Hearts and Flowers
This Valentines Day Share the Love
What could be better than beautiful dancing to celebrate Valentines?
Torris and Shannon Caston started Hearts and Flowers
February 2004 in the Studio as a debut for the Caston Chamber Ballet Company!
Now it has become an annual performance event not only for the Company but also
the Apprentices, Trainees, and Junior Company. Containing dances from the
reperatory and new premieres - ranging from the classics to contemporary. The full
performance lasts about one hour with options to take photos with the performers at
the end, it is an enjoyable event for the entire family!
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Bach’s Double Violin Concerto
Leslianna (Bach I - Vivace)
Music- Bach’s Double Violin Concerto – Vivace
Choreography – Torris V. Caston 2006 premiere at National Dance Week
Reperatory – This ballet was created in honor of Shannon’s mom Leslie Ann Williams. In
gratitude for her many hours of gracious help for Caston’s Ballet Academie. Many of Caston’s
dancers have worn her creations and benefited from her help through almost ALL of the Caston’
s many different performances. One of Leslie’s favorite songs is Bach’s Double violin concerto
– the Vivace section. Torris wanted to make a beautiful visual creation – there is a dancer for
each of the violins and there legs and feet seem to take on the strokes or plucking of the violin
strings. The choreography is representive of the music, the challenging quick steps shows the
technical strength and beautiful feet work – a famous trait of Caston’s training and illustrated
the dancers.
Largo (Bach II)
Music – Bach’s Double Violin Concerto - Largo ma non tanto
Choreography - Torris V. Caston Premiere
Premiere- New choreography, that extends the first part of Bach’s Double Violin Concerto
already included in the reperatory. This piece is intended to be the 2nd of 3 parts of Bach’s
Double Violin Concerto that Torris V. Caston intends to choreograph. He has worked with his
dancers to create a stunning ballet that flows with the first and will entice audiences with its
many pas de trios, involving both men and women dancers.
Waltz of the Flowers
Music- Tchiakovsky, Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker
Choreography – Torris V. Caston 2004 Premiere at Caston’s Nutcracker for Children
Annual Reperatory – an audience favorite! Beautiful choreography, costumes and a chance
to present a new dew drop and sometimes new flowers are introduced! Against a plain black
curtain highlights the pink tutus and dew drop to a new extreme (as compared to the recent
Nutcracker Flowers).
Degas the Dancers in Blue
Music- TBA
Choreography – Shannon Caston Premiere
Premiere- Inspired by Torris V.Caston’s The Dance Class, Ms. Shannon uses Degas
Paintings to inspire a new slipper ballet dance each year for the Junior Company thru
Trainees. A beautiful interpretation of a an old Paris Opera dance class set to classical music
follows the classic patterns of class and shows the ballet vocabulary of the younger upcoming
dancers at Caston Ballet Academie.
THE BLACK SWAN
Grande Pas De Deux from Swan Lake
Music- Tchiakovsky
Choreography- Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov 1894 staged by Torris V. Caston
Reperatory - Haley and Jonathan will present a stunning high stamina version of this difficult
timeless classic!
THE WHITE SWAN
Adage Variation from Swan Lake
Music – Tchiakovsky
Choreography- Lev Ivanov 1894 staged by Torris V. Caston
Reperatory- Emily will beautifully flow through this short but very challenging choreography.
SISTERS
Music- George Winston - Winter
Choreography – Torris V. Caston Premiere Convention Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
1988
Reperatory - danced by Trainee members - Saundrea, Sarah M., and Sara A., will dance their
first group pointe piece together. Mr. Caston initially choreographed this dance for a Women’s
Sorority a adage that showcases the beautiful lines of the dancers in many different poses.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
TONY BENNETT SELECTIONS
IF I RULED THE WORLD
Music – Tony Bennett and Celine Dione If I Ruled the World
Choreography- Torris V. Caston Premiere
Premiere- Celeste will perform a new piece choreographed on her by Mr. Caston. Using
Celeste’s beautiful use of lyricism he showcases Celine Dione’s sweet voice in the flow of
movement.
BECAUSE OF YOU
Music – Tony Bennett and K.D. Lang
Choreography – Torris V. Caston Premiere
Premiere- Shannon and Torris will dance a new work, quickly becoming a tradition. Shannon
requested a special Christmas present in December of 2005 for her husband to create a dance
especially for them to perform he made one for Hearts and Flowers 2006. Torris decided to
give her another dance this year for Christmas, only this time she didn’t even have to ask.
CARRIBBEAN BLUE
Music – Enya Carribbean Blue
Choreography – Shannon Caston Premiere June Mixed Bill 2006
Reperatory – At the request of many who saw the June performance from last year (and the
dancers as well) The Company – Apprentices- and two Trainees - Saundrea & Sara A., will
present this ballet again. Ms. Caston’s choreography evokes the feeling of artwork coming to
life – as if in a dream. Creative costumes hand painted by Shannon Caston along with the
different body moments make the dancers resemble creatures of the air and sea. Along with
the use of the large silk scarves in hues of blues carried by the dancers a sense of freedom
and fun are displayed in this unique ballet.
FRAGILE
Music – Sting Fragile
Choreography – Shannon Caston Premiere
Premiere - Danced in slippers by the Trainees and choreographed by Ms. Caston, to honor
those from 9/11/01 – The impact it has had on many people all over the world - a solemn
dance about the fragility of our world.
