DECATUR, Ill. – 鶹Լ University’s School of Theatre and Dance students had the unique opportunity to learn from a leading performer, choreographer, and ballet director when Roger VanFleteren spent a week on campus during an artistic residency from April 6-10.
VanFleteren is the Associate Artistic Director of the, the state’s premier professional ballet company. The company has achieved national prominence as one of only eight ballet companies in the world permitted by the Balanchine Trust to perform Balanchine’s Nutcracker.
VanFleteren is a former American Ballet Theater soloist and performed as a principal dancer with the London City Ballet. His original choreography for Alabama Ballet includes “Romeo and Juliet”, “Dracula”, “Swan Lake”, “Cinderella”, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and “Bonnie and Clyde.”
VanFleteren’s original world premieres, “Bach Variations” and “Be Major,” are two Panoply award-winning works. His innovative choreography and passion for the dancer have been instrumental in the company's world-class performances.
During his four days on campus, VanFleteren led several dance workshops focused on the, which was made famous in the Broadway production and film “Chicago.”
“It's always a joy to teach college kids because they always get things quicker. There is 50% more fun. I feel like their minds work quicker. They may not have all the stuff yet that you have to have, but they have the will. They have the want,” VanFleteren said. “The wonderful thing about teaching is when you can actually teach somebody how to do something. We had a lot of light bulb moments from the kids this week, and that's the joy of teaching.”
VanFleteren also led a workshop on intermediate/advanced master ballet, shared his expertise with several ballet classes, and attended a dress rehearsal of the upcoming student production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
The residency was made possible by a generous gift from Shirley Stanley, who has also supported establishing the Center for Theatre & Dance and the “Transform MU” Capital Campaign.
“I've known Roger for 40 years, and I know his talent as a teacher. I know his extensive training as a teacher. He has been with Alabama Ballet for 30 years, and in that capacity, he does a lot of teaching and choreography. He also has worked with summer intensive programs that have some of the most talented young dancers in the country,” Stanley said. “Decatur is our community, and my husband and I both feel very strongly that 鶹Լ is so important to the community. We support 鶹Լ, and we support the Center of Theatre & Dance. It is a jewel. It's one of the reasons we were interested in seeing this building happen. I think everybody loves this building, and this studio is just incredible.”
