Passion and excess of the 1920’s mark Gatsby’s scandalous tale
WHO: Orlando Ballet, Central Florida’s only professional resident ballet company.
WHAT: The iconic and tragic love story of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan is brought to life through dance in Orlando Ballet Artistic Director Jorden Morris’ remarkable interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s tale of The Great Gatsby. Morris’ vivid production showcases the glamour and excess of the 1920s through Gatsby’s lavish but contrived lifestyle as witnessed by his young neighbor Nick Carraway.
While developing his ballet, Morris spent 18 months working with composer Carl Davis to create an original and dynamic jazz infused musical score, contributing to a lush story about social class during the period of prohibition. Davis, who lives in England, composed the film score for The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Live orchestra will be conducted by Julian Pellicano, generously funded by Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation. Pellicano is currently the Associate Conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Winnipeg, Canada.
“I feel Nick is the innocent bystander who gets pulled into a cast of flawed characters, all searching for misplaced love and attention,” said Morris.
Morris praised the Orlando Ballet dance company for embracing complex choreography. “Their enthusiasm for this ballet and the storytelling element of it all is what makes this such an exciting production.”
Dancing as Gatsby will be guest artist Christian Clark, who is making his return to Orlando Ballet where he performed last season in Jorden Morris’ Moulin Rouge®, The Ballet. Clark is co-founder of Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre in Atlanta, GA, where he has served as a dancer, teacher, and administrator since 2017. Along with dancing, Christian has shared his knowledge of dance with many schools around the country as a guest instructor at the Greater Atlanta Christian School, Agnes Scott College, Kennesaw State University, as well as a co-director of Atlanta Ballet’s professional summer intensive.
Orlando Ballet’s Hitomi Nakamura will dance the coveted role of Daisy. Hitomi, who is American Ballet Theatre certified to teach, trained at Kaneta Kouno Ballet Academy and Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy. Her favorite role is the Russian Girl in Serenade. She received first place in the Ensemble Category at Youth America Grand Prix NY final as well as first place in the senior category at the Ballet Competition in Tokyo in 2011.
WHERE: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts | Walt Disney Theater
445 S Magnolia Ave.
Orlando FL 32801
WHEN:
Thursday, April 28, 2022: 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 29, 2022: 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 30, 2022: 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 1, 2022: 2:00 p.m.
Tickets start at $24
*Prices, titles, dates, times, locations and cast are subject to change at any time without notice.
About Orlando Ballet:
Founded in 1974, Orlando Ballet is Central Florida’s only fully residential professional ballet company. Orlando Ballet produces year-round main stage productions at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre, featuring timeless masterpieces and innovative contemporary world premieres, achieving the highest level of professionalism and artistic excellence. Orlando Ballet promotes dance education through community enrichment programs, performance lecture demonstrations, the renowned Orlando Ballet School, and Orlando Ballet II, a second pre-professional company to train and support dancers as they approach the start of their dance careers. For information about Orlando Ballet, please visit our website at OrlandoBallet.org.
