Ballet series aims for Penn students

Heidi Cruz, who graces the Pennsylvania Ballet's Web site with her bandanna and pierced belly button, epitomizes the image of young and hip.

And that's exactly what the ballet's "Thursday Night Jumps!" series was going for Thursday night at Penn, when promoters kicked off a weekly series to entice the Britney Spears generation.

"We are seeking to target people between the ages of 19 and 32," ballet spokeswoman Denise Venuti said. "We are trying to dispel the image that you have to be older or have more money to participate in the culture of Philadelphia."

That's why they came to Penn.

The series' kick-off event, held at the Palladium, offered the target demographic a chance to mingle with dancers. But only around 30 prospective audience members attended the event, leaving them outnumbered by the number of dancers present.

Those who were there, however, said they were enthusiastic about the opportunity to meet some of the city's finest dancers.

Kathy Tang, a 1998 College graduate and current West Philadelphia resident, said she came because she enjoys dance herself and hopes to utilize the ballet's promotional deal.

"You can get a good deal on tickets, and I'm still in the cheap college student mode," Tang said. "I'm interested in going to the ballet... and if I can see the shows for less it's an even better deal."

But with a minimum subscription of four ballets, ranging in price from $48.20 to $174.80 depending on the seats, the series may still be too much for students' wallets.

There is a "Student Rush" option, where students can show up 30 minutes before the show and purchase discounted tickets, but Tang said she thought that subscribing was still a better option.

"If you subscribe you're much more likely to go to the show," she said. "I would subscribe to see the ballet and to go to the after parties because I think that would be interesting."

Venuti held the event in anticipation of the stereotypical attitude she expects from most young people.

"A lot of people think all ballet is Nutcracker or pink tutus... and it's so much more than that," she said. "By having these types of events, we're showing this demographic that the stars of the ballet are the same as they are."

Dancer Christine Cox said that, like many Penn students, the dancers like to go out clubbing and dancing.

Cox rattled off a list of the Philadelphia hot spots she frequents, saying that the dancers bring their own vitality and spunk.

"It's the physicality of dance that attracts people," she said. "It's a very athletic art form that our age group can appreciate."

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