Colorado Ballet Presents 'Ballet Director's Choice', 3/25

Colorado Ballet will close the 2015-2016 season with a collection of contemporary works in Ballet Director's Choice March 25-27, 2016 at the June Swaner Gates Concert Hall at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts.

The production will open with contemporary choreographer Dominic Walsh's Wolfgang (for Webb), with music by W. A. Mozart. Wolfgang premiered with the Sarasota Ballet in 2008 and in 2009, it was performed as part of The Trilogy: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in a collaboration between Dominic Walsh Dance Theater and the Sarasota Ballet. Walsh is a former Principal Dancer and choreographer with Houston Ballet and founder of contemporary ballet company, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater.

Ballet Director's Choice will then feature two pas de deuxs including choreographer Amy Seiwert award-winning It's Not a Cry, set to Jeff Buckley's recording of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." The second pas de deux will be choreographer Gerald Arpino's Light Rain, which was has been The Joffrey Ballet's signature piece since its premiere in 1981. Seiwert is the artistic director of Imagery and was a former dancer with the Smuin, LA Chamber and Sacramento Ballets. She also served as the choreographer in residence at Smuin Ballet. Arpino was the co-founder of The Joffrey Ballet and created more than 1/3 of the Company's repertoire.

The production will close with the world premiere of the tango-inspired ballet The Angel of Buenos Aires by choreographer and Colorado Ballet's Ballet Mistress Lorita Travaglia. The ballet will feature live music by the Austin Piazzolla Quintet. In addition to her work at Colorado Ballet, Travaglia is the Creative Director of Parasol Arts, a non-profit organization that takes inspiration from the art of Argentine Tango.

"Ballet Director's Choice highlights the talents of Colorado Ballet's dancers through a diverse selection of ballets that break the rules," said Colorado Ballet Artistic Director Gil Boggs. "Audiences will see a range of different dancing styles, from contemporary to Tango, all in one amazing performance. Ballet Director's Choice is the perfect production to debut an exciting world premiere ballet with our extremely talented Company."

Performance Dates and Times:

Friday, March 25, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 2 p.m.

Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 27, 2016 at 2 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $30 to $155. To purchase tickets, visit www.coloradoballet.org or call 303-837-8888 ext. 2.

Colorado Ballet will also present an encore performance of Ballet Director's Choice at 8 p.m. on April 1, 2016 at the Lone Tree Arts Center. Visit www.lonetreeartscenter.org for more information.

About Colorado Ballet

Established in 1961 by Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker, Colorado Ballet is a non-profit organization celebrating 55 years of presenting world-class classical ballet and superior dance in Denver. Under the direction of Artistic Director Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet presents more than 50 performances annually. Colorado Ballet enhances the cultural life of Colorado through performances of the professional company, training at the Academy, and Education & Community Engagement programs. Visit www.coloradoballet.org.