Ruth Page Civic Ballet Performs at Ravinia Today

The Ruth Page Civic Ballet, the official youth performance company and an Artist In-Residence of the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, performs at Ravinia's Bennett Gordon Hall, 418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park, today, Sept. 13 at 11 a.m., as part of the Ruth Page Festival of Dance and Ravinia's "Kids Concerts" programming series. This family friendly concert will include choreography by Victor Alexander, Marius Petipa and Dolores and Larry Long.

Reserved seating tickets are available for $10 and may be purchased atwww.ravinia.org or via phone by calling 847.266.5100. For more information on The Ruth Page Civic Ballet, please visit www.ruthpage.org.

The full program includes:

Among Us

Choreography: Victor Alexander

Music: Gustavo Santaolalla

Cha-Cha-Cha Dances

Choreography: Victor Alexander

Music: various artists

Excerpts from Raymonda

Choreography: Marius Petipa (Original), Dolores Long & Birute Barodicaite (Restaging)

Music: Alexander Glazunov

Character Suite

Choreography: Dolores Long and Larry Long

Music: various artists

About the Ruth Page Civic Ballet - An important component of the Ruth Page Center for the Arts and its School of Dance is the Ruth Page Civic Ballet, the official youth training performance company and one of its Artists In-Residence. This classical company of talented young dancers, currently directed by Victor Alexander and Delores Long, is now in its 16th season and was founded in 1998 by Larry and Dolores Long, the original directors of the Ruth Page School of Dance.

Serving as a bridge between ballet training and professional performance, the Ruth Page Civic Ballet provides performance opportunities for the most advanced ballet students from the School as a means of continuing their training. Members of the company will train in this program before moving on to national and international professional dance companies. The Civic's dancers are joined in performances by notable guest artists and choreographers, expanding their sphere of professional work.

The Ruth Page School of Dance, one of the leading Ballet training centers in the country, provides the highest level of training to talented young dancers, professionals and those who study dance for personal enrichment. Larry Long (1936-2009), the School's much-loved Director, was recognized as one of the preeminent ballet teachers in America. Mikhail Baryshnikov in an article in The New York Times named Mr. Long as one of six ballet teachers in America who have distinguished themselves as the best in developing students into professional dancers. With the passing of Mr. Long in 2009, the Ruth Page School of Dance continues his legacy of excellence through its renowned faculty and regular guest artist and teacher offerings.

About the Ruth Page Center for the ArtsThe Ruth Page Center for the Arts has for over forty years committed its resources to creating a dance destination in Chicago. Located at 1016 N. Dearborn Street, The Center serves the Chicago dance community by being an incubator, providing a home, office space, rehearsal space, performance opportunities, professional dance training, and marketing support for the up-and-coming companies and artists of Chicago's vibrant dance scene. Its mission is to ensure that children and dance artists have a place to study, work and perform at the highest level of excellence. Founded by Chicago icon and internationally-renown performer and choreographer, Ruth Page, the Center reflects her vision of supporting dance excellence in Chicago. Emanating from the Illinois heartland, the visionary work of Ruth Page influenced the growth of theater design, opera-ballet, and dance. She achieved worldwide recognition as a true pioneer of dance in America by creating at the forefront of social, political and artistic issues. As a prominent force in the Chicago arts community, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts continues that legacy through its initiatives and programs that nurture the art form of dance, and by being an arts incubator for emerging and established artists and organizations.

The Ruth Page Civic Ballet, the official youth performance company and an Artist In-Residence of the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, will perform at Ravinia's Bennett Gordon Hall, 418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park, on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. (doors open at 10:00 am) as part of the Ruth Page Festival of Dance and Ravinia's "Kids Concerts" programming series. This family friendly concert will include choreography by Victor Alexander, Marius Petipa and Dolores and Larry Long. Reserved seating tickets are available for $10 and may be purchased at www.ravinia.org or via phone by calling 847.266.5100. For more information on The Ruth Page Civic Ballet, visit www.ruthpage.org.

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