Columbia City Ballet to Perform at Claflin University on February 21

Columbia City Ballet will perform at Claflin University on Tuesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. in the W.V. Middleton Fine Arts Center.  The show is free and open to the public.

The performance is part of the Claflin University Lyceum Series which comprises guest lecturers, visual artists and other entertainment and events that stimulate and reinforce the cultural and intellectual environment of the campus and community.

Columbia City Ballet will present a series of excerpts from “Off the Wall and Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green,” the group’s full-length ballet chronicling the Gullah culture in the South Carolina Sea Islands.  The presentation features paintings by noted African American artist, Jonathan Green, a product of the Gullah culture.

Columbia City Ballet will also perform excerpts from its world premiere ballet, “Emanuel.” -- inspired by the messages of forgiveness, unity and harmony in the aftermath of the tragic events at The Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. 

The show will also feature scenes from Swan Lake and a tribute to noted African American ballerina, Misty Copeland in appreciation of her participation last Spring in a fund raiser benefiting the Columbia City Ballet. Copeland recently made history by being named a Principle Dancer by American Ballet Theater in New York City and headlines for dancing the lead in Swan Lake.

The company’s mixed repertoire presentation includes the world premiere of modern dance pieces from its annual modern dance exposition, “Body and Movement Explored.”

Columbia City Ballet’s appearance at Claflin is part of its College Educational Outreach Series and recognition of Black History Month.

For more information, contact Dr. Peggy Stevenson Ratliff (803-535- 5233/pratliff@claflin.edu), professor of English Claflin University.