Omaha Theater Ballet Presents CONFETTI 10/22-11/1

The Rose Theater's Omaha Theater Ballet will showcase its choreographers' creative talents in the annual production of Confetti. This festive mix of sparkling new choreography, presented in the intimate Hitchcock Theater, October 22 to November 1, is regarded as an audience favorite. This year's program consists of six diverse works ranging in styles from traditional classical ballet to jazz and swing.

The diversity of the pieces reflects the talents and interests of the choreographers, who are also Omaha Theater Ballet dancers. "I created this forum to give both the dancers and the audience a chance to experience somethingnew," said Ballet Artistic Director Robin Welch.

"Today's dancers are the creative choreographers of tomorrow and by giving them a chance to develop their talent, we're also giving our audience a chance to see fresh, individual visions."This years' program will include Pridelands by Deborah Carr; Phantasmagoria by Matthew Carter; The Diner by Erika Overturff; Let's Call It Off by Harrison McEldowney; It Starts with a Stepchoreographed by Lotte Goslar and staged by Robin Welch; and Paquita choreographed by JosephMazilier and Marius Petipa and staged by Robin Welch.Each piece features its own spirit and energy, ranging from the grace and lyricism of Paquita, to the playfully energetic and modern Phantasmagoria, to the animalistic nature of Pridelands.

Omaha Theater Ballet Presents ConfettiPage 2 of 2Deborah Carr, Ballet Mistress for Omaha Theater Ballet, was awarded the Nebraska Arts Council's Merit Award for choreography for her ballet Pridelands. "The idea for this ballet developed frommy fascination with African wildlife," said Carr. "I decided to portray three main groups of animals: a powerful and confident pride of lions, a herd of graceful, yet vulnerable, gazelles and a flock of playful and whimsical birds.Welch elected to bring back nationally renowned choreographer Harrison McEldowney to stage his wonderful duet Let's Call It Off.

McEldowney choreographed Swing, Swing, Swing! for the Omaha Theater Ballet last season which earned rave reviews. "I saw Let's Call It Off several years ago danced by Hubbard Street in Chicago and fell in love with it," said Welch. "I am confident audiences will enJoy Harrison's fun and flirty work just as much as I do!" Erika Overturff, dancer and resident choreographer with Omaha Theater Ballet, always looks forward to Confetti. "I enjoy the transition from being the tool by which ideas are expressed, to expressingmy own concepts and bringing them to life."

Confetti 2009 will be presented October 22 to November 1 in the Hitchcock Theater of The Rose Theater with performances each Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4:30 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. The show is recommended for ages 6 to adult and runs 80 minutes with intermission.Tickets are $16 and may be purchased at The Rose Box Office located at 2001 Farnam Street, by telephone at (402) 345-5401 or online at www.rosetheater.org. Rose members save $6 per ticket.The Rose's 2009/2010 season is sponsored by Children's Hospital & Medical Center. Confetti issponsored by KGOR 99.9 FM and the Nebraska Arts Council