March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 47 F

Ballet Theatre Of Maryland Celebrates 35 Years

Miyako Yoshida and Steven McRae as the Sugar P...

Ballet Theatre of Maryland (BTM), the state’s premier professional ballet company, announces its 2012/13 season. BTM will be celebrating its 35th anniversary, and the 10th anniversary of Artistic Director Dianna Cuatto.

The mainstage season kicks off with a world premiere, The Dancing Princesses (October 19-21, 2012). Based on the Grimm’s fairy tale, this all-new ballet follows the young hero, Darien, as he solves the mystery of where the princesses dance each night, helps them break an enchantment and defeat the Goblin Queen before she takes over the kingdom.

Artistic Director Dianna Cuatto draws her inspiration for this original work from the 1960s film The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm saying, “I decided that I would someday capture this playful adventure through a dramatic retelling in dance, where I could create an amazing, new, secret world…The challenge for me is to create some vivid new characters while capturing a different kind of magic onstage as I strive to bring this fairy tale to our 21st century audience.”

Younger patrons will delight in the free Once Upon a Time party held prior to Sunday’s matinee. Sponsored by Chesapeake Taste Magazine, kids are encouraged to dress up as their favorite fairy tale character and meet the dancers while enjoying some tasty treats.

BTM follows The Dancing Princesses with the perennial favorite, The Nutcracker (December 8-9 and 15-16, 2012). The gift of a wooden nutcracker from her mysterious Godfather Drosselmeier takes Clara from her family’s Christmas party to exciting new worlds where rats become life-size, snowflakes dance and twirl, and, as the Sugar Plum Fairy, she rules the Kingdom of the Sweets. Admission to the ever-popular Sugar Plum parties, which run an hour prior to each of the Sunday matinees, is included in the ticket price.

Fairy tales get fractured in BTM’s February show, Coppélia (February 22-24, 2013). Fans of Shrek will delight in the hilarious machinations of the mischievous Swanilda and her fickle fiancé, Franz, as they wreak havoc on the eccentric toymaker Dr. Coppelius and his mysterious daughter, Coppélia, the object of Franz’s affections.

BTM concludes its 35th season with Director’s Choice: All American (April 12-14, 2013), an exciting, eclectic finale showcasing famed choreographer Antony Tudor’s Continuo. Restaged by Amanda McKerrow, Continuo is “one long lyrical outpouring” of movement celebrating freedom and abandon. The program also features the energetic, passionate work, American Songs, based on traditional folk, ballad and patriotic American songs in honor of Maryland’s War of 1812 Bicentennial. The program will be rounded out by new works celebrating American culture performed to music composed by nationally renowned, local talent.

“I chose the Tudor piece for our 35th anniversary, because he sees the world circularly rather than linearly, which is evident in the kind of organic flow that is the hallmark of many of his works. Continuo is a reflection of that circular flow and musicality; and of the 20th century choreographers, he is one of my favorites, because I have always found much of his work to be profound, transformative and worth introducing to a new audience. A deeply spiritual man, Tudor is one of my “heroes” in the world of dance and art,” Cuatto explains.

Additionally, BTM will be performing a 3-show series at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, as well as performances throughout the state- Baltimore, Pocomoke and Linthicum. Full details at www.balletmaryland.org

In celebration of the 35th season, BTM will be rolling out a new tiered ticketing structure as well, to ensure that even more Marylanders can enjoy the beauty of live professional ballet. Adult single tickets are now as low as $31.50 and will be available through the Maryland Hall box office (www.mdhallarts.org or 410.280.5640) beginning August 20, 2012. Subscriptions are currently being accepted through BTM’s office.

For more information, www.balletmaryland.org, [email protected] or 410.224.5644.

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