Bass Performance Hall
Saturday, March
10, 2007 - 8:00 p.m.
La Bayadère / Music by Leon Minkus / Choreography
by Marius Petipa
Notes on My Life / Musical Arrangements by Richard Adler / Choreography
by Paul Mejia
A combination of Bolshoi and Broadway offers
two works that span more than a century. The evening will open with two acts from the great Russian classic, La Bayadère,
set in legendary India. Alexander Vetrov will stage two acts from this masterpiece by Marius Petipa. La Bayadère was
first presented at the Maryinsky Theater, St. Petersburg, Russia on February 4, 1877. Mr. Vetrov and Nadia Gracheva danced
the leads in the Bolshoi video production of La Bayadère.
The evening will conclude with Notes on
My Life, a work by Paul Mejia set to music by Broadway composer Richard Adler. Premiered by the company in 2002, it was
the first work created specifically for Metropolitan Classical Ballet by Mr. Mejia, and the second ballet that he and Richard
Adler collaborated on. The first was Mr. Mejia's highly acclaimed Eight by Adler, which premiered in 1984 at the Chicago
City Ballet. It was later filmed for PBS and won an Emmy Award for Suzanne Farrell.
SEASON FINALE / Bass Performance
Hall / Friday, June 22, 8:00 PM, 2007
World Premiere / Choreography by
Paul Mejia
World Premiere / Music by Alexei Rybnikov / Choreography by
Alexander Vetrov
Two significant new works by co-artistic directors
Paul Mejia and Alexander Vetrov will close the season. Alexander Vetrov's new work will be set to music by Alexei Rybnikov.
A prominent composer and musician based in Moscow, Russia, Mr. Rybnikov has established a fascinating, multi-dimensional career,
composing for film and other projects in Russia and around the world.
Programming, program order and casting
for all productions is subject to change without notice.
Season subscriptions, group discounts, and
Nutcracker tickets are available at Metropolitan Classical Ballet's administration office located at 500 West Abram in Arlington,
or by calling (817) 275-0598.
Founded in 1997, Metropolitan Classical Ballet
is well recognized as a major creative force in the dance world today. Co-artistic directors Paul Mejia and Alexander Vetrov
are two of the most recognized names in ballet. Mr. Mejia, a former soloist with the New York City Ballet who danced principal
roles in many Balanchine ballets, carries on Balanchine's style and artistic vision though his acclaimed choreography. Alexander
Vetrov, former leading male principal dancer with the prestigious Bolshoi has the distinction of being the recipient of the
Honored People's Artist of Russia, the highest honor given by the Russian President. Mr. Vetrov still maintains close
connections with the Bolshoi today. The company dancers are comprised of twenty members who are valued for their superior
technique and strong artistic personalities. Performances reach over 30,000 individuals each season. Four programs are presented
at the prestigious Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, and the annual production of The Nutcracker is presented at
Texas Hall on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. Located in Arlington, Texas, Metropolitan Classical Ballet's
spacious state of the arts studios are unsurpassed in the North Texas area.
Metropolitan Classical Ballet's 2006/2007
season is made possible in part by its generous sponsors: American Airlines, WRR Classical 101, and the law firm of Hill Gilstrap.
Media Note: Further information and photos may be obtained
by contacting Judy Puder at (817) 465-4644. Information can also be found on Metropolitan Classical Ballet's website
www.mcballet.org.