Through the generous support of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Saint Joseph Ballet was proud to host two world-class dance companies, Via Katlehong and SRISHTI on October 9th.
In conjunction with the Orange Country Performing Arts Center’s Fall for Dance series, the two companies visited the Saint Joseph Ballet campus and provided master classes for students. Students were exposed to dance ideas and methodology from around the globe.
After the classes, Saint Joseph Ballet Artistic Director, Melanie Rios Glaser hosted a lecture/demonstration with the two companies. Saint Joseph Ballet students and their families saw both companies perform and were able to exchange ideas about their work in a Q&A session.
Following the lecture/demonstration, students spent time with the artists as Saint Joseph Ballet parents hosted a delicious home cooked reception for all who participated.
We thank everyone involved in the success of the event, especially the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Via Katlehong, SRISHTI, our parent volunteers who catered the event and our donors who make learning experiences like this possible at Saint Joseph Ballet.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
The award winning Via Katlehong Dance was formed as a community troupe composed of youths from the township of Katlehong, South Africa, to keep away from criminal activity raging in the region. Through their innovative approach to Pantsula, a South African township dance, and other neo-traditional forms such as Gumboots, Tap Pantsula and Steps, Via Katlehong have helped to revive the forms, making it an important feature in South African contemporary dance today.
The London-based SHRISHTI tours internationally, striving to maintain the authenticity of Indian classical dance and music whilst presenting these forms in fresh and innovative ways. They present a fusion of the classical Indian Bharatanatyam style with a contemporary aesthetic.