Ballet season is coming to a close in Arkansas, but fans have one last show to tide them over until next season.
Ballet Arkansas is wrapping up its successful 40th anniversary season with a finale that will definitely have standing ovations. The final program, Forte, will be a repertory program featuring the musical talents of pianist Dr. Drew Mays.
Mixing classical and contemporary dance, Forte will feature highlights like Swan Lake Act II with music by Tchaikovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa; “Calling,” a contemporary work by Tulsa Ballet’s choreographer Ma Cong; George Balanchine’s “Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux; and the world premiere of a work by Michael Fothergill, Arkansas Ballet Executive and Artistic Director.
Dr. Drew Mays will provide the accompaniment for Swan Lake Act II.
“We are thrilled to continue the Ballet Arkansas in Concert series, sponsored by the Stella Boyle Smith Trust, which pairs high profile works of classical and contemporary dance with musical accompaniment from world renowned musicians. This series brings works to the State of Arkansas not ever performed within the region, while also placing Ballet Arkansas on par with the repertoire of larger ballet companies on the national scale,” Catherine Fothergill, Associate Artistic Director, says.
To enable school students to view the performance, Ballet Arkansas is providing a student matinee performance on May 3, at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for chaperones. Reservations are required and must be filled out before April 19 at balletarkansas.org.
There will be four main stage performances, from Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5, at the UA Pulaski Tech CHARTS Theater. Performance times are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are $15-35 and can be purchased at balletarkansas.org/forte or by calling (501) 812-2710.
READ MORE: Classical Meets Contemporary: Ballet Arkansas Celebrates 40th Anniversary Season
