Susan Jaffe's ROYENNE to Bach . Configuration Dance Theatre Principal Guest Choreographer

CONFIGURATION DANCE THEATRE has been described by Dance Magazine as "a living art gallery." The New York Times said, "the exciting contemporary thrust to their repertory and the dancers innate classicism was the first great pleasure." ARTVOICE said, "As their name implies, their emphasis widens the scope of dance and dramatic, a certain 'noir-ness,' they lay bare emotions, startle the senses, and make one think."

Configuration Dance Theatre's leadership and excellence under Joseph Cipolla, co-Founder and Artistic Director, and Resident Choreographer, Michael Shannon, has been called the "Dream Team" by The Buffalo News, who were joined in 2007 by American Ballet Theatre's quintessential star, Susan Jaffe, as Principal Guest Choreographer, and National Advisory Board Member. Jaffe has also been a star of stage, screen and television as herself, a ballet dancer, producer and host with Dance Magazine.

The Artists of Configuration Dance Theatre have been honored with the ARTVOICE Best Dance Company Award in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Shannon received a YAGP Outstanding Choreographers Award in 2008, and in 2006, St. Josephs Collegiate Institute, Cipolla's Alma Mater, inducted him into the Fine Arts Wall of Honor.

Shannon and Cipolla began working together as stars for Birmingham Royal Ballet in England under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince of Wales, and Lady Sarah Chatto. Shannon and Jaffe were brought together as partners by Kirov and ABT legend, Elena Tchernichova, Artistic Director of the Vienna State Opera Ballet, to star with Vladimir Malakov, Katherine Healy, Kevin McKenzie, and Amanda McKerrow in her World Stars of Ballet Gala. Loved and respected worldwide, Jaffe was also a star for the Royal Ballet of Covent Garden, Royal Danish Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, English National Ballet, Munich Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, and the Kirov Ballet.

VIDEO CREDITS
Ballet: ROYENNE Pas De Deux
Company: Configuration Dance Theatre
Founder and Artistic Director: Joseph Cipolla
Principal Guest Choreographer: Susan Jaffe
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Dancers: Erica De La O and Raul Peinado
The Buffalo News Review - May 5, 2009: "Configuration Dance Theatre warrants continued national attention. Choreographically, there were several knock-your-sox-off moments. Principal Guest Choreographer and star of American Ballet Theatre, SUSAN JAFFE showed she can shine as a choreographer as brightly as she did as a dancer. Her ballet, ROYENNE, was world-class. Its elegant and sharp movements were delivered adroitly by Erica De LA O and Raul Peinado."

SUSAN JAFFE was born in Washington, D.C., and her journey to ballet stardom began at the Maryland School of Ballet (8), Balanchine's School of American Ballet, ABT School, ABT II (16) and corps de ballet (18). Her talent and maturity was obvious despite her young age, and did not escape the keen eye and artistic judgment of Mikhail Baryshnikov, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre, who chose her to be his new, exquisite, and strikingly beautiful ballerina to partner and match the charisma and power of Bolshoi Ballet star, Alexander Godunov, who also partnered the legendary Maya Pliesetskaya.

In 2002, The New York Times described SUSAN JAFFE's astounding 22-year reign as a leading star of American Ballet Theatre, fondly called, "our long stemmed American rose, America's quintessential ballerina who raised the standard of dancing, who matching dazzle with eloquent form, and who never hesitated to extend her range, remold herself, and few excelled in as wide a repertory."

SUSAN JAFFE's roles have expanded to choreographer, author, actress, television host, educator, consultant, business owner, and a lecturer on "Excellence" for Duke Corporate Education. She was Advisor to the Chairman of ABT's Board of Governing Trustees 2002-2007, and has been on the faculty of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School since 2002. She is co-founder, partner and director of the Princeton Dance & Theater Studio, and Dance Vision Youth Ensemble since 2003. As a Dance Magazine Awardee, she co-produced and hosted the weekly television show, "Dance New York," and was featured on "Dance in America," in the movie, "Angie" starring Geena Davis, and in Frederick Wisemans documentary, "Ballet."

CONFIGURATION DANCE THEATRE
10th Anniversary Celebration in 2010
Founder and Artistic Director: Joseph Cipolla
Principal Guest Choreographer: Susan Jaffe
Resident Choreographer: Michael Shannon
Company Manager: Kolleen Fischer
National Advisory Board: Jack Cullen, Susan Jaffe

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Susan
• Jaffe
• American Ballet Theatre
• Choreographer
• Configuration
• Dance
• Theatre
• Royenne
• Pas
• De
• Deux
• Contemporary
• Classical
• Music
• Bach
• New
• York
• Times
• Buffalo
• News
• Magazine
• Dancers
• Raul
• Peinado
• Ballerina
• Erica La O
• Joseph
• Cipolla
• Michael
• Shannon
• Kirov
• Stuttgart Ballet
• Munich State Opera Ballet
• La Scala Ballet in Milan
• Royal Ballet of Covent Garden
• English National Ballet
• Royal Danish Ballet
• Vienna State Opera Ballet
• Royal Swedish Ballet
• Princeton
• Jersey
• Washington
• Maryland

[pavlinka910]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5 STARS

[magnumSuper]

Susan Jaffe was one of Alexander Godunov's favorite partners in ABT, I know that for sure. They danced rather a lot together - Carmen by Petit, Corsaire pdd, Swan Lake, Giselle. I'd like these to have been filmed, but alas . . . Thanks.

[ral1208]

Fantástico, no me canso de verlo, gracias.

[mdelao73]

My sister in law Erica De La O

I love how she dance!

She has style.....!

[Chellings97]

the one person that put thumbs down, doesnt know how to dance.

this is perfect!

[halynamyroslava]

!!!!!

[xanglat]

Thank you very much @ Carlotta306 for this amazing choregraphy in her channel !

Thank's a lot to you for sharing....

With all my respect

Really admirable and wonderful

I love it

[Ptonsinger10]

Totally beautiful and totally has Susan's stamp on it. I got to work with her a bit last year and she was super interested in ballroom and swing dancing. Some of the holds in this piece here show that influence.

[IcyKreamy]

I wish i could twirl like that :)

[AygeeandCath]

who is dancer?