Texas Ballet Theater reps announced a Russian theme for the company’s new season, and that it will be debt-free at the end of the month, during an event at the preview center for the Dallas Center for Performing Arts on Thursday.

The troubled dance company, the state’s second largest, has come back from a budget deficit that at one point hit $2.4 million.  (The DMN took a hard look at the company’s financial issues in April.)

“I thought I’d be at McDonalds,” joked artistic director Ben Stevenson, alluding to the touch-and-go situation.

Still, the group will begin its new season, which includes performances at Bass Hall in Ft. Worth and the new Winspear Opera House,  without live music.  Musicians and many fans weren’t too happy when the ballet began using  recorded music – can’t imagine that’s changed.

For stories about yesterday’s event in The Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram, click here and here.

Jump to read the TBT announcement of its season lineup.

Texas Ballet Theater presents

2009 – 2010 Season

at the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House and the Nancy Lee & Perry R. Bass Performance Hall

(Fort Worth, TX)…  Artistic Director Ben Stevenson, O.B.E. is proud to announce the performance schedule for Texas Ballet Theater’s 2009 – 2010 Season at the new Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House and the Nancy Lee & Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.  This exciting season includes:  The Russian Masters, October 2 – 4, 2009 at Bass Performance Hall; Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker, November 27 – December 6, 2009 at the Winspear Opera House, and December 11 – 24, 2009 at Bass Performance Hall; Ben Stevenson’s Romeo and Juliet, February 12 – 14, 2010 at Bass Performance Hall, and March 12 – 14, 2010 at the Winspear Opera House; and Ben Stevenson’s The Sleeping Beauty, April 9 – 11, 2010 at Bass Performance Hall, and June 11 – 13, 2010 at the Winspear Opera House.

“We look to the 2009 – 2010 Season with great anticipation,” states Stevenson.  “We are proud to be the resident ballet company at the two premiere performance venues in North Texas – the magnificent Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, and the glorious new Winspear Opera House in Dallas.  We have a fantastic schedule of performances and we invite you to join us.”

The 2009 – 2010 Season begins in October as Texas Ballet Theater presents The Russian Masters.  The work of some of ballet’s greatest names is on display in this glorious evening of entertainment by Artistic Director Ben Stevenson.  Marvel at George Balanchine’s mastery of ballet in Serenade accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s soaring score.  Wonder at the power and grace that envelopes the stage in Michel Fokine’s Polovtsian Dances from Alexander Borodin’s Prince Igor.  And be captivated by Texas Ballet Theater’s talented company as they showcase their amazing talents in one breathtaking pas de deux after another.  This must-see special engagement is a mix of classic and contemporary ballet that sets the stage on fire!  The performance schedule at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth is:  Friday, October 2 at 8:00pm; Saturday, October 3 at 8:00pm; and Sunday, October 4 at 2:00pm.

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2009 – 2010 Season

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Ring in the holiday season with Ben Stevenson’s critically-acclaimed production of The Nutcracker.  This beloved ballet tells the story of Clara and her magical Nutcracker Prince as they embark on a thrilling adventure.  Along the way, they encounter a Christmas tree that grows to 40 feet, toy soldiers battling mischievous mice, waltzing flowers, dancing candy, and sparkling, swirling snowflakes that fall on dancers and the audience alike.  Stunning costumes, dazzling sets, and remarkable dancing to holiday music by Tchaikovsky make The Nutcracker a favorite family tradition!  The performance schedule at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas is:  Friday, November 27 at 2:00 and 8:00pm; Saturday, November 28 at 2:00 and 8:00pm; Sunday, November 29 at 2:00pm; Thursday, December 3 at 8:00pm; Friday, December 4 at 8:00pm; Saturday, December 5 at 2:00 and 8:00pm; and Sunday, December 6 at 2:00pm.  The performance schedule at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth is:  Friday, December 11 at 8:00pm; Saturday, December 12 at 2:00 and 8:00pm; Sunday, December 13 at 2:00 and 7:00pm; Thursday, December 17 at 8:00pm; Friday, December 18 at 8:00pm; Saturday, December 19 at 2:00 and 8:00pm; Sunday, December 20 at 2:00 and 7:00pm; Tuesday, December 22 at 8:00pm; Wednesday, December 23 at 8:00pm; and Sunday, December 24 at 8:00pm.

Ben Stevenson’s masterful adaptation brings Shakespeare’s classic story of Romeo and Juliet to life on stage.  Set in sixteenth century Verona, Italy, Romeo and Juliet chronicles the tragic romance of two young lovers from families on opposing sides of a bitter feud.  After meeting at a masked ball, the couple fall head-over-heels in love during a romantic encounter on Juliet’s balcony and are secretly wed.  They then find themselves trapped in a vicious web of circumstance as they rush headlong towards their tragic destiny.  With striking music by Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet features impassioned dancing and acting by Texas Ballet Theater’s talented company.  The performance schedule for Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth is:  Friday, February 12 at 8:00pm; Saturday, February 13 at 2:00 and 8:00pm; and Sunday, February 14 at 2:00pm.  The performance schedule for the Winspear Opera House in Dallas is: Friday, March 12 at 8:00pm; Saturday, March 13 at 2:00 and 8:00pm; and Sunday, March 14 at 2:00pm.

The Sleeping Beauty springs to life in Ben Stevenson’s magical production.  The King and Queen host a magnificent party to christen their beautiful new baby, Princess Aurora.  Upset by not being invited to the affair, Carbosse, an evil fairy, curses the child to die on her sixteenth birthday when pricked by a needle.  The Lilac Fairy uses her powers to save Princess Aurora and alters the curse so that she sleeps for 100 years, only to be awakened by a kiss from the Prince.  Lavish sets transform the stage with fairy tale wonder as music by Tchaikovsky enraptures the audience and invites us all to join in the story of The Sleeping Beauty and her prince.  The performance schedule for Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth is:  Friday, April 9 at 8:00pm; Saturday, April 10 at 2:00 and 8:00pm; and Sunday, April 11 at 2:00pm.  The performance schedule for the Winspear Opera House in Dallas is: Friday, June 11 at 8:00pm; Saturday, June 12 at 2:00 and 8:00pm; and Sunday, June 13 at 2:00pm.

Subscriptions for the 2009 – 2010 Season are now on sale to the general public.  The Season Ticket package for Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth ranges from $80 to $336 per person depending upon seating location and includes the productions of The Russian Masters, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and The Sleeping Beauty.  The Season Ticket package for the Winspear Opera House in Dallas ranges from $75 to $291 per person depending upon seating location and includes the productions of The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and The Sleeping Beauty.  To subscribe, call the Texas Ballet Theater box office at 877-828-9200.  For more information, visit www.texasballettheater.org.

About Texas Ballet Theater

Founded in 1961, Texas Ballet Theater is the premier professional ballet company in North Texas.  Under Artistic Director Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., the Ballet brings unprecedented talent, beauty and artistic expression to the stages of Fort Worth’s Bass Performance Hall and the new Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House.  For more information, go to www.texasballettheater.org.