Wild Life, Still Life: “Carnival of the Animals”

Remember the last time you went to see a ballet and were so rudely awakened by the snores of the guy next to you? Sure, the dancers were graceful and athletic, the costumes beautiful, but fifteen minutes into the performance, the dinner you had before the show settles in and you start to get sleepy. Rumor has it audience members are especially susceptible to this phenomenon around the holidays, when a traditional performance of Swan Lake or The Nutcracker can’t possibly compete with the tryptophan and wine lulling the eyes closed after yet another potluck. I’ve been there-many times-despite my life-long love affair with this particular art form.

Our community, however, is home to a professional ballet company that can reverse this phenomenon. Fargo Moorhead Ballet is the only company in the area that presents a multi-disciplinary repertoire utilizing the techniques of jazz, modern, and tap in addition to its foundation of classical ballet. With an original approach to the art form, Fargo Moorhead Ballet uses dance as an educational vehicle for the fine arts. This year’s Children’s Ballet, Carnival of the Animals, is a showcase of these efforts.

Choreographed by Kathy Gasper and Matt Gasper, the Children’s Ballet is a study in movement and music, paying homage both to the artistry of nature and of a classic sculptor, Rodin. With musical works from French composer Camille Saint-Saens, The Carnival of the Animals, the first act is a celebratory, carnival-like piece that teaches about musical instruments by associating the movement and characteristics of animals with particular instruments and their sound.

The second act combines the stillness of sculpted works with movement and grace in Living Statues, where Rodin’s great sculptures come alive to the music of composers from his time. Artistic Director Matt Gasper’s vision for the production is “to have the human form interpret both wild and still life, demonstrating the balance of music and movement that we see all around us in the rhythm of nature.”

Each year, Fargo Moorhead Ballet gives young dancers an exciting opportunity to perform with professional dancers in the annual production of the Children’s Ballet, inspiring younger students working to grow as dancers. Carnival of the Animals will feature around 20 youth performing with Company dancers in auditioned roles such as the Lion, Elephant, Tortoise, Swan, Fossils, Fish, and Birds.

At a reception before the matinee performance, kids can meet their favorite animal character, and costumed dancers will read from Odgen Nash’s series of humorous poems Carnival of the Animals, which builds on Saint- Saens’ characterization of the animals as instruments.
“What stands out about the Children’s Ballet,” says principal dancer Courtney Jankovic, “is that it puts the children first. Two different generations working together to create the art of dance and give back to the community a refreshing performance.”

Both in the Fargo Moorhead Ballet and past companies she has worked with, Jankovic favors children’s ballets because of the energy and joy that youth bring to the productions. “Their innocence and high energy make you realize the true meaning of happiness and positivity in dance,” she says. “The kids look up to you as a professional dancer with wonder and awe on their faces, and then you know how meaningful this experience is to them in their formative years.”
Contrasting with the jubilant tone of the first act, the Living Sculptures of the second act “illustrate raw emotion and power, which have their own rhythm and movement,” says Matt Gasper, describing the choreography. In this act performed by the eight-member Company, Rodin’s classic sculptures The Kiss, The Three Shades, and The Thinker come to life with the music of Rachmaninoff, Grieg, Smetana, and Bach.

Of the medium, Founding Director and Choreographer Kathy Gasper notes, “Although sculptures are still, if they are sculpted brilliantly, there is movement.” Fargo Moorhead Ballet is also performing Living Sculptures at the Plains Arts Museum’s 12th Annual Spring Gala in May.

The artistic concept behind Living Sculptures is beautiful in its creativity, originality, and ability to resonate with everyone in the audience. Whether we show them or not in this part of the country, we’ve all experienced to some degree the emotions interpreted in this piece. Just as animals are used to teach about music in Carnival of the Animals, the transformation of statues into living, breathing expressions of the human condition may bring a few of us in the audience to a greater understanding and appreciation of the visual arts along the way.

If You Go

WHAT: Fargo Moorhead Ballet: Fourth Annual Children’s Ballet
WHERE: Weld Hall, MSUM
WHEN: Apr 12, 7pm, Apr 13, 2:00pm
HOW MUCH: Adults, $10; Children, $5.
INFO: (701) 234-9440