REINVENTED, SWAN LAKE and More Set for Festival Ballet Providence's 2015-16 Season

Festival Ballet Providence's 2015-16 season features some of the most influential and iconic works of choreography and storytelling in the history of ballet.

The 38th season of the Providence, RI resident professional company runs October 23, 2015 through May 1, 2016 and will be bookended by two major programs at The Vets (One Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI 02903): Ballet Russe's Reinvented and Swan Lake.

Other highlights include two Black Box Theatre programs featuring world­-premiere works, a new adaptation of the Grimms' fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, and the much­loved perennial tradition of The Nutcracker at PPAC (220 Weybosset St. Providence, RI 02906).

Season subscriptions will go on sale June 1, 2015; individual tickets will go on sale July 1, 2015.

The season ­opening program, Ballet Russe's Reinvented, will be a mixed­ bill consisting of reinterpretations of a handful of works by the trailblazing early 20th century troupe The Ballet Russes. The program consists of four revolutionary works: Le Spectre de la Rose, Afternoon of a Faun, and The Firebird.

Reinvented will present daring new stagings by contemporary choreographer and former Houston Ballet principal Dominic Walsh and FBP artistic director Mihailo Djuric. "All of these ballets were groundbreaking creations in their time, and helped to lay a foundation for contemporary ballet as we know it today," said Djuric. "With these reinterpretations, we hope to pay homage to that legacy by pushing the envelope yet again," he said.

The company's celebrated black box series Up Close on Hope will consist of two programs (November, 2015; March, 2016). The series gives audiences a unique, intimate perspective on dance, that BroadwayWorld.com said "lends contemporary choreography an immediacy and relevance that cannot be replicated in a larger venue. The intensity of a dancer's performance is undeniable when executed mere steps away from the viewing audience."

FBP's children's series chatterBOXtheatre an immersive dance performance geared toward children ­ will present a new adaptation of the clever, cunning duo Hansel and Gretel. The popular series has presented spirited adaptations of children's stories since 2009.

Swan Lake, perhaps the most famous and best­loved of all classical ballet, will close the season in April, 2016. The ballet weaves together a story of young love and wicked deception against a backdrop of Tchaikovsky's lush, passionate score. "There's really nothing that can compare to Swan Lake," Djuric said. "It's one of those things that stays with you forever; the music, the dancing, it's all unforgettable."

This season will be the tenth anniversary for Vilia Putrius and the final season for Mindaugas Bauzys. All told, the season includes 30 performances, including four school­time shows for local students.

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FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE 38TH SEASON (2015­-2016):

BALLET RUSSES REINVENTED
The Vets (One Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI 02903)

Program:

- Le Spectre de la Rose (choreography: Dominic Walsh; music: Carl Maria von Weber)

- Afternoon of a Faun (choreography: Dominic Walsh; music: Claude Debussy)

- The Firebird (choreography: Mihailo Djuric, music: Igor Stravinsky)

Friday, October 23, 2015 at 10:00 am (school performance, Firebird only)
Friday, October 23, 2015 ­at 8:00pm ­ 38th Season Opening Night
Saturday, October 24, 2015 ­at 7:30pm
Sunday, October 25, 2015 ­at 2:00pm

UP CLOSE ON HOPE (PROGRAM 1)
FBP Black Box Theatre (825 Hope St., Providence, RI 02906)

- Program: TBA

Friday, November 13, 2015 ­ 8:00pm
Saturday, November 14, 2015 ­ 7:30pm
Friday, November 20, 2015 ­ 8:00pm
Saturday, November 21, 2015 ­ 7:30pm
Sunday, November 22, 2015 ­ 6:00pm

THE NUTCRACKER
PPAC (220 Weybosset St., Providence, RI 02903)

Choreography: Mihailo Djuric
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Thursday, December 17, 10:00am (School performance)
Friday, December 18, 10:00am (School performance)
Friday, December 18, 2015 ­ 8:00pm
Saturday, December 19, 2015 ­ 2:00pm, 7:00pm
Sunday, December 20, 2015 ­ 1:30pm

chatterBOXtheatre
FBP Black Box Theatre (825 Hope St., Providence, RI 02906)

Program:

- Hansel and Gretel (choreography: Ilya Kozadayev)

Saturday, January 30, 2016 ­ 4:00pm
Sunday, January 31, 2016 ­ 1:00pm, 4:00pm
Saturday, February 6, 2016 ­ 4:00pm
Sunday, February 7, 2016 ­ 1:00pm, 4:00pm

UP CLOSE ON HOPE (PROGRAM 2)
FBP Black Box Theatre (825 Hope St., Providence, RI 02906)

- Program: TBA

Friday, March 4, 2016 ­ 8:00pm
Saturday, March 5, 2016 ­ 7:30pm
Friday, March 11, 2016 ­ 8:00pm
Saturday, March 12, 2016 ­ 7:30pm
Sunday, March 13, 2016 ­ 6:00pm

SWAN LAKE
The Vets (One Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI 02903)

Choreography: Mihailo Djuric, Milica Bijelic, after Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Friday, April 29, 2016 ­ 10:00am (School performance)
Friday, April 29, 2016 ­ 8:00pm
Saturday, April 30, 2016 ­ 7:30pm
Sunday, May 1, 2016 ­ 2:00pm ­ 38th Season Closing Night

Pictured: Jaime DeRocker. Photo by Thomas Nola-Rion.

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