The Charlotte Ballet will present novelties during its 2022-2023 season, led by its new artistic director, Alejandro Cerrudo. Upcoming shows include “Peter Pan” and the “Nutcracker,” Ideal for entertaining children and adults.
“We have a bit of everything: we have the Nutcracker at Christmas, which of course I recommend. It’s phenomenal and the kids love it.”
Cerrudo told La Noticia.
The Spanish choreographer came to the city to work as the fifth artistic director of the dance company, after being selected among 90 candidates for the position. One of his goals is to make the Charlotte Ballet and its audience more diverse.
Alejandro Cerrudo works on his own production “It Starts Now”, in Chicago. Credit: Rosalie O’Connor / Courtesy Charlotte Ballet
“I want to be more connected with the Hispanic community here in Charlotte and with all communities. I want to bring diversity. I think the more diverse we are as a company and as an organization, the stronger we are because we bring more ideas and those ideas elevate the bottom line.”
Cerrudo detailed to La Noticia.
Premieres
The first premiere of the new season will be “Fall Works”, which will be presented from October 13 to 15 at the Knight Theater in Charlotte.
“They are more contemporary and they are incredible. It’s more abstract, but I recommend it, because it’s one of these things that you have to experience to understand”,
Cerrudo said.Alejandro Cerrudo, the new artistic director of the Charlotte Ballet, spoke with La Noticia. Credit: Jose Cordero / The News
The “Nutcracker” will brighten up Christmas 2022, while in 2023 the “Innovative Works” and the “Choreographic Lab” will be presented.
“We have works by choreographers like Crystal Pite, Jennifer Archibald, Helen Simoneau, Helen Pickett”,
added the new director.
Academia
Likewise, the Academy of Charlotte Ballet will open registrations in June for children and adults who want to learn to dance.
The new ballet director believes that dance has benefits for anyone, even if they don’t want to dance professionally.
Charlotte Ballet Preparatory Division Show. Credit: Peter Zay / Courtesy of Charlotte Ballet
“It creates a discipline and a work mentality that can be used in other places (…). It helps you to pursue some challenges, to set some goals for yourself and every day to push yourself further to get there”,
Cerrudo assured.
Likewise, the Spaniard considers that ballet strengthens the capacities of expression from an early age. “Dance offers an extension to the expression of children, which is not only with words, but through movement”reported to La Noticia.
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Carrera
Cerrudo has worked with prestigious dance companies such as the Victor Ullate Ballet (Spain), Stuttgart Ballet (Germany), Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (Holland), and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC).
Alejandro Cerrudo is the fifth director of the Charlotte Ballet. Credit: Jeff Cravotta / Courtesy Charlotte Ballet
The Spaniard confesses that he is “delighted” with the city of Charlotte, which he describes as “quite diverse”. “The people, the community, the art that I see. It is a city that is growing tremendously. The feeling is very good”he comments to La Noticia with a smile.
During his career, he has gone through different stages that have strengthened him and he considers that his production “It Starts Now”, created in Chicago, was key to being able to direct the Charlotte Ballet today.
Alejandro Cerrudo works on his own production “It Starts Now”, in Chicago. Credit: Rosalie O’Connor / Courtesy Charlotte Ballet
“That has been the moment that has prepared me the most to lead a company like Charlotte Ballet. I made it from scratch. There were no funds, there were no dancers, there was no team to support me and, little by little, I put it all together and we had the premiere last year at the Joyce Theater in New York ”,
Cerrudo told La Noticia.
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