The Ballet Master
Ulbricht, Selya and Trenary performing
Excerpt from The Ballet Master performed at The Joyce Theater.
Left to right: Jacobson, Tribus, Gittens, Tankersly
Tankersly and Tribus performing
Trenary and Selya performing
Premiere
Production
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Choreographer
Twyla Tharp
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Composer
Simeon ten Holt (Bi-Ba-Bo, 1980),
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (Concerto per la Solennita di San Lorenzo, 1720)
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Lighting Designer
James F. Ingalls
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Costume and Scenic Designer
Santo Loquasto
Dancers
Principals
John Selya, Cassandra Trenary, Daniel Ulbricht
Ensemble
Miriam Gittens, Daisy Jacobson, Reed Tankersly, Jake Tribus
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Number of Dancers
7
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Runtime
00:24:20
Description
The Ballet Master centers on the choreographic process. The first part shows the struggle it entails; the second illustrates artistic breakthrough. The third completes the work begun in the first.
The Ballet Master, performed by John Selya, has issue with completing the work at hand because inspiration is constantly clouding his vision. His struggle is relieved by projecting himself into Don Quixote by changing from a repetitive and dull minimalist score to the dynamic Baroque Vivaldi score. Through this and the aid of his trusty companion, turned Sancho Panza, performed by Daniel Ulbricht, the Ballet Master is able to catch a glimpse of the future. Within this imagined world, he realizes that by having limited women in the studio to a distant ideal and not recognizing his female dancers as real, complex individuals, he has also constrained his vision. In acknowledging the reality of women he can thereby realize his earlier inspiration and successfully wow the crowd with his creative brilliance.
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Commissioned by
The Joyce Theater’s Stephen and Cathy Weinroth Fund for New Work
Past Performances
Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation
Ocean's Motion – Brel (premiere) – The Ballet Master (premiere) | Joyce Theatre
New York, NY
February 13 2024 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation
Ocean's Motion – Brel – The Ballet Master | Twyla Tharp Dance
Dallas, TX
September 20 2024 Repertory
Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation
Ocean's Motion – Brel – The Ballet Master | Twyla Tharp Dance
San Antonio, TX
September 24 2024 Repertory
Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation
Ocean's Motion – Brel – The Ballet Master | Twyla Tharp Dance
Austin, TX
September 26 2024 Repertory
Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation
Ocean's Motion – Brel – The Ballet Master | Twyla Tharp Dance
Houston, TX
September 28 2024 Repertory
- 2024