In an ongoing effort to match Ballet Arkansas artists and audiences with new choreographic work, the company held its 3rd annual “Visions” contest Saturday night, a competition for a Ballet Arkansas commission of an original piece.
Jimmy Orrante, a Los Angeles native who danced for 20 years at Ballet Met, won the competition by combined vote from the audience and from a panel comprised of Robert Hill, Orlando Ballet’s Artistic Director, Geoffrey Robson, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Associate Conductor and Christen Pitts, North Little Rock High’s Dance Department Director.
Orrante’s piece, set to Don Gillis’ Symphony No. 5 ½, “A Symphony for Fun,”will be fully developed and produced at Ballet Arkansas’ spring show, to be held April 28-30, 2017 at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.