Danced with unbridled power, The Leopard Tale eloquently fuses classical ballet, jazz, modern and African dance into a high energy, action filled, and powerful performance, Choreographed by Waverly T. Lucas, II. The audience share the leopard’s journey, as it details the leopard interacting with his family and their plight against animal predators and prey. Excerpts from Act I, showcase Ballethnic’s dance diversity as its depicts gazelles engaging in a balletic romp; zebras in a jazzy combination; cagey lions on a stomping prowl; and “spasmodic” snakes all  danced to original music by L. Gerard Reid. Students will experience the survival of the leopard as it travels through the African jungle, the rain forest and ultimately into a village. They will also learn choreography, vocabulary and facts about the ballet, the animals and the environment. Program available for grades: k-12   and is 45-60 minutes in length.

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Artist Background

Ballethnic Dance Company, Atlanta’s first and only African-American professional ballet company is a 30 year-old classically trained culturally diverse ballet company that blends traditional ballet with the artistic influences of other ethnic cultures.  Co-founders Nena Gilreath, a North Carolina native and UNC School of the Arts alumnus, and her husband Waverly Lucas, are both former dancers with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Atlanta Ballet. They share an impressive list of artistic credits including performances at New York City’s Lincoln Center, Atlanta’s National Black Arts Festival, the 1996 Cultural Olympiad and the Bermuda Arts Festival. Accolades include Creative Loafing’s Best of Atlanta Critics Pick (Best Dancer), the National Choreographers Award, The McPheeter’s Medallion Award for Community, Lexus Leaders of the Arts and the Atlanta NAACP President’s Award.

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Search Criteria

• Discipline: Dance
• Grade Level: Elementary, High, Middle
• Program Type: Performance
• Cultural Context: African, African-American, European, North Carolina
• Accepts bookings in Johnston County