Acclaimed Ukrainian Ballet Company to Perform Romeo & Juliet and Swan Lake this January in Chicago

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THE NATIONAL BALLET THEATRE OF ODESSA BRINGS BALLET MASTERPIECES 

“SWAN LAKE” AND “ROMEO & JULIET” TO TOWN

Acclaimed Ukrainian Ballet Company To Perform “Romeo & Juliet” at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, January 19, 2020 and “Swan Lake” at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, January 21, 2020

The National Ballet Theatre of Odessa, is proud to announce two performances coming to Chicagoland in January 2020.  Featuring 55 of Ukraine’s top performers, “Romeo & Juliet” will be performed at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St. in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 at 3 p.m., and “Swan Lake” will be performed at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.. “Romeo & Juliet” tickets are $55 - $85 , and are available by calling the box office at 312-334-7777 or through www.harristheaterchicago.org. “Swan Lake” tickets are $38 - $68 and are available by calling 847-673-6300 or by visiting www.northshorecenter.org.

“Romeo & Juliet” is a ballet performed in two acts, set to the music of composer Sergei Prokofiev, choreographed by Michael Lavrovsky, directed by Elena Baranovskaya and produced by Garri Sevoian. The fullscale production is based on the WIlliam Shakespeare’s tragedy of the two doomed young lovers. The principal dancers are Olena Dobrianska as “Juliet” and Sergii Dotsenko as “Romeo.”

“Swan Lake” is a ballet performed in four acts, with one intermission, also set to the music of composer Prokofiev. The script is based on the scenario by Vladimir Begichev and Vasiliy Geltser, directed by Elena Baranovskaya, and choreographed by Marius Petipa, Alexander Gorsky, Lev Ivanov, Konstantin Sergeyev and Yuri Grigorovich. The story follows a young prince as he tries to free the beautiful swan maiden from an evil spell.

ABOUT NATIONAL BALLET THEATRE OF ODESSA, UKRAINE

The year 1923 was a milestone in the history of the Odessa City Theater when its Ballet Company staged an in-house production of “Swan Lake”for the very first time.The press called it "the first attempt to create a real ballet performance in the history of the City Theater.” The ballet was staged by the ballet master Robert Balanotti. “Swan Lake” was followed by “The Little Humpbacked Horse,” “Coppelia”and “Le Corsaire.” In 1926, Kasyan Goleizovsky came to Odessa. His groundbreaking approach to choreography had an immense effect on the future of the Odessa ballet troupe. His ballets “Joseph the Beautiful” and “In the Sunlight”, but foremost the breathtaking “Polovetsian Dances” from the A. Borodin opera Prince Igor, which attained international fame, immediately won the hearts and minds of the Odessa audience. By the end of the 20s and into the 30s, the repertoire of the Theater grew rapidly and had new ballet productions to show for it: “La Carmagnole” by the Odessa composer Femilidi, as well as classical ballets “Don Quixote” and “Giselle.”

ABOUT NADEZHDA BABICH, Director of the Nation Ballet Theatre of Odessa

Nadezhda Babich graduated from the Kyiv State Institute of Culture in 1980, having obtained a qualification of a librarian-bibliographer. Nadezhda Babich has served as director to the National Ballet Theatre of Odessa since 2010, after serving as deputy headand then head of the Department of Culture and Tourism at the Odessa Regional Administration. Babich has served as artistic director in many successful opera and ballet productions, including Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” “The Mystery of the Vienna Woods" to the music of J. Strauss and G.Mahler and on a grand scale, she  placed in two International Arts Festivals in Odessa: Opera 2012 and Opera 2013

OPENING: The Joffrey Ballet Premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's Swan Lake #dance

An opulent production with costumes by Jean-Marc Puissant and scenic design by Adrianne Lobel, Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake is set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s timeless score and modeled from the original Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa choreography. 

The Joffrey Ballet

Swan Lake

Venue: Sollitt Stage (mainstage)
Dates: October 15-26, 2014
Times: Wed.-Fri. at 7:30PM, Sat. at 2PM & 7:30PM, Sun. at 2PM
Price: $ 32 - 170

Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Wheeldon reimagines ballet’s greatest love story, setting it in the stunning, Degas-inspired studios of the Paris Opera Ballet of the 19th century. Combining classical elements with a modern vision, Wheeldon has created a stunning retelling of one of the most famous ballets of all time.
Joffrey Premiere

Wheeldon sets Swan Lake in 19^th century Paris, during the time when Tchaikovsky was actually composing Swan Lake in Moscow and when a young impressionist named Edgar Degas was on the rise. A ballet in four acts, Wheeldon’s Swan Lake opens in the ballet studio as dancers prepare for a major opening night.  Throughout the production, Wheeldon plays with themes of fantasy, illusion and transformation, juxtaposing both time, setting and characters to reveal a new way to see this classic fairytale ballet.

