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KANSAS CITY, MO (February 1, 2010) — Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director William Whitener today announced the 53rd season. Whitener stated, “This season features the works of American choreographers and covers a plethora of styles, techniques, and genres. Two of the ballets are new to the repertory and will be danced alongside audience favorites and the enduring classic, Giselle.
Fall Performances
October 14-17, 2010 | Lyric Theatre | Featuring the Kansas City Symphony
Three masterworks of Balanchine – Mozartiana, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, and Slaughter on 10th Avenue – plus the return of audience favorite Lark Ascending by Bruce Marks.
The Nutcracker
December 11-24, 2010 | Music Hall | Featuring the Kansas City Symphony
Kansas City’s favorite holiday tradition continues with the presentation of Todd Bolender’s delightful family classic The Nutcracker in the beautifully restored Music Hall.
Winter Performances
March 10-13, 2011 | Lyric Theatre | Featuring the Kansas City Symphony
Giselle is considered the supreme achievement of the Romantic Age of Ballet. Performed in two acts, the ballet tells a story of innocence, betrayal, madness and redemption.
Spring Performances
May 5-8, 2011 | Lyric Theatre
American dance is highlighted with the Kansas City Premiere of Jerome Robbins’ Moves, the World Premiere Mercy of the Elements by William Whitener, and the return of The Catherine Wheel Suite by Twyla Tharp.
Kansas City Ballet
2010-2011 Season at a Glance
Fall Performances
October 14-17, 2010 | Lyric Theatre | Featuring the Kansas City Symphony
Mozartiana
Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Lark Ascending
Choreography: Bruce Marks Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux
Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Richard Rodgers, orchestrated by Hershy Kay
The Nutcracker
December 11-24, 2010 | Music Hall | Featuring the Kansas City Symphony
Choreography: Todd Bolender Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Winter Performances
March 10-13, 2011 | Lyric Theatre | Featuring the Kansas City Symphony
Giselle
Choreography: Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot Music: Adolphe Adam
Spring Performances
May 5-8, 2011 | Lyric Theatre
Moves (A Ballet in Silence) – Kansas City Premiere
Choreography: Jerome Robbins Music: None
Mercy of the Elements – A World Premiere
Choreography: William Whitener Music: TBA
The Catherine Wheel Suite
Choreography: Twyla Tharp Music: David Byrne
About the 2010-2011 Season
The Fall and Winter Performances and The Nutcracker will feature the Kansas City Symphony conducted by Kansas City Ballet Music Director Ramona Pansegrau.
The 2010-2011 season will be the last for the Kansas City Ballet in the Lyric Theatre and the Music Hall. The 2011-2012 season will open at the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Fall Performances
October 14-17, 2010 | Lyric Theatre
The Fall Performances open with three masterpieces of George Balanchine. Mozartiana, which premiered in 1981 at New York City Ballet’s Tchaikovsky Festival, is one of the last ballets the choreographer created before his death in April 1983. In addition to the principal dancers and small ensemble, the cast includes four young female dancers from the Kansas City Ballet School.
Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux was choreographed by Balanchine in 1960 as a showpiece for New York City Ballet dancers Violette Verdy and Conrad Ludlow, and was subsequently performed by such luminaries as Patricia McBride, Edward Villella, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Suzanne Farrell.
The third piece on the program is the return of Lark Ascending choreographed by Bruce Marks featuring the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams. “Lark is about the journey of life, that eternal fight against gravity,” said Marks. “Each time I see the lark ascend I know why we dance. In these sad and troubling times it is so important to reaffirm the nobility of the human spirit.”
Closing the Fall Performances is George Balanchine’s Slaughter on Tenth Avenue featuring the music of Richard Rodgers, orchestrated by Hershy Kay. Balanchine originally choreographed this splashy, comedic caper in 1936 for Broadway’s production of On Your Toes. A parody of Broadway theatrics, Russian ballet, and the mob, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, set in a tacky strip joint, tells the story of a jealous Russian premier danseur who hires a mobster to kill a rival during the premiere of a new ballet.
The Nutcracker
December 11-24, 2010 | Music Hall
From Dec. 11 through Dec. 24, 2010, Kansas City Ballet will present Kansas City’s favorite holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, at the Music Hall. The Nutcracker, featuring the music of Peter I. Tchaikovsky and choreography of Todd Bolender, returns for 15 public performances and three matinees for schools. This full-length ballet continues to delight audiences with its magnificent sets, costumes and special effects. Three casts of Kansas City Ballet dancers, plus more than 200 local youngsters ages 7 to 17 selected from Kansas City Ballet School, tell E. T. A. Hoffman’s story. Nutcracker tickets will go on sale to the public Monday, October 25, 2010.
