The Oklahoman – Penny Saunders Commissioned by Oklahoma City Ballet

From the article: On their toes: OKC Ballet leaping into 2019-2020 with October production Michael Pink’s ‘Dracula’

By Brandy McDonnell

10 October 2019

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The middle portion of the triple bill will be a world premiere piece by Penny Saunders, whom Mills met when they were both selected in 2017 for the National Choreographers Initiative.

“She’s just very talented … and I want to perpetuate the idea of female choreographers,” he said. “There’s a lot of misogyny in ballet. … There’s not a lot of female choreographers.”

Looking to the ‘Future’

An add-on production to the subscription season, OKC Ballet will present “Future Voices: A Choreographic Showcase” March 12-15 in the Inasmuch Foundation Theatre at the Brackett Dance Center. Intended to be an annual event, the showcase will feature works by Mills, OKC Ballet staffers and dancers, as well as dance professors from local universities.

“This isn’t meant to be a finished performance. This is meant to be people coming into our building and learning about choreography,” Mills said. “If I hadn’t had similar opportunities like this, I wouldn’t have developed into the choreographer that I am.”

Read the full article in The Oklahoman.