The Washington Ballet Adds THEME AND VARIATIONS To 40th Anniversary Celebration, Today

The Washington Ballet (TWB) has added the Finale of George Balanchine's 1947 masterpiece Theme and Variations to its 40th Anniversary Celebration. The work is set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and will provide a grand conclusion to a festive evening of performance and video excerpts that celebrate the 40 year history of The Washington Ballet Dance Company. The special one-night only production features works by Choo San Goh, Septime Webre as well as other favorites from TWB repertoire on September 30, 2016, 8PM at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Narrated by Julie Kent, the production includes an emotional and inspirational look back at the people and creative works that have come to define TWB throughout its 40 year history.

40th Anniversary Celebration

Fives

Choreography Choo San Goh

Music Ernest Bloch, "Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra," Movements I, II, IV

Fives was choreographed by Goh, former resident choreographer appointed by TWB Founder Mary Day. A TWB signature work, this presentation celebrates his adventurous work and contribution to the Company.

"He is intensely musical, and his ballets are all marked by a first-rate command of structure and fluency." - The New York Times

Juanita y Alicia

Choreography Septime Webre

Music Various Cuban hits, performed live ("Chan Chan" by Francisco Repilado; "El Carretero" by Guillermo Portabales; "Solamente Percusion" by Alfred Mojica, Jr., Joseito Lopez, and Ralph Eskanazi; "Orgullecida" by Eliseo Silveira; "Dos Gardenias" by Isolina Carillo; "El Cuarto de Tula" by Sergio Siaba)

Webre's first choreography for TWB is a heartfelt homage to the stories of his childhood and a nostalgic family album of his mother in 1920's and '30's Havana.

"... full of authentic feeling...and deep affection as well as wit." - The Washington Post

BLACK SWAN pas de deux and Coda from Act III of Swan Lake

Choreography after Marius Petipa

Music Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Grand pas de deux and Coda from Act II of The Nutcracker

Choreography Marius Petipa

Music Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Pas de Deux and Coda from Don Quixote

Choreography after Marius Petipa

Music Ludwig Minkus

Theme and Variations finale

Choreography George Balanchine

Music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Join us and celebrate choreographers that established TWB excellence. This special celebration is not included in any subscription series. Purchase tickets here at kennedy-center.org.

Learn more at washingtonballet.org.

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON BALLET: The Washington Ballet (TWB) was originally founded as The Washington School of Ballet in 1944 by legendary ballet pioneer Mary Day and incorporated as a professional company in 1976. The Washington Ballet is one of the pre-eminent ballet organizations in the United States. TWB built an international reputation presenting bold works by choreographers from around the world, including Choo San Goh, Christopher Wheeldon, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Hans van Manen and Ji?í Kylián, as well as neoclassical masterworks and fresh staging of 19th century classics. Under the leadership of Interim Executive Director Shakira Segundo and Artistic Director Julie Kent, TWB continues to serve its three-part mission: ensuring excellence in its professional performance company; growing the next generation of dancers through its Washington School of Ballet; and serving the community in which it resides through robust community engagement programs.

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