The Kansas City Ballet's 2014-2015 Calendar of Events Includes ALICE (IN WONDERLAND), THE NUTCRACKER and More

The Kansas City Ballet calendar for the 57th season will be filled with Kansas City premieres, the presentation of The Nutcracker at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and other exciting and diverse events at the Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity. Single tickets for the 2014-15 season will be available to the public on Monday, August 18 at 9 a.m. Tickets for The Nutcracker will be available to the public on Monday, Sept. 8 at 9 a.m. Purchase tickets online at www.kcballet.orgor through the Kansas City Ballet ticket office 816.931.2232.

The 2014-2015 season begins with the Kansas City Premiere of Alice (in wonderland), choreography by Septime Webre and music by Matthew Pierce. Following the holiday classic The Nutcracker presented by Bank of America,New Moves will be presented in February, the March program will feature the stunning production of Giselle by Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney, and an electrifying Dances Daring (then and now) program withPREMIERES by choreographers Amy Seiwert and Edwaard Liang finishing out the 2014-2015 season in May.

Artistic Director Devon Carney said, "I wanted my first season to represent the broadest range of dance possible, one that included current, exciting full-length ballets, as well as an ever-popular classical work, among others. Our dancers have shown me they are ready for more challenging work and I am thrilled to show Kansas City audiences what our Company is capable of."

The Kansas City Symphony accompanies the entire 2014-2015 season, conducted by renowned Kansas City Ballet Music Director Ramona Pansegrau.

Visit www.kcballet.org for more information about Kansas City Ballet's 2014-2015 season andwww.kauffmancenter.org for a downloadable media kit about the Kauffman Center. High-resolution photos of the 2014-2015 season can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/67555847@N06/sets/

Kansas City Ballet

2014-2015 Season at a Glance

Alice (in wonderland)

October 10-19, 2014 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Music performed by Kansas City Symphony

Take an incredible, magical journey of misadventures when you tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice (in wonderland).

Alice (in wonderland) Choreography: Septime Webre

Music: Matthew Pierce

Fri., Oct. 10 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 11 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 12 2 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 17 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 18 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 19 2 p.m.

The Nutcracker

December 6-24, 2014 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Music performed by Kansas City Symphony

Kansas City's favorite holiday tradition continues with the presentation of Todd Bolender's delightful family classicThe Nutcracker. Presented by Bank of America.

The Nutcracker Choreography: Todd Bolender

Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky

Fri., Dec. 5 Nutcracker Ball at Union Station

Sat., Dec. 6 2 p.m. (*) & 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 7 1 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 12 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 13 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 14 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Thurs., Dec. 18 7:30 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 19 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 20 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 21 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Mon., Dec. 22 7:30 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 23 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 24 1 p.m.

* Sugar Plum Fairy Children's Ball at Union Station

New Moves

February 6-14, 2015 | Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity

New Moves is a unique performance event designed to search out, develop and showcase new emerging choreographers both from within Kansas City Ballet and from the national dance scene.

Fri., Feb 6 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 7 7:30 p.m.

Fri., Feb. 13 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 14 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Giselle

March 13-22, 2015 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Music performed by Kansas City Symphony

This stunning production of Giselle from Artistic Director Devon Carney, choreographed to the enchanting music of Adolphe Adam, is a rare opportunity to enjoy one of ballet's true romantic classics.

Giselle Choreography: Devon Carney after Marius Petipa

Music: Adolphe Adam

Fri., Mar. 13 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Mar. 14 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Mar. 15 2 p.m.

Fri., Mar. 20 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Mar. 21 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Mar. 22 2 p.m.

Dances Daring (then and now)

May 8-17, 2015 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Music performed by
Kansas City Symphony

Presenting classics from Balanchine, plus two exciting Kansas City premieres, and a beloved work of Todd Bolender to celebrate his centennial.

The Four Temperaments Choreography: George Balanchine

Music: Paul Hindemith

Wunderland Choreography: Edwaard Liang

Music: Philip Glass
Kansas City Premiere Choreography: Amy Seiwert

Music: TBA

The Still Point: 3rd Movement Choreography: Todd Bolender

Music: Claude Debussy

Fri., May 8 7:30 p.m.

Sat., May 9 7:30 p.m.

Sun., May 10 2 p.m.

Fri., May 15 7:30 p.m.

Sat., May 16 7:30 p.m.

Sun., May 17 2 p.m.

MORE about the 2014-2015 Season

Alice (in wonderland)

October 10-19, 2014

I wanted to get wild, pretty wild. - Septime Webre, Artistic Director, Washington Ballet

Premiered in 2012 by Washington Ballet Alice (in wonderland) is a smorgasbord for the senses. Critics call it "big and glossy" and "crackling with energy and innovative movement." Propelled by Washington Ballet's Artistic Director Septime Webre's revolutionary choreography, Cirque du Soleil designer Liz Vandal's colorful costumes, and an all-new score by Matthew Pierce complete with musical sound effects and played by Kansas City Symphony, this full-length ballet is a charming interpretation of Lewis Carroll's classic tale, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, with characters from Alice Through the Looking Glass.

