Ma Cong News

KARINA GONZALEZ and SIMON BALL, principal dancers of the Houston Ballet, will appear as guest artists in the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet's production of The Nutcracker on December 6 and 7, 2014 at the Riverview Theatre in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch announced touring plans for both Houston Ballet and Houston Ballet II, the second company featuring exciting young dancers from around the globe launching their careers, for the 2014-2015 season today.

Denver's Wonderbound is gaining national attention this October as Artistic Director Garrett Ammon's "Serenade for Strings" premieres with San Francisco's Smuin Ballet. In addition, the work will be a part of Wonderbound's season opening production of "Enduring Grace" with musicians of the Colorado Symphony. "Enduring Grace" also features a world premiere work by Company Artist Sarah Tallman.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe is pleased to announce that Richmond Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, has accepted an invitation to perform at the 15th Annual 'Meet in Beijing' Arts Festival in Beijing, China at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in May of 2015. The trip will mark the Ballet's first journey to Asia, and the organization's second international tour, following a successful run at the Royal Opera House's Linbury Theatre in London, England in June of 2012. The Ballet's Road to China initiative will also include a series of cultural exchange programs that plans to celebrate Chinese culture in the United States throughout the 2014-15 season, and will foster further economic ties between China and the United States.

Houston Ballet Academy has been invited to participate in two prestigious European conferences in January and February 2014, while Houston Ballet II, Houston Ballet's second company of gifted young international artists, will make appearances in Arkansas and Georgia in March 2014.

Houston Ballet Academy has been invited to participate in two prestigious European conferences in January and February 2014, while Houston Ballet II, Houston Ballet's second company of gifted young international artists, will make appearances in Arkansas and Georgia in March 2014.

Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch announced touring plans for both the professional company and Houston Ballet II, the second company, for the 2013-2014 season today. During Mr. Welch's tenth anniversary as artistic director, touring engagements will take Houston Ballet to New York City, Paris, Montreal, and Chicago.

Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch announced touring plans for both the professional company and Houston Ballet II, the second company, for the 2013-2014 season today. During Mr. Welch's tenth anniversary as artistic director, touring engagements will take Houston Ballet to New York City, Paris, Montreal, and Chicago.

Richmond Ballet celebrates its 30th season this year, and with this landmark year comes a spectacular lineup of both contemporary and classic ballets.

NCI Highlights commemorates choreographic successes originally created during NCI workshops between 2004 and 2012. In total, there have been thirty-seven NCI choreographers, who each created a new piece through this initative. Twenty-two of these original productions have been performed by other companies across the country.

NCI Highlights commemorates choreographic successes originally created during NCI workshops between 2004 and 2012. In total, there have been thirty-seven NCI choreographers, who each created a new piece through this initative. Twenty-two of these original productions have been performed by other companies across the country.

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, presents the Third Annual Winning Works: Choreographers of Color Award, featuring three World Premieres by rising-star choreographers Ma Cong, William McClellan and Jeremy McQueen. New York-based fashion designer LaQuan Smith will conceptualize and design a costume for McQueen's piece. The three World Premieres, along with Academy Co-Artistic Director Alexei Kremnev's work titled Carnival of Animals, are presented in Winning Works: Choreographers of Color Award 2013 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, in one performance only, today, March 10, 2013 at 4 pm.

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, presents the Third Annual Winning Works: Choreographers of Color Award, featuring three World Premieres by rising-star choreographers Ma Cong, William McClellan and Jeremy McQueen. New York-based fashion designer LaQuan Smith will conceptualize and design a costume for McQueen's piece. The three World Premieres, along with Academy Co-Artistic Director Alexei Kremnev's work titled Carnival of Animals, are presented in Winning Works: Choreographers of Color Award 2013 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, in one performance only, Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 4 pm.

This week, BroadwayWorld is thrilled to feature Richmond Ballet, in Richmond, Virginia, as its Regional Dance Company of the Week!

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, has announced the winners of the Third Annual Choreographers of Color Award: Ma Cong, William McClellan and Jeremy McQueen. This announcement follows a national call for artists to submit applications, which began in August. Rounding out the artistic talent on this year's program is fashion designer LaQuan Smith who will conceptualize and design the costumes for McQueen's piece. The Choreographers of Color Award was created to recognize promising young minority choreographers whose diverse perspective will ignite creativity in the field of dance. Each of the three selected choreographers will be given a minimum of 30 rehearsal hours to set a new work on the Joffrey Academy Trainees. Each winning choreographer will also receive a $2,500 stipend and an opportunity to work directly with Joffrey Academy Artistic Directors, Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik. The three World Premieres will be presented in Choreographers of Color Award 2013: Winning Works at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, in one performance only, Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 4 pm.

Dance Theatre of Tennessee celebrates strong female voices, stories and the diversity of the arts with its 2012/2013 line-up The Many Faces of Eve. Christopher Mohnani, DTT artistic director, promises "the upcoming season will hold something for everyone with its rich offering of professional performances."

For its spring program, Smuin Ballet will present the West Coast premiere of Swipe by Val Caniparoli, internationally renowned choreographer and principal character dancer at San Francisco Ballet. Smuin audiences will also be treated to the World Premiere of Through by Ma Cong (French Twist), an uplifting work set to music by Academy Award-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. The bill will also include Michael Smuin's elegant Symphony of Psalms, a breathtaking classical piece set to Stravinsky's score. Smuin's spring program will play at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts April 27-May 6, Walnut Creek's Lesher Center for the Arts May 18-19, and the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts May 23-27. Single tickets ($25-$62) are on sale now at www.smuinballet.org. (See end of press release for complete box office information.)

For its spring program, Smuin Ballet is thrilled to present the West Coast premiere of Swipe by Val Caniparoli, internationally renowned choreographer and principal character dancer at San Francisco Ballet.

The Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA) has announced Artistic Excellence Awards totaling $239,000, presented in grants to support professional arts organizations at the Lesher Center for the Arts, the premier presenting venue of Contra Costa County and major arts hub of the East Bay.