Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8 p.m.
MANASSAS, Va., March 14, 2013 – Hailed as “a cut above many of its rivals” by The Washington Post, the Russian National Ballet Theatre performs at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas on Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8 p.m. The company’s talented Russian dancers will perform two classical ballets, “Romeo and Juliet” and “Chopiniana,” in one spectacular evening. This performance is Family Friendly: tickets for youth grades 12 and under are half price when accompanied by an adult. A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, begins 45 minutes prior to the performance in the Hylton Center’s Buchanan Partners Art Gallery. Prince William Health System is the 2012-2013 Hylton Presents Season Sponsor.
Based on Shakespeare’s famous masterpiece, “Romeo and Juliet” tells the tragic story of two youths who fall in love despite the hatred between their families, the Montagues and the Capulets. When Romeo slays Juliet’s villainous cousin, he is forced to flee. Risking his life, he meets with Juliet one last time and the two are secretly wed. What follows for the star-crossed lovers and their families is a tale of woe, as fate and death collide. The rousing music of Tchaikovsky and the mesmerizing choreography of Marius Petipa combined with the impeccable skill of the Russian dancers bring this beloved tale to life.
“Chopiniana,” also known as “Les Sylphides,” depicts a young poet veering between dreams and reality. In his romantic vision, a group of ballerinas bathed in moonlight dance around the young man. Inspired by Chopin’s Seventh Waltz and set to a series of the composer’s works, “Chopiniana” does not have a traditional plot. It is the themes, moods and feelings displayed through the gorgeous costumes, magical set and emotional movements that develop the performance. Mikhail Fokine’s timeless choreography incorporates the cultural experiences of the past and the bourgeoning ideas of the future, giving the work universal significance.
The Russian National Ballet Theatre, originally named the Soviet National Ballet, was founded in Moscow during the period of Perestroika in the late 1980s. The original troupe was composed of graduates and principal dancers from the great choreographic schools and the most exclusive ballet companies in the former Soviet Union and its territories. Today, the Russian National Ballet Theatre is its own institution with more than 50 of the most talented, experienced and skillful dancers in Russia and Eastern Europe, many of whom have been with the company since its inception. Elena Radchenko, herself a legendary Bolshoi principal dancer, has led the company since 1994, when she was selected by presidential decree to assume the first permanent directorship of the company. Under the direction of Radchenko, the company has developed a repertory featuring virtually all of Petipa’s full-length ballets, including “Don Quixote,” “The Sleeping Beauty,” “Swan Lake” and “La Sylphide,” as well as productions of “The Nutcracker” and “Sylvia.” The troupe has dedicated itself to the preservation of the timeless tradition of classical Russian ballet, as well as embracing new developments in the dance world.
PLEASE NOTE: The Russian National Ballet Theatre will also appear at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts Concert Hall in Fairfax, performing “Giselle” on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 8 p.m. and “Swan Lake” on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 4 p.m.
The Hylton Performing Arts Center is pleased to recognize Prince William Health System
as the 2012-2013 Hylton Presents Season Sponsor
Tickets for RUSSIAN NATIONAL BALLET THEATRE’S performance of “ROMEO AND JULIET” & “CHOPINIANA are $38, $46 and $54. Family Friendly: youth through grade 12 half price when accompanied by an adult. Visit the box office (open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) or charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit HyltonCenter.org. The Hylton Performing Arts Center is located on George Mason University’s Prince William Campus at 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va., 20110. FREE parking is available in the lot next to the Hylton Center. For more information, please visit HyltonCenter.org. Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/HyltonCenter and follow us on Twitter at @Hylton_PAC.
About the Hylton Performing Arts Center
Dedicated to bringing a world-class performing arts venue to the Prince William region, the Hylton Performing Arts Center was born out of a partnership among Prince William County, George Mason University, the City of Manassas, the Commonwealth of Virginia and individuals and businesses in the private sector. Soaring more than nine stories and boasting a stunning mix of copper, glass and masonry, the 85,000-square foot center is home to two unparalleled performance venues for local arts groups and performers from around the world, as well as university-related activities. Modeled after the intimate European opera houses of the 19th century, Merchant Hall is a 1,123-seat multipurpose proscenium theater, which is encircled by 27 private boxes that rise three levels. The Gregory Family Theater is a flexible, 4,400-square foot space that can be configured for many different types of performances and events. In addition, the Didlake Grand Foyer, with its sweeping staircase, provides an ideal setting for community, corporate and social events. The Hylton Performing Arts Center, the only building of its kind in the area, is sure to quickly become the cultural hub of Prince William County and the surrounding communities and is a shining example of collaboration and commitment to the arts.
About George Mason University
George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with global distinction in a range of academic fields. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., Mason provides students access to diverse cultural experiences and the most sought-after internships and employers in the country. Mason offers strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering and information technology, organizational psychology, health care and visual and performing arts. With Mason professors conducting groundbreaking research in areas such as climate change, public policy and the biosciences, George Mason University is a leading example of the modern, public university. George Mason University – Where Innovation Is Tradition.
