It's totally true.
As we reported on the blog on August 30th, Frederick Wiseman is indeed working on a ballet based on Titicut Follies, his 1967 documentary about the conditions at the Bridgewater State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. His choreographer is none other than James Sewell, the former Eliot Feld Ballets/NY dancer who moved to the Twin Cities decades ago with his then-wife Sally Rousse to develop the James Sewell Ballet, one of the most inventive and ecclectic chamber ensembles functioning in the realm of contemporary ballet today.
Wiseman is going to visit Sewell in Minneapolis this month, says the Star-Tribune, to engage in some exploratory improvisation. The ballet, which may retain the title of the documentary and utilize some of its music and film footage, will probably receive its premiere in Minneapolis in about two years.
If anybody can pull this off with artistic seriousness and skill, it's James Sewell. We're looking forward to seeing that piece.
––––––––––
Angel Corella has hired Cubans Mayara Pieiro and Etienne Diaz for the Pennsylvania Ballet's corps de ballet. Both dancers spent the last few seasons with the Milwaukee Ballet. Angel also hired Olivia Hartzell, most recently of the Royal Ballet of Flanders.
Who else will make the jump to Philly? Let's hope that some of the big talents who can't seem to get deserved opportunities at ABT will leap at the chance to work with Angel.
Comments