Photo by Farid Zarrinabadi.

Austin, Texas—  The Cathedral and Ventana Ballet flock together again for the immersive presentation of Night Birds, an avian-themed program featuring eight dancers, three cellists, and vibrant art from the atxGALS collective. In their second year collaborating, these local women- and minority-owned organizations will fly together for two nights only, offering two shows per evening on Thursday, September 22nd and Friday September 23rd.

The program includes an intimate 360 degree performance featuring local professional dancers, cellists, visual art from emerging women and nonbinary artists, and a curated, complimentary bar experience that offers bird-themed signature cocktails and other refreshments from local distilleries and breweries. 

Of the 2021 performances of Night Birds,  Robert Faires of the Austin Chronicle wrote: “Ventana Ballet is noted for the immersive nature of their shows, and bird-watchers won’t have to go scouting around the Cathedral to spy these creatures. Everyone will be seated around a central stage space, though the dancers are likely to take flight through and around the crowd as they channel our feathered friends.”

The program presents several dances, each named after a familiar (or unfamiliar) bird of the night, with the movement intended to represent “the essence and beauty of the animal – paying homage to its nature, without being too obvious,” according to AJ Garcia-Rameau, the director of Ventana Ballet. 

Both Latinas, Monica Ceniceros (Founder of the Cathedral and atxGALS) and AJ Garcia-Rameau (Director of Ventana Ballet), wanted to “spice” up the birds program this year in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. To that end, this year’s program will include some musical selections by hispanic composers, including excerpts from Gaspar Cassadó’s “Suite for Cello Solo” and Pablo Ferrández’s “El Cant del Ocells (Song of the Birds)”. Guests will delight in experiencing some of last year’s birds as well. After a viral stint on Instagram with a recording from last year’s show, the Nightingales will soar again to Beethoven’s coveted “Moonlight Sonata,” played by three cellos to an original arrangement by Austin Camerata member Cory Blais.

Featuring:

• Musicians: Cory Blais, Daniel Kopp, Ryle Harrod-Corral

• Dancers: AJ Garcia-Rameau, Tikiri Shapiro, Kanami Nakabayashi, Kevin Murdock-Waters, Jessica Siclari, Isabelle Green, Kathleen Tiernan, Caitlin Elledge

Performance Schedule: 

• THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND | 6-8pm & 9-11pm

• FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD | 6-8pm &  9-11pm

Tickets:

• On sale through Eventbrite available here.