The Corps de Ballet News

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group present their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, currently on sale for the premiere Fort Lauderdale, FL, engagement at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, one of the most successful musicals of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast onstage!

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group announced today that Chris Mann, Katie Travis, Storm Lineberger and Anne Kanengeiser will join the cast of the spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA currently on national tour.

New York City Ballet announced today that Russell Janzen has been promoted to Soloist, effective immediately. Peter Martins, NYCB's Ballet Master in Chief, made the promotion on Friday, October 17 following a performance of George Balanchine's Chaconne, during which Janzen performed the leading male role alongside NYCB Principal Dancer Sara Mearns. Janzen made his debut in the role, which Balanchine created for Martins in 1976, at the matinee performance on Saturday, October 11.

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.

New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Wendy Whelan will bid farewell to New York City Ballet with a special one-time-only performance tonight, October 18 at 8 p.m. For the occasion, two of the dance world's most acclaimed choreographers, Alexei Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon, will collaborate on a world premiere piece d'occasion for Whelan.

INTERMEZZO Dance Company, a ballet company founded by American Ballet Theatre soloist Craig Salstein, is proud to announce the appointment of the company's new Executive Director, Eric Tamm.

Paloma Herrera, Julie Kent and Xiomara Reyes, Principal Dancers with American Ballet Theatre, have announced their retirements from the Company at the conclusion of the 2015 Metropolitan Opera House season in New York City. “These three unique ballerinas have each made such distinctive contributions to ABT throughout the years,” Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie stated. “With them, an era of our history resides. Their remarkable careers will be three more reasons to celebrate our 75th Anniversary Season.”

Paloma Herrera, Julie Kent and Xiomara Reyes, Principal Dancers with American Ballet Theatre, have announced their retirements from the Company at the conclusion of the 2015 Metropolitan Opera House season in New York City. 'These three unique ballerinas have each made such distinctive contributions to ABT throughout the years,' Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie stated. 'With them, an era of our history resides. Their remarkable careers will be three more reasons to celebrate our 75th Anniversary season.'

The Ajkun Ballet Theatre Season 2014 - 2015 features evening length, new Contemporary Choreographies Inferno , One Thousand and One Nights and America ; the familiar Classical Ballets The Nutcracker , Giselle and A Midsummer Night s Dream , an Encore Mixed Bill , and a variety of Benefits and Special Events.

Pacific Northwest Ballet sweeps onstage and into a spectacular new season arrayed in emerald green, ruby red, and luminous white. A triple-treat for both eyes and ears, the trio of gems in George Balanchine'sJewels pay tribute to golden ages of music and dance: Emeralds' graceful clouds of tulle whisper French fashion and fragrance; Rubies' jazzy, sassy merger with Stravinsky mirrors the carefree candor of America; and Diamonds' glittering splendor recalls the great choreographer's heritage, so that 'if the entire Imperial Russian inheritance of ballet were lost, Diamonds would still tell us of its essence' (Mary Clarke and Clement Crisp). Jewels runs from tonight, September 26 through October 5 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall.

New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Wendy Whelan will bid farewell to New York City Ballet with a special one-time-only performance on Saturday, October 18 at 8 p.m. For the occasion, two of the dance world's most acclaimed choreographers, Alexei Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon, will collaborate on a world premiere piece d'occasion for Whelan.

Cole Haan, the iconic American lifestyle footwear and accessories brand and retailer, announced its multiyear partnership with three ballerinas of New York City Ballet. A unique opportunity to combine dance-inspired design with Cole Haan's legendary craftsmanship, the Cole Haan Avery Ballet Studio Collection re-materializes the classic Avery Ballet Flat. The collaboration features product inspired and co-created by Principal Dancers, Sara Mearns and Megan Fairchild, as well as Gretchen Smith of the Corps de Ballet.

New York City Ballet's annual Fall Gala will once again celebrate ballet and fashion with a program that will include three world premiere ballets by Justin Peck, Liam Scarlett, and Troy Schumacher, as well as existing works by Peter Martins and Christopher Wheeldon, all featuring costumes designed by an international roster of some of the fashion world's most renowned talents: Thom Browne, Sarah Burton, Valentino Garavani, Carolina Herrera, and Mary Katrantzou. The one- time-only gala evening will take place tonight, September 23, 2014, opening New York City Ballet's four-week Fall Season at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.

Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) will launch its 43nd (2014-2015) main stage performance season and its third year as Resident Ballet Company of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts with A Midsummer Night's Dream Act I and Seasons tonight, September 20 at 7:30 pm andSunday, September 21 at 2 pm.

Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal and principal dancer Carla Körbes have announcedthat Ms. Körbes will retire from the Company at the end of PNB's 2014-2015 season. Ms. Körbes joined PNB as a soloist in 2005 and was promoted to principal in 2006.

On September 9th 2014, opening night of the NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA's six-day run at the Koch Theater in Lincoln Center presented by the Joyce Theater Foundation, I found myself enchanted by most of Christopher Wheeldon's choreography for the evening-length production of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". I was also delighted overall with the inventive score by Joby Talbott as well as the elaborate costumes and sets by Bob Crowley. The dancing was first rate, too. What wasn't so wonderful was the silly love story that dramaturge Nicholas Wright felt compelled to introduce into Lewis Carroll's deservedly iconic childhood tale of a plucky young heroine off on her own for a great adventure in dreamland.

In celebration of The Orpheum Theatre's upcoming engagement of Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, the Orpheum, in partnership with Carriage Crossing and the Phantom North American Tour, is hosting a special limited-time free exhibit of selected Phantom costumes by the late Tony Award-winning designer Maria Björnson. Björnson's sketches as well as costumes from the production will be on display in Suite 555 at Carriage Crossing (4675 Merchants Park Cir., Collierville, TN) September 12-21, Mon-Sat 10am-6pm and Sun 1pm-5pm. These exquisite original designs will be featured in the spectacular new touring production playing at The Orpheum Theatre September 24 – October 5.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the most successful musical of all time, will go on sale September 12, 2014 at 10a.m. for the Fort Lauderdale engagement at Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

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.

Pacific Northwest Ballet sweeps onstage and into a spectacular new season arrayed in emerald green, ruby red, and luminous white. A triple-treat for both eyes and ears, the trio of gems in George Balanchine'sJewels pay tribute to golden ages of music and dance: Emeralds' graceful clouds of tulle whisper French fashion and fragrance; Rubies' jazzy, sassy merger with Stravinsky mirrors the carefree candor of America; and Diamonds' glittering splendor recalls the great choreographer's heritage, so that 'if the entire Imperial Russian inheritance of ballet were lost, Diamonds would still tell us of its essence' (Mary Clarke and Clement Crisp). Jewels runs fromSeptember 26 through October 5 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets and more information are available through the Pacific Northwest Ballet Box Office, 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center, 206.441.2424, or online at PNB.org.