The Musical Arts Center's outdoor sign displays the free ballet performance event happening Saturday. (Natalie Fitzgibbons)
Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music will host a free ballet performance at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Musical Arts Center.
Called the Twilight Turnout, it’s the culmination of a 3 1/2 week additional training program the ballet department offers known as “Maymester.”
Sarah Wroth, professor and chair of the ballet department, said it not only gives the students in the program another opportunity to perform, but it also gives anyone in the community a chance to attend a ballet performance.
“It's a great opportunity at this time period when the school is kind of quiet, to offer this opportunity for anyone in the community that's ever wanted to try classical ballet or contemporary ballet or jazzy ballet, and see how many different faces this amazing art form has, and that it has one for every person that might want to come and see it,” Wroth said.
The performance will consist of 10 short dances, which will include a small excerpt from George Balanchine’s ballet “Donizetti Variations” and new world premiere works from faculty members Michael Vernon and Christian Claessens.
Since the beginning of “Maymester,” dancers have been in the studio practicing from about 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday preparing for Saturday's performance.
Wroth said it has been exciting seeing the students improve and watching their talent unfold this summer.
“This timeline that they are capable of achieving, really is a testament to how strong the program is, how amazing the faculty is, and how incredible this place is for preparing students for the future,” she said.
IU sophomore Cordelia Leff, who is participating in the summer program for the second time, said she is looking forward to seeing everything come together and is excited not only to perform herself but to watch her friends perform from the stage wings.
“Being able to learn all of these wonderful pieces of rep from amazing faculty, it's just so special,” Leff said.
This is the sixth year for the Twilight Turnout.
