2008 Woodie Awards
Dance Dept. Explores Possibilities with The Bournonville Project
Sarah Bryant
Issue date: 3/9/05 Section: Features
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This legacy is currently gracing Goucher's dance department's with its latest venture of "The Bournonville Project," which is comprised of a series of classes, a lecture and finally the Spring Dance Concert, which will showcase pieces of Bornonville's work.
Bournonville created a style of ballet that was based in his strengths in elevation and mime, both of which are emphasized aspects in his compositions.
"I had always wanted to provide an opportunity for the students to be exposed to various artists and choreography and realized our students had little, if any, exposure to the Royal Danish Ballet, August Bournonville, or his work," Assistant professor of dance and organizer of the project, Elizabeth Ahern said.
The classes began on Feb. 26 and ended Mar. 6 and were only open to high intermediate or advanced level ballet students. The classes were taught by Bournonville experts Gage Eugland and Henley Haslam. Ahern discovered these experts through her mentor Dr. Camille Hardy, dance historian and dance critic, who was her Dance History Professor at New York University.
"It was through Dr. Hardy's course that I was first thoroughly exposed to the Royal Danish Ballet," said Ahern.
Kate Tilghman, '08, who participated in the classes, said, "It was different, we learned Bournonville's work was very simple, yet tough, his combinations are very long and very specific. Each one has a different number and a corresponding day."
As for the lecture, which occurred on March 5th, Dr. Hardy gave a multimedia presentation titled "August Bournonville: Visionary of Danish Ballet," which contained information on Bournonville's contributions to the Royal Danish ballet, as well as his personal life.
Although the classes and lecture have passed, "The Bornonville Project" is far from over.
On Apr. 22 and 23 the Spring Dance Concert will be showing Bornonville's creation, Flower Festival in Genzano and Napoli, which were taught to the performers by none other than Eugland and Haslam. The concert will take place before The Royal Danish Ballet's celebration of the centennial of August Bournonville's birth. This will occur at their 3rd Bournonville Festival this June.
"If these works become vivid, appealing and accessible to our students through this project, then we have accomplished a great deal," says Ahern.