William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet chronicles the quest to create a new ballet based upon Mr. Shatner's critically acclaimed album, "Has Been." Mr. Shatner co-wrote the album which was produced by Ben Folds of Ben Folds Five. Mr. Shatner and Ben Folds perform on the album along with such diverse artists as Henry Rollins, Joe Jackson, Aimee Mann and country superstar, Brad Paisley.
Famed choreographer Margo Sappington created "Common People," a ballet set to six songs from "Has Been," which was performed by the Milwaukee Ballet.
|
Margo timeline of events and productions:
1965 - 1969
Margo Sappington was born in Texas and joined the Joffrey Ballet in 1965 at the bequest of Robert Joffrey. Gerald Arpino had produced ballets that Margo has also danced in. Moving onto Broadway in Bob Fosse's Sweet Charity, she appeared in the Broadway musical, Promises by Michael Bennett.
1969 - 1971
Famous for Oh! Calcutta! an off-Broadway musical that took center stage in the Eden Theater in New York. In 1971 she choreographed her first ballet, Weewis, for the Joffrey Ballet.
1986
Forming a partnership with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, she has created Cobras in the Moonlight, Step Out of Love, And Now This, Forging Ground, and a pas de deux, Mirage.
1988
She created Heliotrope, for the Central Ballet of China in Beijing which became the first American creation to enter the company in China. Virgin Forest for the Milwaukee Ballet, and also a documentary on PBS and has received awards, was also inspired by Rousseau's jungle paintings.
1992
Starting a friendly partnership with Valentina Kozlova they worked together on "From Bolshoito Broadway".
1993
Again for the Joffrey Ballet she created Slide, which was a section of the company's highly acclaimed evening-length work, Billboards, danced to a score by rock musician Prince. She has also created the dance drama, Juliana, based on the short story, "La Intrusa" by Jorge Luis Borges for Rajatabla Danza (Caracas, Venezuela).
1994
Creates Counterpoint for the Bordeaux Grand Theatre set to the music of Count Basie.
1995
Continuing her relationship with Ms. Kozlova she became co-artistic director and choreographer of "The Daring Project". For this working relationship they created together: Don't Bring Lulu, For Ella, Magyar Dances, and One Summer Night, with music ranging from Liszt and Brahms to songs sung by Ella Fitzgerald, and flamenco music by Paco de Lucia.
2001
The Indigo Girls Project for the Atlanta Ballet, included The Indigo Girls a well known musical group.
2002
Zuzu Lounge creator for the Kansas City Ballet.
2005
At the premiere of Charles Strouse's Real Men at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, she has created an important role for that production.
2007
She created a ballet called Common People, set to William Shatner's album, Has Been, and was performed by Milwaukee Ballet. Shatner attended the premiere and filmed the event. This footage became Gonzo Ballet, a feature film due out in 2008 which features music production by Ben Folds as well.
|
Projects 
