|
 | |||
 |
ABOUT USRochester City Ballet is a contemporary ballet company based in Rochester, New York. The company was established in 1987 by its founding artistic director Timothy M. Draper. The Rochester City Ballet (RCB) has been led since 2003 by artistic director Jamey Leverett and executive director Katherine Ertsgaard.Rochester City Ballet has a growing reputation for its excellence, versatility, and singular repertoire, which includes award-winning contemporary ballets and masterworks. The company of 18 contracted dancers presents an extensive home season of multiple performances at the Nazareth College Arts Center and Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. In July 2010, Rochester City Ballet presented its first New York City season at Pace University’s Michael Schimmel Center for Performing Arts and performed in the prestigious River to River Festival. RCB had its debut performance at the Nazareth College Arts Center Dance Festival in July 2011 as a featured performance along with Garth Fagan Dance and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Rochester City Ballet is committed to the creation of new work. In the past eight years, artistic director Jamey Leverett has choreographed more than 14 new works for RCB including A Common Thread, Bravo! Colorado, LumaVoce, Gershwin Preludes, Respect, Pedestal, How to Break a Heart, An Intimate Portrait, and Peter & the Wolf as well as the critically acclaimed full-length ballet The Blood Countess. Many Rochester City Ballet productions are presented with live music or through artistic collaboration with a vibrant array of musicians and ensembles such as the Cello Divas, Stephen Kennedy, Jeff Tyzik and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Deborah Fox, Hans Davidsson and the Eastman Rochester Orchestra Initiative, Arabesque Winds, The Ying Quartet and pianist Elinor Freer. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and RCB are celebrating the 12th year of their highly regarded The Nutcracker in the 2011-2012 season. Over the years, artistic director Jamey Leverett has invited celebrated guest choreographers like Inma Rubio Thomas, Patrick Corbin, Daniel Gwirtzman, and Edward Ellison to set work on the company. The Rochester City Ballet has also performed American masterworks by Balanchine (Serenade) and Arpino (Valentine). Other Rochester City Ballet collaborations of note have included work with artist Steve Carpenter and the company’s long standing relationship with the Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester City Ballet is committed to enriching the quality of life in the greater Rochester community. For the past few years, the company has performed for the entire second grade of the Rochester City School District. RCB has donated thousands of tickets to underserved youth affiliated with the Boys and Girls Club, Sojourner House, Ibero-American Action League, Wilson Commencement Park, East House and Hillside Children’s Center. Additionally, Rochester City Ballet conducts outreach activities at Barnes and Noble, The Strong, Stepping Stones Learning Center and public libraries as well as at numerous community child care and senior centers. Rochester City Ballet was the recipient of a 2010 Arts Award - presented by the Arts and Cultural Council of Greater Rochester. For the past few years, Rochester City Ballet has been listed among the top 20 cultural attractions (based on attendance) in the area by the Rochester Business Journal in its annual Book of Lists. Rochester City Ballet is planning a regional tour for the 2012-2013 season. |
| |
| |||