Northrop to Welcome Royal New Zealand Ballet, 2/8

Northrop Presents Royal New Zealand Ballet on Sat, Feb 8, 8:00 pm at Orpheum Theatre. Tickets are $42, $59, $70. Buy Tickets.

Rush tickets for U of M students and staff/faculty, and other students and educators can be purchased in person only at the State Theatre box office beginning Mon, Feb 3.

An intrinsic part of the country's national heritage, Royal New Zealand Ballet's first Minnesota performance features feverish 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, choreographed by Benjamin Millepied (from the Oscar award-winning movie Black Swan as well as newly named Artistic Director of the Paris Opera Ballet). The dancers reflect the subtly shifting moods of Brahms' equally frenetic score.

Venezuelan provocateur Javier de Frutos sets the heart pounding with Banderillero, a colorful and energetic dance named for the bullfighter.

The pas de deux from Artistic Director (and star of Center Stage) Ethan Stiefel's brand new piece Bier Halle is a spirited and classically romantic piece inspired by a Bavarian beer hall.

Former Royal New Zealand Ballet dancer Andrew Simmons returns with Through to You, a duet inspired by the song "Spiegel Im Spiegel," which loosely translates to "mirror in the mirror."