Rozsa to present "Stars of American Ballet" Oct. 26

HOUGHTON -- The Rozsa Center is proud to host a very special performance of Stars of American Ballet, bringing the nation's top ballet dancers from the New York City Ballet to the Rozsa stage at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Stars of American Ballet travels to cities nationwide and offers top-notch choreography with principal and soloist-level dancers from major American companies. Founded and directed by New York City Ballet principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht, who works alongside Executive Director Andrew Robertson, Stars also sponsors dance education programs, consisting of master classes, pre-performance lectures and community outreach projects, to build a better awareness and overall experience with the art form.

With performances billed as "An unapologetic showcase of virtuosity." -- The Boston Globe, and "An intoxicating evening even for the non-dancers" -- The Pittsburgh Star-Tribune, the event promises sheer athleticism and beautiful artistry by principal dancers, soloists, and members of the corps de ballet from the New York City Ballet: Daniel Ulbricht, Brittany Pollack, Teresa Reichlen, Ask la Cour, Unity Phelan, Adrian Danchig-Waring, Alec Knight, and Baily Jones, and features works by Balanchine, la Cour and Knight

A master class for local dancers will be held at the Superior School of Dance, when local dancers will have the opportunity to work with Stars of American Ballet dancers on Saturday afternoon. For more details about the master class, please contact the Rozsa Center administrative offices at (906) 487-2856.

This event is made possible with funding from the Arts Midwest Touring fund, a Program of Arts Midwest, generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Crane Group.

Tickets to Stars of American Ballet are Adult: $25, Youth: $12, and Michigan Tech Students at no charge with Experience Tech Fee, and are available by phone, (906) 487-2073, online at mtu.edu/rozsa, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex, or at the Rozsa Box office the night of the show. Please note the Rozsa Box Office is only open two hours before performances.

Also, in celebration of World Ballet Day on Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Rozsa Center will offer a special limited-time "Buy One Get One Free" (BOGO) ticket promotion, for one day only: From Oct 22 at 11:59 p.m. to Oct. 23 at 11:59 p.m. please use "BalletDay" promo code and select at least two tickets to receive one free. This applies to both adult and youth tickets, and there is no limit on the number of BOGO tickets purchased.

Click here for a video clip of Stars of American Ballet.

Rabbit Island School students to host art exhibit, presentation Oct. 23 at Portage Lake District Library

Students Lily Thompson, left, and Irene Hillman experience the first Rabbit Island School in July 2019.  (Photo courtesy Portage Lake District Library)

HOUGHTON -- In July 2019, the Portage Lake District Library and the Rabbit Island Foundation gave five local high school students the experience of a lifetime. These students were awarded full scholarships to attend the library’s first Rabbit Island School, a seven-day arts and ecology expedition to a remote island in Lake Superior.

The students will host an art exhibit and presentation on their experience from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton. The event is free and open to the public.

Rabbit Island is a 91-acre forested island in Lake Superior, located four miles east of Rabbit Bay in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The island has never been developed or subdivided, and a conservation easement granted in 2010 assures the island will remain healthy forever.

During their seven-day expedition, students spent time reading, writing, painting, sketching, carving spoons, creating natural dyes from plants, cooking, fishing, identifying local flora and fauna, building an island community and more. They were joined by two artist mentors and one program administrator from the library.

Students meet with their mentors during the first Rabbit Island School experience in July 2019. (Photo courtesy Portage Lake District Library)

"I am thrilled for the Rabbit Island School students to share their experience and art with the greater community," said Library Director Dillon Geshel. "Witnessing the students' engagement with their art, the landscape, and each other is something I’ll never forget. I can’t wait for the public to relive their expedition through the exhibit."

Library events are free and open to all. Please contact the library at 906-482-4570 for more information.