New Jersey Ballet at Community Theatre

International program featuring world premiere of The Three Riddles of Turandot Morristown — Saturday, Nov. 7 marks the start of New Jersey Ballet’s 15th season at The Community Theatre in Morristown. In that time, NJB’s Saturday Night Series has brought many exciting programs to area audiences, including the premiere of the full length Esmeralda, a rare 19th century ballet based on the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and in a more contemporary vein, last year’s Ballet with a Latin Beat and Ballet on Broadway programs. This season opens with a world tour of dance, a sampler of some of the diverse cultures that make up America. The main feature is the world premiere of The Three Riddles of Turandot by celebrated choreographer Nai-Ni Chen. Turandot’s story, which many may know from the Puccini opera, is a Chinese legend about a princess, her would-be suitor and the riddles that hold the key to her heart. A much in-demand choreographer, Chen has her own company, and has also been commissioned by such prestigious patrons as the Joyce Theater Foundation, the Lincoln Center Institute, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Dancing in the Streets, and the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. Back by popular demand, a pair of Encore presentations from the recent past: Guajira by Cuban-born choreographer Pedro Ruiz, and March by Broadway dancer/emerging choreographer James Kinney. Guajira received its New Jersey premiere with New Jersey Ballet in 2008. A longtime principal dancer and choreographer for Ballet Hispanico, Ruiz’s ballet incorporates memories of childhood visits to his grandfather‘s farm in the Cuban countryside, and plays them against a backdrop of Afro-Cuban and Latin rhythms. Kinney’s March originally debuted at Lincoln Center’s Clark Theater and received its New Jersey premiere at the very end of last season at bergenPAC in Englewood. March, a light-hearted mix of split-second drill team maneuvering and high spirited jazz dancing, turns a walk in the park into an adventure. Rounding out the varied program, New Jersey Ballet’s popular pas de deux, Para Dois, is based on Brazilian street dancing. NJB dancer Junio Teixeira is also the choreographer. And, the perennial audience favorite, Le Corsaire pas de deux, balances the evening with a full Russian classical pas de deux. The World tour of dance will be dedicated to the late Eric Munoz, New Jersey assemblyman, trauma surgeon, longtime New Jersey Ballet board member and friend. The tribute will include an on-stage presentation and a post performance gala reception with Munoz’s widow, Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz. This is the first of a three-performance series which will also include: Tappin’ with the Ballet on Jan. 16, 2010, with the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble, and Highlights of the Russian Ballet, May 15, 2010. Subscribers to all three evenings save up to $5 on every ticket. Subscriptions are available only through the New Jersey Ballet at 973-597-9600. For more information and a complete performance schedule, visit New Jersey Ballet on the Web at www.njballet.org.

If you go
New Jersey Ballet’s World tour of dance
Saturday, Nov. 7 8 p.m.
The Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts
Morristown, NJ
Tickets: $22, $32, $42
973-539-8008
www.mayoarts.org