Special Pride Night and After Party on Friday, June 19
CINCINNATI, OH (June 1, 2023) – Cincinnati Ballet is proud to present Bold Moves Festival at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, June 9-18. Cincinnati Ballet’s 2023-2024 Season concludes with the dance event of the summer! The production features two diverse programs from some of the world’s most sought-after choreographers and guest artist – Flamenco and Spanish Dance star Irene Rodríguez. Audiences will also enjoy contemporary choreography from Jennifer Archibald, Val Caniparoli, William Forsythe, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Garrett Smith. A highlight of Program one is guest artist – Compañia Irene Rodríguez – a revered voice in the emerging contemporary Cuban dance scene, known for a particular vision of flamenco that is both Spanish and Cuban. Rodríguez has been praised as “intense” and “exacting” by The New York Times. Program 1 also features dance maverick William Forsythe’s seminal work, In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, staged by longtime Forsythe repetiteur and Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Director Jodie Gates. Originally created in 1987 for the Paris Opera Ballet, it is considered the ‘work that changed ballet forever,’ with nine dancers battling for center stage supremacy to a pulsating electronic score. Choreographer Jennifer Archibald’s popular work, SIT, rounds out Program 1. Audiences attending Program 2 will be entranced by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s irreverent work, Written and Forgotten, Val Caniparoli’s lush study of Victoria repression of women in Ibsen’s House, inspired by work of 19th century playwright Henrik Ibsen, and a CB fan favorite, Garrett Smith’s expansive Façades, set to Handel and Vivaldi.
Cincinnati Ballet is proud to celebrate Cincinnati Hispanic Chamber Night on Thursday, June 15 at 7:30 pm and celebrate Pride Month with a special Pride Night performance on Friday, June 16 at 8 pm. Attendees will receive a free CB Rainbow Legs poster at the theater. Cincinnati Ballet is also excited to partner with Somerset Bar OTR for an exclusive Pride After-Party following the performance. In addition to incredible dance on the mainstage, the Festival includes screenings of the dance documentary, DANSEUR. The film shares the struggles of men in pursuit of their ballet dreams. Sexism is built into the fabric of classical ballet, an art form that has idolized women in pointe shoes and tutus while relegating men to the role of partners. Director Scott Gormley explores the difficult subjects of bullying and homophobia that those men face while illustrating the athleticism as well as vitality of ballet, through performance, creation, preservation, and education. The film features stories from James Whiteside (American Ballet Theatre), John Lam (Boston Ballet), Harper Watters (The Houston Ballet), Derek Dunn (Boston Ballet), among others. The film will be available for drop-in viewing on the Aronoff’s balcony level for all performances. Cincinnati Ballet will also host a screening of the film at the Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance on Wednesday, June 14 at 6:30 pm. Irene Rodríguez will also participate in a demonstration class at the Center for Dance on Tuesday, June 13 at 6:30 pm. Both events are open to the public. In addition to these opportunities, the Ballet will present free art installations, partner exhibits, and interactive photo opportunities at the Aronoff during all Festival programming. Tickets start at $29. More information can be found at cballet.org.
PERFORMANCE DATES AND INFORMATION
WHO: Cincinnati Ballet
WHAT: Bold Moves Festival
WHEN:
- Friday, June 9 – 8:00 pm
- Saturday, June 10 – 2:00 pm
- Saturday, June 10 – 8:00 pm
- Sunday, June 11 – 1:00 pm
- Tuesday, June 13 – 6:30 pm Irene Rodríguez Demo Class @ Ballet Center
- Wednesday, June 14 – 6:30 pm Danseur Film Screening, Q & A @ Ballet Center
- Thursday, June 15 – 7:30 pm (Hispanic Heritage Night)
- Friday, June 16 – 8:00 pm (PRIDE night)
- Saturday, June 17– 2:00 pm
- Saturday, June 17 – 8:00 pm
- Sunday, June 18 – 1:00 pm
WHERE: Aronoff Center for the Arts – 650 Walnut St, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Cincinnati Ballet 2022-2023 Season Sponsors:
Rhonda & Larry A. Sheakley, Margaret and Michael Valentine, ArtsWave, Mercy Health, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Ohio Arts Council, The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation
About Cincinnati Ballet
Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional ballet company of the region, presenting a bold and adventurous array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary works, regularly with live orchestral accompaniment. Under the artistic direction of Jodie Gates, Cincinnati Ballet is a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world-premiere works and exploring unique collaborations. With a mission to enrich, expand, and excel in the art of dance through performance, a high-caliber academy, and impactful education and community engagement in local to global communities, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance. To that end, Cincinnati Ballet presents exhilarating performances, provides extensive education and community engagement programs, and offers top-level professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 