Segerstrom Center for the Arts Announces World Premiere of Diana Vishneva: On the Edge

2014 International Dance Season opens with the world premiere of Diana Vishneva: On The Edge, which introduces two new works commissioned by the Center and Ardani Artists for the internationally renowned and award-winning star of the Mariinsky Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. On The Edge is in two acts, and begins with Jean-Christophe Maillot's intriguing piece titled Switch, followed by Carolyn Carlson's profound solo work, Woman in a Room. After this world premiere engagement in Segerstrom Hall, On The Edge will make its European premiere in December at both the National Centre for Contemporary Choreography in Roubaix, France and in Monte-Carlo's Salle Garnier as part of the Les Ballet des Monte-Carlo dance season. There will also be performances in 2014 at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow in March and at Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg in April.

Switch, by Maillot, who is choreographer-director of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, is a pas de trios set to music by the Academy Award -nominated and Grammy Award-winning composer Danny Elfman. Vishneva calls Switch "a story about a woman and her alter ego and her relationship with men." It also features dancers Bernice Coppieters and Gaëtan Morlotti. Coppieters and Morlotti are stars of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo. Coppieters was seen by Center audiences in 2009's Tour de Force and Morlotti danced here in Cinderella when the Center presented Les Ballets in 2012.

Woman in a Room is a solo piece created for Vishneva by Carolyn Carlson, director of National Centre for Contemporary Choreography in Roubaix and of the Atelier de Paris at La Cartoucherie de Vincennes in Paris. Inspired by the films of Andrei Tarkovsky, Woman in a Room is an evocative work that follows one woman's journey in life, filled with joys, bitterness and contemplation. The music featured is by Italian post-minimalist composer and cellist Giovanni Sollima with a finale piece by René Aubry. "I've always thought of Carolyn Carlson as a choreographer who understands a woman's soul and could make a story that would suit me and that we could collaborate on," says Vishneva.

Center Executive Vice President Judy Morr commented, "It is always exciting to watch an artist take both
their talent and their art form to new heights. In On The Edge, we will watch Diana Vishneva, one of the
greatest dancers in the world, bringing to life two new works created specifically for her by two of the
greatest choreographers in the world. This is watching dance history being made by three of the most
creative and passionate artists of our time."

Tickets to Diana Vishneva: On The Edge start at $30 and will go on sale Sunday, September 22 at 10 a.m.
PT. Single tickets will be available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in
Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group ticket savings for 10 or more, call the
Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. The TTY number is (714) 556-2746. Free Preview Talks will
occur one hour prior to each performance. Artists and program are subject to change.

Segerstrom Center's 2013 - 2014 International Dance Series also includes the American premiere of The
Hamburg Ballett's production of Liliom, the American premiere of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo's LAC
(Swan Lake), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and An Evening with Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev
including premiere performances with the Rome Opera Ballet. For more information, please visit
www.scfta.org/dance.