Story by Lindsey Chester and photos by Casey Toth.

Cary, NC- The International Ballet Academy performed their  Holiday Suite this past weekend at Cary Academy. It was hard to believe the dancers were in middle and high school.

The program included three parts. Ramonda, originally choreographed by Nureyev, a modern piece titled A New Limit created by local student Ricky Flagg and the company’s interpretation of perennial classic, The Nutcracker.

Ramonda

Ramonda is a ballet that showcases the talents of a studio with many solos and partner dances. International Ballet Company (IBA) opened with their strength- Partnering. The intensity with which these dancers performed was breath taking. Spins and lifts that audiences rarely see except on the professional stage, were executed here by students as young as sixteen.

Modern Interlude

The modern interlude included captivating music and simple costumes in a real departure from the formal dance of Ramonda.

Nutcracker

After a brief intermission the stage was transformed into the opening Christmas party scene from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. Parents were recruited to play the adults in the scene where presents are exchanged at the holiday party. Two parents in particular stole the show with their comic antics as elderly aunt and uncle. Costumes here were excellent and the sprite who played Fritz (Ryland Acree III) was outstanding as the brother who teases Clara played that night by Athena Kuang.

This adaptation eliminated some familiar characters. The Mouse King’s scene in which he threatens Clara and fights the Nutcracker was deleted. Oddly, the uncle Drosselmeyer character was also eliminated in favor of the father giving Clara the nutcracker toy. No dancer performed the actual role of the Nutcracker come to life.

Compared to other productions of The Nutcracker, this was a much simpler set up, but the dancing was no less impressive. There is no flying bed, and Clara does not watch the dancers from a perch above the action. In fact, Clara was not even in the second act.

Several highlights included the substitution of  Harlequin puppets dressed in black and white, and a beautiful doll that dances out of a box instead of the soldier piece.

Another short intermission and then little angels began to line up beside the stage. This was the only evidence of truly tiny tots in the winter recital. They were given appropriately darling parts to play. Walking up from the audience they skittered across stage and opened the curtain to the transformed scene of the Land of Sweets.

Favorites included a humorous turn for the “Tea” dance, where three dancers playfully romped in Chinese costume. “Arabian” sometimes referred to as “Coffee” was mesmerizing as Nikki Fanney partnered with Preston Chamblee in exotic dress. A chorus of dancers completed the exotic segment.

Waltz of the Flowers was a gorgeous tour de force as were the Snow Corps. But by far the most fantastic were the four dances performed that night by Regan Kucera and Paul Branco as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. These closed the show and brought the house to its feet. The audience gasped every time the Sugar Plum spun and jumped to land on her Cavalier’s shoulder.

In one short year the International Ballet Academy has managed to attract the attention of a national audience. This year’s production was an expansion of the program presented last year during the holidays at NC State. Their program continues to grow in an area known for dance.

The CaryCitizen Calendar of Events is edited by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – The holiday spirit is in full swing this weekend in Cary with a stocking stuffed full of events on the CaryCitizen Calendar.

Thursday December 15

Business of Women Luncheon – Presented by the Cary Chamber of Commerce at Prestonwood Country Club, 12-1:30 pm. Members $15, non-members $20. More info.

Champagne & Cavier – Umstead Hotel 6-8 PM. $65 pp. Call (919) 447-4200.

African American Book Club – Barnes & Noble on Maynard, 7-8 pm. Free.

Friday December 16

International Ballet Academy Holiday Suite – Featuring excerpts from the Nutcracker and Raymonda. Cary Academy, Friday & Saturday. $12 adults, $10 kids. Call (919) 303-7200.

Cary Ballet Company Very Cary Christmas – Cary Arts Center, Friday & Saturday. Tickets: $15 Adults, $12 Children. For more, (919) 481-6509 or www. caryballetconservatory.com. 

Saturday December 17

Auditions for Briar Patch Youth Improv – F.A.T.E. Free Association Theatre is looking for three new members of their youth troupe. Ages 10 and up. Auditions are from 1-4 pm and by registration only. To register, please email FATEinfo@gmail.com.

