Nature-Inspired, Festival Fun!

The Artosphere Festival celebrates art, music and nature with exciting performances, activities and events FOR the whole family TO enjoy. 

Each year, Artosphere spotlights artists and performers from around the world who are inspired by nature, and provides a creative framework for the community to discuss issues of sustainability and environmental awareness.

Artosphere Festival Orchestra

Live from Crystal Bridges: Mozart in the Museum
Friday, June 15, 8 pm
The Great Hall of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville

From the Great Hall of the world-class Crystal Bridges museum in Bentonville, Maestro Rovaris leads the Artosphere Festival Orchestra in the 6th annual Mozart in the Museum performance. This exceptional program features Jonny Greenwood’s Water; Mozart’s Flute & Harp Concertofeaturing Marie Tachouet, Flute, and Cheryl Losey Feder, Harp; and Mozart’s Symphony No. 38 “Prague”. Presented in partnership with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the concert will be broadcast live on KUAF 91.3 FM Public Radio and aired live in the Walton Arts Center gardens during Trail Mix in Fayetteville at 8 pm on June 15.

Beethoven Masterworks, part of the 10x10 Arts Series
Tuesday, June 19, 7 pm
Baum Walker Hall at Walton Arts Center

The AFO performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, the Emperor Concerto, featuring Italian pianist Maurizio Baglini; and Symphony No. 6, the Pastoral Symphony, a musical tribute to nature and the country setting where the symphony was written. This performance will be illustrated and animated by French artist Grégoire Pont, whose visual imagery drawn live, will accent Beethoven’s work and delight audiences of all ages.

AFO: Off the Grid
FREE & Open to the Public!

Musicians from the Artosphere Festival Orchestra go off the grid, leaving the concert hall to perform their favorite music in bars, coffee houses, and restaurants. Come see these musicians play everything from Bach to Beyoncé while at Dickson Street Entertainment District in Fayetteville on Thursday, or Downtown Springdale and Main Street Siloam Springs on Friday!

Fayetteville
Thursday, June 21, 7 pm
Dickson Street Entertainment District

Downtown Springdale and Main Street Siloam Springs
Friday, June 22, 7 pm

The American Spirit
Saturday, June 23, 8 pm
Baum Walker Hall at Walton Arts Center

A contemporary American sampler, this concert features the unique compositions of Leonard Bernstein, Jennifer Higdon and John Adams, and the incredible artistry of violist Roberto Díaz. Each piece brings a distinct perspective to a concert that exemplifies the best of American classical music.

Trail Mix

Trail Mix returns with two days of outdoor fun and entertainment along local trail systems!

 Follow Walton Arts Center on Instagram to share in the Trail Mix Fayetteville experience and Grand Opening of Topo Map when Jennifer Wilson of our PR team takes over our Instagram account!

TRAIL MIX SCHEDULE:

Trail Mix: Fayetteville
Friday, June 15, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Fayetteville Arts District

Trail Mix comes to the entertainment district with artists and musicians performing adjacent to Fayetteville’s Frisco Trail and around our campus. Take part in arts and crafts hosted by The Spark Foundation and Community Creative Center in the arts center’s Rose Garden. Watch the gladiator water balloon show, Waterbombs! and celebrate the opening of Topo Map on School Avenue. Gather for a live radio broadcast and simulcast of the AFO’s Live from Crystal Bridges: Mozart in the Museum concert.

Trail Mix Fayetteville artists include: The Crumbs, Melody Pond, Rozenbridge, Still on the Hill, Block Street Hot Club, Mobile Aquarium, Water Bombs and more!

Trail Mix: Bentonville
Saturday, June 16, 11 am to 1 pm
Downtown Square to Crystal Bridges Museum

On Saturday, Trail Mix comes to Bentonville with artists and musicians performing at trail locations between Compton Gardens and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Get started at Compton Gardens, and then move north along the Crystal Bridges Trail to a hillside entertainment stop at the museum’s James Turrell Skyspace art installation, The Way of Color.

Trail Mix Bentonville artists include: The Crumbs, Melody Pond, Rozenbridge, Water Bombs and more.

Kick off Trail Mix with the 4th Annual Crystal Bridges Garden Party on Saturday, June 16, 11 am to 4pm at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville (admission is FREE!).

