Battery Park City’s own New American Youth Ballet (NAYB) will present next Sunday (May 22) a dance adaptation of “Someday,” the elegy to motherhood by children’s book author Alison McGhee. The dancers will be led by NAYB director and choreographer Elizabeth Flores and accompanied by a full, 40-piece orchestra, performing original music by Alan Turry, managing director at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at New York University. The show will also include excerpts from Don Quixote.
“Someday” tells of a mother’s fond recollections of her child, and hopes for the future. Cervantes’s tale of a deluded knight-errant is, in its own way, a celebration of love. These two pieces, grouped under the title “Cervantes to Someday,” make for an ironic counterpoint. This performance especially celebrates moms and the joys of motherhood, in the wake of Mother’s Day.
NAYB is the City’s only ballet company (outside Lincoln Center) with a full orchestra. Ms. Flores, who has been honored as Dance Teacher of the Year by Dance Teacher Magazine, is known for innovations like her Father’s Day musical, “Triple Threat Dad,” in which men wearing business suits and carrying briefcases accompany their tutu-wearing ballerina daughters. She sees her mission as, “connecting parents and children on stage rather than having a dance recital solely be a spectator sport.”
Ms. Flores said, “This exciting program is not only family friendly, it is our honor to present this magical ballet score that was graciously donated by American Ballet Theater for our production. This is our impossible dream. Our stage will be set with a gorgeous handmade scrim from The Metropolitan Opera in NYC . We are thrilled with the story, written by Alison Mc Ghee, and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, our new music and the beautiful dancing of the Students of the New American Youth Ballet and starring Ms Tiekka Tellier. An internationally recognized Prima Ballerina and BPC Resident, as the Mom. Don’t miss this outstanding show!”
“Cervantes to Someday” will be performed by the New American Youth Ballet and orchestra on Sunday (May 22), starting at 3:00 pm, at Stuyvesant High School, in the Murray Kahn Theater, located at 345 Chambers Street (near North End Avenue). Admission is priced at $20 for adults and $18 for children and seniors.
To order tickets: 212-945-2926 or email: newamericanyouth@yahoo.com
text and photos by Yuri Ana
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Big Event in Tribeca Barnes & Noble this Wednesday!
Meet author Alison McGhee for book signing, photos and preview of the new ballet inspired by her #1 NY Times Bestseller “Someday” Proceeds will help production expenses. May 18th 3-5pm at Tribeca Barnes and Noble 97 Warren Street |
Why didn’t this show up in your printed version?
Timing of the event for the print edition precluded using it