Festival Ballet Providence announces 29th season 2006 - 2007

Festival Ballet Providence Artistic Director Mihailo Djuric announces the Company’s 2006-2007Season.  It is a varied season of seven different productions, interspersing great American classics with the work of talented emerging choreographers, including world premieres, Rhode Island premieres of important works, and showcasing the versatility of the company’s dancers.

Mr. Djuric notes, “I have set a season that continues to bring Rhode Island audiences a taste of some of the most exciting dance works in the repertoire, and a chance to develop a love for the art form.  After our success with Allegro Brillante last season, The George Balanchine Trust will allow the company to perform two additional works by Mr. Balanchine. Similarly the Jerome Robbins Trust has given the Company the rights to perform a captivating work of that great choreographer.  We also have a wealth of Rhode Island and world premieres this season, which brings even more excitement to our audience.”

The four mainstage performances for the 2006-2007 Season will take place in Providence’s finest theaters; the VMA Arts & Cultural Center and the Providence Performing Arts Center.

Main Stage Season:
Three productions at VMA and one production at PPAC
The main stage season opens October 20-22, 2006 at the VMA Arts & Cultural Center with a program of stunning Rhode Island premieres.  Daniel Pelzig’s one-act The Princes and the Pea is a delightful adaptation of the children’s classic, complete with wonderful dancing and delightful physical humor.  Extremely popular throughout the US, it has received stellar reviews from the day it premiered at Boston Ballet in 1995. The evening is completed by two masterly works originally created for New York City Ballet by the renowned George Balanchine: Allegro Brillante and the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux.

December 15-17, 2006, the Company brings its holiday favorite,
The Nutcracker, to the resplendent Providence Performing Arts Center for five memorable performances.  Lush sets, bravura dancing and brilliant costumes sparkling with Swarovski crystal stones make this production memorable for the entire family.  This production is recognized as an appropriate first trip to the ballet for any theater-goer.

Festival Ballet Providence celebrates Valentine’s Day early at the VMA Arts & Cultural Center with a special event February 9-11, 2007, Winter’s Night Passion. Festival Ballet Providence warms up winter with the world premiere of Gianni Di Marco’s El Amor Brujo (Gypsy Love), to the orchestral masterpiece by the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla. Inspired by gypsy legends, De Falla created a sultry and distinctive work of music.  The plot is very simple: a beautiful gypsy is possessed by the ghost of her faithless former lover, until her new suitor enlists a gorgeous friend to entice the phantom away.  Mr. Di Marco’s dynamic choreography is sure to bring a new, impassioned vision of this heartfelt story. The evening’s ardent theme continues in the second act with the revival of Di Marco’s audience favorite, the sensual Schéhérazade. 

The VMA season concludes April 20-22, 2007 with American Masters.  This program includes two works by the New York City Ballet’s legendary choreographers, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, as well as a world premiere by one of the most exciting young choreographers working today, Viktor Plotnikov.  Of the three, only Robbins was American-born however all three are American citizens, and their work has a uniquely American sensibility.  Rubies, one of three ballets that comprise Balanchine’s first full-evening abstract ballet Jewels (the other two are Emeralds and Diamonds), was created in 1965 as a brash, jazzy work that now stands alone in stunning brilliance.  With a percussive score, “Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra”, by Igor Stravinsky, (another Russian adopting this country as his own), it bursts with much the same impetuous energy and syncopation that captured Balanchine’s spirit when he first arrived in the US.  Its athleticism and brilliance are thoroughly captivating.  

Always in the shadow of his more esteemed colleague, Jerome Robbins nonetheless was a master at his art, and his 2 & 3 Part Inventions shows just that. A remarkably entertaining, creative and fascinating work, Robbins created this ballet to twelve charming and simple piano Studies, Inventions and Sinfonias by J. S. Bach.  Finally, after the stunning premiere of Loof and Let Dime created for the company’s 28th season, Viktor Plotnikov returns with another commissioned work for the company, to a compelling meringue beat. 

Up CLOSE on HOPE Season
The company presents the fourth season of its award-winning series, Up CLOSE on HOPE with two different programs in the 90-seat Leach Grand Studio Black Box Theater at the organization’s facility, 825 Hope Street on Providence’s East Side.  Up CLOSE on HOPE offers audience members an Intimate dance experience, exciting mixed repertory, world premieres, hors d’oeuvres and wine intermissions, and performers so close you can touch them.  Choreographers for this “bold” contemporary series will include Festival Ballet Providence’s Mark Harootian, former Joffrey Ballet principal dancer Luis Fuente, Yuri Yanowsky, Gianni Di Marco and Viktor Plotnikov.  These two distinct productions are in addition to the regular season of 4 main stage productions. Fall dates are November 11, 12, 18, 19, 2006, and spring dates are
March 10, 11, 17, 18, 2007.

