Tulsa Ballet Announces 2010-2011 Season
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Members of the Tulsa Ballet finalize choreography for The Sleeping Beauty and prepare for March’s performance of The Contemporaries.
KELSY LORIN TAYLOR for GTR Newspapers
The 2010-2011 Tulsa Ballet Season boasts a diverse lineup of classical favorites combined with cutting edge pieces by internationally acclaimed choreographers. From the lavish full length productions to the more intimate contemporary works, Tulsa Ballet has held nothing back in developing a season that has something for everyone.
Prior to the fall opening of its Tulsa season, Tulsa Ballet will travel to Washington, D.C. this summer for a performance at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, one of the country’s most prestigious performing arts venues, as part of the Ballet Across America program on June 18 and 20, 2010. This biannual program is an exploration of the breadth and depth of dance, showcasing top dance companies from across the nation such as Christopher Wheeldon’s Morphoses, Houston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Ballet Arizona, The Joffrey Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theatre. Having previously been named a Cultural Ambassador for the State of Oklahoma by Governor Brad Henry, Tulsa Ballet will join these other companies in Washington to perform a work from its diverse repertoire that Dance Magazine claimed “has put this mid-American company in the international eye.”
The company opens its Tulsa season on September 24 with Swan Lake, an enchanting story of everlasting love that has become the world’s most popular classical ballet. This production features choreography by Marcello Angelini after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.
Following in October is “Classical Relativity,” an evening on three distinct works that combine classical technique with a modern flair including George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations with music by Tchaikovsky; There, Below by James Kudelka with music by Ralph Vaughn Williams and Amadè, a piece that was originally created for Tulsa Ballet in 2009 by Massimiliano Volpini that features music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The fourth annual, one-night-only “Winter Celebration” will feature a full evening of dance and camaraderie performed at Tulsa Ballet’s resident theater, Studio K, December 2, 2010. All patrons enjoy a pre-performance reception followed by an array of short pieces, from hilariously funny to stunning beautiful, especially selected by the Tulsa Ballet dancers.
Tulsa’s most popular holiday tradition returns in December with The Nutcracker. Featuring the full Tulsa Ballet company, music by Tchaikovsky and more than 120 students from the greater Tulsa area, this production combines the stunning visuals of a Broadway show with the heartwarming story of a fairytale Christmas, transforming the Tulsa Performing Arts Center into a land of beauty, fantasy and wonder.
Side-splitting comedy portrayed through dance will take the stage in February 2011 with the Oklahoma Premiere of Taming of the Shrew, choreographed by John Cranko and based on the play by William Shakespeare. Having been performed by most of the major ballet companies throughout the world, Tulsa Ballet is pleased to bring this production to the state of Oklahoma for the first time since its debut in 1969.
Spring 2011 brings “Exceptional Synergy” to the Performing Arts Center for a high energy evening of contemporary dance by internationally acclaimed choreographers which will include the Oklahoma Premiere of Push Comes to Shove by the Tony Award winning choreographer of Movin’ Out, Twyla Tharp as well as the Oklahoma Premiere of Slice to Sharp by Jorma Elo and a return engagement of Elite Syncopations by Sir Kenneth MacMillan.
The season closes in May with the fourth annual “Creations in Studio K” to be held at Tulsa Ballet’s resident theater. Designed as a way to create new works in Tulsa and share them with the world, this series boasts debuts of three new pieces created especially for Tulsa Ballet by internationally recognized choreographers and performed in the intimate setting of Studio K, located in the Tulsa Ballet complex in the heart of Brookside.
Tulsa Ballet Artistic Director, Marcello Angelini, says, “I am both proud and humbled by the support our community has devoted to Tulsa Ballet. It is because of this support that we are able, once again, to bring to Tulsa some of the best works by the best dance makers in the world.”
