The Kansas City Ballet Concludes Its 2014-2015 Season with DANCES DARING (THEN AND NOW), 5/8-17

The 57th season of Kansas City Ballet closes with "Dances Daring (Then and Now)," with four electrifying works in one performance: Edwaard Liang's Wunderland,featuring the music of Philip Glass, is a haunting, visually striking contemporary ballet; performed in celebration of the centennial of his birth, the pas de deux from Todd Bolender's most revered ballet, The Still Point, features the music of Claude Debussy; Concertino follows, set to the music of Arcangelo Corelli, by choreographer Amy Seiwert who is gaining national renown for her surprising, remarkable work; and finishing the program George Balanchine's iconic The Four Temperaments, set to the music of Paul Hindemith, is pure energy.

The production runs May 8-17 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and will be accompanied by Kansas City Symphony conducted by Kansas City Ballet Music Director Ramona Pansegrau.

Artistic Director Devon Carney said: "In continuing my vision to create a season with the broadest range of dance possible, I am thrilled to conclude the 2014-15 season with this repertory program. Each ballet represents either a nod to the grand classical tradition (with Bolender's gorgeous piece, The Still Point,and of course Balanchine's neoclassical The Four Temperaments) or a demonstration of my commitment to new voices as seen with Edwaard Liang's Wunderland and a new work, Concertino, by a lovely new talent on the dance scene, Amy Seiwert. I think our audiences will be delighted with the variety of ballets being presented for our final program."

Wunderland

The program begins with a Kansas City Premiere, by internationally feted choreographer Edwaard Liang, Wunderland premiered at Washington Ballet in 2009 and features the music of Philip Glass. This is a haunting, visually striking contemporary ensemble ballet with two contrasting yet beautiful duets, underscoring the perfect control of the dancers through the geometric lines of their movements. The final moments of the second poignant pas de deux are reminiscent of a picturesque land of wonder as snow begins to fall onto the stage.

Liang explains: "While I was in Russia, I was choreographing a new ballet and there was a huge snow globe in the hotel room where I was staying. It was a replica of the city that I was in. I had the music forWunderland with me and I was inspired by the snow globe."

The Still Point (pas de deux)

The program continues with the third movement from one of the most recognized works of Todd Bolender, The Still Point, with music by Claude Debussy. Mr. Bolender was artistic director of Kansas City Ballet from 1981 to 1995 and Emeritus until his death in 2006. The Ballet is presented in celebration of Bolender's long and influential career and the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Concertino

Another Kansas City Premiere, Concertino, set to the music by Arcangelo Corelli follows. Choreographer Amy Seiwert is gaining national renown for her surprising, remarkable work that expands and enriches the manner in which we all view ballet. Named as one of "25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine in 2005, she has twice been invited to participate in the NY Choreography Institute by Peter Martins, New York City Ballet's ballet master in chief. Through masterful and courageous ideas and images, she creates thrilling honesty and emotion, oftentimes mixing genres.

Additionally, Concertino is a co-commission of the Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College and Kansas City Ballet. This marks the second year of the New Dance Partners Project initiated by the prestigious Performing Arts Series. The piece had its world premiere this past fall at the JCCC performing arts center.

The Four Temperaments

Created in 1946, George Balanchine's neoclassical The Four Temperaments is musically and choreographically based on the ancient idea that the human organism is composed of four humors of temperaments: Melancholic, Sanguinic, Phlegmatic and Choleric. The dominance of one determines the human disposition. Featuring the music of Paul Hindemith, The Four Temperaments is pure energy. The ballet sometimes seems an explosion of energetic innovations, a working vocabulary which makes much of jutting angularities, syncopation and asymmetrical moves. The stage is alive with novel footwork and brief spectacular solos. The ballet seems, on reflection, to be particularly and admirably American, given its technical prowess and high-energy demands. That The Four Temperamentsseems today as fresh and exciting as ever confirms Balanchine's artistic genius and creative vision.

Visit www.kcballet.org for more information about Kansas City Ballet's 2014-2015 season andwww.kauffmancenter.org for a downloadable media kit about the Kauffman Center. High resolution photos of the 2014-2015 season can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/67555847@N06/sets/

Dances Daring (Then and Now)

May 8-17, 2015 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Music performed by Kansas City Symphony

Presenting a classic from Balanchine, plus two exciting Kansas City premieres and a beloved work of Todd Bolender to celebrate his centennial.

Wunderland Choreography: Edwaard Liang Music: Philip Glass

The Still Point: 3rd Movement Choreography: Todd Bolender Music: Claude Debussy

Concertino Choreography: Amy Seiwert Music: Arcangelo Corelli

The Four Temperaments Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Paul Hindemith

Fri., May 8 7:30 p.m.

Sat., May 9 7:30 p.m.

Sun., May 10 2 p.m.

Fri., May 15 7:30 p.m.

Sat., May 16 7:30 p.m.

Sun., May 17 2 p.m.

Sponsors

Presenting sponsor of "Dances Daring (Then and Now)" is the William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank Trustee; supporting sponsor is Union Station Kansas City. Sponsorship of The Still Point and The Four Temperaments generously provided by the George and Wendy Powell Fund of the Kuehn Foundation. Sponsorship of The Four Temperaments also is supported by the Metropolitan Performing Arts Fund, UMB Bank N.A.

The Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation; Kansas City Ballet Guild; the Missouri Arts Council; The Arts Council of Greater Kansas City and Hotel Phillips, host hotel of Kansas City Ballet, also are among the many supporters of Kansas City Ballet's 57th season.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Student Discounts

Student Rush tickets are available for $15 (with valid ID, one ticket per ID) 90-minutes prior to curtain at all performances based on availability.

Social Media

Kansas City Ballet's website is mobile and ticket-purchase friendly. Receive daily updates by joining the KCB Fan Page at www.facebook.com/kcballet and following @kcballet on Twitter. Follow our blog atkcballet.org/blog, or on YouTube by visiting www.youtube.com/kansascityballet.

Belger Footnote Series

Artistic Director Devon Carney and guest artists offer audience members views on the choreography, history, design elements and music prior to each repertory performance. These informal discussions are free for all ticket holders and are held at the theater one hour prior to curtain for Kansas City Ballet repertory shows.

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