Colorado Ballet opens its 55th season with Kilted Classic ‘La Sylphide’
(from October 15 Celtic Connection newspaper)

Colorado Ballet opens its 55th season with the romantic ballet La Sylphide, October 2-11, 2015 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, DCPA. La Sylphide features choreography by August Bournonville and music by Herman Severin Løvenskiold, performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. In the ballet, a young betrothed Scotsman pursues a beautiful winged sylph, or spirit. He is tricked by an evil witch and in his quest for the sylph’s unattainable love, he abandons his fiancée and ultimately loses everything.
“La Sylphide demonstrates temptation, loss and loving something you cannot have,” said Colorado Ballet Artistic Director Gil Boggs, who added, “I wanted to present La Sylphide not only because it has been nearly 20 years since we have performed it, but also because it is one of the most beautiful and romantic ballets of all time,” said Boggs, adding, “This is a spellbinding tale of betrayal, dark magic and love set in the enchanting woods of Scotland. Audiences will love this ballet full of woodland spirits, diabolical witches and kilts.”

The performance of La Sylphide in Denver will be anchored by exceptionally talented veteran dancers. According to Boggs, his production will feature Colorado Ballet Principal Dancer Maria Mosina in the main cast as the Slyph. “Mosina is starting her 20th season with Colorado Ballet and she danced the role of the Sylph when the Company last performed La Sylphide in 1996. If anybody was ever meant to dance La Sylphide, it’s Maria. She has a beautiful jump, she has great expression, she’s going to be flirty and she’s also going to be very dramatic. It’s a role that’s made for her.”

Colorado Ballet Principal Dancer Sharon Wehner will also start her 20th season with the Company this fall. Wehner will be featured in La Sylphide in October, but will star in the main cast of Alice (in Wonderland) in February. “It’s a role that’s made for Sharon;” Boggs enthused, “she’s the perfect stature and she looks like Alice. Her temperament is exceptional for portraying that character.”

According to Boggs, having one dancer spend 20 years with a single company is rare and having two is even more unique due to a variety of variables, from artistic differences to injuries. He said that for Mosina and Wehner, dancing with Colorado Ballet for 20 years has not been a matter of longevity; instead, their artistry enabled them to have such long careers. While they have differences—Mosina was born and trained in Russia and Wehner was born and trained in California—Boggs says it is that artistry that makes them similar as dancers. “Take a performance of Swan Lake, they both do the Swan Queen,” said Boggs. “Maria does it and she pulls you in and she makes you feel the role. Sharon does exactly the same thing. She makes you believe that she’s a swan. So, even with the differences in their training, the similarities are that they can take an audience and pull them in and be thoroughly convincing at what they’re doing.”
Boggs says that as an artistic director, Mosina and Wehner make him look good. “I know that when I come into a rehearsal, they’re such professionals, that they’re never marking, they’re always doing everything full-out,” said Boggs. “They’re giving everything that they have, and when they get on stage, they’re exquisite, they’re beautiful…stellar. I’m able to sit back and I can relax and know that the performance that they’re about to give is going to be nothing short of wonderful.”

Tracy Jones, who is seen on our cover in the promotional photo (by Allen Birnbach) of three kilt clad dancers (Tracy with the red hair), is from Cork, Ireland. She is one of the dancers playing Effie, the fiancée in the ballet. Tracy was featured in the Celtic Connection in April of last year

Performance Dates and Times:
Friday, October 2, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 2 p.m.; Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 4, 2015 at 2 p.m.; Friday, October 9, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from $30 to $155. To purchase tickets, visit www.coloradoballet.org or call 303-837-8888 ext. 2.

About Colorado Ballet:
Established in 1961 by Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker, Colorado Ballet is a non-profit organization celebrating 55 years of presenting world-class classical ballet and superior dance in Denver. Under the direction of Artistic Director Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet enhances the cultural life of Colorado through performances of the professional company, training at the Academy, and Education & Community Engagement programs. For more information about the Colorado Ballet, dancers, or the 2015-16 Season, visit www.coloradoballet.org.