FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact:

May 10, 2007                                                                Cindy Reynolds

                                                                                    Media Relations

                                                                                    (714) 541-8314, ext. 19

Saint Joseph Ballet Presents

Sweet Feet

A Unique Production of Contemporary Dance at the Irvine Barclay Theatre

            SANTA ANA, Calif. (May 10, 2007) – Saint Joseph Ballet returns to the Irvine Barclay Theatre May 31 – June 3 with Sweet Feet.  Under the leadership of Artistic Director Melanie Ríos Glaser, this new production affirms the artistic daring of an organization that breaks ground by bringing together some of the most interesting contemporary choreographers of our time with spirited young dancers and alumni.  An award-winning organization, Saint Joseph Ballet commissions compelling original work, bridging the worlds of renowned artists and low-income youth to create a powerful and moving performance.

            The program will include the premiere Ruptable by choreographer Sally Silvers, and Living with Murky by Ríos Glaser and a reprise of a howling flower bloomed in my eye by New York choreographer Nami Yamamoto.

            “This concert marks Saint Joseph Ballet's dedication to commissioning current work by choreographers who have a real dedication to working with youth and are deeply committed to moving the art of modern dance forward,” said Ríos Glaser.  “Through their skillful craft, these choreographers profoundly impact our youth by creating work that is moving and can stand on its own artistic merit.  The beautiful synergy of youthful spirit and brilliant choreographic minds is unusual.”

            Celebrating 25 years as a choreographer, Sally Silvers premieres Ruptable, her first work commissioned by Saint Joseph Ballet.  In this piece, the performers navigate their quirky, off-kilter moves with tenderness, intensity, and humor.  Revered in the contemporary dance field for her originality, Silvers has received support for her choreography from the National Endowment for the Arts six times, twice from Meet the Composer/Choreographer Project for collaborations with John Zorn and Bruce Andrews, from the NY Foundation for the Arts, the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, and she received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1988.

            The second premiere, Living with Murky, was sparked by Rios Glaser’s current interest in being comfortable in states of fluidity—where complexity, unanswered questions and subtexts, can exist without resolve.  A collaboration with lighting designer Ben Tusher, this piece includes a cast of 60 dancers who span in age from 10-32. From this open and sometimes muddled place the insight on the exquisite necessity for difference becomes apparent.  An original score by composer Alan Terricciano featuring piano, violin, oboe and percussion will be performed live.

            Moving, searching and relentless, Nami Yamamoto’s a howling flower bloomed in my eye is a poignant study in determination and constancy.  Yamamoto offers us the rare chance to admire these young dancers as they deliver a performance requiring the maturity of an ancient soul.   Yamamoto, originally from Matsuyama, Japan, graduated from New York University in 1993 with a M.A. in dance education.  Since then, her work has been presented in New York and elsewhere including Dance Theater Workshop, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and Studio 303 in Montreal. 

            Professional artistic collaborators also include Scenic Designer Yumi Kori, an award-winning architect and artist based in Tokyo and New York City; Composer Alan Terricciano who has created original scores for Donald McKayle, Colin Connor, Gus Solomons and Liz Lerman; and Costume Designer Jennifer Vaughn who has created for the Olympics and HBO’s Against the Grain.

            Performances of Sweet Feet will take place Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinee performances at 2:30 p.m.  Tickets are available through the Irvine Barclay Theatre Box Office by calling 949-854-4646 or on-line at www.thebarclay.org, or through Ticketmaster by calling 714-740-7878.  All seats are reserved.  Prices are $20 for general seating and $50 for preferred seating.  Children 12 and under are half price.

            Saint Joseph Ballet in Santa Ana is an after-school program that provides hope, using dance to teach young people what it takes to succeed in life - self-esteem, confidence, leadership, cooperative learning and discipline.  Through cutting edge programs, professionals ignite creativity and awaken the spirits in nearly 400 low-income youth each year.  In the dance studios and onstage, young people passionately engage in the artistic process.  Academic, family and college scholarship programs build on the skills students learn through dance. Since 1998, 94 percent of Saint Joseph Ballet's graduates have enrolled in college, far exceeding the national average for their peers.  Youth who enter Saint Joseph Ballet with few resources leave with the tools and skills to build healthy futures for themselves, their families and the community.

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