Texas Ballet Theater's 16-17 Season to Feature London's Royal Ballet, Two Premieres and More

Texas Ballet Theater Artistic Director Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., announces the Company's 2016-2017 season, which includes a co-production with London's world-renowned Royal Ballet, two world premieres, a company premiere by a Tony Award-winning choreographer, and a performance that will rock North Texas with music by the Rolling Stones.

"This season is one of the most exciting and daring seasons we've put together -- not just relying on the classics, but also bringing new works into the repertoire by outstanding choreographers," says Stevenson.

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With accompaniment by Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya, TBT will launch its season on Friday, September 16, 2016, with a mixed repertory featuring Carmen choreographed by Carlos Acosta with music by Georges Bizet and Danse À Grande Vitesse choreographed by Tony Award-winning Christopher Wheeldon with music by Michael Nyman.

Choreographed by famed Cuban dancer Carolos Acosta and co-produced by London's Royal Ballet, Australia's Queensland Ballet and TBT, Carmen was created for Acosta's home company, the Royal Ballet. Acosta's Carmen presents a cautionary tale -- one of a free spirit with an appetite for life and love who has a chance encounter with fate. Will passion be her downfall?

Sharing the same playbill, Wheeldon is lauded by The New York Times as, "...one of the most important and in-demand ballet choreographers working today." With 26 dancers and four couples at its core Danse À Grande Vitesse propels the dancers through shifting physical and emotional landscapes.

Carmen and Danse À Grande Vitesse

Accompaniment by Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

Conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya

Winspear Opera House

Bass Performance Hall

September 16-18, 2016

October 7-9, 2016

November and December will a welcome holiday tradition like no other to both the Winspear Opera House and Bass Performance Hall. According to the Dallas Morning News, Ben Stevenson's The Nutcracker "...takes the magical impossibilities of a Christmas dream and in the dark of the theater, makes them beautifully, tantalizingly real."

The Nutcracker

Winspear Opera House

Bass Performance Hall

November 25-27, 2016

December 2-4, 2016

December 9-11, 15, 17-18, 21-24, 2016

Also in December is Ben Stevenson's The Nutty Nutcracker, a perennial sellout that is a send-up of pop culture featuring wild characters and racy action from start to finish. It's a holiday favorite that's nuttier than a fruitcake.

Texas Ballet Theater's production of The Nutty Nutcracker is made possible by the support of the M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation.

The Nutty Nutcracker

Bass Performance Hall

December 16, 2016

March brings a mixed repertory to Bass Performance Hall featuring Christopher Bruce's Rooster with music by the Rolling Stones along with two world premieres created for TBT by celebrated choreographers Avi Scher and Garrett Smith.

When talking about Rooster, Bruce says, "The dancers seem to really enjoy dancing it - but the piece is much harder than it looks. On stage it appears as if they are just having a lot of fun but the discipline it requires is exacting. I always say to the dancers that the choreography has to be as accurate as a Balanchine ballet.

"Like the Rolling Stones' music, it seems to affect and engage a whole range of generations from youngsters to 80-year-olds, which is wonderful."

On the same playbill with Bruce's Rooster will be a World Premiere created by Avi Scher. Scher's first commission as a choreographer came at age 18, creating "Jouons" for American Ballet Theater's Studio. His choreography has been praised by The New York Times as, "Intelligent and packed with technical challenges."

On the same bill will be yet another World Premiere created specifically for TBT by Garrett Smith. When asked about Smith, Stevenson said, "He's new, interesting, exciting and going in a different direction. I want choreographers who have something to say, and Garrett Smith does."

Rooster & Scher & Smith

Bass Performance Hall

March 3-5, 2017

TBT will end the season in May and June with Ben Stevenson's Alice in Wonderland, music by Joseph Horovitz, at both the Winspear Opera House and Bass Performance Hall. In Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will accompany TBT for Alice's fantastic dream with a bouncing rabbit, a beguiling cat and a crazy queen.

Alice in Wonderland

Winspear Opera House

Bass Performance Hall

Accompaniment by

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

June 2-4, 2017

May 19-21, 2017

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Full season subscriptions, with tickets to three productions, are now available and range in price from $72 to $276. Subscribers receive advanced selection of seats and location is guaranteed for as long as subscriptions are held. Throughout the season, subscribers can purchase additional tickets at a 20% discount, excluding The Nutty Nutcracker. To subscribe, call 877.828.9200 option 1 or purchase online at www.TexasBalletTheater.org.

Single tickets go on sale Friday, July 1, 2016, and may be purchased by calling 877.828.9200 option 1 or purchased online at www.TexasBalletTheater.org.

Texas Ballet Theater is the only fully professional, classical ballet company in North Texas and is honored to be the only arts organization to serve as resident company for both leading performance venues in Dallas and Fort Worth -- Winspear Opera House and Bass Performance Hall. TBT is an internationally recognized company built on a rich 55-year history; it boasts a repertoire that is creative, expressive and collaborative.

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