Dance the Night Away: A preview of “Viva La Danza”-a tribute to the late Marie Hale performed by the Ballet Arts Dance Company and a brief interview with the inspiring Artistic Director Deborah Marquez
By Denise Marsh
You make me feel like dancing
Dance has always and continues to be a source of passion, a creative outlet, and a stress-reliever for me. When I was younger, I shamed Ballet shoes by trying to dance in them but equalized that someday Dance would become a driving force in my life and a mainstay. When we lived in Brooklyn, my mother used to take my twin sister and me to see Alvin Ailey dance performances in New York City. It was always a big deal and the highlight of every year growing up. We never had a lot of money but she’d save up every penny and we’d all dress up and enjoy every show like it was our last until it was… Even though my mother has passed on, her love for dance still lives in my heart. Every performance of Alvin Ailey was like watching a dream unfold – emotions and I became part of the “dance” on multiple levels.
Although I once shamed my ballet shoes, I did rekindle and make amends with dance mishaps by immersing myself in the dance world again. I began with interviewing Doreen Scheinpflug Fortman a year ago when she opened up a Fred Astaire studio in Wellington and took dance classes there as well. I found a new “family” in dance and realized that I could dance…pretty well, in fact.
Dancing Full Circle
Just recently I was given a wonderful opportunity to revisit dance by previewing the upcoming Performance, “Viva La Danza”-a tribute to the late Marie Hale sponsored by Ballet Dance Company (which will be premiering on Friday December 4th and Saturday, December 5th at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. I invite you to learn of a spectacular performance and make two names familiar to your world: Marie Hale and Deborah Marquez.
Who is Marie Hale?
I had heard her name a few times in passing but never really took ample time to learn the magnitude of her contributions to dance until recently. There is actually a plethora of information available on her via the internet, social media, YouTube and from several newspapers and dance magazines so I will do my best to compile a summary for you.
Marie Hale is the founder of Ballet Florida. She was a very feisty and ambitious dance genius of a woman. Hale transformed a once primarily male-dominated dance school into the prominent Ballet Florida-a major Ballet company. Mrs. Hale grew up in Greenwood, Mississippi and started taking dance classes when she was 2. Later in life she taught dance and charm classes. In 1983 Marie created Ballet Florida. At that time the company hadn’t become professional until it started paying dancers, three years later.
Hale was able to provide audiences with entertaining story evening ballets including the famous “Nutcracker” and more contemporary works like Daniel Ezralow’s “Read My Hips”. She believed that dancers needed to stretch their limits and challenge traditional beliefs they had of themselves as dancers and about dance in general. Marie preached tough love and perseverance; she pushed dancers to embrace their dreams to the fullest.
The Dance of Life
This brings me to the main focus of our article, the amazing and brilliant Artistic Director, Deborah Marquez, the creator of “Viva La Danza”. Marquez came to the United States from Cuba in 2002. She entered the Ballet Florida under the direction of Marie Hale and it transformed her life, giving her a new found sensitivity towards dance, greater opportunity and understanding towards modern day dancers.
Ballet Arts Dance Company’s logo is “where passion meets dance”. Their mission is to impact people’s lives through the art of dance as a platform for artists in Palm Beach County and also to enhance their experiences while expanding their careers. To find out more information please go to www.balletartscompany.org.
I hope you dance
“Viva La Danza” means, “you live as long as you dance”-the poetry and the truth live in those words! Deborah Marquez choreographed this 45-minute performance celebrating contemporary dance and classical ballet. There will be performances by young, talented dancers and an acclaimed international star, Tara Domitro. The dances were all choreographed as a living testament and tribute to the late Marie Hale.
As per the Kravis Center, please read through the safety protocols and guidelines before you arrive:
- CDC masks are required.
- Temperature checks are performed prior to entry.
- There is limited Cabaret Style seating sold as tables of 4. It is $200 which includes admission to the purchaser and up to 3 guests.
- Park on Level 3 in Kravis Center parking garage to avoid use of elevator and stairs.
