Atlanta Ballet Announces THE PRINCESS AND THE GOBLIN

Another page has been written in Atlanta's Ballet's historic Twyla Tharp chapter. The legendary choreographer has officially titled her world premiere ballet with the company: "Twyla Tharp's The Princess and the Goblin."

Co-commissioned by Atlanta Ballet and Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB), the ballet will receive its world premiere in Atlanta, February 10-19 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, followed by the Canadian premiere in fall 2012.

Tharp, Atlanta Ballet and RWB originally announced the project in March during Atlanta Ballet's 2011-12 season announcement. Since then Tharp has spent most of the summer in Atlanta working with the company to create and choreograph the work.

Rehearsals began in May with just seven dancers and a modest cast of kids. Now 13 students from Atlanta Ballet's Centre for Dance Education will dance alongside the full professional company. This premiere marks Tharp's first use of children in a full-length ballet in her almost 50-year choreographic career.

The ballet, 20 years in the making as described by Tharp, will be based on George MacDonald's late 19th century classic children's tale "The Princess and the Goblin." Like MacDonald, Tharp uses the children as the driving force and moral heart and soul of the enchanting tale. With most of the central characters, general narrative line and moral themes remaining true to the MacDonald story, Tharp combines the formality of ballet and the emotional expressiveness and wit of modern dance to tell this magical adventure tale of adult redemption achieved through the trusting innocence and determined love of children.

The ballet is set to music by Franz Schubert, arranged and orchestrated by composer and Schubert scholar Richard Burke. The music will be played live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra led by guest conductor Gary Sheldon. The set design is by Caleb Levengood and costumes by Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Anne Armit.

The lighting is by Tony-Award-winning designer Donald Holder.
Tickets start as low as $20. For tickets, call 800-982-2787 or stop by the Cobb Energy Centre box office. To purchase tickets online, visit www.atlantaballet.com or www.ticketmaster.com. For updates and more information on "Twyla Tharp's The Princess and the Goblin," please also visit the official Atlanta Ballet blog at www.atlantaballetblog.com.