Filmmaker Paul Michael Bloodgood and Artistic Director Stephen Mills teamed up to offer you the haunting 'Preludes/Begininnings' which you can watch for free now until April 25th on Ballet Austin's website.
"Set to Frédéric Chopin’s 24 Preludes for solo piano and filmed on-site at the historic Scottish Rite Theater, the ballet is both a reflection of the history of the theater and an acknowledgment of the challenging year experienced by all.
Whispers of the past and present come together in the dark of the Scottish Rite Theater, where it has been said that the spirits of the convalescents housed there during the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic still roam the corridors to this day. The film is centered around the tradition of a “ghost light” being placed on stage at night while the theater is empty to keep the ghosts from haunting. However, in PRELUDES/BEGINNINGS, the ghosts come out to dance through the night, returning to the rafters before dawn. This work, performed by Ballet Austin’s Company dancers, honors what has been lost while keeping hope that new beginnings are on the horizon."