THE NUTCRACKER
MUSIC HALL
DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY
301 West 13th St.
Kansas City, MO 64105
Sat., Dec. 11* 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 12 1 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 17 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 18 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Dec 19 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Tues., Dec. 21 7:30 p.m.
Wed. Dec. 22 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 23 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 24 1 p.m.
*The Sugar Plum Fairy Luncheon will be held at the downtown Kansas City Marriott Hotel from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Winter Performances
Giselle | March 10-13, 2011 | Lyric Theatre
This story of enduring love even after death features two of the most celebrated roles for a ballerina and premier danseur. Through the music of Adolphe Adam and the choreography of Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, this haunting and tragic love story tells the heart-breaking story of a young village girl who innocently falls in love with callous Albrecht, a prince disguised as a peasant lad. Discovering his real identity and that he is betrothed to the Duke’s daughter, Act I closes with Giselle, driven mad with grief, dying of a broken heart – a scene widely considered to be the most dramatically challenging role in the ballet canon. Act II unfolds as Albrecht comes to her grave and is surrounded by the Wilis, the spirits of young girls who died before their wedding day. Finally, he watches Giselle dance into the ghostly dawn as he is left grieving at her grave.
Spring Performances
May 5-8, 2011 | Lyric Theatre
A World Premiere by William Whitener, the Kansas City Premiere of a Jerome Robbins classic, and the return of The Catherine Wheel Suite by Twyla Tharp
The performance opens with the Kansas City Premiere of Jerome Robbins’ Moves (A Ballet in Silence). The ballet premiered in 1959 at the Spoleto Festival, was a staple of the Joffrey Ballet’s repertory in the 1970’s and premiered at New York City Ballet in 1984. Danced without musical accompaniment, Moves features the stark clarity of the body as an expressive instrument, placing the focus on precise and changing choreographic patterns. The ballet is also an exploration of emotional connections and disconnections, beginnings and endings, shown through an intense gesture, a subtle movement, a glimpse of passion contained. Jennifer Dunning of The New York Times called Moves, “An extraordinarily powerful experience as theater and dance. Mr. Robbins achieves so much in the simplest terms.”
The Spring Performances continue with a World Premiere by Kansas City Ballet’s Artistic Director William Whitener. In his 12th creation for Kansas City Ballet, Mr. Whitener will premiere Mercy of the Elements, performed with live chamber music.
Closing the Spring Performances will be The Catherine Wheel Suite by Twyla Tharp with music by pop/rock icon David Byrne (Talking Heads). The Catherine Wheel Suite features a selection of dances assembled specifically for Kansas City Ballet by Tharp and William Whitener – an original cast member of the ballet – from 1981’s original, full-length work The Catherine Wheel. The Suite finishes with the renowned and rousing finale, “The Golden Section.” Arlene Croce of The New Yorker calls The Catherine Wheel, “A multi-level poetic fantasy with a twist of scalawag comedy… a suite of social dances through the ages.”
Sponsors
Kansas City Ballet’s 53rd season is supported by the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, the Hallmark Corporate Foundation, Bank of America, the Kansas City Ballet Guild, and the Missouri Arts Council—a state agency.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SEASON SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
To make ballet affordable for everyone, the Series Subscription Package includes major savings and patron benefits for the Fall, Winter, and Spring Shows including: ticket discounts, savings on single ticket prices, priority seating, free ticket exchanges and the chance to purchase discounted tickets for The Nutcracker before they go on sale to the general public. Subscribers save up to 33% off individual show tickets. Parents, note this great opportunity to introduce the arts to your children: patrons under 21 can purchase season tickets for half price with an adult subscription order. Season tickets range in price from $60 to $180. A Lyric Theatre facility charge will be added to all Ballet subscription packages. For ticket information, please call Kansas City Ballet ticket box office at 816.931.2232 or visit our website at www.kcballet.org.
STUDENT DISCOUNTS
Students who arrive at the Lyric box office one to two hours prior to Fall, Winter or Spring Repertory Programs, may purchase any available seat for just $12 with a valid I.D. Rush prices are not valid at any of The Nutcracker performances.
BARRE: Kansas City Ballet’s Young Friends Group
Kansas City Ballet BARRE is a subscription group for young professionals ages 21-40. The BARRE motto: “Art you can party with,” truly describes what they are all about. Kansas City Ballet BARRE members enjoy a Friday night season ticket that includes pre-show happy hours, backstage tours, meeting the dancers and mingling with other members at special events. The group is setting its schedule for 2010-2011 and will release it later this summer. For more information, please contact Karen at 816.931.2232 ext.1304, email barre@kcballet.org, or visit the website at www.kcbbarre.org.
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Please direct all media inquiries to: Ellen McDonald at 816.444.0052.
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