Youth ballet takes Cal Poly stage

Bridget Veltri
arts@mustangdaily.net

The dancers of American Ballet Theatre II will sashay their way onto the Performing Arts Center’s stage tonight.

ABT II prepares young dancers ages 16 through 20 to enter the professional world of ballet, whether it be within the American Ballet Theatre or another renowned company.

“We are like the minor leagues,” artistic director for ABT II and former principle dancer for The American Ballet Theatre Wes Chapman said. “Getting the young dancers ready for their big professional careers.”

Chapman will also contribute personally to the Cal Poly dance program by teaching a master class for the department on Thursday.

“Teaching ballet is an art form within itself,” Chapman said. “It takes expertise.”

The 14 dancers of ABT II will not be performing a full ballet at the Performing Arts Center, but a variation of dances in the repertoire of the American Ballet Theatre.

The selection for Thursday’s performance will include The Balanchine ballet, Allegro Brillante, Pas de Deux from Swan Lake (Ac II) and with new works, Slokas and Barbara.

“We are doing a variety of work in different styles,” Chapman explained. “It is a very balanced program; if you are into modern or contemporary dance there will be something for you.it’s not just a classical ballet program, there is a variety of work.”

Wilt said ABT II can bring the same ballets preformed by The American Ballet Theatre to Cal Poly for a more affordable price.

“ABT II helps develop new talent,” Wilt said. “It allows your audience to see the work of the chorographer, but not at the same prices as the main company.”

Before the performance, Cal Poly’s emeritus dance professor at Moon Ja Minn Suhr will be giving her 25th pre-concert lecture in the gallery level lobby at 7 p.m.

Suhr will discuss both ABT II and The American Ballet Theatre, the structure of the evening’s performance. She will also give a brief lecture focusing on Swan Lake Act II, Pas de Deux.

“I feel it is important for the concert goers to be educated and informed. Dance is beautiful to watch, yet it is not easy to understand what’s happening on the stage,” Suhr said.

“It takes a long time to be able to understand and truly enjoy the dance. Attending the dance concert becomes more meaningful when the audience is educated about the dance they are gong to watch.”

Dancers for ABT II are handpicked from around the world to hone their skills dancing, touring the country as well as performing in the New York City area.

“It takes a strong person to even approach this lifestyle,” Chapman said when explaining the dedication ABT II’s dancers must have at a young age. “It takes an extraordinary individual to decide and commit this young to what they want to do, but if they don’t, they typically don’t make it.”

“We will be presenting reparatory that is of a national standard,” Chapman said. “These dancers aren’t perfect, they are in training still, but they are some of the most important young talent in the world and they are going to get out there and go for it.”

The show begins at 8 p.m. tonight and general public tickets for the performance are $38 to $44. Student $10 rush tickets may be purchased at the door for seats still available one hour before the performance. Faculty and staff will receive a 20 percent at-door-discount on available seats.

A PolyCard is required for all rush tickets.