Two New York City Ballet stars will grace the stage as Ballet Tennessee presents “The Nutcracker” in three performances this weekend.
Jenifer Ringer, principal dancer for the New York company since 2000, will be joined for the work’s pas de deux by Jared Angle, a principal dancer with NYCB since 2005.
Also featured are Jon Caspian of Birmingham-Southern College and Chattanooga talent Fredrick Davis, a Ballet Tennessee alumnus who now performs with the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble.
Davis will perform as the Snow Cavalier and Arabian variation, “highlighting his strength and sensitivity as a partner for Ballet Tennessee dancers Breanna Houston and Amanda Patten,” according to a news release.
Ringer has visited before, and Anna Baker VanCura, artistic director of Ballet Tennessee, said she has been searching for an occasion to have her return.
“It’s such a unique opportunity having these phenomenal guest artists coming from New York to perform,” said VanCura. “The day after our performances are over, Jenifer and Jared will be back in New York dancing at the Lincoln Center.
IF YOU GO• What: Ballet Tennessee presents “The Nutcracker.”• When: 8 p.m. today, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday.• Where: UTC Fine Arts Center, corner of Vine and Palmetto streets.• Admission: $22 adults, $18 seniors and students, $15 children.• Phone: 425-4269 (tickets), 821-2055 (studio).• Websites: www.utc.edu/finearts, www.BalletTennessee.org.
“Our dancers look up to our guest artists as role models, and their own dancing is impacted by being onstage and interacting with them,” VanCura added. “It’s a treat for our audience as well, getting to see principal dancers from New York City for the price of an admission ticket in Chattanooga — that’s a bargain you can’t beat anywhere.”
“The Nutcracker,” a holiday tradition among ballet companies, originated as a book, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” by E.T.A. Hoffman about a young German girl’s dream. According to www.nutcrackerballet.net, the version choreographed into a ballet by Marius Petipa is based more on a revision by French author Alexander Dumas. Petipa commissioned Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky to write the music in 1891. Its first showing took place in Russia the next year. The ballet made its way through Western Europe in the 1930s and to America by 1940.
ABOUT THE GUEST ARTISTS
Jenifer Ringer: Performed with New York City Ballet for more than 20 years; principal dancer since 2000. In May 2002, she appeared in the “Live From Lincoln Center” broadcast of “New York City Ballet’s Diamond Project: Ten Years of New Choreography,” dancing in “Mercurial Manoeuvres.” In May 2004 she appeared in the “Live From Lincoln Center” broadcast of “Lincoln Center Celebrates Balanchine 100,” dancing in “Liebeslieder Walzer.”
Jared Angle: Principal dancer with NYCB since 2005. In May 2004 he appeared in the “Live From Lincoln Center” broadcast of “Lincoln Center Celebrates Balanchine 100,” dancing in “Liebeslieder Walzer.” He was a Princess Grace Dance Fellowship recipient in 2001-02. His film work includes the feature film “Center Stage.”
Jon Caspian: A member of Southern Danceworks, he has performed professionally since age 10 and danced as guest artist with multiple Southeastern dance companies. He is classically trained in ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance. He is in his senior year, working toward a bachelor of arts in dance, at Birmingham-Southern College.
Fredrick Davis: His talent for dance was discovered at age 11 through the Dance Alive program of Ballet Tennessee and the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department. He was awarded a full Talent Identification Program scholarship to train at VanCura Ballet Conservatory and was accepted into Ballet Tennessee by audition. After graduation from Center for Creative Arts, where he was voted Most Talented Student three years running, he went to New York on a full Joffrey Ballet School scholarship. He earned a mention in The New York Times for his role in John Magnus’ “Nutcracker.” He received full scholarships for study at Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program, ABT Summer Program and North Carolina Dance Theater. He has been a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble since 2008.
Source: Ballet Tennessee