WINTER BRAVO! 2011
Room to Move
The Very Little Theatre presents
AUDITIONS
Henrik Ibsen’s searing play about one
man’s lonely struggle against ignorance
and official corruption, adapted to the early
1970s Pacific Northwest using a brilliant
new translation by Christopher Hampton.
The Pulitzer prize nominated play
by Richard Greenberg
Eugene Ballet, Ballet Fantastique
enjoying rehearsal spaces BY SUZI STEFFEN
B
time, it’s secure, and we’ve made it pretty
allet requires small,
safe.”
controlled muscle
A few blocks down, in the old
movements along
Tiffany’s drugstore in the Overpark, Ballet
with
long
runs
Fantastique opened its City Center for
across large spaces,
Dance last fall. Using a Meyer Memorial
and it’s not easy to fi nd space for the hours
Trust grant to spur donations from the
of practice and rehearsal dancers need.
community, the chamber ballet group
The Brazillian hardwood fl oors have to
refi nished the space with a ton of volunteer
be just right so dancers don’t get (more
hours, in-kind donations and hard work.
than normally) injured; the rehearsal space
“The thing I’m most proud of is laying
needs mirrors, usually a piano, a sound
the Brazilian cherry hardwood fl oor,”
system and barres.
says executive director Hannah Bontrager.
But Eugene’s lucky here as in other
“That, and the drywall.”
arts arenas: Both the large Eugene Ballet
The new space means that Ballet
Company and the chamber ballet group
Fantastique has two studios (the other,
Ballet Fantastique now have large,
smaller one is also in the Overpark but
centrally located studios that invite the
across 10th), and the larger one, with a
community to watch, listen and learn more
loft for administrative offi ces and board
about various forms of ballet and other
meeting space, garners a lot of attention
dance.
from passersby. “People are stopping to
The Eugene Ballet Company, a Hult
watch all day long,” Bontrager says. “We
Center resident company, moved into
have three new company dancers this year,
its space in the Midtown Arts building
so there’s no way we could have fi t in the
in 2006, and executive director Riley
other studio.”
Grannan says that the experience has been
splendid. “We have three large or
fi ve total studios,” he says, for two
of the larger spaces can be divided
into smaller spaces for the dance
classes that often occupy the
building from dawn to dusk (and
beyond). Each space has its own
sound system, which Grannan
says means that artistic director
and choreographer Toni Pimble
can run performance rehearsals
from her iPad. “Dancers used to
BALLET FANTASTIQUE’S
be able to at least slack off for
BOSSA BRASIL
a couple of seconds while you
JAN. 29
rewind things, but not anymore,”
And after all of the volunteer hours —
Grannan says, laughing.
“The most people we had at any one time
Sometimes, other dance companies,
was 17 people, including dancers, friends
including Aleto Alessi’s DanceAbility and
we just co-opted and my father-in-law,”
Phenomenon Hip Hop Dance Company,
Bontrager says — Ballet Fantastique has
use the space for classes or rehearsals. “Hip
also been able to expand its classes and
hop can actually electocharge you,” says
open up pre-performance rehearsals for an
Grannan, whose offi ce is upstairs in the
affordable Open Barre series, with dance
open-design building. And the building’s
punctuated by local wine, beer and food for
designed to be attractive from the street.
the standing-room only crowds.
“We purposefully opened it up enough that
Bontrager says, “We’re all just smiling
a kid going by can see that things are going
every day, having this chance.”
on in here,” Grannan says. “At the same
ew
Sat., Jan. 22, noon
2350 Hilyard Street, Eugene
Auditions will consist of reading
excerpts from the script.
Parts are available for
two men and one woman.
There are seven performances
scheduled in the Very Little Theatre
Stage Left space
from April 22 to May 1.
“The strongest man in the world
is he who stands most alone”
Directed by James Aday
Jan. 14-16*, 20-23*, 27-29
*Sunday Matinees
Tickets: $15 ($10 for Thursday)
Call 541-344-7751
Box office open 2:00-5:30
Wed.–Sat. 2350 Hilyard St.
For more information, contact director
Sarah Etherton at 541-852-7900
or e-mail savrit@gmail.com
More info at TheVLT.com
More information under the Auditions page at:
TheVLT.com
Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheVLT
BUY ONLINE :
www.HultCenter.org
OR CALL FOR TICKETS :
541-682-5000
OREGON MUSIC EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PRESENTS
All State Middle School Concert
Friday, January 14 at 5:00 PM –SILVA– Tix: $15; St, Y
All State Jazz Performance
Saturday, January 15 at 5:00 PM –SORENG– Tix: Free
All State High School Gala Concert
Sunday, January 16 at 1:00 PM –SILVA– Tix: $15; St, Y
Band, choir, and orchestra students perform with their talented peers
from across the state.
EUGENE SYMPHONY PRESENTS
Dvorák Cello Concerto
Thursday, January 20 at 8:00 PM –SILVA– Tix: $15 and up; St, Y
Experience the drama and passion of Dvorák’s cherished Cello Concerto
when cello superstar Alisa Weilerstein joins the Eugene Symphony for
a passionate performance.
THE EDGE PRESENTS
Dance for a Reason 2011
Friday, January 21 at 7:30 PM –SILVA– Tix: $15
Eugene’s most eclectic, energized and fun dance performance.
The annual benefi t showcases the variety of talented dancers, choreographers
and movement specialists in our area.
DIVISI PRESENTS
The International Championship of
Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA)
Saturday, January 22 at 7:00 PM –SILVA– Tix: $25; St, Y
Regional competition for the coveted title of ICCA Quarterfi nal Champion.
UO’s Divisi will host eight talented groups from Oregon and Utah in what is
sure to be a great show, full of stiff competition and wonderful music.
WELLS FARGO BROADWAY IN EUGENE PRESENTS
Spring Awakening
Saturday, January 25 at 7:30 PM –SILVA– Tix: $52.50-$30
This landmark musical is an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and rock
& roll, exhilarating audiences across the nation like no other musical in years.
Contains strong language, partial nudity and adult situations - parental discretion is advised.
ALISA
WEILERSTEIN
ENTERTAINMENT ON SALE:
EUGENE SYMPHONY PRESENTS
BALLET FANTASTIQUE PRESENTS
Itzhak Perlman (Silva – Jan. 29)
Bossa Brasil (Soreng – Jan. 29)
HULT TICKET OFFICE HOURS:
Tue-Fri, 12- 5 PM ; Sat, 11 AM –3 PM
ONE HOUR BEFORE PERFORMANCE MON-SAT, TWO HOURS BEFORE ON SUN.
UO TICKET OUTLET IN THE EMU:
Mon-Fri, 9 AM –5 PM
BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
EUGENE WEEKLY JANUARY 13, 2011 15