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Nevada Ballet Theatre and Cirque Du Soleil Present Their 4th Annual Collaboration, A Choreographers’ Showcase

Nevada Ballet Theatre and Cirque du Soleil announced today that their 4th annual collaboration, A Choreographers’ Showcase, A Project Designed to Stimulate and Encourage Artistic Growth, will be presented on Sunday, May 15 at 1pm and Sunday, May 22 at 1 pm at the new Viva ELVIS Theatre, ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter in Las Vegas.

In addition, a school-time matinee for Clark County students, as well as those in NBT’s Education and Outreach program, Future Dance, will take place on Friday, May 20 at Noon. Proceeds from the sale of the May 15 and May 22 public performance subsidize this special student-only performance. During the last three years, 3,000 local students have received the opportunity to witness this one-of-a-kind production bridging artists from diverse backgrounds and dance styles.

A Choreographers’ Showcase began as a premiere collaboration between Nevada Ballet Theatre and Cirque du Soleil on Sunday, December 2, 2007 at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino on the famous Las Vegas strip. Now in its fourth year, this critically-acclaimed production has created an avenue of growth for local artists while providing Las Vegas with a dynamic and completely organic dance experience.

“A Choreographers’ Showcase allows artists from both NBT and Cirque du Soleil the freedom to develop their own choreographic skills through creating new work in a variety of dance styles,” said Nevada Ballet Theatre Executive Director and CEO Beth Barbre. “The showcase has been a true indicator of the depth and talent that exists in Las Vegas among our local dance community. “

This yearly partnership has raised Nevada Ballet Theatre’s visibility on the Las Vegas strip while enabling Cirque du Soleil to further root itself in the local cultural community. Over the last few years, A Choreographers’ Showcase has garnered rave reviews and sold-out houses in addition to significant media attention including the LA Times and LIFE Magazine.

“Cirque du Soleil is committed to being an active member of the artistic community by supporting artists and artistic institutions in various ways,” said Karen Gay, Director of Global Citizenship for Cirque du Soleil. “Because both companies are filled with young emerging talent onstage and off, offering them an opportunity to showcase their choreographic, technical and design skills seemed a natural way to link our two companies and our respective missions.”

This 90 minute production will feature an array of contemporary artists from the various resident Cirque du Soleil shows performing with the classical ballet dancers of Nevada Ballet Theatre. A Choreographers’ Showcase will include ten original choreographed pieces, five from Nevada Ballet Theatre dancers and five from Cirque du Soleil artists.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Ticket prices for A Choreographers’ Showcase can be purchased for $20 and $40 by calling the Viva ELVIS box office at (702) 531-3800 or via online at www.nevadaballet.org. Purchasing a $40 ticket will afford one student the opportunity to attend the school matinee on Friday, May 20 as well as preferred seating for the ticket purchaser. All proceeds from the collaboration benefit Nevada Ballet Theatre’s professional company productions, dance training and education and outreach. Tickets are a tax deductable-charitable contribution.

ABOUT NEVADA BALLET THEATRE
Under the artistic direction of James Canfield, Nevada Ballet Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and the largest professional ballet company and dance Academy in the state. Committed to the highest artistic standards, this classically-based company is at home in an eclectic repertory, moving easily from the classics to the high-energy contemporary ballets. The mission of Nevada Ballet Theatre is to educate and inspire statewide, regional and national audiences and vitally impact community life through professional company productions, dance training and education and outreach. Nevada Ballet Theatre will be a resident company of the new world-class Smith Center for the Performing Arts when it is completed in 2012.

ABOUT CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,200 artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to close to 100 million spectators in 300 cities on five continents.

In Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil has seven permanent resident shows. These productions include Mystère at Treasure Island, “O” at Bellagio, Zumanity the Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil at New York-New York Hotel & Casino, KÀ at MGM Grand, The Beatles LOVE at Mirage, CRISS ANGEL Believe at Luxor and Viva ELVIS at ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter. For more information, visit the Cirque du Soleil website at www.cirquedusoleil.com/lasvegas.