That's Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, for anybody who doesn't know.
This weekend the Tulsa Ballet performed its first show in the new
Studio K/Kivisto Hall. This is their own private performance space
at their studio. It is not a converted practice studio, it is a full
performance space. It was built specifically for performances. It
isn't quite a full stage, there isn't any fly space, but it has a full
sized stage with proper lighting and good seating for about 300 people.
This weekend was also the first show of their expanded season. This year
for the first time they had 5 shows, plus of course Nutcracker. Up from
the usual 4.
The show was "About Tango". It had 3 world premier ballet numbers.
The first was "Tango Is...". Choreography was by Fernanda Ghi and
Guillermo Merlo. This was the one that was mostly tango. It had
a definite ballet feel to it though. It was really great.
Then there was "Blood Rush". Choreography was by Tulsa Ballets own
Ma Cong. He is their principal dancer and really up and coming
choreographer. Tulsa ballet has been doing one of his numbers every
year for the last few years, and they have all been good. He also
just won the first prize and audience favorites award at the 21st
Century Choreography competition in Colorado. He has also been doing
some original choreography for some other bellet companies around the
US. "Blood Rush" was another really good dance.
The final number was "This is Your Life". Based somewhat on the TV show
of the same name. The story of the lives of a number of people who
started off being introduced at the start of the number.
All three of the numbers were really good. They ranged from serious to
hilarious.
Back to Studio K. Since there is seating for only 300 they had to work to
get everybody who usually goes to the Performing Arts Center in. So they
are doing 10 performances over 2 weeks. Almost continuous dancing.
Bill Gill
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