The American flag flew over New Orleans for the first time Dec. 20, 1803. Two hundred years later, the flag still flies. As museums and other local attractions celebrate the Louisiana Purchase bicentennial, the Baton Rouge Ballet
Theater uses its commitment to advancing ballet to honor the event.
After the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana commissioned Parsons Dance Company to perform last week in Lafayette, the Baton Rouge Ballet Theater is bringing the group to the Centroplex Jan. 28.
The company will perform a piece celebrating the 1803 signing of Louisiana Purchase this week. The piece is unique in that it was commissioned for this celebration.
The Baton Rouge Ballet Theater has invited guest companies to perform locally for more than 15 years and provides arts education to East Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes. The Theater is supported by the Arts Council of Baton Rouge and is funded by the community fund for the arts.
“We are really excited about David Parsons coming this year,” said Molly Buchman, the ballet’s artistic director. “He is one of the biggest names in dance.”
Joining the Parsons Dance Company is New Orleans native Abby Silva. Silva has been dancing since age 2, starting at New Orleans’ Rhonda Edmunson Studio. She studied at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and attended New York’s Marymount Manhattan College on a dance scholarship. After graduating, she joined the Parson’s Dance Company in April 2002.
Musical group the Ahn Trio also is featured in the one night only performance. The trio is a chamber ensemble of twins and their younger sister from Seoul, Korea. Lucia Ahn plays the piano, Angell Ahn the violin and Maria Ahn the cello.
In 1979 the trio appeared on Korean television and moved to the United States in 1981. All three sisters attended Julliard and since have been featured in Time Magazine, NBC and MTV. They will perform a piece called “Swing Shift,” also commissioned for this celebration, composed by Kenji Bunch.
The Parsons Dance Company will also perform “Caught,” an original piece by David Parsons. This piece explores man in flight; with the use of strobe lighting the dancers are never seen touching the ground. According to Buchman, Parsons is “known for high energy and dynamic performances.”
Parsons founded the company in 1987. He maintains an impressive career making guest appearances with the acclaimed New York City Ballet company. He also developed more than 60 original pieces for his company. Companies performing his work include the Paris Opera Ballet and Julliard.
The company includes 10 dancers and an inspiring commitment to the community. The company also performed in Times Square 2000, the New York’s annual New Year’s celebration.