BALLET BEYOND BORDERS OFF TO CHINA AND RUSSIA BEFORE MISSOULA EVENT

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The Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre announced this week that it will travel to China and Russia to perform in several cities.

Artistic Director Charlene Campbell Carey said the trip is part of an ongoing cultural exchange.

“We’re leaving for China on September 5th,” Campbell Carey began. “We’re going to see them in their habitat which is in Xian at the beginning of the Silk Road. We’ve never even been close to that region in China, it’s been primarily Beijing and Shanghai and many other smaller cities.”

From the organization’s press release:

‘RMBT’s Montana themed ballets offer the flavor of Montana. No RMBT cultural exchange would be complete without the participation of the Native Americans. Four championship dancers from the Salish-Kootenai and Blackfeet tribes will be participating. After the Silk Road Arts Festival, the group travels to Beijing to take their unique program to Chongqing’s Southwest University of Politics and Law and Beijing Normal University. These performances are sponsored in part by the Confucius Institute at the University of Montana under the direction of Suhan Chen.’

RMBT has received a U.S. State Department grant to participate in the first Alfia Avzalova Festival in Kazan, Russia. RMBT was the only US arts group to be invited to perform at the festival. In addition to Montana themed ballets and championship Native American dancers, this diplomatic, cultural tour will include renowned singer Suzanne Carey, a native Montana who now stings professionally in Vienna, Austria.’

Following that extensive road trip, the group returns to its home base in Missoula to present the 2019 ‘Ballet Beyond Borders’.

“Save the dates, January 9 through 12,” she said. “We already have dancers coming from Israel and Indonesia, along with a group from Brazil this year. I know that anyone who’s ever attended, it’s not just a fun event, they really do get some very warm and fuzzy feelings of being a proud Montanan and forging these new friendships with people from around the world.”

Most of the judging and performances will be at the Dennison Theater on the UM Campus and are free to the public, with the only exception being the finale gala.



ROCKY MOUNTAIN BALLET THEATRE WILL PERFORM IN CHINA AND RUSSIA; 2019 BALLET BEYOND BORDERS ANNOUNCED

August 29, 2018

***For Immediate Release***

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BALLET THEATRE WILL PERFORM IN CHINA AND RUSSIA; 2019 BALLET BEYOND BORDERS ANNOUNCED

Performance at The Silk Road Arts Festival, Beijing Normal University, and First Alfia Avzalova Festival

(Missoula, MT.) - Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre (RMBT) is going on the road again this fall to bring Montana to the world. This time to China and Russia.
 
CHINA (September 5-September 18, 2018): as part of a cultural exchange, our RMBT is on its way to the Silk Road Arts Festival in Xian – Shaanxi Province, China. This is the result of a relationship that started back in February of 2015 when RMBT hosted the Shaanxi Performing Arts Group. They traveled across the world to share the ancient art of shadow puppetry. Now, RMBT is taking Montana to them. Under the direction of artistic director Charlene Campbell Carey, RMBT’s Montana themed ballets offer the flavor of Montana. No RMBT cultural exchange would be complete without the participation of the Native Americans. Four championship dancers from the Salish-Kootenai and Blackfeet tribes will be participating. 
 
After the Silk Road Arts Festival, the group travels to Beijing to take their unique program to Chongqing’s Southwest University of Politics and Law and Beijing Normal University. These performances are sponsored in part by the Confucius Institute at the University of Montana under the direction of Suhan Chen.

RUSSIA (October 6,-October 26, 2018): RMBT has received a U.S. State Department grant to participate in the first Alfia Avzalova Festival in Kazan, Russia. RMBT was the only US arts group to be invited to perform at the festival. In addition to Montanathemed ballets and championship Native American dancers, this diplomatic,cultural tour will include renowned singer Suzanne Carey, a native Montana who now stings professionally in Vienna, Austria.
 

SAVE THE DATE
January 9-12, 2019
Ballet Beyond Borders (BBB)

Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre is proud to announce it will be bringing Ballet Beyond Borders back to Missoula in January 2019. The Ballet Beyond Borders (BBB) experience is a unique combination of dance and diplomacy. This will be the fourth world-class international dance competition and diplomacy conference that RMBT has brought to Missoula. Participants come from all over the world to perform, exchange ideas, make new friendships, and cement old ones. BBB has launched careers by offering opportunities to dancers who might otherwise have had none. BBB brings films, authors, dancers, academics, artists, guests, and diplomats into our wintery west. BBB strives to introduce the world to Missoula and Missoula to the world to increase mutual understanding and global harmony.
 
“Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre’s mission is to give our dancers performance opportunities around the world, while also bringing the global community back to Montana. These cultural exchanges are crucial to both our understanding and our positive participation in the global community.” Charlene Campbell Carey, artistic director for Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre and President of Ballet Beyond Borders.

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Media Contacts:
Kathy Weber
406-698-3150
kathyweberbates@gmail.com

Charlene Campbell Carey
406-370-0564
rockymountainballet@mail.com

Missoula Arts & Culture Awards James Lee Burke, others to receive Arts Missoula awards on March 22

Missoulian Staff

Mar 11, 2018 Updated Mar 11, 2018

Arts Missoula’s annual Arts & Culture Awards honor individuals and organizations whose outstanding work in the arts and humanities have made a significant contribution to the community’s quality of life.

The 2018 awards will be presented at the Missoula Arts & Culture Awards Luncheon on Thursday, March 22, at the DoubleTree Hotel from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This year's Cultural Achievement award, honoring someone who has consistently supported the arts community in numerous ways, is awarded to Sharon Snavely for her service on the boards of the Missoula Symphony Association, Missoula Art Museum, UM College of Visual & Performing Arts and other organizations.

The Individual Artist, presented to someone who has shown exceptional achievement in their chosen craft, is awarded to James Lee Burke, national bestselling author of 38 novels.

The Arts Educator, honoring an outstanding local teacher who has devoted a career to the arts, is awarded to H. Rafael Chacon, professor of art history and criticism at the University of Montana.

The Business Support for the Arts, given to businesses that have provided long-term support to Missoula’s artists and arts organizations, is awarded to Montana Public Radio.

The Cultural Vision award, honoring artistic programming, is awarded to Charlene Campbell Carey, founder and artistic director of the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre, VIBE and Ballet Beyond Borders. 

In announcing the award winners, Arts Missoula Executive Director Tom Bensen stated, “These outstanding individuals and organizations each represent a lifetime of dedication to the arts, and all have helped to make Missoula an exceptional place to work and live.”

Another feature of the Arts & Culture Awards luncheon is that local businesses sponsor tables for their employees and guests. Tickets for the event are $30 each or $240 for a table of 8 and may be reserved by calling 406-541-0860 or info@artsmissoula.org. For more information, visit artsmissoula.org.