Without Enough Funding, Dear Pina is Cancelled
Last January, Vermont choreographer Hannah Dennison announced plans to remount her ambitious dance-theater work, Dear Pina, which an ensemble of more than 30 local dancers performed at six sold-out shows in Shelburne Farms' soaring Breeding Barn last June. Feeling the production was still unfinished, Dennison said she was excited to "go deeper, to sharpen the edges, touch every part again, rub and burnish to a finish I had dreamed of last year but had to set aside because of time contstraints."
Unfortunately, she's setting that dream aside again — this time because of money constraints. Last year Dennison raised $112,000, $90,000 of which was used to pay dancers and collaborating artists. She wanted to pay them again this year, but says she couldn't raise enough up-front funds.
So Dennison has decided to cancel Dear Pina, which was scheduled for June 25 through 29. "All of us — the 30-plus ensemble members and artistic collaborators — are deeply sad to not have this opportunity to work together again, complete the piece, broaden our understanding of each other and the audience, and dance again in the marvelous, magical Breeding Barn," she wrote in a press release. Read more from Dennison here.
The Flynn Center, which started selling tickets for the show last month, is issuing refunds to those who already bought them.
Still want to see the show? You can watch Lukas Huffman's hourlong film of last year's performance here.
