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IU Ballet: Steps In Time

Revolutionary American Choreographers

The Indiana University Ballet Theater opens its season with Steps in Time, ballets by three revolutionary American choreographers. Opening the program will be Concerto Barrocco, choreographed by George Balanchine to music of Bach. The concluding work will be Paul Taylor's Company B, to music of the Andrews Sisters.

The central work is Dwight Rhoden's Dear Frédéric, to music of Frederic Chopin played by pianist Evelyne Brancart.

I 'Get' Dwight

Staging Dear Frédéric is Juan-Antonio Rodriguez, a longtime associate of Rhoden's. "I've worked with Dwight for about eight years. I 'get' Dwight, and he trusts me with his ballets. His choreography for Dear Frédéric is based on classical ballet, but with a focus on feeling. This focus leads to some transitions that dancers at first have a bit of trouble with."

Coop, Coop?

"In Dwight's company we have words for the moves, like ‘coop-coop,' ‘buck' and ‘awr…haah.' The first week the dancers were pretty uncomfortable with these terms and the moves, but by the second week, they were starting to get them. Now they too 'get' Dwight Rhoden."

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