The “Brickyard” was recently the scene of a well-attended Final Friday concert, and soon a new arts adventure will be performed at the popular venue: Neos Dance Theatre’s Ballet @ the Brickyard. The performance will be staged at the Brickyard at Temple Court between Diamond and Main Street in downtown Mansfield on Saturday.
“All of the dancers are classically trained in ballet. You’ll see movements, as an audience, that you will associate with ballet but it’s very contemporary. It’s a combination of modern and ballet. ‘Flight’ is a great work that is very contemporary. All of the music is very contemporary, as well, from electronic, an old hymn, a soundtrack from some independent films. It’s a wide range,” said Neos Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Bobby Wesner.
In the Brickyard an outdoor art gallery and VIP station with a number of downtown Mansfield eateries will be available beginning at 6:45 p.m., but the outdoor dance performances are the main attraction. Opening entertainment featuring Ashland Regional Ballet and The Renaissance Theatre begins at 8 p.m. and the performance featuring Neos Dance Theatre and guest musician, Timbre Cierpke, begins at 8:45 p.m.
According to a recent press release, the main performance by Neos Dance Theatre will feature Flight, by guest choreographer Penny Saunders, and two works by Wesner: Spinning Plates and a premiere that is yet to be titled. Spinning Plates will be performed with live, original music by Nashville harpist, singer, composer, Timbre Cierpke and her band.
The performance will be staged in the lower parking lot, but will the dancers actually perform on the bricks?
No, that’s one of unique features of the show—a 28×32 foot mobile stage. About a year and a half ago Neos applied for grants for the stage. They received local support from the Richland County Foundation. They also achieved an agreement with GroundWorks Dance Theater of Cleveland to share the remaining necessary equipment.
“It’s a big thing. It’s pretty phenomenal when you look at the back stage behind the scene activities,” stated Wesner. “I’m excited about this particular performance. It’s the premier of this stage and a big thank you to the Richland County Foundation for their support. We’ll actually have a very flat surface covered with our Marely floor [flooring specifically designed for dance] to give the dancers a flat consistent surface.”
The evening begins at 6:45 p.m. and includes outdoor gallery space featuring local artists and food from Downtown Mansfield local businesses.
Wesner said some of their intent is to showcase like local eateries like Nathans Hotdogs, Mixblues, and beer from The Phoenix Brewing Company. In the VIP area there will be wine from Cyrpus Hill Winery, and food from Athens Greek Restaurant, Ed Pickens Café on Main, City Grille and Bar, Two Cousins’ Pizza, Relax, It’s Just Coffee, and selections from caterer Beth Carter. City News will offer cigars and cognac.
Local art will be represented by Jennifer Donley, Sally Green Tharp, Aurelio Diaz, the Art Space Gallery, and Jason Kaufman.
Bobby and Brooke Wesner, the cofounders of Neos live in Ashland and Bobby Wesner said his first dance performance was on stage at The Renaissance Theatre. Other performers are from “all over depending on where they lead their lives,” said Wesner.
“One of the things that we get when we’re traveling is from people that know about dance and culture and know that it takes a larger support system. They wonder how we do it in a smaller town like this.,” he noted, “We were born and raised here and were trained here and then went out and danced, and we’ve slowly built a rep and an audience. And it’s been almost 10 years of doing it a little bit.”
Wesner added, “One of those things that‘s really cool is that when we’re out performing, people ask where are you from and how are you doing it there. We get it a lot. Mansfield is prime to be that sort of one-tank trip from all over Ohio.”
Tickets are available at www.neosdancetheatre.org. VIP tickets are $75, general seating is $25, and there are ticketing options that will support Ashland Regional Ballet or The Renaissance Theatre. Guests must bring their own chairs or blankets for the general seating area.
Parking will be available on Fourth and Main Street in the municipal lot and admissions are located at Temple Court and Main Street. The evening is sponsored by Cleveland Financial Group, Charles P. Hahn, CFP. VIP station sponsors include My Town Partners, Jay Industries, Cyrprus Hill Winery, and Rand and Mary Smith, as well as, Athens and Two Cousins’.
There are still opportunities to sponsor the stations in the VIP area by contacting Bobby Wesner or through the Neos website.
For more information on Neos Dance Theatre, visit their website.
About Ashland Regional Ballet
Founded in 1989 on the rich traditions of classical ballet, ARB is a distinctively American company dedicated to bringing dance as a performing art to its community. ARB provides a pathway to the professional world of dance for students who are exploring the possibility of a professional career in dance or a dance-related field. Founded by Hellie Schussler and under the Artistic Directorship of Sarah Cyders, the company’s repertoire is widely varied allowing dancers and audience members to explore many movement styles in classical and contemporary dance. ARB receives support from the Hire Family Foundation (www.OpusDanceStudio.com).
About Timbre Cierpke
Timbre grew up in a classical world, listening to only classical and choral music until she was in her teens. She has sung classically from as early as she could stand up and make sounds, and has played harp classically for 20 years. She has been composing for a few years as well, and has had pieces performed in cathedrals all over the world, including Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Over the past 7 years, she has slowly found her way into a new world of popular music, writing songs with her band and playing with a diverse collection of bands, from mewithoutYou, the Chariot, Brooke Waggoner, to bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs and Jack White of the White Stripes.
