Global Dance Stars Gala Lineup Announced

The cast of internationally-acclaimed dance stars appearing in BalletMet's Global Dance Stars Gala is now complete. Artists from Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, New York City Ballet, Northern Ballet of England, Tom Gold Dance and Broadway will join the talented dancers of BalletMet for this one-night-only event August 18th at the Ohio Theatre (39 East State Street).

Tickets for the Global Dance Stars Gala start at $35 and can be purchased online through Ticketmaster (800) 982-2787, Ticketmaster.com or at the CAPA Ticket Office (39 East State Street - (614) 469-0939).

Just added to the illustrious lineup are Adiarys Almeida and Nelson Madrigal of Boston Ballet. Both Ms. Almeida and Mr. Madrigal come to Boston Ballet from the National Ballet of Cuba. For the Global Dance Stars Gala they will perform the White Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake as well as a pas de deux from Don Quixote.

Other dancers and dances showcased on the program include New York City Ballet and Tom Gold Dance soloists Abi Stafford and Jared Angle performing a pas de deux from George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Tom Gold's Gershwin Preludes.

Columbus dance fans may recall a young Martha Leebolt from her days as a BalletMet student, but dance fans throughout Europe now recognize her as one of the established stars of England's Northern Ballet. She'll return to Columbus with fellow Northern Ballet soloist Tobias Batley to perform excerpts from David Nixon's Wuthering Heights and his Cleopatra, a recent collaboration with Miss Saigon and Les Miserables composer Claude-Michel Schönberg.

From north of the border comes National Ballet of Canada principal dancers Greta Hodgkinson and Guillauame Côté performing the famous BLACK SWAN pas de deux from Swan Lake as well as Summer from James Kudelka's The Four Seasons.

Houston Ballet principal dancers Amy Fote and Simon Ball will perform choreography by former BalletMet Artistic Associate and current Artistic Director of Houston Ballet, Stanton Welch. His pas de deux from Madame Butterfly will be danced.

Broadway hoofer Marshall Davis, Jr., who appeared in Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk, and at BalletMet in the much-admired Simply Sammy, will bring his fiery footwork to the proceedings performing two solos – Shedding to music by Eddie Haskell and Trying to Keep Up With Mr. Peterson, set to Duke Ellington's 'Cottontial'.

No evening of great dance in Columbus is complete without a performance by the talented performers of BalletMet. Acclaimed for their versatility, athleticism and artistry, they will open the Global Dance Stars Gala with a performance of the Swan Lake Waltz and close the program with Darrell Grand Moultrie's sizzling Pulses, Chords, Passion, a work that received its world premiere during BalletMet's 2011-2012 season as part of Jazz Moves Columbus, the company's acclaimed collaboration with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and WOSU Public Media.

BalletMet's beloved former Artistic Director, Gerard Charles, will be among the event's celebrants as he is fêted with an on-stage tribute and an exclusive post-performance party – Celebration of Stars – in honor of his 22 year association with BalletMet. Charles announced in May he would be stepping down to become Ballet Master at the renowned Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Celebration of Stars is an opportunity to meet the international guests, mingle with BalletMet dancers and give Mr. Charles a fitting send off.

Separate admission to the Celebration of Stars post-show party is $50 and includes wine and light refreshments. Tickets can be purchased only at the BalletMet Ticket Office (322 Mount Vernon Avenue, Columbus, OH) or by calling (614) 586-8665.

Single tickets for BalletMet's Global Dance Stars Gala are on sale now and range in price from $35 to $100. Tickets may be purchased online through TicketMaster (800) 982-2787, ticketmaster.com or at the CAPA ticket office (614) 469-0939.

For entrance to the Celebration of Stars post-show party in honor of departing BalletMet Artistic Director Gerard Charles, call (614) 586-8665 or visit the BalletMet Ticket Office (322 Mount Vernon Avenue, Columbus, OH) to reserve your $50 tickets.

Subscriptions packages are now available to BalletMet's exciting 2012-2013 season; so too are discounted group tickets. To learn more go to BalletMet.org.