DIGITAL PLAYBILL
VBT 60TH ANNIVERSARY
Hampton Roads' premiere and oldest professional ballet company is celebrating a milestone anniversary.
A MESSAGE FROM TRDANCE
Cherished guests, we are so grateful to be returning to the stage and performing for our audiences and you again. It has been a journey during the pandemic to not only continue maintaining our honored repertoire and continue our daily open and structured education programs. In order to find new ways to continue pushing boundaries, taking artistic leaps, and ensuring that dance is accessible to everyone, regardless the age or ability, it takes a village. To provide a one-of-a-kind experience to the next generation of dancers, please consider making a gift to TRDance today.
Incorporated in January of 2004 as an accredited nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, your contribution is 100% tax deductible.
APRIL 8 & 9 | 8PM
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Duration
1 Hour and 30 Minutes,
including one 15 minute
intermission.
About the Performance
Pieces
4 individual pieces including 1 world premiere.
Artistic Director Ricardo Melendez, never one stop short of perfection, has curated a spectacular night of performances in celebration. The program blends classical with contemporary in a way that Ricardo proudly says will "captivate but ask you to think. We aspire to redraw the shapes around beauty and balance...to find new truths through harmony of movement and cultural celebrations."
ABOUT THE PIECES
GISELLE - Peasant Pas De Deux
Choreography: After Jean Corelli & Jules Perrot
Music: Adolphe Adam
Dancers: Felecia Baker, Brandon Penn
LA CASA - Based on The House of Bernarda Alba
Choreography: Ricardo Melendez
Costumes: Rigorberto Callado
Music: String Quarter No. 3
Composer: Alberto Ginastera
Dancers: Caitlin Granville, Miranda Hashemi, Cassie Punzo, Felecia Baker, Haley-Jean Kidwell, Morgan White
FRAGILE
Choreography: Ricardo Melendez
Costumes: Rigorberto Callado
Music: Sonata for Solo Cello
Composer: Gyorgy Ligeti
Dancers: Cassie Punzo, Brandon Penn, Caitlin Granville, Miranda Hashemi
CAMPESTRAL - WORLD PREMIERE
Choreography: Ricardo Melendez
Costumes: Rigorberto Callado
Composer/Singer: Susana Baca
Dancers: 2022 Company
ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHER
Ricardo Melendez
Artistic Director Ricardo Melendez is the former Artistic Director for Ballets de San Juan, Puerto Rico. He holds a BA in Dance Pedagogy from Butler University and a MFA in Theatre from Brooklyn College, where he served as adjunct faculty.
Ricardo has performed with the Alvin Ailey Dance Ensemble, Ballet Hispanico, the Omega Liturgical Dance Company, and Indianapolis Dance Company. He was also principal dancer and rehearsal director for Dance Kaleidoscope in Indiana, where he dedicated his efforts in developing arts in education programs. Ricardo also served as Resident Choreographer for American Cabaret Theater, and he has taught, choreographed, and performed in the US as both.