Festival Ballet Theatre's Profile | California Dance Network

Festival Ballet Theatre, Fountain Valley, CA
marketing@festivalballet.org
Company

Website(s):
www.festivalballet.org
www.thebarclay.org
www.ticketmaster.org
www.pitchengine.com/free-release.php?id=32508

Company History Detailed Bio> Company History
Under the direction of Salwa Rizkalla since its founding in 1988, Festival Ballet Theatre has become one of Southern California’s most vibrant and accomplished regional ballet companies. Celebrating more than 20 years of artistic service to Orange County, FBT is dedicated to presenting works that epitomize the artistry of professional ballet, offering cultural awareness of dance through educational programs, and nurturing a creative environment for some of our county’s most talented dancers.

Boasting a roster of impressive talent, the company’s productions also feature internationally acclaimed guest artists from American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, the Kirov Ballet, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Scottish Ballet.

Festival Ballet Theatre strives to enrich the experience of Orange County’s dance audience by highlighting the work of world-renowned guest and resident choreographers who have received critical acclaim for original ballets around the globe. With reverence for masterpieces of the past and a clear focus on developing future tour de forces, FBT presents a varied repertoire of full-length classical ballets including Coppélia, Don Quixote, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake; as well as contemporary works by some of the nation’s most sought-after choreographers. FBT was also the bid winner of Ballet Pacifica’s Assets Auction, purchasing the dissolved company’s name, sets, costumes and photography archive in order to preserved these treasures for both FBT and the Orange County dance community.

Aspiring to the heights of artistic excellence, Festival Ballet Theatre simultaneously attracts the best in professional dance to its home-base while sending its own dancers out as artistic ambassadors to the nation. FBT’s significant work has been recognized with a 2001 Arts Orange County Award for Outstanding Arts Organization of the Year. <Make Smaller

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Don Quixote featuring Marcelo Gomes and Gillian Murphy - 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA, 03/20 @ 7:00 PM - $35 adult, $28 senior/child, $20 balcony seating - www.festivalballet.org The flavors and rhythms of old-world Spain, fiery gypsy spirit and passion, a culture of honor and chivalry… a ballet lover’s favorite, FBT’s Don Quixote features American Ballet Theatre’s Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes. 714-962-5440

Don Quixote featuring Marcelo Gomes and Gillian Murphy - 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA, 03/21 @ 2:00 PM - $35 adult, $28 senior/child, $20 balcony seating - www.festivalballet.org The flavors and rhythms of old-world Spain, fiery gypsy spirit and passion, a culture of honor and chivalry… a ballet lover’s favorite, FBT’s Don Quixote features American Ballet Theatre’s Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes. 714-962-5440

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Festival Ballet Theatre Announces 09-10 Season - Fountain Valley, CA, 08/18 - 2009-2010 Season at Irvine Barclay Theatre

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. – Festival Ballet Theatre announces its multi-faceted 2009-2010 season and continues to build on its commitment to enriching the cultural experience of Orange County’s dance audience. With reverence for masterpieces of the past and a clear focus on developing future tour de forces, FBT – one of Southern California’s most vibrant and accomplished ballet companies – presents a varied repertoire of full-length classical ballets as well as contemporary works by nationally acclaimed choreographers.

An eclectic program of company premieres kicks off FBT’s 2009-2010 season on October 17 and 18 at Irvine Barclay Theatre. A diverse blend of contemporary ballets includes the company premiere of Emmy Award-winning choreographer Robert Sund’s Alice in Wonderland, a colorful and whimsical adventure down the Rabbit Hole, based on Lewis Carroll’s classic tale. The season opener also boasts three additional works new to the company’s repertory: legendary choreographer Antony Tudor’s rarely-performed, elegant and lyrical ballet for three couples, Continuo, restaged by American Ballet Theatre principals Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner; a powerful and vigorous ballet, Street Songs, by one of our nation’s most in-demand choreographers, Val Caniparoli, staged by former San Francisco Ballet principal Evelyn Cisneros; and La Vivandière (or Markitenka, as it is known in Russia), a pas de six choreographed by Arthur Saint Léon and Fanny Cerrito, staged for the company by Yury Fateyev, acting director of Russia’s iconic Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet. FBT also welcomes back the elite San Francisco Ballet School Trainees in Parrish Maynard’s Fractals.

Especially for families, on Saturday, October 17 at 2 p.m., FBT will present a one-hour version of Sund’s Alice in Wonderland, designed to introduce children to the beauty of ballet. During the imaginative journey, they’ll see all their favorite Alice characters – from the White Rabbit, to the Cheshire Cat, Tweedledee & Tweedledum, and the infamous Queen of Hearts.

In keeping with holiday tradition and having set box office records for the past two years, Festival Ballet Theatre will present 13 performances of The Nutcracker at the Barclay December 11-24. Family-friendly and affordable, this professional production features spectacular guest artists from American Ballet Theatre – the returning superstar team of Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky and, new this year, the renown Paloma Herrera partnered by Gennadi Saveliev. Highlighting a cast of hundreds, FBT magical production also includes FBT’s professional company dancers and exceptional young talent from across Southern California.

The season will culminate with the classical ballet lover’s favorite, Don Quixote, on March 20 and 21, 2010. Based on Cervantes’ heroic novel and set to Ludwig Minkus’ memorable score, FBT’s colorful production has it all… the flavors and rhythms of old-world Spain, fiery gypsy spirit and passion, all grounded in a culture of honor and chivalry. Joining the Company for these performances of Don Quixote are internationally renown principal dancers from American Ballet Theatre, Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes.

In addition to its regular season, FBT will present the inaugural Protégé Invitational Dance Festival on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 7p.m.. The company simultaneously attracts the best in professional dance to its home base while sending its own dancers out as artistic ambassadors to the world. To showcase these talented emissaries of dance, the dance festival serves as an artistic and visual display of Southland Ballet Academy-trained dancers. Companies and dancers are in the works and will soon be confirmed.

To order tickets:
Call Irvine Barclay Theatre box office: 949.854.4646
Online purchases: visit thebarclay.org or ticketmaster.com
(Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover accepted)

Irvine Barclay Theatre is located at 4242 Campus Drive

To receive a free brochure or learn more about Festival Ballet Theatre, go to festivalballet.org

Videos

Festival Ballet Theatre's Don Quixote

Festival Ballet Theatre presents Don Quixote. Coming March 20 & 21, 2010 to the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Orange County, California. Guest Artists include ABT's Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes. For more information visit www.thebarclay.org.