2015 / 2016 SEASON

neWdance, UP cloSeNoVEMBEr 6/7 & NoVEMBEr 13/14

EStHEr SiMPLot PErforMiNg ArtS ACADEMY

the nUtcRacKeR DECEMBEr 18/19/20

MorriSoN CENtEr

SInatRa and MoRe fEBrUArY 19/20MorriSoN CENtEr

neWdance, UP cloSeMArCH 11/12 & MArCH 18/19

EStHEr SiMPLot PErforMiNg ArtS ACADEMY

the SleePInG BeaUtYAPriL 8/9

MorriSoN CENtEr

2015/16 seasoN

Photo Credit: steve sMith PhotograPhy

WeLCoMe to oUr 2015/16 SEASON!We have a fabulous season lined up for you! The success of our NewDance, Up Close series, in which our dancers become choreographers and express themselves, has been remarkable. Several shows were sold out last season, so act quickly to secure the best seats for next season. All your favorite young choreographers will be back with some new and surprising additions -- an interesting new twist in November. The � rst series of NewDance will run for two weekends in November. You have two di� erent weekends to choose from. Come see all the new and exciting work our dancers are creating!

The Nutcracker returns the week before Christmas to the Morrison Center. We hope you’ll join us again this year for more holiday cheer, new casts, all the fun and magic of a family party, the beautiful snow scene and the Land of the Sweets. We will be accompanied again this year by the wonderful Boise Philharmonic.

In February, we are back at the Morrison Center for a real treat, the Idaho premiere of a Twyla Tharp ballet, her spectacular Nine Sinatra Songs. Twyla has won Tony Awards for her Broadway work, Emmys for television and is probably the most interesting female choreographer of the last half century. Don’t miss this beautiful ballet! In addition, that program will have another Balanchine ballet, Valse Fantasie, a little gem, my jazz-inspired Ravel Piano Concerto and Alex Ossadnik’s contemporary Scheherezade, returning by popular demand. It’s a great program!

In March, we o� er another edition of NewDance, Up Close in our theatre. More new choreography, more of the fascinating contemporary work our dancers invent. There are always surprises in this series, boundaries pushed, risks taken, ideas explored, all in the close proximity and intimacy of our theatre at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy.

Finally, back at the Morrison Center, our season closes in April with the return of our glorious production of The Sleeping Beauty, Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece. A huge cast, including many children, sumptuous sets and costumes and a wide range of dancing, all make this one of our biggest and brightest ballets. All in all, a season of new surprises and old friends. Thanks for being such a loyal and wonderful audience. We hope you will enjoy Ballet Idaho as much as we love dancing for you!

Best Wishes,

Peter Anastos, Artistic Director

November 6/7 & November 13/14– Fall series march 11/12 & march 18/19– spriNg series

NEWDANCE, UP CLOSEesther simplot perFormiNg arts academy

This edgy studio event allows Ballet Idaho dancers and other local choreographers to push ballet into new territories. Often for the first time, Ballet Idaho dancers are given the chance to choreograph works for their fellow dancers and are allowed the opportunity to express themselves through the choreography of new contemporary dance. Join us in our intimate 200-seat auditorium, as we get up close for this unique series.

Photo Credit: Mike reid PhotograPhy

Ballet Idaho continues the beloved holiday tradition of the timeless family classic, The Nutcracker. It is a cozy Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum’s house as they prepare their annual Christmas party, their children Clara and Fritz wait anxiously for the celebration to begin! Join Ballet Idaho and celebrate the season in glittering fashion- a joyful and elegant holiday party for the children, a magical mouse, Clara’s marvelous nutcracker doll and a growing Christmas tree. Over 100 children from the Ballet Idaho Academy will grace the stage with our professional company members.

DECEMBEr 18/19 /20

tHE J.r. SiMPLOt COMPANY PrESENtS

tHE NUtCrACKErmorrisoN ceNter

Music by Pyotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

Choreography by Peter Anastos

Scenery and Costumes by A. Christina Giannini

Mice Masks by Ralph Lee

Additional Costumes by Lito John Demetita and Megan Ann Richardson

Photo Credit: Mike reid PhotograPhy

Ravel PIano conceRtoMusic by Maurice Ravel

Choreography by Peter Anastos

Costumes by B. Benjamin Weigel

1930’s jazz-inspired Ravel Piano Concerto accompanies a fast-paced, witty and beautiful ballet – a sleek

and elegant classic ballet full of energy and drive.

ScheheRezadeMusic by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Choreography by Alex Ossadnik

Costumes by Megan Ann Richardson

Scheherezade, one of the glories of symphonic music, based on the 1,001 Arabian Night’s tales is back, by popular demand. After their first night together, Scheherezade, who

is well read in all literature, philosophy and science, offers to tell the Sultan a story. The Sultan agrees and so she begins…

each night, the Sultan spares her life in order to hear another story. By the end of 1,001 nights and after Scheherezade has exhausted all her stories, the Sultan has fallen in love with

her, spares her life, and makes her his queen.

nIne SInatRa SonGSMusic by Frank Sinatra

Choreography by Twyla Tharp

Costumes by Oscar de la Renta

Nine Sinatra Songs presents a glamorous portrait of seven couples that traces the arc of romantic relationships. The dancers swing, swirl, tango and cha-cha through a glittering ballroom. This is the first time ever that a Twyla Tharp ballet will be performed in Idaho.

valSe FantaSIe Music by Mikhail Glinka

Choreography by George Balanchine ©The George Balanchine Trust

Costumes by Karinska

In 1967, George Balanchine choreographed Glinkiana, a ballet in four movements set to the music of Mikhail Glinka—“the Russian Mozart.” The second movement, Valse Fantaisie, is the only part that Balanchine liked well enough to keep in the repertory. The choreography presents a windswept pattern of pure dancing, attuned to the joyfulness of its waltz rhythms.

FebrUary 19 / 20

SiNAtrA AND MOrEmorrisoN ceNter

Photo Credit: steve sMith PhotograPhy

april 8 / 9

tHE SLEEPiNG BEAUtYmorrisoN ceNter

Music by Pyotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

Choreography by Peter Anastos after Marius Petipa

The Sleeping Beauty, with glorious music by Tchaikovsky, is considered

one of the greatest ballet stories of all time. The ballet is set in the regal style of Louis XIV and incorporates

many 18th century court dances. With incredibly intricate costumes

and mood-inducing scenery, this production is not only magical

but truly awe-inspiring. We hope you enjoy the lifelong memories

of this family ballet!

Photo Credit: steve sMith PhotograPhy