Internationally renowned dancer Frederick Davis joins Yellowstone Ballet in "Songs & Dances of Love."
Fredrick Davis, an African American who grew up homeless on the streets of Chattanooga and took flight to become a principal dancer of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, will join Yellowstone Ballet Company in his own story, “From the Streets to the Stage.”
He performs, along with other dance professionals, an evening of classic ballet pas de deux, love songs and his own heartwarming story in Yellowstone Ballet’s concert titled “Songs and Dances of Love,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at Willson Auditorium, Bozeman.
“From the Streets to the Stage” is the story of Davis, who overcame tremendous odds to achieve his dream of dancing.
“My experience growing up as a kid was one of living in poverty on the streets of Chattanooga,” he said. “I had many dreams. I wanted to be a lawyer, businessman, firefighter, wrestler, football player. I couldn’t afford to try out for the football team and the dance auditions were free, so that was where it all started.”
His exposure to dance at age 11 changed his life; he found inspiration, love and the support he needed from Ballet Tennessee, a church family who adopted him, and a caring community. After training on scholarship at Ballet Tennessee, he was offered a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and then joined Dance Theatre of Harlem, where he became a principal dancer.
Dance Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director Virginia Johnson, said limelight hasn’t diminished his humanity. “One could anticipate that the stardom of having danced as a Principal with the legendary Dance Theatre of Harlem could easily go to one’s head, but this is farthest from the truth with Fred. His hard work and humble beginnings reflect who he is today.”
Along with a Meet & Great for Davis and the other professionals, the mélange includes the world class ballets “Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia” and “The Flames of Paris” with gold medalists Nicole Assaad and Luis Molina; “Swan Lake Pas de Deux” and “Romeo & Juliet Balcony Scene” with former principal dancer of Ballet Argentina and Joffrey Ballet Lucas Segovia and principal guest artist Molly Groeschl; “The Swan,” a mother/daughter love duet with rancher ballerina Annie Valle and her aspiring ballerina Mesa Valle; “Le Corsaire Pas de Deux” and a world premiere of “The Lark Ascending”; and a new work to Vaughan Williams’ epic violin composition with Fredrick Davis and Paunika Jones, former principals of Dance Theatre of Harlem.
The concert also includes songs “Dancing on the Stars” and “Make Believe” with Bozeman’s distinguished soprano Ciara Wallace, and “True Love Never Dies” and “Never Doubt My Love” with Michael Koster and soprano Karen Dade.
Yellowstone Ballet Artistic Director Kathleen Rakela suggests, in honor of St. Valentine, that the audience “bask in the love that the arts can bestow to all hopeless and hopeful romantics.”
Reserved tickets are available at www.Yellowstoneballet.info. Call 406-222-0430 for information.