atlanta Ballet dancers, along with appearances from sopranos Hanan Davis and Julia Dennis, recording artist Kevin Thomas, and Lydia Pace of the well-known gospel group The Anointed Pace Sisters. The performance will feature traditional and beloved gospel songs such as “Steal Away,” “Deep River,” and “Wade in the Water,” as well as a gospel tribute to Walter Hawkins and new music commissioned for this performance. Also included in the work is an arrangement of music originally performed by the Golden Gate Quartet.
About those tickets…
Click here to purchase from $20-$130.
*From AtlantaBallet.com
