Siécle de Ballet
As an art form, ballet has entertained audiences, from royalty to commoner, for centuries. For its spring dance concert, NIU’s renowned dance school will present two ballets, representing both classic and contemporary styles.
The classic ballet will be represented by Raymonda, choreographed by Marius Petipa. Often recognized as the Father of Classical Ballet, Petipa choreographed such legendary ballets as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker more than a century ago. With Raymonda, demanding classical ballet technique is combined with a theatrical style of character dance from Hungary. This one-act ballet includes a magical score and carries a long history of performances throughout the world.
The modern ballet, Sunrise in the Quantum (2010) is a 40-minute exploration of quantum physics and the science behind reality. Choreographer Brian Carey Chung asked the question, "What if we could mimic (emotionally, structurally, sensorially, dynamically) the way particles behave at the sub-atomic level?" The piece challenges viewers' perceptions of matter--the way solid objects reveal spaciousness at the micro-level.
First staged with about one hundred years between them, the Siécle de Ballet ("Century of Ballet") pieces will demonstrate just how far the technique and style of the form has progressed.