Dance students in the University of South Carolina’s Betsy Blackmon Dance Program are spending extra time at the barre in anticipation of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity they will have collaborating with the world-famous Joffrey Ballet.
The company begins a three-week residency at USC on March 17 that will culminate with an unprecedented performance showcasing university dance and music talent together with the premier Joffrey troupe. The performance is scheduled for April 5 at the Koger Center for the Arts.
“The Joffrey pushes the boundaries of what classical ballet looks like,” says Jennifer Deckert, director of USC’s Betsy Blackmon Dance Program. “Co-founder Robert Joffrey said, ‘Classical ballet is our core, but it is not our circumference.’ I feel like that also defines our program in how we feel classical ballet can serve our dancers and support them in the future.”
Our students will be getting a glimpse into what it's like to be performing and working at the highest level.
Accompanied by the highly acclaimed USC Symphony Orchestra, the dancers will debut new work by Joffrey Rehearsal Director and Choreographer Nicolas Blanc.
“This residency provides us with the chance to not only perform with the Joffrey Ballet but also the opportunity to collaborate with USC Dance,” says Scott Weiss, conductor of the USC Symphony Orchestra. “From a training standpoint, it’s really important for the music students to have an opportunity to perform with dancers and learn the skills required to do so successfully.”
“What’s really unique this year is we have an entire company coming,” says Stephanie Milling, chair of the USC Department of Theatre and Dance. “And not just dancers, but the artistic director, rehearsal directors, stage managers, plus costume and technical staff. Additionally, their music director will come to work with USC’s School of Music and the USC Symphony Orchestra. Our students will be getting a glimpse into what it's like to be performing and working at the highest level.”
‘Plié on the Plaza’ … and more
While in Columbia, Joffrey company members have a busy schedule with a variety of free classes and events around the state. Highlights include:
- March 21 — Open rehearsal for the USC community (11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., USC Dance Studios)
- March 24 — Carolina’s Got Talent with a Joffrey member among judges (7-10 p.m., Russell House Ballroom)
- March 26 — Open rehearsal for the Columbia community (11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., USC Dance Studios; registration is required)
- March 29 — Plié on the Plaza: Soda City Market shoppers can meet Joffrey dancers and take short movement classes on the Columbia Museum of Art’s Boyd Plaza (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
- March 31 — Joffrey members teach USC Community Master Class (7-9 p.m., Russell House Ballroom)
- April 5 — Finale performance with Joffrey and USC dancers accompanied by USC Symphony Orchestra (6:30 p.m., Koger Center for the Arts; followed by gala fundraiser to benefit USC’s dance program)
Learn more
The residency, concert and gala are made possible in part by generous support from USC and Presenting Sponsor Jim Hudson Cadillac. For more information, contact Kevin Bush at 803-777-9353 or via email at bushk@mailbox.sc.edu.