Joffrey Ballet celebrates 100th anniversary of 'Rite of Spring'
February 6, 2013
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Joffrey Ballett |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –Chicago-based dance ensemble, The Joffrey Ballet, will bring the iconic dance masterwork "The Rite of Spring" to Purdue University's Elliott Hall of Music at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28.
This performance is presented by Purdue Convocations and includes a pre-show discussion free to ticket-holders. A member of the Joffrey Ballet artistic team will discuss the performance beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Lawson Computer Science Building, Room 1142.
"The Huffington Post" described the "Rite of Spring" as "Once wild, now beloved: 'The Right of Spring' is back."
"The Rite of Spring's" 1913 premiere incited legendary rioting, as Igor Stravinsky's revolutionary score and Vaslav Nijinsky's staccato choreography served as a shock wave to the prevailing balletic standards of grace. Over the last century, however, its once-divisive distinctions have helped shape modern ballet. To celebrate its centennial, the Joffrey Ballet - one of America's premier companies - has resurrected Nijinsky's original choreography in a handsomely remounted production with lavish sets and luxurious costuming.
The Joffrey linkage to great composers goes further with two stunning new works. Inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, Edwaard Liang's "Age of Innocence" features music by Philip Glass and Thomas Newman, and Christopher Wheeldon's "After the Rain" is a sensual exploration of relationships set to music by modern minimalist icon Arvo Pärt. Hailed as "mavericks of American dance," the Joffrey Ballet presents an evening of influential and ideologically invigorating human movement.
Tickets are $20-$45 for adults and $20-$32 for children 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at 765-494-3933 or 800-914-SHOW. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster outlets. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more can be ordered at 765-496-1977.
Initiated in 1902, Purdue Convocations was one of the first professional performing arts presenters in the United States. Each year, Convocations offers the region 20-30 performances of widely varying genres: Broadway-style shows, theater, dance, children's theater, world music, jazz, and chamber music, along with rock, pop, country and comedy attractions. With a vision for connecting artists and audiences in artistic dialogue and for drawing in academic discourse, Purdue Convocations aims to promote frequent exposure to and familiarity with human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media.
Contact: Abby Eddy, Purdue Convocations director of marketing, 765-494-9712, aeeddy@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Publication-quality photos are available at http://www.convocations.org/press
