RECENT PERFORMANCES

To the inspirational performance of Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops orchestra on Tuesday May 19th, Rebecca Rice Dance presented new choreography set to music by Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Khachaturian and Shostackovich at Symphony Hall. In the spirit of the Ballets Russes, the piece brought together music, art and movement into a novel and unified whole. Brad Schlagheck, of the Boston Ballet, Adrina DeVitre, Carrie Kerstein, Sara Knight and Janine Ronayne performed in original costumes created by Boston noted costume designer, Amanda Mujica

" RUSSES SUITES was an important contribution to the centenary celebration because it both fed off of the creative legacy of the company, with its blend of music, costume and movement and introduced new paradigms in its blend of classical ballet and modern dance movements. The performances at the Boston Pops Concert and the Ballets Russes Ball thrilled audiences and engaged them with the essence of the Ballets Russes in a way no 'recreation' alone could have done. These performances showed new audiences what the Ballets Russes could have meant to the 1909 newers."

Anna Winestein, Associate Director, Ballets Russes 2009 and Executive Director of the Ballets Russes Cultural Partnership

PROGRAM . May 19, 2009

RUSSES SUITE (2009)

Movement One

Music: Stravinsky "Chant du Rossignol" /Dancers: Adrina DeVitre, Carrie Kerstein, Sara Knight, Janine Ronayne, Brad Shagleheck.

Movement Two

Shostakovitch: Polka from "The Age of Gold" /Soloist: Adrina DeVitre

Movement Three

Prokofiev, Marche from the "Love of Three Oranges" /Soloist: Sara Knight

Movement Four

Khataturian "Sabre Dance from Garaney" / Dancers: Janine Ronayne and Brad Shagleheck

Movement Five

Shostakovich "Valse Jazz Suite No. 2" / Dancers: Adrina DeVitre, Carrie Kerstein, Sara Knight, Janine Ronayne and Brad Shagleheck

PROGRAM NOTES

Rebecca Rice's new choreography of "Russes Suite" includes a medley of five dances set to music by compsers who worked with or were influenced by Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes; including Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Khachaturian and Shostakovich. From the surrealism of Stravinsky's "Chant du Rossignot" to the luscious, romanticism of Khachaturian's "Valse No. 2 from Jazz Suite", Rebecca Rice's "Russes Suite" portrays a broad range of music styles and dance techniques. In "March from the Love of Oranges" and Polka from the Age of Gold" her modernist choreographic approach mirrors the absurdity of some of the Com media dell'Arte influences during the time of the Ballets Russes. Stravinsky's work contrasts the other pieces in the program because of its powerfully dissonant rhythmical ambiance. Choreographically Rice included percussive modernist movement with contrasting energies to accent the nuances within Stravinsky's score as well as within the other powerful musical compositions.

Amanda Murjica, costume designer, has created original costume designs for all five works which seek to compliment the Ballets Russes" elaborate use of color, fanfare and sophisticated elements of design."

May 2009