June 25, 2008

Auditions held for the 2008/2009 season at Union Hall Dance Studio, North Salem, NY

June 1, 2008

Prelude Ballet Ensemble walked and performed at the Walk for Opportunity supporting Cerebral Palsey

May 2008

Educational outreach performances of Peter and the Wolf

January 26, 2008

Winter Gala

Program:

Aurora – The Sleeping Beauty

Aurora - The Sleeping Beauty is a condensed version of the classic, performed to the music of Tchaikovsky. It will be performed in two acts with an intermission. All the ensemble dancers will perform in this piece. In addition, the cast also includes Aurora’s mother and father, the handsome Prince Florimund, who awakens Aurora from her deep sleep, and four courtiers. To fill these roles the ensemble will draw upon performers form local high schools and/or theater groups. The role of the male Bluebird requires the skills of a male premier danseur who will dance the formal Bluebird Pas de Deux with one of our members. For this roll Todd Hall will be joining us as a guest artist. This is the first time that local audiences will get to enjoy a real grand pas de deux. Choreographer - Cory Ethridge

Brook Green Suite – Music performed by the Westchester/Putnam Youth Symphony

The Brook Green Suite, to music of the same name by composer Gustav Holst, is a neoclassical ballet for 10 dancers in three sections: Prelude, Air and Dance. Each section reflects the distinct moods inherent in the music. The dance movement itself explores various spatial patterns, with an interplay of asymmetry and symmetry, swirls, circles, and lines, as well as timing, unison versus canons. Choreographer – Olenna Truskett

Kaleidescope –

Kaleidoscope is another contemporary ballet, with 6 dancers, which recreates the magical spectacle of colors created by the childhood toy, the kaleidoscope. Each color of the spectrum is featured as the dancer is spun around in a tube of mirrors. As the viewer looks in one end and the light enters, reflecting off the mirrors, a dynamic vision is created and enhanced by the dynamic sound of the musical selection. Through choreography, beautiful symmetrical color patterns will be created by the dancers. The simplistic joy and tranquility that was present as a child looking through the kaleidoscope, will be brought to life on stage. Choreographer – Shannon Cranston

Gestures – Music performed by bassoon soloist, Laura Wenninger

Gestures, performed to the music Rhapsody, is a contemporary ballet for three dancers. The dancers begin intertwined in center stage. Each dancer gradually reveals her character through emotionally charged and highly stylized gestures performed to the disjointed, but warm music of Wilson Osborne. Choreographer – Cory Ethridge

Tutu –

Tutu is an entertaining ballet, showcasing our youngest dancers. Six precocious ballet students, in the absence of their teacher, compete passionately for their favorite tutu. As the piece begins each student is diligently working at the barre under the strict eye of their instructor. When she leaves the room the girls can’t fight the allure of the off limits rehearsal tutus. The girls know the tutus are for the older students, but can’t help wanting to wear one even if just for a moment. Each dancer finds a tutu to wear, only to discover there is a better one… the PINK one. The delicate and graceful nature of the ballerinas is tossed aside as they battle to make the pink one their own. The struggle is exemplified in the musical selection as angst and determination of the students is played out in the short time until the teacher returns, and when she does return… Uh Oh! Choreographer – Shannon Cranston

November 11, 2007

The Ensemble presented Act I of Sleeping Beauty at the Danbury Mall. The preview of our winter gala was very well received. Come and see what happens to Aurora !!!! January 26, 2008

October 27, 2007

Thank you to everyone who attended and/or supported our Masquerade Ball and fundraiser. It was a wonderful evening full of fun, dance and good company. We hope to see you at our next event.

September 8, 2007

First rehearsal for the winter production

August 2007

The Ensemble has prepared "Peter and the Wolf" as an educational outreach program to present to schools and other organizations interested in learning about dance and music. Interested parties can contact us for more information. information@preludeballet.org

June 20, 2007

Auditions held for the 2007/2008 season.

May 22, 2007

Educational outreach program on ballet presented to the Pawling School System. Three 45 minute assemblies introduced students to the many facets of the cultural art of ballet.