Texas Ballet Theater Launches Season with North American Premiere

Texas Ballet Theater opens the 2016-2017 season at the Winspear Opera House September 16-18, and Bass Performance Hall October 7-9, with a mixed repertoire program featuring Cuban choreographer Carlos Acosta's Carmen, a co-production with London's world-renowned The Royal Ballet and Australia's Queensland Ballet, and DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse, choreographed by Tony Award-Winner Christopher Wheeldon.

Acosta, Principal Guest Artist of The Royal Ballet and arguably one of the most famed dancers in the world, presents the North American premiere of his adaptation of Bizet's and Mérimée's story. In his version, the famous opera's universal and timeless themes of love, jealousy and revenge are laid bare in a powerful setting.

The ballet follows the main character Don José as he falls in love with Carmen and sacrifices everything to be with her. When Carmen becomes infatuated with the toreador Escamillo, she loses interest in Don José, whose love quickly turns to violent jealousy. Will Carmen's passion be her downfall?

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya will perform Martin Yates original adaptation of Georges Bizet's famous score for both the Dallas and Fort Worth performances.

Sharing the program is Tony Award-Winner Christopher Wheeldon's DGV. Lauded by The New York Times as, "...one of the most important and in-demand ballet choreographers working today," Wheeldon is the recent recipient of a Tony Award for his choreography in an American in Paris.

DGV is high-speed ballet, propelling a jet train of 26 dancers through surging, relentless movement with four exquisite pas de deux tracking the music's journey through shifting physical and sound landscapes. The ballet conveys the timeless romance of travel, alongside the wonder of modern technology - a theme reflected in Jean-Marc Puissant's sleek costumes and abstract metallic stage designs.

Musique à grande vitesse by Michael Nyman was commissioned to celebrate the inauguration of the Train à Grande Vitesse high-speed train line in France. Christopher Wheeldon describes the music as "open and full of air," and in DGVhe matches its hurdling momentum with equally exhilarating choreography: "I wanted to capture that feeling you get when you are traveling - of being suspended in time and space," Wheeldon explains.

Tickets are available now and can be purchase by calling 877.828.9200 option 1 or online at www.TexasBalletTheater.org.

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