Get ready for The Nutmeg’s 2014 Summer Dance Festival
July 16, 2014
Get ready for an eclectic dance extravaganza!
The 2014 Nutmeg Summer Dance Festival marks an important milestone for The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory as the international training program begins its 45th year of coaching, developing, and nurturing aspiring young artists.
Located in the very heart of downtown Torrington’s arts corridor, for nearly five decades dedicated students have converged upon The Nutmeg to train in classical and contemporary ballet. This anniversary season under the watchful eye of Artistic Director, Victoria Mazzarelli, and her gifted faculty, students of the 2014 International Training Program have begun the process of blossoming into the emerging performers of tomorrow.
“It’s so wonderful to see these students who have traveled to Torrington from schools across the country coming together to learn this exciting choreography. Not only have they developed friendships along the way, but the experience and technical growth they have gained will set them apart as dancers,” said Artistic Director, Victoria Mazzarelli. “We’re looking forward to moving into the Nancy Marine Theatre next week for final rehearsals leading up the performances. These four weeks have been intense and the long hours of training and the commitment and passion of these young artists will definitely create a wonderful experience for the audience. That’s the beauty of it, really.”
On Friday, July 25th and Saturday, July 26th these extraordinary summer students and some very special guest artists will be presenting the Nutmeg Summer Dance Festival at the Warner’s Nancy Marine Studio Theatre and the enthusiasm is tangible.
The repertoire is as diverse as the students themselves with the choreography ranging from timeless classical ballet pieces to unique contemporary and modern dance. Resident Coach and Classical Repertoire Coordinator, Kirk Peterson, has staged the lovely “Waltz of the Hours” from the classical ballet, Coppelia. Children’s Ballet Mistress, Susan Szabo has staged the Scarf Dance from the exotic ballet, La Bayadere, while Resident Coach and Classical Repertoire Coordinator, Eleanor D’Antuono and the artistic staff have staged variations from timeless ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Raymonda, Paquita and Swan Lake, for example.
Because excellent training in classical ballet is only part of the picture of the current competitive world of dance, these summer students have also had the benefit of contemporary and modern choreography. Special guest artist, Brian Reeder, has been working with the students on an original creation, “Hey,” set to the folk song “Kamarinskaya” from the film, The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Donna Bonasera, who has deep roots in Torrington School of Ballet and was once associate director of The Nutmeg, has returned as guest faculty to stage the lively “Hoe-Down.”
Nutmeg alumnus, Kate St Amand, meanwhile, has worked with these young artists on original choreography that pushes their limits and frees their movement in new ways. Similarly, Meghan Dodd has been working with the youngest students who will present a demonstration of modern choreography based on Limon Technique.
The 2014 Nutmeg Summer Dance Festival promises to hold nothing back and audiences are in for a special treat. Cameo appearances by special guest artists featuring Nutmeg Ballet alumni will round out each show. Friday, July 25th at 8:00 pm, Rebecca Rasmussen and Nutmeg alumnus Steven Ezra Marshall will present “Tuu” courtesy of Moses Pendleton’s world renowned company, MOMIX. Brian Simerson’s new endeavor, Simerson & Company, which features a number of Nutmeg Ballet graduates, will continue a debut weekend with a very special contribution to the performance on Saturday, July 26th at noon.
Tonight, The Nutmeg Ballet summer program trainees will be performing for the public at 7 pm on Torrington’s Main Street as part of the Main Street Marketplace events. Tickets to the 2014 Summer Dance Festival are available via the Warner Theatre Box Office either in person, by phone 860.489.7180, or online at warnertheatre.org.
IN THE MEDIA
After 50 years of building a reputation for professionalism in dance instruction, Nutmeg Ballet was forced to put that reputation to the test this year. Audition tour director Joan Kunsch injured her arm and was unable to go on her annual 18-city nationwide recruiting tour. But, “Nothing will be canceled,” she promised in early December. “It was up to me to solve it,” said Kunsch. “I thought, ‘Who better to represent Nutmeg than the former students who are making professional company careers around the country?’” She compiled a list of about a dozen Nutmeg alumni around the country and called them. They eagerly accepted the challenge. For example, Kunsch said, “We have a Nutmeg graduate, Amy Potter, who is a principal dancer in the Oklahoma City Ballet, and I called her and she’s ecstatic to do it. She said, ‘Proudly, I would do it. Proudly.’” Another former student, Thel Moore, trained at Nutmeg from 2012 to 2015. He agreed to cover three of Kunsch’s scheduled cities, including Richmond, Va., where he is a danseur at the Richmond Ballet Company. Moore said in an email, “What I typically look for in an audition is a base in classical ballet but also a love for ballet as well. I’m looking for a spark that you usually can’t teach but mold into something beautiful.” He said students are nervous at first, but “when they see the brochure [and] how beautiful the building is and how incredibly professional the staff is, they usually lighten up and get really excited for the audition.” The far-flung team of Nutmeg-trained dancers are directing auditions in January and February in nearly 40 cities in the United States and Canada. Some of these cities are on Tim Melady’s usual itinerary as audition tour co-director. Melady, Nutmeg’s principal ballet master, is also standing in for Kunsch in several cities. Speaking by phone from an airport near St. Louis, Mo., Melady said, “I have been to the West Coast. Seattle had a good turnout. Portland had a good turnout. San Francisco had a good turnout, and they are all so interested in Nutmeg and Torrington!” He said, “We’re so lucky that we have such a respected reputation.” When an auditioning dancer asks about Nutmeg, he refers them to former Nutmeg students in the area, who are happy to talk about their experiences. Melady said the constant influx of students from thousands of miles away is enriching for them, for Nutmeg and for Torrington. “People come to Nutmeg and say, ‘Oh my God, we’re meeting people from Wyoming! From California! This is crazy.’ Everybody knows about Nutmeg Ballet. It’s wonderful!” Kunsch said that when she has gone on the audition tour – which she has done every year since 1993 – she tells dancers, “Not only are you auditioning for Nutmeg; Nutmeg’s auditioning for you.” She tells them, “We’re not looking for perfection. If you were perfect, would you need us? We’re looking for trainability.” Moore said, “Bringing talent from all over is very important because it keeps Nutmeg as one of the best schools to train at in the United States.” Melady said, “[The auditioners] have heard of us, and they’ve heard of our reputation. And that’s a real advantage. Our reputation is golden. There are more and more schools just vying for this slice of talent. And there is always talent.” Victoria Mazzarelli, artistic director, said Torrington auditions at the Nutmeg Conservatory attract not only local aspirants but dancers from New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for both the summer and year-round programs. Remaining auditions at the Conservatory at 58 Main Street are Feb. 1, 15, 29 and March 7, from 9 a.m. to noon. And by the way, said Mazzarelli, locals are most welcome! “During these next few months, our year-round students and faculty are rehearsing and preparing for our Spring Studio Series that will be held on March 18, 19, 20 and 21,” she said.