John Cranko News

From September 4-14, 2014, Houston Ballet launches its 45th season with the company premiere of John Neumeier's three-act ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream. The ballet is based on Shakespeare's lighthearted play of the same name and follows the hijinks and hilarity that ensues when a well-intentioned plan with a love potion goes awry. Created in 1977, A Midsummer Night's Dream has served as Mr. Neumeier's calling card, being seen as one of his most joyous and popular creations. Houston Ballet is the first American ballet company to perform the famous work and it is the first piece by Mr. Neumeier to enter the Houston Ballet repertoire.

SPRING & FALL, one of the most exciting dance seasons ever to grace the South African stage, will be presented by the Cape Town City Ballet in September. Three captivating works by world-renowned choreographer, John Neumeier of Hamburg Ballet, will be premiered in South Africa for the very first time.

One of Bollywood's brightest stars, Australian born Pallavi Sharda will add a touch of Bollywood glamour to the opening night of Stanton Welch's La Bayadère when she joins Melbourne's glitterati for its Australian première this August.

April 26, 2014 marks the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth. In honor of this milestone in world culture, Houston Ballet will present dance interpretations of great Shakespearean works by choreographers from three continents: a lavish new production of Romeo and Juliet by Stanton Welch; the company premiere of John Neumeier's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a revival of John Cranko's The Taming of the Shrew.

Now through June 1, 2014 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program showcasing works by three of the twentieth century's greatest choreographers entitled Modern Masters. The program features the company premiere of Jir?i? Kylia?n's comic and delightful Sechs Ta?nze (Six Dances), along with revivals of his playful and sexy work Petite Mort, William Forsythe's explosive In the middle, somewhat elevated and George Balanchine's complex and inventive The Four Temperaments. Houston Ballet will give six performances of the program in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center.

From today, May 22 - June 1, 2014, Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program showcasing works by three of the twentieth century's greatest choreographers entitled Modern Masters.

SASHA DE SOLA, soloist of the San Francisco Ballet, and TIIT HELIMETS, principal dancer of the San Francisco Ballet, will appear as guest artists in a collaborative performance co-presented by the Allen Civic Ballet and the Allen Philharmonic. Ms. De Sola and Mr. Helimets will dance the Grand Pas de Deux in The Sleeping Beauty Act III in collaboration with the Allen Civic Ballet and the performance will be accompanied by the Allen Philharmonic at the Performing Arts Center at Allen High School in Allen, Texas on May 17, 2014.

From May 22 - June 1, 2014 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program showcasing works by three of the twentieth century's greatest choreographers entitled Modern Masters. The program features the company premiere of Jir?i? Kylia?n's comic and delightful Sechs Ta?nze (Six Dances), along with revivals of his playful and sexy work Petite Mort, William Forsythe's explosive In the middle, somewhat elevated and George Balanchine's complex and inventive The Four Temperaments. Houston Ballet will give six performances of the program in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center. Tickets start at $19, and may be purchased at www.houstonballet.org or by calling Houston Ballet box office at 713-227-2787, or 1-800-828-2787.

From May 22 - June 1, 2014, Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program showcasing works by three of the twentieth century's greatest choreographers entitled Modern Masters. The program features the company premiere of Ji?i Kylian's comic and delightful Sechs Tanze (Six Dances), along with revivals of his playful and sexy work Petite Mort, William Forsythe's explosive In the middle, somewhat elevated and George Balanchine's complex and inventive The Four Temperaments. Houston Ballet will give six performances of the program in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center. Tickets start at $19, and may be purchased at www.houstonballet.org or by calling Houston Ballet box office at 713-227-2787, or1-800-828-2787.

Paola Hartley and Astrit Zejnati, principal dancers of Ballet Arizona, will be members of the faculty for the Shreveport Dance Academy's Summer Intensive from July 28-August 1, 2014 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Smuin Ballet will continue its 20th Anniversary Season today, March 14-29 with the Bay Area tour of its XXtremes Winter Dance Series.

The Hamburg Ballet, led by Director and Chief Choreographer John Neumeier, brings the classicThird Symphony of Gustav Mahler to the Harris Theater for Music and Dance tonight, February 19, and tomorrow, February 20, 2014 at 7:30PM. The Harris Theater is the only American venue that will present Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler during the company's U.S. visit in 2014.

Smuin Ballet will continue its 20th Anniversary Season March 14-29 with the Bay Area tour of its XXtremes Winter Dance Series.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, under the artistic leadership of Glenn Edgerton, will present its first-ever mixed repertory program devoted to the work of a single choreographer during the Spring Series, March 13-16, 2014. This engagement's four works by Sarabande (1990), for an all-male ensemble and set to Bach's second partita for solo violin with electronically manipulated live vocals; and Falling Angels (1989), for a cast of eight women and set to part one of Steve Reich's phased-percussion composition, Drumming, to be performed live by Third Coast Percussion, Ensemble- in-Residence at the University of Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

The Hamburg Ballet, led by Director and Chief Choreographer John Neumeier, brings the classicThird Symphony of Gustav Mahler to the Harris Theater for Music and Dance on Wednesday, February 19, and Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 7:30PM. The Harris Theater is the only American venue that will present Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler during the company's U.S. visit in 2014.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton will continue Season 36 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, tonight, December 12-15, 2013. Click below for a sneak peek at ONE THOUSAND PIECES!

Porsche AG is expanding its sponsorship of cultural activities in Stuttgart and supporting the construction of a new building for the John Cranko School over the next four years - with a contribution totalling ten million euro. The money will be paid in four equal instalments to the 'Foundation for the Promotion of the John Cranko School of the Stuttgart State Theatre of Baden-Wrttemberg', a legally dependent foundation of the state capital, Stuttgart. The school is one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world. Stuttgart city council is also contributing 16 million euro to the foundation.

As part of the Britten 100 Celebrations Birmingham Royal Ballet will perform The Prince of Pagodas in 2014. Ahead of a London Coliseum season from Wednesday 26 until Saturday 29 March the ballet, choreographed by Birmingham Royal Ballet's award-winning director David Bintley, will be performed at The Lowry Salford Quays (30 Jan - 1 Feb), Birmingham Hippodrome (25 Feb - 1 March) and Plymouth's Theatre Royal (19 - 22 March).

Background: In 2012 Viktor performed live at National Press Club in DC and spoofed on Baltimore's The List with Vicki Mayo (not aired due to Newtown tragedy). Viktor Shcherbakov is an “Honored Artist of Ukraine” and Principal Dancer for Moscow Ballet. At 10 yrs he was invited to study at John Cranko Ballet Academy in Germany and joined the company itself on graduation. He receives acclaim in roles of romantic and heroic leads in all the classic ballets from Swan Lake to Spartacus.

Background: In 2012 Viktor performed live at National Press Club in DC and spoofed on Baltimore's The List with Vicki Mayo (not aired due to Newtown tragedy). Viktor Shcherbakov is an “Honored Artist of Ukraine” and Principal Dancer for Moscow Ballet. At 10 yrs he was invited to study at John Cranko Ballet Academy in Germany and joined the company itself on graduation. He receives acclaim in roles of romantic and heroic leads in all the classic ballets from Swan Lake to Spartacus.