Boston Ballet : eNews February 2007

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February, 2007

A Midsummer Night's Dream Opens Tonight!

Tickets: www.telecharge.com 1.800.447.7400

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HER FRIENDS
Boston Ballet dancers were taught George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream during a three-week period last month by Sandra Jennings, a repetiteur for The George Balanchine Trust and a former student at Boston Ballet School. In addition to the assistance of the Company's superb artistic staff, Jennings also invited two special friends to work for a few days with the Company. Allegra Kent, one of Balanchine's most unforgettable dancers, spent two days coaching the couples who will perform the second act pas de deux; Kent can be seen dancing that pas de deux in a 1967 film of the ballet. And Gloria Govrin, the original Hippolyta, spent several days rehearsing the dancers performing Hippolyta and Hermia, and also taught class.

Meet Sandra Jennings at the February 9 pre-curtain talk (7pm, free with ticket), and meet Gloria Govrin (pictured here with Tai Jimenez) at the Feb. 16 pre-curtain talk (7pm, free with ticket).

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Coming Soon:
New Visions March 1-4, 2007

The richness of contemporary ballet is the focus of New Visions, which showcases three ballets by three of the finest choreographers working today. Each ballet was created in the new millennium: a world premiere by Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo; Polyphonia, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon; and Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, choreographed by Val Caniparoli. “Each choreographer has a unique voice,” says Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen, “and each challenges dancers in different ways. The ballets are as powerful musically as they are choreographically.”

Tickets: www.telecharge.com 1.800.447.7400

--------------------------------------------------------------------900 STUDENTS. ONE BIG BALCONY.
Boston Ballet is delighted to play host to some 900 students from seven junior high schools in Brookline at the performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream on February 9. The students are participating in the Company's Ballet in the Balcony program, which was established to introduce new audiences to dance. Public schools and non-profit community groups from the Greater Boston area are invited to attend Friday evening performances for the special price of $10 per ticket, which also entitles them to attend a pre-curtain talk. For more information on Ballet in the Balcony, please contact Courtney Hadden at (617) 456-6343.

--------------------------------------------------------------------BOSTON BALLET II TRAVELS NEAR…
Boston Ballet II, which performed in Moscow in January, travels across the Charles River this month to dance at Harvard, as part of the university's annual spring showcase on Feb. 23 and 24 at 8pm, and Feb. 24 at 3pm, performing a piece by Susan Shields. For more information, contact Harvard Dance Center.

AND FAR.
Trainees Sylvia Deaton and Jeffrey Cirio, brother of Boston Ballet's Lia, have been chosen to represent Boston Ballet School in the Tanzolymp International Ballet Competition in Berlin, February 15 - 19. The students are being coached by Interim Dean Eldar Aliev and Ivonne Lemus (teacher and wife of principal dancer Reyneris Reyes).

--------------------------------------------------------------DREAMING OF SUMMER? WARM UP WITH BOSTON BALLET SCHOOL.
Although the chilly air suggests otherwise, summer is around the corner--and these programs fill up quickly. Boston Ballet offers a full schedule of varied summer programs to accommodate everyone from toddlers to adults. Here are a few of the innovative summer programs:

STORIES Ages: 3-6

YDSW Ages: 7-14

INTENSIVE Ages: 11-14

MASTER Ages: 14-20

ADULT Ages: 16+

--------------------------------------------------------------------NISSINEN AND ELO: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
The focus will be on New Visions when Boston University hosts Boston Ballet in its Dance Spotlight Series. Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen joins Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo to discuss Elo's upcoming world premiere, Brake The Eyes. The evening will also include Boston Ballet dancers performing excerpts from the new piece.

Feb. 21, 7:00pm, Tsai Performance Center, Boston University. Tickets are free but required; contact the Tsai Performance Center Box Office at 617-353-8725.

--------------------------------------------------------------------TOE SHOE TREASURE HUNT…ARE YOU THE LUCKY WINNER? Keep searching…the grand prize has not yet been found! Today's location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

--------------------------------------------------------------------SUMMER IN SPAIN
Boston Ballet is touring Spain for six weeks in July and August, and you're invited to be a part of this exciting venture. The Company will be performing at six festivals in various regions throughout the country, presenting two programs: La Sylphide and a Balanchine triple bill. Boston Ballet has put together two special packages that include deluxe hotel accommodations, city tours, and, of course, tickets to see the Company perform. For further information contact Heidi Hancock (617-456-6223 or hhancock@bostonballet.com).

--------------------------------------------------------------------DANCERS ON DANCING: 5 Questions for Tempe Ostergren Tempe Ostergren, a native of New York City, trained at the School of American Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. She began her career with Pacific Northwest Ballet, where she was featured in ballets by a variety of choreographers, including George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Peter Martins, Paul Taylor, and Glen Tetley. She joined Boston Ballet in 2004, and her repertory includes August Bournonville's La Sylphide (Effie), James Kudelka's Cinderella (Stepsister), Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker (Dew Drop and Snow Queen), Helen Pickett's Etesian, Caniparoli's Lambarena, Balanchine's Who Cares? and Serenade, Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote (Amour), Marius Petipa's Raymonda, Act III, and Balanchine's Divertimento No. 15.

What was the first ballet you danced as a professional? Believe it or not, it was Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream, which I danced on tour with Pacific Northwest Ballet at the Edinburgh Festival. I was a butterfly. It was an exciting experience for a combination of reasons. Not only did I get to dance in this beautiful production, but I was on tour and part of a company for the first time.

What is your favorite ballet to perform? It changes all the time. Of course there are some ballets that are really special, but you have to commit yourself to whatever you're dancing. It’s not just the performance that I enjoy, but the process in the rehearsal studio, creating and developing. I love Balanchine's Theme and Variations, and I enjoy lyrical parts, like Amour in Don Q. I prefer when there's a tangible character to apply to the dancing, versus ballets that don't have stories. Having said that, I think the musicality of Theme and Variations embodies a kind of grace that gives you a sense of character. I think that's true of all Balanchine ballets. They might not have a story, but they have a real emotion behind them - even if you don't really understand why. And that gives you more creative energy. The way he responded to music is so clear that it's all you need.

What is your favorite ballet to watch? There are so many. The first one that comes to mind is [Balanchine's] Duo Concertant. I saw Darci Kistler and Nikolai Hubbe do it last summer, and it was really special. I love a lot of Balanchine's work, and there are also ballets by Jerome Robbins that are wonderful. I'm also partial to Romeo and Juliet.

What ballet or role would you most like to dance that you haven't? I'd like to dance the principal role in Theme and Variations, and I'd like to dance Juliet - I think just about every ballerina wants to do that role. I also really enjoy working with choreographers on new ballets. I enjoy neo-classical ballets that are highly athletic and mentally challenging, with intricate choreography and musicality. Essentially, I want to do any role that helps me grow as an artist and as a person.

Is there a dancer that you look to as a role model or one in particular that you enjoy watching? I've always loved to watch Darci Kistler. I would see her at the School of American Ballet when she took Stanley Williams' class. Just seeing her technique was inspiring. There are so many talented dancers, but I admire people who really are committed to evolving, to pushing themselves to another level. I was especially impressed with Gonzalo Garcia when he danced with us earlier in the season. Not only is he an extraordinary artist, but his work ethic is astounding. And having the opportunity to work with Heather Watts and Gloria Govrin, and to watch Allegra Kent, has also been very special.