Choreographer

The romantic wedding scene from the enchanting ballet Sleeping Beauty comes to life this February. The glorious 3rd act celebrates the royal wedding with Jewel Fairies: Diamond, Gold, Silver and Sapphire, and the Lilac Fairy. Fairytale characters including Puss in Boots and The White Cat, Princess Florine and the Bluebird and Littie Red Riding Hood dance for the happy couple in a joyous finale. Featuring the whole company and students from Diablo Ballet School.

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Sleeping Beauty’s Wedding

Lesher Center for the Arts

We kick off our season in October with our first in-theatre performance, Contemporary Visions. This production features four stand-alone works created by explorative and dynamic choreographers sharing stories through movement. Contemporary Visions features world-premiere choreography from Darrell Grand-Moultrie as he creates his first complete work for Grand Rapids Ballet. Darrell previously created Three Offerings for us during the virtual 20-21 season. He has an extensive resume, including creating works for Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theater, and Beyonce. Veteran company dancer and up-and-coming choreographer Yuka Oba-Muschiana will create a full company work, with music by Franz Schubert. Berceuse, choreographed by resident choreographer Penny Saunders lends a sweeping and intricate duet in Berceuse, set to Benjamin Godard’s gorgeous piece of the same name. Berceuse, meaning ‘lullaby’ in French, explores the nuanced line between classical and contemporary movement and zooms in on a relationship, amplifying its twists and turns as it falls through time. Spirit of Women features three female solos excerpted from Donald McKayle’s repertoire that are placed together for their first collaborative presentation. As a massive figure in the modern dance world, McKayle is known for his socially conscious works expressing the human condition, specifically the African American experience. You will want to make sure you get to see this brand-new compilation of works as Grand Rapids Ballet presents Contemporary Visions.

Contemporary Visions

Peter Martin Wege Theatre

The curtain comes down on Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Season with its annual Season Encore Performance, a crowd-pleasing reprise of audience favorites from PNB’s repertoire, and a bittersweet but celebratory salute to the career of retiring principal dancer Lesley Rausch. The program will feature PNB’s entire Company, along with the world-famous PNB Orchestra under the baton of Music Director/Principal Conductor Emil de Cou, performing works by George Balanchine, Alejandro Cerrudo, Kiyon Ross, Penny Saunders, and Kent Stowell, among others.

Season Encore Performance

Seattle Center

Visions will showcase Penny Saunders’ innovative Ghost Light, a newly commissioned work by Jermaine Spivey and Extremely Close, a mesmerizing emotionally beautiful work by Alejandro Cerrudo. Stagecraft and production will include fascinating full-motion fast-moving vertical walls and dramatically lit white feathers for Extremely Close.

Visions

The Sofia

On the three-year anniversary of the March 2020 closure, some of PNB’s favorite pandemic-era collaborators share the McCaw Hall stage. Alejandro Cerrudo, Jessica Lang, and Penny Saunders consistently turn their creative minds toward the dance world and theatrical conventions. They seek to improve upon and play with our expectations, and push boundaries, both metaphorically and physically. Savor Saunders’ theater-roving Wonderland and world premieres from Cerrudo and Lang.

Boundless

The magic and artistry of the legendary ballet Swan Lake comes to Diablo Ballet audiences this February, featuring highlights from Act 1, White Swan and Black Swan Pas de Deux, variations, and coda featuring the entire company, accompanied by the legendary score by Tchaikovsky. Also included in the program is the thrilling Tarantella by George Balanchine and set to the Grande Tarantelle by Louis Moreau Gottschalk; a command performance of the glorious Sur Le Fil by Penny Saunders; and a new work by company dancer and choreographer, Michael Wells and Derion Loman who was featured on “So You Think You Can Dance” and “World of Dance”.

Swan Lake Suite

Based on the 1994 Disney animated feature film of the same name and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Lion King is the story of Simba, an adventurous and energetic lion cub who is next in line to be king of the Pride Lands, a thriving and beautiful region in the African savanna. When Simba’s father Mufasa is killed by his uncle Scar, though, Simba is led to believe that his father’s death is his fault, and he is encouraged to run away forever. Scar seizes power and with his already unstable mind deteriorating, the Pride Lands experiences a darkness and desolation from which only Simba can save the animals of the kingdom. Featuring classic songs from the film such as “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “Hakuna Matata,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” The Lion King is a story and a spectacle about identity, family, and responsibility that is enjoyed worldwide by people of all ages.


Penny Saunders

Choreographer

Events

Upcoming events

Feb 20 - Mar 2, 2025

Disney’s “The Lion King, Jr” · Court Square Theater

Past events

9 - 10 Feb, 2024

Sleeping Beauty’s Wedding · Diablo Ballet

6 - 8 Oct, 2023

Contemporary Visions · Grand Rapids Ballet

About

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