Boston Ballet to Close 2015-16 Season with MIRRORS

Boston Ballet presents Mirrors: a diverse selection of thought-provoking works that reflect the many facets of contemporary ballet, featuring two eagerly anticipated world premieres by Karole Armitage and Yury Yanowsky. Resonance, a dynamic work by José Martinez created for Boston Ballet in 2014, opens the program with "a rush of beauty, speed, and surprises" (Iris Fanger, The Patriot Ledger). The Company debuts in legendary Canadian choreographer Norbert Vesak's Belong, a "touching and timeless" pas de deux that has received multiple international awards (Karen Drozda, Critical Dance). Adding to the evening's program, the Company performs two world premieres: Smoke and Mirrors, the first major work commissioned by the Company for the Opera House stage by former Boston Ballet Principal Dancer Yury Yanowsky, followed by Karole Armitage's Bitches Brew, a psychedelic display of athleticism set to Miles Davis' famous jazz track. Mirrors will run May 6-28, 2016, at the Boston Opera House.

"Mirrors showcases some of the best of contemporary dance," said Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. "This collection of engaging works reflects Boston Ballet's commitment to illuminating the art form in new ways and supporting new work. Audiences will be the first to see an exciting new voice in dance with Boston Ballet's homegrown talent Yury Yanowsky's Smoke and Mirrors and an uber-cool creation by famed choreographer Karole Armitage, set to jazz great Miles Davis. Our successful 2015-2016 season is culminating with an eclectic mix of fabulous dance!"

Resonance

When Boston Ballet premiered José Martinez's Resonance in 2014, the Company became the first in North America to commission a Martinez piece. Hailed as "a work that heralds the 21st century but also offers homage to the ballet heritage," Resonance skillfully blends both contemporary and classical choreography (Iris Fanger, The Patriot Ledger). Inspired by the French school of classical ballet where Martinez received his formal training, as well as the work of contemporary choreographers such as Pina Bausch and William Forsythe, Resonance features 19 dancers that swarm the stage amidst movable sets by award-winning designer Jean-Marc Puissant. Martinez's work engages the viewer by highlighting the interplay of light, shadow, and movement. Two solo pianists play the tempestuous melodies of Franz Liszt's Transcendental Etudes.

Before embarking on his choreographic career, José Martinez danced for 23 years with the Paris Opera Ballet where he was handpicked by Rudolf Nureyev to join the company. During his tenure as an internationally-acclaimed artist, Martinez danced for some of the world's most famous choreographers, including Maurice Béjart, Martha Graham, and Roland Petit. Martinez was appointed Director of National Dance Company in Spain in 2010 and has also choreographed ballets for companies around the world. In 2009, he received the Prix Benois de la Danse as choreographer for Les Enfants du Paradis.

Belong

An intensely emotional pas de deux that "[engages] the audience in its fantasy," Belong is widely considered one of the defining works of legendary Canadian choreographer Norbert Vesak's prolific career (Karen Drozda, Critical Dance). It is also regarded as a significant turning point in the history of Canadian ballet, responsible for elevating principal dancer Evelyn Hart to the level of international prima ballerina and placing Royal Winnipeg Ballet on the map as one of the most renowned dance companies in the world. Hart's historic performance of Belong with David Peregrine won her the gold medal at the 1980 International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, and Osaka, Japan, making Hart the first Canadian dancer to win gold. On working with Boston Ballet dancers as a guest coach, Hart explained, "It was such a delightful experience. All three couples were so open. They were so hungry and willing to take information-they just wanted to be better...You don't always find that...The most beautiful thing was that they all had a deep respect for each other and for the work itself." The lyrical work reflects an intimate and deep connection between the dancers. Originally part of Vesak's ballet What to do Til the Messiah Comes (1973), his choreography is appropriately paired with the hypnotic, transcendent sounds of "December Angel" by the Canadian electronic music group Syrinx. Boston Ballet is honored to add this work to its repertoire.

