Six Stars of Joffrey Ballet Will Join the West Michigan Symphony for a "Visually Stunning" Performance

MUSKEGON, MI, October 20, 2012

Six stars of Chicago's Joffrey Ballet will join the West Michigan Symphony on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10 and 11, for a celebration of stunning dance and choreography with "Stars of the Joffrey Ballet."

Saturday's concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday's concert will take place at 3 p.m. Both performances will be held in the majestic Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts in downtown Muskegon.

The West Michigan Symphony will transform the Frauenthal Theater into a performance space that can accommodate a large orchestra and full-stage ballet floor by removing four rows of audience seating in order to accommodate the orchestra placement on the main floor of the theater.

The Symphony will also coordinate the loan of a full-stage sprung floor from the Grand Rapids Ballet that will be installed on top of the Frauenthal stage. A sprung floor is the industry standard for ballet performances and creates a more forgiving surface for the artists to perform spectacular aerials.

"I have had the pleasure of conducting the masterful artists of the Joffrey Ballet for the past three seasons," said Music Director Scott Speck. "This unique troupe is truly one of the country's premier dance ensembles, and it is with great joy that I bring my new Chicago friends together with my friends in West Michigan for this wonderful performance.

"All the music on this program is very emotional and would be very effective by itself in performance. Combine it with the stunning dancing of the Joffrey Ballet and you've got an over-the-top sensory experience. It's going to be a spectacular evening of music and dance."

The evening will feature:
• "Age of Innocence," a pas de deux choreographed by Edwaard Liang with music by Philip Glass from "Secret Agent," including "Secret Agent Ending"
• "Aria," choreographed by Val Caniparoli with music by George Frideric Händel, Overture and "Lascia ch'io pianga" from "Rinaldo"
• "After the Rain," a pas de deux choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon with music by Arvo Pärt, "Spiegel im Spiegel"
• "Othello," the final duet choreographed by Lar Lubovitch with music by Elliot B. Goldenthal
• "No Other," choreographed by Val Caniparoli with music by Richard Rodgers, "Beneath the Southern Cross" from "Victory at Sea"

In addition, the orchestra alone will perform the music to some of the most beloved dances from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" and "Sleeping Beauty" and Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet."

The Joffrey Ballet is known for its diversity, being the first major company to employ dancers of all sizes, colors and backgrounds. The Company's dancers come from all across the world. In addition to the individual dancers' diversity, the Joffrey Ballet is also known for the diversity of its repertoire. It is the Company that discovered famed choreographer Twyla Tharp, among other influential choreographers.

"The Joffrey prides itself on ballets that do more than tell a pretty story," Speck said. "They challenge what we think of as ballet."

Single tickets for this concert are $18, $23, $38 and $48 and may be purchased online at http://www.westmichigansymphony.org; in person at the West Michigan Symphony Ticket Office, Suite 409 (4th floor) in the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, 425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon; or by calling 231.726.3231. Student tickets are $10 for this concert but are not available online. College students must present a valid ID when they purchase tickets.

Season and individual tickets can be purchased by calling the West Michigan Symphony ticket office at 231.726.3231. Several subscriber plans are available including the full series, masterworks series only, pop series only or flexible ticketing that allows concertgoers to create their own experience. For more information or to receive a 2012-13 season brochure, contact 231.726.3231 or info@westmichigansymphony.org.

About West Michigan Symphony
As one of the few professional regional orchestras in Michigan, West Michigan Symphony has played a leading role in the region's cultural community for more than 70 years. Founded as the West Shore Symphony Orchestra, WMS now serves a regional audience with eight pairs of concerts annually, along with dozens of educational and outreach activities for children and adults. WMS oversees operations for the West Michigan Youth Symphony. For more information, visit http://www.westmichigansymphony.org.

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Contact: Carla Hill
West Michigan Symphony, 231.726.3231, ext. 22
or
Mary Ann Sabo
Sabo Public Relations, 616.485.1432