FREE! historical dance performance by School of Opera Atelier

Students from Opera Atelier’s School of Atelier Ballet present Dance Through Time (a FREE special performance) at 2pm in the Great Hall.
In partnership with the historic St. Lawrence Hall (157 King St. E.), students in period costume perform historical dances ranging from Renaissance and Baroque to 19th Century Waltzes, Tarantellas, and excerpts from the Romantic ballet. The performance is choreographed by School of Atelier Ballet Director and Opera Atelier Founding Co-Artistic Director Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, and features entertaining and educational commentary from Opera Atelier Founding Co-Artistic Director Marshall Pynkoski.

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NYCB dancers create a giant eye

JR arranges dancers for new york city ballet art series from designboom on Vimeo.

For more about this project, see this article. 

If you love ballet, please check out my season of outstanding ballet trips by clicking here. In particular, if you would love to see New York City Ballet, check out my May trip to New York, which also includes American Ballet Theatre.  Signup deadline January 31!

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Ballet gets the Upworthy/Buzzfeed treatment

Buzzfeed and Upworthy have perfected the clickbait headline, so I thought I'd take a page out of their book and apply their techniques to ballets. Feel free to add your own in the comments!

He's so distraught when his fiancee murders his girlfriend that he takes to drugs. 

What happens next will blow your mind.

This jilted girl is so upset she kills herself. 

Then the zombies come out.

These 6 ladies are invited to a party. 

You won't believe how the one that was forgotten reacts.

32 reasons why you shouldn't trust this dame in a black tutu.

A Scottish guy gets lured into the woodlands. 

What he does there will make you cry.

This kid's Christmas gift gets broken. 

Then things get weird.

Snobby guy rejects sweet country girl. 

How she gets her revenge is awesome.

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Casting for Royal Ballet Giselle live broadcast Jan 27

Giselle: Natalia Osipova
Albrecht: Carlos Acosta
Hilarion: Thomas Whitehead
Wilfried: Johannes Stepanek
Berthe: Deirdre Chapman
Duke of Courland: Christopher Saunders
Bathilde: Christina Arestis
Leader of the Hunt: Alastair Marriott
Pas de six: Yuhui Choe, Valentino Zuchetti
Francesca Hayward, Luca Acri, Yasmine Naghdi, Marcellino Sambé
Myrtha: Hikaru Kobayashi
Moyna: Elizabeth Harrod
Zulme: Akane Takada

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Travelzoo offers discount on NBOC Romeo tix till Jan 31

$25 & up -- Presale: 'Romeo and Juliet' by National Ballet

By Kristyn Schiavone

The National Ballet of Canada's "Romeo and Juliet" earns 4 stars from the Toronto Star, and The Globe & Mail calls it a "must-see." This exclusive presale gives Travelzoo subscribers access to all seats, including the best in the house, before they go on sale to the public Feb. 10.
All performances June 20-22 at The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts are included. The following seating levels are available at a special rate -- tickets cost more for main season shows:

• Ring 5.2 ... $25
• Ring 5.1 ... $55
• Ring 4 ... $68
• Ring 3 ... $100
• Orchestra ... $115-$125
• Grand Ring ... $160

Choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky and set to Prokofiev's famous score, the ballet was "an instant hit" (The Globe & Mail) when it premiered in 2011. The Toronto Star calls it "a 'Romeo and Juliet' with soul."

Book by Jan. 31.

How to book
	Click here to book online at National Ballet of Canada Enter the promo code TRAVELZOO and click "Submit." Click on the calendar on the right to select performance date. Click on seating level and click on circles to select seats. Select adult or child ticket then click "Add to Cart." Review selection and click "Proceed to Checkout." Log in or register a new account to proceed. Select delivery method, select "Online Ad" from the drop-down menu. Select "I agree to the Terms and Conditions" and click "Continue" to complete purchase. Fees: A $9 per ticket fee will be additional. HST is included in the above pricing. If you love ballet, please check out my season of outstanding ballet trips by clicking here. GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR Use the buttons below to share this post on facebook, twitter, by email, or other social media. You can sign up to have my ballet updates delivered directly to your inbox here.

