Vermont Welcomes BALLETS WITH A TWIST for Spruce Peak Premiere Tonight

Tonight, September 19, 2015, at 7:30 pm, the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center presents the Vermont debut of New York City's Ballets with a Twist in Mint Julep and Other Spirited Dances.

Created by artistic director and choreographer Marilyn Klaus, the show reinvents the glamour and excitement of classic entertainment with an original mix of charismatic choreography, intoxicating music and exquisite costume design. Praised by PBS for its "surprising style," this family-friendly pop-infused performing arts experience combines the magnetism of Hollywood's Golden Age with a sleek twenty-first-century sensibility. The dynamic program unfolds in a series of witty, sparkling vignettes, each recalling the unique flavor of a particular place and time. It's an enchanting adventure for all ages to enjoy!

For tickets, visit http://bit.ly/SprucePeakTickets.

Mint Julep and Other Spirited Dances is comprised of selections from Klaus' acclaimed Cocktail Hour: The Show. Drama, mystery, humor, romance - the production's versatile, ever-expanding menu has it all. Highlights of the Spruce Peak engagement include

"Martini" - A dangerous, percussive score sets the stage for this blonde bombshell superspy, who stealthily dodges sharpshooters with a cool head and serious style.

"Shirley Temple" - Daring damsels frolic through soda pop-fueled imaginations to an after-school hip-hop soundtrack.

"Mint Julep" - Saddle up! It's off to the races with this lively nod to the Kentucky Derby, featuring prize-winning fillies on their way to an unforgettable photo finish.

The Company

Klaus, whose choreography has been seen internationally, formed Ballets with a Twist in association with Grammy-nominated composer Stephen Gaboury and costume designer Catherine Zehr. Her company - known for its community-centered approach to the arts - has appeared in a wide range of venues, from Cleveland's PlayhouseSquare and New York City's Beacon Theatre to Lincoln Center and the Tribeca Film Festival.

Gaboury's compositions have been performed by celebrated musicians nationwide. He has collaborated and toured the world with pop/rock icon Cyndi Lauper for more than a decade, and has also shared the stage with legends such as Patti Labelle, Suzanne Vega and Ute Lemper. Gaboury's music has been heard in concert, on television and in films (includingBoyhood and American Beauty).

Zehr is the artistic force behind the company's costume design. Her creations evoke the origins and essence of each dance with dazzling colors and ornamentation. Zehr honed her skills while working at major American fashion houses, then by designing and manufacturing attire for her own label. She studied art and design at Washington University and New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, where she and the company recently delivered the presentation "Designing Costumes for Ballets with a Twist" as part of The Museum at FIT's Fashion Culture series.

Craving more Twist culture? Visit http://balletswithatwist.com.

The Venue

The Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center (located at 122 Hourglass Drive, Stowe, Vermont, at the top of Mountain Road and the base of Spruce Peak) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit arts organization dedicated and committed to entertaining, educating, and engaging our diverse communities of Stowe and beyond. The 420-seat multi-use theatre, which opened in December 2010, offers world-renowned entertainment as well as emerging artists and performers from around the region, state, nation and world. Lead Sponsor: PC Construction. Season and Series Sponsors:Bourne's Energy, Darn Tough Socks, Farrell Distributing, People's United Bank, PepsiCo, VPR, WCAX, The Stowe Reporter and Waterbury Record.

Directions and other details can be found at http://sprucepeakarts.org.

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