BALLET AT THE BUTLER Original art inspires choreography

The dancers created many moods to bring art to life.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Hundreds of people crowded The Butler Institute of American Art this weekend to enjoy music, dance, food, and a lively social gathering as Ballet Western Reserve danced paintings to life in their 7th annual "Evening of Dance at The Butler."
The Friday and Saturday evening celebrations featured a roving cocktail party with smooth jazz, Irish dance, slow tap-stomp and African influences as well as the more classic fare for which BWR is best known.
A painting by Georgia O'Keefe "Cottonwood III," was featured in two dances choreographed by Karen Westerfield. The barefooted dancers in light blue and green costumes first moved like butterflies across a windswept field. The second dance was more animated, with an athletic solo by Mikel Lewis.
Jennifer Hayden Pirtz choreographed the second piece, danced to Everett Shinn's "Alley Cats." The company's apprentice group in cat costumes (without tails!) danced cat-like movements to a recording of jazzed-up Bach. They pranced, pounced, and stalked in this light and humorous piece.
Not dreaming
BWR Artistic Director Anita Lin choreographed, a painting by abstract expressionist, Robert Motherwell called "Mexican Past." The dancers wore swooping costumes in the bold brown, black, and white colors of the painting. This sensual and passionate Latino-ballet blend was performed to the gorgeous music of Linstead, "Suenos en tus ojos" meaning "dreams in your eyes."
The audience was next treated to lively Irish dancing to a bold red and black modern painting by Paul Jenkins, a native of Struthers, called "Phenomena North Gobi Wind." Choreographed by Brendan Trewella, who ranks 5th in the world in Irish dancing , this piece also featured his three prize-winning sisters. Fifteen other BWR dancers joined in the dance.
The Ari Kessler Trio provided intermission entertainment, as the audience mingled and visited the small gallery at the front of the museum.
The performance resumed to the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, to a painting called "Three Graces" by Nassos Daphnis. The dancers moved like sylphs across the stage in this classical-style ballet choreographed by Lin. All three dancers have been accepted into American Ballet Theater, a first for BWR.
Pamela Reeping's choreography brought to life the painting by Daniel Knight, "Life is Sweet." The first piece was mostly movement on the floor, slow, graceful, calm and peaceful. The second piece was more lively, with the dancers in vibrant colors.
The finale was the collaboration by BWR and the Harambee Dancers, influenced by traditional Monjoni (African) dance. Choreographed by Lin and Rhonda Taylor to the painting "Children Dancing," five percussionists provided the beat for this exuberant piece. Beginning slowly, with chanting, the group quickly broke into a wild energy. The gorgeous, vibrant costumes helped set the stage on fire, and the joy in the dancers' faces brought the audience to its feet with cheers and whistles.