Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook (Lubbock, TX)

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Texas Tech takes England by the toes Under the Hyde Park Coli- seum in London, England, the Willis Ballet Company of Tex- as Tech made its world pre- miere in June. The dancers performed for the Queen of England and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in honor of the 100th anni% ' ersary of St. John ' s Ambulance Brigade. Performing in England was a great experience, said Lacey Moore, a Tech graduate and lead dancer in the com- pany. Tech students and gradu- ates primarily made up the body of the company. Jerry Woods, also a graduate and lead dancer, said, The per- forming conditions in Eng- land were so different that I no longer fear performing on a stage I ' ve never seen before. Being a member of the Con- servatory Classical Ballet, Tech is home of one of the few American companies that per- forms true classical ballet. How did a small ballet com- pany from Lubbock manage to make its way to England? I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, said the director of the com- pany, Peggy Willis. In fall 1986, Willis visited the British American Arts As- sociation, where she met Peter Galanders, the press and pro- motions officer for a program called the AU-American Mar- di Gras. He wanted to bring over American entertainment, said Willis. I sent him a video tape of my company, and he liked what he saw. She ac- cepted the invitation to par- ticipate in the AU-American Mardi Gras and began the ex- tensive preparation for the world premiere. Later, the Willis Ballet Company was invited to par- ticipate in the St. John ' s Am- bulance Brigade ' s 100th anni- versary, which benefited dis- advantaged children. We were received well by the British, said Willis. At one point in a parade for the AU-American Mardi Gras, people in the crowd were actu- ally yelling how much they en- joyed our performance. I ' ll never forget the Fourth of July party in South Tyne- side when the Norwegian band next to us began playing the (American) national an- them, said Moore. They didn ' t have to; they just did it for us. I was very proud of my company, Willis remarked. They had a very professional attitude throughout the entire trip. —Robin Storey In an arabesque position, ballerina Lacev Moore performs in Esmeralda Pas Deux. The Willis Ballet Com- pany presented its world premiere in June. (Photo by Buddy Myers) 28 — Ballet World Premiere

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With the l.uhbock Hky an the back drop, the adminiKtralion buildinK shines during the ( ' anil dI I.i)ihts. (l ' h(ilc) l)v [lenrv I.iaol Underneath the wreath, the Carol ul Lights choir sings ChriKlma caroU durinK the light festival. (Photo bv Henr ' Liao) I

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Lead dancers Jerry Wo k1s and Lacey Moore perform in Don Quixote pas de Deux. Both dancers are Tech graduate students. (Photo hy Buddy Mverst In The Texas Pas de Deux, Angeli- que Cox and Jerr. ' Woods perform on the dance company ' s tour of Kn land in .June 1987. (Photo by Buddy Mvers) IVlembers of the Willis Ballet Com- pany toured Bumburgh Castle in Eng- land. Pictured are dancers Tracy McCarter. Kenneth McChler, Jerry Woods, Leslie Burk. Kim Traeger. Denise Scott, Alice Boman. Lacy Moore, Angel Cox. Denise Matsu- mura. Peggy Willis and Jaime Willis. (Photo by Buddy Mvers) Dttigned by Yvonne Salce Ballet World Premiere — 29