Art is Life Augusta

Another 20s fashion resource recommended by our soon-to-be Augusta guest, Heidi Rosenau: Amalgamated Classic Clothing and Dry Goods. Click photo to view their blog.

On May 12, 2012 Augusta Ballet will host a 1920s “Surreal Gala” under the Salvador Dali-inspired mosaic sculpture at Georgia Health Sciences University College of Dental Medicine.  Dancers Heidi Rosenau (shown above) & Joe McGlynn, who recently danced for the Museum of the City of New York and Brooklyn Museum of Art, will entertain gala guests in full 20s garb set to live hot jazz of the era.  Gala dress is black tie optional or attire evoking the event.  What to wear if going the 20s/creative route?  Check out Heidi’s suggestions in the above pic.  Doesn’t hurt she works at the Frick Collection in New York, where she is seen daily in a variety of magnificent 20s frocks.  Henry Clay Frick’s exquisite mansion (1913) on 5th Avenue houses one of the most revered art collections in the world.  Augusta Ballet is excited to bring you one of its living treasures.  Gala proceeds go to the Ballet’s programming including its fight against childhood obesity via dance and partnership.   Secure tickets via www.augustaballet.org.

Canopied under the colossal mosaic at Georgia Health Sciences University’s new College of Dental Medicine, Augusta Ballet will host its Surreal Gala. This impressive work created by Paul Pearman, local artist of national and now international recognition (the work recently won an internationally coveted mosaic award), evokes the style of famed surrealist artist Salvador Dali.  Pearman cites Dali’s painting: Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man (1943) as the work’s main inspiration; Dali’s metamorphic painting exhibits a canopy similar to the sculpture’s tiers appropriately representing the stages of education.  Complexities aside, the sculpture and locale are a stunning back drop for a Surreal Gala for a real cause: Augusta Ballet’s child programming fighting obesity via dance and partnership.   For advance online tickets click photo.

 ”Surreal” ballet circa 2012 

British born fashion designer, Gareth Pugh, returned to his dancing routes when asked to create the costumes for the new Wayne McGregor ballet at the Royal Opera House, London. With Mark Ronson composing the score and Pugh’s notorious sharp edges and spiky angles dominating the costumes, this is one ballet performance with attitude. We think the costume here recalls those designed by Pablo Picasso for the world’s first surreal ballet in 1917; apparently McGregor thinks so too: Click above photo for video sample.

The first “surreal” work of art was the ballet “Parade” performed in May of 1917:

The word “surreal” was coined by the poet/art critic Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918), and appeared for the first time in the program notes for ballet Parade (May 1917), a Ballets Russes production that enlisted the talents of Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Erik Satie and Leonid Massine. Click above program for video account including commentary by Cocteau.

On Saturday May 12, 2012, just one day after the birthday of famed surrealist painter Salvador Dali, Augusta Ballet will host its 8th Annual Gala.  This “Surreal” event supports a real cause: Augusta Ballet fighting childhood obesity via dance and partnership. Stay tuned for the award-winning Augusta work of art and location inspiring this unique event.  For advance tickets click above photo or for VIP tickets visit www.augustaballet.org and click “sponsorship”.

Augusta Ballet’s audience experienced a world-renowned portrait of Latin-America.  Memorable - but in a completely different fashion than MOMIX’s Botanica - Ballet Hispanico passionately exhibited a unique style of concert dance not mimicked anywhere else.  Visually, we especially enjoyed Ballet Hispanico’s vinatge-inspired costumes complete with Cuban-style cigars, an audience favorite.  One visitor from Los Angeles commented that he had never attended the Ballet in LA, but now was determined to do so.  We also received exceptional feedback from our dance community; the ability of Ballet Hispanico dancers shined with a blend of classical, contemporary and Latin techniques.  Visiting dancers from Ballet Hispanico asked us questions about the history of Augusta.  They were especially interested in I.M. Pei’s penthouse downtown, where Augusta Ballet hosted starts of the NYC Ballet.  Pei, famous for building NYC Twin Towers and the glass pyramid in front on the Louvre museum in Paris France, created his only privately commissioned structure atop Augusta’s historic Lamar building.  This and other NYC connections Augusta enjoys came as a pleasant surprise to Ballet Hispanico dancers who call the Joyce Theater in NYC home.  Thanks to our enthusiastic audience for bringing Augusta Ballet one step closer to its vision “to inspire and unite the world through dance.”  For more information on Augusta Ballet’s forthcoming events or to support its vision, visit www.augustaballet.org or call 706-261-0555. Please send us your feedback via info@augustaballet.org.