Chapel Music

Still on the Hill: Water Music
Sunday, June 10, 6:30 pm at The Chapel Ruins at Sassafras Springs Vineyard in Springdale
Monday, June 11, 6:30 pm at Mildred B. Memorial Chapel in Bella Vista

Described as “Ambassadors of the Ozarks” for the work they do to preserve a rich culture that is quickly disappearing, Kelly and Donna of Still on the Hill are award-winning, story-telling songwriters. Different from most singer-songwriters, this dynamic duo embellishes their songs with a host of unique instruments from the hills they call home.

Dover Quartet
Tuesday, June 12, 7 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Artosphere’s resident quartet and founding principal strings for the Artosphere Festival Orchestra, the Dover Quartet will continue its multi-year residency in 2018. Recently named the Cleveland Quartet Award winner, and awarded the coveted Avery Fisher Career Grant, the quartet has become one of the most in-demand ensembles in the world.

arx duo: Percussion Re-imagined
Wednesday, June 13, 7 pm at Hunt Chapel

Aspiring to expand the genre of percussion chamber music through performing and creative collaboration, Arx Duo has been blazing a trail in the realm of contemporary music since its inception at the Yale School of Music in 2014. Since then, the duo has performed and given educational clinics across three continents. Serving as members of the Artosphere Festival Orchestra, Arx Duo and will also lead a variety of community engagement performances throughout the Northwest Arkansas region.

An Evening of Music with Roberto Díaz and Friends
Wednesday, June 20, 7 pm at The Great Hall at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Roberto Díaz, violist and President/CEO of Curtis Institute of Music, will be joined in this performance by the current Curtis Quartet in Residence, Zorá String Quartet, and the former and founding Curtis Quartet in Residence, Dover Quartet. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime concert set amidst the inspiring architecture of Crystal Bridges' Great Hall and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Ozarks. The evening’s program features Scott Slapin’s Capricious Viola Trio, Antonin Dvořák’s String Quintet in E-flat major “American” and Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet. The concert will be recorded by KUAF.

Film

The Buffalo Flows
Thursday, June 14, 7 pm at Walton Arts Center

The Buffalo Flows is a one-hour documentary written and produced by two-time Emmy Award® winner Larry Foley, professor of journalism at the University of Arkansas. Academy Award® winner Ray McKinnon narrates. Internationally known as an outstanding canoe stream, this 135-mile river, free of dams, is so much more, and the film captures what is protected. The story is about the bluffs and the trees, the flowers and the birds, and the giant elk. It’s about hiking and floating and camping and fishing, and it’s also about the people who make their homes in Buffalo River country year-round, and have for generations.

*Join us for a screening of The Buffalo Flows and a pre-film conversation with its creative team!

Song of the Sea
Sunday, June 17, 11 am at Walton Arts Center

From the creators of the Academy Award®-nominated The Secret of Kells comes a breathtakingly gorgeous, hand-drawn masterpiece. Based on the Irish legend of the Selkies, Song of the Sea tells the story of the last “seal child,” Saoirse, and her brother Ben, who go on an epic journey to save the world of magic and discover the secrets of their past. 

Disneynature Oceans
Sunday, June 17, 11 am at Walton Arts Center

Journey to the depths of a wonderland filled with mystery, beauty and power. Oceans is a spectacular story, narrated by Pierce Brosnan, about remarkable creatures under the sea. It's an unprecedented look at the lives of these elusive deep-water creatures through their own eyes. Incredible state-of-the-art-underwater filmmaking will take your breath away as you migrate with whales, swim alongside a great white shark and race with dolphins at play. 

Chasing Coral
Sunday, June 17, 11 am at Walton Arts Center

Chasing Coral taps into the collective will and wisdom of an ad man, a self-proclaimed coralnerd, top-notch camera designers, and renowned marine biologists as they invent the first timelapse camera to record bleaching events as they happen. 

Visual Arts

Topo Map
On display throughout Artosphere Festival 2018

Topo Map for School Avenue (2018) is a temporary public art installation made of thermoplastic by artist Stacy Levy. City of Fayetteville and Walton Arts Center commissioned the artwork with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Its form is a life-scale topographic map of the terrain between Dickson and Mountain Streets and a visual reminder of the issues of water in Fayetteville’s hilly landscape.

