March - During initial preparation to create an original score, composer Mark Hierholzer (seated) attended a dance rehearsal of the Fredericksburg Youth Ballet Ensemble. Lisa Bohnert (right) would later choreograph the piece.
October - Mark Hierholzer (at piano) and Lisa Bohnert (seated at right) put the pieces together for the first complete live run-through of their original ballet Narnia. Dancers from the Fredericksburg Youth Ballet Ensemble will perform the holiday classic The Nutcracker along with Narnia at the Fredericksburg Theater Company on November 19 - 21, 2010. Tickets are now on sale for four shows. Photos by Phil Houseal
Details:
Nutcracker & Narnia will have four performances - Friday, November 19, 7:30 p.m.,; Saturday, November 20, matinee at 2 p.m. and evening performance at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, November 21, matinee at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, and are all general admission. Tickets are now on sale and available from any ballet student. They can also be purchased at Ms Rhonda's School of Dance, 202 E. Creek St, Fredericksburg, Monday through Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. Requests for tickets can be made by calling 830-998-0785, by leaving a message at 830-997-0756, or via email at foxcanyon@live.com.
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Tradition & Treachery: Part I
by Phil Houseal
Nov 10, 2010
Something very special is about to take place behind the wardrobe, in a land of weird and wonderful creatures, where children enter the battle between good and evil.
On the weekend of November 19-21, Fredericksburg patrons of dance and drama will have front row seats at the world debut of Narnia, a ballet composed by local residents Mark Hierholzer and choreographed by Lisa Bohnert.
What has been fascinating is watching this production unfold, from the time it was a twinkle in the eye of a dance teacher to the powerful presentation of 20 dancers in original costumes moving on stage to Hierholzer’s thundering live score.
And now we peek behind the scenes...
January, 2010
Following a busy 2009 holiday season when Bohnert had produced both the local Nutcracker and trained the dancers for the San Diego Ballet’s production, she was deciding what to prepare for the following holiday season. She was reluctant to drop the Nutcracker with the San Diego ballet that she has coordinated for the past two years, but eager to challenge her dancers with something original and new.
If only there were a composer open to writing the music...
February
“Mark Hierholzer... this will either interest or insult you. Have you ever considered scoring a ballet?”
Without hesitating, he said he had always wanted to try that, and would love to.
Let the rumpus begin!
March
Bohnert was running her advanced ballet students through warmups and exercises. Hierholzer sat on a chair in the corner, watching intently.
“I wanted him to see what the students were doing and capable of doing,” Bohnert explained afterward.
Heirholzer was. “I was blown away at the talent and energy of the class,” he said. “I’m ready to go with it. This is wonderful.” He mounted his bicycle and rode off in the dark.
April
Bohnert was glowing. “I am so excited,” she said. “I got to listen to Mark run through the first piece. It is edgy. It is out there. It is different. It is wonderful!”
She explained how she had suggested a few changes to make it fit a dancer’s performance, but she was “thrilled” and waiting to get the recording to begin choreographing.
Early May
Inside the dance studio late one evening. It was dark. Bohnert had turned off the lights and turned on a recording of Narnia’s first movement. The dance students were sitting cross-legged on the floor, listening... just listening.
Mid-May
Hierholzer was finishing up the second movement. He had decided to use piano “since it has a more percussive quality” and was toying with idea of performing it live.
“I wrote it with the idea of recording it with other instruments. But organ didn’t work,” he explained. “Lisa wants live performance, but that raises the risk. And I’ll have to practice the piece.” He laughed. “I might have to make the second movement easier to play.”
Late May
Bohnert lay sprawled on a bench at the Fredericksburg Theater Company, plugged into her iPod, scratching furiously on a ruled notebook.
Are you doing homework?
She looked up. “No, that’s done. I’m choreographing Narnia to Mark’s music.”
She smiled.
Next Week:
The final pieces, and how they fit. Read it now...
Note: Hierholzer directs and composes for the Fredericksburg Chorale and other community choirs, and holds a Masters from Eastman School of Music. Bohnert directs the Fredericksburg Youth Ballet Ensemble, and has studied at the National Academy of Arts, Lyric Opera Ballet of Chicago, and the Evanston School of Ballet.