Royal Ballet to appear at UF’s Phillips Center

January 3, 2007

GAINESVILLE, FL – Andrew Ward, former Royal Ballet dancer and soloist of Boston Ballet, has invited principals and soloists of the Royal Ballet to join him in presenting a special gala evening of dance beginning at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Phillips Center on the University of Florida campus.

The gala evening will offer the opportunity to savor the elegance and passion of a well-known art form by star dancers from one of the world’s premiere ballet companies. Those familiar with the well-loved ballets will be able to relish old favorites, while those new to the genre will get a taste of the very best. The company also will present the world premiere of a new work by one of the Royal Ballet’s most exciting young choreographers, Liam Scarlett.

The Royal Ballet is renowned for having a repertoire that ranges from classical three-act ballets to vibrant and stimulating works of modern choreographers such as George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Kenneth MacMillan, Twyla Tharp and Christopher Wheedon.

Based at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the Royal Ballet is Great Britain’s most prestigious ballet company. Led by Director Monica Mason, the 83-member troupe is reaching a new artistic and technical peak with talented dancers at all levels in its ranks. The company’s wide-ranging repertoire showcases the great classical ballets alongside new works by the foremost contemporary choreographers of the day.

The ballet owes it existence of the vision of Dame Ninette de Valois, dancer, choreographer and entrepreneur, who assembled a small company and school at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, which provided the growing company a home from 1931 to 1939. After touring throughout the war years, the company transferred to the Royal Opera House, reopening Covent Garden after its wartime closure.

The Royal Ballet sealed its international reputation with its first performance in New York in 1949, and it continues to perform worldwide under its present leadership. The ballet celebrated its 75th anniversary on May 15, 2006, with a re-creation of its very first full-length ballet, “The Sleeping Beauty.”

Tickets are available by calling the Phillips Center Box Office at (352) 392-2787 or (800) 905-2787 or by calling Ticketmaster at (904) 353-3309. Orders may be faxed to (352) 846-1562. Tickets are also available in person at the Phillips Center Box Office, University Box Office at the University of Florida Reitz Student Union and all Ticketmaster outlets; and on the Web at www.ticketmaster.com.

The Phillips Center Box Office is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and two hours before performances.