The Bleak and the Burgeoning
June 19 - October 7, 2018 at the Joy Pratt Markham Gallery

The works in this exhibition, including large-scale installations, are physically curated in ways that reveal both an independent sense of personal geography, as well as a collective experience of fragile terrains. Featured artists: Amber Cowan, Maysey Craddock, Leonardo Drew, Lauren Fensterstock and Judy Pfaff.

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Go with the FLOW

RAVÉ MEHTA combines music and mindfulness in FLOW - the next show on our 10X10 ART SERIES! In the spirit of FLOW, the show is 50% choreographed and 50% improvised, with original music by Ravé Mehta, composed in part during the show.

Q&A - RAVÉ MEHTA

Ravé Mehta is an award winning-composer, producer, pianist and bestselling author. He’s a self-taught musician and plays multiple instruments, but the piano is his true love. Ravé has been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for over 15 years and developed techniques on inducing flow states through his music to help nourish the body and mind. Ravé also has a passion for writing and his book, “The Inventor,” is a bestselling graphic novel based on the true story of Nikola Tesla.

1.    How did FLOW the show come to be?

It was quite miraculous, actually. I was recovering from Lyme disease and found myself going to yoga classes six days a week and playing the piano every day. Both of these activities put me in flow and aided in my healing process. One day I asked my friend Kristen to do her dance-like yoga flow on top of my piano while I played. It looked so beautiful. We then performed it for a few events with great feedback. Later that year, I was able to get a performance date at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts to do something (anything!), so we took the piano yoga concept and expanded it into a full cast of yoga inspired performances, which I composed all new music to. About two months later, we were on stage with a sold-out theater. It all happened so organically that the entire process was a state of flow… so smooth and effortless. The luckiest part of all this was that I was able to get the URL, www.flowtheshow.com! 

2.    Tell us more about the show title.

The show title FLOW is a double entendre. On one side of the coin, the show is about yoga. We took many of the different yoga flows—dance, acro-yoga, aerial yoga, etc.—and re-presented them as a performing arts. The other side of the coin, FLOW is a demonstration of what it looks like when one is in a flow state (i.e. in the zone!). When we’re in flow, we become hyper-intuitive and every moment leads to the next, without thought or hesitation. Time slows down and everything feels connected and effortless. When we’re in flow we’re stronger, smarter, faster and we heal quicker. When we’re in flow, we’re essentially super human and that’s when we can exercise our highest potential.

3.    What moves you to create a new project (e.g.: a musical piece, life experience or choreographer)?

My passion is creating projects and expressions that bring together art and science to inspire human potential. FLOW is an example of that, using the science of flow states in a performance setting to inspire curiosity and explore how we all can gracefully tap into our innate superpowers.

4.    Can you comment on the dynamic between music and performer onstage, and how your improvisations unfold in the moment?

FLOW can be experienced individually and also in a group setting. Think about a band performing together, when they’re in flow, the music comes together with such coherence and integrity that the audience gets pulled into their flow state. That’s how our show is designed… I first engage the audience to create a connection so we’re all synchronized energetically. I then sit down and play, feeding off the energy we just created in the room together, while the audience bathes in my music. The performers enter the stage and feel my music, while I observe and feel their movement, creating a real-time feedback loop between us. The performers are also immersing the audience into a state of wonder while the audience is feeding the performers with their curiosity and presence, and they have their real-time feedback loop. Through this series of feedback loops, a group flow dynamic emerges creating a fully connected and integrated experience for everyone.

5.    Pick 5 words—that start with the letter 'F'—that best describe FLOW.

• Freedom – When you’re in flow, you feel a higher sense of freedom; and when you experience higher degrees of freedom, that puts you in flow.
• Feeling – Your body is flooded with dopamine and other feel-good hormones when you’re in flow.
• Fearless – To be in flow, you have to be so full of trust that there’s no room for fear, doubt or judgment.
• Fun – Flow states slow down time and everything feels effortless and in rhythm!
• Feedback – Flow has a real-time feedback loop that helps keep the mind and body in flow.

