BALLETS WITH A TWIST ® COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Ballets with a Twist® Choreography by Marilyn Klaus Music by Stephen Gaboury Costumes by Catherine Zehr
Photography by Nico Malvaldi, Darial Sneed and Sarah Craig.
Front cover
The University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh Titan Thunder Marching Band joined Ballets with a Twist to perform Brandy Alexander at The Grand Oshkosh.
Welcome!
With its dynamic model for meaningful and expansive outreach, Ballets with a Twist aims to establish common ground between performing artists and a broad audience, energizing and enlightening long-time fans and first-time viewers alike. Please enjoy this illustrated summary of the company’s efforts to engage entire communities in the experience of classic entertainment for the next generation.
COLLA BORA TIONS
Collaboration is key.
Ballets with a Twist works with local high school and university marching bands, gospel choirs, dance studios and renowned pop musicians to create unique performing arts experiences for viewers and artists alike.
On four occasions, Ballets with a Twist teamed up with Cyndi Lauper and friends to rock the house at the Beacon Theatre during “Home for the Holidays,” an annual True Colors Fund Benefit concert.
Rosie O’Donnell and New Jersey’s Rahway High School Marching Band added their talents to the company’s performances at “Home for the Holidays,” a True Colors Fund Benefit concert.
Ballets with a Twist and the B-Twist Orchestra performed as part of “Home for the Holidays,” a True Colors Fund benefit concert at The Beacon Theater.
East Cleveland’s Mighty Shaw High School Marching Cardinal Band joined Ballets with a Twist at Playhouse Square’s Ohio Theatre.
Newark Symphony Hall’s Gospelfest award-winning youth choir, the Special Ensemble, performed with Ballets with a Twist at Staten Island’s St. George Theatre. Led by Grammy-nominated composer Stephen Gaboury, the choir worked closely with the professional artists of the company’s own B-Twist Orchestra.
The company’s three youngest members and the Special Ensemble choir performed mocktail classic “Shirley Temple” at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Workshops and
Master Classes
Company soloists lead master classes for students across the country.
B-Twist composer, Stephen Gaboury, leads workshops for high school and college students who join the company onstage.
Ballets with a Twist completed a residency at Ohio Northern University where the company offered master classes, choreography workshops and performance opportunities to the Department of Theater Arts.
LOCAL Events
and Offerings
Through lectures, demonstrations and events, the company curates an atmosphere of authentic conversation.
Lincoln Center and the Queens Public Library selected Ballets with a Twist to appear on a public ballot for free performances in New York City, as part of the Lincoln Center Local arts series. Out of over 30 entries, library patrons chose the company’s signature show as the performing arts experience they would most like to see broadcast live from the Lincoln Center campus.
Prior to the live-broadcast performance, Artistic Director Marilyn Klaus delivered a seminar for Lincoln Center teaching artists. They hosted pre-show discussions on her sources of inspiration and choreographic process at numerous library branches. Klaus led Q&A sessions following the performances.
Lincoln Center Local at the Flushing Branch of the Queens Public Library.
Live-broadcast presentation from Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium to library branches throughout Brooklyn and Queens.
Ballets with a Twist company members and creative team answered questions following a student matinee performance at Burlington Civic Music in Burlington, Iowa.
The company regularly attends donor events and meet and greets with patrons of theaters across the United States.
Artistic Director Marilyn Klaus discussed the upcoming performance with Joseph Ferlo, Executive Director of The Grand Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
As part of its Fashion Culture series, The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology invited Marilyn Klaus and Ballets with a Twist costume designer — and FIT alumna — Catherine Zehr to lead a discussion on the process of designing for dance. The company also performed excerpts from its repertory.
As an artistic affiliate of Hamilton Stage, the company was invited to per form before the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in celebration of the federal Our Town grant awarded to Rahway by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Ballets with a Twist provides opportunities for audiences of all ages to engage with the performing arts.
The New York City Department of Transportation’s first annual Summer Streets Dance Festival brought the company to an open-air stage at Astor Place.
Community Press
Classic entertainment is for all.
As seen on NYC-ARTS
PBS produced a segment on the company and its collaborative enterprises for weekly primetime culture program NYC-ARTS.
Ballets with a Twist reaches a broad audience through television, radio and social media broadcasts and appearances, seeking to engage and excite entire communities.
With performances across the United States, Ballets with a Twist rallies entire communities behind the power of live performance. Back Cover
