Breathing between traditional ballet, contemporary dance, busting rhythm, and the silver screen, choreographer and globally recognized artist Peter Chu merged with artistic director Robert Hill to present Orlando Ballet’s “Hollywood En Pointe.” For those seeking a picture-perfect evening to celebrate the charm, mystery, and romance Valentines has to offer, seek no further.
Captivated by a classic film theme, each transcendent piece pinpoints passion while weaving complexities, emotions, and parallelisms onto a dream-like stage for all to share. Before a concluding curtain, audience members will unexpectedly secure an emotive catharsis rarely gifted upon, in part due to the timely touching drops of love… representing the physical, contemporary, nostalgic, and urban flavors delicately sprinkled throughout the evening.
Ticket information for the three performances, scheduled for this Friday, February 15th at 8:00 pm, the following Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm, and concluding on Saturday evening at 8:00 pm, can be secured by calling the Orlando Ballet box office at 407-426-1739 or directly at the orlandoballet.org website.
Making his professional debut with the Orlando Ballet, Peter Chu is no stranger to the Greater Central Florida region. Reared in Cocoa Beach and attended Cocoa Beach High School, Mr. Chu went to the same dance studio (though slightly different era) as Robert Hill. Peter Chu met Robert Hill when Peter was 12 while attending a ballet performance that ultimately changed his life. In a turn of fate, Robert Hill happened to be featured that evening and, as Peter Chu recalled: Robert Hill’s masculine performance displayed strength as he glided across the stage. Robert Hill was a stimulus to push forward as a dancer and thus, a starting point was born.
Though the years have passed, admiration and respect never faded. A “huge inspiration as a child, Robert’s power and influence continues to amaze.”
Given the opportunity to speak with Peter Chu, insight, brilliance, compassion, and devotion threaded each expression, verbal as well as nonverbal.
What insight can you offer for dancers struggling for recognition?
Peter: Give more compassion to yourself, to your dreams, to your limitation and continue to progress as an art form. Defining and refining takes time; dancing and ballet are not a reality television show. Throughout the struggle, enjoy the persistence and continue to go after the dream.
You have received numerous awards. Independently of the awards, what would you like to be recognized for and why?
Peter: The prestigious 2010 Capezio A.C.E. Award for Choreography.
In your early childhood, which event influenced you the most?
Peter: The most influential element in my life is my mother. Her guidance can be seen and heard in my work.
What is your professional vision with your company, ChuThis?
Peter: ChuThis is not a dance company—it is a project-based dance company and a platform to nurture diverse artists. Continuing, developing, recognizing, and displaying are the vision.
Throughout your work and productions, there is a thick use of shadows, light, and beauty focusing on simplicity. With this said, there appears to be a unadorned reality to your style; has there been a philosophical influence in your dancing statement?
Peter: There is a practice making sure dance, art, and work is accessible to all and is devoted to an insight heavy with personal interpretation and thought. This was the beginning of ChuThis. Being half Chinese, there reside an active art forms; liquid, flowing, vibrating, crisp, and sharp. Through this construction, the core of art becomes beautiful… supple. Movement does not fall to entropy.
Anticipating a full-house this weekend at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, I remain in awe at the level of talent Orlando Ballet consistently offers City Beautiful.
Danny Hufman, MA, CEIP, CPRW, CPCC
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