ABT Studio Company extends its thanks to Duke Performances for a terrific two weeks, and looks forward to returning for the next residency in February 2020!
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ABT Studio Company Partners
with Duke University
ABT Studio Company kicked off ABT’s new three-year partnership with Duke University with a two-week residency. Presented by Duke Performances, the partnership will feature one two-week residency each year by ABT Studio Company, performances of Giselle by ABT’s main Company in 2020, and monthly master classes by JKO School teachers on campus.
The dancers were based out of the Rubenstein Arts Center (pictured here), a new performing and visual arts center on the University’s campus. The arts center was designed by William Rawn Associates, a Boston-based architecture firm that counts among its projects numerous arts and music facilities.
ABT Studio Company worked with choreographer Stefanie Batten Bland to create the first movement of a new piece that she will develop with the dancers over the course of the three year-partnership. Stefanie and the dancers worked alongside composer Brooks Frederickson, a Duke PhD Candidate in Composition, who was also in the rehearsal room and accompanied the culminating in-process showings.
While on campus, Studio Company dancers engaged in a variety of activities and experienced a taste of college life. They attended a Duke Women’s Basketball game at the famous Cameron Indoor Stadium, and were quite the hit on the jumbotron with their dance moves.
The Studio Company enjoyed a tour of Duke’s renowned Nasher Museum of Art.
Throughout their two weeks on campus, ABT Studio Company engaged with Duke ballet students, taking combined classes with both Duke and ABT teachers. They are pictured here with Devils en Pointe, Duke’s student-run ballet group.