The Virginia Arts Festival Celebrates their 25th Anniversary with American Ballet Theatre, Nashville Ballet, and Malpaso
The Virginia Arts Festival is thrilled to celebrate their 25th Anniversary this year with American Ballet Theatre, Nashville Ballet and Malpaso.
American Ballet Theatre joins the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for Don Quixote Friday, March 25 and Saturday March 26 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday March 27 at 2:30 pm. Ludwig Minkus’s score for the ballet is bursting with bravura flourishes, high-kicking music that simply begs to be danced to—and audiences will experience the rare opportunity to hear it performed live, as the full Virginia Symphony Orchestra accompanies the ballet in the pit. Originally created by the great choreographer Marius Petipa for Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet in 1869, ABT’s production of Don Quixote was staged by Artistic Director Kevin Mackenzie and features gorgeous costumes and sets by Tony Award-winning designer Santo Loquasto (Hello, Dolly!) and lighting by Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (Disney’s Aida, An American in Paris).Performances will be at Chrysler Hall, Norfolk.
Nashville Ballet will perform Lucy Negro Reux on Saturday, April 23 at 7:30 pm in Chrysler Hall. Who was the Dark Lady of Shakespeare’s sonnets? It’s the idea that inspired poet Caroline Randall Williams to write her book Lucy Negro, Redux—and inspired Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling to create a ballet. The enchantment of the story is further enhanced by an entrancing score performed live by MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, composer Rhiannon Giddens. Spoken word will be performed by Caroline Ranndall Williams.
Finally, Malpaso will perform on Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30 pm at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach. The arts are exploding in Cuba, and among the stars of this revolution is this Havana-based dance company, which has become one of the hottest must-see phenomena on stages around the world. They are also sought-after partners for some of the most influential contemporary dance companies around, collaborating on co-productions with The Joyce, Hubbard Street Dance and more, and staging works by such choreographers as Ronald K. Brown, Aszure Barton, and Tony-nominated Sonya Tayeh (Moulin Rouge).
Tickets for all three performances are available now, and begin at $15. Visit vafest.org for more information on Virginia Arts Festival’s 25th Anniversary!