Jazz Legends Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth
Take the Stage with The Ballet in Jazz Royalty
Extraordinary production features world premiere choreography by Tim O’Keefe and Ben Stevenson
North Texas –Texas Ballet Theater, the preeminent ballet of Fort Worth and Dallas, presents Jazz Royalty, a world premiere production featuring legendary jazz vocalist Dame Cleo Laine and saxophonist Sir John Dankworth. Performances of Jazz Royalty will be presented at Dallas’ historic Majestic Theatre on February 8, 9 and 10 and Fort Worth’s Bass Performance Hall February 15, 16 and 17. Ticket prices start at $18 and may be purchased by calling toll-free 877-828-9200 or by visiting texasballettheater.org.
Jazz Royalty is a collaboration of Laine, Dankworth, the Ballet’s Artistic Director Ben Stevenson and Associate Artistic Director Tim O’Keefe that results in a once-in-a-lifetime fusion of music and dance. The production features well-known music selections, including “Don’t Mean A Thing,” “African Waltz,” “Jack the Bear” and “Accentuate the Positive,” performed live on stage by two of jazz music’s greatest legends and the tremendously talented artists of Texas Ballet Theater. A seven-piece jazz band, including members of the John Dankworth Group, will also perform live on stage.
“It has been incredible working with my long-time friends, Cleo and John, for this rousing world premiere production. I’ve enjoyed the entire creative process,” Stevenson stated. “To have these world-renowned artists performing live on stage with our company of dancers is an honor,” said O’Keefe.
Audience members interested in gaining “behind the scenes” knowledge of this classic production are invited to attend Texas Ballet Theater’s Pre-Performance Lectures. Lectures will be given forty-five minutes prior to curtain for the Saturday, February 9 evening performance on the Mezzanine Level of The Majestic Theatre. Lectures at Bass Performance Hall will be held on the Box-Tier Promenade level forty-five minutes prior to curtain for the Saturday, February 16 evening and Sunday, February 17 matinee performances. Margo McCann, Texas Ballet Theater company manager and former principal artist, offers exclusive, behind-the-scenes, information and insight into the world of professional ballet in this popular lecture series.
Jazz Royalty
World Premiere
The Majestic Theatre, Dallas
Friday, February 8, 2008 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 2 p.m.
A Pre-Performance Lecture open to all audience members will be held on the Mezzanine level 45 minutes prior to curtain for the February 9 evening performance.
Fort Worth Premiere
Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth
Friday, February 15, 2008 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 2 p.m.
Pre-Performance Lectures open to all audience members are held on the Box-Tier Promenade 45 minutes prior to curtain for the February 16 evening and February 17 matinee performances.
Performance Information
Music performed by Dame Cleo Laine and the John Dankworth Group
Choreography by Ben Stevenson, O.B.E. and Tim O’Keefe
Costume Design by Judanna Lynn
Lighting Design by Christina R. Giannelli
Tickets
Single ticket prices start at $18.
Call toll-free 877-828-9200 or visit texasballettheater.org.
About Dame Cleo Laine
Hailed as “The Queen of Jazz,” Dame Cleo Laine is on of the most celebrated singers of our time. From her modest beginnings as a singer in English dance halls, Cleo Laine has achieved international acclaim by continually expanding her talents in a career which spans four decades. In addition to jazz performances, Laine has carved a niche as an illustrious actress. She has performed in numerous musical theater productions and has earned a Theater World Award as well as nominations for a Tony Award, LA. Drama Critics Award and Drama Desk Award.
About Sir John Dankworth
One of this century’s most exciting and innovative musicians and composers, John Dankworth’s journey across the world’s musical landscape has seen him stopping off at the important destinations – jazz, classical, pop, folk. The name “Johnny Dankworth” was synonymous with everything that was exciting on the post-war British jazz scene. John has since performed with legendary artists such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Benny Goodman. In addition to jazz, Dankworth has composed for musical theater, film and televisions scores, including the world-wide sixties hit TV show “The Avengers”. He is the founder of The London Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Pops and was made a CBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to music.
About Ben Stevenson, O.B.E.
This is Ben Stevenson’s fifth year as artistic director of Texas Ballet Theater. For twenty-seven years, he nurtured Houston Ballet from a small provincial ensemble to one of the nation’s largest dance companies that has performed to critical acclaim throughout the world. During his tenure, he developed Houston Ballet’s repertory by acquiring the works of the world’s most respected choreographers, commissioning new works, staging the classics and choreographing original works. For his contributions to the world of international dance, Mr. Stevenson was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) by Queen Elizabeth II in the New Year’s Honors List in December 1999. In April 2000, he was presented with the Dance Magazine Award, one of the most prestigious honors on the American dance scene. Mr. Stevenson was awarded the Texas Medal of Arts in 2005. Certainly Mr. Stevenson is one of the most original figures in the development of regional ballet in America. And though he is British, it is his achievement as teacher, choreographer, and company director that is rooted in American Ballet.