6.    What are some of the secrets to accessing a state of flow?

You can design your environment and life to induce you into a flow state. For example, here are three flow state drivers:

• Be present – the more present you are, the more focus you create and the less room there is for fear. Yoga breathing techniques are great way to create presence.
• Pursue novelty – try new things, travel to new places, meet new people, anything that introduces novelty into your life will create more flow.
• Manage your challenge-to-skill ratio – the challenge should be slightly more than your skill level. If it’s too high you’ll give up, if it’s too low you’ll get bored.

7.    What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Breathe… when you don’t know what to do, just breathe.

8.    Whom do you define as visionary?

I wrote a graphic novel on one of my favorite visionaries called "The Inventor," which is based on the true story of Nikola Tesla and how he used the power of his mind and imagination to change the world despite the all the hurdles he faced. The graphic novel is really about the journey of the human spirit and illustrates what it takes for anyone to bring their vision into this world... patience, persistence and perseverance.

9.    What do you hope audiences take away from your performances?

I really want the audience to feel connected and be inspired to learn more about how they can tap into their flow more consciously and more often.

10. What songs, artists or styles of music are you currently listening to?

I love listening to movie soundtracks. Hans Zimmer and Richard Gibbs are some of my favorite composers. "The Batman" series and the "Tron" movie soundtracks are some of my favorites also. I also love the music from the Cirque du Soleil shows, which are so cinematic.

Get ready for an original experience with the sole intention of raising your vibration! FLOW the show comes to Walton Arts Center on May 24, and like all our 10x10 Arts Series shows, tickets are just $10.

To Our Incredible Volunteers: You Make the Show Go On

Walton Arts Center volunteers are a dedicated group of individuals who commit their time, talents and resources to support our mission of bringing world-class performances to Northwest Arkansas. These are the people who welcome you, serve you, seat you and are on hand to provide assistance and answer questions at every show.  They also work every education show, unloading and loading kids from buses and helping them have a safe, fun and memorable arts experience.

Our diverse group of volunteers represents an interesting cross-section of the Northwest Arkansas community. Some are locals and others are transplants who now call our region home. They hail from a variety of backgrounds and bring with them diverse experience, yet they all share a love for the arts and their community.

Their gift to Walton Arts Center is priceless. Combined, this group of volunteers gave nearly 23,000 hours of service in 2017. Our philosophy towards our corps of volunteers is simple: the show could not go on without them!

Opportunities

Front of House
Assist our operations team during Walton Arts Center, SoNA, Trike and TheatreSquared performances, as well as education shows and special events doing everything from taking tickets and ushering to selling concessions and checking coats.

Studio & Education Outreach
Work with Walton Arts Center and Crystal Bridges' Arts With Education (AWE) Institute, as well as with classes and camps on the WAC campus.

Special Events
Assist in special tasks during annual events, like Artosphere: Arkansas' Arts + Nature Festival, Art of Wine Festival and Masquerade Ball.

Administrative
Assist with a variety of office and clerical duties.

Resident Companies
Work during performances and special events for TheatreSquared, Trike and SoNA and help Community Creative Center with classes and camps throughout the year.

Volunteer Appreciation 

Every year Walton Arts Center honors our volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Night. During this special evening, awards are given based upon years of service and number of hours, plus The Volunteer of the Year Award. In addition, we recognize volunteers throughout the year with a complimentary ticket program that allows volunteers receive tickets to shows. Volunteers are often highlighted in Bravo, the monthly newsletter for volunteers. We are always looking for additional ways to recognize our volunteers for their dedication and faithful service.

• Support the arts in your community.
• Make new friends in a fun and creative environment. 
• Help us continue bringing arts experiences to Northwest Arkansas!

Visionary Approach to Classic Music

Combining elements of jazz, jam-band, folk and classical music, Béla Fleck is teaming up with Brooklyn Rider for an unforgettable night!

Each Artist is Visionary in Their Music.

Widely considered the premier banjo player alive today, Béla has completely redefined the limits of His instrument. All the While, Brooklyn Rider is Hailed as “the future of chamber music” (Strings), Offering eclectic repertoire in gripping performances that continue to attract legions of fans and draw rave reviews from classical, world and rock critics alike. 

