ACT I

Sleeping Beauty Suite

Choreography by: Marius Petipa

Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Costumes: Lorris Eichinger, Theresa Knudson, Daniel R. Durrett

Aurora’s Entrance & Rose Adagio

Daniel R. Durrett

with Duane Gosa, Maxfield Haynes, Trevor Williams, and Zsilas Michael Hughes

Aurora Act 1 Solo

Ashton Edwards

Precious Stones Entrance

Duane Gosa, Maxfield Haynes, Trevor Williams, and Zsilas Michael Hughes

Sapphire

Maxfield Haynes

Gold

Zsilas Michael Hughes

Diamond

Trevor Williams

Emerald

Duane Gosa

Aurora Vision Variation

Victor Maguad

Coda

Duane Gosa, Trevor Williams, Victor Maguad, Ashton Edwards

Program Notes:

Sleeping Beauty, composed by Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Petipa, premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1890. The ballet follows the tale of Aurora from the Brothers Grimm narrative, in which Aurora is cursed and can only be saved by true love. Dances with roses, fairies, precious gem stones, princes, and other fairy tale creatures, glitter the ballet with iconic dance excerpts that have stood the test of time. Ballet22 presents this ballet with the historical choreography and pageantry that has been passed down by generations of ballerinas, giving space for men and non binary artists to partake in the ballerina defining repertoire that is Sleeping Beauty.

Pink or Blue

Choreography by: Lydia Sakolsky-Basquill

Music: Hollie McNish

Costumes: Ballet22

Dancers: Zsilas Michael Hughes & Maxfield Haynes

Program Notes:

Pink or Blue is an examination of the gender binary and the inequality that results from expectations and assumptions that are placed on gender roles. Pink or Blue was created in 2022 for Boise based contemporary company, Project Flux, and premiered at Treefort Music Festival in Boise, ID. What you are experiencing tonight is an excerpt of a larger work.

Lullaby Solo from Blake Works III

Choreography by: William Forsythe

Staged by: Chyrstyn Mariah Fentroy

Music: James Blake

Costumes: Ballet22

Dancers: Daniel R. Durrett

Program Notes:

The Barre Project: Blake Works II was created during Covid-19 for film as a collaboration between world renowned choreographer William Forsythe and NYCB principal dancer, Tiler Peck. Created for film in September of 2020, the film premiered on March 25, 2021. The significance of the barre is a dedication “for all those who have sustained themselves with a barre of any form.” The daily ballet ritual of practicing at the barre was replaced with kitchen counter tops, chairs, ledges, anything dancers could hold onto and continue their training at home on Zoom, with roommates, or on their own. Daniel R. Durrett was the first male assigned dancer to perform this role when he performed Blake Works III with Nantucket Dance Festival. This performance of Lullaby Solo is generously offered by William Forsythe in support of Ballet22’s mission and dancer Daniel R. Durrett.

Intimité (World Premiere)

Choreography by: Lorris Eichinger

Music: Frédéric Chopin

Costumes: Lorris Eichinger

Dancers: Duane Gosa, Trevor Williams, Victor Maguad, Ashton Edwards, Maxfield Haynes, Zsilas Michael Hughes

Program Notes:

“This new work in two movements, dives into aspects of the LGBTQIA+ community that is not often portrayed on stage. This is an optimistic work uplifting what it means to be Queer in the dance world. The first movement, on pointe, depicts a group of Queer individuals helping each other to stand, dance, fly,… one person is lifted by five others before they feel strong enough to dance on their own. In moments of weakness, the group is always here to fall back on. This is inspired by the sense of security and support I have received from my community. In the second movement, a series of duets on flat, the couples engage in intimate movements and partnering, warm, tender and playful. The image of intimacy between men and non-binary individuals is still a rare sight in today’s ballet world, and I was inspired by some very recent TV shows, movies and literature, that help normalize the Queer experience, without insufflating it with pathos and drama. The music compiles the second movements of both of Chopin’s piano concerti, two movements that are deeply touching, romantic, soothing, and bring a sense of bright optimism. “ - Lorris Eichinger