SEE NEW RITE OF SPRING ON OCTOBER 28, 29 30TH AT THE SUKONIK CONCERT HALL - TICKETS HERE!

NEW “RITE OF SPRING” DEBUTS AT SUKONICK CONCERT HALL IN 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

October 11, 2011 (Los Angeles) –On October 28, 2011 Ballet Collective/ LA will be premiering choreographer John Castagna's Rite of Spring Suite to Stravinsky's masterpiece score at the Sukonick Concert hall in Los Angeles.

Stravinsky's famous Rite of Spring was based on a dream he had about a virgin who danced herself to death so that Spring would once again arrive. Castagna's choreography is an updated, stripped down and strives to embody the most essential elements of the story. He has dispensed with the traditional corps de ballet and features four characters:

•  The Chosen Maiden danced by Stephanie Kim (Trained with School of American Ballet , Pacific Northwest Ballet School , Stefan Wenta and is presently with Luminario Ballet),

•  Igor, the musician (a reference to composer Igor Stravinsky) performed by Evan Swenson,

•  the Witch, danced by Gaida Paulovska ( Los Angeles Opera, the Anaheim Ballet and the Inland Pacific Ballet) , and

•  the Elder as realized by Micah Moch. Updated, stripped down and visceral, this work gets to the core of the storyline.

Costumes for the Rite of Spring Suite are designed by Anda Bernovska.

The 10th Anniversary concert will also feature the premiere of choreography by Maestro Stefan Wenta and a performance by guest company Nouveau Chamber Ballet in Lois Ellyn's Valse Triste . In addition there will be a screening of Ballet Collective's Spaces Between (nominated by Dance Magazine for “Video of the Month” 2010) and Dawn to Dusk (nominated by Dance Magazine for “Video of the Month” 2009) and Violetta and Alfredo (nominated by Pointe Magazine for “Video of the Month” 2008).

The program will take place at Sukonick Concert Hall, 5253 W Adams Blvd, LA, CA 90016 on October 28 th & 29 th at 8pm and October 30 th at 2pm.

Ticket price is $15 at the door (cash or check). To purchase tickets online www.eventbrite.com/event/2276131972

For reservations: 323.661.6440/ info@balletcollective.org

August 10, 2010 Dance Magazine Nomination

Los Angeles choreographer John Castagna's Spaces Between has been nominated for Dance Magazine Video of the Month on dancemedia.com.

February 6, 2009 Pasadena Dance Festival

Los Angeles choreographer John Castagna's final pas de deux from VIOLETTA and ALFREDO will be closing the "Showcase Performance" at the Pasadena Dance Festival on Saturday February 21, 2009 at 4 pm. This new dance drama, based on Verdi's opera LA TRAVIATA, was nominated by Pointe Magazine for "Video of the Month" in September 2008. It can be viewed on www.dancemedia.com and www.YouTube.com

Dancing in Ballet Collective's performance will be Aubrey Morgan as the beautiful but ailing Violetta. Aubrey recently was a guest dancer on So You Think You Can Dance performing Balanchine's duet from "The Man I Love" from WHO CARES. Sergey Kheylik will be dancing the role of
the young Alfredo. In December 08 he was praised by Victoria Looseleaf for the LA Times stating "when will this erpsichorean rebel be given more stage time?". Both are former principal dancers for Los Angeles Ballet.

The production of VIOLETTA and ALFREDO was sponsored in part by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. This all day dance festival is produced by Lineage Dance and will be held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Contact Caterina Mercante/ Festival Coordinator at caterina@lineagedance.org

Pasadena Civic Auditorium
300 E. Green St.
Pasadena, CA 91101
Box office 626.449.7360
Tickets and schedule www.lineagedance.org ;
pasadenadancefestival@gmail.com
Hilary Thomas/ Director Lineage Dance 626.399.3676

Ballet Collective
Contact: John Castagna/ Artistic Director
323.661.6440; info@balletcollective.org
www.balletcollective.org

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For more information on the Ballet Collective,  please e-mail  info@balletcollective.org or call 323.661.6440.  Mr. Castagna, Mr. Wenta and other members of the Collective are available for interview upon request.

Photographs and further background information also available on request.

©  THE BALLET COLLECTIVE, 2009

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