Ballet Unplugged

As rough of a time as the last years have been for arts in general, Charleston Ballet Theatre seems to have kept its Midas touch. The proof is in the pudding: the performances are beyond innovative, bursting with creative flourish. This isn’t your everyday Swan Lake (although this ballet company could dance an electrifying Swan Lake any day). This is performance on the cutting edge.

There will be plenty for arts aficionados to talk about this season, beginning with Ballet Unplugged Live! which showed last week. The math is simple on this one: three choreographers plus three composers plus four ballets equals one evening of sheer entertainment.

This fusion of live orchestral music and ballet featured a veritable Who’s Who of talent, including longtime Charleston Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Yuriy Bekker and several CSO superstars.

This one night extravaganza was a tour de force of creative talent. It was also a tribute to longtime CBT friend and benefactor Jon H. Burgin.

Originally from Boston, Burgin fell in love with Charleston and made it his home. A former New York talent agent, his passion for the arts was clear and that passion inspired those around him. It’s only fitting that his passion for the arts be celebrated.

“This is a celebration, not dour or sad,” promised Kyle Barnette, Director of Marketing & PR for CBT. “Fun, modern, bright, and exciting: a full ballet production with four powerful, emotional pieces.”

CBT choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr’s new ballet Seasons of the Sun made its world premiere. Salvatore Aiello’s Notturno, Bruce Marks’ Lark Ascending, and Random Occurrences, a ballet set to the music of Brahms, rounded out the evening.

For the cherry on top, CBT brings us another reason to get excited about arts in Charleston: (en)core, a free-to-join community of art savvy young professionals who get to sip cocktails before and after the shows while brushing elbows with the creative talent.