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NWA Ballet Theatre has announced its 19/20 season as well as an expansive 24-artist roster. Aptly titled Dancing Forward, the Bentonville-based dance company will continue to produce their free and audience-accessible programs Dance Beat and Once Upon A Dance, engaging thousands of regional residents in all corridors of the Northwest Arkansas arts sector: schools, libraries, museums, streets, and parks. Through these routes, Dance Beat and Once Upon A Dance will continue to engage a range of people who may not otherwise come to the theater or participate in dance.
In total, Dancing Forward will include seven innovative programmatic elements spanning classical to contemporary, appealing to a wide range of audiences and is made possible by support from the Walton Family Foundation and the Walmart Foundation.
“This season will begin to highlight how NWA Ballet Theatre can best reflect the needs of the Northwest Arkansas community,” said Artistic Director Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye. “Our vision for this dance company is to mirror the community and appeal to a wide range of audiences.”
NWA Ballet Theatre has employed an additional 15 artists from 16 states, representing diverse backgrounds and cultures for the Dancing Forward season. NWA Ballet Theatre supports the Northwest Arkansas creative workforce by providing locally based avenues for artistic development, and regional dance awareness, striving to build a community of knowledgeable dance professionals living and working in local communities.
Opening the season on October 11 and 12, NWA Ballet Theatre performed Immortal Beloved: Possessed By Genius, a world premiere by Jolicoeur-Nye. Immortal Beloved retells the story of pianist and composer Ludwig van Beethoven through a moving portrait of dance. Chicago-based Latin choreographer, Stephanie Martinez, also contributed to the October mixed bill with the Arkansas premiere of her acclaimed work entitled Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez.
Program 2 | The Nutcracker presented by The Conservatory
December 6, 7, & 8 | Arend Arts Center, Bentonville
Tickets $25 nwaballettheatre.org/season
Now a Northwest Arkansas holiday tradition, the Northwest Arkansas Conservatory of Classical Ballet and NWA Ballet Theatre Artistic Director, Ryan Jolicoeur- Nye reimagine the Tchaikovsky classic cast with 178 regional dance students and professional Guest Artists from NWA Ballet Theatre. Also new to The Nutcracker, a third show and educational matinee: Friday, 12/6 at 10:00 a.m. (Educational Matinee*), Friday 12/6 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday 12/7 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday 12/8 at 2:00 p.m. Buy your tickets early--these shows will sell out!
*Schools interested in attending the Friday 12/6 matinee may contact thalia@nwaballettheatre.org for information and availability.
Program 3 | Cinderella
February 14 & 15 | Arend Arts Center, Bentonville
Tickets $25 nwaballettheatre.org/season
NWA Ballet Theatre’s premiere of this classic fairytale is guaranteed to be a colorful, magical experience. Follow Cinderella as she is whisked away from her wicked step-mother and placed into the arms of her true love and Prince. Composed by Sergei Prokofiev, Cinderella is known for its exultant music, luxurious scenery, and the iconic comic relief of the evil step-sisters. Perfect entertainment for the entire family!
Program 4 | J Street Creations: Dancers Making Dance
March 6 & 7 | Bentonville
Tickets $5 nwaballettheatre.org
An in studio public showcase of the NWA Ballet Theatre artists creating and presenting their own work.
Program 5 | The Music Project
April 24, 25, & 26 | TheatreSquared, Fayetteville
Tickets $23/$33 nwaballettheatre.org
A mixed repertory performance showcasing Northwest Arkansas’ vibrant music scene. Music from pop to standards, classical to jazz. All live music, all local artists, and all on one stage.
Outreach | Dance Beat
May-June 2020 | Anywhere and Everywhere!
Free and open to the public
A public art project taking dance outside the theater and into Northwest Arkansas’ scenic outdoor and urban spaces, museums, streets, parks and festivals with pop-up, public art performances.
Full Dance Beat schedule released Spring 2020.
For more information visit http://www.nwaballettheatre.org/tickets.
Education | Once Upon A Dance
June 2020 | Northwest Arkansas Public Libraries
Free and open to the public
Created through training with Trike Theatre, Once Upon A Dance is offered to youth literacy programs presented by libraries throughout the region. Once Upon a Dance extends a unique opportunity to start little ones on a dance journey at the libraries in their own backyard. These sessions will involve storytelling, meeting dancers, and introduction to the art form through see-and-do activities.
Full Once Upon A Dance program schedule to be released May, 2019.
For more information visit http://www.nwaballettheatre.org/tickets.
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