Spectacular costumes, lavish sets and breathtaking movement breathe fresh life into Tchaikovsky's enchanting ballet-within-a-ballet Swan Lake. Directed by the world-renowned choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, Joffrey Ballet's production is inspired by the eerily beautiful artworks of Edgar Degas, infusing the ballet's Parisian setting with an intriguing blend of both classical and modern elements, and a touch of fantasy. Within this dreamy realm, the famous tale of young Odette's transformation into a swan at the hands of the evil Rothbart unfolds, all set to Tchaikovsky's unforgettable score.

Box Office: 50 E. Congress Pkwy. | Phone: 800.982.ARTS (2787)
*Offer not valid on top and bottom price levels or previously purchased tickets. Restrictions apply.

Auditorium Theatre’s 2014 - 15 Season:

The full Auditorium Theatre 2014 – 15 season includes “On Stage With…Susan Werner” (November 8); Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s “CJP @ Ten” (November 14); Dance Theatre of Harlem (November 21 – 23);Thodos Dance Chicago (November 29); “Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah” (January 17 – 18);Tango Buenos Aires (January 25); Giordano Dance Chicago (January 31); Grupo Corpo (February 28 – March 1); Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (March 6 – 15); River North Dance Chicago (March 28); Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg’s “Tender is the Night” (May 8 – 10); “His Way - A Sinatra Centennial Celebration” (May 30); and The Royal Ballet’s “Don Quixote” (June 18 – 21). For a complete listing of events at the Auditorium Theatre, please click here.

125^th Anniversary Season Sponsors

The Auditorium Theatre would like to thank their 125^th Anniversary Season Sponsors: Lead Corporate Sponsor Nicor Gas, Lead Foundation Sponsor Robert R. McCormick Foundation and David D. Hiller, International Dance Series Sponsor NIB Foundation, and “Made in Chicago” Dance Series sponsor The Boeing Company. Media sponsors include Chicago Magazine and WXRT, and the Pasquinelli Family Foundation is the Gala Dinner Celebration Sponsor. Student Matinee Series Sponsors for the 2014-15 Season include The Private Bank and The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation.

About the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, located at 50 E Congress Pkwy, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community and educational programming to Chicago, and to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre. In August of 2014, the Auditorium Theatre was named as an inaugural Fifth Star Award Honoree by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.  The Auditorium Theatre is generously supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, the Sage Foundation, and the Palmer House Hilton. For more information about programming, volunteer and donor opportunities or theatre tours, call (312) 341-2310 or visit AuditoriumTheatre.org. 
  

Swan Lake-Auditorium Theatre Recap

"You get cherries at your first ballet." the friendly bar tender at Auditorium Theatre quipped, handing Sagie a day glow toothpick, spearing a pair of maraschinos.   She was elated.    I wasn't sure how the ballet would go over with her, as she's still quite the anti-princess and rebels at everything frilly and girly.   I explained that professional ballet dancers are true athletes and have to be strong and mighty, and that went over well.    The state ballet theatre of Russia did not disappoint.    


Tchaikovsky's score, reminiscent in style to the nutcracker, was refreshing for not being as familiar and overdone.    Our only complaint about the production was a distracting hiss in the sound system.    It would have been more effective to have a live orchestra accompaniment.   Nonetheless, the dancers were quite good, and well worth seeing.


Swan Lake, with it's macabre story of the lovers' double suicide, an evil magician, a double crossing case of mistaken identity, kidnapping and girls trapped by day as swans, made for a compelling evening.    We're looking forward to more excellent offerings at Auditorium Theatre in the coming months.

This event was part of The Soviet Arts Experience (October 2010-January 2012), a Chicago-wide showcase of works created under (and in response to) the Politburo of the Soviet Union. Visit www.SovietArtsExperience.org for a full schedule of events.

“Swan Lake” was also part of the Auditorium Theatre’s 2010-2011 season subscription series.  For more information or to purchase a subscription or group tickets call (312) 431-2357 or visit www.auditoriumtheatre.org.

2010-2011 season packages currently available include:

2010-2011 International Dance Series –The State Ballet Theatre of Russia in “Swan Lake,” River North Chicago Dance Company, Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg in “Don Quixote, or Fantasies of a Madman” and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  

Upcoming Family Series – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (Saturday, May 21 at 2 p.m.).

About the Auditorium Theatre’s Family Series

ATRU’s Family Series is designed specifically to awaken children’s interest in live performance and plant the seed for developing an appreciation of the arts.    Each family performance is followed by a question and answer session with members of the shows’ artistic teams.  This interactive experience can dramatically change the impact of the performing arts on its viewers, and with the involvement of families it can also empower youth to express themselves.

About the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, located at 50 E. Congress Parkway, is an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural and community programming to Chicago, and to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre. The Auditorium Theatre is generously supported by the Illinois Arts Council, CityArts, American Airlines and the Palmer House Hilton.  For more information about programming, volunteer and donor opportunities or theater tours, call (312) 922-2110 or visit auditoriumtheatre.org.