RICHMOND BALLET TO MAKE ITS 50^TH WORLD PREMIERE

Patterson Returns to Richmond to make Silence Complete

Choreographer Gina Patterson will return to Richmond Ballet this month to complete the choreography of her ballet Silence, a portion of which was presented as a work-in-progress during Richmond Ballet’s New Works Festival last April.  The completed work, now featuring a stunning visual component and redesigned costumes, will have its world premiere on opening night of the Ballet’s Studio 3 performance on March 24^th.  Silence marks the 50^th Richmond Ballet-commissioned work to be added to the company’s repertory.

Patterson is a former principal dancer with Ballet Austin and still resides in the Texas city.  In addition to her choreographic work, she continues to teach, coach and make guest appearances with ballet companies throughout the U.S. and abroad.   Patterson, a recipient of the prestigious Choo San Goh award for her ballet Life Wind, has been hailed as a choreographer of “startling originality” by Backstage.  She has created ballets for a number of companies in the U.S., including Ballet Austin, Nashville Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Ballet Florida and Hubbard Street 2.  Most recently, Patterson has completed new works for DanceWorks Chicago and the University of Iowa and her ballet In Time will have its New York premiere just prior to her arrival in Richmond.

Inspired by and set to the haunting music of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt (Fur Alina and Tabula Rasa), Silence evokes a sense of space and meditative timelessness.  Patterson says of the ballet, “I think it is about finding peace within the stillness, the silence when we find ourselves alone in a quiet moment, in the dark of night, or on a walk with miles in front of us to conquer.”

The fully-produced version of the ballet will feature a new set design, photography, film/video and new costumes.  “I am thrilled at the opportunity to expand Silence,” says Patterson.  “Because of my love of photography and film, I have long wanted to incorporate multiple art forms into a work....The vastness and magnitude of this piece in thought, concept and construction lends itself to this exploration and expansion.”

Collaborating with Patterson on the project will be Richmond Ballet Production Manager and Lighting Designer Michael Stewart, Audio/Visual Engineer Dave Watkins and Costume Director Tamara Cobus.  Stewart will design the lighting for the work and also designed a mobile set piece from a concept that Patterson provided.  Watkins has been collecting video images and sounds since last October and, with Patterson’s input, will create a video collage that will be projected onto a backdrop of horizontal slats, adding texture and depth to the images. Cobus is creating new costumes that will enhance the theme of the work’s three sections.

Patterson’s goal is “to integrate all the elements in a delicate weave that will unassumingly enhance and compliment the dance, much like the subtle seasoning of a dish.”

Also on the Studio 3 program will be Val Caniparoli’s Djangology, featuring the music of famed Belgian jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.  The piece is a favorite of Richmond audiences and was originally choreographed for Richmond Ballet in 1997. Caniparoli has set ballets on more than 30 ballet companies across the United States and is currently Resident Choreographer for Tulsa Ballet.  He performed with San Francisco Ballet for many years and continues to choreograph for that company.  Other Richmond Ballet works by Caniparoli include Bow Out, Street Songs, Violin and Attention, Please.

Studio 3 is generously sponsored by:
KMPG LLP
Style Weekly

With additional support for Gina Patterson’s Silence from:
The National Endowment for the Arts

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Richmond Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, is dedicated to the education, promotion, preservation and continuing evolution of the art form of ballet.  Richmond Ballet strives to keep meaningful works of dance alive and to produce and foster new works that remain true to these values.  Now in its 25th professional season, Richmond Ballet's mission is to “awaken and uplift the human spirit, both for audiences and artists.”  

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