The Corps de Ballet News

The much-anticipated 20th anniversary of Fire Island Dance Festival takes the stage July 18-20, 2014, as some of the top dancers and dance companies in the country offer a diverse array of artistry and genres. The festival, performed outdoors on the beautiful Great South Bay, is produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Since its humble beginnings in 1995, the festival has grown to become the cultural and charitable event of the summer in Fire Island Pines, raising more than $3.3 million.

With its new production of Cinderella, the Maine State Ballet, one of only a handful of professional classical dance organizations in the state, proved the saying that 'everything is beautiful at the ballet.' Linda MacArthur Miele's staging of the Prokofiev classic played to sold out houses, comprised in good part by rapt youngsters, awed at the magic of the timeless fairy tale.

American Ballet Theatre corps de ballet member Calvin Royal III has been awarded a 2014 Leonore Annenberg Arts Fellowship. The Fellowship, which recognizes young artists of extraordinary talent, provides additional resources to help them realize their full potential.

This celebrated contemporary ballet company is guided by its uniquely global artistic vision. Drawing on a diverse set of deeply rooted cultural traditions, the company's works imbue classical ballet with new expressive potential. Alonzo King's visionary choreography is renowned for its ability to connect audiences to a profound sense of shared humanity-of vulnerability and tenderness, but also of furious abandon and exhilarating freedom. The program includes Concerto for Two Violiins, Writing Ground, and Rasa, set to an original score created and performed live by tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain.

Wendy Whelan, whom The New York Times has called 'America's greatest contemporary ballerina,' has danced with New York City Ballet for nearly 30 years. With the company, she has mastered Balanchine's neo-classical repertory, dance classics such as Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake and created works with many of today's leading choreographers. Following hip surgery and a successful recovery period, Whelan, 46, will return to City Ballet this spring season and will dance her final performance with the company on October 18.

The producers of the spectacular new national touring production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA announced today that Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar will assume the role of 'Monsieur Firmin' when he joins the production in Philadelphia at the Academy of Music, beginning Monday, April 7. He joins Cooper Grodin as 'The Phantom,' Julia Udine as 'Christine Daae,' Ben Jacoby as 'Raoul,' Jacquelynne Fontaine as 'Carlotta Giudicelli,' Edward Staudenmayer as 'Monsieur Andre,'Linda Balgord as 'Madame Giry,' Frank Viveros as 'Ubaldo Piangi' and Hannah Florence as 'Meg Giry'. Mr. Oscar succeeds original cast member Craig Bennett in the role.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group has announced the casting and initial tour schedule for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical 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.

INTERMEZZO Dance Company, a new ballet company founded by American Ballet Theatre soloist Craig Salstein, will perform at Vassar College on Saturday, March 29 at 8pm and Sunday, March 30 at 2pm at Kenyon Hall Frances Daly Fergusson Dance Theater. Tickets are free and can be reserved by emailing Dancetix@vassar.edu or calling Vassar College Dance (845) 437-5541. For more information visit http://info.vassar.edu/calendar/2014/03/30/26020-73306.html.

Gelsey Kirkland Ballet ambitiously presented, per the program notes, an "eclectic program…beginning and ending with ballets by Marius Petipa."

Daniel Mantei joined American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company in 2002 and became a member of American Ballet Theatre in 2003. Through his work, Mantei aims to explore themes of humanism by infusing classically inspired movement with an intention of anatomical and kinetic awareness. In his latest work, he collaborates with the Ensemble of the Romantic Century (ERC) representing some of the Tchaikovsky's balletic works through dance both choreographed and performed by Mantei.

Riding on a wave of unprecedented success, the Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB) is gearing itself for its 80th anniversary production of the greatest and most beloved ballet of all time, SWAN LAKE, at the Artscape Opera House from 5 to 20 April.

The Cincinnati Ballet blew audiences away with its World Premier of King Arthur's Camelot. The completely original ballet truly shows the world what the Cincinnati performing arts scene is capable of. This was my first experience with the Cincinnati Ballet and I am officially a super fan. I have always loved this classical form of dance, and King Arthur's Camelot is definitely the best ballet I have ever seen.

STARZ announced today the greenlight of its next original drama series, 'Flesh and Bone,' created by Emmy award-winning 'Breaking Bad' Writer and Executive Producer, Moira Walley-Beckett.

INTERMEZZO Dance Company, founded by American Ballet Theatre soloist Craig Salstein, will be featured in Edward Henkel's MovementTalks on Friday, January 31, 2014 at 8pm. In its second appearance, INTERMEZZO will perform and take part in a panel discussion at the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center, 1395 Lexington Avenue (between 91st and 92nd Streets), NYC. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased at www.92y.org/tickets/production.aspx?pid=96462 or 212.415.5500.

The Chicago Tribune just posted a video of Ben Jacoby and Julia Udine performing 'All I Ask of You' from The Phantom of the Opera, which is currently on tour and running at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre through March 2. Watch the duo sing below!

Cooper Grodin assumed the title role in the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera on January 9 in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. He joins Julia Udine as 'Christine Daae,' Ben Jacoby as 'Raoul,' Jacquelynne Fontaine as 'Carlotta Giudicelli,' Craig Bennett as 'Monsieur Firmin,' Edward Staudenmayer as 'Monsieur Andre,' Linda Balgord as 'Madame Giry,' Frank Viveros as 'Ubaldo Piangi' and Hannah Florence as 'Meg Giry'. BroadwayWorld has a first look at him in action below!

The producers of the spectacular new national touring production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA announced today that Cooper Grodin will assume the title role in the musical beginning today, January 9 in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Grodin steps in for Mark Campbell, who is no longer touring with the production due to personal reasons. He joins Julia Udine as 'Christine Daaé,' Ben Jacoby as 'Raoul,' Jacquelynne Fontaine as 'Carlotta Giudicelli,' Craig Bennett as 'Monsieur Firmin,' Edward Staudenmayer as 'Monsieur André,' Linda Balgord as 'Madame Giry,' Frank Viveros as 'Ubaldo Piangi' and Hannah Florence as 'Meg Giry'.

Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) will present "The Making of an Artist" moderated by Barbara Brandt on Monday January 27 at 6:30pm at New York City Center Studios, Studio 5 (130 West 56th Street, NYC). American Ballet Theatre's Marcelo Gomes will create new choreography on renowned ABT dancers Misty Copeland and James Whiteside live. Through discussion and demonstration, their creative evolution will unfold. YAGP founding Board Chair, Barbara Brandt says, "I want to give the audience an opportunity to join the dancers and choreographer, in the studio, as we explore the question, "What is an artist?" The evening will conclude with an informal reception.

The spectacular new production of Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will make its Twin Cities' premiere tonight, December 13, 2013 through January 5, 2014 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. With newly re-invented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM has been an enormous success since its U.K. unveiling in March 2012.

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, which launched a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. Below, check out a look back at the launch festivities with the cast and crew at the Grand Ballroom of The Biltmore Hotel!