“ballet classics”
performances
“Ballet Classics” springs to life on March 17th at Methodist University’s, Reeves Auditorium, at 3:00 p.m. “Ballet Classics,” danced by the North Carolina State Ballet, is directed by Charlotte Blume and will feature three separate Ballets.
The lyrical and beautiful Les Sylphides, set to music by Frederic Chopin, will headline the program. Holst’s The Planets will feature the signature pieces ‘Jupiter’ and ‘Venus’. The third Ballet will be “Variations” and “Grande Pas Classique” from Paquita.
Les Sylphides, with choreography by Michel Fokine, was first presented in Paris by the Russian Ballet in 1909. It was staged by Fokine in 1940 for the American Ballet Theatre and restaged by Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1984. Charlotte Blume learned the choreography from Fokine in his latter years and has staged the Ballet for the North Carolina State Ballet.
The Planets, by composer Gustav Holst, has been performed in orchestral and electronic versions. The electronic version by Isao Tomita is the best known. The performance will feature Tomita’s electronic rendition of “Venus”. An orchestral rendition of “Jupiter” will accompany the dancers and contains the most well-known musical themes of The Planets. Choreographer Wei Ni has staged the “Planets” in a modern classic form.
Paquita was staged for the Russian Imperial Ballet by Marius Petipa in 1847. It was the first work he ever staged. Some 40 years later Petipa revised the Ballet to music by Ludwig Minkus, and that version has endured. The “Finale” and “Grande Pas Classique” remains in the repertory of the American Ballet Theatre. Wei Ni has staged Paquita for the North Carolina State Ballet.
tickets
Reservations for the March 17th performance may be made by calling the Ballet Company at (910) 485-4965 or through our Website. Tickets are $16.00 for general seating and may be purchased through QuickTixx or at the door.
school performances
A performance for Cumberland County and Regional Schools will be offered on March 14th at 10:00 a.m. Reservations may be made by calling the Ballet Company at (910) 485-4965 or through our Website. The cost is $6.00 for students, with teachers and staff admitted for free.
