Washington Ballet Premieres Historical Video Celebrating 40 Years, 1/10

To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Washington Ballet performance company, the Ballet will premiere to the general public, a three-part video series that takes viewers on an emotional and inspirational look back at the people and creative works that have come to define the professional Dance Company since its start in 1976. The first video will be released on TWB's YouTube channel (TWBallet) Tuesday, January 10 at 10AM and will feature rarely seen video of founder Mary Day and choreographer Choo San Goh in studio and on tour. The video series was included in The Washington Ballet's 40thAnniversary Celebration at the Kennedy Center on September 30.

Parts two and three of the video series will premiere on TWB's YouTube channel January 17 and 24, respectively at 10AM. These videos include interviews with TWB Artistic Director Julie Kent, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre and former Washington School of Ballet student Kevin McKenzie, former TWB Artistic Director Septime Webre and former TWB General Director Elvi Moore.

This year's 40th Anniversary Season includes a restaging of the classic ballet Giselle by Julie Kent and Associate Artistic Director Victor Barbee, March 1-5 at the Kennedy Center, along with mixed repertoire programs: Kylián, Peck, Forsythe at the Harman Center March 29-April 2; Balanchine, Ratmansky, Tharp at Warner Theatre April 26-30; and Tudor, Ashton, World Premiere at the Kennedy Center May 25-27.

The World Premiere, Frontier, is Artistic Director Julie Kent's first-ever commissioned work, choreographed by Ethan Stiefel and inspired by President Kennedy and his aspirations for America as a leader of artistic, cultural and intellectual excellence. Stiefel investigates space exploration through the perspective of the astronaut, delving into the emotional and physical rigors required for space travel. From the enigmatic anticipation of the adventure yet subsequent isolation in having such a unique and powerful experience, the astronaut's journey is compelling.

The 40th Anniversary video series was produced by award-winning local filmmakers Brandon and Lance Kramer of Meridian Hill Pictures.

To learn more about The Washington Ballet's 40th Anniversary Season, visitwashingtonballet.org.

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON BALLET: The Washington Ballet (TWB) was originally founded as The Washington School of Ballet in 1944 by legendary ballet pioneer Mary Day and incorporated as a professional company in 1976. The Washington Ballet is one of the pre-eminent ballet organizations in the United States. TWB built an international reputation presenting bold works by choreographers from around the world, including Choo San Goh, Christopher Wheeldon, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Hans van Manen and Ji?í Kylián, as well as neoclassical masterworks and fresh staging of 19th century classics. Under the leadership of Interim Executive Director Shakira Segundo and Artistic Director Julie Kent, TWB continues to serve its three-part mission: ensuring excellence in its professional performance company; growing the next generation of dancers through its Washington School of Ballet; and serving the community in which it resides through robust community engagement programs.

ABOUT MERIDIAN HILL PICTURES: Meridian Hill Pictures (MHP) is a DC-based documentary Production Company started by brothers Brandon and Lance Kramer in 2010. MHP produces independent documentary films that explore complex social issues through people-centered stories, most recently the feature-length film CITY OF TREES (aired on PBS' America ReFramed in April 2016/January 2017, official selection in the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and DC Environmental Film Festival) and THE MESSY TRUTH WITH Van Jones (aired on Facebook and CNN.com to more than 4 million viewers during the 2016 election). MHP also partners with change-minded organizations to leverage documentary storytelling to communicate complex initiatives, interventions and concepts through authentic, personal, compelling visual stories. MHP has produced film projects with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), National Endowment for the Humanities, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, AARP Foundation, International Baccalaureate Organization, Ford's Theatre, National Park Service, Ashoka Foundation and The Washington Ballet.

To learn more about Meridian Hill Pictures, visit meridianhillpictures.com