Senior ballet student Emma Webb is finishing up her time at CCM with a role that many dancers only dream of performing: the principal role of Nikiya in “The Kingdom of the Shades,” an excerpt from La Bayadère. She will dance the role alongside Cincinnati Ballet guest artist Derek Brockington during CCM’s upcoming Mainstage Dance production, Legends of Dance, which runs from April 12 through April 14 in Corbett Auditorium.

“Dancing and training for this principal role was one of the most difficult and inspiring experiences that shaped me at CCM,” Webb says. “It helped transform my dancing and it allowed me to gain maturity and understanding of what kind of dancer I want to be onstage.”

“This physically and artistically difficult pas de deux feels like a culmination of everything that I have been training for, and I cannot wait to share all that I have become and to share what I love to do in my last performance at CCM.”

The program also includes a restaging of José Limón’s A Choreographic Offering by guest choreographer Pablo Francisco Ruvalcaba. Although this work is set to music by J. S. Bach, the dance itself uses much more modern language. Webb is also in the company for this piece.

“It has many challenging choreographic motifs and is filled with entirely different movements compared to classical ballet,” Webb says. “As a ballet dancer, taking off the pointe shoes to be barefoot and to move with a grounded quality was such an exciting experiment and transformation.”

Legends of Dance also includes the finale of The Sleeping Beauty, with music by Tchaikovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa. Each of these works holds a place in today’s dance repertoire and has something unique to offer potential audience members.

“The production as a whole includes wonderful mixed repertoire suitable for everyone and demonstrates what we as dancers practice and work hard for every day of our lives as artists,” Webb says.

While she’s very excited about the Legends of Dance production, Webb’s favorite ballet during her time at CCM was Swan Lake during the 2015-16 Mainstage season.

“My roles in Swan Lake included lead Czardas, swan corps, four tall swans and lead waltz girl,” she remembers. “Dancing all of those roles in one of my favorite ballets with live music and custom-made tutus was so rewarding after all of the hard work in the studio.  The entire production created extremely memorable moments dancing alongside so many talented students.”

One of Webb’s favorite parts of the dance program at CCM has been the daily ballet technique class she takes with other dance majors, especially because of the guidance and encouragement she received from CCM dance faculty.

“There was emphasis on attending every single day of class ready to work, and it really pushed me to be better,” Webb adds. “There were so many great and inspiring perspectives and talented teachers that profoundly impacted my professional development.”

After her graduation at the end of this semester, Webb plans to continue to pursue a career in dance performance; she has taken several professional auditions already, although she is unsure which dance company she will be a part of in the fall.  In addition to her BFA in Ballet, Webb has earned a minor in Business Management.

Congratulations to Emma Webb and all of CCM’s graduating class of 2018!

To see Webb onstage, attend one of the four performances of Legends of Dance from April 12 through 14 in CCM’s Corbett Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183.
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LEGENDS OF DANCE

CREATIVE TEAM

• Jiang Qi, director
• Aik Khai Pung, music director
• Evan Carlson*, lighting designer
• Chelsea Taylor*, stage manager
• Daniel Mallampalli*, Fernando Gaggini*, conductors for “The Kingdom of Shades”
• Maria Fuller*, conductor for A Choreographic Offering
• Alexandria Black*, Joseph McNamara*, conductors for “Aurora’s Wedding”

* CCM student

Sleeping Beauty and La Bayadère Drop Provided by: Cincinnati Ballet

GUEST ARTISTS
Derek E. Brockington, of the Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company, will play Solor in “The Kingdom of the Shades” evening performances Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14.

David Morse, of the Cincinnati Ballet, will play Prince Desire in the performances of “Aurora’s Wedding.”

The full cast list will be available at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/mainstage/legends-of-dance.

PERFORMANCE TIMES

• 8 p.m. Thursday, April 12
• 8 p.m. Friday April 13
• 2 p.m. Saturday, April 14
• 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14

LOCATION
Corbett Auditorium, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati

PURCHASING TICKETS
Tickets to Legends of Dance are $27-31 for adults, $17-20 for non-UC students and $15-18 for UC students with a valid ID. Student rush tickets will be sold one hour before each performance to non-UC students for $12 or $15, based on availability. UC students can receive one free student rush ticket with a valid ID, based on availability.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/mainstage/legends-of-dance.

PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.
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CCM Season Presenting Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Mainstage Season Production Sponsor: Macy’s

Dance Department Supporter: The Corbett Endowment at CCM

Dance Performance Sponsor: Teri Jory & Seth Geiger

This performance of A Choreographic Offering is presented by arrangement with the José Limón Dance Foundation, Inc.
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Story by CCM Graduate Student Alexandra Doyle