The Black Iris Project to perform at The Kennedy Center in 2017!
The Black Iris Project is excited to announce its performances at the Kennedy Center in Spring 2017! As a part of the BALLET ACROSS AMERICA series, McQueen’s collaborative will perform at the historic Kennedy Center Opera House April 18-23, 2017 as part of the John F. Kennedy Centennial Celebration.
The Kennedy Center celebrates innovation and diversity in American ballet with the return of its week-long Ballet Across America series, last seen in 2013. Illustrating the most exciting, creative dance happening across America today, this year’s program is curated by major stars of the ballet world: dancer-choreographer Justin Peck and principal dancer Misty Copeland, who will explore ideals central to the Center’s celebration of JFK’s Centennial, presenting works reflecting themes such as innovation, courage, freedom, justice, and service on top of the series-wide exploration of American ballet. With artist centric programming, the hope, excitement, and thrills of dance on today’s stages are seen with featured companies including The Joffrey Ballet with Christopher Wheeldon’s Fool’s Paradise, and making their Kennedy Center debuts: Nashville Ballet with The Ben Folds Project, L.A. Dance Project with Benjamin Millipied’s Hearts and Arrows, Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion with Abraham’s The Gettin’, which includes live music on stage, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and award-winning choreographer Jeremy McQueen with a brand new work as part of his The Black Iris Project. A gala program with special guest performances will open the week.
Since opening its doors in 1971, the Kennedy Center has presented the world’s leading ballet companies and ballet dancers each season. No other venue in the United States presents as many major international ballet companies annually. In addition to performances, patrons can attend Ballet 360° lectures, and Explore the Arts open rehearsals. The Kennedy Center offers a number of educational and training opportunities for ballet. The Kennedy Center Ballet Class Series offers advanced high school ballet students the unique chance to participate in master classes with teachers from the nationally and internationally renowned ballet companies performing at the Kennedy Center. Since 1993, ballet students from around the country have traveled to the nation’s capital for Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, a three-week residency for dancers ages 14–18 with at least five years of ballet training. The summer intensive is held annually and accepts both international students and students from across the United States. During the three- week period, students take two ballet technique classes a day with Ms. Farrell, six days a week. Exploring Ballet for Adults, held twice yearly, is a two-hour workshop for adults with little or no previous ballet training. The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, the Center’s own company, has performed annually at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. since 2001, and tours both nationally and internationally. Celebrating its 15th season in 2016–2017, the company has more than 40 ballets in its repertoire, including works by Ms. Farrell’s mentors George Balanchine, Maurice Béjart, and Jerome Robbins.
For further information visit http://kennedycenter.com/