A Midsummer Night's Dream & The Seasons

Description

Southern California Ballet presents an afternoon of glorious ballet with harmonious masterpieces by Antonio Vivaldi and Felix Mendelssohn to benefit needs and merit-based scholarships. Opening the afternoon is Vivaldi's iconic work The Four Seasons, a world premiere of choreography by Martha Leebolt and Tobias Batley using the 2012 recomposition by neo-classical German composer Max Richter. Ms. Leebolt and Mr. Batley, award winning dancers and former principal dancers with Northern Ballet in Leeds, England, enjoyed outstanding careers as dance partners and interpreters and will assume co-artistic directorship of SCB in September 2017.

The feature ballet is A Midsummer Night's Dream, choreographed by Sylvia Palmer-Zetler to music composed by Felix Mendelssohn for Shakespeare's time-honored play. The story centers on the magical intertwining of humans and fairies in the forest, and is as romantic and classical as it is playful. This whimsical drama is danced by Southern California Ballet company and academy dancers with guest dancers Shawn Burgess, Vincent Padilla, Jeremy Power, and actress Kenda Vance.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Ms. Palmer-Zetler's most noteworthy productions and a fitting tribute to her 30 years as Artistic Director of Southern California Ballet. A celebratory gathering will be held after the performance to introduce Ms. Leebolt and Mr. Batley and applaud Ms. Palmer-Zetler's legacy.