Phyllis Papa News

Halloween just wouldn't be the same without taking in a performance of Atlantic City Ballet's “Dracula”. Since 2006, “Dracula” has been mesmerizing audiences with its spell binding choreography, beautiful costumes and captivating music. This year Dracula makes another haunting return to the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City. 'Dracula,' an original work, choreographed by Artistic Director, Phyllis Papa, is a full length ballet that has captured audience's imaginations with hypnotic fascination. “Despite the reputation of the main character, AC Ballet's production is family friendly.” says Phyllis Papa. “Young and old can enjoy our ballet which follows closely to the Bram Stoker novel” Looking for a ballet tradition that equals Nutcracker, Phyllis Papa created Dracula to capture vampire enthusiasts in hopes of bringing a younger audience to see the ballet. Performances will take place at the Claridge Hotel, Today October 31st, Halloween, at 4pm and 10pm. The 10pm performance will feature a costume contest after the performance and prizes given for best costume.

The Atlantic City Ballet is celebrating their 33rd season with a kick-off fundraiser tonight, October 29, 2015 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Caesars in Atlantic City. The event titled The Point is...the Shoes! will benefit Atlantic City Ballet's Shoe Fund. The highlight of the event will be the silent auction where guests can bid on a variety of shoes and accessories from top designers. Patrons can mingle with this year's company members while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and being entertained with a special performance of Dracula.

Halloween just wouldn't be the same without taking in a performance of Atlantic City Ballet's “Dracula”. Since 2006, “Dracula” has been mesmerizing audiences with its spell binding choreography, beautiful costumes and captivating music. This year Dracula makes another haunting return to the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City. 'Dracula,' an original work, choreographed by Artistic Director, Phyllis Papa, is a full length ballet that has captured audience's imaginations with hypnotic fascination. “Despite the reputation of the main character, AC Ballet's production is family friendly.” says Phyllis Papa. “Young and old can enjoy our ballet which follows closely to the Bram Stoker novel” Looking for a ballet tradition that equals Nutcracker, Phyllis Papa created Dracula to capture vampire enthusiasts in hopes of bringing a younger audience to see the ballet. Performances will take place at the Claridge Hotel, Saturday October 31st, Halloween, at 4pm and 10pm. The 10pm performance will feature a costume contest after the performance and prizes given for best costume.

The Atlantic City Ballet is celebrating their 33rd season with a kick-off fundraiser Thursday October 29, 2015 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Caesars in Atlantic City. The event titled The Point is...the Shoes! will benefit Atlantic City Ballet's Shoe Fund. The highlight of the event will be the silent auction where guests can bid on a variety of shoes and accessories from top designers. Patrons can mingle with this year's company members while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and being entertained with a special performance of Dracula.

The Atlantic City Ballet brings in the Fall season with 3 free performances. As part of the ballet's Everyday Dance Initiative and the commitment to make ballet accessible to everyone, these Monday Matinees will be free and open to the public. Partially funded by the CRDA and hosted by the Trump Taj Mahal, Monday Matinees will take place at 12 noon giving many people who may not be able to attend an evening performance the opportunity to see the ballet.

With less than three weeks left of the summer....Is anyone thinking about Christmas? The Atlantic City Ballet is!!! In its 33rd year, the Atlantic City Ballet is preparing to give area dance students an opportunity to work alongside its professional company of dancers. It is an opportunity most students will never forget and memories that will last a lifetime. Over the past 33 years, Ms. Papa, the company's Founder and Artistic Director, has cast over a thousand children in the ballet's production. The tradition will continue this year with performances at Stockton Performing Arts Center and the Celebrity Theater at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City. In addition, the company will also be returning to The Strand Theater in Lakewood and will be accompanied by the Garden State Philharmonic. Auditions will be today, September 19, 2015 at The Strand Theater and Sunday September 20, 2015 at the ACBT Performing Arts Academy.

