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Classics and new creations showcased in Richmond Ballet's jr.Studio 3

4/28/2008

RICHMOND BALLET
MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2008

Media Contact:
Aaron Sutten
Director of Marketing and Communications
Richmond Ballet
(804) 344-0906 x244
asutten@richmondballet.com

Classics and new creations showcased in Richmond Ballet’s jr.Studio 3

RICHMOND – The rising stars of Richmond Ballet will display their skills in jr.Studio 3, a captivating program set for Saturday, May 10, at 4 p.m. – a family-friendly show just in time to celebrate Mother’s Day.  Featuring six varied works, jr.Studio 3 wraps up a year of hard work for Richmond Ballet Apprentices and Trainees as well as the students of the Richmond Ballet Junior and Senior Ensembles.

Demonstrating their extensive training in classical ballet, jr.Studio 3 participants will perform excerpts from two popular story ballets and give audiences a glimpse of the magic that makes these beloved stories so widely received. The Richmond Ballet Trainees will enchant with a pas de six from The Sleeping Beauty, and members of the School of Richmond Ballet Senior Ensemble bring Coppelia’s delightful “Waltz of the Hours” pas de trois to the stage.

Having left audiences spellbound when they performed the first movement of Serenade as part of November’s jr.Studio 2, Richmond Ballet Trainees and Apprentices will dance the “Waltz” and “Russian” movements of this piece, considered one of George Balanchine’s signature ballets.  Balanchine envisioned Serenade as a “dance in the light of the moon.”  Originally created for the students of the of the School of American Ballet, it premiered in 1934 as the first ballet Balanchine choreographed in America.

The Richmond Ballet Apprentices and School of Richmond Ballet Senior Ensemble will combine forces in Tarantella, a festive ballet based on an Italian folk dance.  Originally a pas de deux created by Balanchine, Richmond Ballet Artistic Director Stoner Winslett has re-imagined this piece, staging it to include more dancers.

Original creations by faculty members Julie Job and Tara Penick will round out the afternoon’s program.  The School of Richmond Ballet Junior Ensemble will dance Penick’s Danza de Jalisco to music by Aaron Copland, and the School of Richmond Ballet Senior Ensemble will perform Job’s Allegretto, set to music by Dmitri Shostakovich.

The inclusion of both classical and original works in the final show of the jr.Studio series will showcase the wealth of talent emerging from Richmond Ballet’s training school as this season comes to an end.  It’s also a great arts experience for families; the Richmond Ballet Studio Theatre venue gives young audiences an up-close look at the beauty and fun of dance.  There will be an opportunity following the show for the audience to meet the dancers and get their autographs.

Fast Facts:

Who?     
The Richmond Ballet Apprentices and Trainees, School of Richmond Ballet Junior and Senior Ensembles.

What?
jr.Studio 3

When?
May 10 at 4 p.m.

Where? 
The Richmond Ballet Studio Theatre, located at 407 East Canal Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

How much? 
Tickets $12. Call Ticketmaster at (804) 262-8003 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. 

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Richmond Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, is dedicated to the education, promotion, preservation and continuing evolution of the art form of ballet.  Richmond Ballet strives to keep meaningful works of dance alive and to produce and foster new works that remain true to these values.  Now in its 24th professional season, Richmond Ballet's mission is to "awaken and uplift the human spirit, both for audiences and artists."

For further press information contact:
Aaron Sutten, Director of Marketing and Communications
EMAIL: asutten@richmondballet.com; CALL: (804) 344-0906 x244