CFA to host ballet company
State funding makes ABT Studio Company residency possible

By KELLI BOCOCK-NATALE
Reporter Contributor

The Studio Company of the American Ballet Theatre, one of a handful of great classical ballet companies in the world, will be in residence in the Center for the Arts from Oct. 1-21.

The ABT Studio Company, a highly specialized training program to prepare young dancers to enter the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and ABT's principal outreach arm, was founded in 1995. It has never performed in Western New York. The last time the ABT performed in Buffalo was in 1981.

The ABT Studio Company's residency at UB will be its first with a campus in SUNY.

While in residence at UB, the ABT Studio Company's 13 dancers are scheduled to offer lectures-demonstrations, workshops for UB dance students, master classes for dancers from UB and the community, and performances for school children. The company will perform in several area high schools, as well as present a public dance concert at 8 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Mainstage Theatre of the CFA on the North Campus.

The residency and cultural opportunity for the Western New York community will be made possible through state funding arranged by Assemblyman Paul A. Tokasz of Cheektowaga, chairman of the Assembly Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

"Bringing some of the world's finest dancers to Western New York will not only enhance the quality of life for our residents, but will also attract dancers and ballet lovers from across the region," Tokasz said.

"I want to thank Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for his support and assistance in bringing the American Ballet Theatre to Western New York," he added. "We are pleased to bring this world-renowned ballet troupe to the University at Buffalo, marking the company's first visit to Western New York."

President William R. Greiner praised both Silver and Tokasz for their efforts.

"The Assembly's support will make it possible to bring one of the nation's finest ballet troupes to UB, benefiting not only students, faculty and staff, but the larger Western New York community as well," Greiner said.

"We appreciate the Assembly's financial assistance, and we are delighted to welcome the American Ballet Theatre back to Buffalo after an absence of nearly 20 years."

As Western New York's premier presenter of dance, the Center for the Arts is the perfect venue for ABT's Studio Company, according to CFA Director Thomas B. Burrows.

"Not only has Assemblyman Tokasz given us our most impressive and comprehensive dance season thus far, his effort makes it possible for us to double the number of students touched by our community-school outreach program and to increase the professional artists residency experience for UB's dance students by 100 percent. The center is extremely grateful."

Among the dance companies that have performed in the CFA are Ailey II, The Parsons Dance Company, The Paul Taylor Dance Company and the Martha Graham Dance Ensemble. The center's 2000/2001 KeyBank Dance Series will include Ailey II, Doug Varone and Dancers and dance soloist Margie Gillis (see related story, page 6).

The CFA each year programs a dance residency to benefit not only the university's students, but the Western New York community as well. The residency program is designed to bring together dance students, students of related performing and fine-arts disciplines, students in local dance companies and schools, as well as the larger arts communities and new community audiences. Residency activities and master classes are provided at no cost to under-served area schools. The outreach activities reach more than 1,000 Western New York school children every year.

Established in October of 1995, the American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company is a small classical dance company of 13 young dancers of outstanding potential. The ABT Studio Company was created to prepare young dancers to enter American Ballet Theatre and provides opportunities for new and established choreographers and composers.

In keeping with its reputation as a "dancers' company," the American Ballet Theatre continually draws the finest dancers from the United States and the rest of the world.

The company has been home to such legendary performers as Carla Fracci, Nora Kaye, Alicia Alonso, Eric Bruhn, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland.

Ticket prices for the public performance on Oct. 20 are $18, $15, $9, and $7 for UB students. Tickets are available at the CFA box office from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and all Ticketmaster locations. For more information, call 645-ARTS.