Honoring Tradition...Contemporary Vision
Named in memory of international ballerina Dame Sonia Arova, our Company celebrates her passion for excellence in the inception, presentation, and execution of dance.
Our mission is two-fold:
To provide professionals and pre-professionals with opportunities to work with succesful local and international choreographers on inventive, original chorography.
To foster innovation in ballet performance.
AROVA brings versitile dancers together with contemporary choreographers who are willing to take artistic risks and expand the accepted ballet vocabulary. The Company draws in seasoned master teachers, guest dancers and rehearsal coaches to mentor young professionals between the ages of 16-30.
The AROVA Contemporary Ballet's performances are relevant to and reflective of modern-day living. Collaborations with a variety of guest artists help the Company stay current with industry trends. Our educational programs teach community students the value of artistic achievement at the local level and beyond.
The company was founded through a fiscal partnership with the Alabama School of Fine Arts Foundation in October, 2006. AROVA is now an independent, non-profit corporation.
DETOURS: Sights and Sounds from an American Road Trip October 3, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. $20 adults/$15 seniors/$10 students
Need a change of scenery? Take a detour with AROVA! This contemporary dance project features seven all new, original works that celebrate this country's dynamic city-scapes and the American affinity for the open road. Choreographers include:
Kyle Seguin, Alabama Ballet; Panoply Overall Winner 2008
Kennet Oberly, International Choreographer
Thor Sutowski, Emmy Award-winning International Choreographer
Leah Smiley Tubbs, formerly of Lulu Washington Dance Theatre
Arova Contemporary Ballet Presents - Between the Lines March 6,7, and 8, 2009
Calling all film-makers and U-Tube enthusiasts! The AROVA Contemporary Ballet is looking for short films based on our Fall performance theme: Detours: Sights and Sounds from an American Road Trip. This production features America's diverse city-scapes and our love/hate relationship with modern travel. The films chosen will be projected onto an on-stage movie screen between dance works. The performance dates are October 2 and 3, 2008 at the Virginia Samford Theatre. AROVA season tickes will be awarded to those whose films are selected. Please send DVDs - your film must be at least 3 mins long - but no longer than 5 mins. to:
Alison Page, Artistic Director; 3002 13th Ave. South #3; Birmingham, AL 35205. Submissions must be received by September 1, 2008. You will be notified, if you film is chosen for screening, by September 15th. For more information, email alison@arova.org.
4 Collaborations with Regional Dance Companies and Visual Artists
6 National Guest Choreographers Visiting Birmingham
24 Professional Dancers Presented in Performance
10 Pre-Professional Student Apprentices
14 Public Performances
3 Free Student Performances/Open Rehearsals
20 New Works Commissioned
Recognition and Achievement
Support from the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham, The Walker County Arts Commission and Jefferson County
Grant funding from the Alabama State Council on the Arts
Grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts
Featured in the Birmingham News, Birmingham Magazine, and Portico Magazine (July, 2008)
Chosen to perform as part of the Alabama Dance Showcase (Birmingham, AL), Present Perfect with Aesthetic Arts (Jasper, AL), Solo Dances (Columbus Dance Theatre, OH)