Natalia Osipova talks about her Royal Ballet debut as Giselle

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Pina Bausch company at Luminato - tickets on sale now

Watch the Video: Luminato Festival's Artistic Director, Jorn Weisbrodt, discusses Kontakthof.

Buy Tickets for Pina Bausch’s Kontakthof Today

After a thirty year absence from Toronto, the ground-breaking Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch company returns to perform their modern dance masterpiece Kontakthof . First staged in 1978, it has earned global praise as a masterful examination of the eternal battle of the sexes.

Marking the legendary company’s 40th anniversary, Bausch’s Kontakthof makes its Toronto debut at the Luminato Festival.

There will be four performances:
June 11 – 14, 7:30 PM at the Bluma Appel Theatre at the St Lawrence Centre for the Arts.

Buy your tickets HERE for this rare appearance of the company founded by the late Pina Bausch.

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CAST
Feb. 7, 2014 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 8, 2014 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 8, 2014 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 9, 2014 2:00 p.m.

Read more about Casting Announced for The Hamburg Ballett's LILIOM at Segerstrom Center, 2/7-9 - BWWDanceWorld by www.broadwayworld.com

Diana Vishneva stars in Bolshoi Lost Illusions broadcast

Casting for the live broadcast of Ratmansky's Lost Illusions  from the Bolshoi, Sunday February 2:

Lucien, a young composer	Vladislav Lantratov
Coralie, Paris Opera dancer	Diana Vishneva
Florine, Paris Opera dancer	Ekaterina Shipulina
The Premier Danseur (Youth, Robber's Leader)	Artem Ovcharenko
Camusot, a banker, Coralie's patron	Yegor Simachev
Duke, Florine's patron	Alexander Fadeyechev
Berenice, Coralie's servant	Anna Antropova
Friends to Lucien	Chinara Alizade Yuri Baranov Yegor Khromushin Anna Rebetskaya
Ballet Master	Yan Godovsky
Director of the Theatre	Ilya Vorontsov
In the Hills of Bohemia Ballet A Servant	Anastasia Vinokur
In the Hills of Bohemia Ballet Coachman	Vasily Zhidkov

For a synopsis, see this post:
http://toursenlair.blogspot.ca/2014/01/alexei-ratmanskys-lost-illusions.html

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Antonijevic retires from National Ballet of Canada June 2014

#19 January 21, 2014… Principal Dancer Aleksandar Antonijevic will retire in June 2014 after 23 years of extraordinary performances with The National Ballet of Canada. A Principal Dancer since 1995, Mr. Antonijevic joined the company in 1991. “One of the finest dancers in the history of the company, I have admired Aleksandar for 23 years. He possesses a natural elegance and versatility onstage as well as a great work ethic and generosity towards his partners and colleagues. An artist of great sensitivity and intelligence, I look forward to seeing his future projects unfold as he continues to expand and explore his artistry,” said Karen Kain, Artistic Director. During his formidable career, Mr. Antonijevic danced with the elegance and dramatic sensitivity of a true danseur noble. His versatility allowed him to dance key works in the company’s repertoire, from both the classical and contemporary canons. He danced principal roles in Giselle, Onegin, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Manon, Cinderella and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and created the roles of Siegfried in Swan Lake and Prince Ivan in The Firebird. His repertoire includes numerous George Balanchine ballets such as Apollo, Diamonds and Rubies from Jewels, Theme and Variations and Stravinsky Violin Concerto. He performed lead roles in Opus 19/The Dreamer, the second detail, Forgotten Land, Etudes, Song of a Wayfarer and Chroma. In March, the National Ballet will celebrate Mr. Antonijevic’s illustrious career during his final performances of Onegin. “Aleksandar Antonijevic gives the performance of his career… He is one of the most complex yet understandable Onegins I've ever seen” (The Hamilton Spectator). Mr. Antonijevic will be dancing the title role on March 20 and 22, 2014 in the matinee and evening performances, respectively. His final performance with the company will be in the second detail in June. Performance dates to be announced. Following his retirement, Mr. Antonijevic will pursue his career as a photographer. His work has been featured at CONTACT Photography Festival in Toronto and his latest exhibition, Till We Meet Again – A Love Letter, a tribute to Artists from the National Ballet, will be on display at Berenson Fine Art, May 2 – 29, 2014. Full biography of Aleksandar Antonijevic > Watch a video interview with Aleksandar Antonijevic > If you love ballet, please check out my season of outstanding ballet trips by clicking here. GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR Use the buttons below to share this post on facebook, twitter, by email, or other social media. You can sign up to have my ballet updates delivered directly to your inbox here.

