CCM Dance Makes its Mainstage Debut with ‘Giselle’ April 17-19

Photography by Will Brenner.

CCM’s Mainstage Series proudly presents the romantic ballet Giselle from April 17–19 in UC’s Corbett Auditorium. This lavish production is being presented in celebration of the 50th anniversary of CCM’s dance program.

Giselle is directed by Dance Department Chair Jiang Qi and features accompaniment by the CCM Concert Orchestra, conducted by Assistant Professor of Conducting Annunziata Tomaro.

One of the most romantic and beloved ballets about love’s triumph over treachery and death, Giselle continues to stir the emotions of audiences of all ages. When a young peasant girl is seduced and betrayed by a nobleman, she dies of a broken heart and joins the ranks of the Wilis, female spirits scorned before their wedding days and doomed to take their revenge upon men by dancing them to death. In the end, Giselle’s ghost tries to protect her lover from the vengeance of this group of evil female spirits.

“The traditional choreography that has been passed down to the present day derives primarily from the revivals staged by Marius Petipa during the late 19th and early 20th centuries for the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg,” explains director Jiang Qi.

‘Dance Magazine’ Spotlights Recent CCM Alumnus James Cunningham

CCM alumnus James Cunningham in Amy Seiwert’s ‘I Think of You Often.’ Photography by Peter Mueller.

Look for CCM Dance alumnus James Cunningham in the pages of Dance Magazine this month! The recent graduate is featured in the February 2013 issue, reflecting on his pursuit of a career in dance. You can view the story online here.

Originally from Colorado Springs, Cunningham is currently in his fifth season as a corps member of the Cincinnati Ballet, which he joined as a junior at CCM. Qualified CCM Dance students have the opportunity to perform with professional regional dance companies like Cincinnati Ballet while continuing their studies at the conservatory.

Cunningham attended CCM as an honors scholar and graduated with a BFA in Ballet in 2010.

CCM Dance One of Few Programs to Give Students Flexibility to Pursue Professional Work While in School

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For freshman College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) dance student Courtney Connor, a typical day’s schedule begins with class at 8 a.m., followed by rehearsal from 9:30-6:15 p.m. with the Cincinnati Ballet, and concluding with night class back at the University of Cincinnati from 6:30-9 p.m. Connor is one of five current CCM students who are dancing professionally full-time while also pursuing their undergraduate degrees, and several CCM alumni have done the same before.

Connor came to Cincinnati in 2006 to join the Cincinnati Ballet and is now a corps company member. This year, she decided to pursue her bachelor’s degree knowing that CCM would allow her the flexibility to do both. CCM’s Dance Division is one of the few dance programs in the country in which students can work professionally while going to school, and the faculty recognizes the importance of doing both and supports these students’ efforts.