Title: "Spun Light"
Visual Artist: Aubrey Feliciano Choreographer: Matisse Madden Music Credits: "Darwish" by Ameen Mokdad Cast: Ella Gorney, Avivah Kissick, Burns Kowalski, Katherine Sarris, Ruby Shi, Caitlyn Sullivan, Michelle Wirkus Note: Inspired by the crystal shop in The Alchemist, seven dancers—each embodying a color of the rainbow—become living expressions of individual purpose, perseverance, and transformation. Matisse and the dancers are honored to work with a sketch artist shares the stage, upstage of the dancers, using the medium of Japanese ink to weave each dancer’s distinct color and movement into human figures. Thank you, Ballet Hartford, the Greater Hartford Community and Awakening Festival for this incredible opportunity to collaborate and create! Title: "In All Tenderness"
Choreographer: Alisa Nipp Poet: Heather Bachman Music Credits: "The Beatitudes" composed by Vladimir Martynov and played by Kronos Quartet Cast: Hope Blackburn-Shoup, Jacob Shoup Title: “Not By Sight”
Choreographer: Julianne Pankau Music Credits: In The Upper Room: Dance II by Phillip Glass Cast: Grace Fields, Elisa Fromme, Kailee Fromme, Elisabeth Hedeen, Burns Kowalski, Alisa Nipp, Caitlyn Sullivan Note: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18) Title: "The Morning Comes"
Choreographer: Annabella Hartog Music Credits: "07:00" by Jonathan Ogden Cast: Quinn Carney, Julianne Clark, Eva Jarvis, Fayth Marcello, Kemi Olabanjo, Maggie Paller, Felicity Note: This piece is meant to capture the lightheartedness and joy of every new day. Whether it's the wonderful breakfast on our plates, the school day we have to look forward to, or the people we get to see, every day holds something special for us to walk into. Working with the students from the School of Ballet Hartford and surrounding community was such a pleasure. Thank you to the Awakening Festival and the Hartford community for supporting opportunities for young dancers to perform and grow! Title: "I Love Paris"
Choreographer: Katherine Sarris Music Credits: "I Love Paris" by Cole Porter Cast: Leyna Doran, Grace Fields, Aria Finelli, Naomi Holkeboer, Avivah Kissick, Ruby Shi Note: Paris holds great meaning for me - both personally and as an artist. Aside from the indescribable magic of La Ville Lumière, precious friendships have made it a place of inspiration, solace, & incredible joy! Title: "You are the First"
Choreographer: Claire Kretzschmar Music Credits: Arve Henriksen and Trio Mediaeval Cast: Caroline Cady, Annabella Hartog, Jayda Hazelett, Payton McGrew Note: This dance draws inspiration from the lyrics and tone of the music, which expresses God's eternal love for all people and that God is always the first to love us. Title: "To Labor, To Rest"
Choreographers: Hannah Kruse and Caroline Schroer Music Credits: "Cum Dederit" by Armand Amar, Sandrine Piau Cast: Arline Almborough, Chelsea Crowne, Charity Ferris, Lauren Low, Erin Mahoney, Kate Marinchak, Ana'el Nichols, Kelly Panas Note: Congrats to our adult cast for making their Awakening debut! Title: "While We Wait"
Choreographer: Paiter van Yperen Music Credits: "Its On Now" by Willie Bradley Cast: Audrey Case, Grace Fields, Elisa Fromme, Kailee Fromme, Alisa Nipp Note: "While We Wait" is inspired by the development of joy through finding patience in the in-between spaces in life. Title: "Dawning"
Visual Artist: Aubrey Feliciano Choreographer: Steve Rooks Music Credits: "Opening" and "A Dawning" by Olafur Arnalds Cast: Jayda Hazelett, Burns Kowalski, Molly McGuerty, Alisa Nipp, Paiter van Yperen, Eduardo Varas Big thank you to Connecticut Concert Ballet and Manchester School of Dance Arts.
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Congratulations to all of the dancers and thank you to our volunteers for making Awakening possible!