Presented by BalletMet and The Ohio State University Department of Dance
in association with the Wexner Center for the Arts
Three Columbus organizations committed to dance unite for Parallel Connections. Join BalletMet, The Ohio State University Department of Dance (supported by Ohio State’s College of Arts and Sciences), and the Wexner Center for the Arts as they come together for three performances only. This special program will feature BalletMet performing master choreographer James Kudelka’s The Man in Black, set to the music of Johnny Cash, and Wexner Prize–recipient William Forsythe’s dynamic and sophisticated Slingerland Pas de Deux. Ohio State Department of Dance students will perform Wexner Center MinEvent, with selections drawn from the vast repertoire of dance icon Merce Cunningham, another recipient of the Wexner Prize. Then the Ohio State dancers and BalletMet’s professional company will join forces onstage to perform the irresistible and exuberant Minus 16, by noted Israeli choreographer and Batsheva Dance Company artistic director Ohad Naharin. Together, these works will demonstrate surprising connections across the spectrum of contemporary dance artistry—as well as celebrate our vibrant community of dance lovers and dance organizations.
The Ohio State Percussion Ensemble and Sympatico Percussion Group will be performing as part of Parallel Connections. Both ensembles will perform music of John Cage to selections drawn from the vast repertoire of dance icon Merce Cunningham. Pieces to be performed include: Dance Music for Elfrid Ide (1940), Imaginary Landscape No. 2 (1942) and Third Construction (1941). The Ohio State Percussion Ensemble is comprised of student musicians majoring in music performance and education, and the Sympatico Percussion Group is Scott Herring (Professor, University of South Carolina), Joseph Krygier (Lecturer, Ohio State), Juan Mendoza (Assistant Professor, McMurry University) and Susan Powell (Professor, Ohio State).
Parallel Connections is presented with support from The Ohio State University’s College of Arts and Sciences and Arts Initiative.
Season support for BalletMet and the Wexner Center is provided by the Ohio Arts Council, Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, and Nationwide Foundation.
Major support for the Wexner Center’s performing arts season is generously provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
