The New Orleans Ballet Association celebrates 40 years of Bringing Dance to Life in New Orleans with a superstar-studded Ruby Gala des Etoiles (40th Anniversary Gala of Stars), April 17 at 6:30pm at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. Ten internationally renowned Principal and Etoiles ballet dancers from the most prestigious ballet companies in the world will perform at this once-in-a-lifetime event! These rock stars of the ballet include:
Paloma Herrera and Ethan Stiefel - American Ballet Theatre
Wendy Whelan and Albert Evans - New York City Ballet
Leanne Benjamin and Edward Watson - The Royal Ballet of London
Heather Ogden and Guillaume Côté - The National Ballet of Canada
Clairemarie Osta and Benjamin Pech - Paris Opera Ballet
This elegant evening dazzles with an exceptional program of classical masterpieces from Swan Lake and Don Quixote to masterworks by ballet legends George Balanchine, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Jerome Robbins, John Neumeier, James Kudelka and Christopher Wheeldon.
The event will also honor NOBA's lifetime board member and community visionaries, Cecile Gibson, Henrietta Hall, Dr E. Ralph Lupin and Phyllis M. Taylor, who have supported and championed NOBA's mission for more than 20 years.
"This spring, the New Orleans Ballet Association proudly celebrates this organization's 40th Anniversary of providing dance in all its glorious forms to the region! It is a time to reflect upon our extraordinarily rich history and look forward to the possibilities of the future," said Executive Director Jenny Hamilton. "None of the successes NOBA has experienced would be possible without the leadership and dedication of these four individuals, whose selfless generosity during the many years of their involvement has been instrumental in making sure that the tradition of this beautiful art form flourish in this great city. We are honored that ten of the world's leading dancers will join us in the celebration of this incredible milestone for the Ballet."
Making their first New Orleans appearance are American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancers, Paloma Herrera and Ethan Stiefel. Herrera, who at the age of 19 became the youngest principal dancer in ABT history, and Stiefel, often recognized as Cooper Nielson from the Center Stage films, perform two of the most famous classical duets, the White Swan Pas de Deux (1895) from Swan Lake Act II and the Grand Pas de Deux from Don Quixote (1869). Swan Lake, one of the most popular Romantic ballets, features music by Peter Ilyich Tchiakovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. "Quite simply Herrera is sublime [as Odette]. Ethan Stiefel, a handsome Siegfried with clean lines and controlled landings, could not help but be enchanted by such an exquisite creature. Sympathetically in tune with each other, the couple formed an expressive partnership, high-lighting aspects of the ballet's drama that often get lost" (Dance Europe). The exciting Grand Pas de Deux from Act III of Don Quixote, with music by Ludwig Minkus and choreography by Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky, is one of the most iconic duets and known for its flair, stamina and bravura dancing.
The evening includes New York City Ballet Principal Dancers Wendy Whelan and Albert Evans, who performed at the reopening of the Mahalia Jackson Theater in 2009. This season marks retirement for Evans, one of the world's leading African-American male classical dancers, who will give his farewell performance for the New York City Ballet in June. As a young dance student in Kentucky, Whelan actually received much of her dance training from Cecile Gibson, one of the evening's honorees who currently serves as a NOBA board member and dance instructor at the NORD/NOBA Center For Dance. The couple performs the pas de deux from George Balanchine's neoclassical masterwork Agon (1957). Set to a landmark score by Igor Stravinsky, this pas de deux is a signature work for Whelan and Evans. "At the heart of Agon is an extraordinary duet, weird and erotic at the same time, and Wendy Whelan and Albert Evans deliver it like champions" (The Times-UK). The couple will also present a pas de deux from After the Rain (2005), a sensual work set to Arvo Part's haunting Spiegel im Spiegel that showcases the inventive partnering of one of today's hottest choreographers, Christopher Wheeldon. Cameron Grant, pianist for the New York City Ballet Orchestra since 1998, will provide live accompaniment for After the Rain.
