Director’s Choice
Groundbreaking Female Choreographers
Custom curated for Cincinnati audiences, Director’s Choice celebrates four of the most talented contemporary female choreographers today and features a world premiere by Jennifer Archibald! “When we think of dance we so often assume it is a female-oriented profession. But the truth is women are significantly underrepresented in the choreographic and leadership realms of professional ballet. There are many deserving women choreographers with bold and unique voices whose work rarely sees the stage. My hope is that in some grassroots way, as a prominent midrange ballet company, we can influence the future of women leadership in our art form.” – Victoria Morgan
Redeem
World Premiere
Jennifer Archibald, the founder and artistic director of New York City’s acclaimed Arch Dance Company, pulls from a variety of influences to boldly and seamlessly infuse ballet with nuances of hip hop. This combination of hip hop with classical aesthetic in movement greatly influences her musical scores, which she often custom engineers to include an assortment of compositions. Described as “…voluptuous…fiery…sensual…” by the Cincinnati Enquirer, her brilliant piece Sit was met with reverence and awe by Cincinnati audiences last season as part of The Kaplan New Works Series. Archibald returns with a world premiere piece, choreographed exclusively for Cincinnati Ballet.
Habitual
Back by popular demand, Heather Britt’s tense and sensuous pas de deux returns after debuting in the 2013 Kaplan New Works Series. Habitual is a duet about feeling stuck and the attraction that we have as humans to repeat what is familiar. Britt is the creator and director of the energetic and popular DANCEFIX (formerly Rhythm and Motion), and her work has been featured many times in The Kaplan New Works Series. She has established a devoted following with Cincinnati audiences as her choreography exudes an energy of fearless confidence and innovation, anticipated year after year.
A Solo in Nine Parts
Jessica Lang is the founder of New York City based dance company Jessica Lang Dance (JLD). Her Solo in Nine Parts is raw, modern and refreshingly stripped-down. Featuring nine performers on a bare stage and set to a Vivaldi violin concerto, Lang’s piece is beautifully and ingeniously crafted to showcase the true talent and athleticism of the dancers.
Cylindrical Shadows
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa created Cylindrical Shadows after the loss of a close friend, in exploration of the themes of life and death. Her choreography moves through darkness to a place of peace and hope, revealing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of tragedy. According to Lopez, “There is no difference between life and death; they are not opposites, as we are taught to believe. They are both a part of a single continuum, the continuum of life.”
Highlights:
- All female choreographers
- Four different pieces
- One world premiere
- Contemporary choreography
World Premiere: Jennifer Archibald
Habitual: Heather Britt
A Solo in Nine Parts: Jessica Lang
Cylindrical Shadows: Anabelle Lopez Ochoa
Jennifer Archibald’s World Premiere: TBD
Habitual: Music by Gabriel Gaffney Smith
A Solo in 9 Parts: Music by Antonio Vivaldi
Cylindrical Shadows: Music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Henry Purcell, David van Bouwel
Cincinnati Ballet Company Dancers
Jennifer Archibald’s World Premiere: TBD
Habitual Costume Design: Diana Adams and Heather Britt
Habitual Lighting Design: Trad A Burns
A Solo in 9 Parts Costume Design: Lisa Choules
A Solo in 9 Parts Lighting Design: Kirk Bookman
Cylindrical Shadows Costume Design: Christine Joly De Lotbiniere
Cylindrical Shadows Lighting Design: Michael Mazzola
“Britt and her dancers infuse the work with a level of intimacy we rarely see onstage. Their faces and bodies press against one another with an urgency that is mesmerizing, giving Habitual a heady mix of desperation and passion that verges on the dangerous.”
Jennifer Archibald studied ballet and hip hop, bringing a unique mix of the two styles to the stage.
Surprisingly, women are vastly underrepresented in leadership roles in ballet. This series aims to influence the change and put women at the forefront of the art form.
History in the Making
Despite the fact that a majority of ballet dancers are women, positions as choreographers are still predominantly held by men. As one of only a handful of female Artistic Directors & CEOs in ballet, Victoria Morgan has flipped the status-quo for Director’s Choice by exclusively featuring groundbreaking female choreographers. For the first time ever, Cincinnati Ballet will present four works created by women during a main stage performance at the Aronoff!
