KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 3, 2019

Cutting-edge dance company to perform “Walking Mad” and “Redbird”

Kennesaw State University’s Department of Dance will host Charlotte Ballet September 27-28 as they present “Walking Mad” and “Redbird.” Choreographer Myles Thatcher’s “Redbird” opens the performance; it is an abstract piece that echoes the choreographer’s own struggle with grief and loss while having, as one reviewer put it, “a gorgeous ritualistic tableau.”

Acclaimed choreographer Johan Inger’s “Walking Mad” follows “Redbird” and showcases breathtaking beauty, boundless energy and amazing athleticism. Inger said, “The famous Boléro from Ravel with its sexual, almost kitschy history was the trigger point to make my own version. I quickly decided that it was going to be about relationships in different forms and circumstances. I came up with the idea of a wall that could transform the stage and create small pockets of space and situations. ‘Walking Mad’ is a journey in which we encounter our fears, our longings and the lightness of being.”

A world-class repertory dance ensemble based in Charlotte, N.C., Charlotte Ballet performs classic, contemporary and cutting-edge dance with virtuosity, energy, and artistic excellence for local, statewide and national audiences. Charlotte Ballet’s collective talents challenge, stimulate, educate, entertain, and enrich audiences.

Under the artistic direction of Hope Muir, Charlotte Ballet (formerly known as North Carolina Dance Theatre) has received national recognition for their cutting-edge classical and contemporary repertory featuring the choreography of artists from around the world. Even though they recognize the global opportunities, they also know the importance of serving their neighbors. They seek to make dance accessible to all communities, so they offer dedicated programs for youth, adults, seniors, and audience members with special needs. 

McCree O’Kelley, Interim Chair of the Department of Dance, said, “We are thrilled to share this nationally ranked company with Atlanta audiences. The Department of Dance at Kennesaw State University is committed to exposing our students and audiences to world-class, cutting-edge dance. KSU Dance is distinguished by our state-of-the-art Dance Theater, community partnerships and our commitment to engage with the professional practice.”

Charlotte Ballet is presented as part of the ArtsKSU Professional Series. ArtsKSU hosts world-renowned performers and artists across all four academic units, enriching the arts ecology of metro Atlanta. New this year are special lectures featuring research in the arts; these are free and open to the public. ArtsKSU also reflects the College of the Arts’ commitment to expose Kennesaw State students to working artists and best practices in the arts as they observe the work of the various visiting artists or attend masterclasses with them.  

Don’t miss Charlotte Ballet September 27-28 at 8 p.m. at the KSU Dance Theater on the Kennesaw State University Marietta campus. Click here to watch a preview of “Walking Mad.” To buy tickets, please visit ticketing.kennesaw.edu.