SWT hosts special Ballet Austin engagement

Date released: 02/07/03

SAN MARCOS — Ballet Austin brings its acclaimed dancers to Southwest Texas State University Wednesday, February 12, for a 7 p.m. performance in Evans Auditorium as a part of the ongoing Performing Arts Series.

Under the artistic direction of Stephen Mills, Ballet Austin has emerged as one of the nation’s premiere developing ballet organizations. In his inaugural season as artistic director in 2000, he attracted attention from around the United States with his world-premiere production of Hamlet, hailed in Dance Magazine as “…sleek and sophisticated.” In January 2002, Mills led the Company to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., to perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream to sold-out houses.

Performance selections include Vespers, choreographed by Ulysses Dove with music by Mikel Rouse; Ave Maria, choreographed by Dwight Rhoden with music by Francesca Caccini; Touch (Pas de Deux), choreographed by Mills with music by Philip Hamilton; My Wall of Names (Recordare), choreographed by Mills with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; and Life Wind, choreographed by Gina Patterson with music by Brent Lewis.

In the case of Vespers, Ballet Austin was the first ballet company to perform the piece, and also the first company to have the rights to the piece and to perform the work since Dove’s death.

Tickets prices are $10 for the general public, $5 for students – all seats reserved. For further information, contact Jayme Blaschke at SWT Media Relations and Publications at (512) 245-2180, Liz McDonald, SWT Fine Arts

Events Coordinator at (512) 245-3501 or visit http://www.finearts.txstate.edu/0-2002-2003-season/ausballet.html.