Homecoming Dances with Baton Rouge Ballet

Chartered in 1960, the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre has been the barre from which many young ballerinas twirled off into astonishing careers as dancers, choreographers, and educators. In Homecoming Dances, at the Manship Theatre, four unique, alumni-created works will celebrate the company's role as a talent incubator. Beacon by Helen Daigle, former professional dancer and current ballet mistress of Louisville Ballet, sets contemporary moves to the somnolent classic, "Clair de Lune." Affinity by Julia Mayo, graduate of the Julliard School and current assistant professor at DeSales University, calls upon the friendships built in the dance studio for a neo-classical piece of choreography. Tittle Tattle Ya-Ya by Taylor Mitchell, a highly sought after choreographer and teacher, finds humor in the small-town rumor mill.  Finally, Alone Together by Whitney Dufrene, current member of Doug Varone and dancers, delves into the throb of loneliness even amidst a crowd.  The alumni are not just the evening's choreographers but its dancers too: look for LeTiger Walker and Rishell Maxwell, current members of Garth Fagan Dance and Emelia Perkins, of the Sarasota Ballet. BRBT rounds out the program with a fitting performance of its signature work, Ballet Brahms. The tutus are light grey, the choreography comes from ballet mistress Susan Perlis, and BRBT's elegant reputation is upheld another year. 7:30 pm Friday; 2:30 pm Saturday. $25–$45 tickets at manshiptheatre.org. Learn more at batonrougeballet.org.