Gelsey Kirkland Ballet Presents HARLEQUINADE and CAVALRY HALT This Weekend

Gelsey Kirkland Ballet will present an exciting Marius Petipa double bill, Harlequinade and Cavalry Halt tonight, March 27 and Saturday, March 28. This 29 member studio company-which includes dancers from Brazil, Japan, Israel and Russia-is under the artistic direction of renowned former ABT principal dancer Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov. Performances will take place at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway on the southwest corner of 95th Street and Broadway).

Harlequinade is a hilarious comedy based on the Commedia del'Arte characters of Harlequin, Columbine, Pierrot and Pierette. Set in the gay atmosphere of a Venetian carnival, this is a classic comedy of the father who locks up his daughter Columbine to prevent her from marrying the penniless Harlequin. Leaving Columbine guarded by his lazy servant Pierrot, the father leaves to arrange her marriage to a rich fop. All hell breaks loose when the lovers break free and reek havoc on the household. Harlequinade has all the romantic comedy elements; the serenade under the window, the mock death, the denouement of the culprits and finally the marriage of the lovers.

Cavalry Halt highlights the shenanigans amongst the village girls when a cavalry troop sweeps into town. All the officers compete for the attentions of the village beauty with the piece culminating in a joyous wedding. This one-act comedy returns to Symphony Space following the company's successful season last year.

Both Harlequinade and Cavalry Halt have been restaged by Vera Solovieva and Nikolai Levitsky.

Gelsey Kirkland Ballet will be at Symphony Space on Friday, March 27 at 8pm and Saturday, March 28 at 8pm. Tickets for both performances are $30-45, and can be arranged by calling 212-864-5400 or online, by visiting www.symphonyspace.org. Tickets purchased in advance prior to the day of show are $40 and $25 for children aged 12 and under. Discounted $35 tickets are available for college students and seniors.