With less than three weeks left of the summer....Is anyone thinking about Christmas? The Atlantic City Ballet is!!! In its 33rd year, the Atlantic City Ballet is preparing to give area dance students an opportunity to work alongside its professional company of dancers. It is an opportunity most students will never forget and memories that will last a lifetime. Over the past 33 years, Ms. Papa, the company's Founder and Artistic Director, has cast over a thousand children in the ballet's production. The tradition will continue this year with performances at Stockton Performing Arts Center and the Celebrity Theater at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City. In addition, the company will also be returning to The Strand Theater in Lakewood and will be accompanied by the Garden State Philharmonic. Auditions will be Saturday September 19, 2015 at The Strand Theater and Sunday September 20, 2015 at the ACBT Performing Arts Academy.

Premiering one new ballet takes an incredible amount of time, energy and talent. Multiply that by three and what you have is a night of dance like you have never seen! Boldly moving choreography forward, one jeté at a time, the New Works Series is original and innovative but stays true to Atlantic City Ballet's classical roots. While celebrating today's choreographers, each ballet will showcase the AC Ballet's dancers, spotlighting their strength, athleticism and diversity. This series provides an opportunity for audiences to enjoy ground breaking premieres and is a unique platform to share and see work that is new. “It's important to push creative boundaries,” says Phyllis Papa, Artistic Director. “but it's even more important not to stray too far from our classical foundation, so people shouldn't be hesitant about seeing a “new work” because even though it's “new” what they are familiar with will still be there.” Creating new ballets is part of the evolution of any company and Atlantic City Ballet is no exception. Since the company is doing over 45 performances this season they need to keep creating new works for their audiences. The three ballets premiering will be Moulin Rouge, Elements of Life and Concerto Villa- Lobos. Some of these new ballets may become full length ballets in the future. Phyllis Papa is proud in her commitment to supporting the creation of new works, which are ever-vital for the perpetuation of dance.

Premiering one new ballet takes an incredible amount of time, energy and talent. Multiply that by three and what you have is a night of dance like you have never seen! Boldly moving choreography forward, one jeté at a time, the New Works Series is original and innovative but stays true to Atlantic City Ballet's classical roots. While celebrating today's choreographers, each ballet will showcase the AC Ballet's dancers, spotlighting their strength, athleticism and diversity. This series provides an opportunity for audiences to enjoy ground breaking premieres and is a unique platform to share and see work that is new. “It's important to push creative boundaries,” says Phyllis Papa, Artistic Director. “but it's even more important not to stray too far from our classical foundation, so people shouldn't be hesitant about seeing a “new work” because even though it's “new” what they are familiar with will still be there.” Creating new ballets is part of the evolution of any company and Atlantic City Ballet is no exception. Since the company is doing over 45 performances this season they need to keep creating new works for their audiences. The three ballets premiering will be Moulin Rouge, Elements of Life and Concerto Villa- Lobos. Some of these new ballets may become full length ballets in the future. Phyllis Papa is proud in her commitment to supporting the creation of new works, which are ever-vital for the perpetuation of dance.

The Atlantic City Ballet kicks off their 33rd season with their opening of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This classic ballet is a story the whole family will enjoy. During this enchanted evening, spells are cast, lovers are fooled and revelry flourishes as worlds collide in Shakespeare's imaginative comedy. On a night when anything can happen, young lovers awaken their mischievous curiosity of fairies, which in turn use their charm to lead the couple into a playful midnight frolic through the forest. In the midst of it all, an acting troupe gets caught up in the chaos when a magic spell turns their leading man into a donkey. One of Shakespeare's best-known comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream blurs the line between magic and reality, leading to a night so fantastical you have to dream it to believe it. The Atlantic City Ballet will present Midsummer for two nights on July 25th & 26th. For the second season, performances will be at the newly renovated Claridge Hotel in the heart of Atlantic City. Also in keeping with tradition, the ballet will continue its Ballet on the Boardwalk Series with free performances at Kennedy Plaza every Wednesday starting July 29th. These performances sponsored in part by the CRDA and Atlantic City Alliance give audiences a chance to see works not normally seen during the season.