Christopher Wheeldon's Winter's Tale broadcast cancelled in Canada

Cineplex announced yesterday that it will not be relaying the live broadcast of Christopher Wheeldon's new ballet A Winter's Tale from the Royal Ballet on Monday April 28. This does not seem to affect broadcasts in other countries.
A message from Cineplex states: "The Royal Ballet and Arts Alliance expect that this title will return next season"

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Marco Spada replaces The Golden Age for Bolshoi live broadcast

It was announced today during the live broadcast of the Bolshoi's Jewels  that the live broadcast scheduled for March 30 will no longer be Grigorovich's The Golden Age, but rather Pierre Lacotte's recent reconstruction of the 19th-century ballet  Marco Spada. This ballet was originally created by the French Romantic choreographer Joseph Mazilier in 1857 to music by Daniel Auber.
This ballet was greeted fairly rapturously by audiences when it premiered in Moscow in the fall of 2013.
For a photo gallery, click here.

Synopsis

Act I

Scene 1
Having gathered together to celebrate a wedding, the peasants complain to the Governor of Rome about the misdeeds of a certain Marco Spada. Though they have never set eyes on him, rumours about the robberies he has carried out in the district are a hot topic of conversation with them. A regiment of dragoons enters the village. Count Pepinelli, captain of the dragoons, falls for the charms of the Governor’s daughter, Marchesa Sampietri. But, alas, the latter is betrothed to Prince Frederici... Taking advantage of the situation, Marco Spada, incognito, empties the pockets of the onlookers. General consternation! Rain scatters the crowd. The only person left in the square is Friar Borromeo, whom Marco Spada has deftly relieved of all the alms he has collected.

Scene 2
The Marchesa, the Governor of Rome and Count Pepinelli, who have got lost on a mountain walk, have no idea they have taken refuge in Marco Spada’s lair. Angela, the bandit’s daughter, is also totally ignorant of her father’s clandestine activities. In the belief that no one is at home Spada’s accomplices quickly fill the room but then, just as quickly, vanish. Pepinelli, who has witnessed all this, warns Spada, that his house has been invaded by bandits. The dragoons take up their posts. The trap-doors in the floor open up again and the pictures hanging on the walls shift positions — but this time only to reveal to the astonished visitors a laden table and seductive young women!

Act II

The Governor invites Marco Spada and Angela to a ball. At the very moment that Prince Frederici is about to ask Spada for his daughter’s hand in marriage, Friar Borromeo turns up and complains to all and sundry he has been robbed. Borromeo says he will recognize the thief. Spada decides it is time to vanish but, before he manages to do so, Borromeo points him out. At last the penny drops: a shattered Angela tells Prince Frederici she cannot be his bride. The piqued Prince immediately announces his betrothal to the Marchesa. Now it is Pepinelli’s turn to be put out.

Act III

Scene 1
Pepinelli decides to declare his love to the Marchesa for the last time but, the latter, having already made up her mind, comes to meet him in her wedding dress. Suddenly the bandits show up from all directions and kidnap both the Marchesa and the Count.

Scene 2
Surrounded by his cronies Marco Spada, to his astonishment, catches sight of Angela in bandit garb. “In life or death! I accept my fate and want to live here with you all”. Against his will, Friar Borromeo is forced to marry the Marchesa and Pepinelli.
The approaching regiment can be heard in the distance, the bandits decide to take refuge in a cave, seizing Frederici and the Governor whom they come across on their way. But Angela intervenes and saves the lives of both of the latter. Shots are heard close at hand. Marco Spada is mortally wounded. He appears, staggering. Before he dies, he makes a confession which dumbfounds the soldiers: Angela, he says, is not his daughter. This lie saves her from arrest and leaves the way open for her marriage to Prince Frederici.

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Cool dance video: Pleiades!

