What's the Pointe: Michael Shannon Ballet: Bach Sarabande Pas De Deux: Configuration Dance Theatre

Ballet, "What's the Pointe," New York, Alvin Ailey Theater, contemporary dance choreography by Michael Shannon, Los Angeles California, Artistic Director, Royal Ballet School of Antwerp; Resident Choreographer, Configuration Dance Theatre; Artvoice Best Dance Company Award 2008, 2009, 2010; Sarabande Pas De Deux from one act ballet in eight movements features dancers Sadie Harris and Jon Upleger.

Michael Shannon's ballet, "What's the Pointe," was featured in "DANCE SPECTACULAR" (9/22/09) by its producer, New York City Ballet star, Daniel Ulbricht, with stars from New York City Ballet and Boston Ballet in "Apollo," "Tarantella," "Diamond Pas De Deux" and "Who Cares," authorized by Balanchine Foundation, with Susan Jaffe's "Royenne," and "Breathless" by Joseph Cipolla, "whose acclaimed ballet company," said Ulbricht, "is known for its cutting-edge contemporary choreography."

ARTVOICE described Configuration Dance Theatre in "Balanchine and Beyond" (9/20/2009): "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," unique qualities Dance Magazine experts recognized, and gave them their unique moniker, "A Living Art Gallery."

THE BUFFALO NEWS gave Director JOSEPH CIPOLLA, and Resident Choreographer MICHAEL SHANNON, the moniker, "THE DREAM TEAM" (1/02/2009), a partnership whose roots began as principal stars of the Birmingham Royal Ballet in England under the patronage of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, The Prince of Wales, Lady Sarah Chatto, and Artistic Director, David Bintley (CBE).

Companies have premiered 40 Michael Shannon ballets, plays, films, and opera since 1995, i.e., "Madame Bovary," commissioned and danced by Bolshoi Ballet star, Nadezhda Gracheva for a Moscow Gala in her honor (2009), and in New York City by Catherine Batcheller, CDT co-founder and principal star for San Francisco Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, and Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Momchil Mladenov, principal star for Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and the National Ballet of Bulgaria, portrayed Shannon's Emma Bovary and Léon Dupuis, literature's most famous illicit lovers.

Shannon joined Cipolla in 2005, creating 12 new original works, in addition to revising and re-staging his ballets, "Madame Bovary" and "Yumeji" for Configuration's principal ballerina and co-founder, CATHERINE BATCHELLER, who starred with Cipolla and Shannon at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, for San Francisco Ballet, and Stuttgart Ballet, and who has created roles for Shannon, Michael Smuin, Val Caniporoli, John McFall, and Kirk Peterson.

In 2007, SUSAN JAFFE, legendary star of AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE, and guest artist for the Kirov, Vienna State Opera Ballet, Royal Swedish Opera Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Munich State Opera Ballet, and La Scala Ballet in Milan, joined Cipolla and Shannon as Principal Guest Choreographer. In 2010, she was appointed Ballet Mistress of American Ballet Theatre.

In May 2008, THE NEW YORK TIMES described Michael Shannon's choreography as "sexy, ballet to blush by." THE BUFFALO NEWS called them "captivating, genius, utterly superb, deeply emotional and affecting, intimate, and sensual," with a range and diversity, "reminiscent of Kylian, Mats Ek, and Rhoden." THE CAPE COD CHRONICLE said his work was, "nothing short of astonishing in its understanding and communication of emotion from comical to tender."

In 2009, THE BUFFALO NEWS said "Configuration Dance warrants national attention. Choreographically, there were knock-your-sox-off moments. Shannon's BEEN THERE DONE THAT spans a life cycle with skill that ranged from genius, with two of his dances utterly superb. In GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS, the dancers sailed through well crafted choreography marked with clever gesture and phrasing. The other notable moment, WHAT HAPPENED TO US, a ravishing pas de deux. Bravo, finally realism in ballet."

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Dance
• Ballet
• Contemporary
• Choreographers
• Theatre
• Company
• Shannon
• Jaffe
• Cipolla
• Kylian
• Ek
• Rhoden
• Solo
• Birmingham
• Royal
• English
• New
• York
• City
• Los
• Angeles
• California
• Bolshoi
• Kirov
• Mariinsky
• Moscow
• Russia
• Artvoice
• Olivier
• Award
• Danseur
• Ballerina
• Pointe
• Duet
• Pas
• De
• Deux
• Variation
• Paris
• France
• Munich
• Berlin
• Germany
• Swedish
• Danish
• Canada
• Dutch
• Budapest
• Hungarian
• Harlem
• Sadler's
• Wells
• Stuttgart
• Boston
• Vienna
• National
• State
• Art
• Opera
• School
• Configuration
• Academy
• News
• Times
• YAGP
• Europe
• Beethoven
• YouTube

[pka520]

Exquisite choreography and excellent dancers.

[aficionadoballet]

bravo bellissimo bello spettacolo

[ytvration]

So she was dreaming, right as she does off into slumber only to dream of moments spent together.... Just wonderful!

[Jilliosaurus]

Wow this is amazing!

2:14-2:16 looks so effortless.

Best dancing I've seen by far.

[Taraxos]

absolutely mezmorizing....

[roshbob]

Wow!! gave me chills... really sexy and seductive.

[TheStrogle]

very good

[FreestyleBoy2010]

Bravo-Bravo-Brabo~

[paballomotlhokoa]

the video was great so we hav 2 hand it 2 them, they realy know how 2 dance

[Echoamiadogo2]

magnificent....beautiful....

[IAmContemporary]

This almost makes me forget how hard and painfull it is to dance on pointe-shoes. It's worth it thouhg ^^