Klara, Sugar Plum, and other Nutcracker cast m
embers spent part of their Saturday at Barnes & Noble promoting their upcoming performance. Patrons shopping at the bookstore that day, could mention GHDT while checking out, and GHDT received some profits. The dancers colored with children, told the story of The Nutcracker, greeted shoppers, and even did a little bit of dancing!
It’s still happening!
The good news, is that you can still help out! Through Wednesday, if you’re shopping in store, be sure to mention GHDT! If you’re doing your shopping online, be sure to enter code #12043253 and a portion will benefit the company there as well!
Nutcracker season is back! Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre presents The Nutcracker at Pike Performing Arts December 2-4, 2016. This full-length modern version of the holiday classic features the highly-talented dancers of G2, the pre-professional company go GHDT. G2 is joined by students from The Academy Of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre and other young dancers filling the stage with movement and color! The Nutcracker follows the same overall storyline from the original, but with a uniquely different twist. This magical updated version portrays Klara as a homeless orphan girl who discovers the true meaning of the season through the gift and giving spirit of a homeless man. The Nutcracker is sure to add joy and cheer to your holiday season.
Performance Info
The Nutcracker is December 2-4, 2016
Friday, December 2nd at 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 3rd at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 4th at 3:00 PM
All Performances take place at Pike Performing Arts Center located at
6701 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN 40268
Ticket Info
Ticket prices are:
$25.00 for Adults
$15.00 for students and seniors
“That concert featured a few of my very favorite moments of audience reaction in dance and they are so very rare. Not those moments of big applause, which are great and there were many that night, but those moments when a dance comes to an end and there’s not a sound because to make a single sound would break the spell. That moment when the dance is so beautiful or so heartbreaking that to make a sound other than the beating heart would just destroy the moment. I love that moment when the absence of applause is the highest praise the audience can give. The dancing and choreography are so beautiful and the moment is so tender that all the audience has to give is the respect of silence. And love of the moment. Wow.” – Charlie Stepp
“I had such an intense reaction to seeing the beautiful “Violin Under the Bed.” I ran across this article about this syndrome, first described in 1817, that pretty… well describes the physical as well as emotional feelings that I had at the end of that show. Ironically, another name for this is Florence syndrome. -Katie Brown
I love that moment when the absence of applause is the highest praise the audience can give…
“Words like beauty, elegance, intrigue, passion and colorful movement come to mind when I think of “The Violin Under The Bed and Scarlett Letter.” I was moved by the experience of these stories so eloquently told by modern dance and music. I recommend this show to any seasoned spectator of dance and, in fact, to novice audiences as this show is likely to enthrall the newbie and the experienced with its majestic style.” -Dr. Louis Janeira
“I wanted to share with you how much we enjoyed seeing Gregory Hancock’s performance “The Violin Under The Bed”. In Mr. Hancock’s moving tribute to his late mother, the piece captured the humble beginnings from which she came, the love between her and her husband, her love of playing baseball, and how she embraced life. I have an appreciation of how much she loved her son, and he in return, with the rich artistry of creative dance, illustrative costumes, and selection of music. It was evident that the audience connected to this story. I felt that I knew her because of this beautiful illustration and celebration of her life.” – J.J. Kaplan
“Ivy…I can’t express my gratitude enough for the tickets. Truly an emotional tribute and a feast for the eyes. Thank you so much for allowing my friend Laura and I attend.” -Teri Cappron
This past weekend, GHDT took part in a fundraiser for a wonderful organization. Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, as well as the students in G2, performed in downtown Indianapolis. The performance was part of a 2-hour show raising money and awareness for Christel House. The company performed three pieces, and G2 one. Along with GHDT, there were many other performers working together. Anita Hjorth Lerche, a Danish singer who is well-known for her Indian songs, performed many numbers. Other appearances included flautist Gareth Laffely, Bollywood Beats dance group, Epiphany Dance Collective, Ballet Folklorico Mosaics, and singers Katie Schuman and Katy Gentry.
Together, the around 200 attendees raised over $180,000 for Christal House schools. Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre has been a part of this annual fundraiser for the past three years now. Christel House is a welcomed sponsor of the company, and the company loves giving back to this organization and helping raise so much money for the students of Christel House.
Christel House
Christel House is an organization that helps give children of poverty a better education. Founder and CEO, Christel DeHaan, immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1962. She founded Christel House International in 1998, and since then has opened 8 different schools around the globe. Currently, there are 4 schools around the Indianapolis area, 2 schools in India, 1 school in South Africa, and 1 school in Mexico. To learn more about Christel House schools, click here.
Featured Dancer, Abbie Lessaris talks about what The Violin Under the Bed means to her personally – and, speaks of her personal relationship with Florence Marie Hancock, the inspiration for the creation of the work. Earlier in the year, Abbie faced several surgeries that kept her from dancing and eventually postponed this premiere performance.
The Violin Under the Bed & Scarlet Letter, the season opening performances for Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre ‘s 2016-17 season are October 7 & 8, 2016, 7:00PM – at The Tarkington, Center for the Performing Arts.
GHDT Season Tickets for The Tarkington performances are now on sale through September 19thONLY! Call the Box Office Today at 317-843-3800 and save when purchasing Season Tickets.
Season Tickets for the three Tarkington Performances are $115.50 for adults and $100.50 for students/seniors. This is SAVING you money compared to the single ticket pricing of $42.50 for adults and $37.50 for students/seniors.
