Van Gogh Exhibit Partners With Tulsa Ballet For Series Of Live Performances

A new partnership is bringing two art forms into one space in Tulsa's midtown.

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience opened in October at 3364 E 51st St. Executive producer John Zaller said early on he had a vision to collaborate with the Tulsa Ballet.

"When you bring in the art of movement into that space we found it just elevates the whole experience for everyone," he said.

That sparked the idea for Art x Movement at Van Gogh, a unique class taught by Tulsa Ballet instructors.

"The movement classes will start with a warmup to help ground the participants," said Lauren Richter, school principal of Tulsa Ballet. "Then our instructor will guide them through movements and improvisations to help them fully immerse themselves in the music, movement, and the beautiful paintings surrounding them."

Rather than watching the art, participants become it. "You are immersed in this 7,000 square foot room where you have Van Gogh's work swirling all around you, but you are also immersed in the movement of your own body," said Zaller.

A concept that celebrates the connection between movement and visual expression. "We need the music, we need the backdrop, and we need that inspiration," Richter continued saying, "To be in a space that already brings all of that to life just helps us draw inspiration for the movement that we are creating within the space."

Zaller adds it is a creative way to bring Vincent Van Gogh's paintings to life. "The beauty of the digital art is that we are bringing Van Gogh's work to life in movement on the screens, but the beauty of ballet is you have the movement of the human form."

The movement classes begin February 1st. Tickets are available online at https://vangoghexpo.com/tulsa/#info