Q&A with Béla

1.      What inspired A collaboration With Brooklyn Rider?

I've always loved the string quartet configuration, ever since hearing my step father play cello in quartets at my house when I was a kid. That meant that banjo and string quartet together was a bucket list item for me. When I finally had the opportunity to write for string quartet, I asked around and many roads pointed to this particular quartet. They are fantastic collaborators and made my ideas sound better than they were!

2.      When did you start playing your instrument; and, what or who were your early influences?

I started when I was 15, but got very excited about it when I was 4 or 5 after hearing Earl Scruggs playing the "Beverly Hillbillies" theme song. When I first began, I followed Earl - then got interested in everyone else who was bringing new ideas to the banjo. In particular, there is a wonderful player named Tony Trischka who became my inspiration and later my teacher.

3.     Do you play more than one instrument?

I play a bit of guitar and mandolin. But banjo is my thing.

4.      What has been one of your most memorable performances to date?

There have been so many... from opening for the Grateful Dead and collaborating with Dave Mathews Band, to concerts with Chick Corea, Branford Marsalis and so on. But, the first show with my group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones will always be a very special memory.

5.      Pick 5 words—that start with the letter ‘B’—that best describe your performance.

Boundless. Bouncy. Beguiled. Bliss. Bodacious.

6.      How does your music connect to the larger world?

Lots of people would like it if they heard it, I suspect. But it's harder and harder to find avenues to bring in new people. Fortunately, I'm pretty well established after all this time and there are lots of people who will give my new projects a chance. I think folks like me perform a meaningful role, kind of like outliers, who live near the edge of things and can bring things back to the community from outside of their experience.

7.      What do you hope the audience takes away from your music?

I hope the sense of joy and curiosity inspires their own experience in life. And, I hope the music can find a place in their lives where it is meaningful.

8.      What advice would you give any young musicians in the audience?

Find something that you love to do that no one else is doing. Grow the part of you that is most unique.

9.    Whom do you define as visionary?

Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Johan Sebastian Bach, Béla Bartok, Earl Scruggs and so forth.

10.   What songs, artists or styles of music are you currently listening to?

I love the new Randy Newman record, Dark Matter. The Wood Brothers’ The Muse, David Bowie’s Blackstar, John Scofield’s Still Warm, Pat Metheny’s Offramp, Earl Scruggs’ Foggy Mountain Banjo, Oumou Sangare’s Best of and so many more.

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Béla Fleck with Brooklyn Rider

Wednesday, January 17 at 7pm

at Walton Arts Center

Cine-Concert Craze!

The beloved animated film, "The Triplets of Belleville" is screened as composer Benoit Charest leads Le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville in the live performance of his original score for the film, including his academy award nominated best song. In the spirit of the film, Le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville transports audiences to the exciting streets of 1920s Paris and Le Jazz Hot.

Kidnapped by mysterious, square-shouldered henchmen, a Tour de France cyclist named Champion is spirited across the ocean to the teeming metropolis of Belleville. His near-sighted grandmother and faithful dog follow his trail and are taken in by a trio of eccentric jazz-era divas. The motley sleuths follow the clues to an under- ground speakeasy, where they entertain the crowd. The chase is on!

Q&A with Benoit Charest

What was the inspiration of bringing The Triplets of Belleville to life again through live performance?

Well ‘’Le Terrible Orchestre’’ (In French Terrible means terrible too, but it is a figure of speech meaning the contrary: fantastic, so to say.) was put together purposely for this ciné-concert.

What moved you to revisit The Triplets of Belleveille and make it a cine-concert?

To get out of my studio and away from being in front of a computer all day! And I thought since the film is musical, it would be a good idea to create the ciné-concert.

How do you accomplish the sound of a vacuum cleaner, bicycle, newspaper, record player and the various other sounds in the film?

Ah! That’s a professional secret… Sorry… Seriously: for the vacuum it took me a while but I discovered that I could control a pitch made by the flesh on my fingers when I put my hand over the nozzle… Roughly and octave and a half. For the bike and newspaper, I basically recorded samples and boosted the gain then played around with them.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

Even with a pair of 2’s, stay in the game… Advice from a poker player.

Whom do you define as visionary?

Someone with good eyesight? I guess it’s someone stubborn enough to pursue their own ideas… then I guess it’s up to the people to acknowledge them as new and innovative.

What do you hope the audience takes away from your performances?

Pleasure out of seeing a beautiful animation and hearing real musicians!

