Say It Series

We continue our season by turning the virtual stage over to six of our artists. I challenged them to Say It, to say something that was important to them, something they believe in, something they haven’t said before – and that’s what this series is about.
Say It is a series of six short dance films all by Ballet Memphis artists featuring Ballet Memphis dancers. We will release each film individually with opportunities for discussion and conversation around each.
Say It is a platform for you to get to know each artist, learn what they believe in, how they see the world, and how this shapes their connection to dance.
The six artists commissioned to create a piece are:
Virginia Pilgrim Ramey
Say It Premiere Oct. 8

Emilia Sandoval
Say It Premiere Oct. 15

Brandon Ramey
Say It Premiere Oct. 22

Julie Marie Niekrasz
Say it Premiere Feb. 18

Jonathan David Dummar
Say it Premiere Feb. 11

Iori Araya
Say it Premiere Feb. 4


Say It Premiere Oct. 8
Virginia Pilgrim Ramey
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Say It Premiere Oct. 15
Emilia Sandoval

Say It Premiere Oct. 22
Brandon Ramey

Say it Premiere Feb. 18
Julie Marie Niekrasz

Say it Premiere Feb. 11
Jonathan David Dummar

Say it Premiere Feb. 4
Iori Araya
Together there are no limits.
Spring Series:
Each performance will be shared here on our website, distributed to our newsletter subscribers, and shared on Facebook.
ˈmo͞ovmənt, by Iori Araya
Premieres Thursday, February 4th
Choreographer: Iori Araya
Cast: Dylan McIntyre, Cecily Khuner
Music: Cinderella, op 87: Cinderella’s Waltz - Midnight by Sergei Prokofiev, Stadium Symphony Orchestra of New York, Leopoldo Stokowki
Costume: Bruce Bui
SONGS OF ARTFUL RESISTANCE, BY JONATHAN DAVID DUMMAR:
Premieres Thursday, February 11th
Choreographer: Jonathan David Dummar
Composer: Daniel Ward
Vocalist: Donavon Hughes
Cast: Pablo Sanchez, Brandon Ramey, Oscar Fernandez
Anwen David, Alexis Nicole Rodgers
Videographer: Brandon Lau, Photojournalist WMC
Video Editor: Walter Murphy, Multi-Media Journalist WMC
BOUND, BY JULIE MARIE NIEKRASZ:
Premieres Thursday, February 18th
Choreographer: Julie Marie Niekrasz
Music : Joseph Bologne, de Chevalier de St. Georges; Symphony No.1 in G Major, Op.11, No.1
Cast: Iori Araya & Eileen Frazer
Mei Kotani, Alexis Rodgers, Jimena Sanchez Flores, Emilia Sandoval
Big thank you to Bruce Bui for his assistance during the filming of this work.
Fall Series:
Each performance will be shared here on our website, distributed to our newsletter subscribers, and shared on Facebook.
Essential, by Virginia Pilgrim Ramey
Premieres Thursday, October 8
Choreographer:
Virginia Pilgrim Ramey
Cast: Oscar Fernandez, Mei Kotani, Emilia Sandoval, Pablo Sanchez, Brandon Ramey, Eileen Frazer
Music: Dance of the Hours by Amilcare Ponchielli
Costume Designer: Bruce Bui and dancers
Lighting Designer: none
Editor: Brandon Ramey
Read Virginia's Choreographer Q&A here.
Aura, by Emilia Sandoval
Premieres Thursday, October 15
Choreographer: Emilia Sandoval
Cast: Iori Araya, Ashley Hannah Davis, Jonathan David Dummar, Cecily Khuner, Dylan McIntyre, Pablo Sanchez
Music: Frederic Chopin
Costume Designer: Bruce Bui
Lighting Designer: Sheric Hull
Special thanks to Steven McMahon, Julie Marie Niekrasz, Kristen Fisher, & my parents, Ken and Rachel Sandoval.
Read Emilia's Choreographer Q&A here.
They Said Be Cool, by Brandon Ramey
Premieres Thursday, October 22
Choreographer: Brandon Ramey
Cast:
Anwen David, Ashley Hannah Davis, Jimena Flores Sánchez, Jonathan Dummar, Dylan McIntyre
Music:
The City Fathers - They Said Be Cool
Zach Pretzer - Vocals/Guitar Gage Markey - Guitar/Vocals Jeff Forbes - Bass Brad Davis - Drums
Costume Designer: Bruce Bui
Read Brandon's Choreographer Q&A here.