By Mark Ambrogi
The Indianapolis Ballet Conservatory will educate audiences with a dancer’s journey
IBC will present “Evolution of a Dancer” at 3 p.m. May 15 at The Tarkington Theatre at The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
“It’s a very simple production showing the progression of a dancer from the very beginning at the age of three years old through graduation,” said IBC founding artistic director Alyona Yakovleva-Randall. “It’s showing each level of progression and education in ballet. It’s very simple but very entertaining as well. It’s one of the audience’s favorites because they really see how much effort and work students put into their education and how difficult ballet training is.
Yakovleva-Randall said it is the first time IBC has performed the show in five years.
“Usually we have a full production with a story so this is not our usual spring showcase,” Yakovleva-Randall said. “It’s not the normal two act or three-act ballet with a story.”
In the first act, IBC showcases the basis of all dances in a classical ballet technique class, which is based on the 300-year-old Russian legacy of Vaganova training. In Act II, the performance moves into what is called Character Dance and Contemporary.
“We are equally as invested in our student’s classical training as we are in pushing them to explore new ways of movement and grow as artists,” Yakovleva-Randall said.
In addition, to class pieces from each level at IBC, Yakovleva-Randall said the audience will have the privilege of seeing some of IBC’s award-winning soloists and ensembles from international ballet competitions, such as IBC finalists from this year’s Youth America Grand Prix, including recent silver medal winner Samuel Gest also named the competition’s top American Junior Male.
It will be the final performance of three Level 8 students, who are graduating. Olivia Behrmann has accepted a trainee position with Boston Ballet, Rachel Schultz has accepted a Premier Young Artist Scholarship and will be one of 15 freshmen at Indiana University’s ballet program, and Madeline Kelich will continue as a dance major at Marymount Manhattan College.
Tickets are $18 for students (high school & college with ID) and $35 for adults. For more, visit indianaballetconservatory.org
