Pennsylvania Ballet Tango with Style

Pennsylvania Ballet Presents Three Provocative Works in One Stunning Program
May 6 – 10 at the Merriam Theater

Pennsylvania Ballet will perform its second World Premiere and third Company Premiere of the season at the Merriam Theater May 6 – 10. This dynamic program, Tango with Style, offers three contemporary works, each with a compelling stylistic foundation that highlights the extraordinary artistic depth and innovative repertoire of this nationally-recognized ballet company.

The Company Premiere of Hans van Manen’s Five Tangos combines the power and sensuality of the Argentinean tango with the precision and technique of classical ballet. Outstanding principal work, a fiery score by Astor Piazzolla and an emotional arc at its core, have rendered Five Tangos one of the most renowned works of its style. The popular ballet is currently in the repertoire of several international companies and will be the first of the highly regarded Dutch choreographer’s works to be performed by the Company.

A World Premiere by Choreographer in Residence Matthew Neenan infuses the program with a bold new work created specifically for the Company. An intimate cast entangled in a series of duets, trios and quartets punctuate the ballet set in three movements to lush string quartets by Russian composers Alexander Borodin and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Principal Dancer Martha Chamberlain designed costumes for this new work.

“I enjoy having new ballets created for our own dancers and the opportunity to add works to the repertoire that stimulate the growth of the art form,” says Artistic Director Roy Kaiser, “Matt’s new piece and Five Tangos both challenge convention and contribute to the uniqueness of the Company.”
Joining the premieres on the program, Robert Weiss’s neoclassic ballet, Octet for Strings, returns to Company audiences for the first time since 1996. The first movement of Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-Flat provides an emotional musical setting as four principal couples in stark white costumes articulate the intricately woven patterns and seamless transitions that are the hallmark of this work.

Previous premieres this season have included the World Premiere of Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Requiem for a Rose and the Company premieres of Twyla Tharp’s Push Comes To Shove and Mauro Bigonzetti’s Kazimir’s Colours. Pennsylvania Ballet continues to extend its repertoire with critically acclaimed work, deepening its commitment to provide Philadelphia audiences with unique programs that underscore the vitality of the art form.

Hans van Manen began his ballet career in 1951 as a member of Sonia Gaskell’s Ballet Recital. In 1952 he joined the Nederlandse Opera Ballet where he created his first ballet, Feestgericht. He later joined Roland Petit’s company in Paris. He worked with Nederlands Dans Theater from 1960 until 1971 as a dancer, choreographer, and artistic director. He worked as a freelance choreographer until his appointment as choreographer to Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam, later rejoining Nederlands Dans Theater as resident choreographer. In 1992 he was given a ‘Knighthood in the Order of Orange Nassau’ by the Queen of The Netherlands, and was awarded the ‘German Dance Prize 1993′, for his influence in the German dance community. His ballets have been performed by renowned companies around the world including Stuttgart Ballet, Houston Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, the Royal Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, Alvin Ailey, and Pennsylvania Ballet.

Matthew Neenan began his dance training at the Boston Ballet School, attended the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, and the School of American Ballet in New York. From 1994-2007, Neenan danced with Pennsylvania Ballet where he performed an extensive range of work. His choreography has been performed by Pennsylvania Ballet, Opera Company of Philadelphia, LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, Brandywine Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, Washington Ballet and the Juilliard School, among others. He has received numerous awards and grants for his choreography from the National Endowment of the Arts, Dance Advance funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Choo San Goh Foundation, and the Independence Foundation, and is a three-time recipient of grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Upon his retirement in October 2007, Neenan was named Pennsylvania Ballet’s first Choreographer in Residence.

Robert Weiss performed with New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, the Kirov Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet before officially beginning his career as a professional dancer at the age of 17 with New York City Ballet. He remained with the company for 17 years, rising to the rank of principal dancer. Upon retiring as a dancer, Weiss served as Artistic Director of Pennsylvania Ballet for nine seasons. As a choreographer, Weiss has created over 40 ballets, including commissions by Pennsylvania Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Philadanco Dance Company, among others. In May 1997, Weiss was invited to become the founding Artistic Director of Carolina Ballet in Raleigh, North Carolina. Under his direction, Carolina Ballet has received great critical acclaim and audience response for works he has created on the company including Messiah, which Pennsylvania Ballet first performed in March 2008.

Performances of Five Tangos are as follows:
Wednesday, May 6 at 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 7 at 8 p.m.
Friday, May 8 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 9 at 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 10 at 2 p.m.

Tickets for Five Tangos are on sale April 6, 2009, with prices ranging from $21.50 – $126.50 and can be purchased by calling 215.336.2000 or online at paballet.org. Groups of 10 or more save up to 50%, call 215.587.6921.

Mother’s Day with Style at The Palm
Sunday, May 10 at noon (Followed by the 2 p.m. performance at the Merriam Theater)

Shower Mom with a magnificent experience she deserves with this spectacular matinee package created just for her. Indulge in an exclusive three-course brunch at The Palm Restaurant at the Bellevue (200 S. Broad Street) prior to a stunning performance that will make her day truly memorable. Package prices include brunch, tax, gratuity, and a ticket to the performance and start at $82.30 per person. Order today at paballet.org or call 215.587.6921.

Founded in 1963 by Balanchine student and protégée Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the nation’s leading ballet companies. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Company’s annual local season features six programs of classic favorites and new works, including the Philadelphia holiday tradition, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. For more information, call 215.551.7000 or visit www.paballet.org.