Our very own Miami City Ballet will delight audiences in Paris, France for an unprecedented three-week season — the company’s first visit there — July 6-23, 2011. Edward Villella, Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet, announced that the company’s 50 dancers will perform 17 command performances over three weeks at the Chatelet Theater. The same legendary theater where in 1909, Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes gave their first performances, and where two years later, Petrouchka had its world premiere — so it’s only natural that Miami City Ballet take center stage there!
Miami City Ballet will focus primarily on the work of choreographer George Balanchine, for whom Villella starred during his spectacular dance career at the New York City Ballet. Among the eight Balanchine ballets in the repertory – including The Four Temperaments and Theme and Variations – are three major works that reportedly have never been seen in Paris: the 1951 La Valse, to Ravel; Symphony in Three Movements, created for New York City Ballet’s 1972 Stravinsky Festival (it featured Villella); and Ballet Imperial, Balanchine’s ultimate tribute to Tchaikovsky and Petipa.
Also included are two of Jerome Robbins’ most popular ballets, Afternoon of a Faun (Debussy) and In the Night, set to Chopin piano music; two of Twyla Tharp’s most exciting works, In the Upper Room, to a Philip Glass score, and Nine Sinatra Songs, to the great singer’s own recordings; Mercuric Tidings (to Schubert) by America’s most important living choreographer, Paul Taylor; and Christopher Wheeldon’s intense duet, Liturgy.
“I can’t imagine a more thrilling way for us to end this landmark season than with these ballets, in this theater, in this city,” said Villella about Paris. “You can imagine how eagerly we’re all looking forward to July!” Théâtre du Châtelet, located at 1 Place du Chatelet 75001 in Paris, is known for featuring many of the top opera and ballet companies in the world. For more information on Miami City Ballet’s appearance in Paris, visit http://www.lesetesdeladanse.com.
