Dimensions Dance Theater of Miami (DDTM) has returned to its home turf in SoFlo after a successful whirlwind tour to two of the most iconic and prestigious “dance houses” in the United States, namely the Joyce Theater in New York and the legendary Jacob’s Pillow which is nestled in the woods of Massachusetts. Both venues are known for the variety and caliber of companies that are chosen to perform in their space. It was a giant step for the new company to be asked to join the auspicious ranks of performers, and carried even more prestige when, at the end of each performance, audiences stood on their feet and wanted more.
Florida audiences will have the opportunity to see its own DDTM on Saturday, July 21 in their, now home venue, the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, when DDTM presents “Ballet of Wo(men)” a repertory program that includes the full company, and one that especially highlights the strengths of women amidst the duality of the male and female roles in dance.
Artistic directors, Jennifer Kronenburg and Carlos Guerra spoke about how this program came about.
“Our first idea was to do a men’s program,” Kronenburg says. “As we started thinking about rep, we realized that in each piece, the women were just as powerful as the men so we decided to make it a dual performance. Every ballet on the program shows off the equality between men and women. Even in the 20th century works, the women really stand out and hold their own.”
Guerra added, “In one of the pieces, (untraditionally) the women start, they are first and for about five minutes they are the whole introduction to the piece.”
There will be three completely different choreographic voices on the program, which includes two DDTM premieres.
Special additions will be “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux" and “Tarantella,” two very established and traditional works by George Balanchine, works that Kronenburg and Guerra performed as dancers with Miami City Ballet (MCB). Adding Balanchine choreography to the DDTM rep, a choreographer whose ballets are traditionally done by MCB, is a first for DDTM.
“We know that much of the southern Miami audience will not venture to the Arsht Center to see MCB, so Balanchine choreography may be new to them.” Kronenburg explained. “More than anything, we wanted to give our dancers the experience of dancing Balanchine choreography.”
Both Kronenburg and Guerra previously danced with MCB under the directorship of MCB founding director, Edward Villella, and have a very special relationship with him as dancers and now, as co-directors.
In 1964, Balanchine created the swashbuckling male role in “Tarantella” on Villella, himself. Miami audiences will be reunited with Villella, who will be joining the company to coach both Balanchine pas de deux and to participate in a pre-performance discussion with the directors and the other choreographers of the program.
“I feel so lucky,” Kronenburg said when speaking about Villella’s presence. “He was so hands on with us. He was very present and gave so much to us.”
“We wanted Edward to coach the dancers on the very roles that he danced.” Kronenburg con-tinued. “I feel like it will be helpful for them to hear directly from him what we have been trying to say.”
Guerra said, “Another very special thing is that we are having “Tarantella” played live on the pi-ano by the wonderful pianist, Karl Moraski.” Moraski is a former MCB pianist and a friend of the directors.
Opening the program is “Imagined Notions,” choreographed by Yanis Pikieris, the ballet master and resident choreographer of DDTM. Being more familiar with the dancers, he has re-worked the ballet to adapt the choreography specifically to utilize their particular skills. He also will have more space to work with in the SMDCAC venue, which will allow him to expand the choreography to utilize the entire stage.
Pikieris is carrying numerous roles in this particular performance. Not only has he choreo-graphed the opening ballet, but his son, Yanis Eric, will be performing Balanchine’s “Tarantella,” a role that Pikieris previously danced with MCB under Villella’s directorship.
Dancing “Tarantella” and working with Villella brings back fond memories for Pikieris. “It was a great time when he taught it to me. It was one of the roles that Villella was so known for and it was right up my alley.”
He added, “I can’t wait for Edward to come and coach Yanis. It will be so interesting to revisit the work and to hear things that I probably heard as a dancer and now my son will hear them coming directly from Edward.”
The program will close with the spicy Argentine flavored choreography of Leonardo Reale in “Tangos del Plata" incorporating the full company.
This is the first DDTM performance in which Kronenburg and Guerra will not perform. They are excited, however, to host the pre-performance discussion with Villella, Pikieris and Reale, a participation that they say they are usually not able to do when they have the responsibility of performing.
As Guerra said, “There is not a lot of dance going on during the summer in Miami. We are thankful that the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center is continuing our summer presentation. We get a different audience and they want to discover what is happening.”
Dimensions Dance Theater of Miami in “Ballet of Wo(men)”
South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211th St, Cutler Bay, Florida 33189
Saturday, July 21, 8 p.m.
Tickets $25 - $45 with limited $75 VIP tickets available
Contact www.smdcac.org or call 786-573-5300 for more information and to purchase tickets.Pre-performance discussion at 6:30 p.m. with DDTM Artistic Directors, Jennifer Kronenburg and Carlos Guerra, guest of honor Edward Villella, and choreographers, Yanis Pikieris and Leonardo Reale.
