Tulsa Ballet's 2013-14 season includes 'Cinderella,' Shakespeare, Rolling Stones
BY JAMES D. WATTS JR. World Scene Writer
Sunday, January 27, 2013
1/27/13 at 3:32 AM
A classic fairy tale, a Shakespearean fantasy and a new work set to the music of the Rolling Stones will be part of Tulsa Ballet's 2013-14 season.
In addition, the company will present the Oklahoma premieres of works by choreographers Jorma Elo, Alejandro Cerrudo and Christopher Bruce, as well as bringing back two of the most powerful and demanding works the company has performed in recent years - William Forsythe's "in the middle, somewhat elevated" and Adam Hougland's "The Rite of Spring."
Tulsa Ballet will also present its production of "The Nutcracker" for the holidays, as well as a new trio of world premieres in its "Creations in Studio K" series.
Artistic Director Marcello Angelini said he thinks the season "strikes the right balance between audience favorites, entertaining pieces and iconic works, as well as world, Oklahoma and company premieres. I am confident that there is something to love for each and every audience member."
The season will open Sept. 27-29 with the mixed-bill program "Rite of Spring," which includes an encore presentation of Hougland's reimagining of this work in a dystopian industrial setting.
Also on the program is Paul Taylor's "Company B," set to music of the Andrews Sisters and evoking the emotions of the World War II era, and the Oklahoma premiere of Elo's "One/End/One," which Angelini describes as "light and charming, with an unquestionable twist," set to Violin Concerto No. 4 by Mozart.
Christopher Wheeldon's ballet of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," set to music of Mendelssohn, will be presented Nov. 1-3. Wheeldon's first full-length ballet, created in 1997, was first performed by Tulsa Ballet in 2004. It is a work, Angelini said, that showcases "Wheeldon's unique storytelling abilities ... to distill a story to its essential elements and build around them with humor, tenderness and charm."
Tulsa Ballet's "The Nutcracker," which was revised this season, will be presented Dec. 14-22.
The ballet's Valentine's Day offering - Feb. 14-16, 2014 - will be "Cinderella," choreographed by Ben Stevenson to music by Prokofiev. Stevenson created the production of "Dracula" that Tulsa Ballet performed earlier this season.
Some critics have called Stevenson's version of "Cinderella" his masterpiece. Angelini said of all the ballets made from this story, "none of them can hold a candle to Ben Stevenson's. (He) strikes the perfect balance between romance, well-paced storytelling, remarkable choreography and beautiful visuals."
For its second mixed-bill program, Tulsa Ballet will move its performances to the Lorton Performance Center on the University of Tulsa campus to present "Paint It Black," March 14-16 and 21-23, 2014.
The program will feature Forsythe's "in the middle, somewhat elevated," considered the signature work of this pioneering choreographer, along with two Oklahoma premieres.
"Extremely Close" by Alejandro Cerruda is the first work by this member of Chicago's Hubbard Street Dance company to gain national attention. Angelini described it as "soothing, gentle and temperate," saying it provides a stark yet welcome contrast to the more aggressive Forsythe work.
The other premiere is "Rooster" by Christopher Bruce, artistic director of England's Rambert Dance Company. It is set to eight songs by the Rolling Stones, including "Little Red Rooster." It has become "one of his most popular pieces," Angelini said. "It features the extremely entertaining music of The Rolling Stones while drawing inspiration from the sexual revolution of the 1960s."
"Off the Floor: Creations in Studio K" will be May 2-4 and 7-11, in the ballet's own Studio K theater. The 2014 edition of this show of world-premiere ballets will feature works by Jodie Gates, a protege of William Forsythe; Young Soon Hue, whose previous work for Tulsa Ballet includes "This is Your Life"; and Tulsa Ballet resident choreographer Ma Cong.
Season tickets for the 2013-14 season range from $95 to $347 and are available by calling 918-749-6006 or online at tulsaworld.com/tulsaballet
Original Print Headline: Stones, Shakespeare on tap from Tulsa Ballet
James D. Watts Jr. 918-581-8478
james.watts@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
The Tulsa Ballet will present "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as part of its 2013-14 season. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World file
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