The Atlantic City Ballet kicks off their 33rd season with their opening of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This classic ballet is a story the whole family will enjoy. During this enchanted evening, spells are cast, lovers are fooled and revelry flourishes as worlds collide in Shakespeare's imaginative comedy. On a night when anything can happen, young lovers awaken their mischievous curiosity of fairies, which in turn use their charm to lead the couple into a playful midnight frolic through the forest. In the midst of it all, an acting troupe gets caught up in the chaos when a magic spell turns their leading man into a donkey. One of Shakespeare's best-known comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream blurs the line between magic and reality, leading to a night so fantastical you have to dream it to believe it. The Atlantic City Ballet will present Midsummer for two nights on July 25th & 26th. For the second season, performances will be at the newly renovated Claridge Hotel in the heart of Atlantic City. Also in keeping with tradition, the ballet will continue its Ballet on the Boardwalk Series with free performances at Kennedy Plaza every Wednesday starting July 29th. These performances sponsored in part by the CRDA and Atlantic City Alliance give audiences a chance to see works not normally seen during the season.

As the curtain falls on their 32nd Season the Atlantic City Ballet will present two timely ballets as a fitting tribute to what has been an extraordinary season. Caught Up In The Swing pays tribute to Atlantic City's "good ole days". This comedic ballet, set in the 1920's, follows the antics of guests at a seashore resort. Originally created to celebrate the ballet's 30th Anniversary, Caught Up is a combination of classical ballet, physical comedy and music of that bygone era. "I thought it was only fitting to end our first season here in the city with Caught Up." says Ms. Papa. "When we first put it on the program, we never expected the city to go through such changes, but with everything this city has gone through this year and the way it's coming back, I thought paying homage to our namesake city would be a perfect way to end our first season back home." Rounding out the evening will be Papa & Sinatra: Their Way, a tribute to Frank Sinatra and his centennial year. "Ms. Papa creates around two new ballets a year so she's always looking for new ideas." says Alexandria Pieroni, the ballet's Managing Director. "When I saw it was Frank Sinatra's centennial year I knew we had to do a ballet using his music. Ms. Papa didn't need any convincing, she already knew what songs she wanted the moment I said it." The ballet will feature Sinatra's greatest hits and combined with Ms. Papa's choreography, it will sure to be a great ending to a great season. This 32nd season marks the first full season of the ballet being in Atlantic City. They moved into their rehearsal space in Boardwalk Hall in February of 2014, struck a deal with Claridge in April and were off and running by July. They performed 9 different ballets this season and including all their community outreach and In Studio performances presented over 50 performances. For a regional company, that's almost double the amount of performances normally done. At the end of this month the company will officially announce next season's line up. Their 33rd year will see some great ballets, events and some surprises. Audiences can see the final performances of Atlantic City Ballet's 32nd season, on May 23rd and 24th at The Claridge Hotel's Celebrity Theater.

As the curtain falls on their 32nd Season the Atlantic City Ballet will present two timely ballets as a fitting tribute to what has been an extraordinary season. Caught Up In The Swing pays tribute to Atlantic City's "good ole days". This comedic ballet, set in the 1920's, follows the antics of guests at a seashore resort. Originally created to celebrate the ballet's 30th Anniversary, Caught Up is a combination of classical ballet, physical comedy and music of that bygone era. "I thought it was only fitting to end our first season here in the city with Caught Up." says Ms. Papa. "When we first put it on the program, we never expected the city to go through such changes, but with everything this city has gone through this year and the way it's coming back, I thought paying homage to our namesake city would be a perfect way to end our first season back home." Rounding out the evening will be Papa & Sinatra: Their Way, a tribute to Frank Sinatra and his centennial year. "Ms. Papa creates around two new ballets a year so she's always looking for new ideas." says Alexandria Pieroni, the ballet's Managing Director. "When I saw it was Frank Sinatra's centennial year I knew we had to do a ballet using his music. Ms. Papa didn't need any convincing, she already knew what songs she wanted the moment I said it." The ballet will feature Sinatra's greatest hits and combined with Ms. Papa's choreography, it will sure to be a great ending to a great season. This 32nd season marks the first full season of the ballet being in Atlantic City. They moved into their rehearsal space in Boardwalk Hall in February of 2014, struck a deal with Claridge in April and were off and running by July. They performed 9 different ballets this season and including all their community outreach and In Studio performances presented over 50 performances. For a regional company, that's almost double the amount of performances normally done. At the end of this month the company will officially announce next season's line up. Their 33rd year will see some great ballets, events and some surprises. Audiences can see the final performances of Atlantic City Ballet's 32nd season, on May 23rd and 24th at The Claridge Hotel's Celebrity Theater.

