Festival Ballet Providence Announces UP CLOSE ON HOPE

Festival Ballet Providence (FBP) festivalballetprovidence.org is pleased to announce Up Close on Hope, a daring program that features choreographic premieres in FBP's state-of-the-art Black Box Theatre, 825 Hope Street in Providence. The program will take place on two consecutive weekends of April 5-7 and April 12-14, 2019.

This signature series is presented in two parts, one in the Fall and another in the Spring. Its popularity has grown since its inception in 2003 and sold-out audiences are given a thrilling experience in the Black Box Theatre's profoundly intimate space. Dancers are within feet of the audience as they perform original works of emerging and established choreographers. The audience is immersed in the world of classical and contemporary dance, harkening back on tradition while reaching toward the future with fresh and unexpected choreography from internationally recognized artists and intriguing new creators.

Up Close on Hope Program 2 will present Christopher Wheeldon's Five Movements, Three Repeats, which is being performed at FBP for the first time since its premiere in 2012 at the internationally renowned Vail Dance Festival. The ballet, created for Wendy Whelan, the former New York City Ballet star, and former Martha Graham Dance Company principal dancer Fang-Yi Sheu, offers a crossover event for four dancers - one of its two women is a barefoot modern dancer, the other a ballerina in point shoes - and the piece oscillates between contemporary and classical dance. FBP audiences will be familiar with Wheeldon, whose work "The American" premiered in Rhode Island in 2017 and whose Tony award-winning choreography for "An American in Paris" has made him an international sensation.

Returning to Up Close on Hope is Boston-based choreographer Gianni Di Marco who will premiere his new adaptation of Bolero. Ravel's driving, suggestive score inspired Di Marco to create this work for FBP veteran company dancer, Jennifer Ricci, whose rendition of the sensual Arabian Dancer in The Nutcrackerhas become her signature role. In Bolero, the combination of eroticism in the movement and the music are certain to set a new standard for audiences who are looking for a thrilling and emotion-packed experience.

Yury Yanowsky's new ballet, The Sun Sleeps, set to the music of film composer, Lucas Vidal will also have its premiere at this program. Smoke and Mirrors, one of his most recent pieces, had its local premiere in February at FBP's production of "Mirrors" at The VETS. Yanowsky is a prolific choreographer, having created works for the Boston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet II, Bundes Jugend Ballet Hamburg, Carlos Acosta's Premiere's Plus, and for international galas. In 2015 he was awarded the Choreographic Prize at the Erik Bruhn Competition for his ballet, District.

Up Close on Hope has become a staple of the Providence art scene, having established a devoted following that anticipates the series' intriguing blend of artistry envisioned and curated by FBP Artistic Director, Mihailo "Misha" Djuric. "I am excited to expose new dancers, new choreographers, and new works to the Providence audience in this special way," Djuric muses, adding, "A special connection becomes possible when you are witnessing dance at such a close range. Being able to use that intimacy in the performance is really stimulating to both the dancers and audience, especially when it is a brand-new piece of choreography- every night tells a completely different story."

Tickets are available at 401-353-1129 or festivalballetprovidence.org and include intermission reception with complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres.

Photo by Zaire Kacz Photography

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