MUSCATINE, Iowa - The “Dance into Spring” tour, bringing together Ballet Des Moines and Hancher Auditorium, will present a free outdoor performance on the Muscatine Riverfront at 5:30 p.m. this Sunday (May 2).
It should be a beautiful day on the riverfront with the forecast calling for partly cloudy skies and a high near 77.
The stage will be set up in the downriver side of Riverside Park (large grassy area south of the basketball courts) where patrons will be able to social distance and enjoy the music and dancing of these outstanding performers.
The venue will open to the public at 4 p.m. so be sure to arrive in plenty of time, bring a blanket or chairs to sit on, and secure your vantage point for the performance.
Opportunities for young dancers to meet the professional dancers and for young musicians and performers from the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra to connect with the Roseman String Quartet will be available before the performance. Both groups of performers will be available for “Question and Answer” sessions at 12:30 p.m. Sunday with the dancers near the temporary stage and the musicians near the Red Brick Building on the riverfront. Anyone wishing to participate in the sessions will be expected to wear a mask and observe social distancing.
This is the final stop of a three-stop tour that features company dancers from Ballet Des Moines, performers from the University of Iowa’s Dance Company, and special guests from the acclaimed Miami City Ballet. Musicians from the Roseman String Quartet, featuring members of the Des Moines Symphony, will perform live music for one segment.
“This tour represents the first in-person performances for Ballet Des Moines since December 2019,” Blaire Massa, Executive Director, Ballet Des Moines, said. “We are thrilled to be sharing these beautiful works with the Muscatine community.
“Though we have not partnered before, Ballet Des Moines and Hancher recognize that creative partnerships like ours are exactly what our community’s need as we reemerge from the past year, truly demonstrating the resilient and vibrant creative community in Iowa and bringing joy and inspiration directly to our communities this spring,” Massa said.
While the partnership between Ballet Des Moines and Hancher is new, this performance marks a return of Hancher to the community. In 2018, Hancher and several local groups collaborated to present “Follow the Music: A day celebrating the legacy of Dick & Mary Jo Stanley” featuring a performance by Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Over the years, Hancher has brought the Joffrey Ballet and Ballet West II to Muscatine.
Chuck Swanson, Hancher Auditorium Executive Director, said that he and his team are excited to bring dancers once again to “our friends in Muscatine”.
“Artists always feel the warmth and excitement from your community, and we love the setting at Riverside Park,” Swanson said. “I cannot wait until May 2.”
Special events and performances are among the many gatherings we have missed over the last year. “Dance into Spring” is a wonderful opportunity to gather while continuing to mask and maintain social distancing. Hancher, Ballet Des Moines, and organizers in the Muscatine community are committed to supporting public health measures for the wellbeing and safety of audiences, staff, and performers. Volunteers will be on hand to assist with efforts to maintain social distance. Audience members are invited to bring blankets or lawn chairs as well as picnics and other snacks.
The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine is one of the sponsors for the tour. Their sponsorship was made in memory of Mary Jo and Dick Stanley.
PROGRAM
In Formation - Ballet Des Moines
Choreography - Ma Cong
Music - Philip Glass
Sliding Figures (Andante con moto) - Ballet Des Moines
Choreography - Serkan Usta
Music - Roseman Quartet (live)
Pas de deux from Don Quixote - Carlos Quenedit and Katia Carranza of Miami City Ballet
And Let's Go - UI Dance Company
Choreography - Alex Bush, UI Department of Dance
Music - Hawkeye Marching Band
De Antônio, de Brincante e Vira Mundo – UI Dance Company
Choreography - Armando Duarte, UI Department of Dance
Music - Antônio Nóbrega
About Ballet Des Moines
Ballet Des Moines was launched as a professional ballet company in 2012, bringing world-class performing artists to the Des Moines community for classical and contemporary main stage productions. Ballet Des Moines offers training opportunities for pre-professional dancers and engages thousands of local youth each year through rich educational and outreach programs. The mission of Ballet Des Moines is to enrich lives through inspiring dance performances, inclusive education and outreach programs, and innovative community partnerships. www.balletdesmoines.org
For more information contact:
Ballet Des Moines
Jami Milne, Creative Director
515-321-7054
jami@balletdesmoines.org
About Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa
Hancher is a multidisciplinary performing arts presenter committed to connecting artists and audiences with transformational artistic experiences. For nearly 50 years, Hancher has been the cultural hub of the University of Iowa campus—presenting world-class dance, music, and theater. Along the way, Hancher has extended its reach far beyond campus, engaging thousands of Iowans each year, on campus, throughout the community, and across the state. Hancher is one of the leading university presenters of the performing arts in the nation and has earned an international reputation for excellence.
www.hancher.uiowa.edu
For more information contact:
Hancher Auditorium
Rob Cline, Marketing & Communications
319-335-3827
rob-cline@uiowa.edu