Pre-Concert Lecture with Dr. Margaret Carlson

This season, Lakeside Chautauqua is partnering with the Conservatory of Music of Baldwin Wallace University to provide lectures prior to select Lakeside Symphony Orchestra (LSO) concerts. These talks prepare listeners to more fully understand and enjoy the evening’s symphony concert.

Join us at 6:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11 in the Fountain Inn Aigler Room for a Pre-Concert Lecture with Dr. Margaret Carlson, titled “Bacchanale: The Unlikely Friendship Between the World’s Greatest Ballerina and Rodin’s Muse.”

Anna Pavlova is known as the world’s prima ballerina assoluta. Hitting her peak in the 1920s, and forever known for her rendition of The Dying Swan, unknown to many is that she also choreographed. Those few works are lost to history but one, Bacchanale, was preserved by the sculptor, Malvina Hoffman.

Their friendship and subsequent partnership resulted in the creation of 26 friezes and one life-size sculpture of the ballet. Verb, Ohio Contemporary Ballet has engaged choreographer Robert Gardner to re-imagine the ballet from these artworks. Danced to Glazunov’s, Autumn, the audience will be treated to the preview of the work with the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra.

Carlson was an original member of the Cleveland Ballet, serving as a Principal dancer from 1972-1983. A member of Actors Equity, she also performed in numerous musical theatre tours throughout the 1970s and for many years choreographed for the Cleveland Opera.

Carlson previously served as Director of the School of Dance at the University of Akron, Dean of the School of Dance at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and Development & Education Director for the Cleveland San Jose Ballet.

She’s consulted through her company, Carlson Consulting Group, Inc., and founded the American Alliance of Dance Artists, serving as its first President. Carlson has also been the secretary of the International Organization for Transition for Professional Dancers and a Board member of the American Dance Guild in New York City for 10 years.

Carlson currently serves on the Board of the Cleveland Dance Movement, Cleveland Chamber Symphony and the Ohio Arts Professionals Network.

She is known for her work as the regisseur for the works of Ian (Ernie) Horvath and was involved in the film about his life, called “No Dominion.”

She received her doctorate from Durham University in the United Kingdom.