Tulsa Ballet learning some new steps

Tulsa Ballet will present "World Rhythms" at the end of this month. It's made up of three dance pieces that blend classical ballet with the rhythm and music from three continents. <br/><br/>Tuesday,

Tuesday, October 4th 2005, 10:16 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Ballet will present "World Rhythms" at the end of this month. It's made up of three dance pieces that blend classical ballet with the rhythm and music from three continents.

Tuesday, the company worked on the finer points of its African dance piece. News on 6 reporter Rick Wells has a preview.

Dr Zak Diouf and his wife Naomi are here to work with the dancers of the Tulsa Ballet. These African rhythms and movements are part of Lambarena, a fusion of African dance and classical ballet.

Naomi Diouf is trying to get them to let go and just feel it. "The most important element is the feeling of the rhythm." So she demonstrates and watches the dancers try to pick up the feel of something new.

Dancer Rene Olivier: "Eventually you do let go start feeling the drums and enjoy yourself, you get over feeling shy or embarrassed and you just do it."

The company has been working on these African rhythms for a couple of weeks. The Diouf's are here to refine what they've learned. "Clarifying and enhancing giving them some more insight so they can say oh, that's what it is."

Tulsa Ballet has dancers from 16 countries and 8 states, excellent dancers, but this is new territory for most of them. A drum does all the talking. Naomi Diouf: "It's a feeling, you have to feel it." And everybody was.

World Rhythms opens Friday October 28th and runs through that weekend. For tickets or more information check out the Tulsa Ballet www.tulsaballet.org.