PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 19, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pennsylvania Ballet opens its 51 st Season with the first program curated by its new artistic director: Press Play: The Directorial Debut of Angel Corella, October 16-26 at the Academy of Music.
"This opening program of the 51 st Season offers our audience a taste of my point of view," Artistic Director Angel Corella says. "These are ballets by some of the world's best choreographers, showcasing the dancers' technical precision and artistry."
The program opens with one of George Balanchine's most celebrated works, Allegro Brillante . Exuberant and joyous, Balanchine famously called this piece "everything I know about classical ballet in 13 minutes." The vigorous Tschaikovsky score requires strong dancing and impeccable timing of its dancers.
Two duets make their Company premieres on this program. Christopher Wheeldon's passionate and intimate Liturgy is set to a mystical score by Arvo Pärt. Minimalist costumes allow the inventive movement to take center stage on this almost spiritual journey.
Originally created for ballet super stars Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Makarova, Jerome Robbins' Other Dances is performed by only a select number of dancers throughout the world. Set to a Chopin score for piano, with a piano on stage, Other Dances was specifically crafted to display Baryshnikov and Makarova's legendary skill and artistic brilliance. The title nods to Robbins' masterwork Dances at a Gathering , also inspired by Chopin.
Presented for the first time outside Russia by Pennsylvania Ballet, Jeu de Cartes creates a bold, abstract expression of Stravinsky's score of the same name. The French title translates to "The Card Game," which for Alexei Ratmansky – one of the world's most sought-after choreographers – simply addresses the "gamble" of choreographing to Stravinsky's musical complexities.
Press Play: The Directorial Debut of Angel Corella also marks the debut of three new dancers on the Pennsylvania Ballet stage. The Company welcomes Etienne Diaz, Olivia Hartzell, and Mayara Pineiro to the Corps de Ballet. To view the 2014-15 roster and read the dancers' biographies, click here .
Tickets to Press Play: The Directorial Debut of Angel Corella at the Academy of Music are on sale now, with prices ranging from $30-$125 . Tickets are available online at paballet.org, by phone at 215.893.1999, and in person at the Kimmel Center Box Office.
Press Play: The Directorial Debut of Angel Corella performances at the Academy of Music:
Thursday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 18 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 19 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, October 25 at 2 p.m.
Sunday, October 26 at 2 p.m.
Groups of 10 or more get discounts and great seats! Ask about backstage tours, special talks with staff and dancers, and dining options near the theater for your group. For tickets and more information, please contact Group Sales Manager Arajua Backman at 215.587.6921 or abackman@paballet.org .
Pennsylvania Ballet kicks off a new era with the 51 st Season Gala: Through the Eyes of a Dancer on Thursday, October 2. Cocktails start at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and dancing with the dancers, all at The Union League of Philadelphia. The evening will be the public's first opportunity to greet new Artistic Director Angel Corella and also will feature tributes to Artistic Director Emeritus Roy Kaiser and the Delphi Project Foundation of Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company for its support of our middle school outreach programs. Tickets for this black-and-white themed black tie fundraiser are on sale now starting at $450 per person and $5,000 per table. Young Friends tickets are available for $250 for guests ages 21-35. For more information and tickets, please contact Special Events Manager Barbara Vogdes at 215.587.6916 or bvogdes@paballet.org .
Toast the performances with a FREE Pre-Show Talk on Friday, October 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Broad & Locust Streets, open to all ticketholders. Sip a complimentary cocktail, enjoy hors d'oeuvres, and get behind-the-scenes stories from the rehearsal studio with special guest speaker Ballet Master Zachary Hench.
2014-15 Season subscriptions are on sale now at 215.893.1955 and at paballet.org. Subscribers enjoy the best seats at the best prices, personalized service, lost ticket insurance, flexible ticket exchanges, a monthly payment plan, discounted parking, and more.
Connect with us! Follow Pennsylvania Ballet on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to go behind-the-scenes anytime, day or night.
Pennsylvania Ballet's 2014-15 Season sponsors include DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, The Sporting Club at the Bellevue, and US Airways.
Pennsylvania Ballet receives support from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency – and The Philadelphia Cultural Fund.
About Pennsylvania Ballet
Founded in 1963 by Balanchine student and protégée Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the nation's leading ballet companies. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Company's annual local season features six programs of classic favorites and new works, including the Philadelphia holiday tradition, George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™ . For more information, visit paballet.org or call 215.551.7000.
Online Press Images Library:
The media is invited to download high-resolution photos from the 2013-2014 Season at:
http://paballet.org/14-15-press-images
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Marissa Montenegro, Public Relations Manager Office: 215.587.6923
