Washington Ballet Announces FRONTIER as First Commissioned Work; Reaffirms Commitment to Live Orchestra

Artistic Director Julie Kent is pleased to announce details of her first-ever commissioned work, Frontier (Working Title), choreographed by Ethan Stiefel for The Washington Ballet. The work is inspired by President Kennedy and his aspirations for America as a leader of artistic, cultural and intellectual excellence. His historic May 25, 1961 "urgent needs" address to the United States Congress serves as the impetus for this work. This speech launched what became a legacy in U.S. space travel and exploration with a determination for the United States to be the first to land a man on the moon. The President and First Lady focused national attention on the role of the arts in a country and the need for a nation to represent itself through its art. They also encouraged the development of Washington as a cultural center. The President was an advocate for America's ability to educate and develop individuals in cultural, intellectual and artistic endeavors.

While Stiefel was inspired by President Kennedy to develop a work based on space exploration, Kent was inspired by the President's dedication to "press ahead to develop an independent artistic force and power of our own." In commissioning Ethan, Kent stresses that "Ethan is a dancer who was classically trained in the United States and who has made a contribution to the performance and dance education realms both here and abroad having risen to principal dancer in two of our nation's most elite ballet companies while also being invited as a guest artist throughout the world. He is an example of the American ability to develop and nurture artists with a unique sensibility. President Kennedy's desire to focus national attention on the role of arts in America and to encourage the development of Washington as a cultural center makes it most appropriate that we commissioned this work and present its world premiere in The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I could think of no better emerging choreographer to create a work around the JFK Centenary". Kent is particularly pleased that the work will premiere at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Opera House as this is consistent with President Kennedy's desire to develop Washington as a cultural center. "We are privileged to use space as the model for national achievement and accomplishment while using ballet as the artistic vehicle for this message".

The commission will be presented for four performances from May 25 through May 27, 2017.

Stiefel investigates space exploration through the perspective of the astronaut, delving into the emotional and physical rigors required for space travel. From the enigmatic anticipation of the adventure yet subsequent isolation in having such a unique and powerful experience, the astronaut's journey is compelling. While Kennedy used space as a model for national achievement, Stiefel uses his art as a conveyance for this message and for Kennedy's affirmation at his historic October 1963 Amherst College speech that America must fulfill a desire to achieve and be exceptional in the arts. He stated "it is through both our strength and our arts that we will be judged. Our national strength matters, but the spirit which informs and controls our strength matters just as much."

"Choreographing a new ballet that recognizes President Kennedy's vision, spirit, and legacy is both a huge responsibility and an equally large opportunity. I am honored that Julie Kent has presented me with such an important creation and one that is her first commissioned work as the new artistic director of The Washington Ballet. Alongside a talented creative team, I hope to create a ballet that proves to be an innovative and inspiring addition to what looks like a most exciting 2016-2017 season at TWB."

Stiefel is an internationally celebrated dancer, instructor, coach, director and choreographer, and currently the principal guest instructor at American Ballet Theatre. Stiefel served as a principal dancer at ABT from 1997 thru his retirement in 2012 and began his professional career at age 16 with New York City Ballet where he quickly rose to principal dancer and served in that same capacity at Zurich Ballet prior to joining ABT. He performed leading roles in all of the full-length classics and danced in an extensive range of shorter works created by the most celebrated classical, modern and contemporary choreographers. He served as artistic director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) from 2011-2014. Just prior to his appointment at RNZB he served as Dean of the School of Dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). As a choreographer, Stiefel created a new staging of The Nutcracker for UNCSA; a one act comedic ballet, Bier Halle; and he collaborated with Johan Kobborg on choreographing and producing a new production of Giselle for the RNZB. Giselle was adapted into a feature film in 2013. He recently choreographed a new work for the top level of ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, Knightlife, performed at The Joyce Theater in New York in April 2013; he also choreographed a collaborative work on the ABT Studio Company and the Royal Ballet School, See the Youth Advance! that premiered at London's Covent Garden in May 2016. Stiefel served as choreographer for the 2015 limited edition television series for STARZ network, Flesh and Bone.

Musician and Composer Adam Crystal is creating an original score. Crystal's recent compositions include Canvas, premiered at the Vail International Ballet Festival; Final Dress for the Royal New Zealand Ballet and Ballroom Dance, for Works and Process at the Guggenheim Museum. Earlier this year, his RUSH HOUR premiered at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts with Paul Taylor's American Modern Dance and the Orchestra of St. Luke's.

Information at washingtonballet.org

The Washington Ballet reaffirms its commitment to the presentation of performance to live music with the return of The Washington Ballet Orchestra under the baton of guest conductors Charles Barker from American Ballet Theatre and Pittsburgh Ballet for the March 1-5, 2017 performances of Giselle, and Martin West from San Francisco Ballet for the Tudor/Ashton/Stiefel, May 25-27, 2017 performances. Glenn Sales and Eric Himy, Pianists, will perform Philip Glass "Four movements for 2 pianos" in the Kylián/Peck/Forsythe program of mixed repertoire for Justin Peck's In Creases. TWB also has a new creative partnership with Ryuji Ueno Foundation and Artistic Director/Pianist Ryo Yanagitani will perform Domenico Scarlatti "Keyboard Sonatas" for Alexei Ratmansky's Seven Sonatas, one of three works presented in the Balanchine/Ratmansky/- Tharp performances from April 26-30, 2017.The Washington Ballet Orchestra (created in the 1950's) first played for Mary Day's Washington School of Ballet in the National Cathedral. In 1961, The Washington Ballet Orchestra under the baton of Lloyd Geisler accompanied The Washington School of Ballet's premiere of Mary Day's The Nutcracker in Constitution Hall. Subsequent conductors for The Nutcracker include Tom Ludwig, Stephen Crout, and Leslie Dunner. Eventually, The Washington Ballet Orchestra was made up of freelance players, many of whom continued to play these annual holiday performances for years throughout the DC region. The Washington Ballet Orchestra also played in productions of Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet, Jeux, Concerto Barocco, and Pillar of Fire. Under the direction of conductor Scott Speck, the Orchestra garnered critical acclaim in The New York Times for its work in the 2009 production of La Sylphide at the Kennedy Center. The Orchestra returned to the Warner Theatre to perform The Nutcracker for The School's 40th anniversary season, and subsequently performed in productions of ALICE (in wonderland) and Sleepy Hollow.

"The return of TWB Orchestra marks an exciting stage for us as we value the contribution of live music to both the dancer and audience experience", says Kent: "While our goal is to always perform to live musical accompaniment we are carefully introducing this element of performance given the confines of our budget and a thoughtful and measured approach to growth. We are pleased to offer live music in each of our mainstage performances this season."

Tickets at kennedy-center.org or 202.467.4600 or 800.444.1324

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