If you’re looking to be emotionally uplifted for the holidays, Azara Ballet’s enchanting production of Short & Suite is for you.
A delightful blend of classical and contemporary ballet, Short & Suite is an hour of joy performed by a troupe of contemporary ballet dancers presenting a mesmerizing act of Nutcracker Suite excerpts set to contemporary holiday music.
Performed in a small black box theater at the Ovation School of Musical Theatre, every seat in the house provides and up close and personal view of our talented company of professional dancers. Perfect for all ages and great for an evening out with friends and family. Tickets are $25 (click here) Performances begin December 20 – December 23. Short & Suite is choreographed by Azara co-founder, Martin Roosaare. Kate Flowers is his partner in life and with Azara Ballet.
See a preview video of Short & Suite here
Short & Suite follows Azara Ballet’s debut performance (Expressions) in November at the Neel Performing Arts Center. Expressions was a collection of 4 short contemporary ballets, featuring a talented ensemble of 14 professional dancers and showcasing the creative vision of emerging and diverse choreographers. The show was a radical new twist on today’s contemporary ballet, as the nonprofit Azara Ballet is dedicated to revitalizing ballet culture, infusing it with a profound emphasis on the mental and emotional well-being of the dancers. At Azara, they embrace the celebration of body positivity and the kaleidoscope of individuality. Within the ballet world Azara is radiating a resolute commitment to breaking new ground as trailblazers for representation and inclusivity. Moreover, their outreach programs extend a welcoming embrace to neurodivergent communities, fostering artistic expression and enriching lives through the universal and unspoken language of movement.
Having seen this performance, I can attest that the show and music to me was “divine serenity” that conveyed the importance of the human connection. The dancers were all fluid in their motions and completely in sync with one another, as though “as one.” I have seen many contemporary dance productions in New York and Sarasota and can genuinely say this was the finest and most creative show I had seen.
If you go:
Schedule:
Wednesday Dec 20th at 7pm
Thursday Dec 21st at 7pm
Friday Dec 22nd at 7pm
Saturday Dec 23rd at 2pm
Saturday Dec 23rd at 7pm
Tickets: $25
Venue: The Ovation School of Musical Theatre, 4602 East State Rd 64, Bradenton, FL 34208
PS: The name “Azara” emerged from our research into the origins of Sarasota. We stumbled on map from the 1700s and discovered that the city was once known as “Zara Zota,” loosely translated as “a place of dancing.” Focused on a name that would truly reflect our identity and embrace uniqueness, we rearranged certain letters, giving rise to “Azara.” And undoubtedly, we will be a place of dancing.
~ Andrea Martone
Andrea Mastrocinque-Martone is Sarasota Event Calendar’s Chief Editor. She is the former A & E Editor for Sarasota Observer Newspapers and is currently a public relations consultant. www.Insightfulpr.com