The Season Ticket package includes tickets for the World Premiere of The Violin Under the Bed and Scarlet Letter on October 7 & 8, Superhero – The story of a man called Jesus on Easter weekend , April 14 & 15, 2017 and A Night in India on June 9 & 10, 2017 at The Tarkington.
You may see this title and wonder, “Is GHDT doing a story ballet about Hester Prynne and her sins?” The answer to that question is, nope! Gregory Hancock adapted the literary classic analogically to tell the story of the legendary Marilyn Monroe and her struggles with the cruel and bitter side of Hollywood glamour. A bold and contemporary portrayal, GHDT’s The Scarlet Letter presents Marilyn as an allegory, a symbolic representation of beauty turned inside out. On top of that, the entire 45 minute piece is all to classic Annie Lennox songs, including ‘Walking on Broken Glass’ and ‘No More “I Love You’s”‘. Don’t miss the return of this fan favorite piece, along with the premiere of The Violin Under The Bed on October 7th and 8th at The Tarkington!
Guest Artists
The company is thrilled to have two guest artists joining us for this show.
Katrina Meske
Katrina Meske is originally from Riga, Latvia. She has performed with GHDT before, the last time being in 2009 for the premiere of Romeo and Juliet At The Disco. She is currently touring the country with Riverdance. She’ll join the company in rehearsal starting September 8th to portray the lead role in The Scarlet Letter — Marilyn Monroe.
Richard Link
Richard Link is originally from Los Angeles, California. He received his pre-professional ballet training with South Bay Ballet, as well as dancing summers at Milwaukee Ballet and Joffrey Ballet. He began his professional career as a trainee with Kentucky Ballet Theatre. From there, he joined Nashville Ballet’s second company where he danced the past two seasons. Richard is joining the company to perform in The Scarlet Letter as Katrina’s leading man.
Thanks to a generous donation, Studio A received a makeover! This donation allowed us to purchase a brand new Marley floor. Our old floor was about 25 years old. The old floor had been moved to and from many spaces and had multiple generations of dancers rehearse on it. This old floor also traveled to The Tarkington Theatre in July 2015 for the premiere of La Casa Azul. The floor made the trip a second time as well for the encore performance of La Casa Azul in October 2015.
The process of taking out the old floor and bringing in the new, took lots of helping hands. Company dancers, board members, academy families, and other guests volunteered their night to get the job done. In about two hours, the group rolled up each piece of old flooring, and laid down the new.
Hidden Surprise
Did you know that underneath GHDT’s Marley floor are handwritten quotes? We call it our Holy
Floor. Inspirational quotes lie underneath our feet as we dance all day. Some of the quotes included were said by Frida Kahlo, Mahatma Ghandi, Marilyn Monroe, and many more icons. Every single quote was handwritten onto the floor by our director, Gregory Hancock.
The Final Product
The final product came out beautifully. Our new Marley floor was left overnight to settle, and then was taped down to be completed. The company and academy students cannot wait to start rehearsing and taking classes on the brand new floor. Cheers to the next 25 years on our new Marley floor!
Our 2016-2017 Season Announcement is here! Next season brings back some GHDT favorites, along with brand new World Premiere pieces!
Join us in October when we open our 2016-2017 season with the World Premiere of The Violin Under The Bed, and the long-awaited Tarkington debut of The Scarlet Letter.
December brings GHDT’s holiday classic, The Nutcracker, featuring a cast of young dancers telling a tale of love and compassion.
GHDT’s annual February cabaret-styled fundraiser concerts will feature another World Premiere with an interactive murder mystery, The Black Dahlia.
By your many requests, GHDT’s classic, SUPERHERO; the story of a man called Jesus, returns again for Easter weekend. This modern re-telling of The Passion is powerful and poignant.
We will close our season with A Night In India, featuring new pieces inspired by the music, art, history, and culture of India.
Thank you for your continuing support of GHDT. We look forward to bringing you beautiful art for years to come. Buy your season tickets now!
Klara, Sugar Plum, and other Nutcracker cast m
The good news, is that you ca
n still help out! Through Wednesday, if you’re shopping in store, be sure to mention GHDT! If you’re doing your shopping online, be sure to enter code #12043253 and a portion will benefit the company there as well!
“That concert featured a few of my very favorite moments of audience reaction in dance and they are so very rare. Not those moments of big applause, which are great and there were many that night, but those moments when a dance comes to an end and there’s not a sound because to make a single sound would break the spell. That moment when the dance is so beautiful or so heartbreaking that to make a sound other than the beating heart would just destroy the moment. I love that moment when the absence of applause is the highest praise the audience can give. The dancing and choreography are so beautiful and the moment is so tender that all the audience has to give is the respect of silence. And love of the moment. Wow.” – Charlie Stepp
This past weekend, GHDT took part in a fundraiser for a wonderful organization. Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, as well as the students in G2, performed in downtown Indianapolis. The performance was part of a 2-hour show raising money and awareness for Christel House. The company performed three pieces, and G2 one. Along with GHDT, there were many other performers working together. Anita Hjorth Lerche, a Danish singer who is well-known for her Indian songs, performed many numbers. Other appearances included flautist Gareth Laffely, Bollywood Beats dance group, Epiphany Dance Collective, Ballet Folklorico Mosaics, and singers Katie Schuman and Katy Gentry.
id you know that underneath GHDT’s Marley floor are handwritten quotes? We call it our Holy
