ballet tech ohio performing arts association

Press Release 2 Word Doc.

For Immediate Release: June 19, 2004

Contact: Marvel Gentry Davis, ballet tech ohio, 513.608.6961, marvel@zoomtown.com

Jenny Young, BalletMet Communications Manager, 614.229.4860 ext 161, jyoung@balletmet.org           

Patty Donahey BalletMet Marketing Director, 614.229.4860 ext. 160, pdonahey@ballemet.org

Photos available at: http://www.ballettechohiopaa.org/PressRoom.htm

Ballet’s Biggest Talents to Converge in Ohio

BalletMet Columbus and ballet tech ohio to host The Gala of International Ballet Stars

Some of the best dancers from the best companies in the world perform some of the finest choreography when ballet tech ohio and BalletMet Columbus present the third annual Gala of International Ballet Stars in Columbus Friday, Aug. 13, at 8 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, and in Cincinnati Saturday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m. at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.

Described by The Columbus Dispatch last year as “something to cheer about,” the Gala of International Ballet Stars features some of ballet’s most memorable solos and pas de deux, including exciting works by such brilliant choreographers as William Forsythe, John Cranko, James Kudelka and Alonzo King. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that at last year’s Gala the audience was standing and shouting for more—and this year’s promises to be even more amazing.

The star-studded program will feature:

American Ballet Theatre’s Gennadi Saveliev in the solo Gopak and, with Boston Ballet’s Sarah Lamb (soon to be with Royal Ballet), a passage from Diana and Acteon and the White Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake. In Cincinnati, Lamb will perform the Black Swan pas de deux and David Dawson’s The Grey Area with Raul Salamanca of Boston Ballet.

Former BalletMet Academy student Bridget Breiner of Stuttgart Ballet and Frankfurt Ballet’s Christopher Roman, who studied with the now-defunct Cleveland Ballet, in Herman Schmerman by William Forsythe.

Agnes Oaks and Thomas Edur from English National Ballet in a Don Quixote pas de deux and Impromptu by Derek Dean.

Royal Ballet principal Viacheslav Samodurov and Larissa Lezhnina, leading principal ballerina with Dutch National Ballet (also a former principal with Kirov Ballet), in the neo-classical Light and Shade by Krzyxztof Pastor resident choreographer of Dutch National Ballet and Le Corsaire pas de deux.

National Ballet of Canada’s Alexander Antonijevic and Sonia Rodriguez in “Summer” from Artistic Director James Kudelka’s The Four Seasons, and the “Balcony” pas de deux from John Cranko’s Romeo & Juliet.

-More-

Prince Credell, from Alonzo King’s San Francisco Lines Ballet, in a solo with music by J.S. Bach and, with Chiharu Shibata, a pas de deux to Coleman Hawkins.

Kellye Saunders and Donald Williams of Dance Theatre of Harlem in a repertory to be determined.

A principal couple from Houston Ballet; dancers and repertory to be determined.

BalletMet’s Jimmy Orrante and Olivia Clark performing La Vida Pasa from Deanna Carter’s Colores de Alma, and Call the Whole Thing Off by Harrison McEldowney.

TICKETS

Tickets to Columbus’ Palace Theatre Aug. 13 are $27, $47, $62 and $77; to purchase, call the BalletMet Box Office at 614.229.4848 or go to www.balletmet.org. Tickets to Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center Aug. 14 are $35-$55; to purchase, call 513.621.2787 or go to www.ballettechohiopaa.org .  For more information call 513.683.6860. The Cincinnati performance will be followed by a black tie-optional reception with desserts, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and an opportunity to meet the guest artists. Tickets are $25 through the Aronoff Box Office (513.621.2787).

SPONSOR SUPPORT

The Columbus production of the Gala of International Ballet Stars is sponsored by National City, with media support from WMNI-920 AM. BalletMet’s season is sponsored by the Greater Columbus and Ohio arts councils.

Founded in 1997 by Claudia Rudolf Barrett, the non-profit ballet tech ohio performing arts association presents a Season Series of major dance programs and about a dozen community performances each year to provide Greater Cincinnati with a new venue for high quality dance performances featuring pre-professional and professional dancers and a wide variety of artists, dance styles and music. The ballet tech ohio performing arts association mission is to educate, entertain and amaze by providing diverse and innovative performances that have a phenomenal community impact. We have touched over 15,000 audience members in the last two years with our Season Series and community performances to further educate the public. Our Dance 2 Community Kids community outreach program engaged individuals and sponsor companies to partner with us to introduce over 500 youth from underserved communities to ballet and the Aronoff Center in support of our initiative to expand the audience for the arts and downtown Cincinnati venues. ballet tech ohio performing arts association sponsors the ballet tech ohio Summer Intensive Seminar, which offers professional dance training by internationally acclaimed dance teachers from all over the world and Master Classes by Gala of International Ballet Stars performers as guest teachers.

Since 1978, BalletMet Columbus has provided artistic excellence in the field of dance in Central Ohio. With an annual budget of $5.3 million, it ranks among the 15 largest dance companies in the nation, while BalletMet’s Dance Academy, housed in a 35,000-square-foot Dance Centre, ranks among the country’s five largest professional dance-training centers. Since its inception, BalletMet has added 88 company premieres to its repertoire and produced 64 world premieres. The mission of BalletMet is to celebrate dance by engaging the community through quality performances, instruction, education programs and creation of new works. Toward that end, BalletMet has developed DanceReach, an extensive network of educational and outreach programs that serves nearly 50,000 people annually, and a Community Outreach Scholarship program that provides full tuition for talented minority and underserved youth.

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