Visions of Sugarplums

04. January 2017 · Comments Off on Visions of Sugarplums · Categories: Dance · Tags: ,

Visions of Sugarplums is a burlesque parody of our traditional Nutcracker ballet, joining the catalog that includes Mark Morris’ The Cracked Nut and Myron Johnson’s Nutcracker Not So Suite.  Sugarplums  is a hoot with lots of talent, great costumes and music.

In 2014 I photographed the dress rehearsal for the Sugarplum’s inaugural run at the Ritz Theater in Minneapolis.  This year I photographed the dress rehearsal and one of the performances for the 2016 show, this time running at the Lab Theater in Minneapolis. In the following compilation of images you might notice how different lighting and textures are created in the two theaters.

All images Copyright Alice Gebura All Rights Reserved

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Generations

16. August 2015 · Comments Off on Generations · Categories: Dance · Tags: , , ,

August 15, 2015

Who needs anatomy drawing class when you can photograph b-boys!   Outside in the Cowles Center parking lot in 90-degree heat, b-boy crews from around the country were battling to make the finals and win some cash prizes. I loved shooting all manner of contortions, freezes, kicks, and airborne gyrations. The tricks are impressive but I also thought the upright dance moves created their own poetry.

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Earlier, inside the Cowles Center in the Minnesota Dance Theater Studio, I photographed a lovely Nutcracker performance workshop. Choreographer Katie Rose McLaughlin has imagined how Clara’s life might have unfolded after the Nutcracker episode. Four female dancers play Clara at different ages. The younger dancers, including the superb Barton Cowperthwaite, were technically and artistically delightful. Yet, I was especially struck by the grace and elegant movement of older dancer, Lise Houlton.

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All photos Copyright 2015 Alice Gebura All Rights Reserved