Norbert Vesak (1936-1990) was a globally distinguished dancer, choreographer, dance and opera director, and dance educator. Vesak was co-founder and director of New World Ballet in Miami, Florida, with designer Robert de La Rose. From 1975-1980, Vesak served as the Director of Ballet and Resident Choreographer to the Metropolitan Opera Company and continued on as Guest Choreographer for the Met until his sudden death in 1990. Vesak's ballets remain in the repertoires of companies around the world, including The Deustche Oper, Berlin; The Ballet Teatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro; The Scottish Ballet; National Ballet of Canada; and Stuttgart Ballet in Stuttgart, Germany, among others. Vesak's long-time partner and creative collaborator was Robert de La Rose, the costume and set designer, who was involved in developing many of Vesak's works. Vesak dedicated Belong to Mr. de la Rose in 1980.

Smoke and Mirrors

Smoke and Mirrors is the first major work commissioned by former Boston Ballet Principal Dancer Yury Yanowsky for Boston Ballet on the Opera House stage. The source of inspiration for Yanowsky's world premiere occurred when he and his wife, Principal Dancer Kathleen Breen Combes, announced to his family in Spain that they were expecting. The family began discussing the old tradition of using corsets post pregnancy, so Yury's mother brought out her corset to show the boning and construction. Immediately, Yanowsky thought: "Wouldn't this be an interesting way to partner in dance?" Inspired by the expanded range of motion by partnering with corsets, Smoke and Mirrors features 14 handmade corsets, each meticulously designed and customized for maximum functionality by Boston Ballet's Manager of Costumes and Wardrobe, Charles Heightchew. The score is written by Yanowsky's cousin and two-time Goya Award-winning Spanish composer Lucas Vidal. Widely known for composing the score for Fast & Furious 6, Vidal became the youngest Berklee College of Music student ever to compose and record the score to a feature film with a full orchestra. Boston Ballet and Vidal first worked together when he was a freshman at Berklee, collaborating for the Company's "Raw Dance" series. In 2010, he returned to compose a score for another world premiere by Yanowsky, Li3 (Lithium). Joining forces again this year, Vidal says "Yury's work is very inspiring to me. When I was studying at Berklee I would go to all of his performances with Boston Ballet as well as the rehearsals. I got into his style and he educated me on the philosophy behind every movement." Vidal describes the score for Smoke and Mirrors as "minimalist, but very emotional."

Yury Yanowsky distinguished himself as a talented choreographer in the world of dance within the first year of his transition from principal dancer to choreographer, recently winning the prestigious Erik Bruhn Prize for Choreography for his ballet, District. Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen describes Yanowsky's style as having a "unique sense of contemporary dance and personal point of view." Yanowsky has choreographed for Carlos Acosta's "Premiere's Plus," Festival Ballet Providence, and international galas. Yanowsky's career as a dancer with Boston Ballet spanned more than two decades. He was the recipient of the first prize at the Prix de Lausanne and won the Silver medal at both the Varna International Ballet Competition and the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. Yanowsky has created several works for Boston Ballet, including a collection of works for Boston Ballet's "Raw Dance" evenings, Li3 which was performed at the "Night of Stars" gala in 2010, as well as Niris which was presented at Dorchester's Strand Theatre. Yanowsky choreographed a work for Hamburg Ballet II for their 2015-2016 season, and will create a world premiere for the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Gala in June 2016.

Bitches Brew

When Miles Davis' famous studio album Bitches Brew was released in 1970, it quickly transformed the world of jazz. At the same time, just down the street from where Davis recorded his iconic track in New York, Karole Armitage was studying classical ballet at the School of American Ballet. Armitage views this coincidence as the inspiration for Bitches Brew, an innovative work that fuses the psychedelic flavors of jazz rock with the classical flavors of ballet. While choreographing the work, Armitage asked herself "How far can I push the boundaries to make it look new while preserving the fundamentals?" The result is a stunning display of athleticism and energy with clear roots in the classical tradition. With the experimental sounds of Davis' playing in mind, Armitage worked with fashion designer and former Senior Vice President of Design for Donna Karan New York Peter Speliopoulos to design costumes constructed out of gun metal lycra material to enhance both the music and the dance. Bitches Brew is Armitage's first work commissioned by Boston Ballet for the Opera House stage.