IBA Holiday Suite – see above. Two shows on Saturday.

CBC Very Cary Christmas – see above. Two shows on Saturday.

Sunday December 18

Kings Tavern Madrigal at Page Walker – It’s a Renaissance holiday with music, wit, costumes and fun. 4-6 pm. Presented by The Friends of Page Walker. Tickets $15. Purchase tickets online at eTix.com, by phone at 1-800-514.3849 or at the Cary Arts Center box office.

Lochmere Christmas Flotilla – It’s a parade of boats, decorated for Christmas, circling the lake and singing Christmas carols. Spectators can watch from Lake Lochmere dam. 6-8 pm. Free.

More Weekend Fun in Cary

Visit the CaryCitizen Calendar of Events.

Cary Diwali 2011 Pictures

See all of Brooke Meyer’s pictures from Cary Diwali 2011 at BrookeMeyer/Gallery/Diwali.

Cary, NC – The 5th Annual NC Eid Festival was this past weekend at Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. Contributing photographer Brooke Meyer was there.

What is Eid?

Eid, or festival, marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

NC Eid uses the celebration as the springboard for a cross-cultural event, including music and dance from many countries. This year, the Cary Concert Singers and the Green Hope High School Orchestra joined in the festivities, along with the Egypt Magic Carpet Dancers, Chinese Instrumental Ensemble, and performers from Peru, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The full day program ran from 11 am to after 8 pm.

Pictures

See all the pictures from the 5th Annual NC Eid Festival in a gallery by photographer Brooke Meyer.

Cary, NC – Salsa Dancers from International Ballet Academy (IBA) added some new spice to the third annual Cary Caribbean Festival last Saturday, Sept 24. Dancers in the photo are Thalia Hernandez and Xavier Nunez.

This 3rd annual festival was held at the Herb Young Community Center in Downtown Cary. It featured food, activities for the children, dancing, handcrafts and cultural information.

Cary’s Caribbean Festival was co-sponsored by the Town of Cary and the Asociatcion de Peurtorriquenos Unidos de NC.

This is the first year the ballet academy participated in the festival. IBA’s artistic director Miguel Campanera specially choreographed a salsa dance en pointe that will become part of their repertoire for the winter performance in December at NC State’s Thompson Hall.

Heather Iler, gives students and parents a tour of the new Cary Ballet Annex

Cary, NC – Cary Ballet Conservatory, located at 3792 Cary Parkway, is opening a new dance annex right next door. They purchased a former church building and the renovation of the building began over the summer. Plans are on schedule for the annex to be ready for Fall classes.

The building will feature two brand new, state of the art studios where a special “Parade Brigade” performing team will rehearse as well as a new liturgical performing group.

The studio is expanding in other ways:

Suzanne Laliberte Clark, owner recently hired Heather Iler. Heather is a prima ballerina/master teacher and is relocating from St. Louis Ballet. Her career includes being chosen by Mikhail Baryshnikov to perform with American Ballet Theatre and then invited to perform with Suzanne Farrell Ballet before joining Miami City Ballet.

Deana Seay, who joined CBC last year as Ballet Mistress after performing 21 years with The Miami City Ballet, was appointed Artistic Director of the Cary Ballet Company this summer.

The new Cary Arts Center awarded thirteen area arts groups residency and Cary Ballet Conservatory was among them. Their company will perform its Holiday Show and the grand celebration of their 15th Annual Spring Gala in the new center..

 “We are so excited about this upcoming year” said Suzanne Laliberte-Clark, founder and Artistic Director of Cary Ballet Conservatory.  “Between the addition of our new faculty members, all of the exciting accolades we have received, and our new studio annex, I think 2011-2012 is going to be the best year ever at CBC.”

Cary Ballet Conservatory dances Anastasia for their June recital

Story by Lindsey Chester, photos by Brooke Meyer

Cary, NC- Cary Ballet Conservatory tackles  a legend in this season’s production of Anastasia beginning Thursday night at Chapel Hill High School.

