Enjoy a day when you don't have to grow up! Welcome to Neverland, a place where kids' imaginations run wild, pirates abound, and fairies fly. The Grand Rapids Ballet Company returns to the Detroit Opera House for a limited, two-performance engagement March 1, 2008, bringing the enchanting ballet Peter Pan after "wildly" successful performances of Where the Wild Things Are in 2007.
Peter Pan is scheduled to be performed at the Detroit Opera House March 1, 2008 at 2 p.m., with an additional evening performance at 7:30 p.m.
"Peter Pan is a timeless story, and something both kids and adults can enjoy," says Michigan Opera Theatre General Director Dr. David DiChiera. "We're delighted to bring back the Grand Rapids Ballet Company for this charming production."
The story of Peter Pan and his adventures in Neverland have captivated audiences both young and old for the last century. Now this beloved children's story, originally written by Scottish novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie, is presented in a ballet format for kids of all ages to enjoy. The ballet premiered in Grand Rapids in 2006 and comes to the Detroit Opera House for the first time this March. Grand Rapids Ballet Company Artistic Director Gordon Peirce Schmidt's version of Peter Pan is set to classical music favorites like Rossini's William Tell Overture, Gounod's Funeral March for the Marionettes, and Saint-Saëns' Samson and Delilah, among others. The Chrysler Foundation sponsors the 2007-08 dance season at the Detroit Opera House.
At the conclusion of the 2 p.m. matinee performance, a "Peter Pan Parade" will commence, where audience members can meet and greet the entire cast of Peter Pan in costume on the Detroit Opera House stage.
As part of the master class programs offered by touring artists at the Detroit Opera House, the Grand Rapids Ballet Company is conducting special ballet classes for 10-13 year olds on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 11 a.m. The class will be held in the 5th floor dance studio of the Ford Center for Arts and Learning at the Detroit Opera House. A nominal fee of $15 will be charged to cover the cost of instruction.
The Grand Rapids Ballet Company has also cast ten local kids from the Metro Detroit area to perform as "Lost Boys." These 9-18 year-old boys and girls hail from cities such as Oxford, Sterling Heights, West Bloomfield, Grosse Ile, Goodrich, and Milford.
The Grand Rapids Ballet Company is currently celebrating its thirty-fifth season, where it remains committed to its mission, to lift the human spirit through the art of dance. A proud recipient of the ArtServe Michigan Governor's Arts Award for Outstanding Cultural Organization, Michigan's only professional ballet company has a rich history marked by steady growth, a commitment to excellence, and strong community support. With small beginnings in 1971, the Company began as the Grand Rapids Civic Ballet. Today, the professional company consists of 14 full-time dancers and one apprentice. Original programming, innovative choreography and a commitment to excellence are hallmarks of the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. With artists invested in the community and a community that supports the arts, the Grand Rapids Ballet Company has created a flourishing arts center for all of Michigan, and continues to provide the highest level of excellence in dance theatre and education for all individuals. -- www.motopera.org
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