To subscribe to our newsletter, please visit the newsletter signup page.
Latest Press:
Boston Ballet’s Rising Star Makes Indianapolis Debut at IBC’s Nutcracker
Carmel, Ind. – December 6, 2010 – Lasha Khozashvili, a principal dancer for Boston Ballet, will perform the role 
of the Prince in the Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IBC)’s production of "The Nutcracker" December 17th through 19th at the Madame Walker Theatre in downtown Indianapolis. Originally a dancer with the State Ballet of Georgia, Khozashvili was discovered by Boston Ballet's artistic director, Mikko Nissinen, who described him as "a phenomenal dancer… one of the top male talents out in the world that I could find" (Karen Campbell, Boston Globe, November 21, 2010). Equally praised by the Los Angeles Times for his "youth, charm and spontaneity gilding the choreography and making it seem inspired improvisation,” Khozashvili’s charismatic virtuosity is being noticed across the country.
Khozashvili has appeared as a guest artist with the Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. For Central Indiana arts lovers and students, however, Khozashvili’s arrival presents an unexpected opportunity and surprise. According to IBC student, Felicity Audet, "This is simply an amazing opportunity to be able to dance with a professional of Mr. Khozashvili's caliber. This kind of experience doesn't happen very often, and it is probably one that I'll remember for many years to come." Khozasvili’s dance partner in the IBC production, Tuesday Mayhew, also looks forward to working with him, “I am excited to be working with Lasha because he is an experienced artist from one of the top ballet companies in the US. His expertise will be a wonderful addition to our production.” According to IBC Director, Alyona Yakovleva, both dancers bring an emotional presence to the art that animates their significant technical prowess. She predicts that these two complimentary talents will provide a memorable performance for Central Indiana patrons.
Khozashvili and Mayhew will join the students and professional dancers of IBC as they bring to life Vainonen’s original version of The Nutcracker on December 17th through 19th with four performances at the Madame Walker Theatre in downtown Indianapolis. Six hundred tickets from the production will be gifted to children and their guardians through local organizations who work with youth. To purchase tickets and find more information visit www.indianaballetconservatory.org or call 1-866-398-4NUT.
IBC Launches A New Holiday Tradition
Carmel, Ind. – November 20, 2010 – With its inaugural public performance scheduled to launch on December 17th, the Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IBC) hopes to establish a new holiday tradition in Central Indiana. In collaboration with the Madame Walker Theatre, IBC plans to gift an entire performance from its Nutcracker production annually to local children who most need its messages of hope, courage and compassion, and who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend.
This year six hundred tickets to the event will be distributed through the Children’s Bureau, Child Advocates, Gleaners Food Bank, Wheeler Mission Ministries, U.S. Dream Academy, Gary Brackett’s IMPACT Foundation, D.R.E.A.M. Alive, Inc., Concord Center Neighborhood Association and various local church youth departments. "What a wonderful holiday gift for the children who attend our Kids Café sites,” said Cindy Hubert, President and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank. “These children, from low-income areas of the city, wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford this incredible experience. We are grateful to the Indiana Ballet Conservatory for their generosity."
Some of the children receiving these tickets, including those served by Gary Brackett’s IMPACT Foundation, are currently battling life-threatening illnesses. “Any time that we can provide critically-ill children and their families an escape from their treatments and time together, it’s a great thing,” stated Brackett, linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts. “We are excited to partner with IBC in an effort to bring families together during the holiday season and spread the positive message that The Nutcracker brings to children.”
IBC’s Executive Director, Camille Nicodemus, believes that this performance represents the goals that the Conservatory has set for itself, “IBC’s trifold mission is to offer excellence in dance education, professional quality performances throughout the community, and to unearth talent and share opportunities to participate in dance no matter what obstacles people might face. We see this as a small but significant first step in realizing all our goals, and are thrilled to be able to do this.”
For Artistic Director, Alyona Yakovleva, this particular version of Nutcracker could not be more suited to the task, “Whether this is your very first time seeing this production, or if you have seen it many times before, this is a Nutcracker that touches the heart, and shows how transforming kindness and courage can be. Everyone is important, everyone has some magic inside them – you just sometimes have to make the decision to look for it and never give up, no matter how scared you might feel.”
The students, professional dancers and guest artists of IBC will bring to life Vainonen’s original version of The Nutcracker on December 17th through 19th with four performances at the Madame Walker Theatre in downtown Indianapolis. To purchase tickets and find more information visit www.indianaballetconservatory.org or call 1-866-398-4NUT.
IBC was formed in 2010 as an Indiana public benefit corporation, and its application for federal tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) corporation is currently pending. Drawing upon a 300-year-old tradition of excellence that has produced some of the most famous ballet dancers, choreographers and teachers of all time IBC seeks to preserve an opportunity for youth that will change lives and connect a community. Fusing the finest classical ballet curriculum in the world, with the very best in contemporary and modern training techniques, IBC seeks to advance the art to a new place in the twenty-first century.
Since 2007, Gary Brackett’s IMPACT Foundation has impacted the lives of over 26,000 Indiana residents, including children and their families and raised over $300,000. Proceeds from this event will directly benefit children in need in the state of Indiana. For more information on Gary Brackett’s IMPACT Foundation, please visit www.GaryBrackett.org.