The ballet is based on the real Alice, Alice Liddell, at home with her chaotic family and friend of the family, Lewis Carroll, an amateur photographer and storyteller. Real characters from Alice's life become characters in Carroll's marvelous story about a little girl's adventures in Wonderland. Alice's magical journey begins, of course, with her unforgettable journey down the rabbit hole. Alice's overbearing mother becomes the Queen of Hearts, her sisters become Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and Lewis Carroll himself becomes the Mad Hatter. Carroll's wit and love of puns are present as well with snap dragon flies, rocking horse flies and bread and butter flies. Alice is a polite well-mannered child who finds herself in a crazy world where the rules of social etiquette don't matter and time is irrelevant. She quickly learns how to adapt to this "curiouser and curiouser" world and eventually becomes the heroine that brings down the Queen of Hearts and her house of cards.

The Nutcracker

December 6-24, 2014

Kansas City Ballet will present Kansas City's favorite holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

After an enormously successful run of 33 years and over 600 performances, this season's presentation of Todd Bolender's The Nutcracker, presented by Bank of America, marks the final season for this version of the revered production. Premiering in 2015 will be a traditional yet reimagined new production choreographed by Artistic Director Devon Carney.

"After more than three decades of this glorious holiday presentation, we came to believe it was time to create an entirely new production," Carney said. "Today we have a new generation of dancers who are ready for the next generation of dance. This last season of Mr. Bolender's Nutcracker will be a very special tribute to Todd with joyous celebration from start to finish."

The Nutcracker, featuring the music of Peter I. Tchaikovsky and choreography of Todd Bolender, returns for 18 final public performances and three matinees for schools. This two-act ballet continues to delight audiences with its magnificent sets, costumes and special effects. Three casts of Kansas City Ballet dancers, plus more than 175 local youngsters ages 7 to 17 selected from Kansas CityBallet School, will perform E.T.A. Hoffman's story. The Nutcracker is presented by Bank of America.

New Moves

Feb. 6-14, 2015

New Moves is a unique performance event designed to search out, develop and showcase new emerging choreographers both from within Kansas City Ballet and from the national dance scene.

"New Moves is a chance for audiences to see the next big choreographer before they are considered the next big choreographer," Carney said. "It is a very up close and visceral experience for audience and dancer alike, with all performances held in the Bolender Center's intimate Michael and Ginger Frost Studio Theater. Our Kansas City Ballet artists and emerging choreographers, together reaching the very edge, discover bold new ways of expression."

An important part of Kansas City Ballet's mission is to enrich lives by offering a variety of programming designed to develop dance artists and enthusiasts. New Moves offers behind-the-scenes access and brings you closer to the artists and performances. The 2014-2015 subscription does not include New Moves. Subscribers only may buy discountedNew Moves tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

Giselle

March 13-22, 2015

This production of Giselle newly staged by Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney, after Marius Petipa to the enchanting music of Adolphe Adam, is an opportunity to enjoy one of ballet's great romantic classics. Created in 1841, the hauntingly beautiful Giselle is considered by many to be the supreme achievement of the Romantic Age of Ballet.

Giselle, a full-length ballet in two acts, tells the tale of enduring love even after death, featuring two of the most celebrated and demanding roles for a ballerina and premier danseur. This haunting and tragic ballet tells the heart-breaking story of an innocent young village girl who falls in love with Albrecht, a prince disguised as a peasant lad. Act I closes with Giselle discovering his real identity and that he is betrothed to the Duke's daughter. Giselle, driven mad with grief, dies of a broken heart - a scene widely recognized to be the most dramatically challenging role in the ballet canon. Act II unfolds as Albrecht comes grieving to her grave and is surrounded by Wilis, the spirits of young girls who were jilted before their wedding day and now seek revenge upon men by dancing them to their deaths. Giselle protects him from the avenging spirits, and through true love, saves him from death. This ballet is one of the most technically challenging for dancers. Giselle exemplifies the exhilaration of love, the tragic heartbreak of betrayal and the power of forgiveness.

Dances Daring (then and now)

May 8-17, 2015

Closing the 2014-2015 season, the Dances Daring program presents an all-time classic by George Balanchine, plus two exciting new choreographers' Kansas City premieres and an excerpt from one of the works of Todd Bolender to celebrate the centennial of his birth.

Wunderland

Internationally feted choreographer Edwaard Liang's Wunderland, premiered at Washington Ballet in 2009, features the music of Philip Glass. This is a haunting, visually striking contemporary ensemble ballet with two contrasting beautiful duets, underscoring the perfect control of the dancers through the geometric lines of their movements. The final moments of the second poignant pas de deux are reminiscent of a picturesque land of wonder as snow begins to fall onto the stage.

Liang explains: "While I was in Russia, I was choreographing a new ballet, and there was a huge snow globe in the hotel room where I was staying. It was a replica of the city that I was in. I had the music for Wunderland with me, and I was inspired by the snow globe."

