The UNLV department of dance and School of Music present "In Orchestra 2" — a collaborative concert of dance, music, art, and design on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Artemus Ham Concert Hall.
Dance faculty Dolly Kelepecz and Richard Havey created a new ballet and jazz dance-inspired adaptation of Stravinsky’s timeless ballet burlesque Petrushka — the story of three puppets and their love and jealousy for one another. Petrushka has long been hailed as a production that unites dance, music, and design, and this production features professional marionette and puppetry artist Anthony Rais.
Department of dance chair Louis Kavouras tackles Toru Takemitsu’s sonorous and poetic contemplation of the flow of water, Riverrun. With regard to the work, Takemitsu writes, “The music flows in the form of a musical tributary derived from a certain main current, wending its way through the scenery of night towards the sea of tonality.” This dance is an abstract formalist construction based on the principals and movement of modern dance master Erick Hawkins. Kavouras has been a member of the Erick Hawkins Dance Company for more than 20 years.
The program also includes the lovely atmospheric works by Erik Satie, Gymnopédies, choreographed by fall 2015 ballet artist-in-residence April Wexelman.
UNLV dance has a long history of inter-departmental collaborations. This concert includes installation art/scenic design by department of art sculpture faculty Dave Rowe, piano performance by School of Music faculty Timothy Hoft, and lighting design by dance production specialist Peter Jakubowski. The program is conducted by Taras Krysa, director of UNLV Orchestras and the Henderson Symphony.
Tickets to "In Orchestra 2" are $18, with discounts available. Tickets can be purchased at the UNLV Performing Arts Center box office, online at pac.unlv.edu., or by calling 702-895-ARTS (2787).