After a two year absence the Atlantic City Ballet returns to The Strand Theater in Lakewood, NJ with their sexy performance of Bizet's Carmen. The Strand Theater has hosted the ballet in the past with performances of Dracula and Nutcracker and the original premier of Carmen. "We were disappointed that these last two years, we could not include The Strand in our touring dates." says Ms. Papa, "but we are so excited to be back and to have the opportunity to build an audience in this area of the state." The ballet is planning to perform at the Strand at least three times during their season. In September they will bring Ballet Goes Broadway, December will bring back The Nutcracker and in March they will perform Visions. "We are always excited to present at The Strand. It's such a majestic theater and it really showcases the company. All of our ballets look beautiful on that stage." remarked Papa.

The Atlantic City Ballet sets the stage for this classic tale of seduction, passion, betrayal and murder with the Atlantic City premier of their sexy, ballet Carmen. Featuring the original, breathtaking choreography of Artistic Director, Phyllis Papa, backdrop design by Broadway scenic artist David Esler and an enthralling score by Georges Bizet, Carmen tells the story of a beautiful seductress, the two lovers who vie for her affection and the tragic outcome of their tangled affair. Ms. Papa's imaginative staging creates a world where gypsies, smugglers and toreadors pack all the sizzle of Spanish culture into an irresistible theatrical event.

After 30 years of touring the state with this beloved holiday classic, the Atlantic City Ballet is proud to announce the return of The Nutcracker to Atlantic City. “What a wonderful way to end this half of our season”, announced Ms. Papa,”we are thrilled to be able to bring The Nutcracker back to AC and to also be bringing a full orchestra, makes it that much more special” The ballet will once again be partnering with The Garden State Philharmonic, to continue with its mission of incorporating live music into their productions.

After 30 years of touring the state with this beloved holiday classic, the Atlantic City Ballet is proud to announce the return of The Nutcracker to Atlantic City. “What a wonderful way to end this half of our season”, announced Ms. Papa,”we are thrilled to be able to bring The Nutcracker back to AC and to also be bringing a full orchestra, makes it that much more special” The ballet will once again be partnering with The Garden State Philharmonic, to continue with its mission of incorporating live music into their productions.

This Thanksgiving weekend the Atlantic City Ballet will be bringing back It's A Shore Holiday to help kick off the holiday season. It's A Shore Holiday blends classical and contemporary dance set to beloved holiday tunes. This "Radio City-esque" review will feature the AC Ballet Professional company along with live singers and the second appearance this season by the AC Ballet Ensemble, a six piece band. Along with creating the AC Ballet Ensemble under the direction of Musical Director, Paul LoPresti, the ballet's successful partnership with the Garden State Philharmonic will continue for a 3rd season with this year's performances of The Nutcracker. But Ms. Papa points out, "This "ballet" is more of a review as there is no storyline so it is very different from The Nutcracker" says Phyllis Papa, AC Ballet's Artistic Director. "It really showcases the company's versatility because there is all forms of dance incorporated throughout the show". This particular program had it's premier last season and was such a hit, that the company thought it would be a great way to start the holidays. Appropriate for the entire family, there is something for everyone including dancing snowmen, chipmunks and dancing soldiers who perform their entire routine on pointe.

Year-end giving to Atlantic City Ballet just got simpler with the debut of this year's Jersey Give Back Guide, an online giving portal designed to showcase and support New Jersey's most effective and respected nonprofits. Using the Jersey Give Back Guide's online Generosity Generator, individuals can choose from four categories — Community, Arts, Environment and Newark — to learn about this year's 22 recommended nonprofits, find one or more that match their passions, and quickly and easily support them. All donations go directly to the organizations.