Karole Armitage currently serves as Artistic Director of the New York-based Armitage Gone! Dance. Dubbed the "punk ballerina" by Vanity Fair, Armitage is recognized for her groundbreaking style that seeks to push the boundaries of what movement can be. Armitage received her formal training in classical ballet and danced professionally as a member of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Switzerland (1973-1975) and later joined Merce Cunningham Dance Company. With her extensive knowledge of the styles of Balanchine and Cunningham, Armitage has developed a unique choreographic sensibility that fuses modern and classical vocabulary. In addition to her choreography for the stage, Armitage has worked extensively in popular music, choreographing for Michael Jackson's "In the Closet" and Madonna's "Vogue." In 2009, Armitage was nominated for a Best Choreographer Tony Award for the hit Broadway revival of Hair. Armitage has been commissioned to choreograph works for some of the world's most prestigious companies, including the Paris Opera Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She currently serves as a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard (2015-2016) and a Simons Fellow at the University of Kansas (2015-2016).

All performances of Mirrors take place at the Boston Opera House (539 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111):

Friday, May 6, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 1 pm

Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, May 22, 2016 at 1 pm

Friday, May 27, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 28, 2016 at 1 pm

Tickets start at $35. For more information, visit www.bostonballet.org or call 617-695-6955.

Mirrors performance length is approximately 2 hours with two intermissions.

Resonance

Music: Franz Liszt

Choreography: José Martinez

Set and Costume Design: Jean-Marc Puissant

Lighting Design: John Cuff

World Premiere: February 20, 2014, Boston Ballet

The revival of Resonance has received support from the Krupp Endowment for Contemporary Dance.

Belong

Music: Syrinx

Choreography: Norbert Vesak

Costume and Lighting Design: Robert de la Rose

Lighting Execution: John Cuff

World Premiere: January 11, 1973, Royal Winnipeg Ballet

Boston Ballet Premiere: May 6, 2016

Smoke and Mirrors

(World Premiere)

Music: Lucas Vidal

Choreography: Yury Yanowsky

Scenic Design: Benjamin J. Phillips

Costume Design: Charles Heightchew

Lighting Design: John Cuff

These performances of Yury Yanowsky's Smoke and Mirrors have been made possible by a generous gift from Donna and Mike Egan.

Bitches Brew

(World Premiere)

Music: Bitches Brew, Music of Miles Davis. By arrangements with SONY Music Entertainment, Kobalt Music, and East St. Louis Music, Inc.

Choreography: Karole Armitage

Costume Design: Peter Speliopoulos

Lighting Design: Clifton Taylor

Karole Armitage's Bitches Brew was made possible by a generous gift from John and Janice Doyle.

Mirrors is supported from a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

About Boston Ballet

Since 1963, Boston Ballet's internationally acclaimed performances of classical, neo-classical, and contemporary ballets, combined with a dedication to world class dance education and community initiative programs, have made the institution a leader in its field, with a 52-year history of promoting excellence and access to dance.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Max Hodges, the Company maintains a diverse repertoire, ranging from full-length ballets to new works by some of today's finest choreographers. Boston Ballet's second company, Boston Ballet II, is comprised of dancers who gain experience by performing with the Company and independently, presenting special programs to audiences throughout the Northeast.

Programming for Boston Ballet's 2015-2016 season includes Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler: A Ballet by John Neumeier, making Boston Ballet the first North American Company to perform the work; captivating classical works such as John Cranko's Onegin and Mikko Nissinen's Swan Lake; masterpieces by world-renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine and 20th century masters Leonid Yakobson and Léonide Massine; and two highly anticipated world premieres by Karole Armitage and Yury Yanowsky.

Boston Ballet School, the official school of Boston Ballet, has a long-standing dedication to excellence and access. Led by Director Margaret Tracey, the School reaches more than 5,000 students (toddler to adult) each year through Boston Ballet School classes, the Summer Dance Workshop, Pre-professional Summer Dance Program and the Pre-Professional Training held at three studio locations in Boston, Newton, and Marblehead.

Boston Ballet's nationally-acclaimed education programs include Citydance, Adaptive Dance, and ECI On Location. The programs are offered in partnership with the Boston Public Schools and in communities throughout the city and region.

For more information, please visit www.bostonballet.org.

Boston Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following institutional partners:

Barr Foundation

Boston Cultural Council

The Boston Foundation

Klarman Family Foundation

Massachusetts Cultural Council

National Endowment for the Arts

State Street Corporation, 2015 Innovation Partner