The Israel Ballet Returns To The US For The First Time In 25 Years

For the first time in 25, years, The Israel Ballet returns to the United States for their fourth U.S. tour. They will perform on Valentine's Day at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Sunday, February 14 at 7:30 p.m.

The Israel Ballet is the only company in Israel performing the great classical and neo-classical ballets of the international repertoire. The company was founded in 1967 by Berta Yampolsky and Hillel Markman who have continued to be its Artistic Directors until today.

The greatest pride of The Israel Ballet lies in the original works made for the company by its founder and Artistic Director. Berta Yampolsky has created new productions of the classical ballets Cinderella, The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty. On top of this there are her many neo-classic and contemporary creations for which she has won great critical acclaim. To name just a few - Medea, Xta, Two by Two and Everyone, Written in the Sand, Gurrelieder, Optimus, Harmonium and most recently Ni-Na.

Since its establishment The Israel Ballet has performed at prominent festivals all over the world earning recognition and bringing honor to the State of Israel.

In 1977 the company set out on its first tour of The United States, since then two more tours have been undertaken, including Argentina and Chile and the dancers have been praised enthusiastically from coast to coast. The company has been invited to return to the U.S. in February 2010 for a month-long East Coast tour.

In 1999, just a short time after the restoration of diplomatic relations with China, The Israel Ballet arrived in Beijing for the first time at the invitation of The Chinese Ministry of Culture. Four years later, the company was invited for a second time to perform all over the country and in January 2009, the company was one of the first to be invited to perform at Beijing's new Grand Theatre. Similarly, in recent years, The Israel Ballet has attained success in Turkey, Finland, Germany, Austria, The United Kingdom, Malta, Hungary, Italy, Cyprus and Bucharest.

The Israel Ballet
Sunday, February 14, 7:30 p.m.
Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

The performance is sponsored by Cox Media and Dharma Endowment Foundation.

Ticket Prices: $23.25 - $44.50

Web sites:
University of Florida Performing Arts: www.performingarts.ufl.edu
The Israel Ballet: http://www.iballet.co.il/

To Purchase tickets, call the Phillips Center Box Office at 352-392-ARTS (2787) or 800-905-ARTS (toll-free within Florida) or call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 (toll-free). Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Phillips Center Box Office, the University Box Office at the University of Florida Reitz Union or from any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Cash, checks, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

UF students may purchase $10 tickets (with a valid student ID) at the Phillips Center Box Office and the University Box Office at the Reitz Union. Other students may purchase $10 student tickets (in the balcony) at the Phillips Center Box Office.

Performance dates, times and programs are subject to change.

University of Florida Performing Arts does more than entertain. It breaks down walls. It breaks down the walls between people by increasing cultural awareness through programming that attracts artists and audiences from around the globe. It breaks down the wall between patron and performer with educational programs such as master classes, artist residencies and pre- and post-performance discussions. It breaks down the wall between health and illness with AIM Together, a collaborative program between UFPA and Shands HealthCare that brings world-class performing artists to those who are hospitalized. It breaks down the wall between idea and realization by commissioning and nurturing new work. Art doesn't have walls. But sometimes life does. UFPA breaks down the walls, enriching the lives of the citizens in the Heart of Florida, helping to make Gainesville "the #1 place to live."

 

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