Dance Alive's Fused Tutu

On Saturday night, the Phillips Center was treated to a diverse, beautiful and fun ballet in three parts—Dance Alive National Ballet’s last performance of the season, “Fused Tutu.”

For the purists, the show opened with selections from two classic ballets, “Giselle” and “Swan Lake.” Featuring those romantic and ethereal compositions, two duets floated around the stage, the female leads in filmy tutus. This is the kind of dance you grow up watching, and if the two little girls perched on the edges of their seats in front of me were any indicator, the numbers completely enraptured even the smallest of audience members.

Also part of the first act was a Ukrainian character dance called a “Gopak,” performed by Rostislav Dzabraev. Basketball players, take note: male dancers get serious air. Dzabraev leaped and launched himself so high in the air I was getting a nosebleed just watching. And it was awesome.

With the roar of a motorcycle and a few awed gasps from the audience, Act II moved in with a modern twist on classical ballet. “Fused Tutu,” a dance in nine parts, featured movements inspired by rock ‘n’ roll, disco, hip hop and West African dance. Even the UF Dazzlers paid a visit, showing off their refined brand of hip hop. The drama and theatrics of Fused Tutu contrasted to the classic beauty of Act I, but in a good way. To me, it looked like ballet dancers having a ton of fun on stage, and that feeling is infectious.

To close out the night, Act III, entitled “SOAR,” was inspired by painting and sculptures by Olympic athletes. The artworks that the four dances were based around were displayed behind the dancers. What sounds like a very conceptual piece became all the more clear as the cast captured the essence and beauty of the paintings and sculptures in physical movement. It was the marriage of two art forms, an interesting and inspiring pairing.

Saturday’s performance also marked the final show for the respected and wildly talented Dance Alive principal dancer Tak Kwan Chu. At age 62, and after 23 years performing with Dance Alive National Ballet, Chu took his last bow with the company amid cheers and standing ovations. His strength and beauty as a dancer will surely be missed.

It’s such a pleasure to watch the Dance Alive National Ballet, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for next season. If it’s anything like Fused Tutu, I (and you) won’t be disappointed.

--Amelia Marty

Dance Tutu Your Own Beat

Follow principal dancer Andre Valladon in discovering why dancers dance in the Dance Alive National Ballet spring performance of Fused Tutu at the Phillips Center on March 27.

The eclectic show, choreographed by Kim Tuttle and Judy Skinner, will include the classic ballets Giselle and Swan Lake but also hip-hop, African dance, an appearance by the Florida Dazzlers, motorcycles and artwork created by Olympic athletes.

“It’s really about dancers, why they love to dance and how they like to work with other artists,” Kim says.
The performance starts at 7:30pm. Tickets start at $15 and are available through Ticketmaster and the Phillips Center Box Office. Call 352-371-2986 for more information.

Follow is on Twitter for your chance to win tickets!

--Bridget Higginbotham

Check out Bridget's video of Dance Alive's Fused Tutu rehearsal:

Dance Alive National Ballet: The Nutcracker

Last night, we were lucky enough to finally catch a performance of Dance Alive’s Nutcracker at the Phillips Center. It was at times romantic, exciting, mysterious—even funny. The elaborate sets, beautiful costumes and extensive cast (you won’t believe the number of toy soldiers) made for a refreshingly entertaining holiday performance.

For those unfamiliar with the classic story, it’s (loosely described as) the 19^th Century tale of Clara, whose family Christmas Eve party is followed by dreams of mice, soldiers, the eponymous Nutcracker and a fairy tale land of snowflake fairies and sweets. It’s set to famous music by Tchaikovsky (you’ve surely been hearing it in commercials and book stores these days) and this version is choreographed by Dance Alive Artistic Director Kim Tuttle. Last night, Rachel Ridley played Clara, who received a nutcracker doll from her Uncle Drosselmeyer (Tim Heflin). After her younger brother Franz (Elijah Eyerly) jealously breaks her doll, she falls asleep with it in her arms near the Christmas tree. At the stroke of midnight, she wakes to find her brother’s toy soldiers fighting a pack of mice. After saving her nutcracker, he comes to life as a handsome prince (Brian Hunter).

There are no dull moments, and both dance-lovers and willing novices would be wise to catch it while they can. The performance lasted about two hours with a 15-minute intermission—a perfect chance to get a glass of wine. There are performances ($15-$35) tonight (Dec. 18) at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm; Sugar Plum Teas (when you can taste treats and meet the cast for $15) Sat. and Sun. at 4pm; and a Chocolate and Champagne Gala ($75) Sat. at 8pm. Call the Philips Center box office at 352-392-2787 or here for more info.

—Tim Carswell

Sip Champagne with Sugar Plum Fairies

Explore the set of The Nutcracker while sipping champagne and devouring decadent chocolates at Dance Alive National Ballet’s Chocolate and Champagne Gala this holiday season.

“Last year was the first year we did it onstage, and people seemed to really enjoy that,” says DANB Director Judy Skinner.

Well, it’s back by popular demand along with a silent auction of holiday gifts, music by Gosia and Ali, Blue Water Bay catering and a scavenger hunt that takes you throughout the Phillips Center.
Each participant in the scavenger hunt will receive a passport, and once their passport is all stamped, it will be entered into a grand prize drawing, Judy says.

The gala coincides with The Nutcracker Festival, which features performances of the popular ballet, as well as the family-friendly Sugar Plum Tea. The tea follows each performance and provides the opportunity to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her court and have holiday photos taken by Johnston Photography.

“We’ve been doing it for a number of years now, and it’s really, really successful,” Judy says.

The Chocolate and Champagne Gala will be held this Saturday, Dec. 19, at 8pm at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $75 per person or $600 for a table. For more information, visit dancealive.org.

