Photo Credit: Davina Fear

Imagine Ballet Theater
P.O. Box 7
Bountiful, UT  84011-0007
www.imagineballet.org

Raymond Van Mason, Artistic Director
(801) 296-1372
ibtmason@comcast.net

Jeri Lynn Haacke, Company Manager
(801) 575-7927
haacke_ibt@yahoo.com

Availability:    September 2007 to May 2008

Imagine Ballet Theatre (IBT) is in residence at Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden, Utah. The company was created in 2004, to provide aspiring dancers exposure to professional artists and to provide professional performing experience.

The company’s, Founder, Raymond Van Mason, is an international choreographer and former Principal Dancer with Ballet West. Mason has received three Individual Artist Grants from the Utah Arts Council for his choreographic works and he has choreographed works for Ballet West, Ballet Pacifica, Ballet Etudes, and many more ballet companies. Long years of dance recognition culminated in Mason being chosen for three sequential awards, 2004-06, by Utah's Best of State Awards - 2004 for Best Individual Dancer, in 2005 on behalf of Imagine Ballet Theatre for Best Children's Performing Group, and in 2006 for Choreographer. In addition, Mason received the 2006 Mayor’s Award in the Arts for Dance and also a certificate of recognition from the city council for the company’s contributions to Ogden’s arts community.

The company has received invitations (2004 & 06) to perform at Dance Under The Stars Choreography Festival at the McCallum Theater in Palm Desert, CA.

Imagine Ballet Theatre is offering two options to presenters:

One - The Secret Garden, an original ballet choreographed by Raymond Van Mason premiered in 2005, when it received rave reviews from dance critics and the audiences.. The ballet is based on the story by Frances Hodgson Burnett with the original musical score written by well-known composer Kurt Bestor. The ballet was conceived over twelve years ago by Mason and Bestor when they worked together on the ballet Seasons for Ballet West. As Mason and Bestor collaborated on the work, they expressed how they wanted to bring the story of Mary Lenox, a bad-tempered, disagreeable child, who is sent to England to live with her uncle in a big, lonely, old house, after her parents die in India. She arrives a sour-faced, sickly little madam with a furious temper, but through her friendship with local Yorkshire lad, Dickon, and their discovery of a secret garden, soon becomes a happy and healthy girl. She shares her newfound love of life with her sickly cousin, Colin, and together the three children restore the garden to its former glory. Between them they work their magic on the garden, and in turn the garden works its magic on the children and everyone around them. Enchanting and illuminating, The Secret Garden is a richly imaginative story about the potential for transformation.

Two - Repertory program consisting of several of Imagine Ballet Theatre's most beloved ballets. The presenting organization will be able to choose a program that suits their audience, size of theater and capabilities. Some of the ballets available are: Pillow Party danced to the beloved songs of Doris Day; The Three Graces, a whimsical Greek tale based on Hope, Faith and Charity; Spiral Getty choreographed by  Angela Banchero-Kelleher, a lively modern piece; and Masquerade, a ball based on comedia del arte, as well as many other ballets in the company's repertoire. The Artistic Director of IBT will work with you to present a program that will be just right for your community.

*Karen Webb, Dance Critic, The Salt Shaker Magazine stated, "...Where exactly does a dance company of young talents go after a successful evening-length story ballet (referring to The Secret Garden)? Well, it goes on to an equally successful rep bill with intricate choreography.”

Outreach Options:

As part of IBT’s outreach program the company will offer an hour school show which could include a short lecture. The performance would be open to the community’s public and/or private schools. The company could also offer a workshop in ballet to include a master class to area students.

Technical Requirements:

• Performance space to accommodate 40 - 50 dancers
• Stage 40' wide by 30' deep
• Sound system
• Full lighting system including side lights and two follow spots
• Marley Dance Floor - a floor can be provided for an additional cost to presenter
• An extra day prior to performance to load set into theater (applicable for The Secret Garden only)
• 5 people to load sets and costumes - before and after performance
• Black and White scrim