The Third Annual "Ballet Stars of NY"
Performance and Gala

Friday, April 4th, 2008
7pm

Koger Center for the Arts

Box office: 777-5112
Charge by Phone: 251-2222

Breaking News!

Wendy Whelan, principal dancer of the New York City Ballet, will take the Koger Center stage April 4 with fellow NYCB dancers and University of South Carolina dance students in the “Ballet Stars of New York” performance.

Whelan performed in the university’s Ballet Stars of New York concerts in 2006 and 2007, but NYCB schedules did not permit her participation this year. On Tuesday, she learned that she would be able to perform in Columbia and immediately called dance professor Stacey Calvert to see whether her participation would be possible.

Whelan will dance “Liturgy,” a ballet by NYCB’s resident choreographer Chris Wheeldon, to music by Arvo Part.

“Wendy Whelan is the premiere super star in the ballet world,” said Susan Anderson, director of the dance program. “It would be similar to Michael Jordan coming to Columbia to play with the USC basketball team. All this would not be possible if not for our personal relationship with the New York City Ballet through Stacey Calvert.”

The event will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature accompaniment by the School of Music’s Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Donald Portnoy. Charleston Symphony Orchestra violinist Yuriy Bekker also will perform. The program also will feature works by George Balanchine and Peter Martin.

A gala dinner will take place on the stage after the performance. Come experience for yourself what has been called "the crowning jewel" of the Columbia dance scene.

USC's connection to Balanchine and the NYC Ballet are made possible by Associate Artistic Director and Instructor of Dance Stacey Calvert, former NYC Ballet soloist.

Tickets to the dinner are $300. Show tickets are $35 for orchestra seating, $25- $30 for general public and $15 for students. For more info call 777-7264. Proceeds will go toward student scholarships.