Ballet season to get under way

After six weeks of rehearsals, the IU Ballet Theatre is ready to kick off its fall program. The dancers in the ballet department have been meticulously practicing their routines -- working steadily from 1:30-5:45 p.m Monday through Friday. It's all in preparation four its showcase of four pieces at 8 p.m Oct. 6 and 7 in the Musical Arts Center. \nVirginia Cesbron, chair of the department, said she is looking forward to this fall program, calling it "difficult, demanding and challenging" for her dancers. \n"Every piece encompasses a different technical flair," she said. \nThe repertoire for the Fall Ballet will begin with an excerpt from "Les Sylphides," to be staged by guest artist Anya Evans.\nEvans, who will join the faculty this fall, has extensive experience, having danced professionally in some of the world's most renowned ballet companies.\n"Les Sylphides" brings classical ballet back to the stage of the MAC with white tutus and the choreography of Michel Folkine. It is regarded as a landmark ballet, one that paved the way for contemporary choreography. \nThe second program of the season is "Concerto Barocco," which is set to Bach's "Double Violin Concerto in D Minor." Associate Professor Leslie Peck and Professor Violette Verdy, of the School of Music, will stage this George Balanchine ballet. \n"Concerto Barocco" is a neo-classical piece of dance. First performed in 1948, it originally began as an exercise for the internationally celebrated School of American Ballet in New York City. Like most of the ballets choreographed by Balanchine, it is a technically complicated work, taxing on its dancers. \nProfessor Cesbron refers to both "Les Sylphides" and "Concerto Barocco" as "milestones in dance history, masterpieces of their time."\n"From Molly Again" is scheduled for the second part of the season. It is a new piece set to the romantic music of Tchaikovsky, choreographed by Cesbron. Some 10 years ago she choreographed a piece to the same music, but it has since been reworked to create a new piece for the ballet theater. \nThe program ends with a collaboration of departments within the School Of Music. Ballet professor Jacques Cesbron has choreographed a new contemporary piece of dance, "Time Landscapes," to fresh, original music composed by music professor David Baker. \n"When I heard it, I visualized dance to the music, that is how I choreograph," he said.\nDancer Kelly Sloan, a senior, said that to have such a piece choreographed, composed and danced within the School of Music is a very exciting event.\n"Having this music played live really energizes the cast," she said. \nEclectic as it is, the fall program will allow the dancers to exhibit their versatility, said junior Lauren Fagone.\n"(It) encourages the dancers to explore all mediums of dance," she said.