FSU Dance Department Announces the First Director of the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography

The Florida State University School of Visual arts and Dance has appointed Jennifer Bleill Calienes the first Director of the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC).

Calienes began her post as Director of MANCC on September 1, 2004 Prior to her arrival, Calienes spent 5 years managing the National Dance Project, a program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, which provides approximately 2 million in grants annual for the development and distribution of contemporary dance.  During her tenure at NEFA, Calienes oversaw a number of special initiatives exploring the relationships and shared resources between choreographers and universities.  She also facilitated the expansion of NP's programs into the international dance arena through partnerships with the British Council, the ?Dutch Consulate, the Fr4ench Embassy, and U.S./Japan Cultural Trade Network.

We are delighted we have been able to secure such an outstanding person for the first Director of MANCC." said Elizabeth Patenaude, Chair of the Florida State University Department of Dance. “Ms. Calienes brings a wealth of experience and proven success with projects of this scope and importance. I cannot imagine we could have found anyone better suited for leading this exciting new initiative."

Calienes envisions MANCC as a cornerstone of support in a new U.S. danceecology. “MANCC is positioned to infuse a much needed tier of support for choreographic research and development.” states Calienes. “We need to raise the value of the creative process in our field, and this center will offer entry points for practitioners beyond performance to assist in this mission."
 

MANCC is a dance and choreographic research center affiliated with the Department of Dance at Florida State University. The mission of MANCC is to provide a state-of-the-art facility appropriate to a Research 1 university, and an environment where choreographic creativity is nurtured and developed. Plans for the center were developed in consultation with national choreographic centers in Europe. A revised set of programmatic plans was released publicly in October 2004. MANCC officially opened in November 2004 in the newly renovated and expanded dance facilities in the Montgomery Hall on the FSU campus. MANCC and the Department of Dance share the former Montgomery Gym, 1920’s athletic building. The building is in the final stage of a $17 million retrofitting, including 6 dance studios, 2 theaters, and production and technology
resources.

ALABAMA BALLET ANNOUNCES THE 2004-2005 SEASON

The Alabama Ballet recently announced its 2004-2005 season. This year, the company celebrates 23 years of unparalleled artistry, athleticism and sheer poetry brought to life in motion that has brought Alabama Ballet to a level of national recognition and reputation. Wes Chapman, Artistic Director com– “The company is as fresh and vibrant as it’s ever been. I am proud
of their progress, dedication and commitment to the art form.”

The company’s 23rd season opened October 29-31, 2004, with Don Quixote, the madcap story of the lovely Kitri and her beloved, the handsome Basillio. It is a story of love, comedy, and justice. This full-length production
boasted grand sets and magnificent costumes that complimented the storyline’s passion, humor, and true heroism.

One of six companies in the world licensed to perform Balanchine’s holiday masterpiece, Alabama Ballet presented its third annual performance of
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, December 4-5 and December 10-12, 2004. Opulent sets and dazzling costumes made specific to Balanchine’s standards, and thrilling waltzes of the Snowflakes and Flowers, created a vision that enchanted children and adults alike.
On December 11th at 7:30 pm, audiences enjoyed an evening of side-stitching laughter as the Alabama Ballet presented Nutty Nutcracker. The zany and hilarious spoof of the classic tale of The Nutcracker was brought back by popular demand for one performance only.

Experience an up-close and personal performance of the company as they present A New Works Program January 20-23, 2005. With world premieres from outstanding choreographers, this program offers a unique opportunity to see the company dancers perform in their own environment. Only 125 tickets are available for this special program that will take place at the
Alabama Ballet Center for Dance.

Save your seats now for an unprecedented cultural event in this city as the nationally acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater shares its generous spirit with Birmingham and the entire southeast, February 18-20, 2005. The magnificent Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, led by Artistic Director Judith Jamison and Associate Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya, is dedicated to promoting the uniqueness of African-American cultural expression and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage. As quoted in The New York Times, “The current Ailey dancers… have the technique, the power and the stamina to give muscle and form to choreography that gets viewers worked up in their seats.”

Jewels of Russia will close the Alabama Ballet’s spectacular season with performances that are powerful, passionate, and as the title suggests, Russian! From April 2-3, 2005, this production will feature the company’s own prima ballerina, Tatiana Ledovskikh, who formerly danced with the Bolshoi Ballet
in Moscow. The program will include such Russian treasures as Serenade and Firebird. Serenade is the first ballet choreographed in America by Russian-born Balanchine to the score of one of Russia’s greatest composers, Tchaikovsky. Alabama Ballet Resident Choreographer, Roger Van Fleteren, will present his own choreography of Firebird to renowned Russian composer
Igor Stravinsky’s scintillating score. To order tickets, call 975.ARTS, 1.877.ART.TIKS, or visit www.alabamaballet.org. For more information call 205.322.4300.

The Alabama Ballet is the state’s premiere professional ballet company. Under the artistic direction of former American Ballet Theatre star Wes Chapman, the company has achieved national prominence as one of only five ballet companies in the world permitted by the Balanchine Trust to perform Balanchine's Nutcracker©. The Alabama Ballet promotes the development
of classical and contemporary ballet through high quality performance, dance education and community outreach. Activities include CityDancewhich provides eight weeks of dance classes for youth from inner city
schools. The Alabama Ballet is a 501(c )(3) not-for-profit organization.

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