When audiences sit in the crowded amphitheater of beloved ballets such as "The Nutcracker," they know what to expect 鈥� the story, the music and the costumes. But South Carolina Ballet鈥檚 "Body & Movement Explored" will yield a very different experience.
South Carolina Ballet CEO and artistic director William Starrett founded "Body & Movement Explored" in 2014 to showcase a side of ballet that audiences do not often see.
The program will consist of a collection of individual performances put together by a group of local choreographers and dancers. Starrett has organized the performances so that each one builds off of the previous one and tells a different story.
鈥�It was really my way of getting the audiences here to understand that there are some terrific ballets that are shorter in length and not always particularity story ballets,鈥� Starrett said. 鈥�So it was kind of to give choreographers opportunity and to broaden the audiences鈥� understanding of all that dance can be.鈥�
The production will take place in the Columbia Music Festival Association's ArtSpace, located on Pulaski Street, instead of South Carolina Ballet's usual 2,000-seat venues. Starrett said the smaller venue will create a more intimate environment where the choreographers and dancers can debut their pieces.
Starrett鈥檚 vision for the program was to produce something engaging and surprising. Company choreographer Hannah Williams said the audience won鈥檛 know what to expect when the performance begins, with styles ranging from contemporary to hip-hop to swing dancing.
In this program, dancers who have never choreographed before will have the opportunity to work on the choreography for their own pieces and expand their knowledge of ballet, Starrett said.
Company choreographer Josiah Savage said he sees the chance to choreograph his own piece for the ballet as a break from his usual routine of teaching and choreographing the children in his dance classes.
鈥淲henever you get to choreograph on your peers, whether it鈥檚 on a company level or even at a pre-professional (or) student level, it鈥檚 always a very in-depth process,鈥� Savage said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot that goes into it.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
After the performance, there will be an open mic session where choreographers appear on stage to answer questions so the audience can gain insight on their pieces. People often congregate in the lobby during a show's intermission to talk about the piece and how they interpret it, Starrett said.
鈥�(Dance is) just like an abstract painting,鈥� Starrett said. 鈥淎 lot of people see different things.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Williams is choreographing a duet for "Body & Movement Explored." For her piece, Williams said her goal is to bring to the stage something people haven't seen before while developing a better sense of her own style.
鈥漈he more chances I get to choreograph, like for Body & Movement, the more I get to grow,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚 wouldn't even say that I鈥檝e arrived at what my style is. I鈥檓 continuing to discover what it is every time I get to create.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Starrett said whether they are choreographing, directing or dancing in the ballet, participants view the production in many different ways.
For Savage, it鈥檚 all about getting the opportunity to influence and be influenced by other people's art.
鈥�It鈥檚 not about us, as a choreographer,鈥� Savage said. 鈥�It鈥檚 about also giving people opportunities who may not always have an opportunity to be seen.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
To Starrett, ballet is deeply personal. Some pieces tell stories, some make statements and some are autobiographical. Through "Body & Movement Explored," Starrett said he hopes to give the audience an idea of how limitless ballet can be.
鈥�We鈥檙e bringing physical interpretation of music through the human spirit,鈥� Starrett said. 鈥�And the human body is the instrument.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
"Body & Movement Explored" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 and 17. Tickets are available both at the door and on South Carolina Ballet's .