Appalachian Ballet Company presents ‘Blue Jeans and Ballet’
On Thursday, Sept. 29,, the Appalachian Ballet Company will be celebrating their 40th anniversary season with their 8th annual Blue Jeans and Ballet performance. The fundraising event will be held at the Clayton Center for the Arts at Maryville College. The evening will begin with dinner on the plaza and continue with a performance in Lambert Recital Hall.
The theme for 2011’s Blue Jeans and Ballet is “Meet the British Invasion,” wherein the dancers will perform to popular songs that were influenced in the 1960s.
The music from the era when the British invasion occurred and caused a wave of British rock-and-roll bands to cross over into the American market of music, creating a huge fan base.
One band everyone would recognize from this time is The Beatles. This night of dance and music will feature songs like “House of the Rising Sun” and the ever-popular “Let It Be.”
A featured dancer will be Kylie Morton. She is a professional from the North Carolina Dance Theatre.
Natasha Blum, the secretary, said that the evening will not only comprise of ballet, but also lyrical and jazz dances. She said, “It’s a huge variety and there’s something to please everyone.”
“It’s one of our absolute favorite shows,” Blum stated. “It’s a very casual event, and we all wear blue jeans and get to see the girls dance in blue jeans, too.” She said that it is a more “low-key” night to start the year off, while other dance events are very formal. “It’s just a lot of fun,” she added.
The Appalachian Ballet Company is the resident dance company of the Clayton Center of the Arts. It is also East Tennessee’s premier classical performing company. Van Metre School of Dance in Maryville, Tenn., is where it makes its home.
The Appalachian Ballet was chartered in 1972, and they offer an annual three-program season, as well as training from traditional classics to contemporary. Most recently, they performed “Alice and Wonderland” in the CCA. The Appalachian Ballet is also a member of RDA (Regional Dance of America). Amy Moore Morton currently serves as the Artistic Director for the prestigious company.
Tickets for this year’s Blue Jeans and Ballet are $55, including dinners, drinks and the show.
For tickets, contact the offices of the Appalachian Ballet at 865-985-8463 or the Clayton Center box office at 865-981-8590.