—Kate Ashby

GIVEAWAY: Nutcracker Tickets!

We're giving away a pair of tickets to the holiday ballet classic The Nutcracker presented by Dance Alive National Ballet. Get a chance to see INsite cover stars Andre and Carla, plus the rest of Dance Alive's dancers, light up the Phillips Center Stage. The performances are Dec. 17 to 20, and you could get in for free!

To win, e-mail editor@insitegainesville.com (with Subject: Nutcracker) or RT this message on Twitter!

Dance Alive presents Dracula, tonight!

Last night, we were lucky enough to be invited to catch a preview performance of Dance Alive National Ballet’s Dracula at the Phillips Center. As choreographer Kim Tuttle called queues from stage right, the lights went down, the curtain went up and we entered the diabolical world of Count Dracula, performed by the versatile Andre Valladon.

With vampires captivating pop culture recently, Dracula is an appropriate title this Halloween; however, Dance Alive’s ahead of the curve—they’ve been performing the eerie Victorian tale for 18 years. In it, it’s amazing to watch as about 30 company dancers (who only moments before joked about their white fang teeth or acrylic talons) become at turns gypsies, Brides of Dracula, pious English men and women, and more.

The set and lighting change often, and the intricate costumes and dramatic music contribute to every scene as we follow Jonathon Harker (played by Rostislav Dzabraev) from Transylvania to England in the nearly two-hour performance. Although we knew it was only make-believe, we were captivated in this ultimate tale of good versus evil—a definite Halloween treat.

Catch Dracula tonight (10/30) at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts at 7pm. It is preceded by a Dracuween Kids’s Party at 6pm, in which children can enjoy a safe trick-or-treat ($15), and is followed by Dracula’s Halloween Costume Ball ($35). Call the box office at 352-392-2787 for tickets.

Photos by Sean Kelly

Halloween Events 2009

The Halloween countdown officially begins with just seven days until Halloween. With Florida-Georgia on the horizon, Halloween starts a week early in Gainesville with parties, haunted houses and events offering Gators the best of both worlds. We've compiled a guide to enough Halloween events to keep you scared all week long. This is way cheaper (and less crowded) than going to Halloween Horror Nights.

Jaycee's Haunted House: The Enchanted Castle Starting tonight, revisit your childhood as your favorite Disney princesses take a turn off the yellow brick road and into the dark side. This year's Jaycees Haunted House offers up a more grown-up, sadistic retelling of our favorite storybook characters. As if the The Seven Dwarfs and Mary Poppins weren't scary enough already.

At the Alachua County Fairgrounds, 2900 NE 39th Ave., on Oct. 23, 24, 29, and 30 from 7:30pm to 12am, with extended hours until 1am on Halloween. Tickets:$5 in advance and $6 at the door. Cash only! For advance tickets, e-mail info@gainesvillejaycees.com or call 352-213-6760.

Halloween Haunted Walk in the Woods Micanopy opens its ominous, spanish moss covered streets to the public for a one-night-only event. The event will host a carnival-like atmosphere with hay rides, caramel apples, burgers, hot dogs, bakes treats and a Woodlands Creature Halloween Barn.

Located at 600 E Tuscawilla Road (there will be signs pointing to the event from US 441) on Oct. 24 from 7 to 10pm. Tickets: $3.

21st Annual Halloween Carnival Benefitting the March of Dimes, this annual carnival has expanded this year to include more rides, haunted houses, contests, prizes and food. The Sun Country Dance Theatre will be performing a "Shake Your Bones" dance.

Located at Sun Country Sports Center, 333 SW 140th Terrace in Jonesville. Sunday, Oct. 25 from 3-6 pm. Tickets: $20 for adults, $10 for kids.

Hippodrome Ghost Tour The Hippodrome, 25 SE 2nd Place, takes out all its theatrical stops as visitors are guided through a behind-the-curtain tour of the theatre. Rusty Sailing recounts the story of the lost soul that has haunted the 98-year-old structure since 1914- long before the theatre was born.

Oct. 23, 29 and 30 at 10 p.m. Tickets are already sold out for the Oct 23 and 30th tours, so call fast to reserve your spaces for the 29th. To make the tour more intimate, admission is capped at 20 people. Tickets are $10. Pre-order your tickets early by calling the box office at 352-375-4477.

Coon Hollo Corn Maze This week the Newberry Cornfield Maze at Hodge Farms is offering up more than just corn. On October 29, 30th and 31st the farm will be taking guests on Haunted Halloween Hayrides through the farm's dense, tall corn maze. By day families can enjoy such events as pumpkin-picking and "bucking barrels," but by night the maze goes from family-friendly to nightmarish as Old Hollow's ghouls take over the farm.

At 22840 N Highway 441 in Micanopy. Oct. 29, 30 and 31st from dusk until 9pm. Tickets: $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for youths.

Halloween Haunted Homes Tour From downtown's elegant bed-and-breakfasts, cobble-stoned streets and brick-built structures, you know Gainesville has a rich, historic, creepy tales to tell. Starting at the Mathesom Museum explore the houses of Southeast Seventh Street as the Anhinga's Writer's Studio, share some PG-rated Gainesville ghost stories. Snacks and palm readings will be offered.

513 E. University Ave., on Oct. 30. Tours depart at 5:30 and 6pm. Tickets: $5

Dracula's Halloween Costume Ball If you've ever wanted to party on the Phillips Center Stage, now is your chance. Directly following Dance Alive National Ballet's production of Dracula on Oct. 30th, the curtain is pushed aside as the guests are invited to party with Count Dracula in his castle. A costume contest, finger food and Bloody Mary's will be offered up.

Oct. 30th, 9pm at The Phillips Center, 315 Hull Road. Tickets: $35

—Stephanie Granada