by Valerie Canon for Arts Louisville “The closing production of Louisville Ballet’s 65th Anniversary seasons started with a curtain speech by the current director, Robert Curran and included statements by past directors Bruce Simpson and Alun Jones. It was a wonderful tribute to an amazing history. “The Prologue” shares the christening of the baby Aurora. … Continued
By Elizabeth Kramer for Courier-Journal April 8, 2017 The Louisville Ballet’s production of “The Sleeping Beauty” that opened Friday at the Kentucky Center’s Whitney Hall was awash in opulent beauty – from lavish sets by Alun Jones to costumes by Jones and Peter Farmer. Even the Louisville Orchestra, led by conductor Leif Bjaland, added the required … Continued
By Kathi E. B. Ellis for WFPL April 9, 2017 Friday’s opening performance of “The Sleeping Beauty” began with three generations of Louisville Ballet leadership taking their place in front of the grand drape — and it represents, in some ways, the group’s progress over the 65 years being celebrated this season. This version is … Continued
by Kathi E.B. Ellis for 89.3 WFPL This ensemble works at a technical and aesthetic level that is the strongest and most compelling that I’ve seen at the Louisville Ballet and, as stated earlier, the company’s work in other contemporary works has been of a high caliber. Whatever aspects of this multi-national, artist-centered, personally-energizing collaboration … Continued
by Elizabeth Kramer for Courier-Journal “Human Abstract,” the newest work by the Louisville Ballet that opened Wednesday at the Kentucky Center’s Bomhard Theater, isn’t just a ballet – it’s so much more. Oh sure, it has rond de jambes – you know those circles that dancers make on the floor with one leg while standing on the other … Continued
By Kathi E.B. Ellis for 89.3 WFPL This Thursday saw the opening performance of the Louisville Ballet’s second, and final, weekend of their annual production of “The Brown-Forman Nutcracker.” Now seven years into this iteration of the holiday favorite, kudos must go to the storage and maintenance staff whose work has ensured that sets and … Continued
By Kathi E.B. Ellis for WFPL September 12, 2016 The Louisville Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the country, and this year it’s celebrating its 65th anniversary with a year-long celebration. The programming kicked off this weekend with “Stars and Stripes,” which included the works of American-adopted Balanchine, modern dance icon Twyla Tharp … Continued
By Elizabeth Kramer for The Courier-Journal September 10, 2016 Increasingly in recent years, dance performances have become events at notable art museums such as the Museum of Modern Art. But choreographers have long found inspiration in and ways to work with visual artists. The Louisville Ballet’s artistic and executive director Robert Curran made his intentions … Continued
Courier-Journal, Elizabeth Kramer- August 11, 2016 For the first time, the Louisville Ballet danced an outside concert on the Central Park stage, illustrating the works of Shakespeare with enthralling new work – and some from their repertoire – by company dancer Roger Creel. With “William’s Folly,” Creel took 22 of Shakespeare’s sonnets and organized them to … Continued
By Elizabeth Kramer for The Courier-Journal March 6, 2016 The energy in Kentucky Center’s Whitney Hall was palpable given the number of artists from the Louisville Ballet and the Louisville Orchestra who were performing Friday on “Spring Collaboration” with three works featuring work by choreographer Adam Hougland and marking a significant collaboration between the two arts groups. … Continued