International Influences Inspire CCM's Fall Dance Event Dec. 1-3

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's (CCM) Dance division presents its Ballet Ensemble Fall Dance Concert Dec. 1-3. The performance includes a variety of works ranging from classic to contemporary led by guest choreographers Vivi Flindt and Diego Salterini along with CCM faculty members Jiang Qi and Yi-Qi Cheng. Performances are Friday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2 at 2:30 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. All performances take place in Patricia Corbett Theater on the CCM campus.

Danish guest choreographer Flindt returns to CCM to stage August Bournonville's Konservatoriet, a high-spirited tale of dance-school love and youthful aspirations set in 1820s Paris. Created in 1849, the ballet is famous Danish choreographer Bournonville's masterwork -- a snapshot of the graceful and refined Danish-French school of dance.

This event marks Flindt's fifth collaboration with CCM Dance, which she anticipates with great enthusiasm.

"My visits to CCM are always so enjoyable -- I love the students, the faculty and the whole university," she says. "I have been visiting now through ten years and love to see the development in the dancers."

Other featured works include: Chronicles, an abstract contemporary work by Italian choreographer Salterini; Some Seasons and Pink Is the New Red, new works choreographed by CCM assistant professor of dance Jiang; and, in another nod to the traditional, the Grand Pas de Deux from Don Quixote, restaged by CCM associate professor of dance Cheng. 

Vivi Flindt
Flindt studied and danced at the Royal Danish Ballet and in Paris with Mademoiselle Nora Kiss and Michael Retznikoff. She has myriad honors, grants and leading roles accumulated over her career. The internationally recognized dancer has performed with the Royal Danish Ballet, including three years as their ballet mistress, and her performance history includes multiple engagements with Rudolph Nureyev. 

Diego Salterini
Rome-born Salterini is the founding co-director of Dance Now! (Miami). In Italy, he studied with Maestro Roberto Salaorni and others in jazz, ballet and modern dance before moving to Miami in 1997. There he worked with Momentum Dance Company, Karen Petersen, and Ballet Flamenco La Rosa and Univision TV. Salterini is an adjunct faculty member at Florida International University and Dillard Center for the Arts. He has taught at the New World School of the Arts, the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts, the Florida Dance Festival, Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida Summer Intensive and at Interlochen Arts Academy and Summer Programs.

Jiang Qi
Jiang has held positions of ballet master and principal dancer at Ballet West. He has studied and danced with the Joffrey Ballet and Twyla Tharp Dancers in New York and at the Beijing Dance Academy. Other professional dance experience includes Hong Kong Ballet, Beijing Central Dance Theater and Beijing Central Ballet. In 1985, he was deemed premier artist of China by the Chinese government. In 1997 he received a research fellowship from the University of Utah. He has choreographed works for Ballet West, Utah Regional Ballet, Alaska Dance Theater, Joffrey Ballet School, Utah Ballet, Toshiko Sato Ballet of Japan, Guangzhon Ballet of China and Hong Kong Jean Wong Ballet School.

Yi-Qi Cheng
Cheng is a graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy where she was a student of Peter Guschev, director of the Kirov Ballet School. She has danced solo and principal roles with the Central Ballet of China and was company rehearsal director and faculty member at the Beijing Dance Academy. She is a former member of the ballet faculty of the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Other positions include company teacher for Ballet West in Salt Lake City and ballet mistress for Indianapolis Ballet Theater. Cheng teaches ballet technique, pointe, variations, repertoire and pedagogy classes.

Ticket Information
Tickets for the Ballet Ensemble are $10 for general admission, $5 for students and free for UC students with a valid ID. Parking is available in the CCM garage at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue and in garages throughout the UC campus. To order or find additional information, call 513-556-4183 or visit www.ccm.uc.edu.

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CCM DANCE
Ballet Ensemble Fall Dance Concert

Performance Dates:
Friday, Dec. 1 -- 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 2 -- 2:30 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 3 -- 3 p.m.

Description:
Featuring internationally influenced works by guest artists and CCM faculty, including:
- Konservatoriet, original choreography by August Bournonville, restaged by Vivi Flindt
- Chronicles, choreography by Diego Salterini
- Some Seasons and Pink Is the New Red, choreography by Jiang Qi
- Grand Pas de Deux from Don Quixote, staged by Yi-Qi Cheng

Location:
Patricia Corbett Theater, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Tickets:
$10 general admission, $5 students, UC students FREE with valid ID
To order, call (513) 556-4183 or visit www.ccm.uc.edu. 

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Visit www.ccm.uc.edu for more information and a schedule of events.