Colorado Ballet Invites Refugees to BALLET MASTERWORKS

The Colorado Ballet invited approximately 45 to 50 refugee families from five different countries, including Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and the Republic of the Congo, to experience the production of BALLET MASTERWORKS, despite President Trump's executive orders on immigration.

The refugees were connected through the International Rescue Committee in Denver.

According to the Artistic Director of the Ballet, Gil Boggs, he told Denver7 the invitation was not political.

Colorado Ballet presents a collection of three master ballet works to live music by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra in Ballet MasterWorks. The production includes Firebird, by choreographer Yuri Possokhov, Choreographer in Residence for the San Francisco Ballet and music by Igor Stravinsky. The ballet is based on the Russian folklore tale of the Firebird, a magical bird with dazzling glowing feathers who helps a prince rescue a beautiful maiden from an evil sorcerer.

Ballet MasterWorks also features Serenade, choreographed by George Balanchine to Tchaikovsky's "Serenade for Strings in C." Serenade was the first original ballet Balanchine created in America and includes unexpected events from the first rehearsals into the choreography. The ballet includes 28 dancers in blue costumes in front of a blue background and according to the Balanchine Trust, the ballet is a milestone in the history of dance.

Rounding out the program, Colorado Ballet performs Petite Mort by choreographer Ji?í Kylián and music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Kylián created Petite Mort for the Salzburg Festival on the second centenary of Mozart's death and according to his website, he based the choreography on two slow movements of two of Mozart's most famous piano concertos. He said that in the moment of ecstasy or pleasure, people are reminded of the fact that life is short and death is relatively close. This is the first time that Colorado Ballet will present a Kylián ballet.

"Colorado Ballet performed Ballet MasterWorks productions in 2013 and 2015 and this new collection of works in 2017 will highlight the tremendous talent our dancers and musicians have to offer," said Colorado Ballet Artistic Director Gil Boggs. "It is so important that we present a collection of master works every two years because it challenges our dancers and showcases their artistry and elegance. There is a reason why Ballet MasterWorks is the dancers' favorite production of the year artistically. Where else can you see Firebird, Serenade and Petite Mort in one production with powerful live music? Ballet MasterWorks also shows the caliber of dancing that audiences can see in Denver; proving that you do not need to go to New York or San Francisco to see ballet of this quality."

For more information, visit: http://coloradoballet.org/