Milwaukee Ballet brings popular works from its Genesis competition back with Re.Gen

MILWAUKEE, WIS – April 12, 2021 – Milwaukee Ballet brings back crowd favorites from its revered international Genesis choreographic competition, with Re.Gen, which runs April 22-May 2, 2021 at Baumgartner Center for Dance.  

The Genesis competition is about innovation and transformation. True to this legacy, Milwaukee Ballet is using technology to put the choreographers virtually in the room with the dancers.  

“Two of our choreographers are working remotely with our talented dancers,” said Artistic Director Michael Pink. 

The program features three contemporary works: Enrico Morelli’s The Noise of Whispers, Timothy O’Donnell’s Boléro, and Mariana Oliveira’s Pagliacci. 

When these choreographers originally competed in the competition, they were flown into Milwaukee to produce a world premiere at The Pabst. Due to the pandemic, Morelli and Oliveira are leading rehearsals remotely from Italy and Chicago respectively, with assistance from Milwaukee Ballet’s rehearsal directors, Luz San Miguel and Denis Malinkine, who are in the rehearsal studios with the dancers. 

O’Donnell, now resident choreographer at Milwaukee Ballet, has not had his rehearsals affected by health and safety restrictions. 

Pink notes he has been impressed with the quick progress made despite the new challenges, and he believes it will have no effect on the quality of the program. 

He added, “This is the perfect show for anyone eager to return to the theater. You don’t need to know anything about ballet to love this performance. You can just sit back and enjoy the artistry and athleticism of our world-class dancers.” 

Italian choreographer Enrico Morelli won the Audience Choice Award in 2017 with his emotional The Noise of Whispers. He is also the winner of numerous choreographic competitions throughout Italy and received the Silver Medal of the President of the Italian Republic. 

Australian Timothy O’Donnell won both the Judges’ Decision and Audience Choice Award in 2009. As part of his grand prize, he returned with Boléro, set to Maurice Ravel’s score. O’Donnell won numerous awards in his native country and was featured on “So You Think Can Dance Australia” before becoming Milwaukee Ballet’s Resident Choreographer. 

Brazil’s Mariana Oliveira impressed critics and crowds alike with her world premiere inspired by the commedia dell’arte, Pagliacci, in 2017. She trained at London’s Royal Academy of Dance before founding Union Project Dance Company in New York.  

Milwaukee Ballet will perform to an audience of approximately 50 patrons per show, which is 25% of capacity of the performance space in its Baumgartner Center for Dance, the We Energies Foundation Performance Studio. 

Milwaukee Ballet’s health and safety protocols, developed by its own committee in consultation with the City of Milwaukee, requires mandatory mask usage of all persons in Baumgartner Center for Dance at all times, including those who have been vaccinated. The production is one hour with no intermission. 

Re.Gen will also be filmed and available On Demand, thanks in part to support from United Performing Arts Fund Kasey’s Fund. 

Re.Gen follows Milwaukee Ballet’s sold-out run of To The Pointe, which opened its Reimagined Season in February. The organization plans to return to the newly renovated Marcus Performing Arts Center in June with Encore. 

For full details of Milwaukee Ballet’s Reimagined 2020-21 Season, visit www.milwaukeeballet.org.  

Subject to change based on future guidelines from local health officials and the CDC. 

Ticket Information
RE.GEN
April 22-May 2, 2021
Baumgartner Center for Dance and On Demand
128 N Jackson Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Tickets to in-person performances are on sale now. Seating is limited. Interested patrons are encouraged to purchase early to guarantee themselves a seat. 

Performance schedule:
Thursday, April 22 | 7:30pm
Friday, April 23 | 7:30pm
Saturday, April 24 | 4:30pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, April 25 | 12:00pm and 3:00pm
Thursday, April 29 | 7:30pm
Friday, April 30 | 7:30pm
Saturday, May 1 | 4:30pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, May 2 | 12:00pm and 3:00pm

Subject to change based on future guidelines from local health officials and the CDC

Tickets are only available at milwaukeeballet.org or through the Milwaukee Ballet box office at 414-902-2103. Walk-Up sales are not available at this time. 

Re:Gen will also be available On Demand April 22-May 2 at milwaukeeballet.org. A VIP Package will be available with bonus footage from rehearsals and interviews with choreographers and dancers. 

The Genesis Competition 
Held every other year, Genesis is the nation’s only choreographic competition to attract interest from international choreographers and allow them to create work on a professional Company. Milwaukee Ballet has a proven record of discovering bright young stars in the dance world through the competition, with past winners going on to found their own dance companies, choreograph for Netflix programs, and create new works for prestigious Companies around the world.  
About Milwaukee Ballet 
Milwaukee Ballet was founded in 1970. Led by Artistic Director Michael Pink, Milwaukee Ballet’s mission is to create a rich and diverse community through its inspiring dance performance, education, and outreach. Milwaukee Ballet hosts an international company of dancers and maintains its own orchestra. Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy is the only professional dance school in the Midwest accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, teaching beginner through pre-professional levels in three locations: Third Ward, Fox Point, and Brookfield. Milwaukee Ballet’s award-winning Community Engagement department serves nearly 30,000 people in Southeastern Wisconsin each year through original, interactive programs. Milwaukee Ballet is a proud cornerstone member of United Performing Arts Fund and holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. 

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.