The Legend of the Lost Romanov Princess

“Anastasia” is an adaptation of the Disney movie by the same name, which portrays the legend of Princess Anastasia. For those a little rusty on their Russian history, Anastasia was the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II of Russia at the turn of the 20th century. The Romanov family (Nicholas, his wife, Alexandria, and their 5 children including Anastasia) was murdered by firing squad  on July 17, 1918 by the Bolshevik secret police.

At the time, rumors surfaced that Anastasia had survived. And many women through the decades have come forward with claims to be Anastasia.

This story begins with the legend.

A Ballet Mistress from Russia

Anya Penny, a ballet mistress at Cary Ballet Conservatory, is herself from St Petersburg, Russia, She spoke with me about the show. Her Russian perspective adds to dimensions of the Russian culture. The story to her is important from her history growing up in the country. There is a romanticism associated with the Czars and the legend of Anastasia.

The Story

Early in the story,  Rasputin, the family’s spiritual advisor,  has been banished. He retaliates by casting a powerful curse on the family. The Russian Revolution starts and the family is murdered. But Anastasia is saved by her good servant friend, Dimitri.

In the following Act, ten years have passed and Anastasia is now called Anna and does not recall her past. She wears a necklace bearing the phrase “Together in Paris” which remains a mystery to her. But not to Dimitri and his scheming friend Vlad.

They concoct a plan to connect Anna with the Grand Duchess, Anastasia’s grandmother. They hope to cash in on some reward money for returning her to the Romanov family, who has been searching  for her for a decade- following rumors of her survival.

One of the large ballet production numbers in "Anastasia" by Cary Ballet

300 Dancers

More than 20 dance pieces make up each of the two acts. Three hundred dancers perform in this blockbuster Spring recital. The show highlights work from the conservatory’s students in ballet, tap and jazz as well as their more advanced Company students.

As always, the shows expect to sell out the 500 seats per performance, but call the studio to see if tickets are available.

Showtimes

• Saturday June 18 shows at 1pm and 6:30pm.
• Sunday June 19 matinee only at 1pm.

All performances are at Chapel Hill High School, at 1709 High School Rd. in Chapel Hill. More info: www.caryballetconservatory.com

See all of Brooke Meyer’s Cary Ballet Conservatory Photographs.

Story from staff reports. Photo by Frank Peters.

Cary, NC – Here’s an upcoming event we had to highlight: the first-ever Baisakhi Mela at Booth Amphitheatre this Saturday, April 2, 2011.

From BaisakhiFestival.com:

Baisakhi Festival falls on April 13^th or April 14^th and marks the beginning of the solar year. People of North India, particularly Punjab, give thanks for a good harvest. Visit to Gurdwaras (Sikh temples), Baisakhi processions and traditional performances are the highlights of the day. Baisakhi has special significance for Sikhs commemorating day in 1699 that their tenth Guru, Gobind Singh Ji, organized the order of the Khalsa.

Cary’s first Baisakhi Mela is sure to be packed with stage entertainment by Bhangra and Giddha dancers and Indian martial artists, plus performances by Sa Re Ga Ma Pa (musical contest show) winner Ishmeet Narula and famous Punjabi singer Sukhwinder Panchi. Ethnic food and goods, arts and crafts will be for sale rounding out the event, which is being presented by the Town of Cary and Punjabi Unlimited.

“We are pleased to offer another seasonal festival opportunity for our citizens to celebrate and experience Indian culture,” said Lyman Collins, Cultural Arts Manager.

Based on the Town’s biennial survey, not only is Cary’s second largest population Asian, but Hindi is the most predominate foreign language. In addition to Baisakhi, the Town of Cary partners with community cultural organizations to celebrate Diwali and Eid each fall.

Details

Baisakhi Mela
Saturday April 2, 2011
Booth Amphitheatre
Regency Parkway
Cary, NC

Gates open at 12 noon. Lawn seats/general admission is free before 5 p.m. After 5 p.m, lawn seats/general admission is $3 for adults, children 2 and under and Punjabi Unlimited members are free. $5 per car charge for parking. VIP reserved seating available for $10 while supplies last.

