Ballet San Jose Presents "A Valentines' Potpourri"

ONTOGENY traces the life cycle of an individual organism from its inception through its death. The piece combines modern ballet, pointe work and acrobatics to chronicle the development of the organism. Dancers move non-stop to pulsating music on a darkened stage, creating a continuous flow of extremely physical movement.

ONTOGENY premiered at the Royal Swedish Ballet in Stockholm in 1970. It was highly controversial and set critics on fire at its American debut (by American Ballet Theatre in New York City) in 1971. It was one of the first contemporary all leotard designed ballets utilizing a full vocabulary of modern movement to be danced on the ABT stage.

The last time the piece was performed in San Jose was in 1994.

ONTOGENY will be presented with the Bay Area premiere of Nahat's "LE STYLE CLASSIC" and the Company premiere of Lew Christensen's "IL DISTRATTO" in a mixed repertory program, Feb 15-18, 2007. Also on the program will be the pas de deux that helped Yui Yonezawa win the Senior Woman's Bronze Medal at the VIII USA International Ballet Competition last June. Ms. Yonezawa (who just joined Ballet San Jose in November) won rave reviews for her presentation of Tsutomu Ben lida's "SEPTEMBER." Her partner for the piece will be Company Dancer, Maximo Califano. Ben lida was presented a Special IBC Award for choreography for the piece.

Tickets are $25 - $78. -- www.balletsanjose.org