Timeless Innovation Featuring a Balanchine Classic And Two Las Vegas Premieres

Nevada Ballet Theatre is pleased to present Timeless Innovation featuring George Balanchine’s jazzy and upbeat Rubies, from his full-length ballet Jewels and two Las Vegas premieres by James Canfield including Coco, homage to the life of fashion empress Coco Chanel and the nationally renowned Jungle, set to the music of electronic super group, Future Sound of London. This exciting program will be presented on Saturday, October 17 at 8 pm and Sunday, October 18 at 2 pm at UNLV’s Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Season subscriptions are on sale now as well as an introductory subscription for just $20. To subscribe, call the UNLV box office at (702) 895-ARTS (2787) or order online at www.nevadaballet.com.

Quick lunges, prances, flexed feet, heel-walks and jutting hips are all movements that characterize George Balanchine’s fast-paced and witty Rubies. Premiering in 1967, Rubies comprises one-third of Balanchine’s full-length ballet Jewels and has been hailed as an audience favorite. Though it is without a plot, history has it that Balanchine was inspired to create the work by a visit to the famous jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels. Featuring a female dancer with a larger than life personality and her dynamic partner, Igor Stravinsky’s uplifting score (Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, 1929) lends itself to a “very American” landscape of dynamic dancers costumed in deep, beautiful red.

Next on the program is Canfield’s striking Coco. Comprised of several songs by beloved French singer Edith Piaf, Coco celebrates the trials and tribulations of famed fashion designer Coco Chanel. A 1940’s setting is illuminated by unique stage elements such as a floating violin and couture-clothed dress forms. Through inventive choreography and genius musicality, the life story of a fashion icon is praised in this popular ballet.

 “I am extremely excited to begin the 2009-2010 Season of Nevada Ballet Theatre!” said Canfield. “During tough economic times like these, it is imperative that we keep the arts in our lives. This season we are offering something for everyone – in addition to educating, elevating and entertaining, we hope to also enlighten – bringing new patrons closer to the art form by offering a special $20 introductory subscription. Audiences who love the classics will feel ignited with the spirit of George Balanchine’s striking Rubies, fashion lovers will delight to Coco, inspired by the life of Coco Chanel and those who like to ‘walk on the wild side’ will excite to the exoticism of my ballet Jungle.“

The production culminates with Canfield’s exotic and visually lush ballet Jungle. Described as “classical purity and rampant rambunctiousness,” the ballet begins with a series of solos within the setting of a fluorescent and electrifying urban forest. The performers’ movement becomes their survival throughout seven exciting scenes. With a multi-colored backdrop and costumes designed by visual artist Tom Cramer, this unconventional work includes Canfield’s signature athletic choreography and is surrounded by the intense rhythms of “World Beat” by innovative British music group, Future Sound of London. The Nashville Scene declared this ballet as a “surge of fast-paced movement that seamlessly incorporates classical techniques with the expressive vocabulary of modern dance.”

As a part of the new season, the company will perform its fall and spring programs in Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, with patrons having the choice to attend on Saturday evenings or Sunday afternoons, a change from the company’s usual Friday night opening. In addition, prior to Timeless Innovation and Brave New World, “Insights,” a free pre-performance perspective will offer patrons an insider’s view into the performance they are about to see. Held in the lobby, “Insights” will take place 45 minutes prior to curtain. Furthering this, the company will present “Talk Back,” an interactive Q & A following the performances that will lend patrons a greater understanding into the world of dance and the artists who make it happen.  

Additional programs will include “NBT Unveiled” for Gold and Silver subscribers and “NBT 4x8,” both of which will be catalysts for education and outreach and offer a closer, more intimate experience into the beauty of dance as an art form.

SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Single Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 8 with special $10 & $20 Balcony Seats available. Call the UNLV Box Office at (702) 895-ARTS (2787) for more information. Special group pricing is also available for groups of 20 or more.

SPECIAL EVENT: DINNER & THE BALLET  

Mix and mingle with an exclusive VIP circle of patrons. In celebration of Timeless Innovation, the company will host a special pre-performance dinner on Saturday, October 17 at Morton’s The Steakhouse at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $100 per person. For reservations, please call Jessica Erali at (702) 243-2623 ext. 222 or email jerali@nevadaballet.com.

ATTN: MEDIA

For interview opportunities with Katarina Svetlova (Coco Repetiteur), Tracy Taylor (Jungle Repetiteur) and/or Elyse Borne (Balanchine Repetiteur), please contact Jenn Kratochwill at jkratochwill@nevadaballet.com.  Photos are available upon request.

