Brandywine Ballet has earned licensing and approval
from the George Balanchine Trust in New York to perform the company debut of
Balanchine’s Valse-Fantaisie on Friday,
June 4, 2010, 7:30 pm at Longwood Gardens. Also on the program, a new, original
work by choreographer Nancy Page set to the music of Samuel Barber as part of
Chester County’s 2010 Samuel Barber Festival. Describing Balanchine’s Valse-Fantaisie, Paul Kolnik of The New
York Times wrote “with its dancers who never stop
moving and who constantly run or leap in and out with great swiftness, Valse-Fantaisie seems suddenly to
distill the essence of Balanchine's style: speed and momentum.” Earning George Balanchine
Trust licensing requires a Trust-approved repetiteur to stage the work
and see it through to the premiere. The Trust has assigned Jessica Gattinella,
formerly of Pennsylvania Ballet to act as the company’s repetiteur. Valse-Fantaisie represents the fourth George Balanchine ballet that
Brandywine Ballet has had the distinct honor of performing.
Brandywine
Ballet will also perform a new, original work by choreographer Nancy Page set
to the music of Samuel Barber as part of Chester County’s 2010 Samuel Barber
Festival. The festival is a tribute to the 100th Anniversary of
Samuel Barber, an internationally celebrated composer and West Chester native.
Festival planners have scheduled a number of area recitals, concerts, and
exhibits throughout 2010. Admission to the June 4 performance is included in
the price of admission to Longwood Gardens the day of the event. For more
information regarding ticketing, patrons may contact http://www.longwoodgardens.org/ or 610-388-1000. Longwood
Gardens is located at 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA, 19348.
