Credits:
Choreography: Gemma Bond of American Ballet Theater, NYC
Featuring: Isabella Boylston and Marcelo Gomes, American Ballet Theater
Original Score: Judd Greenstein
Video Design: Kate Duhamel
Ballet Sun Valley - world premier
August 24th, 2017
eight/twenty-one/seventeen
I did projection and set design for a new ballet, choreographed by Gemma Bond from ABT, with a new score by Judd Greensteen, and danced by Isabella Boylston and Marcelo Gomes in the leads. Gemma's ballet was based on the Eclipse which occurred on August 21st. We were all lucky to experience Totality in Sun Valley. Gemma's ballet had a large cast of 15 dancers and gorgeous, sleek costumes by fashion designers Reed and Harriet. It was an incredible experience to be there with the amazing star cast of dancers Isabella invited: Misty Copeland, Tiler Peck, Stella Abrera, Maria Kotchekova, Ida Pretorious, Marcelo Gomez, Xander Parish, Kimin Kim, James Whiteside, Tyler Angle, and so many more!
"A Ballerina’s Gift to Her Hometown: A Summer Ballet Festival"
- NY Times article
This summer, Isabella Boylston, the American Ballet Theater principal, will realize a dream, to bring ballet to her hometown, Sun Valley, Idaho. Ballet Sun Valley, a three-day event with performances Aug. 22 and 24 at the Sun Valley Pavilion, and free classes for children on Aug. 23, will feature dancers from major companies, including Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, the Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and the Mariinsky Ballet.
“I always wanted to have the opportunity to curate a show of my own,” Ms. Boylston, 30, said in a telephone interview. “This feels like a very personal project.” She isn’t revealing her dancers yet, but added, “They’re all people I have a relationships with and love as friends as well as dancers.”
She is hoping that Ballet Sun Valley will turn into an annual event. Along with works by George Balanchine, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon and Justin Peck — Ms. Boylston will dance the part originally created for Sara Mearns in Mr. Peck’s “The Bright Motion” — there will be a commission by Gemma Bond. Inspired by the idea of a solar eclipse, Ms. Bond’s premiere will be performed by 10 Ballet Theater dancers and features a new score by Judd Greenstein and video designs by Kate Duhamel.
“We wanted a ballet that related to the area in some way, and during the week that we’re performing, there will be a full solar eclipse directly over Sun Valley,” Ms. Boylston said. “We thought that would be a cool theme to draw inspiration from.”
Ms. Bond, a fellow dancer at Ballet Theater, has pursued a career as a choreographer in recent years. “She’s really growing and I love what she’s doing,” Ms. Boylston said. “I thought this could be an awesome collaboration. I believe in her. I wanted to give her this opportunity.”
