N E W S ...&... R E V I E W S
Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2006

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Celebrating Ten Years of Excellence on Stage, Metropolitan Classical Ballet will open the 2006 - 2007 Season with Alexander Vetrov's staging of Creation of the World, on September 2nd at 8:00 PM at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. The two-act full length ballet, based on the book of Genesis, combines humor and sensuality and presents an amusing look at creation and the tussle between God and the devil. The choreography is by Natalya Kasatkina and Vladimir Vasilyov, and the music is by Andrei Petrov, the internationally acclaimed Russian composer who died in St. Petersburg, Russia this year. The ballet premiered on March 23, 1971 at the Kirov Ballet with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Irina Kolpakova in the roles of Adam and Eve. Metropolitan Classical Ballet premiered Creation of the World in February, 2004 at Texas Hall in Arlington. Well received by the audience, it garnered great critical acclaim. Anatoly Emelianov and Olga Pavlova will dance the lead roles.

Programming and casting is subject to change without notice.

Individual tickets are available through Bass Performance Hall Ticket Office at (817) 212-4280; toll free at (877) 212-4280, or on the web at www.basshall.com. Tickets are also available at Metropolitan Classical Ballet's administration office located at 500 West Abram in Arlington, or by calling (817) 275-0598. Single ticket prices are $30, $20 and $10. Group discounts are also available.

Season subscriptions are still available for purchase and are priced at $120, $80 and $40. Subscribers have the option of adding The Nutcracker at Texas Hall at a savings of 10%. In addition to low ticket prices, subscribers receive priority seating, ticket exchange privileges, invitations to private receptions, preview parties and a subscription to Metropolitan Classical Ballet's E-newsletter, To the Pointe.

Tickets to The Nutcracker are available only through Metropolitan Classical Ballet's administration office or by calling (817) 275-0598.

Founded in 1997, Metropolitan Classical Ballet is well recognized as a major creative force in the dance world today. Co-artistic directors Paul Mejia and Alexander Vetrov are two of the most recognized names in ballet. Mr. Mejia was a former soloist with the New York City Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine. He carries on the Balanchine style and artistic vision through his acclaimed choreography. Alexander Vetrov, former leading male principal dancer with the prestigious Bolshoi has the distinction of being the recipient of the Honored People's Artist of Russia, the highest honor given by the Russian President. Mr. Vetrov still maintains close connections with the Bolshoi today. Ron Spigelman is the music director for the Metropolitan Classical Ballet and Orchestra. Company dancers are comprised of nineteen members who are valued for their superior technique and strong artistic personalities. Performances reach over 30,000 individuals each season. Four programs are presented at the prestigious Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, and the annual production of The Nutcracker is presented at Texas Hall, at the University of Texas at Arlington. Located in Arlington, Texas, the company's office and spacious state of the arts studios are unsurpassed in the North Texas area.

Metropolitan Classical Ballet's 2006 / 2007 Season is made possible in part by its generous sponsors: American Airlines, and the law firm of Hill Gilstrap.

-END-

Media Note: Further information and photos may be obtained by contacting Judy Puder at (817) 465-4644. Information can also be found on Metropolitan Classical Ballet's website www.mcballet.org