This Valentines Day Share the Love
What could be better than beautiful dancing to celebrate Valentines?
Torris and Shannon Caston started Hearts and Flowers
February 2004 in the Studio as a debut for the Caston Chamber Ballet Company!
Now it has become an annual performance event not only for the Company but also
the Apprentices, Trainees, and Junior Company. Containing dances from the
reperatory and new premieres - ranging from the classics to contemporary. The full
performance lasts about one hour with options to take photos with the performers at
the end, it is an enjoyable event for the entire family!
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Bach’s Double Violin Concerto
Leslianna (Bach I - Vivace)
Music- Bach’s Double Violin Concerto – Vivace
Choreography – Torris V. Caston 2006 premiere at National Dance Week
Reperatory – This ballet was created in honor of Shannon’s mom Leslie Ann Williams. In
gratitude for her many hours of gracious help for Caston’s Ballet Academie. Many of Caston’s
dancers have worn her creations and benefited from her help through almost ALL of the Caston’
s many different performances. One of Leslie’s favorite songs is Bach’s Double violin concerto
– the Vivace section. Torris wanted to make a beautiful visual creation – there is a dancer for
each of the violins and there legs and feet seem to take on the strokes or plucking of the violin
strings. The choreography is representive of the music, the challenging quick steps shows the
technical strength and beautiful feet work – a famous trait of Caston’s training and illustrated
the dancers.
Largo (Bach II)
Music – Bach’s Double Violin Concerto - Largo ma non tanto
Choreography - Torris V. Caston Premiere
Premiere- New choreography, that extends the first part of Bach’s Double Violin Concerto
already included in the reperatory. This piece is intended to be the 2nd of 3 parts of Bach’s
Double Violin Concerto that Torris V. Caston intends to choreograph. He has worked with his
dancers to create a stunning ballet that flows with the first and will entice audiences with its
many pas de trios, involving both men and women dancers.
Waltz of the Flowers
Music- Tchiakovsky, Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker
Choreography – Torris V. Caston 2004 Premiere at Caston’s Nutcracker for Children
Annual Reperatory – an audience favorite! Beautiful choreography, costumes and a chance
to present a new dew drop and sometimes new flowers are introduced! Against a plain black
curtain highlights the pink tutus and dew drop to a new extreme (as compared to the recent
Nutcracker Flowers).
Degas the Dancers in Blue
Music- TBA
Choreography – Shannon Caston Premiere
Premiere- Inspired by Torris V.Caston’s The Dance Class, Ms. Shannon uses Degas
Paintings to inspire a new slipper ballet dance each year for the Junior Company thru
Trainees. A beautiful interpretation of a an old Paris Opera dance class set to classical music
follows the classic patterns of class and shows the ballet vocabulary of the younger upcoming
dancers at Caston Ballet Academie.
THE BLACK SWAN
Grande Pas De Deux from Swan Lake
Music- Tchiakovsky
Choreography- Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov 1894 staged by Torris V. Caston
Reperatory - Haley and Jonathan will present a stunning high stamina version of this difficult
timeless classic!
THE WHITE SWAN
Adage Variation from Swan Lake
Music – Tchiakovsky
Choreography- Lev Ivanov 1894 staged by Torris V. Caston
Reperatory- Emily will beautifully flow through this short but very challenging choreography.
SISTERS
Music- George Winston - Winter
Choreography – Torris V. Caston Premiere Convention Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
1988
Reperatory - danced by Trainee members - Saundrea, Sarah M., and Sara A., will dance their
first group pointe piece together. Mr. Caston initially choreographed this dance for a Women’s
Sorority a adage that showcases the beautiful lines of the dancers in many different poses.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
TONY BENNETT SELECTIONS
IF I RULED THE WORLD
Music – Tony Bennett and Celine Dione If I Ruled the World
Choreography- Torris V. Caston Premiere
Premiere- Celeste will perform a new piece choreographed on her by Mr. Caston. Using
Celeste’s beautiful use of lyricism he showcases Celine Dione’s sweet voice in the flow of
movement.
BECAUSE OF YOU
Music – Tony Bennett and K.D. Lang
Choreography – Torris V. Caston Premiere
Premiere- Shannon and Torris will dance a new work, quickly becoming a tradition. Shannon
requested a special Christmas present in December of 2005 for her husband to create a dance
especially for them to perform he made one for Hearts and Flowers 2006. Torris decided to
give her another dance this year for Christmas, only this time she didn’t even have to ask.
CARRIBBEAN BLUE
Music – Enya Carribbean Blue
Choreography – Shannon Caston Premiere June Mixed Bill 2006
Reperatory – At the request of many who saw the June performance from last year (and the
dancers as well) The Company – Apprentices- and two Trainees - Saundrea & Sara A., will
present this ballet again. Ms. Caston’s choreography evokes the feeling of artwork coming to
life – as if in a dream. Creative costumes hand painted by Shannon Caston along with the
different body moments make the dancers resemble creatures of the air and sea. Along with
the use of the large silk scarves in hues of blues carried by the dancers a sense of freedom
and fun are displayed in this unique ballet.
FRAGILE
Music – Sting Fragile
Choreography – Shannon Caston Premiere
Premiere - Danced in slippers by the Trainees and choreographed by Ms. Caston, to honor
those from 9/11/01 – The impact it has had on many people all over the world - a solemn
dance about the fragility of our world.