Okay, sure…  Maybe Las Vegas isn’t the white-hot center of culture that it’s made itself out to be for the past decade or so.  And it’s true that in many ways, Las Vegas and The Arts are not exactly synonymous.  As with many hypotheses; however, it is the exceptions that prove the proverbial rule.  Nevada Ballet Theatre is definitely one such exception, and for nearly forty years has reigned as la grande dame of artistic organizations in this cultural desert.

Nevada Ballet Theatre (Photo: Brooks Ayala)

Kicking-off the Fall Series, Artistic Director James Canfield and three of his colleagues (all former performers with The Joffrey Ballet), along with a selection of dancers from each of their respective companies, are presenting a quintet of works by world-renowned choreographers.  While each on its own is a fantastic tribute to The Joffrey Ballet’s late, great co-directors, AD Robert Joffrey (née Abdullah Jaffa Bey Khan), and the company’s resident choreographer, Gerald Alpino; together, these five compositions allow the far-reaching ideas of modern ballet, imagined and crafted by the two legendary visionaries, to continue.

Robert Joffrey and Gerald Alpino

NBT will begin the evening with Degas Impressions, inspired by Edgar Degas’ impressionist paintings.  Then, Ballet West (AD: Adam Sklute) will present a special preview of Jiri Kylian’s Sinfonietta.  Next, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (AD: Tom Mossbrucker) performs Red Sweet by Jorma Elo; after which Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (AD: Glenn Edgerton) will execute Nacho Duato’s pas-de-deux from Gnawa.  As the evening’s finale, NBT will take the stage, once again, with Equinoxe.

Nevada Ballet Theatre (Photo: Brooks Ayala)

The Fall Series will be performed at UNLV’s Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, next weekend, with 8pm shows on the evenings of Friday, October 15th and Saturday, October 16th.

Additionally, a matinee performance will take place on Sunday, October 17th, at 2pm.

Audience members and patrons of the dance are invited to join AD Canfield and other guests, before and after the performance, for Insights and Talkback, respectively.

Nevada Ballet Theatre (Photo: Brooks Ayala)

Nevada Ballet Theatre – FALL SERIES
Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, UNLV
4505 South Maryland Parkway
Tickets: (702) 895-ARTS
www.NevadaBallet.org

Get into it!