This weekend, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet performs alongside renowned pianist Joyce Yang. This is only the second time in the company’s history that they’ve danced alongside live piano.
Joyce Yang is known for her colorful and imaginative style. But for this collaboration, she’s accommodating the needs of the dancers of Aspen Santa Fe ballet, who rely on a set tempo.
Emily Franc has danced with the company for 10 years. She said that despite the many hours of rehearsal, tempos can and do change when dancing to live music. “But it’s a wonderful opportunity to test yourself and to feel the excitement of the live music.”
The evening is Franc’s final performance on the Aspen stage. She retires this year and said this collaboration is a unique capstone.
“It’s different because it’s more present. I mean, all dance is present. It only happens there on that stage for those 20 minutes, but, combined with the music that is being performed in the same way, it adds extra energy.”
Saturday’s program includes the world premiere of choreographer Jorma Elo’s "Half/Cut/Split," a collaboration with Yang.