Dance Central
Indiana Ballet Conservatory puts Central Indiana on the map in dance
By Kevin Kane, October 12, 2010 for Current in Carmel
"No longer do aspiring dancers have to move to the country's biggest cities to receive training from world-class instructors. In fact, students are leaving those areas to learn under elite teachers here in Carmel."
Read more on page 9 of Current in Carmel
Guest choreographer likes optimism of 'Age of Aquarius'
by Jay Harvey, Indianapolis Star, Oct 8, 2010
Dancing Partners
A newcomer and a veteran choreographer share the stage at Dance Kaleidoscope’s fall show.
By Beth A. Clayton, Indianapolis Monthly,
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – July 26th, 2010 – At a time when many slow down and enjoy the long, lazy days of summer, a dedicated group of individuals has been working tirelessly to secure a vision they believe will enhance the lives of many here in Central Indiana. On August 16th, 2010, The Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IBC) will open its doors for the first time. Its supporters hope that the new school will not only grow to become one of the most respected schools of dance in the Midwest, but will touch the lives of the underserved and those left behind in our community.
Using the best of a 300 year-old Russian ballet tradition in conjunction with a fresh, modern approach to dance, IBC seeks to unlock latent ability wherever it can be found. With Alyona Yakovleva as Artistic Director, Sergey Sergiev, Tatiana Pali, Nicholas Owens (formerly of Kenyettà Dance Company) and Jill Godwin (of Dance Kaleidoscope) amongst others, join forces to increase access to the experience and joy of dance by providing free performances, scholarship opportunities, and educational programs for a diverse community.
IBC’s Board of Directors will be joined by a group of advisors experienced in running successful businesses, including Alpha Blackburn, CEO of Blackburn Architects, Justin Christian, CEO/President of Bucher & Christian Consulting and Rachel Goddard, Attorney at Cooley LLP. Having seen what the faculty has previously accomplished for Indianapolis, including two gold medals at the World Ballet Competition in June, all are committed to retaining this talent in a way that will benefit the entire community for years to come. By hiring Camille Nicodemus (an attorney specializing in business and employment law who has provided legal services to New York City Ballet) as Executive Director, and making sure that the new venture has a sound legal and business foundation, the group hopes to continue to attract the sponsorship that will secure IBC’s future and expand its outreach mission.
With a ballet background that includes performances with Cincinnati Ballet, Camille Nicodemus was impressed by the world-class quality and accomplishments of IBC’s faculty and its grounding in one of the finest dance training traditions in the world (the Russian Vaganova Method). Nicodemus shares Yakovleva’s vision to deepen Indianapolis’ ties to the international community by establishing exchange opportunities for Indiana students and teachers, and forging connections with some of the world’s top institutions, including the renowned Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Looking ahead to the future of dance and ballet in Indianapolis, both Directors believe that establishing dance here professionally need not be intimidating or fiscally out of reach. Based on their experience and the enthusiasm of supporters, both firmly believe that the Conservatory can generate organically, gradually and sustainably, a ballet arts organization that will not only educate, but entertain and engage an entire community.
###
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – June 15th, 2010 – A select group of Indiana’s best professional and pre-professional dance talent appeared this weekend at the 2010 “Gala of the Stars” presented by the World Ballet Competition (WBC), alongside some of the world's best dancers and choreographers. The Indiana Ballet Conservatory's Sergey Sergiev and his students (Emily Bain, Abigail Matthews, Courtney Messer, and Mary Ann Schaefer), having just won the gold medal in both the choreography and the ensemble categories of the competition, were invited to perform “A Different Angle” at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center in Orlando, Florida.
The troupe shared the stage with Vanessa Zahorian and Gennadi Nedvigin of San Francisco Ballet, Steven Marshall and Rebecca Rasmussen of Momix Dance Company, Shirley Esseboom and Medhi Walerski of Nederlands Dance Theatre, and Erica Pereira of New York City Ballet. In addition to presenting a world premier by Viktor Plotnikov and a duet from Jiri Kyllian’s “Bella Figura”, the evening delivered masterpieces from George Balanchine and Moses Pendleton.
The brainchild of Vasile Petrutiu (Founder and General Director of Central Florida Ballet), the "Gala of the Stars" represents the climax of the weeklong World Ballet Competition. The distinctive aim of this competition is to connect fresh talent with experience via a high-tech approach that maximizes global visibility for its participants. Trained by Alyona Yakovleva, Tatiana Pali and Sergey Sergiev, Indiana Ballet Conservatory professional and pre-professional participants were awarded $4750 in prizes from the event, while representing Indiana and the United States before a live, online global audience. Tuesday Mayhew was awarded a bronze medal in the professional category, and Mary Ann Schaefer received fifth place and Jury Prize in the pre-professional category. In addition, Tuesday Mayhew and Mary Ann Schaefer received offers for trainee positions at Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Petrutiu spoke warmly of Indiana Ballet Conservatory's participation at the event, commenting on the high quality of the performers and the universal admiration they received. WBC’s Artistic Director, Vladimir Bykov, described their contribution to the gala as “wonderful”. In turn, Alyona Yakovleva was thrilled at the opportunity presented to her students and colleagues to perform with top, cutting-edge dance stars from around the world. “It is great for our students, for my colleagues and for Indiana to connect with the wider artistic community and to share what we are accomplishing with people and artists from all over the world; to know that what we are doing is right and valuable. And for our students to have this experience of performing with some of the world’s best, at such a young age, is a rare and amazing opportunity.”
