Stars on the Riverfront: Two days of free ballet return Sunday and Monday

Shannon Heupel, Montgomery Advertiser
·5 min read

While many of their non-dance friends have been relaxing by the pool or slacking off this summer, a group of 30 young dancers from Alabama Dance Theatre has been putting in a lot of intense work.

Stars on the Riverfront is the culmination of that effort, two days of free performances at Montgomery's Riverwalk Amphitheater — Sunday and Monday, July 23 and 24 — to shine like the stars above and show what they've learned.

Part of that is overcoming the challenges of dancing outdoors.

"With the heat plus the lighting on the stage and the costumes, it's kind of hard to maintain your breathing," said Alexandria Brooks, a senior company dancer who is a veteran of Stars on the Riverfront. She will be dancing in both Swan Lake performances and several new contemporary pieces.

"It's a great experience," Brooks said.

Guests should enter Riverfront Park through the tunnel on Commerce Street, then take a right to the amphitheater. Gates open at 6 p.m. each night, and performances start at 7:30 p.m. Audiences can bring lawn chairs and blankets to stretch out on the grass in front of the stage. They can bring picnics, or get treats from the food trucks on site. Among them is Kona Ice, which donates proceeds to ADT's Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Alabama Dance Theatre dancers in silhouette against the Alabama River.
Alabama Dance Theatre dancers in silhouette against the Alabama River.

For the thousands of people who gather there every year, it's all about relaxing and watching the magic happen on stage.

For the dancers, who range from age 11 to young adults, it's about overcoming their limits and being a source of inspiration.

"Dance is hard," said Savannah Golden, who has also been a part of several Stars on the Riverfront events. She's been with ADT since she was 11. Golden graduated in 2020, and for three years has been a summer intern. "Sometimes it's not easy to keep going."

But she does, and she loves it. She wants to help pass that love along to all the young children who will be watching from the grass, and dancing along with them.

Jonathan Chapman, the executive director of Perla Ballet, is a guest artist for Alabama Dance Theatre's Stars On The Riverfront.
Jonathan Chapman, the executive director of Perla Ballet, is a guest artist for Alabama Dance Theatre's Stars On The Riverfront.

Stars on the Riverfront performances are a mix of new and original pieces from guest and resident choreographers. Dancers prepared for them during ADT's Summer Intensive, held at Montgomery’s Cultural Arts Center at the Armory.

The summer intensive was taught by ADT faculty — artistic director Kate Seale Smith, ballet mistress Valari Lagrone, assistant to the director and resident choreographer Sara Sanford, and faculty members Janie Alford and Jenny Letner — and guest instructors Armando Luna, Anna Freeden, Taylor Jordan, and guest artist Jonathan Chapman.

"I just love working with them," said the returning Luna, speaking of the dance students. "They're such hard workers, and they're dedicated. It's just so much fun to see how they absorb the information, and how fast we're able to put this really intricate stuff together. The whole faculty works together to get this up and running. It's not an easy task. Professional ballet companies spend months working on Swan Lake, and we're putting it together in two weeks."

Cameron Caldwell and Emanuel Wood of Alabama Dance Theatre.
Cameron Caldwell and Emanuel Wood of Alabama Dance Theatre.

Lagrone said working with the dancers throughout the year is rewarding. They call themselves the ADT family, and that solidifies even more during the summer.

"The summer intensive is exactly that. It's intense," Lagrone said. "There's a strong bond among the dancers, and a camaraderie that we all share... They lift each other up and support one another."

This year's program includes:

Guests can gather on the lawn in front of Riverwalk Amphitheater for Starts On The Riverfront.
Guests can gather on the lawn in front of Riverwalk Amphitheater for Starts On The Riverfront.

Études

Choreographed by Kitty Seale, staged by Valari Legrone, Ke’Yana Robinson and Jaclyn Speights, with music by Josu Gallastegui and Mark Jelks.

