NEVADA BALLET THEATRE

NEVADA BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS ITS SPRING SERIES:

BALANCHINE’S DONIZETTI VARIATIONS, A WORLD PREMIERE BY JAMES CANFIELD ACCOMPANIED BY LIVE MUSIC

AND MATTHEW NEENAN’S AT THE BORDER, MARCH 4 – 6



Featuring Guest Artists from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Matthew Rushing and Clifton Brown



LAS VEGAS, NV - (February 2, 2011) - Nevada Ballet Theatre announced today its Spring Series, The Tried and True and the New to be presented on Fri., March 4 at 8 pm, Sat., March 5 at 8 pm and Sun., March 6 at 2 pm. This dynamic and varied dance program will take place at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, 4505 South Maryland Parkway .



The program will open with George Balanchine’s classical one-act ballet, Donizetti Variations. With music by Gaetano Donizetti (excerpts from the opera Don Sebastian 1843), this traditional ballet was Mr. B’s “Salute to Italy ,” initially choreographed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Italy ’s unification. Utilizing eleven dancers (one principal couple, six women and three men), this ballet has been described as “cheerful and sunny” while it showcases Balanchine’s unique marriage of movement and music. It is staged by former New York City Ballet Soloist and Balanchine Repetiteur, Sandra Jennings.



Guest artist Matthew Rushing from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will perform A Song for You from Alvin Ailey’s world-renowned signature work, Revelations. Heralded by The New York Times as a “superb technician,” Rushing has performed as a guest artist around the world and received the opportunity to dance for former Presidents George H. Bush and George W. Bush as well as current President Barack Obama.



Still, a new pas de deux by Artistic Director James Canfield is set to music from Elegy, performed by award-winning Composer and Cellist, Adam Hurst. Hurst , along with accompanying pianist and Emmy Award winning composer and musician Vince Frates, will perform live as part of this world premiere work. This is Canfield’s second original work for the company.



Hurst has been described a composer who creates “passionate and emotive musical poetry that digs straight to the soul,” using his cello as a “solo melodic voice.” He has performed throughout the US and Europe and his recordings have been used in independent films, documentaries and art films. Canfield’s fervent choreography in Still lends itself perfectly to Hurt’s ethereal and romantic music. (Still graciously underwritten by Doris and Theodore Lee).


Guest Artist Clifton Brown will join Matthew Rushing in the Duet from Concerto Six Twenty-Two, by contemporary choreographer Lar Lubovitch. With music by W.A. Mozart’s “Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra,” Concerto Six Twenty-Two premiered in 1986 in Angers , France . Now, this eclectic work will enjoy its Las Vegas premiere as part of The Tried and True and the New and performed for the first time by Rushing and Brown.



Brown joined Alvin Ailey in 1999 and in 2007 he received the prestigious “Bessie Award” in recognition for his work with the Ailey Company. He has performed as a guest artist with Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance as well as Miami City Ballet. In 2010, he performed at the White House in tribute to Judith Jamison. (Guest artists’ appearance sponsored by Phil Ivey; Wynn Resorts, hotel sponsor).



As one of America 's most versatile, popular and highly acclaimed choreographers, Lubovitch has been cited by The New York Times as “one of the ten best choreographers in the world.” Foremost dance critic and historian, Anna Kisselgoff once remarked about Concerto Six Twenty-Two….”Why beat around the bush? The truth is that this is what dance is really about.”


The program will culminate with an exciting work by Pennsylvania Ballet Resident Choreographer, Matthew Neenan. As his 12th commission for Pennsylvania Ballet, At the border premiered in October 2009 at the Academy of Music , Philadelphia , PA. Set to John Adam’s Hallelujah Junction, its complex score for two pianos is the perfect backdrop for this fascinating ballet that “combines tradition and innovation as it brings to life a tiny truck stop along the Nevada-California border.” Utilizing 14 dancers, At the border is staged by Tara Keating, former dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet and current company member of BalletX, co-founded by Neenan.



At the border is made possible by a grant from the Jerome Robbins New Essential Works (NEW) Program, in partnership with Wendy and Richard Plaster . Named after choreographer Jerome Robbins, this grant program allows dance companies the opportunity to present cutting-edge work with the belief that new work will enable them to remain a viable part of the arts sector.



TICKET INFORMATION AND GROUP SALES

Ticket prices for The Tried and True and the New, range from $10 - $75 and can be purchased by calling the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office at (702) 895-2787 (ARTS) or by ordering online at www.nevadaballet.org. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.



THE PROGRAM:

Donizetti Variations Donizetti/Balanchine Nevada Ballet Theatre

A Song for You (from Revelations) Traditional Spirituals/Ailey Rushing: Alvin Ailey

Still Hurst/Canfield Nevada Ballet Theatre

Duet from Concerto Six Twenty-Two W.A. Mozart/Lubovitch Rushing & Brown: Alvin Ailey

At the border Adams/Neenan Nevada Ballet Theatre



SCHOOL MATINEE SERIES – FRIDAY, MARCH 4 – OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS IN CLARK COUNTY
On Friday, March 4, Nevada Ballet Theatre will present the Roy D. Burry Student Matinee Series, sponsored by Elizabeth B. Herridge, in conjunction with the company’s “A DOLLAR FOR DANCE” series. Students from public, private and parochial schools may attend the matinee for just $1. Held at 11 am at UNLV’s Artemus Ham W. Concert Hall, interested schools may call Education and Outreach Manager Terane Comito at 702-243-2623 ext. 249.



DINNER & THE BALLET
Mix and mingle with an exclusive VIP circle of patrons. In celebration of The Tried and True and the New, the company will host a special pre-performance dinner on Saturday, March 5 at McCormick & Schmick’s at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $100 per person. For reservations, please call LaKeisha Sabol at (702) 243-2623 ext. 225.



ABOUT NEVADA BALLET THEATRE

Under the artistic direction of James Canfield , Nevada Ballet Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and the largest professional ballet company and dance Academy in the state. Committed to the highest artistic standards, this classically-based company is at home in an eclectic repertory, moving easily from the classics to the high-energy contemporary ballets. The mission of Nevada Ballet Theatre is to educate and inspire statewide, regional and national audiences and vitally impact community life through professional company productions, dance training and education and outreach. Nevada Ballet Theatre will be a resident company of the new world-class Smith Center for the Performing Arts when it is completed in 2012.



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