Trillium Arts is delighted to announce Xavier Núñez, Joffrey Ballet dancer, choreographer, and co-founder of Action Lines, as the recipient of its fifth annual ACE (Asheville/Chicago Exchange) Fellowship in Dance. Xavier will be joined at Trillium by filmmaker Tim Whalen of Big Foot Media, and Evan Boersma and Olivia Duryea , dancers from the Joffrey Ballet. The group will be in residence at Trillium July 21-28. During their Trillium residency, the creative team will begin work on the second in a series of dance films titled Mates For Life. The first film, directed by Whalen and choreographed by Núñez, was inspired by whopping cranes. The next iteration is motivated by barn owls, which, as do whooping cranes, mate for life.
THE ACE FELLOWSHIP provides established Chicago-area choreographers and their dancers with a full menu of resources and benefits including air transportation between Chicago and Asheville, a rental car, private lodging, rehearsal space, and an honorarium/per diem. If they so choose, ACE Fellows may opt to engage/interact with Trillium’s Western NC Artist Roster for onsite experimentation and collaboration with a growing cohort of regional and local artists. Each ACE Fellowship is seven to nine days in length, providing space and time to rejuvenate and deepen creative endeavors in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. ACE Fellowship awardees are selected by invitation.
“Xavier Núñez was selected as the 2024 ACE Fellow based on his tremendous artistic merit and the quality of a truly unique dance film project about barn owls that he and his collaborators will advance while here at Trillium,” states Phil Reynolds, Trillium Arts President. Trillium is delighted to support this innovative work that aligns dance with conservation.
MEET THE AWARDEE
Photo of Xavier Núñez, courtesy of the artist.
Xavier Núñez
Websites: Joffrey.org and Actionlines.com
Instagram: @xaviernunezv and @action_lines
Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Xavier Núñez embarked on his dance journey at age ten at The Hartt Community Dance Division in Hartford, Connecticut, becoming the first dancer in his family. He continued his training at the International Ballet Academy in Cary, NC, under Miguel Campaneria in 2010.
In 2012, he earned the silver medal at the World Ballet Competition, propelling him to join the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company under the guidance of Kevin McKenzie and Franco De Vita. Here he performed in international galas in Italy and France, performing George Balanchine’s Tarantella and Alexei Ratmansky’s Le Carnaval Des Animaux. Xavier's path led him to The Tulsa Ballet in 2013, where he performed in productions including The Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Cinderella. In 2017, Xavier took part in the Concours de Opera National de Paris, earning him 6th place and a contract for the 2017-2018 season with the Paris Opera Ballet.
In 2018, Xavier proudly became a member of the Joffrey Ballet, a momentous step in his career. Since then, he has been privileged to grace the stage in lead roles, performing in acclaimed productions such as Yuri Possokhov's Anna Karenina, John Neumeier's The Little Mermaid, and more. Xavier's recent choreographic achievements include the creation of a new performance for the Joffrey's "Winning Works" program, and Cosmic Rhythms at Chicago's Adler Planetarium.
Beyond his onstage achievements, Xavier Núñez's entrepreneurial drive led him to co-found a creative studio, Action Lines, with talented peers Dylan Gutierrez and Eric Grant. He creatively directs and choreographs, aiming to fuse dance, education, and entertainment for a fresh perspective on the industry, enhancing its connection to our community.
COLLABORATOR:
TIM WHALEN
Websites: matesforlife.co, bigfootcreates.com and timwhalen.com
Instagram: @matesforlifefilm, @Big_Foot_Media and @timjwhalen
Tim Whalen is a commercial director and short form doc-filmmaker. He is engaged with many non-profits, using video to further mission and extend their reach through storytelling. He has worked for several years with Chicago performing arts organizations such as Lyric Opera of Chicago and The Joffrey Ballet, as well as conservation organizations including The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. He has told stories for major corporate brands and organizations including Nestlé Purina, The University of Michigan and Gerber as well as small businesses in the craft beverage industry. Tim is a native of Michigan and a current resident of Chicago, IL where he owns a small production company, Big Foot Media.
FELLOWSHIP PLANS:
Behind-the-scenes photo as Núñez choreographs during the filming of "Mates for Life: Whooping Crane."
Xavier Núñez and Tim Whalen’s intention during their residency at Trillium Arts is to start work on a dance film titled Mates For Life: Barn Owl. Mates For Life: Barn Owl will be the second film in a series about animal species that mate for life. The first in the series, Mates For Life: Whooping Crane, was released in 2023 and has been screened at national and international film festivals.
Behind-the-scenes photo as Núñez choreographs during the filming of "Mates for Life: Whooping Crane."
Núñez is specifically interested in choreographing at Trillium because its dance studio is housed in The Red Barn Studio at Odonata Farm, an eighty-year-old tobacco and hay barn: https://www.trilliumartsnc.org/the-red-barn-studio. There could be no more authentic, inspiring space to begin creating choreography for a dance film about barn owls.The intimate interpretation inspired by birds’ movement will engage both supporters of dance and conservation, resulting in heightened awareness and support for both causes.
TAKING FLIGHT: MEET THE ARTISTS
Come soar with us on July 27th!
Trillium Arts invites you to a magical evening with the artistic team and Orion, a live barn owl.
Orion, the Barn Owl.
EXPERIENCE an open rehearsal with choreographic excerpts from “Mates For Life: Barn Owl” the second dance film collaboration by Nunez and Whalen, performed in the Red Barn Studio by amazing dancers from the world renowned Joffrey Ballet.
VIEW a film screening of “Mates For Life: Whooping Crane,"
MEET Orion, a barn owl from Carolina Mountain Naturalists.
ENJOY libations & delicious appetizers.
Taking Flight
Saturday, July 27, 2024
4:00pm - 7:00pm
The Red Barn Studio at Odonata Farm
5640 Paint Fork Rd.
Mars Hill, NC 28754
Tickets: $30. Space is limited and advance purchase is advised.
Special Thanks to the Sponsors of the 2024 ACE Choreographic Fellowship:
Patti S. Eylar and Charlie Gardner, and Hallie Rehwaldt.
Taking Flight is sponsored by the Madison County Tourism Development Authority.
