CNY Ballet Debut! Swan Lake Act II & Bolero at Oncenter Carrier Theater

Experience the grandeur of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece Swan Lake Act II alongside new choreography to Ravel’s dizzying Boléro performed by the dancers that have captured the nation’s attention as they debut in their new artist-centered and community focused company. These new works are choreographed by Aldo Kattón, whom the dancers elected as their Artistic Leader for their debut season. The program also includes Kattón’s A Thing of Beauty and Lies with music composed by Mark Olivieri, as well as a premiere of original choreography created on CNY Ballet’s dancers by Jared Brunson, Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Virginia. 

Swan Lake is one of the most beloved classical ballet works and has been for over a century. In Act II, Prince Seigfried falls in love with the beautiful Queen Odette on the shores of a moonlit lake. Odette has been cursed by the evil sorcerer Rothbart to be a swan by day and human by night. Only true love can break the spell.  This scene includes the famous pas de deux between Odette and Siegfried as well as some of the most iconic moments in this masterpiece set to Tchaikovsky’s hauntingly beautiful music. 

The fragile elegance of Swan Lake is paired with the power of Ravel’s whirling ode to Iberia, Boléro. Ravel’s ever popular and accidental masterpiece evokes ferocious passion and strength with its sustained crescendo. CNYB will also perform Aldo Kattón’s new work, A Thing of Beauty and Lies,  with original music by Mark Olivieri, which premieres February 16-18 as part of The Society for New Music’s Vision of Sound, andwill premiere a new work with original choreography created on CNY Ballet’s dancers by Jared Brunson, Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Virginia.  

This production marks the official debut of Central New York Ballet in response to the groundswell of support within this community. The organizational architecture is centered around the artists, who have voice and influence on all levels of the company. The dancers unanimously elected Aldo Kattón to lead them artistically and have elected Lucy Hamilton and Claire Solis from within their ranks to serve as Dancer Representatives to the management and artistic teams.

This production includes a youth cast of 17 young artists from Dance Centre North, whose director Cathy Mucci has so generously donated rehearsal space to CNYB for this inaugural season, as well as from Ballet & Dance of Upstate NY, River Rhythms Dance Center, and Ballet & Dance Center. These young artists have been training under the guidance of the professionals since January.