Dance fever abounds with Ballroom with a Twist, March 2
Program conceived and choreographed by Dancing with the Stars’ Louis van Amstel
Featured on the program are dancers and co-hosts Alec Mazo and Edyta Sliwinska, and vocal artists Gina Glocksen, David Hernandez, LaKisha Jones and Von Smith
U.S. Bank Pops Season
(February 2, 2012) Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall becomes the scene for a dance extravaganza in March, starring dancers from Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance and High School Musical, the Movie. They’ll take the stage together to present Ballroom with a Twist—backed on vocals by American Idol finalists and joined by the Minnesota Orchestra live—in stunning costumes and with celebrity hosts.
Featured on the program are dancers and co-hosts Alec Mazo and Edyta Sliwinska, and vocal artists Gina Glocksen, David Hernandez, LaKisha Jones and Von Smith. The production was conceived by Dancing with the Stars’ Louis van Amstel.
The performance is slated for Friday, March 2 at 8 p.m. at Orchestra Hall. Ticket prices range from $22 to $50, with VIP seating at $60. For tickets, call Minnesota Orchestra Ticket Services at (612) 371-5656 or visit the Orchestra’s website, minnesotaorchestra.org.
Dancer Alec Mazo has appeared on five seasons of television’s Dancing with the Stars, winning the first season’s competition with celebrity Kelly Monaco. He appeared in the films Dance With Me and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button as well as in TV’s Heroes and a video with British singer Seal. With dancer Edyta Sliwinska, his wife, he has produced instructional fitness DVDs.
Edyta Sliwinska is the only professional dancer to appear on each of the first ten seasons of Dancing with the Stars, and in 2008 she took second place, partnering with professional football star Jason Taylor. She recently guest starred on television’s CSI: New York. Born in Poland, she has represented both her home country and the U.S. in numerous international competitions.
Singer-songwriter Gina Glocksen came to national prominence in 2007 as a ninth-place finalist on American Idol. She has toured North America with American Idols Live, co-hosted the Fox Reality Channel program American Idol Extra and opened for rock singer Bret Michaels. She gives performances throughout the U.S. showcasing her original music.
David Hernandez was a finalist on American Idol in 2008 and now works in Hollywood as a singer, songwriter, producer and actor. He has performed on numerous national TV programs and starred in the feature film Synthetic Truth. Singing at an inaugural ball for President Obama, he shared the stage with Jamie Foxx, John Legend and Maroon 5.
LaKisha Jones, a top-four finalist on American Idol in 2007, made her Broadway debut in 2008, performing in the Tony-winning musical The Color Purple, and released her first solo album, So Glad I’m Me, in 2009. Her future plans include recording a gospel album and establishing a foundation to provide resources and support for single mothers.
Singer Von Smith, a finalist on the 2009 season of American Idol, first came to national attention through the popularity of his performances on YouTube, which led to an invitation to appear an appearance on TV’s The View. He has appeared on several additional programs and is now working on his first EP, due for release in 2012.
Dancer and choreographer Louis Van Amstel, who conceived tonight’s program, is a three-time Latin dance world champion and winner of national competitions in his native Amsterdam, the U.S. and other countries. He has appeared on multiple seasons of Dancing with the Stars, most recently partnering with celebrity Kendra Wilkinson in 2011, and he has choreographed for and appeared on numerous additional TV shows. In 2007 he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography. He has coached numerous dancers, founded his own dance company and released a series of instructional dance DVDs.
Sarah Hicks, the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal conductor of pops and presentations, has led a broad range of programs since joining the Orchestra as assistant conductor in 2006. Her 2011-12 schedule includes appearances with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and return engagements with the Florida Symphony Orchestra. This past summer she acted as conductor for Sting’s Symphonicities Tour, leading 31 concerts over two months in venues throughout Europe. In 2009 Hicks was appointed associate conductor of the North Carolina Symphony. She was earlier affiliated with the Richmond Symphony, Philadelphia Singers, Reading Symphony Orchestra and Florida Philharmonic.
U.S. Bank Pops Season
BALLROOM WITH A TWIST
with the Minnesota Orchestra
Conceived and choreographed by
Dancing with the Stars’ Louis van Amstel
Friday, March 2, 2012, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra
Sarah Hicks, conductor
Alec Mazo and Edyta Sliwinska, dancers and co-hosts
Gina Glocksen, David Hernandez, LaKisha Jones and Von Smith, vocals
Additional dancers:
Sasha Andreev • Lilit Avagyan • C.J. Bair • Veronika Chernyavska
Randi Lynn Evans • Anya Fuchs • Patricia Kaniowski
Alla Kocherga • Gev Manoukian • Tessa Marie • Stephen McCann
Snejana Petrova • Leonidus Proskurov • Tony Pututau
Leo Rotenberg • Rangel Spriov
Conceived and choreographed by Louis Van Amstel
Program:
Burt Bacharach & Hal David “Fosse”/”The Look Of Love” from Casino Royale
George & Ira Gershwin “I Got Rhythm” from Girl Crazy/
Brown & Freed “Singin’ In The Rain” from Singin’ In The Rain
Newley & Bricusse “Feeling Good” from The Roar Of The Greasepaint –The Smell Of The Crowd
Wynn & Bresler “Five Guys Named Moe” from Five Guys Named Moe
Jordan, Hickman & Bartley “Early In The Morning” from Five Guys Named Moe
Jordan & His Tympany Five “Choo, Choo, Ch’Boogie”
Traditional Techno Paso
Shaiman & Wittman “Without Love” from Hairspray
Shaiman & Wittman “You Can’t Stop The Beat” from Hairspray
Foster & Thompson “I Have Nothing” from The Bodyguard
Overstreet & Schlitz “When You Say Nothing At All”/
Connors & Shire “With You I’m Born Again”
Marc Cohn “Walking In Memphis”
DiPiero & Rutherford “Girls Gone Wild”
Foster & Sager “The Prayer” from Quest For Camelot
Classical Medley
Hammond & Scoffield “When You Say You Love Me”
Amon Tobin “Italian Job”/”Havana”
Traditional Batucada
Traditional Suavamente
Roig & Rodriguez Quiereme Mucho
Joseito Fernandez & Tito Puente Guantanamera/Ran Kan Kan
Steve Perry “Zoot Suit Riot”/”Swingtime Jive”
Individual tickets are available for purchase through Minnesota Orchestra Ticket Services at 11th and Marquette in Minneapolis, online at minnesotaorchestra.org or by calling (612) 371-5656 or (800) 292-4141. For groups of 10 or more, call (612) 371-5662 or (800) 292-4141, ext. 662. Prices listed do not include a $5.75 service charge per transaction for all phone or mail orders. Save $1 by purchasing tickets online or by having the Orchestra e-mail your tickets. There are no service charges for subscribers, group purchasers or in-person transactions at the Orchestra Hall Box Office. A non-discountable $3.50 facility fee is included in the price of each individual ticket. No refunds. Some fees and restrictions may apply to ticket exchanges. All sales are final. All programs, artists, dates and times subject to change.
U.S. Bank is the official sponsor of the 2011-12 pops season.
Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the Minnesota Orchestra’s 2011-12 season.
The Star Tribune and 830 WCCO-AM are the Minnesota Orchestra’s media partners for the 2011-12 season.
This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the State’s general fund and its arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
PRESS CONTACTS:
Gwen Pappas, Director of Public Relations
(612) 371-5628 •
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sandi Brown, Public Relations Coordinator
(612) 371-5641 •
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.