Marilyn Klaus

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Marilyn Klaus
Marilyn Klaus Headshot.jpg
Occupation(s)Choreographer, artistic director
Known for Ballets with a Twist
Website balletswithatwist.com

Marilyn Klaus is an American choreographer and artistic director based in New York City. She founded her company, Ballets with a Twist, in 1996, in association with Grammy-nominated composer Stephen Gaboury and costume designer Catherine Zehr. [1]

Contents

Early career

A Los Angeles native, Klaus was first introduced to dance by her father, who brought her to shows and classes in various styles — including classical ballet, tap, and hula — during her childhood. [2] She later studied ballet with Carmelita Maracci and Valerie Grieg, trained with second-generation Isadora Duncan dancer Hortense Kooluris, and received a degree in Theater Dance from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. [3] Klaus went on to create and perform in her own works of dance, theater and film in the United States and Europe. She also choreographed dances for music videos, opera, and children's television.

Ballets with a Twist

In 1996, Klaus founded Ballets with a Twist in association with Grammy-nominated composer Stephen Gaboury and costume designer Catherine Zehr. The company first presented its original collection of theatrical dance vignettes, Cocktail Hour: The Show, in Manhattan, in 2009. The production has been seen in a variety of venues — from traditional theaters to outdoor stages and cabarets — across the country. [4] In conjunction with many of its performances, Ballets with a Twist offers outreach activities such as dance workshops, performance opportunities, and musical collaborations for youth; public cultural enrichment presentations; and artistic residencies. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

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References

  1. McCormack, Lisa "Ballets With a Twist: Shaken, Stirred and Twirled." The Stowe Reporter, 10 Sep. 2015. Web: 3 May 2016.
  2. Schwartzman, Rachel. "Studio Visit: Ballets with a Twist." TheStyleLine.com, 21 Apr. 2014. Web: 3 May 2016.
  3. "Marilyn Klaus." Isadora Duncan Archive, Web: 3 May 2016.
  4. "Company History." Ballets with a Twist, Web: 3 May 2016
  5. Clawson, Kelly. "New York Dance Company Promises to Intoxicate with 'Cocktail Hour.'" Akron Beacon Journal, 18 Sep. 2013. Web: 3 May 2016.
  6. Steussy, Lauren. "'Cocktail Hour' buzz hits PBS before Staten Island show at St. George Theatre." Staten Island Advance , 2 Oct. 2014. Web: 3 May 2016.
  7. Alvarado, Kyle. "Cocktail Hour: The Show brings nightlife-inspired elegance and former El Pasoan to Plaza Theatre." El Paso Times , 24 Jan. 2015. Web: 3 May 2016.
  8. Contino, Patricia. "Ballets with a Twist to bring dance show Cocktail Hour on stage in NYC." The Upcoming, 7 Mar. 2015. Web: 18 Jun. 2019.
  9. Eddings, Amy. "Ballets with a Twist's 'Cocktail Hour' Brings Spirited Dance to Ada." The Lima News, 28 Jan. 2016. Web: 3 May 2016.