Last night Kansas City Ballet held a free lecture and reception featuring ballet legend Wendy Whelan, Rite of Spring choreographer Adam Hougland and Kansas City Ballet Dancers Angelina Sansone and Kaleena Burks at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity. It was a full house.
Whelan began dancing at the age of 3. In 1984 she joined New York City Ballet, where she was promoted to principal dancer in 1991. She went on to spend 30 years there. In 2009, she was approached by Adam Hougland to be his muse in Rite of Spring when it was premiered by Louisville Ballet. She is in town coaching Kansas City Ballet dancers selected to dance the lead in Adam Hougland’s Rite of Spring which will close the ballet’s 2015-2016 season at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts May 6-15.
For more information about tickets to the Ballet’s spring performances, click here.
(L) Devon Carney led the panel discussion with Wendy Whelan, Adam Hougland, Angelina Sansone and Kaleena Burks. (R) Adam Hougland signed autographs for some eager ballet fans.
(L) Wendy Whelan and Angelina Sansone take a photo with some young fans. (R) Wendy Whelan, Adam Hougland, Wendy and George Powell, Devon Carney and Jeffrey Bentley posed for a photo. The Powells have generously provided sponsorship for the spring performances.