This very cool video combines dance and animation.
Performamce & Choreography :Saya Watatani , Maki Yokoyama
Director : Nobuyuki Hanabusa
Animator : Seiya Ishii , Nobuyuki Hanabusa
Music : Nobuyuki Hanabusa

http://youtu.be/0813gcZ1Uw8

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Date change for History of Ballet course

History of Ballet I: Origins to 1900

Mondays 1:30- 3:30 pm, Feb. 24 - April 21. Please see dates and course outline  below.

100 University Ave., North Tower,
Suite 201
on the west side of University a few steps south of King
St Andrew subway station
This venue is fully accessible.
Nathan Phillips Square parking garage is 9 minutes walk away.

Price: 8 2-hour classes for $160+HST= $180.80

Please register in advance by sending a cheque made out to
Katherine Barber
201 Hanson Street
Toronto ON
M4C 1A7

February 24: The French Court and the Origins of Ballet
March 3: Women in White: Romanticism (Taglioni and La Sylphide)
March 10: Women in White 2: Perrot and Giselle
March 17: NO CLASS
March 24: Jumping for Joy: Bournonville and Danish Ballet (Napoli, La Sylphide)
March 31: Decadence of 19th-century French ballet: Coppelia
April 7: Impressing the Tsar: Petipa and the Grand Imperial Russian style (Paquita, La Bayadere, Raymonda)
April 14: Swans and Sugarplums: Ivanov (Nutcracker)  
April 21: Visit to the Walter Carsen Centre for the National Ballet of Canada 

Testimonials
"Thanks so much for offering the lecture series for the winter half of the 2010-2011 NBC season -- what a difference it will make to my understanding and appreciation. Your sharing of knowledge and passion is much appreciated." - Beth A.

"Thank you so much for a thoroughly engaging course." - Helen K.

"Tell Katherine...Everyone I’ve talked to thinks she is absolutely terrific. We all love both the content and the pedagogical style—especially the demonstrations and the tutu!!" - Martha W.

"I wish to thank you very much for the extremely informative course which you just completed at Ryerson - I thoroughly enjoyed it.  As a novice who has just recently had an interest in and an appreciation for ballet, I certainly learned a lot and hope to learn even more." - Marianne C.

"I honestly look forward to your class every year and I am very happy that I met someone as knowledgeable as you. Most of all, I am glad that you are down to earth and personable." -- Andrea J.

For our current season of fabulous ballet holidays, please click here.

Bolshoi Giselle casting Kennedy Center May 2014

	Giselle	Albrecht	Hans (Hilarion)	Myrtha
Tue., May 20 at 7:30 p.m.	Svetlana Zakharova	David Hallberg	Vitaly Biktimirov	Ekaterina Shipulina
Wed., May 21 at 7:30 p.m.	Anna Nikulina	Artem Ovcharenko	Denis Savan	Maria Allash
Thu., May 22 at 7:30 p.m.	Svetlana Zakharova	David Hallberg	Vitaly Biktimirov	Ekaterina Shipulina
Fri., May 23 at 7:30 p.m.	Ekaterina Krysanova	Ruslan Skvortsov	Denis Savan	Anna Leonova
Sat., May 24 at 1:30 p.m.	Anna Nikulina	Artem Ovcharenko	Vitaly Biktimirov	Ekaterina Shipulina
Sat., May 24 at 7:30 p.m.	Ekaterina Krysanova	Ruslan Skvortsov	Denis Savan	Anna Leonova
Sun., May 25 at 1:30 p.m.	Anna Nikulina	Artem Ovcharenko	Vitaly Biktimirov	Maria Allash

Casting subject to change.

All performances at the Kennedy Center, Washington DC

Tickets go on sale February 5, 2014 to the public.

http://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=BOBSF

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Ballet weekend in New York May 2014 now booking

CWT Victor Travel

101 - 8800 Dufferin Street, Concord, ON L4K 0C5

TICO Ontario registration #1892647

presents

Tours en l'air

Ballet Holidays

escorted by

Canada's Word Lady,

Katherine Barber

New York

29 May – 1 June 2014

4 days, 3 nights

4 ballet performances

A feast of Balanchine from

New York City Ballet, plus

American Ballet Theatre

performing two great 19th-century classics

Thursday 29 May

Arrive New York; check in to 4-star Park Central Hotel in midtown Manhattan, 13 minutes walk from Lincoln Center. 3-course welcome dinner before American Ballet Theatre performance: La Bayadère (cast – subject to change – Gillian Murphy, TBA, Isabella Boylston)

Friday 30 May

Morning at leisure. Afternoon: Tour of New York City Ballet's wardrobe department. Evening: American Ballet Theatre performance: Coppelia (cast – subject to change – Misty Copeland, Herman Cornejo)

Saturday 31 May

Day at leisure.

