Domestic violence is theme of New England Ballet Theatre event
The Hartford-based New England Ballet Theatre has organized an evening of original dance pieces with a serious theme: domestic violence. “Ballet Speaks: Against Domestic Violence” is being presented March 13 at 7 p.m., both live (at Hartford Dance Collective, 30 Arbor St., for a limited, distanced audience of 30 or so, at $35 a ticket) and virtual (via Zoom for $15; details at neballettheatre.com/ balletspeaks).
Twenty-five percent of the admission cost will be donated to Hartford’s nonprofit Interval House, which describes itself as “the largest agency in the state of Connecticut dedicated to ending domestic violence.” Interval House maintains a 24-hour hotline (at 888-774-2900), an emergency safe house and offers legal services and counselling.
New England Ballet Theatre was founded just last year by Emily Orzada and Rachael Gnatowski to “tell stories that have been kept quiet or overlooked,” says Orzada. She conceived and choreographed one of three pieces in “Ballet Speaks: Against Domestic Violence.” The subject is especially painful for her, as she had an aunt who died last year, a victim of domestic violence.
There are two guest choreographers: Keerati Jinakunwiphat, who has worked with esteemed cutting-edge choreographer Kyle Abraham; and Judy Dworin, who has been creating activist, socially conscious dances in Hartford for decades. Orzada says it was important that the evening include all female choreographers in honor of International Women’s Month.
Each dance lasts about 10 minutes.
To create what Orzada calls “a whole night around the topic of domestic violence,” there is a discussion following the performance, with Interval House CEO Mary-Jane Foster, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who co-founded Interval House’s Men Make a Difference program 10 years ago, and members of Judy Dworin Performance Project.
“This is a way we can raise awareness, help each other,” Orzada says. “Even if you think you’re not touched by domestic violence, or that nobody you know has been touched by it, you should reconsider.”
NEBT has not yet found a performance space of its own. The company rehearses in Meriden and has performed in such diverse spaces as The Wadsworth, Sea Tea Comedy Theater, South Windsor Senior Center and Urban Lodge Brewing in Manchester. Recent performances, including a Christmas show and a fall gala, have been virtual. A full season is planned for next year, and the company will be starting a training program for dancers.