Week of November 9-13, 2020

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Inspiration Week!

This week, ABTKids Daily takes a look at what inspires the artistry of ABT choreographers and dancers. While inspiration can certainly come from just about anywhere, join us as we explore five of ballets most common inspirational elements!

Artists and creative types never know when an exciting new idea or concept may appear. Since ideas can disappear as quickly as they mysteriously appear, many artists keep a journal where they can write down anything that they might find inspirational.

So grab a notebook and a pencil and discover what inspires you!

Meet a Dancer Monday

Music

In addition to his talents in the ballet studio as an ABT dancer and Company Teacher, Duncan Lyle is a musician and composer. Today we talk to Duncan about the role music plays in the creative process and his experience directing a film, while also composing an original musical score.

Journal Prompt

What music or songs inspire you?

Teaching Artist Tuesday

Join one of ABT’s Teaching Artists as they introduce you to ABT and its ballets. Learn a dance, stop and sketch, and don’t forget to have fun!

Up this week: ABT Design Teaching Artist Jeff Hopkins!

Literature

Journal Prompt

What books or stories inspire you?

What's Up Wednesday

People

“These inspiring and truthful words of Andrew Cuomo, gave me so much hope and strength during the beginnings of COVID in NYC because they describe New Yorkers so well and inspired me to do something that I’ve always dreamed of doing: dance on the streets of New York.”

– Carlos Lopez, ABT Director of Repertoire

Credits
Choreography, concept and performance: Carlos Lopez
Music “Moonlight” by ANBR
Words of Inspiration: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
Editing: Mike Murray @SummerwindWeddingFilms
Creative Direction: David Landgraf @MakeItHappenMgmt

Journal Prompt

Who inspires you?

Throwback Thursday

History and Culture

Inspiration can often come from our past or history. While ballets have certainly been inspired by famous historical figures like Henry VIII, they more often are inspired by a time period or moment in history. Fancy Free and Rodeo are two of ABT’s most iconic ballets and are still performed almost 80 years after their creation because of how accurately they captured moments in American history. Ballets such as Paul Taylor’s Black Tuesday relive the hardships of the Great Depression, while Twyla Tharp’s Deuce Coupe combines pop culture of the 1960’s with the art form of classical ballet.

ABT dancer Claire Davison found inspiration from her love of the Hollywood black and white silent film era for her film Dans Tes Rêves.

Journal Prompt

Who period in history inspires you?

Funtime Friday

Place

For hundreds of years artists from all disciplines have flocked to American landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park and Niagara Falls and leave mesmerized and inspired by nature’s beauty.

While New York City is mostly known for its concrete and skyscrapers, it is home to Central Park, one of the most famous and largest urban parks on the planet. Central Park was designed by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and was built between 1857 and 1876. At 3.5 square miles it is actually SIX times larger than the country of Monaco!

It also holds the distinction of being the most filmed public park in the world and is featured in hundreds of films including Home Alone 2, Elf, Night at the Museum, Enchanted, Smurfs and The Avengers!

Join ABT Principal Dancer Calvin Royal III and see for yourself why everyone wants to film in Central Park!

Journal Prompt

What places inspire you?