CelloPointe Returns to Manhattan Music and Arts Center for New Concert

Dance and music ensemble, CelloPointe, is returning to Manhattan Music and Arts Center with a wonderful concert of contemporary ballet and world-class chamber music on March 25 at 3:00 pm. With its unique style of programming, CelloPointe balances the virtuosity of chamber musicians and dancers.

This season they are offering two choreographic works already in their repertoire, Gabrielle Lamb's contemporary ballet "Dances for a Small Planet" and Barry Kerollis' "Undecidedly Solo" The program also features new choreographic works by audience favorite David Fernandez, and introducing an exciting young choreographer, Patrick O'Brien. Each unique choreographed work is visually stunning and equally captivating due to the excellent live music performed by Grammy-nominated cellist Peter Wiley, Peter Lloyd on double bass and Kobi Malkin on violin.

"Dances for a Small Planet" was originally created by Ms. Lamb for CelloPointe in 2015 and was inspired by the Golden Record sent into space aboard the Voyager 1. Set to the Preludio and Loure from Bach's Partita #3, featuring violinist Kobi Malkin and dancers Dona Wiley and Shannon Maynor, this eight-minute duet, is based on the idea of a summit between two heads-of-state from vastly different civilizations.

Choreographer, Barry Kerollis created "Undecidedly Solo" for CelloPointe in 2017. Moving to the unique musicality of Kodaly, three dancers experience an unexpected journey as they weave in and out of this work. The expansive movement, a vast range of tempi, and spontaneous onstage decisions keep the dancers on the tips of their toes as they learn the fate of their performance alongside members of the audience.

A highlight of the concert is "Hymn" for a duet of cello and bass and solo dancer, Traci Finch featuring the somber composition by Alfred Schnittke, choreographed by emerging star Patrick O'Brien.

Returning favorite choreographer, David Fernandez again brings the music alive with his thoughtful choreography. David set this piece to a theme and variation duet by Beethoven for violin and cello. In his notes to the dancers he writes, Traci sets the rules, Dona develops them and Anne unites them. He has Traci moving with the cello line with Dona and Anne are on the violin journey, for the lively Coda he writes, "Let's close this joint"!

The program offers a wide variety of musical selections, from Rossini to Kodaly, which reflect the depth of creativity among this outstanding company. The music played live, creates an intimacy of each work, a true musical conversation between friends.

Ticket LinkTickets $30, reserved seating only

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