Angelini goes on to say, “record ticket sales, performances both in New York and at the Kennedy Center, international tours and a roster of accomplished, talented Artists that have made Tulsa their home are a testament to the vibrancy of Tulsa and its ballet company.”
Season tickets begin at $55 and are now available for the 2010-2011 by visiting the Tulsa Ballet Box Office, 1212 E. 45th Place South or by calling (918) 749-6407. For additional information visit www.tulsaballet.org or email the box office at tickets@tulsaballet.org.
The Tulsa Ballet 2010-2011 season is sponsored in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Tulsa Ballet 2010-2011 Performance Schedule and Highlights:
Swan Lake – Tulsa Performing Arts Center
True love comes where you least expect it
September 24-26, 2010
Choreography by Marcello Angelini after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
As the world’s most popular ballet, this enchanting tale of everlasting love exemplifies dramatic storytelling and classical grandeur for all audiences. A handsome prince unexpectedly falls in love with a beautiful white swan, but is soon tricked into pledging his love to her evil twin, the black swan. Tchaikovsky’s spellbinding score gives rise to an emotional journey of hope, despair, passion and ultimate romance.
“Classical Relativity” (a triple bill) – Tulsa Performing Arts Center
Redefining all theories of time and space
October 29-31, 2010
Theme and Variations Choreography by George BalanchineScore by Peter Ilyich TchaikovskyThe pristine grandeur of 19th century classical ballet is brought to life and reinvented by one of the masters of 20th century dance.
There, Below
Choreography by James Kudelka
Score by Ralph Vaughan Williams
James Kudelka merges the tradition of classical ballet with modern movement to invoke visceral images of spirituality and the afterlife.
Amade’
Choreography by Massimiliano Volpini
Score by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Created for Tulsa Ballet in the spring of 2008, Amade’ is a vibrant tribute to the musical legacy of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, titled after the name he used when he signed his letters in Italian and dedicated to his love for Italy.
“Winter Celebration” – Studio K at Tulsa Ballet
The most fun you’ve ever had at the ballet
December 2, 2010
The fourth annual, one-night-only production will feature a full evening of dance and camaraderie. All patrons enjoy a pre-performance reception followed by an array of short pieces, from hilariously funny to stunning beautiful, especially selected by the Tulsa Ballet dancers.
The Nutcracker – Tulsa Performing Arts Center
A spectacular journey brimming with holiday magic
December 11-23, 2010
Choreography by Marcello Angelini
Score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
A young girl’s fantasy unfolds in this remarkable production that mixes the visuals of a Broadway show with the heartwarming story of a fairytale Christmas. Over 120 local children and students join the professional company to help the larger-than-life Mouse King battle the Nutcracker Prince and his toy soldier brigade. An awe inspiring flurry of snow flakes and a celebration at the castle of the Prince helps to create a lifetime of holiday memories for children young and old.
Oklahoma Premiere of Taming of the Shrew – Tulsa Performing Arts Center
The battle of the sexes has never been funnier!
February 4-6, 2011
Choreography by John Cranko
Score by Kurt–Heinz Stolze
Shakespeare’s uproarious comedy about a fiery woman and her arrogant suitor is told through masterful choreography by the legendary John Cranko. This critically acclaimed production sheds a hysterical light on the path to the couple’s stormy relationship and the multiple bumps and bruises along the way. Stunning scenery and remarkable costumes bring the Elizabethan period to life for a side-splitting examination of love and marriage.
“Exceptional Synergy” (a triple bill) – Tulsa Performing Arts Center
So much greater than the sum of its parts
March 25-27, 2011
Push Comes to Shove
Choreography by Twyla Tharp
Music by Joseph Lamb and Joseph Haydn
From the Tony Award winning choreographer of Movin’ Out, this landmark piece created for Mikhail Baryshnikov set the ballet world on fire.
Slice to Sharp
Choreography by Jorma Elo
Music by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber and Antonio Vivaldi
An exhilarating display of virtuso dancing, described by The New York Times as “a musical blast of unstoppable energy.”
