Contributed by: Catherine
April, May and June have been most remarkable! I began April considering the symbolism of wild boar hunts in mythology and Baroque opera, Handel’s Atalanta to be precise. This was a beautiful production. It included a fantastic cast headed by Dominique LaBelle as Atalanta, Nicholas McGegan conducting and ended with fireworks on stage designed by an experienced rock music pyrotechnic artist.
Our performances continued through mid-May. Then it was time to go home to the family, attend Edward’s graduation from 6th grade and pack for our summer trip to the Catskill Mountains. Our 3 week residency with the dancers and my family popping in and out from excursions to the Herkimer Diamond Mine began with rehearsals in a picturesque barn occupied by a family of racoons. In fact, this was the perfect setting for our pastoral ballet to Handel’s Ariodante. Nature inspired us with spontaneous thunder storms, more fire flies than you can imagine and a night sky brimming with stars.
In June we went from the barn to the palace theater of Frederick the Great in Potsdam. I had confidence our show was incredible so when I was told we were not invited to the reception after the private performance for the Nobel Laureates and the President of Germany, I just smiled. That evening I was dressed…just in case… and, yes, upon leaving the stage door we were met with an invitation to the reception in the Shell Room of the Neues Palais for champagne and h’ors d’oeuvres! I spoke to President Kohler and his lovely wife for over 20 minutes about dance, architecture and our changing culture.
For me, the other highlight of the trip was to have our company perform in the theater whose very floor boards were touched by the feet of celebrated 18th century ballerinas:Marie Salle, Catherine Roland and Barbarina. In my own performance I felt an electric tie with the past. In watching my dancers I was transported to the timeless beauty of our art, proud of their accomplishments and proud to be living the life of a dancer.
When will your company next be in Germany? I did not see any dates on the calendar for this year? Please give notice when you will be presenting again nearby, the Terpsicore was so laudable.
Thanks for letting me know about this blog for early dance. I am wondering whether anybody knows about dance treatises purblished in Germany available on the web — is the Taubert treatise available somewhere? I did not see it at the Library of Congress.
to Anonymous: We are negotiating future appearances. Check our calendar every month for updates. We would love to return to Germany!!!to Ulrichekunst: Please let us know of German Baroque treatises on websites, I do not know of any. I read Taubert in an English translation by Angelika Gerbes at Ohio State University. Has it been re-published in English?
Your website is wonderful and the dance looks intriguing; do you have any appearances scheduled on the West Coast in the coming year?SW
Dear A., We do have a summer workshop in California every year. This year we were at Scripps College. Once plans are finalized we will post the date and place on our website. No performances this season on the West Coast, but if something comes up we will post it immediately!