International dancers converge in Missoula

In the Arts: 2019 International Dancers Arrive in Missoula

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BALLET THEATRE ANNOUNCES 4TH INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL, "BALLET BEYOND BORDERS"

Missoula — Dancers from around the world and representing myriad styles will perform in Missoula in January.

Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre will be bringing Ballet Beyond Borders back to Missoula in January 2019.

The Ballet Beyond Borders experience is a unique combination of dance and diplomacy. This will be the fourth world-class international dance competition and diplomacy conference that Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre has brought to Missoula with competitors hailing from more than 17 countries. Thanks to the generous support of the Washington Foundation and the Drollinger Family Foundation, the Ballet Beyond Borders International Dance Challenge will be free and open to the public. The only ticketed event as part of the festival will be the final Ballet Beyond Borders Gala on January 12, 2019 at the Dennison Theatre on the University of Montana campus.

Ticket information HERE.

 
Ballet Beyond Borders has launched careers by offering opportunities to dancers who might otherwise have had none. BBB brings films, authors, dancers, academics, artists, guests, and diplomats into our wintery west. BBB strives to introduce the world to Missoula and Missoula to the world to increase mutual understanding and global harmony.
 
“Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre’s mission is to give our dancers performance opportunities around the world, while also bringing the global community back to Montana. These cultural exchanges are crucial to both our understanding and our positive participation in the global community," Charlene Campbell Carey, artistic director for Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre and President of Ballet Beyond Borders, said.

 

2019 HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW! Participants will have the opportunity to participate in the inaugural, “Ballet Beyond Borders Young Choreographer Competition.”

• January 7 – 8, 2019: International artists teaching and performing in the Missoula Public Schools and in Arlee in the lead-up to the opening night!

• January 9, 2019: “The Silk Road Leads to BBB in Missoula” opening night party and special performances from 6:30pm – 9pm at the MASC Studio. Open to the public.

• January 9 – 11, 2019: International Dance Challenge: dancers from more than 17 countries to compete on the UM Campus. Schedule to be updated at: http://www.rmbt.org/bbb

• January 10, 2019: Special Film Presentation, USA Premiere - “Revenge of the Worthless,”followed by question and answer session with fim producer and director Jamal Shah, Director General of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, National History & Literary Heritage

• 9AM – Noon January 12, 2019: BBB Diplomacy Conference, “Creative Crossroads: Cultural Diplomacy in a Changing World.” 

  • Reflections on China: Confucius Institute-sponsored performance and an intimate discussion regarding the continuity provided by the arts from the Cultural Revolution to current times. 

  • “There is room for everyone,” presentation with Ballet Beyond Borders 2018 Peace Prize Winner, Sophie Rebbecca 

  • “The Hidden Tears Project” Panel Discussion with choreographer and filmmaker Jordan Marinov. Stories of human trafficking and ongoing issues related to missing and murdered indigenous women. Ballet Beyond Borders performers, Kya Rae Dede Rose and Clarissa Charlie to be featured on panel.

• 6PM January 12, 2019: Ballet Beyond Borders Gala, Dennison Theatre. Tickets available HERE.

      

MUST-SEE GLOBAL STARS!

Jorge Barani: Cuban principal dancer to star in Ballet Beyond Borders Gala

Patric Palkens: Boston Ballet principal dancer originally from Lewistown, Montana

 

Competitors registered as of December 18^th, 2018 include some of the best talent in the world from the following nations:

 

• KOREA - 8 Ballerinas from Seoul Art High School 

• ISRAEL - Director Moran Barak of Unity Dance School & her dancers presenting Ohad Naharins spectacular choreography in the Contemporary category

• GEORGIA REPUBLIC - Director of the National Company David Potskishvili & his daughter Miriam will be performing in all categories of BBB. 

• CHINA - Classical, Contemporary & Choreography from the dancers and Directors of the Beijing Normal University  

• BRAZIL – Julia Lauany Duarte, from Sao Paolo -  returning winner last year!

• LOS ANGELES, CA: Kasper – hip hop artist from the Debbie Allen Studio.

• LOS ANGELES, CA: Phoenix Banuelos, hip hop artist

• ROMANIAN SUPERSTAR COUPLE – Radu Domsa and Alina Ciceo, former Ballet Beyond Borders champions

• CANADA - many dancers from both The Goh Academy and Pro Arte Studios

• VENICE ITALY – 9 dancers from the Dance City Studios

• PAKISTAN NATIONAL ART TROUPE will be bringing drummers and a feature film with the director and producer, Sayed Jamal Shah, in attendance. Shah is the Director General of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts & Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage for the Government of Pakistan.

• TATARSTAN, RUSSIA – as a direct result from the RMBT U.S. State Department tour this Fall, a group of ten performers and artistic leaders from Tatarstan, Russia will participate in Ballet Beyond Borders. The founders of the Kazan music and dance festival which hosted RMBT this Fall will be in attendance at BBB events in Missoula.

• VERACRUZ MEXICO – 5 ballerinas and Director Daniela Orlo, The Esculela Cubana de Ballet de Veracruz 

• 

Additional performers from San Diego, San Francisco, Spokane, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Florida, Indiana and more than 40 artists from the state of Montana.
Photos available HERE.
 
THE BBB 2019 VIP JURY INCLUDES:
 
Caridad Martinez: National Ballet of Cuba prima ballerina and world-renowned master coach.
Chan Han Goh: Artistic director of The Goh Academy in Vancouver, Canada and former prima ballerina at The National Ballet of Canada
Charla Glenn: South African globally-recognized master coach to stars such as Michaela De Prince, Misty Copeland, American Ballet Theatre, Hong Kong Ballet, Alvin Ailey and Juilliard
Colleen O’Callaghan: former ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre Company and master teacher at ABT Summer Intensives
Greg Begley: former principal dancer & ballet master with Hubbard Street Dance Company in Chicago
Ming Yan Cui: former ballerina at the National Ballet of China, master teacher
Andile Ndlovu: principal dancer at the Washington Ballet, Ballet Beyond Borders gold medal winner from South Africa
Jordan Marinov: contemporary choreographer & director of “The Hidden Tears Project.”
Juliette Crump: former University of Montana Dance faculty and NEA dance panel member for more than 7 years
Enrique Manuel Perez Cancio Cantero: current ballet master and choreographer at the Annarella Sanchez Academy in Portugal
Louie Plant: champion Salish Kootenai Fancy Dancer
 
For updated schedule and additional information on 2019 Ballet Beyond Borders events, visit
http://www.rmbt.org and click on “Ballet Beyond Borders.”