Alexandra Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Another early alert: BALLET SAN JOSE SILICON VALLEY NEWS Dennis Nahat, Artistic Director FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 23, 2003 MEDIA CONTACT: Lee Kopp,(408) 288-2820 x 210 NOTE: JPEG photo attached; 300dpi, 5 X 7. Raymond Rodriguez (as Franz) and Karen Gabay (as Swanhilda) in Dennis Nahat's "Coppélia", one of three ballets in Ballet San Jose's new Children's Series. Photo By: Robert Shomler Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley Announces Children's Series "Nutcracker", "Coppélia", "Silly Simon" Designed for Young Audiences Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley has announced the creation of a new Children's Series of short ballets designed to introduce young audiences to the magic of storytelling through dance. The three-ballet program will include child-friendly versions of Dennis Nahat's "The Nutcracker" and "Coppélia" and a ballet entitled "Silly Simon", choreographed by Lise la Cour, based on a folk tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The ballets will be produced with full sets and costumes, and run approximately one-hour and fifteen-minutes each. The productions are available as a subscription series only. The Children's Series version of "The Nutcracker" (Sunday, December 14th at 1:30pm) will be performed by the professional company of Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley dancers with full sets, costumes, and orchestra. "The first act of the ballet is a perfect short story for young children," says choreographer and Company Artistic Director Dennis Nahat. "We meet a young girl named Maria at a Christmas party for her family and friends. Godfather Drosselmeyer arrives with gifts for everyone, including a very special nutcracker for Maria. Drosselmeyer tells Maria and all the guests that the nutcracker is really an enchanted prince. An evil sorcerer in the shape of a Mouse King has cast a spell on the Prince, and he can only be saved by a brave young girl. Much later that night, after the party is over and everyone has gone to bed, Maria awakens to an astonishing sight. The Christmas tree has grown to a towering height. The Nutcracker Prince is now taller than she, and he is fighting with an enormous Mouse King. Through her bravery Maria saves the Prince and together they fly off into the clouds on the back of a beautiful snow bird. The Nutcracker is one of my favorite ballets," says Nahat. "Coppélia" (Saturday, February 7th at 1:30pm) is the story of a village toymaker who carves marvelous life-size puppets. One day he creates a particularly beautiful puppet girl and he names her Coppélia. The toymaker sets his new creation high on a balcony overlooking the town square so that the sun will dry her newly painted enameled eyes. But Coppélia is all too lifelike, and Franz, the most mischievous boy in the village, begins to flirt with this new girl in town. Love-struck, Franz creeps into the toymaker's workshop to find the beautiful girl, but instead he meets with a disagreeable surprise. Meanwhile Swanhilda, Franz's sweetheart, has seen her boyfriend flirting with Coppélia and decides to confront her. So she, too, sneaks into the workshop. The confusion and merriment that follows will delight audiences of all ages. This three-act story will reworked to a very child-friendly one-hour and fifteen-minutes and will be danced by the professional company with full sets, costumes and orchestra. "Silly Simon" (five performances: Thursday, April 22nd through Sunday, April 25) is based on a tale by the great Danish poet and storyteller, Hans Christian Andersen. Lise la Cour, formerly of Royal Danish Ballet and currently the Director of Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley SCHOOL, will set her choreography on members of the School's Professional and Open divisions.. The story follows the adventures of 'Silly' Simon and his two clever brothers. The Princess Royal is seeking a husband, but insists that she will only marry a man who can speak for himself. The two clever brothers ride off on their fine horses to try their luck at wooing the beautiful Princess. But Simon has no horse of his own so he sets off riding a billy goat. On the way Simon collects "presents" for the Princess--a dead crow, an old wooden shoe, and a pocket full of mud. His clever brothers have a good laugh and then spur their horses toward the castle and leave "Silly Simon" far behind. "If you want to find out what happens, you have to come to the ballet", says Ms. la Cour. "The Nutcracker" and "Coppélia" (one performance each) will be staged at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. "Silly Simon" will be given five matinee and early evening performances at San Jose Repertory Theatre. Subscription packages range from $42 to $114 for children and $51 to $129 for adults. For additional information or to order subscriptions, call the Ballet Box Office at (408) 288-2800 or visit the web site at www.balletsanjose.org *** FACT SHEET BALLET SAN JOSE SILICON VALLEY Children's Series At a Glance (Currently Available by Subscription Only) "The Nutcracker" (First Act Only) Sunday, December 14th at 1:30pm San Jose Center for the Performing Arts 255 Almaden Boulevard in downtown San Jose Choreography: Dennis Nahat Music: "The Nutcracker" Composer: Peter Tchaikovsky Scenery and Costumes: David Guthrie First Performed: Cleveland Ballet on December 12, 1979 at the Music Hall, Cleveland, Ohio. "Coppélia" (Specially Edited Version) Saturday, February 7th at 1:30pm San Jose Center for the Performing Arts 255 Almaden Boulevard in downtown San Jose Choreography: Dennis Nahat (Based on the Ballet of 1870 by Arthur Saint-Léon) Music: "Coppélia" Composer: Léo Delibes Scenery and Costumes: David Guthrie First Performed: San Jose Cleveland Ballet on October 16, 1981 at the Hanna Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio. "Silly Simon" (American Premiere) Thursday, April 22nd at 6:30pm Friday, April 23rd at 6:30pm Saturday, April 24th at 11:00am Saturday, April 24th at 1:30pm Sunday, April 25th at 1:30pm * San Jose Repertory Theatre 101 Paseo de San Antonio in downtown San Jose Scenario & Choreography: Lise la Cour Music: Commissioned score Composer: Bent Fabricius-Bjerre Scenery and Costumes: Bjórn Wiinblad First Performed: Royal Danish Ballet, October, 1989 at the Royal Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark. * Note: Special location for "Silly Simon" only Tickets: Subscriptions are available from $42 to $114 for children; $51 to $129 for adults. Box Office: (408) 288-2800 Web Site: www.balletsanjose.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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