student blog

most excited about: Merce / Kim

I can’t adequately express how phenomenal Hancher ‘s 2010-2011 Season will be.  As a dance major, Ballet West II’s show and residency will be a definite highlight of my year, yet I’m most excited for the Cunningham Company’s Legacy Tour.  The fact that I get to see this company live, blows my mind.  Especially after learning about Cunningham in dance history and being in class with a former Cunningham dancer, who is now a graduate student in Iowa’s Department of Dance, I have developed an appreciation for this company that I hope will only grow.

With the gushing about Cunningham out of the way, I am equally as amped about the wide array of musical acts, such as Papa Grows Funk and Take 6 to the Baroque Orchestra.   Making this music readily accessible on a college campus will hopefully get more students excited about talented live musicians beyond "night club jams."

I can’t finish this blog without expressing my anticipation for Fiddler on the Roof.  After spending the last few months in New York City, and seeing every possible Broadway production available, having a large scale musical in Iowa will be extraordinary.

I can confidently say that Hancher’s 2010-2011 Season will be anything but containable."

— Kim Chmielewsk

 

getting excited about ballet / Rachael

When Hancher announced its 2010-2011 season last week, I was thrilled to see Ballet West II on the list. Though I’m a huge fan of all things dance, I have to admit my favorite genre is ballet.

But I’m a little biased. I’ve done ballet all my life and was lucky enough to belong to a fantastic pre-professional company during high school that really helped make me appreciate the artistry and hard work that goes into a production. (Plus my intense Center Stage addiction has even furthered my passion, if only because I thought ballet would help me meet Sascha Radetsky. It did). 

Corny movie aside, ballet has meant so much to me over the years, and whenever I get the opportunity to go see one live, I grand jeté over. Basically what I’m saying is to give ballet a chance. I’ve heard a lot of people easily dismiss it, calling ballet boring or even a tad confusing.

It’s neither, I promise.

 I could make a case against those remarks for nearly any ballet company, but in the spirit of our Hancher season, let me tell you why you should get excited about Ballet West II.

Ballet West II is a branch of Ballet West, a company directed by Adam Sklute (who used to be the associate artistic director for The Joffrey Ballet), and based in Salt Lake City. As opposed to the professional Ballet West company, Ballet West II is a pre-professional group. Don’t let the pre-professional part throw you off though—they’re really good. 

Plus, while they’re here in Iowa City on September 18 (the group will also be around the area in Fairfield, Kalona, and Muscatine), the dancers will be working with our dance department and performing free outdoor shows. What could be better than hanging out in the sun and watching ballet for free? Just try and think of a good answer.

—Rachael Lander