THIS WEEK'S TOP BALLET NEWS
● ABT’s Whipped Cream Returns to Lincoln Center
● Dutch National Ballet Presents The Sleeping Beauty
● Ballet Arizona and The Phoenix Symphony Bring Cinderella to the Stage
● Pacific Northwest Ballet Announced Three Promotions to Principal Dancer
● Queensland Ballet Prepares for Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon
ABT’s Whipped Cream Returns to Lincoln Center
As part of their Fall Season at the David H. Koch Theater, American Ballet Theatre brings back Alexei Ratmansky’s whimsical production of Whipped Cream. From October 20-23, New York City audiences will delight in Ratmansky’s choreography and pop surrealist visionary artist Mark Ryden’s designs in this story about a young Viennese boy falls into a delirium after overindulging in a pastry shop.
To escape his attending physician, the boy dreams of his triumphant rescue by Princess Praline and her court, Princess Tea Flower, Prince Coffee, and the marching Marzipan.
Dutch National Ballet Presents The Sleeping Beauty
Sir Peter Wright’s production and staging of The Sleeping Beauty will open on October 12 at the Dutch National Opera & Ballet and run through the holidays and into the new year. Dutch National Ballet has performed this fairy tale classic set to Tchaikovsky’s unmistakeable score for over forty years, a showcase of brilliant technique and costumes.
Wright worked on his acclaimed staging of The Sleeping Beauty with set and costume designer Philip Prowse, who decked out the fairy tale in breathtaking gold. Prowse situated the story at the French court of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, which later served as an important model for the court of the tsar in Russia. Together, Wright and Prowse breathed new life into The Sleeping Beauty, so that the heritage of Petipa and Tchaikovsky continues to sparkle and enchant us in the twenty-first century as well.
Ballet Arizona and The Phoenix Symphony Bring Cinderella to the Stage
The Symphony Hall Stage will be filled with fairy tale magic from October 20-23 when Ballet Arizona and The Phoenix Symphony perform Cinderella. The Valley’s only professional ballet company will dance Artistic Director Ib Andersen’s choreography set to Sergei Prokofiev’s beautiful score, inviting the audience to be enchanted by the romantic story beloved by children and adults alike. Andersen’s staging vividly delights audiences with the beauty and majesty of classical ballet, wrapped in the promise of “happily ever after,” and generously sprinkled with a wonderful dose of humor.
“Cinderella is a classic tale loved by many. Everyone knows the story but now audiences will get to see it like never before,” said Andersen. “I am excited to showcase the passion and artistry of our talented dancers to bring this story back to life in a whole new way.”
Pacific Northwest Ballet Announced Three Promotions to Principal Dancer
Following the curtain-raiser performance of George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante on opening night of Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 50th Anniversary season, PNB Artistic Director Peter Boal announced to the audience that soloists James Kirby Rogers, Jonathan Batista, and Cecilia Iliesiu have been promoted to Principal dancers.
“Just one year ago, James Kirby Rogers performed with PNB for the very first time,” said Mr. Boal, after bringing him out in front of the curtain. “After his memorable debut in Ulysses Dove’s Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven opposite Christopher D’Ariano, there was a significant buzz in the lobby as everyone wondered who the new hire was. Over the course of the past season, James has approached each role with remarkable curiosity and commitment. His Tybalt in Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliet, bristling with emotion and physicality, offered a primer in acting, while his Siegfried in Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake cemented a tender partnership with Lesley Rausch as Odette/Odile. His technique is fearless, his generosity to those around him runs deep, and his commitment to perfection has him in the studio long after the rehearsal day is done. Please join me in congratulating James on his promotion to Principal dancer.”
Mr. Boal then brought Jonathan Batista to the stage. “Jonathan Batista, originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was informed of the merits of Pacific Northwest Ballet by former Principal dancer, Karel Cruz. Jonathan joined us as a soloist only one year ago. His exuberance for contemporary and classical dance is evidenced every time he steps on stage. His joy of movement and commitment to character has audiences cheering and online fans fawning. At home in the works of Alejandro Cerrudo, Twyla Tharp, Ulysses Dove, and George Balanchine, Jonathan holds a passion for the new, and a desire to explore the unknown. His wonderfully matched partnership with Angelica Generosa offers both bond and bravura. Beyond the stage, Jonathan is devoted to funding and inspiring young dancers in his native Brazil and worldwide. Let us applaud Jonathan on his well-deserved promotion to Principal dancer.”
Finally, Mr. Boal spoke about Ms. Iliesiu. “I had the pleasure of teaching CC when she was just eleven years old at the School of American Ballet. She was an open-minded and eager student. Much to my surprise, she auditioned for PNB many years later when she was a soloist with Carolina Ballet. She has never lost her quest to learn and grow as a dancer, performer, and person, and it is her unwavering work ethic and unquenchable curiosity that has allowed her to blossom as an individual. CC is capable of technical feats and athletic prowess, but it is the tenderness she brings to works like Donald Byrd’s Love and Loss, opposite Dylan Wald, and the sweetness of her Sugar Plum Fairy opposite Cavalier, Dammiel Cruz-Garrido, that reveal a level of humanity defining of this artist. Devoted to compassion and empowerment as a mentor, advocate, coach, and teacher, CC is a role model to many and an inspiration to all. Join me in celebrating Cecilia Iliesiu’s promotion to Principal.”
Queensland Ballet Prepares for Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon
Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet of “seduction, ambition, and greed, conquered by love” opens at the Lyric Theatre on September 28. Queensland Ballet is part of an exclusive – and elusive – list of ballet companies (which includes The Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre) that have the honor of performing this work.
“This company’s gone from something very tiny, to now it’s become an international company. Manon is something that needs to be done by large classical companies and not all of them get a chance to do it. I think Queensland Ballet’s proved more than once, it’s right up there with the big companies worldwide,” Lady Deborah MacMillan, widow and keeper of the estate of the esteemed choreographer Sir Kenneth MacMillan praised.
Artistic Director Li Cunxin AO will also return to the stage in the role of Monsieur G.M, as will his wife, Queensland Ballet Principal Répétiteur and Ballet Mistress, Mary Li.
“Rehearsals are going really well and it’s wonderful to rehearse and work with our wonderful dancers, but I have to say I’ve put my body through some pretty difficult times. A lot of soreness and dealing with old injuries because this role involves a lot of partnering and a lot of lifts, but I have to say I’m loving it. I can’t wait to perform the ballet,” Mr. Li said.
Guest ballerina Alina Cojocaru will perform the role of Manon with Queensland Ballet for two select performances.
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Photo Credits: 1) Devon Teuscher and James Whiteside in Whipped Cream. Photo by Karolina Kuras. 2) Dutch National Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty. Photo by Marta Syrko. 3) Ballet Arizona dancers in Cinderella. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev; 4) Queensland Ballet in Manon, photo from Queensland Ballet.
