Portraits in Menlo Park

A dance piece with a Brontë-related choreography is performed these days in Menlo Park, CA:

Menlowe Ballet presents
Floraison. Spring Season 
April 28-30
Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center

Floraison celebrates artistry unfolding within our ranks with a world premiere by Michael Lowe & Sarah-Jane Measor to the music of Philip Glass, a new contemporary work by company dancers Stefanie Maughan and Ali McKeon, spirited performances by aspiring young dancers, and the return of Ms. Measor’s powerfully poignant Portraits.

Portraits honors the spirit and accomplishments of women from history who have touched the world with courage and creativity. Portraits marks the professional choreographic debut of Associate Artistic Director Sarah-Jane Measor.

Picture: Patience Gordon, Christina Schifano and Demetria Schioldager as the Brontë sisters in Portraits. (Eric Raeber)

The Brontë sisters are some of these women from history portrayed in Ms. Measor's piece:

Due to many requests, Associate Artistic Director Sarah-Jane Measor is bringing "Portraits" back to the stage for the program. She comes from the U.K. and choreographed a contemporary piece last fall to honor the courage and spirit of important female figures in British history: Lady Jane Grey, the Brontë sisters, an English Channel swimmer, and two suffragettes.
Ms. Shiveley gave several reasons the premiere of that ballet was so popular. The choreographer, seven company dancers and costume designer are all women, the staging incorporates video, and there's a surprise ending.
"The music is stunning, and with the story of these women challenging adverse circumstances, people were crying at every performance," she said.
The company originally performed "Portraits" right before the November election. Ms. Shiveley found the piece timely then and "very timely" now as "more and more women are sensitive and in touch with the challenges that they face." (Kate Daly in The Almanac News)

Meanwhile, at the other side of the world in Parma, Italy, Jane Eyre 2011 takes part in the Realtà e Finzione.  Destini femminili tra Sette e Ottocento series of screenings:

Cinema Astra
April 29, 3:00 PM
Jane Eyre, di Cary Fukunaga (Gran Bretagna/USA 2011)

Dopo uninfanzia di maltrattamenti in una famiglia adottiva e poi presso una scuola di carità, lorfana Jane è decisa a prendere in mano la propria esistenza, senza più dubbi o paure, grazie a unistruzione che lha resa consapevole e indipendente. Lincontro con Rochester suscita in lei un amore travolgente, tormentato però dai sensi di colpi. Il suo personaggio è un esempio di integrità, indipendenza di spirito e forza interiore non prive tuttavia di passionalità. Questa ennesima trasposizione del celebre romanzo di Charlotte Brontë prova il fascino ancora oggi esercitato dal personaggio di Jane.