La Valse

Program:

Intermission

Pause

Pause

Intermission

An evening where romance meets mystery, and elegance gives way to the unexpected. La Valse shimmers with Balanchine’s haunting glamour, while Robert La Fosse’s Concerto in Five Movements dazzles with inventive flair. Zalman Raffael’s B for Ballet pays homage to the art form’s discipline and beauty, and Michel Fokine’s Le Spectre de la Rose and The Dying Swan remind us of ballet’s timeless power to move and enchant.

George Balanchine’s La Valse transforms Maurice Ravel’s composition into a ballet of sweeping romance and haunting elegance. The choreography captures both the joy and underlying tension of the music, guiding audiences through a world of glamour, drama, and shifting emotions. With its rich patterns, intricate formations, and lyrical pas de deux, La Valse is a masterful celebration of ballet’s expressive power.

From its striking opening image—a line of 16 women in vivid red bathing suits flanked by eight men in brown—to its dramatically inventive pas de deux and bravura ensembles, Robert La Fosse’s Concerto in Five Movements radiates verve and energy. The score’s continuous shifts in meter are mirrored by kaleidoscopic choreography, capturing the music’s playful dissonances and off-kilter rhythms, making this work a thrilling centerpiece of the evening.

Michel Fokine’s The Dying Swan is one of ballet’s most iconic solos, capturing the fleeting beauty and fragility of life through a single, expressive dancer. Set to Camille Saint-Saëns’ haunting Le Cygne, the work conveys both vulnerability and transcendence, with every gesture and movement evoking the swan’s final moments in a poignant display of artistry and emotion.

Michel Fokine’s Le Spectre de la Rose is a landmark of early 20th-century ballet, blending romantic lyricism with innovative choreography. Inspired by Théophile Gautier’s poem, the work tells the story of a young girl who dreams of a rose spirit visiting her, capturing a delicate balance of whimsy, elegance, and poetic fantasy. Every step and gesture embodies the fleeting beauty of the dream, making it a timeless masterpiece of grace and imagination.

Zalman Raffael’s B for Ballet is a contemporary exploration of movement, form, and musicality, celebrating the artistry and athleticism of dance. With inventive choreography that highlights both ensemble interplay and individual virtuosity, the work offers a fresh perspective on ballet’s possibilities—merging tradition with modern expression in a vibrant, dynamic performance.

Every performance of La Valse will feature the score performed live by orchestra.

Concerto in Five Movements sponsored by: Dr. Robert Schantz

Performances