This holiday season I have the privilege of traveling to New York City to spend three weeks being inspired by different art forms. When in the Big Apple, I usually visit my ballet friends at American Ballet Theatre and the Dance Theatre of Harlem. But this week I attended a modern dance class at the well known “STEPS” on Broadway with my daughter and Sierra Nevada Ballet (SNB) principal dancer, Ananda Bena-Weber, who lives part time in New York City and part time in Nevada.
Watching this modern dance class taught by a former dancer, I find myself now (as I have in the past) surprised by the different emphasis in technique. The various signature styles in modern dance require different strengths and different abilities. For instance, there is quite a difference in style when one attends performances by professional modern dance companies such as the Paul Taylor company or the Alvin Ailey or the Martha Graham Company. Many of the styles exhibited by these companies are taken from the individual dancer/choreographer who originated them such as the famous Lester Horton who was, from an early age, very interested in the Native American ethnic dances. This is quite apparent when one watches a “Horton” modern dance class like the one I watched at “STEPS.”
Like Ananda, many professional ballet dancers study modern dance to enhance their ballet technique, as ballet companies are including more and more contemporary choreography in their repertory. Our SNB company is no exception. Last year we featured several contemporary works on our Brew, Brats and Ballet spring program as well as on our summer Dancing by the River program at Wingfield Park.
One of my favorite pieces of choreography done for SNB in the spring of 2016 is “Only the Winds” by Jennifer Boyle August. In fact, this piece has proved to be so popular with both dancers and audience members I have asked Jen to choreograph another piece for SNB in 2017.
Jennifer August discovered her love of modern dance during her time at Reno High School in the early 1990s when she took a modern dance class at TMCC with instruction in Graham, Luigi and Horton dance techniques. While Jen had studied ballet, she found modern dance spoke to her soul in a different way: “What I love about modern dance is its form. You may watch a piece of modern dance, and think, ‘What does that mean?’ What I love is that it might mean something different to you than someone else. Just like a flower may smell different to you than to someone else or a piece of modern art work or sculpture may mean something different to you than to someone else.”
Jen’s interest in modern dance led her to move to Boston upon graduating from high school to study with Joan Palladino at Dean College where she received her associate degree in dance. It was there she was discovered by the famous dancer/director, Judith Jamison, and was invited to study at the Alvin Ailey School in New York.
Jen later received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia with an emphasis on jazz and modern. Jen danced with the Paradigm Dance Company and the Next Step Dance Company in Philadelphia before she moved back to Reno in 2003 to open the In Motion Studio of Dance and start the Black Rock Dance Company. In 2013, Jen decided to spend more time with her two young daughters and stepped away from directing both the school and the company.
Today SNB is very lucky to have Jennifer August teaching modern dance on the staff of the SNB Academy (SNBA). Jen teaches a modern class at SNBA on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and loves to discuss her teaching philosophy: “With the ever-changing development of dance, particularly in modern, I believe it is important to remember its roots. Educating dancers in the base of modern dance movement, where classic training meets new contemporary-modern movement, is very important — it must not be lost.”
The SNB professional company dancers are very excited to begin 2017 working on Jennifer’s new piece of choreography, which will premiere in April when SNB presents Brew, Brats and Ballet at both the Reno Little Theatre and the Brewery Arts Center. Jen shares: “I love working with the Sierra Nevada Ballet dancers because they have a firm understanding of how classic dance training is important. Some of the structure and architecture of modern dance shapes and lines are different from ballet; however, the dancers at Sierra Nevada Ballet are very adaptable, due to their strong ballet background. I am looking forward to working with the company at Sierra Nevada Ballet again in the new year.”
Presently I (personally) am enjoying my holiday in New York City and plan to return to Reno greatly inspired to begin work with SNB and the SNB Academy for 2017. It is going to be a grand new year!
For information about SNB 2017 performances or classes at SNB Academy (starting on Jan. 9, 2017) visit www.sierranevadaballet.org or call 775-360-8663.
Rosine Bena is the artistic director of the Sierra Nevada Ballet.
http://www.rgj.com/story/life/arts/2016/12/27/classic-meets-contemporary-modern-dance/95894172/
Alexander Cain Biber (Principal Dancer/ Ballet Master/ Choreographer in Residence/Teacher) grew up in a performing arts family and has loved theater and performing from an early age. He began his ballet training, at the age of 14, with Rosine Bena at Western Nevada Performing Arts Center – studying ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theater. In 2003, Alexander became an apprentice with Sierra Nevada Ballet and was promoted to the first company in 2006, to soloist in 2008, and to Principal in 2012.
Jennifer Lightfoot-Johnson (Grant Writer and Development Consultant) comes to SNB with 16 years of experience, both professionally and as a volunteer, in grant writing and working in the nonprofit sector.
Jennifer Boyle August (Guest Teacher/Choreographer) discovered her love of dance in Reno, Nev. During her time at Reno High School, Jennifer took a Modern class at TMCC, with instruction in Graham, Luigi, and Horton dance technique. While Jennifer was educated in other areas of dance, she felt these styles spoke to her more than anything else. After graduating from Reno High School, she moved to Boston to study dance with Joan Palladino at Dean College where she received her Associate’s Degree in Dance. She was then hand-selected by Judith Jamison to study at Alvin Ailey Summer Dance Intensive program in New York City.