- There are two nights of performances: Friday, December 4th and Saturday, December 5th at 7pm.
- Currently there is limited seating availability.
Talk to Me
A big thank you goes out to the Artistic Director Deborah Marquez who took time out of her busy schedule to do this phone interview.
AW: Tell us about your relationship with dance legend Marie Hale. What was the best piece of advice she ever gave you that influenced your dancing/coaching career?
DM: When I arrived in the United States, I was so grateful for her. She embraced me with the company. She taught me to be strong and work hard. Hale taught me that you must have one Non-profit organization and one Profit organization. When I choreographed this show, I wanted to keep honoring and celebrating her so that others could share in her legacy.
AW: What are some highlights of this performance?
DM: It’s like a high- level Star Search. Sophie Molosky is an amazing dancer -look her up! These are a new generation of talented dancers. It portrays my wish to fight and establish a company in Palm Beach County and to create a space for talented dancers. It is about supporting your local companies, engaging your audience, and having a special night with beautiful performances with contemporary pieces.
AW.: Tell us about your own dance background. About how old were you when you realized you wanted to become a dancer?
DM: I was born in Cuba. I studied with the ballet in Cuba which became the Ballet National of Cuba. I was 5 years old and got serious at 8. But later at 17, I became VERY serious.
AW: What is the key to great choreography?
DM: It depends. It is definitely about being more independent in style. I reproduce classical ballet in big productions and renew the art of classical ballet. I like to inspire to create a piece. You really have to have a mood to recreate-an idea is also super important.
AW: What’s your advice to young people who aspire to become professional dancers?
DM: I have two words: Discipline and Sacrifice. You must love to be passionate and committed. You can NEVER work hard enough. For the new generation I would say to “try to express yourself” and lose the cell phone! You have to be able to express yourself openly and publicly so people understand your unique style. Technology is not really expressing yourself. Self-expression is 100 percent and that is the only way. You must say “good morning” every day and just go for it – make it your flower!
AW: You are originally from Cuba. How is Cuban dancing different than American dancing?
DM: I am not trying to saying anything negative in a comparison but there is definitely a difference in styles. In Cuban dancing, it is friendlier, you are more “one”. You are not afraid to dance close and move in a way that might seem more “showy”. It is about expression and less conventional. I love America and it gave me opportunities to express my dreams. I came to a country who literally opened the windows to my dreams. I am grateful for America and always will be. I just am not about to forget where I am from. I will always be a Cuban-Americano-those are my roots. I keep my roots alive in my dance company.
AW: What would you say to people who love to watch dance but claim that they have “two left feet” so they never try?
DM: If you never try you will never discover what you can do. You need to go for it and don’t sit around. You will learn important lessons if you keep trying!
AW: Dancing cannot only be physically exhausting but an expensive endeavor for some young people in training. How does Dance Ballet help fund young dancers’ dreams if they are financially disadvantaged?
DM: That is definitely a problem. Sometimes I am able to give scholarships but it is hard to pay for things. Sometimes there are programs and outreach programs. But the system here is different I created my special program with the Palm Beach Cultural Council called “Art in my Backyard” to help families with low revenues participate in dance opportunities. But there is so much more to do and more to overcome.
AW: Dance today has become more liberated in terms of music, routines, personal expression and even choreography. How do you change with the times to accommodate all this “newness”?
DM: It is wonderful to combine routines and connect with students. I like to give my students personal space to train and it make it their favorite space. I also like to engage them to be the very best that they can be. I honor and respect their styles but I believe in relating back to being disciplined and having a good work ethic-I like to establish this from the very beginning.
AW: What are your future plans for the company?
DM: I would like to establish a company in Palm Beach County. It has been a dream to have this here. I want to bring the beautiful art of dance to all my fans!
Just Dance…
Go see the performance-forget about politics, crime and reality for a little while. Breathe in the music, tap your feet and lose yourself in a space and place that only Dance can take you. Remember, the late Marie Hale’s vivacity and Marquez’s uplifting words and “Viva La Danza!”