The Offer

With this special, you get 2 sessions: 1 Private Lesson and 1 Group Class.

During your private, you’ll start dancing under the direction of your Just Dance instructor. Your instructor will help you decide what group class dance styles and levels you should start with.

Next, check out a group class – Ballroom, Latin or Swing. Continue your learning with more group classes, private lessons or Friday practice parties.

This special is per person. Visit Just Dance Cary for more details.

Limited Time

This special offer for CaryCitizen readers is good through April 30, 2011.

The Coupon

Print out this coupon or call Just Dance at 919-461-2295. Mention coupon code CCJD1.

Merchant Details

239 Grand Heights Dr.
corner of Maynard and Harrison across from Staples
Cary, NC 27513
919 461-2295
Website

Coupon Posts

If you have a special offer for readers of CaryCitizen, email advertising@carycitizen.com.

The Concert Singers of Cary's Chamber Choir performs "Luminosity" Feb 26th

Story by Lindsey Chester, photo provided by David Lindquist of the Concert Singers of Cary

Cary, NC–Stretching the boundaries once again, the Chamber Choir from the Concert Singers of Cary will be collaborating with dancers from Cary Ballet to present the North Carolina premiere of Luminosity. The show is set for Saturday February 26th at Westwood Baptist Church.

Artistic Director, Larry Speakman told me that the group tries to “transcend simple entertainment, to inspire and pique people’s imagination”. This piece by English composer, James Whitman, originally premiered in Philadelphia in 2008.  Luminosity incorporates chorus, an organ, solo viola, tam tam, a tampura, and a dance troupe and was choreographed with black light. Speakman has been in talks with Whitman who suggested they keep the element of light in the choreography.

Cary Ballet dancers rehearse their portion of Luminosity

Collaboration Key For This Group

I asked Speakman if the Chamber Choir typically collaborates with such a diverse mix of talent. He told me that in their twenty years, they have worked with the NC Symphony, the Opera Company of North Carolina, the Raleigh Symphony and the Durham Symphony to name a few groups. This is the first time they will incorporate dance.

The Concert Singers of Cary “strive to do unusual things, and not be bound by the limits of Western music.” They typically perform contemporary works, with the exception during the Holidays of Handle’s Messiah.

In September of 2008 the group performed “Voices of Light” with a full orchestra while the 1928 French silent film “Passion of Joan of Arc” was projected behind the singers. The concept was so well received that a second show was added in October. It was after this production that Larry discovered the Luminosity concept which ultimately drove the collaboration with the Cary Ballet dance group. Larry said he has known Cary Ballet owner Suzanne Laliberte Clark since they both taught at Cary Academy. When he showed Suzanne a DVD of the concept, she was on board.

Unique Setting

The Chamber Singers have performed in many unique places and Larry said that the Westwood Baptist Church is the perfect setting. The church’s worship area has a hardwood floor in the front , ideal for the dancers’ performance. The choir loft can hold up to 100 singers and is angled above to the left. This will allow the audience to have full view of singers, musicians and the four dancers.

Luminosity is just one half of the evening’s program. A variety of music will be sung,  including works by internationally known composer Karel Husa, now a resident of Apex.  One of Mr. Husa’s compositions was recently featured in the North Carolina Symphony’s Slavic Drama concert in January.  Speakman mentioned that the group tries to perform works by local talent. Other North Carolinian composers in the program are Jacob Groff, Stephen R. Anderson, Lanette Lind, Lane Tracy and Jeneal Teander.

Showtime

Luminosity
Featuring Cary Ballet Conservatory and the Cary Chamber Choir

Feb 26 at 7:30 pm
Westwood Baptist Church
200 Westhigh St. Cary, NC 27513

Ticket Info
$15 -  purchase online at  the Concert Singers website

More Events in Cary

As always, have a look at the CaryCitizen Calendar of Events for more good stuff happening this week and beyond.