The Washington Ballet Presents ALADDIN, 3/18

The Washington Ballet (TWB) presents Aladdin, an original adaptation of the "Arabian Nights" tale about the adventures of a poor yet carefree street urchin named Aladdin who falls in love with a Princess, discovers a magic lamp and escapes the villainous plans of an evil magician who vies to overtake the throne. Aladdin features original choreography by CeCe Farha, instructor at The Washington School of Ballet and founding company member of Ballet Oklahoma, along with Arabic and classical musical arrangements from Cairo Arabic Music Ensemble, Praha Philharmonic Orchestra,
Cirque de Soleil and others.

Nardia Boodoo and Darion Flores by Dean Alexander

"I have always loved these old stories of the "Arabian Nights," says Farha. "The mystery, magic and of course the beautiful princess, intrigued me as a child. I believe story ballets are wonderful because they allow the audience to become invested emotionally in the character." Farha has created 25 original ballets.

Aladdin is performed by the TWB Studio Company, The Washington School of Ballet (TWSB) Trainee Program and Professional Training Program and students of TWB@THEARC Performance Ensemble.

"A priority for TWB is to make the beauty and connective power of performing arts available and accessible to all of our community," says Artistic Director Julie Kent. "With that in mind, I specifically designated THEARC Theater as the home to TWB's Studio Company and its annual performances. These productions display a full range of artistic processes that reflect the collaborative spirit of our mission. THEARC is an artistic bridge within our city and we strive to make dance performance accessible within the entire DC community."

To learn more about Aladdin and The Washington Ballet visit washingtonballet.org.

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON BALLET: The Washington Ballet (TWB) was originally founded as The Washington School of Ballet in 1944 by legendary ballet pioneer Mary Day and incorporated as a professional company in 1976. The Washington Ballet is one of the pre-eminent ballet organizations in the United States. TWB built an international reputation presenting bold works by choreographers from around the world, including Choo San Goh, Christopher Wheeldon, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Hans van Manen and Ji?í Kylián, as well as neoclassical masterworks and fresh staging of 19th century classics. Under the leadership of Interim Executive Director Shakira Segundo and Artistic Director Julie Kent, TWB continues to serve its three-part mission: ensuring excellence in its professional performance company; growing the next generation of dancers through its Washington School of Ballet; and serving the community in which it resides through robust community engagement programs.

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