OFFERS TESTIMONIAL RE: CAPITOL THEATRE PAINTING
Karen Horne was recently honored to have former Ballet West Principal Dancer, Christopher Ruud and his wife Loren collect her painting, “Back to Live.” A recent addition to her Capitol Theatre series, she captures patrons heading with anticipation towards the glowing marquee. Karen has been a huge fan of Christopher’s over the arc of his long and brilliant career at Ballet West. She is thrilled that the painting now hangs in his office in Kansas City and serves as a reminder of his years with the BW company. Christopher now serves the Kansas City Ballet as Second Company Manager and Rehearsal Director.
Karen Horne was extremely touched that Christopher shared this deeply felt testimonial to the impact of the painting with her on social media:
Karen, yours and Michael’s presence and spirit at Ballet West performances and events is an integral part of the fabric of my “memory blanket” from my time there. You painted it perfectly! the essence you captured in this painting is quite literally one of the most wonderful repeating memories of my entire career: arriving at the theater before a show. It is like you were able to capture the vibrant and dreamy energy of what it was like to arrive, see the marquee, take the “deep breath” as you breech the alleyway to the stage door, and accept the wonder/importance/grandeur of what we were about to perform. You captured a magical moment, seemingly from my own minds eye, and reiterated it perfectly in this beautiful medium. – Christopher Ruud