630 pm: Meet a New York City Ballet dancer, who will give you a personal guided tour of the David H Koch theatre, NYCB's home.

8 pm: performance of New York City Ballet: new creation by Justin Peck, two Balanchine ballets: Walpurgisnacht Ballet  
http://youtu.be/9Q3mTBtTOZ8


and The Four Temperaments 
http://youtu.be/VbL72wIKpyY

Sunday 1 June

Morning at leisure. 3 pm: performance of New York City Ballet:
 Other Dances (Robbins), new creation (Martins), and
two Balanchine ballets: 
Concerto Barocco, 
http://youtu.be/EeR57vLz31o



Who Cares? 
http://youtu.be/GnWxmELOcBI
 

Check out of hotel and depart New York

Optional two-night add-on

2 – 3 June

2 days, 2 nights

1 ballet performance

Sunday 1 June

Evening at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Monday 2 June

Day at leisure. Evening: American Ballet Theatre performance: Manon (cast – subject to change – Roberto Bolle, Julie Kent)

Tuesday 3 June

Check out of hotel and depart New York.

REGISTRATION AND DEPOSIT DUE DATE:

5 FEBRUARY 2014

Total Package CA$1799 per person

based on double occupancy

Single supplement: CA$650

2-night add-on

CA$749 per person double occupancy

Single supplement CA$425

All prices valid till 5 February 2014

LAND-ONLY PACKAGE 

allows you the flexibility of arranging travel 

from your most convenient departure point,

on the dates and times you prefer,

and to extend your stay if you wish.

Victor Travel's experienced agents

will be happy to assist you.

Basic package price includes:

3 nights twin share accommodation in the 4-star Park Central Hotel

Daily takeout continental breakfast

Premium orchestra seats for 4 ballets

Visit to New York City Ballet wardrobe

Private guided tour of David H Koch theatre given by a New York City Ballet dancer

One 3-course dinner

Ballet enrichment program: ballet notes and informal pre-performance talks and post-performance reviews with tour leader

Add-on package price includes:

2 nights twin share accommodation in the 4-star Park Central Hotel (travellers wishing to share will be put in touch with one another)

Daily takeout continental breakfast

Premium orchestra seat for 1 ballet

Please note that this program must be sold as a package. Extra hotel nights can be added on (subject to availability), but we cannot offer individual components separately or break the package into shorter installments. As a significant benefit of the Tours en l'air package is sharing the complete experience with those with common interests, we do not offer an “accommodation only” option.

Travellers wishing to share will be

put in touch with one another

Not included:

Airfare

Meals and transfers not specifically mentioned in this itinerary

Beverages with meals

Items of a personal nature, e.g. phone calls

Cancellation insurance

Hospital/medical insurance

All items and activities listed as optional in this brochure

Terms and Conditions:

Non-refundable deposit of CA$1000 per person is required at time of registration,

no later than 5 FEBRUARY 2014,

to secure your space for this package**.

Single supplement and optional cancellation and hospital/medical insurance are also payable at this time.

Total package price is fully non-refundable.

All cancellations must be received in writing at Carlson Wagonlit Victor Travel to the attention of Lucy Nati (lucy@cwtvictortravel.ca).

RBC out-of-province health insurance and trip cancellation insurance are available through Victor Travel and STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Price will vary according to birthdate. Premium must accompany the deposit and is non-refundable.

For more information and a registration form:

email toursenlair.gmail.com

phone: 416.693.4496

**The deposit is fully refundable in the event of cancellation of the trip by the travel agent

Visit www.toursenlair.blogspot.com

for more fabulous escorted vacations

for ballet lovers

and information on Katherine's highly popular ballet appreciation courses

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH

TOURS EN L'AIR