Michael Shannon Ballet: What's the Pointe: Bach Gigue Trio: Configuration Dance Theatre

Ballet, "What's the Pointe" to Bach, contemporary dance choreography, New York production by award winning Ellison Ballet, American choreographer, Michael Shannon, from Los Angeles California, featuring ballet dancers, Sarah Poss (Dutch National Ballet), Kaleigh Schock (Ballet West), Christina Schifano (Colorado Ballet).

Michael Shannon's "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 the Balanchine Foundation, with "Royenne" by American Ballet Theatre star and Ballet Mistress, Susan Jaffe, and "Breathless" by Joseph Cipolla, "whose acclaimed company (Configuration Dance Theatre) is known for cutting-edge contemporary choreography," said Ulbricht.

The Buffalo News (1/02/09) named Artistic Director Joseph Cipolla and Resident Choreographer Michael Shannon, "The Dream Team," each highly respected with illustrious careers with legendary dance institutions, both principal stars for Birmingham Royal Ballet under the patronage of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Prince of Wales, Lady Sarah Chatto, and Artistic Director, David Bintley (CBE).

Configuration Dance Theatre was described in the article, "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 senses, and make one think," qualities Dance Magazine experts saw, and described as "a Living Art Gallery."

Companies have premiered 40 Shannon ballets, plays, films, and opera since 1995, with 12 new ballets for CDT since 2005, 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, Configuration co-founder and principal star for San Francisco Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Momchil Mladenov, principal for Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and the National Ballet of Bulgaria, portrayed Shannon's conception of Emma Bovary and Léon Dupuis, literature's most famous illicit lovers.

Joining them at CDT is guest choreographer, Susan Jaffe, principal star of American Ballet Theatre, and guest artist for the Kirov, Vienna State Opera Ballet, Royal Swedish Opera Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Munich State Opera Ballet, and La Scala Ballet in Milan, joined Cipolla and Shannon in 2007 on the company's National Advisory Board, and as Guest Choreographer. In 2010, she was appointed Ballet Mistress of American Ballet Theatre.

Cipolla was a star for Dance Theatre of Harlem, Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet; and a 1993 Lawrence Olivier Award Nominee. In 2000, he co-founded Configuration Dance Theatre, and in 2009, he co-founded the Configuration School of Ballet.

Shannon was a star for the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Stars of the Bolshoi, Vienna State Opera Ballet, Kremlin Palace Ballet Theatre, Hungarian State Opera Ballet, and others, i.e., Royal Ballet (1978), Los Angeles Ballet (1980), American Ballet Theatre and Boston Ballet (1983), National Ballet of Canada (1984), Royal Swedish Opera Ballet (1986); Silver Medalist in Paris (1992) and Budapest (1993) International Ballet Competitions; joined Configuration Dance Theatre (2005) and is Resident Choreographer; invited to co-found and direct Greenwich Ballet Academy (2006); YAGP Outstanding Choreographers Award (2008); first American scholarship recipient and graduate of the Hungarian State Ballet Institute and Moscow Choreographic Institute Bolshoi Ballet Academy (1989); awarded Professor of Choreography, Ukrainian State Academy of Ballet (1999); Artistic Director, Royal Ballet School of Antwerp, Kingdom of Belgium (2010).

In May 2008, The New York Times described 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, 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 Theatre 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."

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[pka520]

Exquisite choreography and excellent dancers.

[youngladee]

My favorite choreographers are George Balanchine (Russia), Maurice Béjart (France), Mats Ek (Sweden), Jiří Kylián (Czech) and Michael Shannon (USA). I first came to know and love Shannon's work in Europe. I am so happy we can now see his ballets on stage and film here at home.

[z166022]

I love this dance and the style!!! Awesome job, I hope one day I can dance beautifully like you three!!

[petrovasuper]

Привет, Майклуша! Вот, смотрим твою хореографию в Эквадоре!)))) Молодец! Very good job!

[PointeBalletLover]

awesome technique and choreo

[aficionadoballet]

bravo bellissimo bello spettacolo