February 15, 2007

Greetings from Alexandra Ballet!

The temperatures outside are frigid, but AB is heating things up with their fiery production on March 17 & 18, 2007 at the Touhill.The Firebirdwill feature:

  • The innovative choreography of Marek Cholewa (KHO-leh-vuh)
  • The first complete ballet score by Igor Stravinsky
  • The magnetism of professional guest artist Sergey Sergiev in the lead role of Prince Ivan
  • AB senior Company dancer, Agatha Schmank, in the lead role of the Firebird
  • Scenery from the Ballets Russes Collection in the George Verdak Trust
  • Stunning original costume design by Judith Bonnot
  • TheCompany of 35 dancers trained and directed by St. Louis legend, Alexandra Zaharias, who has taught ballet here for nearly 60 years, with alumni performing in major companies around the world.

As stated in the press release,IT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL STORY BALLET!Although beautiful and captivating, this ballet is unlike most familiar ballets. Yes, it has a prince, and even a princess under the spell of an evil sorcerer, but all similarities to the stereotype end there. The choreography stretches the dancers in terms of style and artistry. A great deal of modern dance movement is incorporated into the work. Stravinsky's music is forceful and starkly beautiful. The Firebird character is a blend of female and fantasy--part bird, part woman--with the movements of both ballerina andwild animal. The end result is powerful!

AB's treasured artistic director, Alexandra Zaharias, has long wanted to bring this important piece of ballet history to St. Louis. She was discouraged from doing so for many years, and was warned time and again that "St. Louis dance audiences just aren't ready for this view of ballet." In fact, although there is some question that The Firebird may have been performed in St. Louis sometime in the 40's by a tour of Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, we can find no substantive proof that this piece has ever been presented to St. Louis audiences! According to Ms.Zaharias, "This production islong overdue, andin I'm confidentthat the audience will come if given the opportunity."

As you can see, thisevent promises to be a rare and specialtreat forSt. Louis, and we hope you will join us for the action! Please consider helping us tospread the word so you can helpAB inits mission to educate, elevate, and enrich St. Louis through the art of dance.We welcome any inquiries for interviews, news stories, or program time you can give. As you know, we are a non-profit organization, and receive funding assistance through Missouri Arts Council, Regional Arts Commission St. Louis, and Arts & Education Council of Greater St. Louis. We rely heavily on the assistance of our friends and colleagues interested in the arts to help us inform St. Louis audiences.

I am happy to assist you in any way. You'll be hearing more about this exciting production in the near future!

Thank you,

Jo Lucas

Marketing and Communications

Alexandra Ballet

314-469-6222

February 15, 2007

Hello again!

I just received adelightful phone call fromour friend, Barbara MacRobie, at Dance St. Louis, who was kind enough to help us fill in the blanks regarding the past performances ofThe Firebird.

According to Barb, this piece waspresented atthe Kiel Opera house by Dance St. Louis and was performed by the Dance Theater of Harlem in October of 1986. Shedescribed theinteresting stagingof theDTH production in a sort of Caribbean jungle setting, and their provocative Firebird, whom she'll never forget!

Barb also assures me that Dance St. Louispresented State Ballet of Missouri (now Kansas City Ballet) with their Firebird at the Fox Theatre sometime in the early 90's. I truly appreciate Barb taking the time to call and remind us of the incredible contributions of Dance St. Louis to our community's audiences.

While we now know for certainthat there have been previous sightings of this rare bird, it remains a special sighting today, ready to be enjoyed by today's audiences!

Please call or email me if you have or would like any further information.

Best always,

Jo Lucas

Marketing and Communications

Alexandra Ballet

314-469-6222