Menlowe Ballet returns to the stage with Transcendence April 4-6 at the Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center (555 Middlefield Road, Atherton). Featuring works by Artistic Director Michael Lowe and guest choreographer Dennis Nahat the program includes Lowe’s Tribute, Nahat’s Pas de Cinq and the premiere of Lowe’s Transcendence, a Chinese cultural contemporary work.

In response to its sold-out fall season, the company has added a fourth show to its 2014 spring season. Evening performances are Friday and Saturday, April 4th and 5th at 8:00 pm, and matinees are Saturday and Sunday, April 5th and 6th at 2pm. Tickets ranging from $28-$48 can be purchased online  or by calling 800-595-4TIX (4849).

The Menlo Park-based company was founded in 2011 with the mission to perform works that impact audiences through innovative and inspiring choreography. The founders collectively recognized an opportunity to bring a new choreographic voice to the dance canvas on the Peninsula, as well as address an underserved local community in professional performing arts offerings.

One of the core values of Menlowe Ballet is to continue the tradition of passing dance down one generation to the next — artist to artist. To that end, aspiring students from the Menlo Park Academy of Dance are invited to perform alongside our professional dancers.

As a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation, we also strongly believe in our opportunity and obligation to expose underserved populations to our art form. Each season Menlowe Ballet donates a complimentary performance to the students at Menlo-Atherton High School, which will take place this spring on April 5th. We’ve also donated tickets to various community organizations: Beechwood School, Habitat for Humanity, and Riekes Center for Human Enhancement.

We welcome additional partners to join us to expand the number of community members who can benefit from this experience. Those interested should contact me at lisa@menloweballet.org.

Author of this post, Lisa Shiveley, is Executive Director of Menlowe Ballet

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