Colorado Ballet announces 2015-2016 season

Colorado Ballet Artistic Director Gil Boggs announced the 2015-2016 season, which will feature Colorado and world premiere ballets, a production the Company has not performed in 20 years, and the 55th annual production of The Nutcracker.

Colorado Ballet opens its 55th season with the romantic ballet La Sylphide, October 2-11, 2015 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. This ballet features choreography by August Bournonville and music by Herman Severin Løvenskiold, performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Bournonville choreographed La Sylphide in 1836, making it one of the oldest surviving ballets. In the production, a young Scotsman pursues a beautiful, bewitching winged sylph, or spirit.

“The Company last performed La Sylphide in 1996 and I wanted to present it this season because it is one of the most beautiful, romantic ballets of all time,” said Boggs. “In his quest for the unattainable love of the sylph, the young Scotsman abandons his fiancé and ultimately loses everything. The ballet demonstrates temptation, loss and loving something you cannot have.”

The season continues with The Nutcracker, November 28 through December 27, 2015 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. The Nutcracker features more than 300 costumes, 30 Company dancers, 20 Studio Company dancers, 65 Academy dancers, scenery by José Varona and timeless choreography paired with Tchaikovsky’s extraordinary arrangement performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra.

“Colorado Ballet’s enchanting presentation of The Nutcracker is the largest production of the holiday favorite in Colorado,” said Boggs. “Do not wait to purchase your tickets to watch Clara and the Nutcracker Prince’s magical wintertime journey to the delicious Land of Sweets. Nearly every performance was sold out during in 2014, so we encourage patrons to buy their tickets early.”

In the spring, Colorado Ballet will fall down the rabbit hole for the Colorado premiere of Alice (in Wonderland), February 19-28, 2016 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Based on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass,” the ballet includes choreography by Septime Webre and music by Matthew Pierce, performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Alice (in Wonderland) first premiered in 2012 and the choreography merges traditional ballet movements with contemporary ballroom, modern and hip-hop steps.

“This isn’t your typical, classical storybook children’s ballet. Alice (in Wonderland) is a charming theatrical extravaganza with colorful costumes, whimsical sets and a wide variety of dance styles,” said Boggs. “Come watch the adventures of Alice in a strange land filled with eccentric and entertaining characters including the frantic White Rabbit, mysterious Cheshire Cat, peculiar Mad Hatter, terrifying Jabberwock and the wicked Queen of Hearts.”

Colorado Ballet will close its season with a collection of contemporary premieres in Ballet Director’s Choice, March 25-27, 2016 at the June Swaner Gates Concert Hall at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts. Renowned contemporary choreographer Dominic Walsh will be doing a work for the Company. Walsh is a former Principal Dancer and Choreographer with Houston Ballet and founder of contemporary ballet company, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater. The repertory will also include the premiere of a tango-inspired ballet by choreographer Lorita Travaglia. In addition to her work as Ballet Mistress at Colorado Ballet, Travaglia is the Creative Director of Parasol Arts, a non-profit organization that takes inspiration from the art of Argentine Tango. The production will include a third work to be announced at another date.

“Ballet Director’s Choice highlights the talents of Colorado Ballet’s dancers through a diverse selection of new works,” said Boggs. “Audiences will see a range of different dancing styles, from contemporary to Tango, all in one amazing performance. Ballet Director’s Choice is the perfect production to debut exciting world premiere ballets with our extremely talented Company.”

Season subscriptions are on sale now and single tickets will be on sale July 15. Visit www.coloradoballet.org for more information.

In addition to the season productions, Colorado Ballet will also perform at the Vail International Dance Festival on August 2 and August 10, 2015. This is the first time since 2011 that the Company has performed at the festival. In addition, Colorado Ballet will perform at the Arvada Center for the Performing Arts on August 22, 2015. The Company will also present an encore of its Ballet Director’s Choice in April 2016 at the Lone Tree Arts Center. For more information on these additional performances, visit www.coloradoballet.org.