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Kansas City Ballet Closes Season with "Concerto Grosso" and Other Works

Kansas City Ballet dancers Catherine Russell, Charles Martin & Nadia Iozzo in Toni Pimble's "Concerto Grosso."
photo: Steve Wilson
Kansas City Ballet dancers Catherine Russell, Charles Martin & Nadia Iozzo in Toni Pimble's "Concerto Grosso."

As part of its spring program, the Kansas City Ballet presents two world premieres - including one by choreographer Toni Pimble. Pimble studied at the Royal Academy of Dance, and danced with companies in Germany before co-founding Eugene Ballet Company in Oregon 1978 where she's artistic director.

By Laura Spencer

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-900615.mp3

Kansas City, MO – Pimble's choreography experiments with a mix of modern and classical techniques, on view in her piece for the Kansas City Ballet, "Concerto Grosso," set to the music of Ernest Bloch. KCUR's Laura Spencer caught up with the choreographer this week at a rehearsal at the Lyric Theatre.

Kansas City Ballet Spring Performance
May 6-9, 2010
Lyric Theatre

"Who Cares?"
Choreography: George Balanchine
Music: George Gershwin

"Concerto Grosso"
World Premiere
Choreography: Toni Pimble
Music: Ernest Bloch

"Donizetti Pas de Deux"
Choreography: Todd Bolender
Music: Gaetano Donizetti

"A Solo in Nine Parts"
World Premiere
Choreography: Jessica Lang
Music: Antonio Vivaldi

Listen here to an extended interview with choreographer Jessica Lang, whose work "Splendid Isolation III" was performed by the Kansas City Ballet, Fall 2009.

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Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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