Pennsylvania Ballet ends season with world premiere dance

PHILADELPHIA - June 9, 2013 (WPVI) -- The Pennsylvania Ballet is closing its season with the works of two contemporary powerhouse choreographers and the world premiere of a new dance.

The program includes three dances, all brand new to the Pennsylvania Ballet. Together, they're intended to showcase the full breadth of the company's talents.

Only one other ballet company in the U.S. has ever attempted William Forsythe's lightning quick, athletically-challenging Artifact Suite.

Roy Kaiser, Artistic Director of the Pa. Ballet says, "The ballerina is never on balance. She's never straight up and down. She's constantly being pulled off, and then it has group sections that literally use every member of the company so you will have every dancer on stage, sometimes doing things in unison, sometimes you'll have 30 people doing 30 different things. You almost don't know where to look. You're on the edge of your seat."

The work is juxtaposed with Jiri Kylian's Forgotten Land.

"It's the opposite, it's melodic. It's haunting at times and it's very moving. It has a lot of emotional overtones. It's flowing," added Kaiser.

The ballet will also premier a brand new work by Matthew Neenan, a former dancer and now choreographer-in-residence. This is his 14th world premiere for the Pennsylvania Ballet and he choreographed the piece for four of the company's younger dancers.

"It's a short piece but it's exhausting and it's non-stop for all four dancers," said Kaiser.

The ballet takes the stage June 13th through the 16th at the Academy of Music. For tickets and show times, go to Pennsylvania Ballet.

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