(ARLINGTON, TX) -June 14, 2004 - Arlington, Texas: The vision and mission of Ballet Arlington will remain exactly the same, but the name, Ballet Arlington, will change, Frank Hill, president of the board of directors, announced today. Ballet Arlington, founded in 1997, will take on a new name, along with a new expanded season at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Ft. Worth. The new name of the company is Metropolitan Classical Ballet.

Company co-artistic directors, Paul Mejia and Alexander Vetrov both lauded the name change. "As a professional ballet company, name recognition is everything," Mr. Mejia said. "Personally, I feel that this new name will provide not only added name recognition, but will also bring more definition to our purpose and mission as a ballet company. The name will let people know that we are a ballet company that reaches beyond Arlington."

In the summer of 2000, the company ventured to Ft. Worth where it presented a special engagement gala performance at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall. The one night only performance was a sell out, proving that the company could draw from a broader audience than Arlington. It received rave reviews from balletomanes and critics alike, and gave the company regional exposure. It was decided within the board at that time that the company would begin exploration of the possibility of a name change, as well as other possible performance venues outside the Arlington area.

Metropolitan Classical Ballet will still be based in Arlington, as will its academy of ballet. The company will continue to perform The Nutcracker at the University of Arlington's Texas Hall where it has held performances since its inception, while the rest of the soon to be announced 2004 - 2005 season productions are scheduled in Ft. Worth at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall.

The success of Ballet Arlington is largely due to the unique association of Alexander Vetrov and Paul Mejia, the result of which brings repertoires which combine the timeless Russian classics, Mejia's own highly acclaimed works and, through his connection with the George Balanchine Trust, the works by the late celebrated choreographer as well. Additionally, some of the world's most talented principal dancers have aligned themselves with the company.

The company will perform under the new name, Metropolitan Classical Ballet, for its final production of this season on June 26th at 8:00 p.m. at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. The program will include Marius Petipa's Naiad and the Fisherman, George Balanchine's Firebird, and Paul Mejia's highly acclaimed Eight by Adler. The Texas Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Metropolitan Classical Ballet's music director, Ron Spigelman, will provide the musical accompaniment. Marianna Ryzhkina, Bolshoi principal, will perform the role of Firebird in George Balanchine's Firebird.

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Media Note: To obtain further information, contact Judy Puder at (817) 465-4644.

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