The Orlando Ballet presents Peter and the Wolf.

Posted on by Thor

I’ve been wanting to sketch an Orlando Ballet rehearsal for quite some time. I finally contacted Robert Hill the company’s Artistic Director and he was more than gracious. Joey Lynn, Robert’s assistant was supervising the rehearsal when I arrived. She guided me to a spot where I could watch the rehearsal without getting kicked by a dancer. The Ballet Company has recently moved into a new studio space which is right on the water. All of the dance studio plate glass windows face out to a view across the lake. I was in this building, (610 Lake Formosa Drive) just one other time several years ago for a fundraiser raising aid to Haiti.

Families will continue to delight in productions that are specifically
created to capture the imagination of the young ones, while engaging the
adults. This season, we present Peter and The Wolf, The Swan Princess, The Magical Princess Doll, and of course our popular Family Series version of The Nutcracker. These one-hour productions are designed with young
audiences in mind, and promise exquisite story telling through the
perfect combination of world-class ballet, opulent sets, and costumes. Mark Your Calendar, this production of Peter and the Wolf will be staged on October 18, 2014 at 11:00 am at the
Bob Carr Theatre
(401 West Livingston Street
Orlando, FL).

This is a classic story of a young boy on his quest to trap a wolf with
the help of other animals is brought to life in this one-hour
production. The choreography is by Robert Hill. He pointed out to the cast that the movement in this production is very much over the top and exaggerated,  like in a cartoon. I found myself quite entertained by the movements of a duck and bird who interacted playfully. The duck always had her hands behind her back shaking them like the feathers on her tail. The bird had graceful flowing movements on point that made her seem weightless as if in flight. The cat had graceful sinewy movements. I was shocked and disappointed that the duck I had so carefully watched and sketched was devoured by the wolf.

Ballet has a whole language developed over it history to define it’s movements. The director might shout out, Pencke’, Pencke’, Pencke’, or Écarté! and cast members knew exactly what pose to take. I need to research these French terms so I can better understated future rehearsals. I was most impressed when the rehearsal ended. All the the dancers gathered around Robert and each thanked him in turn. When I packed up to leave, one dancer, near the exit asked if he could see what I has been sketching. I pulled out the sketchbook and suddenly found myself surrounded by all the dancers. They expressed their amazement and gratitude. It was a rare moment to be surrounded by so much young talent and experience their gratitude. I hope to get to future rehearsals to better understand the rarefied world of ballet. One of the dancers stood in a relaxed pose just like “Little Dancer” a sculpture by Edgar Degas. I sighed, I need to capture that level of grace and power next time I sketch.

Alfond Contemporary Art Collection

Posted on by Thor

On August 19th the new Alfond Inn, a Preferred Boutique Hotel, opened in Winter Park (300 E. New England Ave., Winter Park FL).  Owned by Rollins College, a private coeducational liberal
arts college in Winter Park, The was built with a
$12.5-million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation.  Net operating
income from the Inn will be directed to The Alfond Scholars program
fund, the College’s premier scholarship fund, for the next 25 years or
until the endowment principal reaches $50 million, whichever comes
later. The 112-room boutique hotel features Hamilton’s Kitchen
restaurant, a pool and fitness center, and 10,000 square feet of
flexible meeting space. The Alfond Inn is poised to become the new hub
of dynamic Winter Park, which The New York Times recently called “a
sophisticated alternative to Disney.”

Baker Barrios Architects of Orlando were responsible for the Inn’s
architecture, interior design and landscape architecture. Built in the
Spanish Mediterranean revival style, The Alfond Inn echoes the classic
look of Rollins College and of Winter Park
homes designed by noted 20th century architect James Gamble Rogers II.
The use of arches, columns, decorative wrought iron, overhanging
trellises covered with flowering vegetation and formal courtyards are
the essence of the elegant Winter Park design vernacular.
Throughout the hotel are artworks from The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art for Rollins College, established by longtime donors and alumni Barbara and Ted Alfond.

Since Orlando has very few museums or galleries, I went to the hotel with the express intent to view the art collection. It is an eclectic collection of modern representational and abstract work.  One piece, by Vik Muniz, was mounted behind glass and was based on “Absinth Drinker” by Edgar Degas. It was created using thousands of images torn from magazines. Had it been the original painting, I would have been impressed. On the opposite wall, “Color Coordinated Currency”, by Michael E. Jone, consisted of a series of images of bills that were the same color framed together.  I asked at the front desk if there was a brochure that showed where each of the pieces from the collection were located. I was told that a brochure was in the works. I’m not sure how much of the art collection I saw.

The new waitress joked with the good old boys seated at the center table. One of them enlightened her on how grits should be prepared. Guests wandered by periodically and several admitted they were lost. I must admit this is a gorgeous hotel. Although there was an introductory “Welcome Rate” at the Inn that started at $99 per night, based on double occupancy, you will likely be charged over $189. I asked about the “Welcome Rate” at the front desk and no one knew anything about it.