Kristin Kingsley was born with her hips turned in, and doctors suggested she undergo surgery as an infant to remedy the problem. Her mother, who had a background in dance, instead opted to enroll her in ballet classes when she was 2 years old, as dance moves had been known to open up hip joints. Kingsley wore leg braces for a bit and embraced ballet as a form of physical therapy.
Now, as founder and artistic director of Longmont-based Centennial State Ballet (CSB) — a nonprofit she established in 2012 — she brings the joy of the classic art form to area youth. While 2020 took its toll on in-person performances, Kingsley explored the virtual route by offering audiences ways to watch fresh productions from the safety and comfort of their homes.
On Saturday and Sunday, Centennial State Ballet will livestream performances of “Coppélia,” a comedic ballet that dates back to 1870.
In the humorous tale, Dr. Coppélius crafts a life-size dancing doll. Franz, a village boy, becomes infatuated with the lifelike creation and forsakes his love Swanilda for the inanimate object he mistakes as real. Swanilda reveals his foolishness by dressing as the doll and eventually saving him from an untimely end at the hands of the deranged inventor.
Performances were filmed on location at Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium and The Callahan House.
Shows are Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Various tiered ticket options start at $50.
We caught up with Kingsley to find out about her love for this quirky 19th century ballet, when Centennial State Ballet will take the stage again for in-person shows and what future arts project she is excited to see take shape in Longmont.
Times-Call: I imagine last year was quite a difference for you as artistic director. What has it been like adjusting to a virtual platform?
Kristin Kingsley: As professional companies began to announce season cancellations at the beginning of quarantine, we knew that was not an option for our performers. Across the dance community, it’s been a devastating time. We felt embracing our situation to find meaningful artistic opportunities, in spite of limitations, would help provide consistency, normalcy, community and joy for our youth company performers during this chaotic time. The virtual platform this season has been both a challenge and a gift. While it was sad to not be dancing in a traditional corps de ballet — large group— with a live audience, CSB’s artistic staff witnessed incredible growth in our performers this season through private and small group coaching sessions to prepare for filming.
Additionally, we were able to think how to present ballet in a whole new way. Filming our performances throughout the Longmont community … allowed us to make each show very personal to Longmont. Creating dance for film also provided the opportunity to really choose what the audience would see. Rather than the traditional proscenium theater view, we could bring our audiences close and really show specific details through video editing. Most of all, I am so proud of the flexibility and resilience our young performers have cultivated in the midst of a tumultuous year. It has been a delight to work with CSB’s young artists and a joy to see them growing in leaps and bounds as they learn about ballet performance for film, costuming and professionalism under new circumstances.
TC: What do you love about the story of “Coppélia” and what can viewers expect from this production?
KK: “Coppélia” is near and dear to my heart. When I was a student growing up in the Kansas City Ballet (KCB), the company commissioned a new ballet from the artistic visionary Todd Bolender — including a plethora of parts for many age ranges. I was a sophomore in high school when I auditioned. I felt the exhilaration of performing a full-length ballet alongside dancers who were paid, professional artists. What a gift.
The next time KCB performed “Coppélia,” I was a company member. Looking back, I was in heaven performing with KCB both as a student and as a professional company member. It has been a joy to adapt Bolender’s “Coppélia” for our company members, from (kindergarteners to 12th) graders, sharing the stage in this charming ballet. Each CSB performer has brought their own character development and put a piece of their own personality into their role. They can really shine through this masterful choreography. Viewers can expect to chuckle at the comedic plotline and be charmed by our youth company members, who have worked so hard to bring this show to life.
TC: Do you have any plans for some in-person productions or know when we can expect to see a Centennial Show live?
KK: We are thrilled that our 2021-2022 Season of Celebrations will be returning to live performances as soon as health guidelines and local theaters allow. However, we are also excited by the opportunity to continue offering virtual livestreams. We anticipate starting a hybrid format that includes a smaller in-person audience following health guidelines that will additionally be streamed for anyone. What a joy to see audiences logging in from across the country.
This summer, our Garden Party and Senior Celebration season kick-off (Aug. 8) will hopefully be able to take place outdoors with a socially-distanced audience. We’re also incredibly excited to bring back the holiday fan favorite, The Sugar Plum Tea Party in November. Dates to be announced soon. CSB is also continuing its work of collaboration with other arts organizations and businesses in our area.
The mainstage events for our 2021-2022 Season of Celebrations are “The Magic Flute,” by Drigo, in September 2021, “The Nutcracker,” by Tchaikovsky, in December 2021 and “Don Quixote,” by Minkus, in spring 2022.
TC: What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of building this company over the years?
KK: (It) has been such a rewarding experience because the dancers, volunteers, board of directors, musicians and staff have the common goal of sharing artistically fulfilled experiences with our audiences.
The youth company member performers are the next generation of leaders and they are acquiring the soft skills that will bring them to great heights of personal success through this program.
Our community proves to us daily that none of us are strong alone, but by collaborating with and trusting others we support each other and make the world a better place — a place fraught with ups and downs, expectations and encouragement and one with a strong sense of purpose. Young people working in tandem with the adults in their chosen artistic field stimulates a close-knit working relationship and instills confidence.
A 21st century dancer’s personal sense of fulfillment and appreciation for this 7th century art form of ballet blossoms through the performance of classic repertoire and brand-new choreographic works in this living art. Through CSB’s tireless efforts, each performer — whether they pursue a career in dance, stagecraft, dance medicine or unrelated to dance — will always have an exhilaration as an orchestra tunes, a curtain opens and lights punch through the darkness onto the stage.
TC: After these livestreams wrap, what can we expect next from Centennial Ballet? Any future goals you would like see come to fruition in 2021?
KK: We’re incredibly excited to be cautiously moving back towards live performances, but are incredibly proud of our accomplishments this season with film and livestreaming.
Moving forward, we will certainly be employing what we’ve learned this season and livestreaming and on-demand rentals will likely be offered …
The Garden Party and Senior Celebration … honors performers who have participated in a production during their senior year and recognizes the incoming senior class. The event is a way of honoring a milestone while also passing the torch …
We, as an organization, are very excited to identify and shape the young people who will one day take CSB’s vision to engage our community and cultivate partners passionate about providing equal access to life-changing dance opportunities for youth across northern Colorado.
Centennial State Ballet is a founding member of Longmont Performing Arts Initiative (LPAI), a group of nonprofit organizations involved with the promotion and support of the performing arts. Alongside the other amazing LPAI members, we’ve been actively involved in spearheading efforts to build a community performing arts and events center.