Anna Pavlova News

New York City Center's acclaimed Fall for Dance Festival, running September 22 - October 3, 2009, will feature 20 companies in 10 nights of dance and will pay tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the Ballets Russes. The sixth annual Festival will once again offer all tickets for only $10. Tickets will go on sale Sunday, September 13 at 11:00 am.

New York City Center's acclaimed Fall for Dance Festival, running September 22 - October 3, 2009, will feature 20 companies in 10 nights of dance and will pay tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the Ballets Russes.

Igor Stravinsky, Vaslav Nijinsky, Léon Bakst, Pablo Picasso, and George Balanchine are among the great collaborators who worked in Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, where they changed the face of modern ballet and influenced the course of the arts in the 20th century. Diaghilev's Theater of Marvels: The Ballets Russes and Its Aftermath, a new exhibition at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, draws on diverse materials from the Library's renowned collections to tell the remarkable story of the company and the impresario who founded it.

Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center welcomes the return of American Ballet Theatre (ABT), America?s National Ballet Company®, led by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, July 16-19, with its full-evening production of Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet. MacMillan's masterful interpretation of Shakespeare's enduring romantic tragedy entered American Ballet Theatre?s repertoire in 1985 and has since become one of the Company?s signature productions. Against the sumptuous setting of Renaissance Italy, MacMillan weaves a dance tapestry rich in character nuance and sensuality, and Sergei Prokofiev's stirring music underscores the lyric beauty and passion of this beloved ballet's star-crossed lovers.

Igor Stravinsky, Vaslav Nijinsky, Léon Bakst, Pablo Picasso, and George Balanchine are among the great collaborators who worked in Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, where they changed the face of modern ballet and influenced the course of the arts in the 20th century. Diaghilev's Theater of Marvels: The Ballets Russes and Its Aftermath, a new exhibition at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, draws on diverse materials from the Library's renowned collections to tell the remarkable story of the company and the impresario who founded it.

Media City Ballet of Los Angeles, Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director, in association with Woodbury University will present Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo, Best Couple Winners of NBC Television?s Premiere Season of ?SuperStars of Dance,? in ?Tango, Tonight!,? A One Night Only Special Event to be held in The New Woody?s Café at Woodbury University; 7500 Glenoaks Avenue; Burbank, CA 91510 from 6:30 ? 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2009.

Media City Ballet of Los Angeles, Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director, in association with Woodbury University will present Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo, Best Couple Winners of NBC Television's Premiere Season of 'SuperStars of Dance,' in 'TANGO, TONIGHT!,' A One Night Only Special Event to be held in The New Woody's Café at Woodbury University; 7500 Glenoaks Avenue; Burbank, CA 91510 from 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2009.

Media City Ballet of Los Angeles, Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director, in association with Woodbury University will present Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo, Best Couple Winners of NBC Television?s Premiere Season of ?SuperStars of Dance,? in ?Tango, Tonight!,? A One Night Only Special Event to be held in The New Woody?s Café at Woodbury University; 7500 Glenoaks Avenue; Burbank, CA 91510 from 6:30 ? 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2009.

Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center welcomes the return of American Ballet Theatre (ABT), America?s National Ballet Company®, led by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, July 16-19, with its full-evening production of Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet. MacMillan's masterful interpretation of Shakespeare's enduring romantic tragedy entered American Ballet Theatre?s repertoire in 1985 and has since become one of the Company?s signature productions. Against the sumptuous setting of Renaissance Italy, MacMillan weaves a dance tapestry rich in character nuance and sensuality, and Sergei Prokofiev's stirring music underscores the lyric beauty and passion of this beloved ballet's star-crossed lovers.

In March 2009, the new Theatre and Performance galleries at the V&A will open to the public. The galleries replace those at the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, which closed in 2007. The new displays will explore the process of performance, from the initial conception, through the design and development stages, to audiences' reactions. A section on costume design will include Maria Bjornson's design for Michael Crawford as the Phantom of the Opera as well as realised garments worn by performers including Richard Burton as Henry V, Adam Ant as Prince Charming and an Ossie Clarke jump suit worn by Mick Jagger. A section on set design will display models, sketches and stage props.

MEDIA CITY BALLET OF LOS ANGELES Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director Presents Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Classic Holiday Ballet, 'The Nutcracker' A Magical Ballet Performance for Children and Adults Choreographed and Directed By Natasha Middleton Pre-Show Mini-Concert By The Taft High School Vocal Ensemble Directed by Tom Pease The Alex Theatre; 216 North Brand Blvd.; Glendale, CA Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Media City Ballet of Los Angeles, Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director, Choreographer and Director will present a magical production of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker," featuring a cast of 70 award-winning dancers, visual illusions, special effects and aerialists. A pre-show mini-concert featuring singers from the Taft High School Vocal Ensemble, under the direction of Tom Pease, will be presented 15 minutes prior to each performance of the ballet. Performances will be given at the Alex Theatre, 216 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91203 on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Television and theatre actress Elmarie Wendel will serve as producer.

MEDIA CITY BALLET OF LOS ANGELES Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director Presents Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Classic Holiday Ballet, 'The Nutcracker' A Magical Ballet Performance for Children and Adults Choreographed and Directed By Natasha Middleton Pre-Show Mini-Concert By The Taft High School Vocal Ensemble Directed by Tom Pease The Alex Theatre; 216 North Brand Blvd.; Glendale, CA Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

There's a great pleasure in talking to veteran performers. They've been through it all and have many great stories to tell. Such was the case recently in a conversation with dancer/ singer/ actress/comedienne Mitzi Gaynor. This great lady starred in such Hollywood successes as THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS with Ethel Merman, THE JOKER IS WILD with Frank Sinatra, the re-make of ANYTHING GOES with Bing Cosby and Donald O'Connor, LES GIRLS with Gene Kelly and SOUTH PACIFIC with Rossano Brazzi. She also wowed television audiences in the 60's and 70's with a series of specials that captivated America and had schoolboys rushing home from sporting events to watch them. Without a doubt, Mitzi Gaynor was a show business phenomenon and she remains one today as she prepares for the public television airing of her new documentary called 'Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years.'

Media City Ballet (MCB), Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director, will open the company's Seventh Annual Season with a program entitled 'Ballet Russe Remembered,' to be presented at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Boulevard, Glendale, CA on Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. The All-Russian program will feature Principal Dancers from Media City Ballet. The Maple Youth Ballet, Charles Maple, Director, as will appear as a Guest Ballet Company.

Although Muriel Spark's novel could certainly make for a fine play, Jay Presson Allen's stage adaptation is better served when treated as a star vehicle