The Widow’s Broom
Festival Ballet Providence’s signature family production for the Halloween holiday, The Widow’s Broom is offered as a special performance series at the Company’s Hope Street Theater, October 28th and 29th. With a dozen witches, a magical dancing broom, sets by Eugene Lee, choreography by Viktor Plotnikov, original score by Alexandra Vrebalov and story by Providence’s own Chris Van Allsburg, this production has become prized Halloween entertainment for all ages. 

VMA reserved ticket and season subscription information is available by contacting www.tickets.com  (800.919.6272), VMA Arts & Cultural Center, 401.272.4862, Festival Ballet Providence, 401.353.1129, by sending email inquiries to info@festivalballet.com or visiting www.festivalballet.com . 

Nutcracker tickets may be ordered through PPAC at 401.421.ARTS, or through their website,  www.ppacri.org.

Up CLOSE on HOPE and The Widow’s Broom tickets are available by calling 401.353.1129, or emailing info@festivalballet.com.  For additional information about Festival Ballet Providence and season updates visit www.festivalballet.com .

Subscriptions to Festival Ballet Providence performances are available at considerable savings with multiple benefits. VMA subscriptions for three performances are 33% off regular prices, costing as little as $33 per person for all three productions.  UP CLOSE on HOPE subscribers save $5 and receive not only ticket-exchange privileges but also preferred seating. Each Festival Ballet Providence subscription to its VMA and/or Up CLOSE on HOPE series receives the added benefit of a voucher for one ticket to a show at Trinity Repertory Company (Cherry Orchard 9/15 to 10/1, Our Town 1/26 to 2/11, or The Fantastics 3/30 to 4/15) and a voucher to attend one of four Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra Rush Hour series concerts (choice of Nov. 30, Jan. 18, Feb. 22 or May 3).

The Festival Ballet Providence and the Festival Ballet Providence Center for Dance Education are together a not-for-profit arts organization whose EIN is 05-0377245 and whose Rhode Island Corporate ID number is ND-27-137.  All venues are handicapped-accessible.

Allegro Brillante (1957), The Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux (1960), and Rubies (1967) will be performed as permitted by The George Balanchine Trust.

Additional digital images are available by contacting mfleisher@festivalballet.com

29th Season, in chronological order:

VMA Arts & Cultural Center
A captivating world premiere by Gianni Di Marco to the music of Manuel de Falla, paired with his sensual and passionate production of Schéhérazade
VMA Arts & Cultural Center
1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI
Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 7:30 PM, Sunday at 2:30 PM

Ticket prices from $17.00 to $62.00 ($2.00 Facility fee included)

To order tickets contact www.tickets.com , 800.919.6272 , VMA Arts & Cultural Center box office 401.272.4VMA.
For performance details contact Festival Ballet Providence at 401.353.1129, or www.festivalballet.com.

March 10-18, 2007 Up CLOSE on HOPE

Studio Repertory Series:
Program 2             
March  10, 11, 17, & 18, 2007

Festival Ballet Providence Leach Grand Studio Theater
825 Hope Street, Providence, RI
Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Sundays at 6:00 PM
Individual ticket prices - $40
Includes wine and hors d’oeuvres intermission
To order tickets call Festival Ballet Providence, 401.353.1129 or visit www.festivalballet.com .

April 20-22, 2007

American Masters

Jerome Robbins’ 2 & 3 Part Inventions
George Balanchine’s Rubies
Viktor Plotnikov’s world premiere
VMA Arts & Cultural Center
1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI
Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 2:30 & 7:30 PM, Sunday at 2:30 PM
Ticket prices from $17.00 to $62.00 ($2.00 Facility fee included)
To order tickets contact www.tickets.com , 800.919.6272 , VMA Arts & Cultural Center box office 401.272.4VMA.
For performance details contact Festival Ballet Providence at 401.353.1129, or www.festivalballet.com. 

 On Sale Dates:
Subscriptions for the VMA season will go on sale to the public August 1st
Individual tickets for the VMA season go on sale August 15th
Nutcracker tickets at PPAC go on sale June 1st
The Widow’s Broom tickets go on sale July 15th
Up CLOSE, on HOPE subscriptions now on sale / CONTACT: Mark Fleisher: Festival Ballet Providence, 401.353.1129