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Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2006

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Metropolitan Classical Ballet's 2006 - 2007 Season continues with a Fall Repertory program to be presented on November 14th at 8:00 PM at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. The evening will consist of three works, two by celebrated choreographer George Balanchine, and one by Company Artistic Director Paul Mejia. Guest conductor Lowell Liebermann, who is considered to be one of America's most frequently performed and commissioned composers, will conduct the Metropolitan Classical Ballet Orchestra.

The program will open with a Company premiere of George Balanchine's Square Dance, a spirited and delightful ballet that couples American folk dance and classical technique. At the 1957 premiere by the New York City Ballet, the costumes suggested a cowboy theme and an authentic square dance caller joined the dancers onstage. In1976 Balanchine stripped away every hint of that theme, leaving a pure dance approach to the visualization of its music and stressing the value of the ballet on its own terms.

Apollo
Photo by Sharon K. Nolan

The second ballet of the evening will be Paul Mejia's Webern Pieces which was created in 1986 when Mr. Mejia was co-artistic director with Maria Tallchief of Chicago City Ballet. A sophisticated approach to movement set to music by Anton Webern, it was danced by Maria Terezia Balogh and Joseph Malbrough at the Jubilee Gala for the American Guild of Musical Artists in New York. Pianist Lowell Liebermann, violinist Eric Grossman and cellist Eugene Osadchy will provide the musical accompaniment for the ballet.

The evening will conclude with Apollo, considered to be one of George Balanchine's greatest masterpieces. Based on the Greek god of music, it was first presented in 1928 by the Ballets Russes at Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt in Paris. Apollo was choreographed in an atmosphere of great creativity and inspiration during Balanchine's last years in Europe and marked his first collaboration with Igor Stravinsky, a relationship that spanned a good portion of the 20th Century. Today, Apollo is performed by major companies all over the world. Metropolitan Classical Ballet first performed Apollo in 2000.

The performance of Square Dance and Apollo, Balanchine® Ballets, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust. Paul Mejia will stage both ballets.

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 through Metropolitan Classical Ballet's administration office located at 500 West Abram in Arlington, or by calling (817) 275-0598.

Programming and program order are subject to change without notice.

Founded in 1997, Metropolitan Classical Ballet is 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, a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, carries on Balanchine's style and artistic vision though his acclaimed choreography. Alexander Vetrov, former principal dancer with the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet, 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. The Company dancers are comprised of twenty 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 art 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.

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