What’s next; do you have your sights set on any new adventures?

We just finished a month tour of France. So for the moment, I’m writing and practicing. Film projects are on the way, but none that I could officially announce.

What songs, artists or styles of music are you currently listening to?

My musical tastes and cravings are quite eclectic. This past month I have listened to:

• Satie early works
• Kendrick Lamar
• John Adams –Nixon in China
• Ali Farka Touré
• Franco Califano
• Copeland- Appalachian Spring
• Al Green
• Sonny Rollins
• Cuban Rumba

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The Triplets of Belleville

Thursday, February 1 at 7pm

at Walton Arts Center

My Funny Valentine is the Perfect Night Out!

looking for the perfect Valentine’s or Galentine's night out? Join comedians Pat Hazell and Dena Blizzard for an evening of hilarious and heartwarming stand-up comedy. 

A night of laughs covering topics from relationships to dating, parenting and family life, along with an interactive Q&A session with Dena and Pat. Bring your sweetheart, bring your friends and your sense of humor for an evening of laughter ever after.

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Dena Blizzard 

A comedian, corporate host and former Miss New Jersey, Dena has been featured in The New York Times, co-hosted with Anderson Cooper, and performed at The Laugh Factory, Gotham Comedy Club, Catch a Rising Star and The Comedy Stop at the Tropicana.

She also served as the host and on-air correspondent for the preliminaries of the Miss America Pageant on ABC. Dena is a mother of three who recently starred Off-Broadway in her one-woman show, “One Funny Mother.” Her recent viral video “Chardonnay Go," viewed over 23 million times, is now a hilarious party game called “Chardonnay Go, The Board Game for Wine Lovers, Moms and Other Shameless People.”

When she is not working on TV, she is writing and producing content for her web series and making inappropriate videos about parenting that are sure to put her kids in therapy.

Pat Hazell

Showtime has declared Pat Hazell one of the five funniest people in America. His 30 years of experience as a writer, producer and director have made him a go-to guy for new American theater.

Pat is one of the original writers for NBC’s "Seinfeld," a veteran of "The Tonight Show," critically acclaimed playwright and contributing commentator to National Public Radio. He is recognized for his genuinely funny Americana humor and his salute to nostalgia.

As a playwright, Pat’s first endeavor, "Bunk Bed Brothers," was commissioned by Columbia Pictures, then gained the attention of the TV industry and later filmed as the sitcom, "American Pie," for NBC.

Hazell’s signature work, "The Wonder Bread Years" - a grand salute to the baby-boomer generation - aired on PBS where they referred to him as “America’s foremost pop culture anthropologist.” Currently, the live theatrical tour of "The Wonder Bread Years "is enjoying success across the U.S.

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My Funny Valentine

At Walton Arts Center

Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 pm

Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 pm

Friday, Feb. 9 at 9 pm

Observations on the Human Condition: Cas Public

Cas Public stakes its reputation on the exceptional quality of their works, which can be seen as a compendium of observations on the age-old enigma of the human condition. Its fiery choreographic scores − with intense physicality and an innate sense of theater − stand markedly apart from established codes and cast a sharp yet sensitive light on our human foibles.

Founded in 1989 by choreographer Hélène Blackburn, the company favors the renewal of contemporary approaches to dance. Cas Public continually strives to revitalize their approach, focusing on the depth of experiences by incorporating effective themes and treating them with vigor and a touch of humor. 

For over 25 years, each creation has marked Cas Public’s evolution to their pursuit of excellence through the renewal of gestural codes.

Q&A with

Hélène Blackburn

Cas Public, Founder & Choreographer

1.     When did you first become passionate about dance?

I was a very active child and to help channel my energy, my parents chose to enroll me in dance lessons from a very early age. Dance has always been part of my life. Looking back, I'm not sure that the initial idea of channeling my energy was a success. I remember how I would annoy my mother by constantly practicing my dance steps in the middle of our little kitchen. My parents were very patient and accepted my career choice even though the idea of becoming a choreographer might’ve seemed wacky at the time, especially when one comes from a small town in northern Quebec.

