Ballet History Program to be Presented at Rider Univ.

Editor's Note: The following is a news release from the American Repertory Ballet.

On March 21 at Rider University, American Repertory Ballet will be presenting a free enrichment program, “The History of Romeo and Juliet as a Ballet.”

ARB Company Director Douglas Martin will be speaking with Dr. Kim Vaccaro, associate professor of dance at Rider University, about the history of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet.  Information about the ballet’s history will be put in conversation with thoughts on Martin’s new Romeo and Juliet production for ARB and with Martin’s past experiences of performing in this work with The Joffrey Ballet and with ARB. 

“The History of Romeo and Juliet as a Ballet” will take place on March 21, 2012 at 5:00pm at The Yvonne Theatre on Rider University’s Lawrence Township campus.

This event is situated between world premieres of excerpts from Martin’s Romeo and Juliet.  ARB will debut the iconic balcony scene pas de deux as part of its Spring into Love program on March 17 at Raritan Valley Community College and will perform new ballroom ensemble dances as part of Celebration – May 19-20 at Victoria J. Mastrobuono Theater, Mason Gross School of the Arts.

“Romeo and Juliet is one of the most enduringly popular ballets of all time,” says Dr. Vaccaro.  “Since its Kirov Ballet premiere in the 1930's, various versions of ballet have been created and performed to Prokofiev's beautiful, moving score all over the world.  It continues to capture the hearts and imaginations of choreographers, as there have been a few new Romeo and Juliet ballets premiered over the past few years, among them Douglas Martin's for American Repertory Ballet.”

Rider University and American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School have a unique relationship, as Rider Dance Department students take Princeton Ballet classes for credit.  Dr. Vaccaro is the bridge between Princeton Ballet School and Rider University’s Dance program.  

In addition to her roles as Associate Professor of Dance at Rider and Director of their Joint Dance Program, Dr. Vaccaro has also been a member of the faculty of Princeton Ballet School for almost 20 years, teaching everything from Pilates to World Dance.   

“It was a lucky day when Dr. Vaccaro moved here many years ago, bringing a wealth of knowledge about important trends in the world of dance education,” says Princeton Ballet School Director Mary Pat Robertson.  “Her commitment to her students and to the field of dance education is vast, and her energy and enthusiasm have contributed enormously to the growth and health of our Joint Program in Dance, a highly unusual and fertile partnership between a college, a professional dance company, and its school.  With this Romeo and Juliet lecture, we also open up our affiliation to a wider audience, by linking the company, school, and university to our Access and Enrichment program.”

“The History of Romeo and Juliet as a Ballet” is the second installment of ARB’s three-part seminar series aimed at engaging the community through the exploration of humanities and dance.  This series is supported by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.  The first seminar was ARB’s January On Pointe Enrichment Series program “The Music of Romeo and Juliet”, featuring Princeton University Professor and Prokofiev expert Simon Morrison.  At the last installment in May, The College of New Jersey Professor of English Jo Carney will discuss Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet directly preceding a performance of Celebration.