This past March, the curtain rose on Ballet Arizona’s newest world premiere, Akelarre. Created by Resident Choreographer, Nayon Iovino, and featuring an original score by Phoenix-based composer Dr. Thomas Breadon Jr., audiences were transported to a realm where folklore, music, and movement collide in a powerful and haunting experience. It was also a shining example of how donor support makes it possible for new artistic visions to take the stage.
The title Akelarre, meaning “witches’ sabbath” in Basque, evokes eerie tales of moonlit gatherings. Nayon drew inspiration not only from this European myth, but from the stories of his Brazilian roots. “Growing up, we were told the legend of the Cuca, a witch-like creature that stole children in the night,” Iovino shares. “With Akelarre, I wanted to channel that same sense of mystery, fear, and transformation through dance.”
Breadon’s haunting score, brought to life by the Mill Ave Chamber Players, was the initial spark for the project. “I had written the music as a kind of abstract exploration” Breadon explains. “When Nayon heard it, he saw a story begin to unfold. That’s the magic of collaboration.”
The result was a hypnotic piece for six dancers, three women and three men, which blurred the boundary between human and supernatural. The live music added a tangible intensity to the performance, allowing for a richer, more nuanced connection with the dancers.
Collaboration was central to Iovino’s creative process. In the studio, Nayon welcomes the dancer’s feedback saying, “I want the movement to belong to them. It has to resonate in their bodies or it won’t land with the audience.”
This open and intuitive approach extends to the costume design as well. Working closely with Costume Shop Director, Leonor Texidor, this is often the last piece of the puzzle, allowing the visual elements to emerge organically from the world Nayon has built.
Ultimately, Akelarre is more than a performance; it is a celebration of creative risk. Ballet Arizona continues to be a place where artists dare to dream and where audiences are invited into worlds they have never seen before. This is just one example of how your generosity breathes life into bold, beautiful art.
“New works like this keep us on our toes, literally and figuratively. They challenge us to reimagine what ballet can be,” says Iovino.
A special thank you to the sponsors whose generosity made Akelarre possible:
- Joan & Charlie Berry
- Beth & Paul Hommert
- Joyce & Jim Smith
- Ann & Van Wolf
- Flavia Campbell
- Jami Kozemczak & Brad Reifschneider
