1970 was the year a group of students from North Carolina School of the Arts performed at Jacob’s Pillow, and North Carolina Dance Theatre was born under the direction of Robert Lindgren. Fifty (two) years later, THREE extraordinary and emerging choreographers who have expanded the dance community to new levels of innovation, creativity and diversity, will take inspiration for this season’s Innovative 1970 from design, music, politics and literature from 1970 to pay homage to the company’s first year. New works will be presented by Rena Butler, 2019 Princess Grace Award winner for choreography, NCDT alumnus Ja’Malik, and Charlotte Ballet Company Artist Andrés Trezevant.
Meet the Choreographers
Rena Butler hails from Chicago, IL. She began her studies at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, studied overseas at Taipei National University of the Arts in Taiwan, and received her BFA from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. Rena danced with companies such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, AIM by Kyle Abraham, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, David Dorfman Dance, Manuel Vignoulle/M-Motions, The Kevin Wynn Collection, and Pasos Con Sabor Salsa Dance Company. Currently, she dances for Gibney Company and was recently named its Choreographic Associate. In 2019, she was the recipient of the prestigious Princess Grace Award for Choreography, and has been spotlighted in Dance Magazine’s On The Rise feature. Butler served on the Consortium for Chicago Dancemakers Forum for 3 years, was on the annual panel for Black Girls Dance in Chicago, and co-created and directed DanceLab—a free, choreographic course for Chicago teens, empowering participants of varying socioeconomic backgrounds + identities to find commonality in creation.
Ja’ Malik is a former member of North Carolina Dance Theater. An award-winning evolving choreographer from Harlem NY. Who creates works based on real-life experiences. Minding the gap between the elite perception of ballet and what he views as the reality of ballet. Rooted in respect for the classical training while pushing the physically emotional aspect of dancer audience connection through the language of contemporary movement. Having created works on Boston Ballet School, University North Carolina School of Arts, such companies as North Carolina Dance Theater 2, Festival Ballet Providence & American Repertory Ballet among others. Founder of Ballet Boy Production whose mission is to provide mentoring, education and performance opportunities for young men of color interested in pursuing careers in contemporary and classical ballet companies.
Andrés Trezevant began his formal dance training at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts while also dancing with the Nevada Youth Dancer’s Company. He has attended intensives with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Nederlands Dans Theater, Chuthis. Moves, Movement Invention Project 2, the Rambert Intensive, and Springboard Dans Montreal. In 2017, Andrés was invited to join the Hubbard Street Professional Program under the direction of Alexander Wells. During his time there, he had the privilege of performing with the company in Peter Chu’s Space, In Perspective and Ohad Naharin’s Decadance/Chicago as a Guest Artist. Andrés joined Charlotte Ballet II in 2018, where he had the chance to perform the works of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Peter Chu, Mark Diamond, and Christian Spuck. In the summer of 2020, Andrés was promoted to the first company of the Ballet, and is excited for this next chapter.
Get the Inside Scoop on Innovative 1970!
BLOG: WHY DANCERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT INNOVATIVE 1970
– and why you should be, too! “I love that we are able to work with new choreographers that bring fresh new works to Charlotte audiences.” – David Preciado
BLOG: 1970s INSPIRED
Innovative 1970 continues our anniversary celebration by paying homage to the year of our founding – 1970! What’s your fav 70s-inspired item in your home or closet? Here’s what our dancers had to say!
VIDEO: IN THE STUDIO WITH RENA BUTLER
In every instance upon reflecting towards the past, there is a swell of opportunity to innovate our present and future. And just how far have we come since 1970?
VIDEO: IN THE STUDIO WITH JA’MALIK
This work celebrates the brilliant music, style, and strength of the groundbreaking 1970’s Black Female Funk Rock Group LaBelle and frequent collaborator Laura Nyro.
VIDEO: IN THE STUDIO WITH ANDRÉS TREZEVANT
It’s 1973, we follow a group of homeless vets. But even as the fighting ceased and the troops returned home, for many, the war came with them.
BLOG: BEHIND THE BALLET – INNOVATIVE 1970
Check out behind-the-scenes interviews with our three choreographers and learn all about the inspiration for their works and their creative process!
