This spring Menlowe Ballet is showcasing its own blossoming talent with “Floraison,” a program devoted to works created and performed by the professional ballet company and students at the Menlo Park Academy of Dance.
The title is French and translates to “flowering,” a theme that will be reflected in the four performances taking place the weekend of April 28 at the Center for Performing Arts at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton.
“We decided to focus on the talent we have in the company and nurture it,” said Lisa Shiveley of Atherton, executive director of Menlowe Ballet, a Menlo Park-based company founded in 2011.
Citing a recent article in the New York Times about the lack of female choreographers in major ballet companies around the world, she said she is pleased to see Menlowe Ballet encouraging company dancers Stefanie Maughan and Ali McKeon to make their professional choreographic debut this month.
Ms. Shiveley said Artistic Director Michael Lowe recognized their “creative voices and fabulous contemporary backgrounds” and invited them to choreograph a ballet for the program. The end result is “In Medias Res,” a contemporary work featuring 11 company members. The Latin title translates to “in the middle of things.”
Due to many requests, Associate Artistic Director Sarah-Jane Measor is bringing “Portraits” back to the stage for the program. She comes from the U.K. and choreographed a contemporary piece last fall to honor the courage and spirit of important female figures in British history: Lady Jane Grey, the Bronte sisters, an English Channel swimmer, and two suffragettes.
Ms. Shiveley gave several reasons the premiere of that ballet was so popular. The choreographer, seven company dancers and costume designer are all women, the staging incorporates video, and there’s a surprise ending.
“The music is stunning, and with the story of these women challenging adverse circumstances, people were crying at every performance,” she said.
The company originally performed “Portraits” right before the November election. Ms. Shiveley found the piece timely then and “very timely” now as “more and more women are sensitive and in touch with the challenges that they face.”
“Floraison” will also feature dozens of Menlo Park Academy of Dance students performing various works. As the company’s official school, the academy attracts young dancers from all over the Peninsula.
The program will close with 11 of the older students sharing the stage with 13 company members in the world premier of “Facets.” Choreographed by Mr. Lowe and Ms. Measor, the neoclassical ballet is set to the music of contemporary composer Philip Glass. Ms. Shiveley describes the music as “haunting.”
She said the teenage performers are very committed to ballet, spending most of their weekends in the studio and dancing 20 to 25 hours per week. “It’s a lot of blood, sweat and blisters.”
And she should know. Her daughter, Leighton, is one of 24 students who just returned from competing in the Youth America Grand Prix dance competition finals in New York.
Local students performing in “Floraison” are Leighton, Lucida Fu, Kate Hammond and Sophia Taylor of Atherton; Emma Bogomilsky, Lindsey Chao, Annie Crousore, Hailey Feldman, Helena Hoermann, Greta Hoffman, Leben Kawaguchi, Storie Lynch, Jessica Nelson, Madeline Oliver, Theadora Park, Cecily Parks, Sabrina Sanchez Delope and Henry Shane of Menlo Park; Tess Gabrielson, Vivienne Gilbert, Julia Law and Brisa Vaughan of Portola Valley; and Berkley Stenson of Woodside.
Performances
Performances are scheduled for Friday, April 28, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 29, at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, April 30, at 2 p.m. at the Center for Performing Arts at Menlo-Atherton High School, 555 Middlefield Road in Atherton. Go to MenloBallet.org or call (800) 595-4849 to buy tickets. Prices range from $28 to $55.
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