Elite Syncopations
Choreography by Sir Kenneth MacMillan
Music by Scott Joplin
A 20th century dance master’s comedic panache combined with flamboyant costumes paints a jubilant portrait of the ragtime era.
“Creations in Studio K” (a triple bill) – Studio KCreated in Tulsa . . . shared with the world.April 29-30 and May 1, 2011 and May 4-8, 2011
For the fourth consecutive year, audiences will have the unique opportunity to witness the debut of three new works created especially for Tulsa Ballet by internationally recognized choreographers and performed in the intimate setting of Studio K, a 295 seat theatre in the heart of Tulsa’s Brookside district. Be one of the first to experience the World Premieres by Ma Cong, Michael Corder and Tony Fabre.
Tulsa Ballet is a professional ballet company whose purpose is to serve as an essential asset of its extended community through internationally-acclaimed artistic excellence and exemplary education and outreach. As a non-profit 501©(3) organization, Tulsa Ballet commits to: PRESERVE the tradition of classical ballet, PROMOTE the appreciation of contemporary dance, CREATE works of superior and enduring quality and EDUCATE through exemplary dance training, performances and outreach programs.
Regarded as one of the top ballet companies in North America and internationally recognized, Tulsa Ballet consistently brings the finest works of the classical and contemporary repertory to the Oklahoma stage, presenting the same works and sharing the same world-renowned choreographers with the top dance organizations in the world. Tulsa Ballet believes in giving local audiences the opportunity to view truly world class ballet in the heartland of America. The company employs a multi-cultural roster of dancers currently comprised of 28 highly skilled professionals representing 9 states and 15 foreign countries, attracted by the challenging and varied repertoire, as well as the company’s reputation for engaging the world’s best choreographers.
Tulsa Ballet was founded in 1956 by husband and wife Roman Jasinski and Moscelyne Larkin, internationally known dancers in the Ballet Russe tradition. Jasinski and Larkin set the tone for artistic excellence—a foundation that has been preserved and built upon for decades.
In 1995 Marcello Angelini was appointed Artistic Director following 37 years of multifaceted history created by the Jasinski family. A native of Naples, Italy, Angelini has performed as principal dancer and guest artist with some of the most renowned companies in the world. Angelini’s professional career spans nine countries and three continents. Mr. Angelini has been called by Dance Magazine “The Italian Tornado” for undertaking an ambitious repertory building program. In the last decade, Tulsa Ballet has added more then 70 new works to its repertory that were either Oklahoma Premieres, American Premieres or World Premieres. Tulsa Ballet has also claimed a spot on the international scene, performing in three European countries and South Korea during the past seven years.
Tulsa Ballet is committed to the task of creating art in Tulsa and exporting it to the world. With this concept in mind, in the spring of 2008 the company built and opened a 295 seat, $6 million theater, Studio K, built around the project of creating new art.
The repertoire of the company today includes the majority of the 19th century works including August Bournonville’s La Sylphide, Giselle, Swan Lake, the Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty, all either re-staged or choreographed by Angelini, as well as Anna-Marie Holmes’ Don Quixote, Ronald Hynd’s Rosalinda, Andre Prokowsky’s Three Musketeers and Anna Karenina, Amedeo Amodio’s Carmen, Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Nights Dream, Val Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias, Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella and Michael Smuin’s Tony Award Winning version of Romeo and Juliet. But this is just a part of the eclectic repertoire that has become the trademark of this organization. At Tulsa Ballet, full length classical works are always alternated with neo-classical and contemporary works by the likes of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Antony Tudor, Paul Taylor, Kurt Jooss, Nacho Duato, Billie Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, Stanton Welch, Christopher Wheeldon, Twyla Tharp and many others.
For more information about Tulsa Ballet visit www.tulsaballet.org.
Updated 03-03-2010
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