WHEELING, W.Va. -- A visiting photo exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute that opens in Wheeling today is being paired with a companion program that runs through October to celebrate dance.
Rennie Harris’ Students of the Asphalt Jungle will be on display at Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling.
The traveling exhibit, "The Dancer Within," includes 48 color and black-and-white photographs by Rose Eichenbaum, a former dancer who began taking the photos in 1998.
Eichenbaum interviewed the dancers as she worked, asking them about their secrets to creativity. The effort was first exhibited in 2004.
"Visually, the exhibition captures a moment in the life of a dancer," Eichenbaum said in a prepared statement. "Viscerally, it reflects how dance speaks to the social and cultural issues of our times and has the power to express the deepest of human emotions."
In Wheeling, the exhibit will be shown at Oglebay Institute's Stifel Fine Arts Center, where it will remain through Oct. 31.
It includes ballet dancers, Broadway stars, and even hip-hop artists - with well-known names that include Mikhail Baryshnikov, Ann Reinking, Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune and Gregory Hines.
Excerpts from her interviews with the dancers are included with each photo, including this from ballet dancer Natalia Makarova: "I believe in destiny. But I also believe there are many factors that go into what makes a dancer - the right physique and proportions; exposure to music, literature and art; environment; and family. But then there is something else, something that is God-given - spirit. How spirit is formed I don't know. No one can explain this."
The exhibit is paired with Sunday programs that run through October related to dance. Each program costs $15 and registration is required by calling 304-242-7700. Each program, which includes a lecture and performance, lasts between 90 minutes and two hours.
- 2 p.m. Sunday - Program with Eugene Louis "Luigi" Faccuito, who has danced in more than 40 films, including "An American in Paris," "Singing in the Rain," and "White Christmas."
WHEELING, W.Va. -- A visiting photo exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute that opens in Wheeling today is being paired with a companion program that runs through October to celebrate dance.
The traveling exhibit, "The Dancer Within," includes 48 color and black-and-white photographs by Rose Eichenbaum, a former dancer who began taking the photos in 1998.
Eichenbaum interviewed the dancers as she worked, asking them about their secrets to creativity. The effort was first exhibited in 2004.
"Visually, the exhibition captures a moment in the life of a dancer," Eichenbaum said in a prepared statement. "Viscerally, it reflects how dance speaks to the social and cultural issues of our times and has the power to express the deepest of human emotions."
In Wheeling, the exhibit will be shown at Oglebay Institute's Stifel Fine Arts Center, where it will remain through Oct. 31.
It includes ballet dancers, Broadway stars, and even hip-hop artists - with well-known names that include Mikhail Baryshnikov, Ann Reinking, Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune and Gregory Hines.
Excerpts from her interviews with the dancers are included with each photo, including this from ballet dancer Natalia Makarova: "I believe in destiny. But I also believe there are many factors that go into what makes a dancer - the right physique and proportions; exposure to music, literature and art; environment; and family. But then there is something else, something that is God-given - spirit. How spirit is formed I don't know. No one can explain this."
The exhibit is paired with Sunday programs that run through October related to dance. Each program costs $15 and registration is required by calling 304-242-7700. Each program, which includes a lecture and performance, lasts between 90 minutes and two hours.
- 2 p.m. Sunday - Program with Eugene Louis "Luigi" Faccuito, who has danced in more than 40 films, including "An American in Paris," "Singing in the Rain," and "White Christmas."
- 2 p.m. Sept. 14 - Program with professional ballet dancer Danielle Loustau-Williams, who learned to dance on a prosthesis after an accident severed her right foot.
- 2 p.m. Sept. 28 - Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presents a demonstration of dancer training for pre-professionals. A selected repertoire will be performed, followed by a discussion about dance opportunities.
- 3 p.m. Oct. 5 - Program with Thomas Hanner, a dancer who performed with the San Francisco Ballet, Washington Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet.
- 2 p.m. Oct. 12 - Program with Wheeling native Michael McClure, who has performed on Broadway, on TV's "General Hospital" and "King of Queens."
- 1:30 p.m. Oct. 19 (for ages 11 and up) - Program with David Howard, who is well known for his work with international ballet competitions. He has taught for the Royal Ballet, ABT, Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and National Ballet of Canada.
- 2 p.m. Oct. 26 - Program with veteran Irish step dancer Mary Conroy Adams of the Burke School of Irish Dance in Pittsburgh.
Oglebay's Stifel Fine Arts Center is located off exit 2-B of Interstate 70 in wheeling. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 304-242-7700 or visit www.oionline.com for more information.