Explore Director’s Choice
A normal guy and the ballet
May 2, 2016
John David Back shares his unique (and hilarious) perspective on experiencing Cincinnati Ballet for the first time. This article contains some strong language.
Redeem – Interview with Jennifer Archibald
April 28, 2016
Jennifer Archibald talks about her latest work, Redeem, a world premiere ballet that hits the stage for the first time ever during Director’s Choice, April 29 & 30. See this and other beautiful ballets during Director’s Choice: Groundbreaking Female Choreographers April 29 & 30 at the Aronoff.
Habitual – Interview with Heather Britt
April 25, 2016
We sat down with choreographer Heather Britt to learn about the inspiration and process behind Habitual. See this and other beautiful ballets during Director’s Choice: Groundbreaking Female Choreographers April 29 & 30 at the Aronoff.
A Solo in Nine Parts – Interview with Jessica Lang
April 21, 2016
We sat down with choreographer Jessica Lang and Stager Laura Mead to learn about the inspiration and process behind A Solo in Nine Parts. See this and other beautiful ballets during Director’s Choice: Groundbreaking Female Choreographers April 29 & 30 at the Aronoff.
Meet the Artists – Director’s Choice
April 12, 2016
Studio Experience: Event: April 19, 2016 Join us at the Cincinnati Ballet Center for a full behind the scenes experience including a performance preview and a conversation with select artists. RSVP to the Cincinnati Ballet box office at 513-621-5282. Purchase your Director’s Choice tickets here! Schedule of Events 5:15 – 6:15 pm | Director’s Choice rehearsals 6:15 […]
Director’s Choice | Groundbreaking Female Choreographers
April 7, 2016
Director’s Choice is a unique, mixed-repertoire presentation featuring works by four groundbreaking female choreographers. The diverse yet balanced evening curated by Artistic Director & CEO Victoria Morgan includes Jessica Lang’s A Solo in Nine Parts, Heather Britt’s Habitual, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Cylindrical Shadows and a world premiere by Jennifer Archibald. Audiences have three opportunities to […]
Director’s Choice Trailer
April 6, 2016
Despite the fact that a majority of ballet dancers are women, positions as choreographers are still predominantly held by men. As one of only a handful of women in leadership positions, Artistic Directors & CEO Victoria Morgan has flipped the status-quo for Director’s Choice by exclusively featuring groundbreaking female choreographers. For the first time ever, Cincinnati […]
Hope after Death – Cylindrical Shadows
April 6, 2016
“It takes a while to let go,” says Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, choreographer of Cylindrical Shadows. “Once they pass away, it takes time… to accept that this phone number doesn’t exist anymore. You know you have to let go, but the phone number, the messages… you’re still keeping it.” For Ochoa, there’s more to death than […]
“Amy’s Table” interview with Heather Britt
March 7, 2016
Amy Tobin of WKRQ recently sat down to talk about women working together to lift each other up on her radio show “Amy’s Table.” After joining Étoile, the Cincinnati Ballet’s affinity group for women, Amy says she was inspired and quickly took pride in being a member. In a series of interviews Amy talked with powerhouse females […]
“Amy’s Table” interview with Johanna Bernstein Wilt
March 7, 2016
Amy Tobin of WKRQ recently sat down to talk about women working together to lift each other up on her radio show “Amy’s Table.” After joining Étoile, the Cincinnati Ballet’s affinity group for women, Amy says she was inspired and quickly took pride in being a member. In a series of interviews Amy talked with powerhouse females […]
“Amy’s Table” interview with Victoria Morgan
March 7, 2016
Amy Tobin of WKRQ recently sat down to talk about women working together to lift each other up on her radio show “Amy’s Table.” After joining Étoile, the Cincinnati Ballet’s affinity group for women, Amy says she was inspired and quickly took pride in being a member. In a series of interviews Amy talked with powerhouse females […]
First Glimpse of Director’s Choice
August 11, 2015
To launch the 2015 – 2016 Season, Cincinnati Ballet teamed up with photographer Aaron M. Conway to capture the movement and emotion of each performance.
“In terms of a broad introduction to the company, there was no better demonstration of the dancer’s first rate talents, skills and abilities than this particular concert…”
Director’s Choice Sponsors
Peter T. Joseph Foundation
Karen Bowman
Karen F. Maier
Elizabeth & John Lammachia
Dianne Dunkelman & Peter Schwartz
Alex & Chris Keith