STAGE
Works Choreographed by Sanjay Saverimuttu
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Metronome (2021) | Ascension (2021) | Against the Waves (2020)
Respect the Boundary (2019) | Carnival of the Animals (2019)
Amid Exes and Whys (2019) | After the Pulse (2018) | Anagapesis (2018)
Always on Your Mind (2018) | And Don't Talk About it (2017) | Summer Waves (2017)
Sunrise (2017) | Spectrum (2017) | Spring (2016) | Strata (2016)
Solomon's Gift (2015) | Sea Change (2015) | Strange Attractors (2014) | Saligia (2013)
METRONOME (2021)
Performed by the Louisville Ballet Studio Company
Metronome is a collaborative project from three educators; Erica Rucker (author), Austin Norrid (composer), and Sanjay Saverimuttu (choreographer). This original story follows the lives of four kids as they discover their loves for the arts and the importance of practice and patience. This work was created as a part of Louisville Ballet's "Moving Stories," an outreach program that seeks to bring arts access and education to schools throughout the state of Kentucky.
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Photo by Shelby Shenkman
ASCENSION (2020)
Performed by the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble
Ascension is inspired by the matriarchal societies of elephants, more specifically the peaceful transition of power when a leader is ready to move on. Their leaders are decided based on experiences and the memories they've acquired over the years, not necessarily by seniority or brute strength. It's similar to the transitions we go through as students (and even company dancers) as the older dancers prepare themselves for life after graduation (or retirement), and the younger ones are left worrying about the big shoes they have left to fill. Much like majestic elephants, Ascension, seeks to showcase the power, grace, and reverence of the dancers of the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble.
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AGAINST THE WAVES (2020)
Performed by the University of Kentucky Dance Department
Against the Waves is inspired by the real life story of Sonali Deraniyagala, a survivor of the 2004 tsunami that hit the west coast of Sri Lanka. The work not only depicts the story of how Deraniyagala lost her parents, husband, and two children to the deadly waves but also her emotional recovery and how one deals with grief after such a life altering event. This dance work is an exploration of how one doesn’t necessarily get past grief, but also how healing can only begin by confronting one’s memories, not ignoring them. Music for this piece is by the all female group, AVA, from their album, Waves. Those who wish to learn more of Deraniyagala’s story are encouraged to read her debut memoir, “Wave.” Features lighting by Heather Brown and costumes by Aaron Chvatal.
Photo by Sally Horowitz
RESPECT THE BOUNDARY (2019)
Performed by Katherine Martin and Erica McClure
A multi-disciplinary work created in collaboration with Allie Fireel and Adrienne Miller, Respect the Boundary, challenges audience members to explore the depths of their comfort and when it is appropriate to cross the line. This work premiered as an exhibit Dis/Comfort Zones, a show produced by the Hadley Creatives: Generation 2.
Photo by Sanjay Saverimuttu
CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS 4TH MOVEMENT (2019)
Performed by Leigh Anne Albrechta, Justin Michael Hogan, Brandon Ragland, Emily Reinking O'Dell, Ashley Thursby
Cirque de Jardin premiered as a collaboration between Louisville Ballet and CirqueLouis for the Waterfront Botanical Gardens' Prelude for Botanica. Produced by Ben Sollee and with music by Nise Got Beatz.
Photo by Sam English
AMID EXES AND WHYS (2019)
Performed by Annie Honebrink, Rob Morrow, Emily Reinking O'Dell, Trevor Williams
Amid Exes and Whys is a dance project that explores how self-reflection and embracing our true identity affects the dependency and love we seek. This is told through a perspective of two couples that are mirror imaged and gender swapped, showcasing that dance and love are not limited by gender. A unique collaboration with visual artist, Jake Ford, this works explores themes of power dynamics, self-doubt, and non-binary identities to grapple the messiness of love and acceptance. to disrupt these partnerships?
Photo by Shelby Shenkman
AFTER THE PULSE (2018)
Performed by Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble
This piece is an exploration of nostalgia and the way we deal with trauma. Inspired by the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting, this work seeks to intrude on the audience's consciousness as witnesses to ways of dealing with PTSD; aggression and depression.