Sara Weir (Demi Soloist) was born in Provo, Utah, and started ballet at age three. She trained in dance with Trisha Wilstead at Rocky Mountain Dance and then trained with Brittany Squires and Heather Gray at Jaquiline’s School of Ballet. She performed professionally with Showcase and Theater Ballet at Brigham Young University, Utah Regional Ballet, and Sacramento Ballet.
Carlee Bertero (Soloist/ Teacher) was born in northern Nevada and began studying dance at an early age at Fascinating Rhythm School of Performing Arts in Reno. Carlee was invited to join the Sierra Nevada Ballet Apprentice program in 2012; was raised to the first company in 2013; to featured corps member in 2016, to Demi-Soloist in 2017, and to Soloist in 2021. She has performed in many SNB story ballets such as Peanutcracker-The Story In A Nutshell, Giselle, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty-A Fairy’s Tale, A Midsummer Nights Dream- A Steam Punk Ballet, and Twelfth Night-A Ballet Noir. She has performed as a featured dancer with SNB annually in Dancing By The River as part of Reno’s Artown Festival and in SNB’s annual Brew Brats and Ballet in Reno and Carson City.
Domingo Rubio (Second Permanent Guest Artist/Guest Teacher) is SNB’s second Permanent Guest Artist as of May 2005. He has danced professionally for some 30 years. Domingo has danced with the Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Hispanico and was featured in the Robert Altman film, The Company. Rubio danced the role of Maxfield Parrish in SNB’s, A Painter’s Love Story and is a featured artist in SNB’s Dancing By the River and annual ballet classics.
Sam Weber (First Permanent Guest Artist/ Guest Teacher) is SNB’s first Permanent Guest Artist and is a founding member of the Company. He was one of the first permanent guest artists of The Reno Ballet under the direction of Rosine Bena. Weber danced with the Joffery Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Peninsula Ballet Theatre, and The Jazz Tap Ensemble. Besides being a fine ballet dancer, Weber is considered one of the greatest tap dancers in the world. He is known as “the fastest feet in tap.”
Gina Nelson (SNB Company Coordinator for Carson City and SNB Board Member) is originally from Napa Valley, Calif., and a long-time supporter of the arts and arts education. Gina worked as a crisis prevention specialist in a day treatment elementary school and was a counselor/teacher in a non-public school for at-risk boys.
Steven M. Porter (SNB Board President/SNB CEO) is a long-time devotee of the arts. Originally from the East Coast, Steve was raised with love and devotion to all the arts.
Cathy Mercer (SNB Company Coordinator for Reno/Managing Director/Board Member) grew up in Carson City and is a former dancer with a long-time devotion to the art form.
Ananda Bena-Weber (Associate Director, Dance Artist/ Ballerina/Principal/Teacher) is a principal dancer and NY award-winning artist and the Associate Director of the Sierra Nevada Ballet and a founding member. She has danced professionally as a soloist with the Reno Ballet when it was formed in 1994/95 and 1996. She danced with Perspectives Dance Theatre and Fascinating Rhythm Productions. She has appeared as a featured soloist with Sam Weber performing in Morton Gould’s “Concerto for Tap Dancer and Orchestra” throughout the SF Bay Area. She has appeared in principal roles in several original dance works such as Take Me To The River and Blue Rondo, and classics such as Les Sylphides, Romeo and Juliet, and Paquita.
Rosine Bena (Founder and Artistic Director/Master Teacher)
Sophia Riella (Trainee) was born in Truckee, Calif. She started ballet at the age of two with Sherrie Petersen, Sierra Ballet School and continued there for six years while also studying Irish and Scottish Dance with Lindsey Marccaci in Lake Tahoe and at Truckee Dance Factory doing competition dance. She has also studied classical music, composing, and piano with Elaine Courtney and has studied voice with Stephanie McMoy.
Erin Garman (First Year Company) began dancing at the age of 12 at Scene Stealers Theatre Arts where she trained in jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theatre, and ballet. She later began training with Fascinating Rhythm School of Performing Arts where she continued training in many styles and at Sierra Nevada Ballet Academy where she first met Rosine Bena, and started getting more serious about ballet, also dancing with Spiral Ballet.
Maya Macias (Trainee) was born in Houston, Texas into a military family. While her family was stationed in Memphis, Tennessee, at age two and a half years old, Maya began studying dance at the Children’s Ballet Theater because she wanted to go to “ballerina school. “ Maya continued her ballet training at Space Coast Ballet and when she was six years old, she began performing with Space Coast Ballet in the Nutcracker.
Olivia Mann (SNB Summer Demi Soloist) began studying at the age of four at Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, and the Dallas Ballet Center and later trained at Booker T. Washington for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Heather Rodriguez (Trainee) started dancing at nine years old in Corpus Christi, Texas. She continued studying Ballet, Contemporary, and Jazz throughout her childhood with Corpus Christi Concert Ballet.