By K.D. Norris
A performance of the Grand Rapids Ballet on the Peter Martin Wege Theatre stage is one of the most intimate experiences a viewer can have. And, yet, the world is much larger than that stage — a fact shown by the ballet’s special production of Jumpstart 2022, running March 25-27.
Not only is the ballet again collaborating with various Grand Rapids-area arts and education institutions — including Grand Valley State University and Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University — to create eight world-premiere performances that bring “new artistic elements to the forefront.”
But with their hearts and minds clearly on the humanitarian crisis in Europe, the ballet will present a special donation-based performance of Jumpstart 2022 on Saturday, March 26, at 2 p.m., to support the refugees caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The conflict in Ukraine and resulting refugee crisis is a horrific tragedy that the world is currently enduring. As artists, we sometimes feel helpless to make a difference, but one thing we can do is use our art to promote the common good,” James Sofranko, artistic director of the Grand Rapids Ballet, said in supplied material. “Please come support this cause and join me in thanking the dancers, actors, musicians, and crew members who are all donating this performance to the people of Ukraine displaced by war.”
All tickets for the special performance will be “donate what you can” (with a suggested $20 minimum donation) with all proceeds benefiting United Way’s United for Ukraine Fund to “support an immediate delivery of food, shelter, transportation, and childcare supplies to those fleeing the conflict.”
While the performance is a ”first-come, first served” event, even with a sellout the ballet will accept online donations for the cause.
Ballet members ‘creating” with local groups
The ballet’s Jumpstart series is also an opportunity for the company to become actively involved with not only the artistic creation of new works but also logistical creation of new works — and working with community groups to do so.
“We are an organization dedicated to our community, and I am especially excited this year, in honor of our 50th anniversary, to be able to incorporate collaborations with multiple organizations from around the city, adding yet another layer of creativity and shining a light on how Grand Rapids can come together to create art,” Sofranko said.
In preparation for Jumpstart 2022, eight of the company’s dancers were challenged to “refocus their creative energies, moving into the role of choreographer, building works for other company dancers,” and not only created world premiere works but collaborated with local organizations, including GVSU, KCAD, Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM), Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, and Opera Grand Rapids.
(Two Jumpstart 2022 works also will be revived from ballet’s 2020-21 virtual season, including a reworking of the film, “Amiss,” choreographed by resident choreographer Penny Saunders, and “Brothers” by Jennifer Archibald.)
The company dancer choreographers include Isaac Aoki, James Cunningham, Zach Manske, Alexandra Meister-Upleger, Yuka Oba-Muschiana, Emily Reed, Nigel Tau, and Adriana Wagenveld.
While rehearsals officially began in early March, the works have been well underway for months as the various community partners began their preparations.
Students from the Fashion Studies program at KCAD’s Pamella Roland DeVos School of Fashion began visiting in January, working in the costume shop, creating custom costumes that will be featured in Wagenveld’s work, “Peri physeōs,” based on Empedocles’ poem of the same name, which translates to “On Nature”.
“I am excited for our students to be working with GRB again this semester,” Lori Faulkner, Fashion Studies program chair and associate professor at KCAD, said in supplied material. “Collaborations are an important part of our program’s learning environment.”
In addition to costuming, community partners were also involved in production and visual elements of Jumpstart 2022. Eighteen students from GVSU worked on animation and movement exercises, which are being applied to Reed’s work, “No Longer Left Outside,” which centers around two pieces of music and includes excerpts from “A Conversation with Myself” by Alan Watts.
“The GVSU Department of Visual and Media Arts is thrilled to be partnering with GRB,” Julie Goldstein MFA, assistant professor at GVSU, said in supplied material. “The students in our second-level animation class are collaborating with Emily Reed to generate an immersive imaginary landscape for the Jumpstart performance.”
In addition, company dancer Tau’s work, “What Remains”, takes inspiration from Hwa-Jeen Na’s photography collection at GRAM, which depicts people in their daily lives, capturing “the fleeting moments of introspection,” Tau said.
All the creativity and collaboration also leads to very unique works, ballet artistic leader Sofranko said.
“Jumpstart is a program that I look forward to every season because the dancers always astound me with their abundant creativity and talent,” Sofranko said. “In a performance consisting of all world premieres, I never really know what the show is going to look like until opening night, and that makes for a very exciting process!”
For more information about Jumpstart 2022, and all Grand Rapids Ballet performances and programs, visit grballet.com.
