Fountain Valley, Calif., January 25, 2017 – Stars of the Ballet World will perform with Festival Ballet Theatre in FBT’s production of Don Quixote.   Orange County audiences will enjoy a real treat, as two of ballet’s most prestigious dancers will appear as guest artists.

Featured in the leading roles of Kitri and Basilio are Hee Seo and Marcelo Gomes paired as the passionate young lovers, who display the fiery gypsy spirit and excitement of old-world Spain.  These dancers have each performed these roles in Festival Ballet Theatre’s Don Quixote production, receiving rave reviews.  This will be the first time they are appearing together.

Set to Ludwig Minkus’ memorable score, this classic is a ballet lover’s favorite. Don Quixote features these internationally acclaimed guest artists as well as Festival Ballet Theatre’s professional company dancers and a boisterous cast of characters that create vibrant scenes from days gone by.  This ballet brings Cervantes’ quintessential novel to life as the eccentric, wandering knight, searches to find his ideal woman, Dulcinea, accompanied by his loyal sidekick, Sancho Panza.

Following 15 memorable performances of The Nutcracker, Festival Ballet Theatre returns to the Irvine Barclay Theatre to revive its colorful production of this beloved romantic comedy.  The two performances open with an evening performance on Saturday, March 25th at 7:00 pm and closes with an afternoon performance on Sunday, March 26th at 2:00 pm.

TICKETS

www.thebarclay.org or (949) 854-4646 x. 1

Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm

Sunday, March 26, 2017 at 2:00 pm

Tickets: $42 – $55

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Excerpts From Don Quixote

Performed By Festival Ballet Theatre Company Dancers

On The Newport Beach Library Civic Green

Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 12 – 1 pm

Admission is free to the community

 

About Festival Ballet Theatre (FBT)

Festival Ballet Theatre is a nonprofit organization founded in 1988 by Salwa Rizkalla. Its mission is to enrich Orange County’s artistic and economic vitality, to inspire love and appreciation for dance, and to invigorate ballet by:

  • Presenting a season of exhilarating classical and contemporary performances,
  • Providing a nurturing environment for dancers and choreographers,
  • Offering stimulating educational outreach programs.

For more information, visit www.festivalballet.org.

 

About Salwa Rizkalla, Artistic Director

Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla has contributed to the Orange County community for more than 30 years by presenting excellence in dance performance through Festival Ballet Theatre and providing top-tier classical ballet training at Southland Ballet Academy.

During her professional dancing career, Ms. Rizkalla graced the stage in leading roles in well-known classical ballets as well as contemporary pieces. She had the privilege of working under the direction of world-renowned choreographers Leonid Lavrovsky and Serge Lifar. As a young dancer, Ms. Rizkalla trained in the Russian Vaganova method and studied with ballet masters of the Bolshoi and the Kirov. As the culmination of her training, Ms. Rizkalla completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ballet Pedagogy. She established Southland Ballet Academy in 1983 and debuted Festival Ballet Theatre in 1988. In addition to teaching and directing, Ms. Rizkalla was a faculty member of several area institutions, including Goldenwest College and the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts.

Many arts organizations have recognized her service. The Orange County Music and Arts Administrators and Orange County Performing Arts Center jointly named her the Orange County Arts Educator of the Year Award for Secondary Dance (2003); Youth America Grand Prix awarded Ms. Rizkalla Outstanding Teacher accolades (2002, 2004, 2005, and 2012); and Arts Orange County recognized Ms. Rizkalla with the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award (2014).

Ms. Rizkalla has been honored to impact the lives of hundreds of students and their families through her teaching. She is proud to be a dedicated educator, an energetic promoter of the arts, and an active participant in the cultural life of her community.

Contacts:
Elizabeth Farmen
714.962.5440
info@festivalballet.org

Festival Ballet Theatre
9527 Garfield Ave.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Festivalballet.org
Phone: 714.962.5440

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