Adelphi Celebrates 100th Anniversary Of The Ballets Russes With Dance Adelphi

Oct. 22, 2009 - PRLog -- Adelphi University is proud to join the worldwide centennial celebration of the debut of Serge Diaghilev’s revolutionary company the Ballets Russes. As a tribute to the company, this fall’s edition of Dance Adelphi will feature performances of “Sacre” and “Petrouchka” from November 5 to November 8, 2009 in the University’s Performing Arts Center (AU PAC), Olmsted Theater, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY. Prior to the inaugural performance on opening night, ticketholders are invited to attend a free wine and cheese reception in the Multipurpose Room, second floor of AU PAC held at 6:30 p.m.

An exhibit titled “A Visual Celebration of the Ballets Russes’ 100 Years” will include images of Russian ballet dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky who choreographed Igor Stravinsky’s “Sacre du Printemps.” It will also feature images of Stravinsky and the founder of the Ballets Russes Serge Diaghilev, among other historic photographs provided by Adelphi’s Archives and Special Collections. Additionally, the exhibit will showcase a collection of video footage from the documentary “Footnotes, The Classics of Ballet,” which will highlight the Ballets Russes. The video includes rehearsal footage of the choreography of the two plays featured in Dance Adelphi. It can also be seen on the AU PAC Web site and will be showcased on the monitor screens throughout the AU PAC building.

Choreographer and director Doug Varone’s acclaimed “Sacre” was inspired by Stravinsky’s controversial “Sacre du Printemps,” which stirred a riot in the audience during its premiere in 1913. The uproar was caused by Nijinsky’s radical departure from classical ballet through intensively rhythmic music and depiction of scenes from pagan Russia. “Petrouchka,” Adelphi Adjunct Professor Leda Meredith’s new creation is the namesake of Stravinsky’s piece, originally directed by Russian choreographer and dancer Michel Fokine in 1911. This work was also subject to debate due to its brittle and rhythmic music. For instance, the philharmonic in Vienna initially refused to play the score in 1913.

The year 2009 marks the 100th anniversary of the Ballets Russes, established in 1909 by the Russian art critic Serge Diaghilev. The Ballets Russes paved the way for American Ballet Theatre and became one of the most influential ballet companies of the 20th century, changing the way ballets were performed.

Tickets for this event are on sale now at $15 regular admission, $10 for seniors and alumni, and $7 for students. To learn more about Dance Adelphi and the AU PAC’s exciting 2009–2010 season, please visit aupac.adelphi.edu or call the AU PAC Box Office at (516) 877-4000.

About Adelphi University: Adelphi University, chartered in 1896, was the first institution of higher education for the liberal arts and sciences on Long Island. Through its schools and programs—The College of Arts and Sciences, Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Honors College, Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, and the Schools of Business, Nursing, and Social Work—the co-educational university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional and educational programs for adults. Adelphi University currently enrolls nearly 8,500 students from 41 states and 63 foreign countries. With its main campus in Garden City and centers in Manhattan, Hauppauge, and Poughkeepsie, the University maintains a commitment to liberal studies in tandem with rigorous professional preparation and active citizenship.

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Adelphi University, chartered in 1896, was the first institution of higher education for the liberal arts and sciences on Long Island.