The gala marks the first performances in New Orleans by six more international ballet stars. From London's Royal Ballet, Principal Dancers Leanne Benjamin and Edward Watson debut the duet from Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Manon (1974) set to music by Jules Massenet and Qualia Pas de Deux (2004), choreographed by award-winning British choreographer Wayne McGregor and set to the electronic music of Scanner. MacMillan's rapturous Manon, a mainstay of the modern repertoire, tells the story of a young woman's tragic encounters with love and loss. Qualia (meaning a raw and sensory experience) marked Wayne McGregor's debut on the Royal Opera House stage. As Resident Choreographer for the Royal Ballet, McGregor often creates physically challenging works with hyper-speed, off-center balances and kooky details, including Qualia. Its highlight is a sensorial pas de deux created for Watson and Benjamin, which has been hailed as sublime dancing and used in various galas worldwide. "Anyone who watches them can see the rapport...Leanne Benjamin and Edward Watson shine" (Dance Europe).
Paris Opera Ballet Etoiles Dancers Benjamin Pech and Clairemarie Osta perform two pas de deux to music by Frederic Chopin. In the Night (1970), choreographed by Academy Award and Tony Award winner Jerome Robbins, portrays the feelings of three couples at three different moments in a loving relationship. Set to Chopin nocturnes, In the Night will also have live piano accompaniment from NYCB Orchestra's Cameron Grant. Originally created for Stuttgart Ballet in 1978, The Ladies of the Camellias is a sumptuous and elegant classical ballet based on the novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas, Jr. This choreographic masterpiece by Hamburg Ballet's Director John Neumeier is based on true events in Alexandre Dumas's life when, at the age of 20, he fell in love with Marie Duplessis who was to die at the age of 23. Benjamin Pech is hailed by the French media as "one of the greatest dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet. His performance [in The Ladies of the Camellias] combines exquisite technique with an excellent portrait of the main character." The French media claims there is no other dancer like Clairemarie Osta in the world of classical ballet, and the New York Times praises her for her "impressive quicksilver virtuosity."
Partners both on the stage and off, National Ballet of Canada dancers Heather Ogden and Guillaume Côté perform the passionate Summer Pas de Deux from James Kudelka's The Four Seasons (1997), set to Antonio Vivaldi's score of the same name. This ballet, hailed as a modern masterpiece, was the first work Kudelka created for The National Ballet of Canada as Artistic Director and employs virtuosic solo and ensemble parts to brilliant effect. Ogden and Côté also dance the famed Black Swan Pas de Deux (1895) from Act III of Swan Lake. While the White Swan duet is the tender declaration of love between Odette and Siegfried, the Black Swan pas tells about the sinister deception of Siegfried by Odile. "Heather Ogden and Guillaume Côté are just such souls on fire. They offer such exquisite symmetry, such risk-taking daring" (The Hamilton Spectator). A classical favorite of ballerinas and audiences alike, this duet is brought to life by the technically savvy couple. "It almost feels like a lovers' showdown... A romantic pair offstage as well, they just keep bringing out the best in each other" (The National Post).
All repertoire and casting is subject to change.
Ticket prices for the 40th Anniversary Ruby Gala des Etoiles range from $20 to $100. Students and seniors (65 and older) receive a $7 discount off regular ticket prices of $40 and higher. Group discounts also are available. For tickets or information, call the New Orleans Ballet Association Box Office at (504) 522-0996. Tickets may be purchased online through www.nobadance.com or via Ticketmaster at (504) 522-5555 or www.ticketmaster.com.
After the performance, BRAVO (Ballet Resource And Volunteer Organization) hosts its largest fundraiser of the year, chaired by Toni Bachmann. Upon arriving for the evening, guests will be escorted down the red carpet into the theater, and after the performance, a limited number of patrons will join the rest of the stars on the stage of the Mahalia Jackson Theater for a gourmet three-course dinner prepared by Chef Donald Link of Herbsaint, Cochon and Butcher. Benefactors will enjoy a champagne intermission with white gloved personal service at their box seats, and a patron reception chaired by Charlotte Bollinger will be held in the lobby of the theater immediately following the performance. Jazz vocalist and trumpet player Jeremy Davenport will provide live entertainment, and guests will also enjoy live and silent auctions. Packages that include the performance and gala dinner are available through NOBA.
The Ruby Gala des Etoiles is sponsored by Chevron, Superior Energy Services, and Phyllis M. Taylor, with additional support by The Lupin Foundation, Peoples Health, and Regions Bank. Official Awards Sponsor is Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry. Official Airline is American Airlines and the Official Hotel is Sheraton New Orleans.
Photo courtesy of NOBA
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