City Ballet of San Diego announces programming for Season 31
The critically acclaimed City Ballet of San Diego, under the direction of Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich, both former Boston Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet dancers, offers innovative programming of classical, contemporary and story ballets for Season 31. “While Spreckels Theatre, our beloved home theater, undergoes renovations, we have broadened our reach with performances in both San Diego and North County,” said Steven Wistrich.
In July, the company continued its On the Move series with “On the Move: Without Bounds” showcasing all new works by resident choreographers Elizabeth Wistrich and Geoffrey Gonzalez, plus City Ballet Dance Artist Brian Heil’s first ballet set on the company. Ballet patrons attending the performances enjoyed a unique ballet experience under the stars at the beautiful new Epstein Family Amphitheater on the UCSD campus.
The Fall program in November, titled “Balanchine Extravaganza,” includes ballet masterworks from the 20th century by George Balanchine. As the father of American ballet, George Balanchine opened the eyes and ears of audiences to the marriage of music and dance. He famously said, “see the music, hear the dance.” The program celebrates that marriage of music and dance with three of Mr. B’s finest works at the Balboa Theatre, downtown San Diego, with his milestone “Serenade” – the first he created in America, the cheerful, but challenging “Donizetti Variations” and “The Four Temperaments” showing his lean angular style fused with classical steps.
The performances take place at 8 p.m., Saturday, November 4 and at 2 p.m., Sunday, November 5 at the Balboa Theatre, located at 868 Fourth Avenue in downtown San Diego.
In December, “The Nutcracker,”which received the Tommy Award for the “Best Nutcracker” in San Diego, offers five performances at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido accompanied by The City Ballet Orchestra with John Nettles conducting. A beloved classic, “The Nutcracker” retells the Victorian-era story of the adventures of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, Herr Drosselmeyer and the Sugar Plum Fairy through a magical theatrical experience to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s famous score.
In March, City Ballet has assembled a program exclusively of firsts. Geoffrey Gonzalez premieres his new ballet, “An American in Paris.” Elizabeth Wistrich premieres her new ballet, “Boléro – The Awakening.” And City Ballet adds their first Christopher Wheeldon ballet to their repertoire, “Morphoses.” Performances will be presented at both the Balboa Theatre and California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
Closing the season in May at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido is resident choreographer Geoffery Gonzalez’s “Carmina Burana” performed to Carl Orff’s powerful score, played by the City Ballet Orchestra, plus the 80 plus voices of the Pacific Coast Chorale and the Escondido Center Chorale.
For tickets and more information, call the City Ballet’s Box Office at (858) 272-8663, or visit www.cityballet.org.
Category: Dance, Entertainment, Events, Local News, Nonprofit, Theatre
