Ballet Arkansas reports 600 attendees for first weekend, anticipates more
NORTH LITTLE ROCK (May 13, 2021) – The second weekend of Ballet Arkansas Presents Live at the Plaza, featuring free recreational classes and performances, will be Friday, May 21 – Sunday, May 23, at Argenta Plaza at 510 Main Street in North Little Rock. The events are sponsored by North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, City of North Little Rock, First Orion, ACANSA Arts Festival of the South, Taggart Architects, Fit 2 Live and Argenta Downtown Council.
“Over the course of the first weekend of performances, we were pleased to entertain nearly 600 attendees from diverse populations, including 50 participants in our morning classes at the Argenta Plaza,” said Michael Fothergill, Ballet Arkansas’s Executive and Artistic Director. “We anticipate the momentum to continue through the second weekend, if not accelerate, and are thrilled to bring our programming to new audiences that may not have experienced the power and beauty of a Ballet Arkansas performance before.”
“Ballet Arkansas has been a joy to work with and seeing the events come to life has been incredible,” said Karen Trevino, President & CEO of the North Little Rock CVB. “We love being able to provide opportunities for locals and visitors to experience North Little Rock’s amazing performing arts scene; with the addition of outdoor dining and live music on Main Street, we anticipate an even more festive atmosphere for the next weekend of Live at the Plaza.”
Photo by Casey Crocker
Schedule updates of note from the first weekend include the addition of a Friday, May 21, 11:30 a.m. performance; morning recreational classes 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Monday, May 17 – Thursday, May 20, and a new “Dancing with Dogs” class scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 22. Due to the possibility of inclement weather the third weekend of May, those interested in attending Live at the Plaza are encouraged to visit www.BalletArkansas.org/plaza for the most up-to-date schedule of classes and performances.
Ballet Arkansas live performances will feature excerpts from the classical “Raymonda” suite, Paul Tillman’s “Echo”, Matthew Larson’s “Satie”, and a new work by Yoshito Sakuraba. The finale of each performance will be “Water Work,” a new work choreographed by Deanna Stanton featuring the Argenta Plaza water wall. All performances are free and open to the public. Attendees may bring their own lawn chairs.
Morning recreational classes, sponsored by ACANSA Arts Festival of the South, include Pilates at the Plaza, Stretch & Strengthen, Jazz at the Plaza, Ballet on the Grounds, Rise & Shine Silver and Unbound: Improvisational Motion for Well-being. Ballet Arkansas has also added a Dancing with Dogs class, perfect for families and their furry friends. All classes are free and open to all ages and abilities. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own yoga mats and bottled water as needed.
Photo by Ballet Arkansas
Main Street from Broadway to 5th Street will also be closed for “Argenta Dogtown Throwdown” from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon with outdoor seating on Main Street and live music. Argenta Plaza is located within the Argenta Outdoor Dining District, so Live at the Plaza attendees may carry drinks from downtown restaurants into the plaza.
For class descriptions and program details, visit www.BalletArkansas.org/plaza. Arkansas Department of Health guidelines will be enforced for a safe learning and viewing experience. Attendees will be asked to practice social-distancing and wear masks when closer than six feet. Dancers will be masked and will maintain appropriate distance from audience members.
About the North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau
The North Little Rock CVB is the destination marketing organization for North Little Rock, Arkansas. It promotes North Little Rock as a positive tourism and hospitality experience thus enhancing economic growth and quality of life for its citizens and visitors. For more information about where to stay, where to eat and what to do in North Little Rock, visit www.NorthLittleRock.org.
About Ballet Arkansas
Consisting of 15 professional dancers, Ballet Arkansas is the foremost professional ballet company of the State of Arkansas and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Over the last 42 years, Ballet Arkansas’ world class education programs and performances have touched the lives of more than 300,000 Arkansans, nearly 25,000 per year. Today, Ballet Arkansas presents the most celebrated works in American dance, including a vibrant and diverse repertory of classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works by world renowned choreographers. Ballet Arkansas’s mission is to provide world class diverse innovative dance programming and education programs to Arkansas and beyond. For more information, visit www.BalletArkansas.org.
