Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen announced today that Boston Ballet will embark on a five-week tour of Spain in June and July 2010, taking the Company to six cities in various regions of the country. Boston Ballet will travel to Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastían, Santander, Granada, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with 22 performances of two programs, Ultimate Balanchine and Made in Boston.
“It’s a unique thrill to take the Company on a European tour of this magnitude,” said Nissinen. “Since our highly successful 2007 Spain tour, we’ve performed in Korea and in Canada, and to great acclaim at our home theatre, The Boston Opera House. These are very challenging, interesting programs and I am proud to present our unique repertoire and to share the exciting things happening in Boston with audiences around the world. “
The tour repertoire is designed to showcase the versatility and quality of Boston Ballet, the Company’s artistry in the Balanchine style, and to share the choreographic gems that have been created especially for Boston Ballet. Ultimate Balanchine is comprised of three works by master choreographer George Balanchine, Ballo della Regina, The Four Temperaments and Rubies. Boston Ballet recently performed Ballo della Regina on tour in Ottawa, Canada in January 2010. The Company performed The Four Temperaments during its last tour to Spain, as well as for Boston audiences, to rave reviews. The New York Times said of the Company’s most recent performance of Rubies in 2009, “Boston Ballet has a hit on its hands.”
Made in Boston will feature five diverse works with special ties to Boston Ballet; Jorma Elo’s Plan to B and Brake the Eyes, Sabrina Matthews’ ein von viel, Helen Pickett’s Tsukiyo, and Viktor Plotnikov’s Rhyme. Boston Ballet’s Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo’s works were both created for and premiered by the Company. Sabrina Matthews’ made her U.S. debut with Boston Ballet’s premiere of ein von viel in 2008. Pickett and Plotnikov, a former Boston Ballet principal dancer, have both had their choreographic careers nurtured at Boston Ballet. Their respective works were both premiered by Boston Ballet; Pickett’s as part of the 2009 World Passions program, and Plotnikov’s as part of the 2008 Night of Stars.
Boston Ballet’s 2010 Spain tour begins on June 4 when more than 60 dancers, artistic, production, wardrobe, music and additional staff depart from Boston. The tour opens with six performances, June 8-13, at Barcelona’s Teatro Coliseum where the Company will perform a special kick-off program featuring George Balanchine’s Ballo della Regina, Helen Pickett’s Tsukiyo, Sabrina Matthews’ ein von viel, and Jorma Elo’s Brake the Eyes. The Company then moves to San Sebastían, June 15-16, to perform at the Teatro Kursaal. Performances in Santander are next, June 18 and 19, at the Palacio de Festivales. Boston Ballet last performed at the Teatro Kursaal and the Palacio de Festivales in 2007. Next, June 22-23, the Company will be in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to perform at Teatro Perez Galdos. Then it’s on to Granada’s Festival Internacional de Música y Danza for performances, June 26 and 28, at the Festival’s impressive outdoor theatre. Finally, Boston Ballet travels to Madrid for eight final performances, June 30-July 3 and July 5-8, at the Teatros del Canal before heading home to Boston.
Boston Ballet is committed to sharing its critically acclaimed repertoire and roster of talented artists with local, regional and international audiences. In 2007, the company revived its touring foray after 16 years with a triumphant six-week tour to seven cities in Spain. Building on the success of the Spanish tour, the company has recently appeared at major U.S. dance festivals including the Fall for Dance Festivals at New York’s City Center and Orange County Performing Arts Center, the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, SC and the Ballet Across America Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. In 2008, Boston Ballet returned to the international stage with inaugural performances in Seoul, South Korea and delighted audiences with a broad range of contemporary and neo-classical repertoire never before presented in Korea. Most recently, in January 2010, Boston Ballet traveled to Ottawa, Canada to make the Company’s premiere performances at the National Arts Centre. With a 2009 company rebranding and move to a permanent home theatre at The Boston Opera House, countless artistic successes on stage, and significant growth of Boston Ballet School’s education and community outreach programs, Boston Ballet continues to leave its mark around the world.
TOUR SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
BARCELONA, Teatro Coliseum
Tuesday, June 8 – Sunday, June 13, 6 performances
George Balanchine’s Ballo della Regina
Viktor Plotnikov’s Rhyme
Sabrina Matthews’ ein von viel
Helen Pickett’s Tsukiyo
Jorma Elo’s Brake the Eyes
Tuesday, June 8, 9:00pm
Wednesday, June 9, 9:00pm
Thursday, June 10, 9:00pm
Friday, June 11, 9:00pm
Saturday, June 12, 9:00pm
Sunday, June 13, 6:30pm
SAN SEBASTÍAN, Teatro Kursaal
Tuesday, June 15 – Wednesday, June 16, 2 performances
Tuesday, June 15, 9:00pm Ultimate Balanchine
Wednesday, June 16, 9:00pm Made in Boston
SANTANDER, Palacio de Festivales
Friday, June 18 – Saturday, June 19, 2 performances
Friday, June 18, 8:30pm Ultimate Balanchine
Saturday, June 19, 8:30pm Made in Boston
LAS PALMAS de GRAN CANARIA, Teatro Perez Galdos
Tuesday, June 22 – Wednesday, June 23, 2 performances
Tuesday, June 22, 8:30pm Ultimate Balanchine
Wednesday, June 23, 8:30pm Made in Boston
GRANADA, Festival Internacional de Música y Danza
Saturday, June 26 and Monday, June 28, 2 performances
Saturday, June 26, 10:30pm Ultimate Balanchine
Monday, June 28 10:30pm Made in Boston
MADRID, Teatro Lope de Vega
Wednesday, June 30 – Saturday, July 3 and
Monday, July 5 – Thursday, July 8, 8 performances
Wednesday, June 30, 10:00pm Ultimate Balanchine
Thursday, July 1, 10:00pm Made in Boston
Friday, July 2, 10:00pm Made in Boston
Saturday, July 3, 10:00pm Ultimate Balanchine
Monday, July 5, 10:00pm Ultimate Balanchine
Tuesday, July 6, 10:00pm Ultimate Balanchine
Wednesday, July 7, 10:00pm Made in Boston
Thursday, July 8, 10:00pm Made in Boston
Since 1963, Boston Ballet has been one of the leading dance companies in the world on stage, in the studio and in the community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Barry Hughson, the Company maintains an internationally acclaimed repertoire and the largest ballet school in North America, Boston Ballet School.
Boston Ballet maintains a repertoire of classical, neo-classical and contemporary works, ranging from full-length story ballets to new works by some of today's finest choreographers. Boston Ballet's second company, Boston Ballet II, is comprised of pre-professional dancers who gain experience by performing with the Company and independently, presenting lecture-demonstrations and special programs to audiences throughout the Northeast.
Boston Ballet School, the official school of Boston Ballet, has a long-standing dedication to excellence and access and reaches more than 10,000 students ages 2-adult each year through Boston Ballet School classes, Summer Dance Workshop, Summer Dance Program, Citydance, Taking Steps, and Adaptive Dance. The wide array of dance programs are held at three studio locations in Boston, Newton, Marblehead with additional programs throughout New England, as well as community centers and in Boston Public Schools.
For more information visit www.bostonballet.org.
Boston Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following institutional partners:
State Street Corporation, 2009 Presenting Sponsor, The Nutcracker
Jane’s Trust
Massachusetts Cultural Council
National Endowment for the Arts
Boston Organ & Piano, Official Piano Supplier of Boston Ballet
