Diablo Ballet Celebrates 21st Season Anniversary with Balanchine & More Tonight

(Walnut Creek, CA) --- Diablo Ballet presents the work of acclaimed choreographer Val Caniparoli, and George Balanchine, the great master of dance, at its 21st Season Anniversary Celebration tonight, March 26 at Walnut Creek's Lesher Center for the Arts.

Featuring beloved works from Diablo Ballet's 21-year history, the celebration includes the Company premiere of Hamlet and Ophelia by dance maker Val Caniparoli. Caniparoli, whose work has been described as "fresh and compelling.... pure reaction to the driving beat," originally choreographed Hamlet and Opheliafor Joanna Berman at the San Francisco Ballet in 1985. Berman, formerly a principal dancer and one of the most celebrated members of San Francisco Ballet, is staging this duet for Diablo Ballet's 21st anniversary celebration program. "I am extremely honored that Val Caniparoli has granted Diablo Ballet the privilege of performing his Hamlet and Ophelia, which helped to launch Joanna Berman's career with the San Francisco Ballet. It is also an enormous thrill to have Joanna stage this important ballet", says Lauren Jonas, Diablo Ballet's artistic director and co-founder.

The evening's repertory will also include a performance of the solo and duet from George Balanchine's dramatic masterpiece, Apollo; See Saw, a witty work by Resident Choreographer/Dancer Robert Dekkers and set to a live performance of Felix Mendelssohn's piano trio in D Minor; Incitations- a tango tribute by alumni Choreographer/Dancer Kelly Teo, and the reprise of Resistance by Diablo Ballet's David Fonnegra, set to Felix Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, also performed live.

A Gala reception featuring a wine tasting by Las Positas Vineyards and a sumptuous dinner with the dancers at Scott's Garden, walking distance from the Lesher Center, will follow the performance.

Tickets to the performance and gala are currently on sale online at diabloballet.org/tickets, and may be purchased by calling (925) 943-1775.

About Diablo Ballet

For 21 years, Diablo Ballet has been the award-winning, professional dance company for Contra Costa County. Presenting acclaimed classical and contemporary works, the Company is committed to exposing youth to the arts through the renowned PEEK Youth Outreach Program, bringing arts education to over 5,000 elementary school students in under-served Alameda and Contra Costa counties each year. PEEK has been recognized by policy makers in the Senate, Congress and Assembly for its outstanding contribution to the community.