Photo by Sam English
ANAGAPESIS (2018)
Performed by Rob Morrow, Ben Wetzel, and Sanjay Saverimuttu
This work follows the journey of a romantic relationship. What happens when we grow apart from the ones we love? What other forces and people seek to disrupt these partnerships? Anagapesis shows us how we hold onto the nostalgia of a relationship that once was but can’t be reconciled.
Photo by Susan Kettering
ALWAYS ON YOUR MIND (2018)
Performed by the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble
We can see friends and family on a daily basis, but the reality we perceive is just a performance or a facade covering up what’s going on inside. What happens when we keep our internal thoughts to ourselves and allow those negative feelings to fester? Our mind becomes a battleground of competing voices that only works to distance our perspectives from reality. How do societal standards, lack of privilege, and other factors outside of our control affect our ability to self-care?
Photo by Richard Calmes
AND DON'T TALK ABOUT IT (2018)
Performed by Louisville Ballet
This piece is an exploration of toxic masculinity. As men grow up to conform to society's standards of our gender, the repercussive behavior from those expectations can be extremely troubling and violent. What happens when the boundaries are pushed too far, and how does that manifest in today's world? Who is to blame?
Photo by Sam English
SUMMER WAVES (2017)
Performed by Boca Ballet Theatre
The second in a four part series, Summer Waves explores the diversity of ocean life. Set to Max Richter’s reinterpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (Summer), this work looks at the various symbiotic relationships within our oceans depths. Encapsulating human pollution and its wrecking of ocean life, this piece ends with a single dancer alone and lost in a sea of destruction.
SUNRISE (2017)
Performed by Louisville Ballet
This piece is inspired by my parents' immigration story, an emotional experience of leaving their home in Sri Lanka to start a new life in the United States. It explores the strains of new beginnings on relationships and also the uncertain transition into parenthood. Despite the fears and anxieties of the future, there are unshakable bonds, like family, that are strong enough to keep us determined and hopeful for a brighter tomorrow. Now, more than ever, it's important to remember that our country continues to grow from stories such as this one.
Photo by Sam English
SPECTRUM (2017)
Performed by Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble
This piece is inspired by the scatter of visible light. From one source of white light emerges a spectrum of colors that interact and play together. These colors dance harmoniously, yet each has its own unique personality that shapes emotions and moods of the observer. These spectrums exist in many factors of life, and no matter where we find ourselves amongst those spectrums, we can be reassured that we are all part of one harmonious community.
Photo by Sam English
SPRING (2016)
Performed by Louisville Ballet
The first in a four part series, this work seeks to showcase the beauty and fragility of our ecosystem through terrestrial flora and fauna. This work explores biological themes of phototropism, mutualism, sexual selection, and parental investment. The delicate and beautiful balance of these relationships is a commentary on how anthropogenic climate change risks destroying all of this. Spring was performed with an original and live orchestration by Ben Sollee and Teddy Abrams at Prelude for Botanica.
Photo by Sam English
STRATA (2016)
Performed by Rob Morrow and Ryan Stokes
Society exists in many levels of power dynamics. This piece explores what happens when we try to fight back against society’s stratification and the satisfaction we derive when power dynamics are reversed.
Photo by Silvia Pangaro
SOLOMON'S GIFT (2016)
Performed by Ballet Arkansas
Using Howl as inspiration this piece explores the duality of society vs. the authentic self, and explores the relationship between Ginsberg and Solomon as they work within a society that is against them. Society appears to win as the Solomon character is left separated and confused, in a physical and mental prison, while the Ginsberg character looks on helplessly from afar. The piece ends on a note the poem foreshadows, with the two men walking off hand-in-hand having found each other again, yet still scarred by society.
SEA CHANGE (2015)
Performed by Louisville Ballet
This piece strives to expand the boundaries of how audiences view classic male and female gender roles in dance. It showcases differing power dynamics in relationships and redefines what is considered masculine and feminine.
Photo by Sam English
STRANGE ATTRACTORS (2014)
Performed by Louisville Ballet
Strange Attractors are an equation or fractal set representing a complex pattern of behavior in a chaotic system. This piece explores the chaotic nature of our world and the many outcomes that can spawn from one idea.
SALIGIA (2013)
Performed by Louisville Ballet
This work explores the way the seven deadly sins (Pride, Sloth, Greed, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, and Lust) all exist in our personalities. They take precedent in different moments, work in tandem with one another, and work in opposition to the other sins.