ORLANDO, FL – Friday, June 23, 2023 – In honor of Orlando Ballet’s Golden Anniversary and for the first time in the ballet’s history, tickets for every production, with the exception of The Nutcracker, will go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, June 23, 2023. Ticket information is available at OrlandoBallet.org. Stay tuned for Christmas in July when tickets for The Nutcracker will be fully available for sale.
“Orlando Ballet’s next season will be one, year-long celebration of 50 years of dance, artistry and success,” said Executive Director Cheryl Collins. “We are very fortunate to have such a visionary in Artistic Director Jorden Morris who has curated another magnificent season of dance that is joyful, classic, and just plain gorgeous. We welcome the community to join in the celebration.”
Morris designed the season with a deliberate blend and balance of the elegance of classical ballet with innovative and lavish productions that begin with George Balanchine’s beloved Serenade and Paul Taylor’s “Company B.” Morris concludes the season with Kenneth Tindall’s lush and sensuous Casanova, which will be a U.S. premiere in Orlando before performances with the Colorado Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet as part of a collaboration between the three dance companies. Morris was intentional in presenting dance productions by choreographers whose works have not been produced or performed locally and he described the season as, “grand and exactly what ballet should be.”
MAINSTAGE SERIES
Reflections: A 50th Anniversary Celebration
Paul Taylor’s “Company B”
George Balanchine’s Serenade
September 21-24, 2023
Reflections is a celebratory launch of Orlando Ballet’s 50th season and offers a look back as well as ahead in terms of how the organization evolved from its very humble start to becoming one of Central Florida’s leading performing arts organizations. We begin with the premiere of our own anniversary film that tells a story about love for the art form and the risk-taking that helped build the organization, including missteps and victories that occurred along the way. We’ve collected conversations from many of the talented artists and community leaders who were involved from the beginning while we celebrate today’s highly respected professional dance company. In honor of this milestone, Artistic Director Jorden Morris has curated a sophisticated season that doesn’t just challenge his dancers but gifts the audience with new productions never-before performed or seen in Orlando.
Paul Taylor’s “Company B”
Iconic ballets earn that distinction by being innovative, timeless, and for always stirring up a range of emotions. While dramatically different artists, choreographers Paul Taylor and George Balanchine define iconic ballet through their artistic creativity, influence, and endurance.
Set during World War II, Juilliard-trained Taylor’s wildly popular “Company B,” is a lively yet poignant representation of good, old-fashioned American optimism set against the stark and painful realities of war. Taylor’s self-described modern “dance scribbling” and avant-garde style are fittingly supported by a musical backdrop by The Andrews Sisters, whose recognizable songs carry the audience and dancers through a journey of love and loss. Taylor’s masterful choreography balanced by simple, subtle sets and costumes, makes for a mesmerizing dance experience for all.
Balanchine® Ballet: Serenade
Russian-born George Balanchine’s universally beloved Serenade presents elegance and highly structured movement fostered by the choreographer’s renowned musicality. Serenade will be performed to live music by the Bach Festival of Winter Park, conducted by John Sinclair. The production includes 28 dancers in gauzy blue attire, performing four unique movements before a minimalistic backdrop of blue. Serenade has no plot; rather this ballet thrives emotionally and visually on the choreographer’s preference for precision and graceful movement inspired by Balanchine’s affection for all things Tchaikovsky. Balanchine is said to have been influenced by Tchaikovsky’s lush and hypnotizing “Serenade for Strings in C, Op.48,” setting the framework for his textured, thrilling variations that create an intoxicating experience of pure dance. Artistic Director Jorden Morris notes that the performance’s conclusion of a woman being lifted off the stage toward the light serves as a quiet nod to Orlando Ballet’s next 50 seasons.
The Sleeping Beauty
Choreography by Christopher Stowell after Marius Petipa
February 15-18, 2024
One kiss — that’s all it took to awaken Princess Aurora from her century-long slumber and to meet her handsome Prince Desire. The Sleeping Beauty is timeless and cherished, which is why choreographer Christopher Stowell chose to retell through dance one of the world’s favorite fairy tales. Stowell’s choreography, which is based on the original by Marius Petipa, has a human touch that ushers the audience to a happy ending after its journey through good versus evil and love conquering over revenge. Stowell’s dance is calibrated precisely with the lush and sweeping music composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
But no one should be fooled by the ballet’s gentle title – The Sleeping Beauty is known for its challenging choreography as exemplified by the famous and difficult Rose Adagio moment, when on her 16th birthday, Princess Aurora slowly and gracefully dances among four suitors, creating one of the ballet’s most anticipated, and iconic moments.
Stowell, the son of professional ballet dancers blends his experience, knowledge, tradition, and grace to make this story undeniably feel new and fresh each and every time.
DIRECTOR’S CHOICE
Featuring:
A World Premiere by Heath Gill
Stephanie Martinez’s “Dos Lados”
Jorden Morris’ Deverell
March 28-31, 2024
Mixed repertory is a high point because the artistic director has chosen shorter programs offering something for everyone. The production begins with a world premiere by Orlando Ballet’s Rehearsal Director Heath Gill who is known for his “Confronting Genius” and “The Next Big Thing” creations. Gill’s ability to captivate audiences by fusing classical and contemporary dance has established him as one of the country’s most exciting young choreographers.
Stephanie Martinez’s “Dos Lados,” is a powerful, eight-person ensemble that performs to Spanish guitar in exploration of the idea of duality. Martinez, founder, and artistic director of PARA.MAR Dance Theatre in Chicago, is recognized for her focus on diversity and for connecting the energy of her contemporary choreography with the audience. This is a premiere performance in Central Florida. Martinez has created more than 60 ballets for companies including Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, and Kansas City Ballet.
The production closes with Deverell, another of Jorden Morris’ dynamic creations which premiered in 2005 in his native home of Canada and now in Central Florida. The word deverell is Gaelic for “on the riverbank” and is one of his most popular works. Morris describes this as his version of Riverdance and an ode to his own Celtic roots.
Casanova – U.S. Premiere
May 16-19, 2024
Giacomo Casanova is arguably the world’s most legendary womanizer, but he was also an intellect, a gambler, and a scofflaw – all the right character traits around which to design a lusty ballet, which is exactly what choreographer Kenneth Tindall has done. Tindall, a former principal dancer is an award-winning freelance choreographer and director specializing in Narrative Dance. His Casanova offers a larger-than-life ballet experience like none other thanks to opulent dance underscored by sexual tension generated by composer Kerry Muzzey’s attention-grabbing music. Guest Conductor Julian Pellicano returns to lead Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra through this production’s live music performances.
Set in 18th– Century Venice, Italy, Tindall’s lavish vision includes iconic Venetian masquerades, period costumes, and sets along with big, big choreography that tells the story of how Casanova’s plans for a career in Holy Orders got derailed by his own decadence.
Created in the UK, this award-winning production has not been seen in North America, but this production is made possible through a collaboration between Orlando Ballet, Colorado Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet. Says Artistic Director Jorden Morris, “This is the future of making big, expensive, lavish ballets more accessible to the public as a compliment to the standard classics already available.”
UNCORKED | Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre
Thursdays
October 5, 2023
January 25, 2024
May 2, 2024
The ever-popular Uncorked series now on Thursday nights returns offering audiences up-close visits with the Orlando Ballet dancers and the artistic leadership in a not-so-sneak peek behind the curtain. These informal events have acquired a major fan following because they demystify ballet, and offer a glimpse into what is required and expected of professional dancers and choreographers while also offering a personal way for the dancers to connect with their fans.
Tickets start at $29
Purchase tickets:
*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.
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