  • I. Opening: Chloe Anderson, Cara Barranco, Hadley Barranco, Eloise Calhoun, Francie Crawford, Lorennah Harding, Laila Harris, Grace Jackson, Avery Johnson, Ava Jones, Eliza McGeachy, Zion Pinkett, Jane Frances Waits, Ethan Walker

  • II. Tendus #1: Hadley Barranco, Eloise Calhoun, Laila Harris, Grace Jackson, Avery Johnson, Ava Jones, Zion Pinkett, Jane Frances Waits, Ethan Walker

  • III. Tendus #2: Hadley Barranco, Laila Harris, Avery Johnson, Jane Frances Waits

  • IV. Dégagé: Chloe Anderson, Cara Barranco, Fancie Crawford, Lorennah Harding, Eliza McGeachy, Rosa Roling Sklar with Eloise Calhoun, Grace Jackson, Ava Jones, Zion Pinkett

  • V. Petit Allégro: Cara Barranco, Francie Crawford, Avery Johnson, Eliza McGeachy, Ethan Walker

  • VI. Grande Battements: Chloe Anderson, Cara Barranco, Francie Crawford, Lorennah Harding, Eliza McGeachy, Rosa Roling Sklar

  • VII. Waltz: Chloe Anderson, Cara Barranco, Hadley Barranco, Francie Crawford, Lorennah Harding, Laila Harris, Avery Johnson, Eliza McGeachy, Rosa Roling Sklar, Jane Frances Waits

  • VIII. Coda: Chloe Anderson, Cara Barranco, Hadley Barranco, Eloise Calhoun, Francie Crawford, Lorennah Harding, Laila Harris, Grace Jackson, Ava Jones, Eliza McGeachy, Zion Pinkett, Jane Frances Waits

  • IX. Révérénce: Full Ensemble

Alabama Dance Theatre dancers on stage at Riverwalk Amphitheater for Stars On The Riverfront.
Alabama Dance Theatre dancers on stage at Riverwalk Amphitheater for Stars On The Riverfront.

Swan Lake Suite

  • Staging by Armando Luna, and music by Peter Ilyich Tchiakovsky

  • Pas de Trois: Martha Armstrong, Georgia Vance, Emanuel Wood

  • Four Little Swans: Savannah Golden, Cecilia Hamell, Caroline Ohme, Amelia Kate Skala

  • Four Big Swans: Alexandria Brooks, Camilla Ohme, Lilla Kate Parkman, Molly Selman

  • Odette: Celeste Herod

  • Black Swan Pas de Deux: Shannon McGaughey and Jonathan Chapman

Reverberating Edges

  • Choreography: Taylor Jordan

  • Music: Pulsing, Bryce Dessner, Australian String Quartet

  • Dancers: Martha Armstrong, Alexandria Brooks, Cecilia Hamell, Celeste Herod, Shannon McGaughey, Camilla Ohme, Caroline Ohme, Lilla Kate Parkman, Molly Selman, Amelia Kate Skala, Georgia Vance

Mundane Activities

  • Choreography: Anna Fredeen

  • Music: 7fingers by Nils Frahm & Anne Müller

  • Dancers: Chloe Anderson, Cara Barranco, Francie Crawford, Lorennah Harding, Eliza McGeachy, Rosa Roling Sklar

Feeling Good

  • Choreography: Sara Sanford in collaboration with her dancers

  • Music: Feeling Good by Apashe & Cherry Lena

  • Dancers: Taylor Jordan and Jonathan Chapman

Rejoice

  • Choreography: Sara Elyse Sanford in collaboration with her dancers

  • Music: Steve Angello & T.D. Jakes

  • Dancers: Martha Armstrong, Alexandria Brooks, Jonathan Chapman, Cecilia Hamell, Celeste Herod, Shannon McGaughey, Camilla Ohme, Caroline Ohme, Lilla Kate Parkman, Molly Selman, Amelia Kate Skala, Georgia Vance, Emanuel Wood

Alabama Dance Theatre's Stars On The Riverfront is Sunday and Monday, July 23 and 24.
Alabama Dance Theatre's Stars On The Riverfront is Sunday and Monday, July 23 and 24.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Stars on the Riverfront: 2 days of free ballet return Sunday & Monday