Festival Ballet Providence - Center for Dance Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2002

CONTACT: Mark Fleisher:

Festival Ballet Providence, 401-353-1129

Festival Ballet Providence opens 25th Anniversary Season with Giselle

Providence, RI - Festival Ballet Providence's 25th Anniversary Season opens with the icon of Romantic ballets, Giselle, November 15-17, 2002 at VMA Arts and Cultural Center.

Festival Ballet Providence first performed Giselle during the company's second season, in 1979. It was a landmark event for the fledgling organization, its second full-length production of its early history. Festival Ballet Providence Artistic Director, Mihailo Djuric, has chosen Giselle for the anniversary season to both commemorate the company's past and to give audiences the opportunity to see one of the key classics of ballet, considered to be a masterpiece of romantic dance theater.

Giselle, a story of love, betrayal, madness, revenge and forgiveness is the most famous, revered and enduring of all Romantic Ballets. Created in 1841, it is the story of a pure and innocent peasant girl who is jilted by a rich nobleman. Driven mad by the experience, she dies and enters the graveyard world of the Wilis, ghosts of vengeful brides betrayed by undeserving suitors. Should any unsuspecting man wander into this place, the Wilis force him to dance to his death. As an indication of her purity and good heart, Giselle's innocence is able to manifest itself in a grand act of forgiveness by prevailing against the otherworldly ghosts of the darkness.

Much as the role of Hamlet is an immense challenge for the actor, the role of Giselle is the same for the ballerina. Aside from technical expertise, the role of Giselle requires a multi-dimensional, believable character, ranging from joyful, innocent candor, madness and death, and finally to fragile spirituality sorrowing for a lost love. Festival Ballet Providence veteran Jennifer Ricci and new company member Tatiana Berenova will share the role of Giselle.

The character of Albrecht, the rich nobleman who is enamored of Giselle, is also a character offering dense complexity in its interpretation. In almost all other classical ballets, men's roles are subservient to the roles of the ballerina. It is in Giselle that the exception to this rule is established: Albrecht's character is portrayed on an equal level with similar demand to the role of the ballerina. Gleb Lyamenkoff who stunned audiences with his powerful portrayal as Claude Frollo in last season's production of Esmeralda, will share this role with new company member Pavel Homko.

Jaclyn Ricci and Tatiana Berenova will share the technically demanding role of Myrtha, queen of the Wilis. Davide Vittorino with Jaclyn Ricci, and Eivar Martinez with Jennifer Ricci will showcase their virtuosity in the peasant pas de deux in Act I. Piotr Osltaltsov will take the role of Hilarion.

Mr. Djuric and Ballet Mistress Milica Bijelic set this revered work with careful attention to every detail. The breathtaking sets and costumes in this production were originally created for Utah's Ballet West.

Festival Ballet Providence, founded by Christine Hennessy and Winthrop Corey in 1978, has been under the artistic leadership of Artistic Director Mihailo Djuric since 1998, and has grown to become one of New England's premiere dance companies and dance education centers.

Mr. Djuric notes, "For the company's 25th Anniversary, I wanted a season that gave tribute to the company's early repertory, to the organization's founders, and to the torch-bearers of creative new works among Rhode Island's most talented choreographers. I want our audience to get a sense of the thrill I experienced when I saw dance for the first time, and to hook them as I have been for over 35 years."

The Festival Ballet Providence Company includes an international roster of 20 members (from 8 different countries), with five additional character dancers and 10 Junior Company members. The company's repertory spans classical, neo-classical, contemporary and modern works. Its talented company brings to the region an intense love for dance and a commitment to inspire its audience.

This production of Giselle is presented by Principal Sponsor, the Providence Journal Company. Additional funding has been provided by season television sponsor NBC10, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and the VMA Arts & Cultural Center.

"The Providence Journal Company is proud to be a long-time supporter of Festival Ballet Providence. Our sponsorship of this year's performance of Giselle continues our commitment to support Festival Ballet Providence as it enriches our community with exciting, world-class performances, outstanding dance education, and important outreach to a diverse constituency," Howard G. Sutton, Chairman, President, Publisher and CEO.

Performances of Giselle take place November 15, 16, & 17, 2002 at VMA Arts & Cultural Center, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI. Curtain time is Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 7:30 PM, Sunday at 2:30 PM.

Tickets are now on sale, with prices ranging from $12 to $50. Advanced reserved tickets to Giselle and season subscriptions may be purchased by contacting Festival Ballet Providence at 401.353.1129, by contacting Ticketmaster outlets at 401.331.1122, or at the VMA Box Office the week of the production.

For more details, to purchase subscription and individual tickets, or for information about classes, contact:

Festival Ballet Providence
825 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
401.353.1129
info@festivalballet.com

Writers, photographers and editors are encouraged to visit our Providence studios to observe rehearsals and to interview Mr. Djuric, Ms. Bijelic, and any of the dancers. Please make arrangements prior to your visit by calling Mark Fleisher, 401.353.1129.

The Festival Ballet Providence and the Festival Ballet Providence Center for Dance Education are together a not-for-profit arts organization whose EIN is 05-0377245 and whose Rhode Island Corporate ID number is ND-27-137.