Ballet Etudes’ Cinderella First Act To Showcase Chandler Center For The Arts' Renovated Mainstage

Jan. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- CHANDLER, Ariz. — Chandler Center for the Arts will celebrate its completion of $6.7 million in renovations with the one of the world’s most beloved fairytale makeover stories—Cinderella.  The award-winning Mesa-based dance company Ballet Etudes will present their rendition of this classic story of a modest girl, her wicked step-family and heroic prince with four performances, May 14-16, 2010.

Ballet Etudes, which has traditionally presented The Nutcracker on Chandler for the Arts stages since 1989 was unable to do so in December 2009 due to renovations being made to the main stage. Chandler Center for the Arts is pleased to see the popular favorite return in 2010 and to continue collaborating with Ballet Etudes. The dance company’s rendition of Cinderella will be the first performance this year to be featured on the new and improved main stage.

Just as the renovations at Chandler Center for the Arts preserved a popular 20-year-old facility and combined its best features with new, modern improvements, Ballet Etudes Marketing Manager, Choreographer and Instructor Kellan Meko said their version of Cinderella also blends the new with the old. The performance will combine the original score by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev with all new choreography.

“We are so happy to be back at home at Chandler Center for the Arts and be the first to showcase on the stage,” Meko said.

The role of Cinderella will be performed by 16-year-old Lauren Zaharis who was given a full scholarship to attend American Ballet Theatre's summer intensive program in New York City this summer.

Tickets for Cinderella are $10 and $15. Shows dates and times include:

Friday, May 14, 2010 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 7 p.m; and
Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 3 p.m.

Chandler Center for the Arts will present three weeks of special Grand Re-Opening activities starting in September 2010 and featuring several headlining acts. The complete lineup will be announced in March. For more information and to purchase tickets online visit www.ChandlerCenter.org.

CALENDAR LISTING INFO
Event: Cinderella
Event Dates & Time: May 14-16, 2010 [Times Vary]
Event Venue: West Lawn, Chandler Center for the Arts
Address: 250 N. Arizona Avenue~ Chandler, AZ 85225
Box Office: 480-782-2680
Venue Website: www.chandlercenter.org
Tickets: $10 and $15
On-line Box Office: http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/246755?brand=chandlerce...
On-line Press Releases: http://chandlercenter.org/press/event-pr.html
On-line Photo Gallery: http://chandlercenter.org/press/photo-gallery.html
Interview Request Form: http://chandlercenter.org/press/request.html
Venue Contact: Judi Johnson, Marketing Coordinator @ 480-782-2674
 
About Chandler Center for the Arts

The Chandler Center for the Arts is jointly owned by the City of Chandler and the Chandler Unified School District.  The Chandler Cultural Foundation was contracted in 1989 by the City of Chandler as a means to facilitate programming and fund development for the Chandler Center for the Arts.  
As a nonprofit organization, the Center relies on a variety of funding sources to help underwrite internationally acclaimed artists, educate young audiences, create important community programs and maintain our remarkable facility. Ticket sales and other earned income do not completely cover the costs of the Center’s numerous programs and education offerings. Only support from individuals, corporations, foundations and our public partners can make these programs possible.
Membership contributions sustain a spectacular array of services and programs and make Chandler a better place to live and visit. To become a member or to purchase tickets with no per-ticket fee, visit the Web site at www.chandlercenter.org

About Ballet Etudes
Created in 1986 by Sharon Seder Meko, Ballet Etudes fulfills the artistic needs of serious young dancers who desire performing opportunities of the highest caliber. The studio aims to realistically duplicate the experiences of a professional ballet company for dancers ages 9 to 18. Under the guidance of its professional staff, Ballet Etudes is dedicated to providing the highest quality in dance education and optimum performing opportunities for its members. Company members are selected through open auditions by a panel of adjudicators and once chosen are held to the standards of a professional company.
The performance schedule of Ballet Etudes includes its popular productions of The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Peter Pan and Cinderella. Additionally, the company has performed with The Phoenix Symphony, the Phoenix Boys Choir, The Phoenix Girls Choir and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony among others. For more information visit www.balletetudes.net