Mr. Stevenson, a native of Portsmouth, England, received his dance training at the Arts Educational School in London. Upon his graduation, Mr. Stevenson was awarded the prestigious Adeline Genee Gold Medal, the highest award given to a dancer by the Royal Academy of Dancing. At the age of eighteen, Mr. Stevenson partnered Alicia Markova in Where the Rainbow Ends and soon after was invited to join the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet by Dame Ninette de Valois, where he worked with Sir Frederick Ashton, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, and John Cranko. A few years later, Sir Anton Dolin invited him to dance with London Festival Ballet where, as a principal dancer, he performed leading roles in all the classics.
Mr. Stevenson came to New York to assume the role of artistic director of Harkness Ballet in 1968. In 1970, he and Frederick Franklin became co-artistic directors of the National Ballet of Washington, where they opened the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with Margot Fonteyn in the principal role of The Sleeping Beauty. In 1976, Mr. Stevenson was appointed artistic director of Houston Ballet. Mr. Stevenson’s own choreography includes the full-length works Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, an original production of Peer Gynt (which opened Norway’s Bergen Festival Gala in 1983), Coppélia, Don Quixote, and original productions of Dracula, The Snow Maiden and Cleopatra. Mr. Stevenson has received numerous awards for his choreography, including three gold medals at the International Ballet Competitions of 1972, 1982, and 1986. In addition, he has staged his ballets for English National Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, the Paris Opera Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, La Scala in Milan, the Munich State Opera Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, London City Ballet, Ballet de Santiago, and for many companies in the United States.
In 1978, Mr. Stevenson traveled to China on behalf of the United States government as part of a cultural exchange program. At the invitation of the Chinese government, he has returned almost every year since to teach at the Beijing Dance Academy. To expose the Chinese students to Western dance forms, Mr. Stevenson has brought with him teachers of jazz and modern dance, including Gwen Verdon. In 1985, he was instrumental in the creation of the Choreographic Department at the Beijing Dance Academy. He is the only foreigner to have been made Honorary Faculty Member of the Beijing Dance Academy and the Shenyang Conservatory of Music. Mr. Stevenson has also taught for American Ballet Theatre, the Joffrey Ballet and English National Ballet. In July 2003, Mr. Stevenson became artistic director of Texas Ballet Theater.
About Tim O’Keefe
A native Houstonian, Mr. O'Keefe was awarded a scholarship to Houston Ballet Academy in 1981, joined the company one year later, was promoted to soloist in 1985, and was named a principal dancer in 1995. In March 1997, Houston Ballet artistic director Ben Stevenson created the title role of Dracula for Mr. O'Keefe. He has performed this role across the globe, winning praise from critics in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Toronto. In March 2000, Mr. O'Keefe danced Caesar and Alcebiades in the world premiere of Mr. Stevenson's Cleopatra. Favorite parts in other works by Mr. Stevenson include the title role in Peer Gynt; Lorenzo and the lead matador in Don Quixote; Father Frost in The Snow Maiden; Evening Pas de Deux with Naomi Glass; and an Ugly Stepsister in Cinderella. Other favorite roles include Monsieur G.M. in Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Manon; Danilo in Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow; Pan in Glen Tetley's Daphnis and Chloe; the Head Mistress in Graduation Ball; Madge in La Sylphide; and Hilarion in Giselle. He has also performed roles in works by Jiri Kylian, Christopher Bruce, Paul Taylor, James Kudelka, Trey McIntyre, Sean Kelly and Lila York. Mr. O'Keefe has choreographed two works for Houston Ballet's Cullen Contemporary Series, Fascinating Evening and Uncommon Valor; as well as two works for Houston Ballet Academy, Leaves and Shostakovich Suite. Mr. O’Keefe has also choreographed Love Thing and Ragtime Dance for Texas Ballet Theater. This is his sixth season.
About Jack Buckhannan
This is Mr. Buckhannan's fifth season as music director and conductor for Texas Ballet Theater. He was music director and conductor for the European Tour of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake and associate conductor for the Broadway run of the same production in New York. Mr. Buckhannan has been guest conductor for American Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker at The Kennedy Center and Matthew Bourne's Cinderella at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. He was associate conductor for two national tours of Phantom of the Opera. He spent ten years with Houston Ballet as assistant conductor and principal pianist. While in Houston he served as musical director for Main Street Theater and was principal pianist for many musicals for Theater Under the Stars. Mr. Buckhannan is a Texan, born in Lufkin, and educated at Stephen F. Austin State University and University of Texas at Austin.
Texas Ballet Theater Artistic Staff
Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., Artistic Director
Tim O’Keefe, Associate Artistic Director
Li Anlin, Assistant Artistic Director
Anna Donovan, Principal Ballet Master
Jack Buckhannan, Music Director and Conductor
About Texas Ballet Theater
Founded in 1961, Texas Ballet Theater is the premier resident professional Ballet Company of North Texas. Under the direction of artistic director Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., the ballet brings unprecedented talent, beauty and artistic expression to the stages of Fort Worth's Bass Performance Hall, Dallas' Music Hall at Fair Park and the historic Majestic Theatre in downtown Dallas. Texas Ballet Theater will become the resident ballet company for the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts when it opens in 2009. Season sponsors include Star-Telegram, American Airlines, Steinway Hall of Fort Worth, The Dallas Morning News, Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, TACA and Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. For more information, go to www.texasballettheater.org.
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Photo Credit
Artist: Carolyn Judson. Photo: Ellen Appel.