2. How does your work connect to the larger world?

I began my career in the ‘80s at a time of great effervescence in the arts in Quebec. Dancing was no exception. It was very inspiring. It was around the same time as Cirque du Soleil, La La Human Steps, Ex-Machina (Robert Lepage) and other large companies were created. It seemed that everything was possible – a time when artistic circles began opening up to the world. Very early in my career, I had the opportunity to present my work in Europe and Canada even before Cas Public was founded. Now, I have the chance to present my work in many countries, meet different audiences and carry out creative projects all over the world. This openness to the world colors my work and leads me to more humanistic concerns!

3. What is a typical rehearsal and/or performance day like?

Dance is an art that requires many artists. It is a privilege to be on stage − we must be remarkable and out of the ordinary. We work a lot. Each day of rehearsal or show always begins with a ballet class or a specific training according to our needs. Currently, we have added martial arts training for the company's female dancers. Coming from ballet training, I needed them to feel strong and develop an attack power similar to that of a fighter. It is a very physically demanding undertaking, but it has interesting results. In rehearsals, we work 5-6 hours a day as needed. If we are performing, we do the technical work then we rehearse dance sections of the show. Often we put in more hours than the rehearsal days and dance the show twice on the same day; that way, we have the stamina to come on stage and give the best of ourselves. 

4. What Moves you to create a new project? 

All of my creations from the last 10 years are based on strong musical works from a classical repertoire that is rewritten and remixed for our projects. Behind these sources of inspiration, there are often references to classical ballet works, as is the case for Symphonie Dramatique – inspired by Romeo and Juliet. However before approaching a work, I try to find a thread of inspiration that resonates with contemporary life. Symphonie Dramatique came from my need to talk about love and the sometimes-tragic consequences that love entails. I created this piece four years ago after a famous trial in Canada, based on what has been described as a "crime of honor." My daughter was about the same age as the protagonists when I began the work, which made me realize how complex life and love is for these young people living in communities with a cultural diversity. When I look at the rise of racist stigma here and elsewhere, it is clear that the young people of today live in a terribly complex world… It is infinitely sad to think that love can lead to death.

5. Pick 5 words—that start with the letter ‘C’—that best describe Cas Public.

1. Collaborative
2. Community
3. Creative
4. Captivating
5. Contemporary

6. How would you classify Cas Public’s style of dance; and what makes it unique?

I am not presumptuous enough to say that the style of Cas Public is unique, but I believe the extreme demand of our dance – its virtuosity, its sincerity and the courage of our dancers- who make it a special experience. I also believe that we have developed a great refinement at the theatrical level that makes our work stand out.

7. Whom do you define as a visionary?

Beautiful question. Several artists inspire me with the past and the present: Jean-Sébastien Bach for classical music, Gleen Gould for his completely reinvented interpretation of Bach's music, the whole period of the Ballets Russes is very inspiring, notably, the work of Nijinsky as a dancer but also as a choreographer, more recently, choreographers like Wilson Forsythe, Jill Killian, and Quebec choreographers such as Édouard Lock and Jean-Pierre Perreault.

8. What is the best advice that you have been given; and what advice would you give to dancers in the audience?

I was fortunate to collaborate with several great Québécois choreographers. Including Jean-Pierre Perrault for whom I danced, Paul-André Fortier who directed my masters degree dissertation and Edouard Lock – whose company I led for a few years. I learned from each of them. Paul-André taught me that a career is built in the long-term and that we must continue to reinvent ourselves. Jean-Pierre Perreault taught me about meticulousness – an obsession for the smallest detail within large spaces. Edouard Lock taught me how to execute a dance using my extreme exigency as an artist. Everyone, in his or her own way, taught me that everything starts with work. Jean-Pierre often said, "dancers are made to rehearse." This is certainly true for the dancers of Cas Public but also for me when I consider my obsessive behavior when I develop a new project.

As for what I say to the dancers, I like to say that they must be mythical on stage- offering all they have to give to the public. Each performance is unique and valuable, even if we have the chance to dance 100 performances a year, at the end of a life we spend a very short amount of time on stage – missing a single chance is not an option.

9. What do you hope the audience will take away from tonight’s performance?

I hope that the audience will be moved by the energy of our dance and that this energy will turn into emotion. I believe the primary strength of dance is to make us feel things deeply, physically and emotionally. The experience of this direct and inexpressible connection between the body and heart seem to be uniquely particular to dance.

