Texas Ballet Theater
Presents Majestic Celebration
featuring world premiere choreography
Patricia Neal to receive Second Annual Texas Ballet Theater International Performing Arts Award
North Texas – Texas Ballet Theater presents Majestic Celebration at Dallas’ historic Majestic Theatre on Friday, October 5 at 7 p.m., Saturday, October 6 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, October 7 at 2 p.m. Majestic Celebration features two world premieres: one by Artistic Director Ben Stevenson and the other by Company dancer Peter Zweifel. Tickets start at $18 and may be purchased by calling toll-free
877-828-9200 or at texasballettheater.org.
The program opens with “Glimpse”, a world premiere piece by acclaimed choreographer and Company dancer Peter Zweifel. “Glimpse” features seven dancers in a contemporary work choreographed to world music. World-renowned Artistic Director Ben Stevenson choreographed a world premiere Pas de Deux for artists Carolyn Judson and Carl Coomer titled “Laila and the Swan”. Based upon the mythological tale “Leda and the Swan”, the new Pas de Deux is choreographed for Texas Ballet Theater Board Member Laila Gleason in appreciation of her continued dedication and generosity. Stevenson’s “L” closes the production in an energetic piece showcasing the power and athleticism of Texas Ballet Theater’s male dancers. “L” was originally choreographed as a tribute to Liza Minnelli.
Academy award-winning actress Patricia Neal is the recipient of the Second Annual Texas Ballet Theater International Performing Arts Award. “How exciting to honor such a legendary actress and a remarkable woman,” stated Stevenson. The award was created in 2006 to honor deserving individuals that have made a lasting impact on the performing arts.
A Gala Celebration at the Majestic dinner immediately follows the October 5 performance at the Dallas Petroleum Club. Hosted by Bruce and Carol Calder, the dinner honors Patricia Neal. Mr. Calder is Chairman of the Board of Directors for Texas Ballet Theater. Additional details are enclosed.
Audience members interested in gaining “behind the scenes” knowledge of the production are invited to attend Texas Ballet Theater’s Pre-Performance Lecture held on the Second Floor of The Majestic Theatre at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, October 5. Margo McCann, Texas Ballet Theater company manager and former artist, offers insight into the world of professional ballet in this informative lecture series.
Majestic Celebration
The Majestic Theatre, Dallas
Friday, October 5, 2007 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 6, 2007 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 7, 2007 at 2 p.m.
Performance Information
World Premiere
“Glimpse”
Music by Vieux Farka Touré, Ali Farka Touré, Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Choreography by Peter Zweifel
La Sylphide Pas de Deux
Music by Herman Severin Lovenskjold
Choreography by Philippe Taglioni
Sylvia Pas de Deux
Music by Léo Delibes
Choreography by Ben Stevenson
World Premiere
“Laila and the Swan” Pas de Deux
Music by Franz Liszt
Choreography by Ben Stevenson
Don Quixote Pas de Deux
Music by Léon Minkus
Choreography by Marius Petipa
“L”
Music by Don Lawson
Score originally commissioned by Houston Ballet
Choreography by Ben Stevenson, O.B.E.
Tickets
Single tickets start at $18
Toll-free 877-828-9200 or www.texasballettheater.org
A Gala Celebration at the Majestic
Honoring Patricia Neal
Friday, October 5, 2007
Dinner following performance (approximately 9:30 p.m.)
Dallas Petroleum Club, 2200 Ross Avenue
Carol and Bruce Calder, Event Chairs
Cocktail Attire
Individual Dinner Ticket: $100
For further information, call 214.369.5200, ext. 104 or 817.763.0207, ext. 104.
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 Peter Zweifel
Beginning his fourth season with Texas Ballet Theater, Peter Zweifel has already established himself in both the roles as performer and choreographer. He trained at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy where he received the Peter Schaer Award and Nureyev Scholarship. Mr. Zweifel has enjoyed performing “Tybalt” in Ben Stevenson’s Romeo and Juliet, “Ugly Stepsister” in Cinderella and Camouflage. He previously choreographed Sweet n Tangy and Absence for Texas Ballet Theater.
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.
Photo Credit
Artist: Carolyn Judson. Photo: Ellen Appel.