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BYU Ballet Showcase Closes Semester with Classical and Student Choreography

Viewers gathered to watch a livestream that presented student choreographed works and mixed media presentations

The dance stage was set on fire on Saturday evening, April 10 by Ballet Showcase. The show featured excerpts from the classical ballet “Coppélia” as well as guest performances from Theatre Ballet. The performance also featured pieces created by five student choreographers mentored by faculty from the Department of Dance.

Ballet Showcase had the opportunity to work with Scott Cook Film to create short videos where the student choreographers introduced their pieces and gave the viewers insights into their creative processes.

“Coppélia” is the comedic story of a doll coming to life to be the daughter of the lonely alchemist who created her. People in the village see the girl waving and blowing kisses from the alchemist’s balcony and think the alchemist is hiding a girl in his home.

Theatre Ballet members assisted by performing excerpts from Gerald Arpino's “Birthday Variations” and “Paquita.”

“Paquita” is the story of a Spanish gypsy named Paquita who saves the life of a French aristocrat, whom she marries when they discover that Paquita is of noble blood.

Show director Hilary Wolfley said the show was “able to reach audiences that we don’t normally reach” due to the livestreaming of the program.

Wolfley said the difference between Ballet Showcase Company and Theatre Ballet is that Ballet Showcase is a semester-long commitment with an emphasis on performing faculty and student works. Theatre Ballet is a year-long commitment with an emphasis on performing full-length works and working with guest artists.

Student president Chelsie Sherwood choreographed a piece called “Fragmented.” She said it started by taking fragments from smaller works and rearranging them into a bigger picture.

“Its aesthetic is very geometric. It takes classical ballet vocabulary and pushes it to greater extremes and higher intensity,” Sherwood said.

Miranda Fife, a student choreographer on the team choreographed a contemporary piece called “Ruminations” for the show.

“Everyday stress is what inspired me to choreograph this. When I was trying to find music to choreograph, I heard this song and felt like it perfectly described what goes on in my head when I am stressed. I also saw dancers in my head dancing to the song expressing this feeling,” she said.

Fife said she draws inspiration from choreographic pieces she admires and has seen before.

Although the year is now finished, Ballet Showcase will pick up again in Fall 2021.