Twin Cities Ballet Brings Art to Life with "Art in Motion"

Twin Cities Ballet presents its sixth annual performance of “Art in Motion” next Friday, February 5th at 7:30pm at the Lakeville Area Art Center. A unique artistic collaboration between Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota, its affiliate school Ballet Royale Minnesota, and the Lakeville Area Arts Center, the performance featuring dances choreographed by the inspiration and influence of artwork.

“Art in Motion” has been a distinctive Twin Cities art event since its inception in 2010, and this year’s performance expands the scope of artistic inspiration beyond just visual paintings to more fully embody ‘Art in Motion’ by also drawing from literary themes, lyrics, poetry, and mainstream media.

Starting in 2015, Twin Cities Ballet began highlighting emerging choreographers in addition to seasoned veterans, allowing them to explore, develop, and express their own personal artistic visions. According to Rick Vogt, Associate Artistic Director of Twin Cities Ballet, “We are able to provide a unique opportunity and environment for emerging choreographers to create new dance pieces, and have a professional, accessible venue for them to present their work and engage with the public.”

Choreographers for the event include Twin Cities Ballet Artistic Director Denise Vogt, Twin Cities Ballet professional company member Zoë Marinello-Kohn, and Emily Winn, Ballet Royale Minnesota faculty member and Twin Cities Ballet performer.

Zoë Marinello-Kohn, who emerged as a ‘Triple Threat’ by choreographing and dancing in a piece based on her own painting to her own musical composition in last years “Art in Motion” performance, returns again this year choreographing and writing music for one of the dances.

New to “Art in Motion” this year, Emily Winn is creating a dance and poem inspired by an aria by Scarlatti called OmbreOpache, which translates as “Opaque Shadows,” from the opera Correa Nel Seno Amato. To bring the aria to life Emily states “I am mostly focusing on the idea of contrast—playing with light and dark, fluidity and sharpness—and I loved the idea of bringing a poem into the mix as a means of interpretation as well.” Emily goes on to say, “Writing and dancing are very linked for me, and I have been fascinated by the similarities between the writing and choreographic processes for a long time. I love to play as I create, whether my medium is words or movement.”

The performance includes an interactive discussion with the audience, choreographers, and artists about the meaning behind each art piece, and the visual interpretation of the featured artwork. The audience is invited to a complimentary coffee hour following the program to meet the artists and dancers.

“The response to this event has been extremely positive in the community, and it is always rewarding and humbling to have people express how much they enjoyed the experience after the event, and seeing how much it moved them,” says Rick Vogt, adding “I think this year’s performance will be engaging, fun, and intriguing for everyone—the dancers, choreographers, and audience alike.”

Art lovers and dance enthusiasts alike are sure to enjoy “Art in Motion.” Tickets are $16, on sale now via the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044 (952) 985-4640. For more information visit TwinCitiesBallet.org