Balanchine, Rowe, THE RED SHOES and More Set for Diablo Ballet's 24th Season

Diablo Ballet has announced its 2017-2018 season featuring ballets from George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Lew Christensen and Sonya Delwaide, as well as works by Salvadore Aiello and Danielle Rowe.

Diablo Ballet will also feature a World Premiere of The Red Shoes, choreographed by Robert Dekkers and based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.

In addition, the Company will also present its annual holiday favorite, A Swingin' Holiday by Sean Kelly, performed by the Diablo Ballet Swing Orchestra under the musical direction of Greg Sudmeier.

The first program of Diablo Ballet's 24th season opens with A Swingin' Holiday and More, November 10-12, 2017 at the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek. This program featuring three stunning ballets, includes Diablo Ballet's audience favorite, A Swingin' Holiday by Broadway choreographer Sean Kelly, currently Associate Director of An American in Paris, will be performed live by the 16-piece Diablo Ballet Swing Orchestra. Also included in the program is the classic masterpiece, Valse Fantasie by George Balanchine, originally created in 1967 for the New York City Ballet and set to a beautiful score by Mikhail Glinka, and the touching duet No One Does It Like You, choreographed by Robert Dekkers.

Diablo Ballet celebrates the New Year with Harmonious Beauty, February 2 - 3, 2018 at the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek. The second program of the season features the romantic Ballroom Pas de Deux from A Cinderella Story by Val Caniparoli, set to the music of Richard Rodgers. Also featured, the exciting world premiere by former Netherlands Dans Theatre ballerina Danielle Rowe; the award winning film Libera, by Walter Yamazaki, brought back by popular demand after premiering last year at the Ballet's 23rd Anniversary Performance; and the exotic Milieu by Robert Dekkers, set to a live performance of a commissioned score by Daniel Berkman. After the performance the audience is invited to stay for a Q & A with the dancers and choreographers, followed by a dessert and coffee reception.

On March 22, 2018 Diablo Ballet celebrates its anniversary with a one-night only special 24th Anniversary Celebration Performance at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. The program will feature the bravura Black Swan Pas de Deux and Coda from Swan Lake by Marius Petipa, staged by the Company's regisseur Joanna Berman. This pas de deux showcases Diablo Ballet dancers at their finest. The celebration continues with the dramatic Solas by former Royal Winnipeg Ballet choreographer Salvadore Aiello, with music by Heitor Villa-Lobosa, who is considered "the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music." A World Premiere of a new film by Walter Yamazaki in collaboration with composer Justin Levitt, is followed by an encore performance of Trait d'union by Sonya Delwaide and From: Now On by Robert Dekkers'. Following the performance will be a Gala reception, wine tasting and a delicious dinner with the dancers at Scott's Garden, walking distance from the Lesher Center.

The season concludes with Celebrated Masters May 4 - 5, 2018 returning to the Del Valle Theatre and features a highly anticipated World Premiere of Robert Dekkers' The Red Shoes, an imaginative interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's timeless fairy tale. The program also includes the stylish Quartet from Val Caniparoli's Stolen Moments, originally choreographed for the Richmond Ballet in 2015; and the lyrical Norwegian Moods by Lew Christensen, set to the music of Igor Stravinsky and originally commissioned by San Francisco Ballet in 1976 in celebration of Christensen's 25-year anniversary as artistic director of that company. After the performance the audience is invited to stay for a Q & A with the dancers and choreographers, followed by a dessert and coffee reception.

Watch a preview for the season below!

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SHOW INFORMATION:

A Swingin' Holiday and More performs November 10 at 8:00 p.m., November 11 at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. and November 12 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek

Harmonious Beauty performs February 2 at 8:00 p.m. and February 3 at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
Location: Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek

24th Anniversary Celebration Performance performs March 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek

Celebrated Masters performs May 4 at 8:00 p.m. and May 5 at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
Location: Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek

Season Subscriptions are available. Call Diablo Ballet at (925) 943-1175 for information or to subscribe. Single tickets go on sale in September and are $25.00-59.00. For tickets, call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org. For more information, visit www.diabloballet.org.

For 23 years, Diablo Ballet has been the award-winning, professional dance company for Contra Costa County. Presenting acclaimed classical and contemporary ballets, the company is committed to exposing youth to the arts through its renowned PEEK Outreach Program, which has reached over 65,000 under-served school children in Alameda and Contra Costa counties since 1995 and at-risk teenage girls incarcerated in the Juvenile Justice System.