CARMINA BURANA, DON QUIXOTE, THE NUTCRACKER and More Set for Richmond Ballet's 2014-15 Season

Richmond Ballet is pleased to announce the line-up for the 2014-15 season, a season that will include a three-production residency at the Carpenter Theatre beginning in late October, as well as a three-part Studio Series that will once again open the season beginning in September. The 2014-15 season will feature the return of one of the most popular pieces from the Ballet's repertory in Carmina Burana, John Butler's impassioned masterwork, set to Carl Orff's musical triumph of the same name. Nicolas Beriozoff's Don Quixote, a thrilling full-length ballet alive with flair and some of the best music ever written for ballet in the memorable score of Ludwig Minkus, is also set to return to the Carpenter Theatre stage this season. The holiday favorite, The Nutcracker, will once again be part of the Ballet's much anticipated Carpenter Theatre residency.

Carmina Burana will anchor a special mixed repertory program in October, as Richmond Ballet will also celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The School of Richmond Ballet (The School, SRB) with the presentation of George Balanchine's Mozartiana. Students from The School will join current company members, some of whom are among SRB's notable alumni, on stage for Balanchine's final masterpiece. Students will also be featured in a special revival of Stoner Winslett's Danse Macabre, returning to coincide with the Halloween weekend.

The 2014-15 Studio Series will feature five world premiere works, including a new piece by Darrell Grand Moultrie who set a work for the Ballet's New Works Festival during the 2012-13 season, and who has become one of the most sought-after contemporary choreographers working today. In addition, Val Caniparoli's Swipe and Balanchine's elegant Liebeslieder Walzer will return to the Richmond Ballet Studio Theatre this coming season.

The upcoming season will conclude with a preview of the mixed repertory program, Made in The USA: Traditions & Innovations, which the Ballet will take to China as part of the 'Meet in Beijing' Arts Festival in May of 2015.

"I believe this is one of the strongest season's we have ever put together at Richmond Ballet," said Richmond Ballet Artistic Director Stoner Winslett. "With offerings that range from both beloved classics to brand new contemporary works, this season is a perfect representation of what Richmond Ballet would like to carry forward into our next thirty years. I am particularly excited to have the opportunity to revive John Butler's Carmina Burana this year. John Butler asked me to help keep his works alive after he was gone, and to share this ballet, on the beautiful Carpenter Theatre stage with the full power of the Richmond Symphony and the Richmond Symphony Chorus, will truly be a memorable moment - among many special moments - this season."

Richmond Ballet 2014-15 Studio Series is generously sponsored by Altria Group.

Richmond Ballet's production of The Nutcracker is sponsored by Dominion Resources,
with additional major support from the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation. A grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation supports live musical accompaniment for select Richmond Ballet productions. Richmond Ballet also receives support from the Arts and Cultural Funding Consortium (City of Richmond, Hanover County and Henrico County), the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts
and Richmond Ballet Choreographers' Fund.

For more information on Richmond Ballet and its classes and programs, visit www.richmondballet.com or call 804.344.0906.