FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: August 15, 2007

Contact: Stephanie Thompson

E-Mail: stephanie.thompson@cityballet.org

Phone: 619.840.7353

City Ballet of San Diego Announces its 2007-08
15th Anniversary Season:

"Ballet on Fire" · "The Nutcracker"
"Carmina Burana" · "Don Quixote"

SAN DIEGO - City Ballet of San Diego, under the direction of Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich, celebrates its Fifteenth Crystal Anniversary Season with a spectacular array of dance performances showcasing the depth and strength of San Diego's leading classical ballet company.

The fifteenth anniversary season begins with "Ballet on Fire," an exciting program including Stravinsky's The Firebird and George Balanchine's Gershwin ballet, Who Cares?  City Ballet's award-winning Nutcracker returns for two weekends at the Spreckels Theatre.  Spring brings the extremely popular Carmina Burana and La Bayadère, and the season ends with the classic full-length ballet Don Quixote.

BALLET ON FIRE
Nov. 3 & 4, 2007

City Ballet launches its fifteenth anniversary season with a remarkable lineup of exciting and iconic ballets.  The program includes two critically acclaimed Stravinsky works, The Firebird and Stravinsky Suites, both choreographed by Resident Choreographer Elizabeth Wistrich.  Additionally, the company will present Flames of Paris Pas de Deux (music by Boris Asafiev, choreography after Vasili Vainonen) and Spartacus Pas de Deux (music by Aram Khachaturian, choreography after Yuri Grigorovich) from the Russian repertoire.  These ballets are virtuoso show pieces designed to leave audiences breathless and cheering.  The program will conclude with George Balanchine's famous George Gershwin ballet Who Cares? which delightfully captures the energy and vitality of life in New York City.

The Joan B. Kroc Theatre
at the Salvation Army Kroc Center
6611 University Ave, San Diego

Saturday, November 3 at 8pm
Sunday, November 4 at 2pm

Tickets: $29, $39, $49 (Students, Seniors and Military $10 off)

THE NUTCRACKER
With the City Ballet Orchestra, John Nettles conducting
Dec. 7-16, 2007

In its 13th annual production, City Ballet of San Diego presents its popular, award-winning production of The Nutcracker on two successive weekends.  City Ballet's production of the Tchaikovsky classic, described by The San Diego Union-Tribune as "a plum of a Nutcracker," also received the Tommy Dance Award for the "San Diego's Best Nutcracker."  This holiday favorite, performed with full orchestra, is fashioned after the concepts of Russian choreographer Lev Ivanov, who choreographed the very first Nutcracker.

Spreckels Theatre
121 Broadway in downtown San Diego

Friday, December 7 at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 8 at 2pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, December 9 at 2pm

Friday, December 14 at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 15 at 2pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, December 16 at 2pm

Tickets: $29, $39, $49, $59

Saturday Nights Champagne Reception and priority seating: $75

Lunch with the Sugar Plum Fairy and Friends, both Saturdays at 12noon at the Bristol Hotel:
Adults $20, Children $15

CARMINA BURANA
March 7-9, 2008

City Ballet's resident choreographer, Elizabeth Rowe Wistrich, presents her own take on this extremely popular song cycle.  First created for American Festival Ballet in 1984, this ballet was re-choreographed for City Ballet in 1995 and was performed in 1998 and 2003.  This acclaimed ballet will be presented with the company premiere of the "Kingdom of the Shades" act from La Bayadère (music by Ludwig Minkus), with choreography by Marius Petipa.  This ballet masterpiece will be elaborately staged with elegant new costumes.

Stephen and Mary Birch North Park Theatre
2891 University Avenue, San Diego

Friday, March 7 at 8pm
Saturday, March 8 at 8pm
Sunday, March 9 at 2:30pm

Tickets: $29, $39, $49, $59 (Students, Seniors and Military $10 off at select performances)

DON QUIXOTE
May 9-11, 2008

This great classic ballet, based on the story behind "Man of La Mancha," presented in its entirety, fully staged with breathtaking sets and costumes, is any ballet lover's dream.  The ballet will feature City Ballet's own principal dancers in the demanding lead roles and will also include the company's fine soloists and corps de ballet.  This ballet has it all - emotion, humor, romance, and brilliant dancing that City Ballet is known for.

Spreckels Theatre
121 Broadway in downtown San Diego

Friday, May 9 at 8pm
Saturday, May 10 at 8pm
Sunday, May 11 at 2pm (Mother's Day performance)

Tickets: $29, $39, $49, $59 (Students, Seniors, and Military $10 off at select performances)
Saturday Night Champagne Reception and priority seating : $75
Mother's Day Brunch and Ballet: $80 (includes Sunday Brunch at The Bristol Hotel at 12 noon, and priority seating in the Orchestra section)

All programs are subject to change without notice.

For tickets or more information call City Ballet's Box Office, (858) 272-8663.  Please go to City Ballet's web site at www.cityballet.org to order online.

ABOUT CITY BALLET

Heralded as "a top-tier dance company" and "an oasis of classical dance in a city otherwise too often a desert," City Ballet is San Diego's world-class professional ballet company, now celebrating its fifteenth season, and under the direction of former Boston Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet dancers Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich.  City Ballet is a non-profit organization committed to furthering the ballet art form.  The company produces classic and contemporary ballet programs that critics rave as "polished, eye-catching and delightful," and "highly entertaining and professional."  International dance critic Sheila Orysiek wrote in 2006, "San Diego finally has a classical ballet company that is worthy of the name."

Unsurpassed training programs for children and pre-professionals are offered at City Ballet School, the official school for the City Ballet Company, whose alumnae dance with companies including American Ballet Theatre, Pittsburg Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and The Joffrey Ballet.  City Ballet's innovative education programs range from arts outreach to inner-city children to bringing the world's best ballet instructors to San Diego.

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