Spring Break
Donald McKayle celebrates the depth of music with Kansas City
Jheel Mehta
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Culture
It has been a memorable expedition for McKayle creating "Hey-Hay Going to Kansas City."
McKayle is working on the last piece of the musical and expects the hard work of the dancers will pay off at the 50th anniversary of Kansas City Ballet.
This musical will take the audience through a deviation of cities, time and style of jazz - varying from dances sequences of blues to swing to something totally different. So passionate dancers, jazz lovers and everyone else - keep your eyes open and let the magic of "Hey-Hay Going to Kansas City" take you to a journey through different cities, times and styles of jazz.
jmehta@unews.com
From the mouth of a dance master: Exerpts from interview
Nicole English: How did the project for the new ballet that Donald McKayle is choreographing for the Kansas City Ballet's 50th Anniversary ["Hey-Hay, Going to Kansas City"] come about?
William Whitener [Director of Kansas City Ballet]: This is a work that I had on the back burner for a while. … I knew I wanted something in the repertory that honors the great Jazz tradition of our city … and I had Donald McKayle in mind for a while. … Then, recently, I was reminded of his great artistry when he was in town working on one of his classic works, "Games," recently for the Wylliams/Henry Dance Company. … It reminded me of when I had seen his work for Alvin Ailey in NYC when I was with the Joffery. … So, I have been a great fan for many years … and we are delighted to have him working with the dancers … and things are going, as they say, swimmingly. … It looks great. … It will be a wonderful program. … We are presenting two new works and a classic piece at the KC Ballet in Feb. 21-24. … One of them will be mine, which opens the show and this one of Donald's will be closing the show … and we will present a classic piece from well-known choreographer, Twyla Tharp, in between. … Immediately after the Kansas City premiere, we will be taking the whole show then to the Joyce Theatre in New York City March 11-16.
McKayle is working on the last piece of the musical and expects the hard work of the dancers will pay off at the 50th anniversary of Kansas City Ballet.
This musical will take the audience through a deviation of cities, time and style of jazz - varying from dances sequences of blues to swing to something totally different. So passionate dancers, jazz lovers and everyone else - keep your eyes open and let the magic of "Hey-Hay Going to Kansas City" take you to a journey through different cities, times and styles of jazz.
jmehta@unews.com
From the mouth of a dance master: Exerpts from interview
Nicole English: How did the project for the new ballet that Donald McKayle is choreographing for the Kansas City Ballet's 50th Anniversary ["Hey-Hay, Going to Kansas City"] come about?
William Whitener [Director of Kansas City Ballet]: This is a work that I had on the back burner for a while. … I knew I wanted something in the repertory that honors the great Jazz tradition of our city … and I had Donald McKayle in mind for a while. … Then, recently, I was reminded of his great artistry when he was in town working on one of his classic works, "Games," recently for the Wylliams/Henry Dance Company. … It reminded me of when I had seen his work for Alvin Ailey in NYC when I was with the Joffery. … So, I have been a great fan for many years … and we are delighted to have him working with the dancers … and things are going, as they say, swimmingly. … It looks great. … It will be a wonderful program. … We are presenting two new works and a classic piece at the KC Ballet in Feb. 21-24. … One of them will be mine, which opens the show and this one of Donald's will be closing the show … and we will present a classic piece from well-known choreographer, Twyla Tharp, in between. … Immediately after the Kansas City premiere, we will be taking the whole show then to the Joyce Theatre in New York City March 11-16.
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