Art of the Olympicans Announcements
Calendar of Events
Upcoming Events:
January 6 - Art Walk: Special Performance by Dance Alliance.
Now Showing:
Legends of 68', featuring artwork from four dynamic USA Olympians from the 1968 Olympic Games.
Click here for other events and details
Dance Alive joins AOTO for Special Performance
The Dance Alive National Ballet Company (DANB) will join Art of the Olympians (AOTO) to present a unique evening of art, dance and music at the Art of the Olympians Al Oerter Center for Excellence on Friday, August 6 at 7:30 p.m.
AOTO and DANB joined in an effort to capture the passion in both art and sport to inspire individuals to strive for excellence every day. This collaboration introduced works by Olympian Artists as backgrounds for Fused Tutu, a four-part ballet that presents a journey for excellence. Featured in Part III of "Fused Tutu" is a performed around a replica of Olympian Artist Larry Young's “Tango” statue.
AOTO and DANB invite friends, families and community members join in the celebration of the arts. Berne Davis, a long-time supporter of the Arts in Southwest Florida and of Art of the Olympians, will welcome a 15-foot replica of Larry Young’s Tango to the Art of the Olympians collection at 7:30 p.m. The statue was replicated by artist Paul Costanza so that it could be flown, turned and toured with the DANB "Fused Tutu"
AOTO will welcome DANB performers Carla Amancio and Andre Valladon in a special presentation of Tango from “Fused Tutu” at 7:45 p.m. in the Sports Experience Gallery. Admission to the event is free.
"The DANB performances are beautiful examples of the fusion of art and sport and the evening will be an uplifting experience for all who attend," said Cathy Oerter, AOTO Chairwoman.
In the spring of 2010, "Fused Tutu" toured the state introducing patrons to the passion in a pursuit of excellence. The major new work "SOAR" was choreographed by founder and director, Kim Tuttle and Dance Alive choreographer-in-residence Judy Skinner.
"It is about the Olympic ideal of striving for excellence", Tuttle said about the piece.
"SOAR" is comprised of several parts; each inspired by specific works by three AOTO visual artists and begins with Liston Bochette’s “Affirmation”. This first section of the ballet is named “The Dream”. The drawing is of a baby holding the globe signifying the dreams and potential of youth.
The second part is “The Passion” and was inspired by the paintings of Al Oerter, the late great discus thrower. It depicts what fires you, what gets you going as an individual.
The third section was danced around Larry Young’s 15’ bronze sculpture entitled, "Tango" and began with a tango.