10. What songs, artists or styles of music are you currently listening to?

♪ Quebec

Alexandre Desilets “Windigo,” Charlotte Cardin “Big Boy” and Nelly “Dear Criminals”

♪ Classic

Prokofiev: Cinderella, op. 97 (transcriptions for piano solo); Bach’s Partita No. 1-3 prelude and fughetta in G (played by Glenn Gould); “My tribute to Yehudi Menuhin” and “Spheres” by Daniel Hope

♪ International

Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell, Lana del Rey “Honeymoon,” The Libertines Anthems for Doomed Youth and LP “Into the Wild”

Symphonie Dramatique Contemporary Dance

Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7:30pm | Tickets $10

Cas Public's Symphonie Dramatique is a mordant look at the mythical couple of Romeo & Juliet. Their adaptation draws from Shakespeare’s romantic masterpiece to evoke notions of seduction, desire, unchained passion and death. In this contemporary version, the company’s dancers present a vibrant homage to the original tale tinged with impetuousness and contagious energy. Conflict and inner turmoil are magnificently rendered by the dance and the music, achieving a unique resonance. 

The 10x10 Arts Series brings groundbreaking artists and awe-inspiring performances to Northwest Arkansas…. at a price that is right for the whole community!

All 10x10 performances include pre-show Creative Conversations, a post-show party with artists and the popular Post-It® responses!

A Classic, Reimagined

Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I

Set in 1860’s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King - in an imperialistic world - brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children. 

A Beloved Story

"Five stars. Grand and glorious." — Time Out New York

The Lincoln Center production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic tale has received rave reviews across the country. The Chicago Tribune called the show, "a magnificent, genuinely revelatory production," and the Star Tribune proclaimed, “'King and I' reminds us why musicals exist.”

This production of The King and I bridges the gap of time, combining tradition and innovation in a stunning performance that is properly honored and purposely refreshed for the 21st century.

“Magnificent. A sweepingly romantic production. How good to be getting to know the show all over again.”

— NEWSDAY

The production boasts a score that features beloved classics such as “Getting To Know You,” “Hello Young Lovers,” “Shall We Dance,” “I Have Dreamed” and “Something Wonderful.” Exceptionally grand and opulently staged, this musical revival stays true to the elegance of classic Broadway while tackling troupes that feel modern.

Award-winning Cast & Crew

Cast and crew come together in a massive scale with opulent costumes and a set designed to be dazzling, elegant, panoramic and personal.

The King & I, directed by Tony Award® winner Bartlett Sher, won four 2015 Tony Awards® including Best Revival of a Musical. Hailed as "too beautiful to miss" (New York Magazine), the production played 538 performances on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater being going on tour!

Reawakening the role, Laura Michelle Kelly plays a "smart, scrappy" Anna O'Hara (The New York Times). Kelly is an Olivier Award-winning actress for her role as Mary Poppins in London and has a long list of Broadway and West End credits including the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty and the Beast and Les Miserables. Every note Kelly sings as Ms. O'Hara takes on a wistful tune that infuses something wonderful into the musical.

Paired perfectly, Jose Llana plays the King of Siam. The chemistry of the two artists adds a playful element to the seasoned, award-winning cast. “Jose was so superb on Broadway in The King and I that I begged him to join us on the tour and l feel we are incredibly lucky to have him. He brings such joy and virility and strength to the King. And he is one of Broadway's great talents," says Director Bartlett Sher.

“I doubt I’ll see a better production in my lifetime”

— Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal

Too beautiful to miss!

Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I

Oct. 3-8, 2017 

Eight shows! Part of the 2017-18 Procter & Gamble Broadway Series.

Tuesday, October 3 at 7pm  GET TICKETS!
Wednesday, October 4 at 7pm  GET TICKETS!
Thursday, October 5 at 1:30pm  GET TICKETS!
Thursday, October 5 at 7pm  GET TICKETS! 
Friday, October 6 at 8pm  GET TICKETS!
Saturday, October 7 at 2pm  GET TICKETS!
Saturday, October 7 at 8pm  GET TICKETS!
Sunday, October 8 at 2pm  GET TICKETS!

"A landmark production and a shot of purest rapture. I never wanted it to end." — The Hollywood Reporter