ABOUT NEVADA BALLET THEATRE

Under the direction of Artistic Director James Canfield, Nevada Ballet Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and the largest professional ballet company and dance Academy in the state. Committed to the highest artistic standards, dancers for the company hail from around the world and include artists with international performing experience. This classically-based company is at home in an eclectic repertory, moving easily from the classics to the high-energy contemporary ballets.  The mission of Nevada Ballet Theatre is to educate and inspire regional, statewide and national audiences and vitally impact community life through professional company productions, dance training and education and outreach. Upon its completion, Nevada Ballet Theatre will be a resident company in the new world-class Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHERS

James Canfield, Artistic Director (Choreographer for Coco, Jungle)

James Canfield, Oregon Ballet Theatre’s founding artistic director from 1989 – 2003, was born in Corning, New York, and received his early dance training at the acclaimed Washington School of Ballet under the direction of Mary Day. After joining the Washington Ballet in Washington, D.C. for one season, he joined the Joffrey II Dancers in New York City. Following one season with the Joffrey II Dancers, he was invited to join the Joffrey Ballet under the direction of the late Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino. 

During his career, Mr. Canfield danced an extensive repertoire of works by noted choreographers such as Sir Fredrick Ashton, Anthony Tudor, George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Robert Joffrey, William Forsythe, John Cranko, Marius Petipa, Jiri Kylian, Jose Limon, Agnes de Mille, Choo San Goh and Val Caniparoli among others. In addition, Mr. Canfield was featured in two Dance in America PBS Series’ as well as An Evening with Diana Ross. Mr. Canfield left the Joffrey Ballet to become the Artistic Director of Pacific Ballet Theatre in 1986. After the consolidation of Portland’s two dance companies, Pacific Ballet Theatre and Ballet Oregon, he was appointed Artistic Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre in 1989. Mr. Canfield choreographed over 30 ballets for the year-round company and established the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre to provide the best classical training to dancers throughout the Northwest. His students have gone on to dance with New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Dousseldorf Opera Ballet, Ballet West, Colorado Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre and many others.

Prior to joining Nevada Ballet Theatre, Mr. Canfield spent the last several years consulting, choreographing, teaching and staging his choreographic works for companies throughout the country. More recently, he has participated as a teacher and choreographer in Artistic Director Sarah Slipper's Northwest Professional Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, where he joins a team of some of the world’s most recognized directors, choreographers and visionaries. 

Full bio available upon request.

George Balanchine, 1904 – 1983 (Choreographer, Rubies)

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, George Balanchine is regarded as the foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet. He came to the United States in late 1933 at the age of 29, accepting the invitation of the young American arts patron Lincoln Kirstein, whose great passions included the dream of creating a ballet company in America.

The School of American Ballet, founded in 1934, was the first product of the Balanchine-Kirstein collaboration until October 11, 1948 when the New York City Ballet was born. Balanchine served as its ballet master and principal choreographer from 1948 until his death in 1983.

A major artistic figure of the twentieth century, Balanchine revolutionized the look of classical ballet. Taking classicism as his base, he heightened, quickened, expanded, streamlined, and even inverted the fundamentals of the 400-year-old language of academic dance. Although at first his style seemed particularly suited to the energy and speed of American dancers, especially those he trained, his ballets are now performed by all the major classical ballet companies throughout the world.

2009-2010 SEASON AT A GLANCE

TIMELESS INNOVATION       

Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 8 pm

Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 2 pm

Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, UNLV

Rubies

Music: Igor Stravinsky

Choreography: George Balanchine

Coco

Music: Edith Piaf

Choreography: James Canfield

Jungle

Music: Future Sound of London

Choreography: James Canfield

 

THE NUTCRACKER

Nevada Ballet Theatre Presents a production new to Las Vegas.

Performance dates and times to be announced soon!  

Nevada Ballet Theatre and Cirque du Soleil® Present:

 

A CHOREOGRAPHERS’ SHOWCASE

A Project Designed to Stimulate and Encourage Artistic Growth

Spring 2010. Performance dates and time to be announced soon!

 

BRAVE NEW WORLD    

Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 8 pm

Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 2 pm

Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, UNLV

Song of the Nightingale

Music: Igor Stravinsky

Choreography: Gail Gilbert

New Work by Thaddeus Davis

Cyclical Night

Music: Astor Piazzolla

Choreography: James Canfield

Jenn Kratochwill, Director of Public Relations

Nevada Ballet Theatre

1651 Inner Circle.LV.NV.89134

702.243.2623 OR 702.858.4004