Ballet Hartford to Perform Dance Inspired by Hill-Stead Museum

Ballet Hartford will be presenting Collections at the Hill-Stead, on Saturday, March 2, 2024, with two performances – a children’s performance in the afternoon, 2:00 - 3:00 PM, and an evening performance, followed by a light reception, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. The weekend at the Hill-Stead kicks off with an Open Artists Day on Friday, March 1, 12:00 - 1:30.

Photo bySue Takes Photos

Multiple highly regarded choreographers, with local and international experience, have developed works for Collections, including dances inspired by the renowned Hill-Stead collection.

Hill-Stead Museum, a National Historic Landmark, serves diverse audiences in Connecticut and beyond as a welcoming place for learning, reflection and enjoyment. The museum develops, preserves, documents, displays and interprets its exceptional Impressionist paintings, 1901 historic house and 152-acre landscape for the benefit of present and future generations. The Hill-Stead Museum is located at 35 Mountain Road in Farmington.

“We are in the midst of a very exciting year for Ballet Hartford, offering audiences from Greater Hartford and beyond innovative and memorable performances,” said Ballet Hartford Artistic Director Leyna Doran, now in her fifth season leading the company. “It is a unique opportunity to bring our collective talents and creativity to the marvelous Hill-Stead, and we anticipate encountering a new and varied audience.”

As a special treat, after watching the performance, children in attendance will have an opportunity to learn movement and dance alongside the professionals before participating in a visual art craft. It will be a special day for the family, enjoying the ballet, visiting the Hill-Stead, and engaging in visual arts.

Choreographers for Collections on March 2 include:

Marc Spielberger trained in Munich at the Heinz Bosl-Stifftung from 1993-1997, and danced with the Staatsoper in Berlin. From 1999-2012, he danced for Miami City Ballet under Edward Villela - gaining a promotion to soloist in 2006.

Stephanie Gagliardi trained with the School of Hartford Ballet and Princeton Ballet School. She graduated magna cum laude from The Hartt School on merit scholarship and danced professionally with Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet.

Hannah Bush earned a BFA in Dance Performance at Belhaven University and was a founding company member for Ballet Theatre of Indiana. She has taught and performed internationally in China, worked for The Joffrey Ballet and Russian Ballet International in Florence, Italy, and participated in dance missions work in Italy and Africa.

Felicia Isotti, originally from Melrose, Massachusetts, began her early dance training at Northeast School of Ballet and went on to earn her degree in Dance Performance and Ballet Pedagogy at the The Hartt School. She is in her third season dancing professionally with Ballet Hartford as well as her first season with NSquared Dance Company.

Leyna Doran has been with Ballet Hartford since its first season in 2016, beginning as a Company Artist, then Principal Dancer and Ballet Mistress, and now as Artistic Director. For the Collections mixed bill, Leyna is re-setting two of the allegro movements from a ballet called “Capriole Suite” by Silas Farley.

Throughout the year, with professional dancers from Connecticut and across the United States, Ballet Hartford produces engaging programs that uphold tradition and celebrate innovation, highlighted by technically and artistically diverse choreographic works. The company has received national and international recognition, and continues to grow in stature and number with increasing acclaim from local and regional audiences.

Open Artists Day

The Open Artists Day on March 1, 12:00 – 1:30 PM, provides local artists an opportunity to use their artistry while watching an on-site rehearsal by the dancers of Ballet Hartford, followed by a conversation between the artists and dancers about their respective works. It is an occasion for arts collaboration and mutual inspiration. The conversation will be led by Ballet Hartford’s Resident Visual Artist, Aubrey Feliciano.

“Artists sketch, paint, and photograph as they are inspired. Both dancer and artist are completely engaged in doing what they love,” said Doran. “It is wonderful to see a full range of the arts unfold in real time, and everyone enjoys every minute.” Artists interested in participating should contact Company Manager Hannah Bush at hbush@ballethartford.com. There is no charge for participating artists.

Ballet Hartford's home studio at the 224 EcoSpace holds great significance within the Connecticut dance community as this facility once housed the Hartford Ballet. Overseen by Reverend Lydell Brown, the 224 EcoSpace is a premier arts, health and wellness social enterprise located on Farmington Avenue in Hartford.

For additional information about Ballet Hartford, including a full listing of performances this Spring, visit www.ballethartford.com.