Ballet Pro Musica Festival July 31, 2007

the inaugural Ballet Pro Musica Festival, to be held Tuesday through Sunday, Ju1y 31-August 5, 2007 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. The Festival presents a new, unique experience in the performing arts: a partnership of virtuoso musicians and virtuoso dancers from celebrated national companies in a marriage of chamber music to classical dance.

This is the first summer festival in America devoted exclusively to this new category, Chamber Music Ballet, with dance and chamber music masterpieces performed live. The inaugural Festival will feature principals and soloists from the nationally recognized, Denver-based Colorado Ballet, along with the Felberg Chamber Virtuosi led by New Mexico Symphony Orchestra Associate Concertmaster and violinist David Felberg, presenting works choreographed by Alex Ossadnik, Peter Anastos and Jessica Lang to the music of Johann Strauss, Robert Schumann and Frederic Chopin. Performances are Friday and Saturday, August 3 & 4 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, August 5 at 2 p.m.
Also on the Festival schedule are:

· Two master dance classes on Tuesday, July 31 and Thursday, August 2 with Ballet Pro Musica’s Principal Choreographer Peter Anastos (Advanced Level) and Colorado Ballet’s Artistic Director Gil Boggs (Intermediate Level);
· A Patrons’ Premiere Night Patio Dinner and lecture preceding the August 3rd opening performance
· Two “Champagne Symposiums” (“Classical Composers and Dance” and “Metropolitan Opera Ballerinas and Anthony Tudor”) on August 4 & 5, with former UNM Theatre & Dance Dept. Chair Judith Bennahum serving as educational advisor/moderator.

Ticket prices for the three performances are $25, 37, 48, and $55. The price of the Patrons’ Premiere Night Patio Dinner, $125 per person, includes a performance ticket, dinner, lecture, and $50 tax-deductible donation. The Saturday, August 2nd Champagne Symposium is $35 per person, while the Sunday, August 3rd Symposium is $45 (the Symposiums include champagne, hors d’oeuvres and panel discussion). Symposium-performance packages are also available for $54, 65, 75 (Saturday) and $64, 75, 85 (Sunday). Tickets for the Master Classes are $25 per person per event.

Tickets for the performances and/or Champagne Symposia are available through Ticketmaster, 505.883.7800, or www.balletpromusica.org. Those who are interested in attending the Patrons’ Premiere Night Patio Dinner and/or the Master Classes should call Ballet Pro Musica, 505.352.1281. For other information, contact the National Hispanic Center Box Office, 505.724.4771

Official Website: http://www.balletpromusica.org