NEVADA BALLET THEATRE & CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PRESENT AN EXCITING AND DIVERSE COLLABORATION OF WORKS FOR THE 7TH ANNUAL A CHOREOGRAPHERS’ SHOWCASE
Featuring Artists from Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT), Michael Jackson ONE, Mystère, The Beatles LOVE, KÀ and Zumanity with special appearances by students from NBT’s Education & Outreach Program, Future Dance
TWO WEEKENDS ONLY: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2 AT 1 PM MYSTÈRE THEATRE, TREASURE ISLAND HOTEL & CASINO
Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) and Cirque du Soleil® once again join forces to present the highly creative and collaborative 7th annual A Choreographers’ Showcase, featuring over 60 local artists from NBT and Cirque du Soleil, performing 11 original works on Sunday, October 26 at 1 pm and Sunday, November 2 at 1 pm at the Mystère Theatre at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, 3300 South Las Vegas Blvd. Tickets may be purchased for $25 and $45 by calling the Mystère Theatre Box Office at (702) 894-7722 or via online at www.nevadaballet.org.
Designed as a project to stimulate and encourage artistic growth, A Choreographers’ Showcase provides emerging artists from both NBT and Cirque du Soleil the necessary resources and support to conceptualize, develop, create and execute an originally-choreographed work from beginning to end. “The importance of this project brings something special to the artists from both organizations as well as local audiences; and that is the gift of the creative process,” said NBT Artistic Director and Co-Creative Director for A Choreographers’ Showcase, James Canfield. “Opportunities for developing artists are becoming scarce due to the lack of resources and time available. Projects such as A Choreographers’ Showcase allow artists to explore new directions; and when the seeds are planted early enough, artists can continue to develop their craft over a longer period of time.”
Over the past seven years, A Choreographers’ Showcase has cultivated an appreciative local audience and become a media favorite. An organic and ever-evolving endeavor, each year possesses its own unique flavor, energy and area of focus. “For this year’s showcase, we encouraged the artists to incorporate more of an acrobatic element into their works,” said Katy Tate, from Cirque du Soleil and Co-Creative Director for A Choreographer’s Showcase. “Their challenge as choreographers is to forgo the use of an apparatus, utilizing movements which celebrate the abilities of the physical body without the technical support of a physical object.”
Each artist is responsible for all of the artistic elements of their piece – from choreography, to costumes, to lighting and sound. “The Showcase encourages mentorship and allows artists to step outside of their comfort zone,” said Tate. “Because performers in both organizations must materialize their creative visions and possibly perform new styles they haven’t yet explored, they experience tremendous professional growth.”
Furthering the mission of the project, students of low income means will not only receive the opportunity to witness this one-of-a-kind collaboration as part of an exciting school matinee on Friday, October 24, but Scholars from NBT’s Future Dance program will have a presence throughout the show – aiding in the transition of works as well as the finale. Since its inception, thousands of local students have witnessed this one-of-a-kind collaboration bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds and dance styles. Proceeds from each $45 ticket sold to the October 26 and November 2 public performances enable NBT and Cirque du Soleil to present this special school time matinee.
As a benefit for NBT, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, proceeds generated from A Choreographers’ Showcase provide necessary support for the company’s main stage productions at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, its affiliated Academy in Summerlin and the many initiatives of Future Dance, its Education and Outreach program, which successfully reached over 10,000 underserved students during the 2013-2014 Season.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Ticket prices for A Choreographers’ Showcase may be purchased for $25 and $45 by calling the Mystère Theatre Box Office at (702) 894-7722 or online at www.nevadaballet.org. Purchasing a premium $45 ticket will provide guests with preferred seating and the opportunity to support NBT’s Education & Outreach Program, Future Dance.
ABOUT A CHOREOGRAPHERS’ SHOWCASE
A Choreographers’ Showcase began as a premiere collaboration between Nevada Ballet Theatre and Cirque du Soleil in 2006 when the two companies discovered a way to collaborate that would benefit Las Vegas’ local ballet company and allow the world-renowned troupe to add an action-based element to their support of the arts. On Sunday, December 2, 2007, A Choreographers’ Showcase debuted at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino on the famous Las Vegas strip. Now in its seventh year, this critically-acclaimed production has created an avenue of growth for local artists while providing Las Vegas with a dynamic and completely organic dance experience. In addition, the showcase has raised Nevada Ballet Theatre’s visibility on the Las Vegas strip while simultaneously enabling Cirque du Soleil to further root itself in the local cultural community. Over the last few years, the showcase has garnered rave reviews and sold-out houses in addition to significant media attention including the LA Times and LIFE Magazine. The only collaboration of its kind, A Choreographers’ Showcase boasts an important education and outreach element; since its inception, almost 6,000 local students have received the opportunity to witness this one-of-a-kind production bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds and dance styles.
ABOUT NEVADA BALLET THEATRE
Under the artistic direction of James Canfield, Nevada Ballet Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Las Vegas and the largest professional ballet company and dance Academy in the state. Committed to the highest artistic standards, this classically-based company is at home in an eclectic repertory, moving easily from the classics to the high-energy contemporary ballets. The mission of Nevada Ballet Theatre is to educate and inspire statewide, regional and national audiences and vitally impact community life through professional company productions, dance training and education and outreach. Nevada Ballet Theatre is the resident ballet company of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, visit NBT on the web: www.nevadaballet.org; Like NBT on Facebook:www.facebook.com/NevadaBalletTheatre or Tweet: @NVBallet.
ABOUT CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil who celebrates its 30th anniversary this year has brought wonder and delight to close to 150 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents.
In Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil has eight permanent resident shows. These productions include Mystère at Treasure Island, “O” at Bellagio, Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil at New York -New York Hotel & Casino, KÀ at MGM Grand, The Beatles LOVE at The Mirage, CRISS ANGEL Believe at Luxor, Zarkana at ARIA Resort & Casino and Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. For more information, visit the Cirque du Soleil website at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/lasvegas. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/cirquedusoleil. Tweet us: @Cirque.