The Still Point

The program continues with the third movement from one of the most revered works of Todd Bolender, The Still Point,with music by Claude Debussy. Mr. Bolender was artistic director of Kansas City Ballet from 1981-1995 and Emeritus until his death in 2006. The Ballet is presented in celebration of Bolender's long and influential career and the 100thanniversary of his birth.

Amy Seiwert Kansas City Premiere

The Kansas City Premiere by young choreographer Amy Seiwert who is gaining national renown for her surprising, remarkable work that expands and enriches the manner in which we all view ballet. Named as one of "25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine in 2005, she has twice been invited to participate in the NY Choreography Institute by Peter Martins, New York City Ballet's Ballet Master in Chief. Through masterful and courageous ideas and images, she creates thrilling honesty and emotion, oftentimes mixing genres.

The Amy Seiwert Premiere is a co-commission of the Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community Collegeand Kansas City Ballet. This marks the second year of the New Dance Partners Project initiated by the prestigious Performing Arts Series. The currently untitled work will have its world premiere this fall at the JCCC performing arts center.

The Four Temperaments

Created in 1946, George Balanchine's neoclassical The Four Temperaments with music by Paul Hindemith, is based on the ancient idea that the human organism is composed of four humors or temperaments: Melancholic, Sanguinity, Phlegmatic, and Choleric. The dominance of one of these determines the human disposition. The Four Temperamentsis pure energy. The ballet sometimes seems an explosion of energetic innovations, a working vocabulary which makes much of jutting angularities, syncopation and asymmetrical moves. The stage is alive with novel footwork and brief spectacular solos. The ballet seems, on reflection, to be particularly and admirably American, given its technical prowess and high-energy demands. That The Four Temperaments seems today as fresh and exciting as ever confirms Balanchine's artistic genius and creative vision.

At The Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity

500 W. Pershing Road

Kansas City, MO 64108

KC Dance Day

August 23, 2014 | Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity

This fun-filled day kicks off the 2014-15 season and will feature FREE dance performances from area companies, classes, demonstrations and FUN for the whole family. To register for classes or for more information, please visit our website at www.kcballet.org.

FREE classes for all ages from 9:30 a.m. through 4:45 p.m.

FREE Kids' dance performances from 10:00 a.m. through 11:30 a.m.

FREE World dance performances from 12:30 p.m. through 2:55 p.m.

FREE Local dance performances starting at 3 p.m. (including Kansas City Ballet open rehearsal)

First Fridays

September 5 and April 3, 2015 | Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity

Kansas City Ballet's popular First Fridays are 90-minute (6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.) dance previews hosted by Artistic Director Devon Carney and KCB artistic staff to offer a sneak peek into an upcoming production. It's a casual, come as you are, stay as long as you'd like kind of evening. Tickets are $5 and reservations are required. Please visit our website at www.kcballet.org.

Sponsors

The Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, Bank of America, Kansas City Ballet Guild, the National Endowment of the Arts, the Missouri Arts Council-a state agency and the Arts Council of Greater Kansas City, support Kansas City Ballet's 57th season.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Season Subscriber Information

For this stirring and unique season in the Kauffman Center, a Series Subscription Package is suggested for best seating. Season ticket patrons enjoy a 3-show series comprised of Alice (in wonderland), Giselle, and Dances Daring (then and now) shows, with the option to add on Kansas City's favorite holiday tradition, The Nutcracker and New Movesbefore tickets go on sale to the public.

All season series feature major savings and patron benefits including: priority seating in the Kauffman Center, ticket discounts, savings on single ticket prices, free ticket exchanges and the chance to purchase discounted tickets for The Nutcracker. Subscribers save up to 20% off individual show tickets. Parents, note this great opportunity to introduce the arts to your children; patrons under 21 can purchase season tickets for half price with an adult subscription order.

2014-2015 season tickets range in price from $117 to $261 for the 3-show package. For ticket information, please call the Kansas City Ballet ticket office at 816.931.2232 or visit our website at www.kcballet.org.

About Kansas City Ballet

To make Kansas City a destination for dance

Founded in 1957, Kansas City Ballet is a 29-member professional ballet company under the leadership of Artistic Director Devon Carney and Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley. The company's mission is to establish Kansas City Ballet as an indispensable asset in its community through exceptional performances, excellence in dance training and quality community education programs for all ages.

Kansas City Ballet is home to Kansas City Ballet School with an enrollment of 700 children and adults offering professional training for the career-minded student as well as for those simply seeking a healthy lifestyle.

Through its professional company, its second company (KCB II) and its many community service programs such as Reach Out and Dance (ROAD) and DanceINFORMances, we seek to nurture and develop our artists, audiences and students in the values inherent in the creativity, diversity and joy of dance.

Our home, the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity on the campus of Union Station, in conjunction with our Resident Company status at the world-class Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts has truly positioned Kansas Cityas a Destination for Dance.

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