CONTACTS: Allie Honebrink Director of Marketing and Communications Ballet 1555 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45214 513.562.1137 Direct 859.468.5509 Cell [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CINCINNATI BALLET CLOSES SEASON WITH DIRECTOR’S CHOICE A tailor-made evening featuring two regional premieres and the return of the wacky, popular Chasing Squirrel

CINCINNATI, OH. Director’s Choice is a unique, mixed-repertoire presentation with selections chosen specifically for Cincinnati audiences by Artistic Director & CEO Victoria Morgan, including Classical Symphony, Feast of the Gods and Chasing Squirrel. "These three pieces are choreographic powerhouses,” says Morgan. “They exemplify the direction ballet is headed and changing the way people think about ballet.” Audiences have three opportunities to see Director’s Choice, Friday May 8 at 8 pm and Saturday, May 9 at 2 pm and 8 pm at the Aronoff Center.

New to Cincinnati audiences is Classical Symphony, set to the music of Sergei Prokofiev, performed live by the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra. Choreographed by choreographer in residence Yuri Possokhov, Classical Symphony has been hailed by The New York Times as an “exhilarating and bold display of full-throttle academic pure dance with modern accentuations.” Possokhov’s use of classical technique, combined with unexpected twists and quirky combinations rarely seen in contemporary ballet, make Classical Symphony a delight to both ballet aficionados and newcomers alike.

BalletMet Columbus artistic director Edwaard Liang, a frequent collaborator with Cincinnati Ballet, presents the regional premiere of Feast of the Gods, with live music by the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra. Feast of the Gods is set to the nostalgic, lively Ancient Airs and Dances, by renowned Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, and was inspired by the history of a band of traveling gypsies. Cincinnati audiences may be familiar with Liang from the collaboration with BalletMet last season in which they performed Liang’s Wunderland, followed by Cincinnati Ballet and BalletMet joining forces for Symphony in C, which was deemed one of the best performances of 2014 by The Columbus Dispatch!

The innovative, high-energy Chasing Squirrel, choreographed by Trey McIntyre, illustrates the flirtatious interactions between a crew of confident men and the group of women that they boldly pursue. Much to the men’s surprise, the women respond with matched fervor making for a comical and playful romp. The piece was praised as an "uproarious, testosterone-infused, chaotic delight" by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Music from the Kronos Quartet’s Nuevo provides the perfect accompaniment to

-more- the bold and audacious choreography. Chasing Squirrel was last performed during the May 2014 company tour in New York City’s heralded .

MEET THE ARTISTS Cincinnati Ballet is pleased to offer Meet the Artists, a pre-performance discussion series where audiences will have the opportunity to meet choreographers, dancers and members of the creative team. This event is free to anyone with a Director’s Choice ticket, and will take place Friday, May 8 at 7 pm in Procter & Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Center. Attendees must present Director’s Choice ticket for admission.

PERFORMANCE DATES AND INFORMATION WHO: Cincinnati Ballet Music: Sergei Prokofiev, Ottorino Respighi, Kronos Quartet WHAT: Director’s Choice WHEN: Friday, May 8 - 8:00 pm Saturday, May 9 - 2:00 pm Saturday, May 9 - 8:00 pm WHERE: Aronoff Center for the Arts 650 Walnut Street Cincinnati, 45202 HOW: Call 513.621.5282, visit cballet.org or visit the Cincinnati Ballet Box Office at 1555 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45214 Tickets start at $32

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Director’s Choice Sponsors: Title Sponsor: Peter T. Joseph Foundation; Choreography Sponsor: Linda & Gary Greenberg; Lighting Sponsor: Theodore L. Schwartz & Minette Hoffheimer; Costume Sponsor: Jennifer & John Stein; Scenic Sponsor: James E. McCarthy and William Wolf Foundation

Cincinnati Ballet 2014-2015 Season Sponsors: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation, ArtsWave, The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Rhonda & Larry A. Sheakley Family Foundation, Rosemary & Mark Schlachter, Ohio Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Frisch’s, Cincinnati Enquirer

About Cincinnati Ballet Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional of the region, presenting a bold and adventurous array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary works, regularly with live orchestral accompaniment. Under the artistic direction of Victoria Morgan, Cincinnati Ballet has become a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world premiere works and exploring unique collaborations with artists as diverse as Grammy winning guitarist Peter Frampton and popular, Ohio-based band Over the Rhine. With a mission to inspire hope and joy in our community and beyond through the power and passion of dance, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance. To that end, Cincinnati Ballet presents exhilarating performances, extensive education outreach programs and offers top level professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy.

CONNECT: READ / WATCH / LISTEN / LEARN / ENJOY at cballet.org http://www.facebook.com/CincinnatiBallet http://twitter.com/cincyballet