GYÖR NATIONAL BALLET
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GYÖR NATIONAL BALLET
HUNGRY’S 40-YEAR OLD BALLET COMPANY
RETURNS TO THE JOYCE THEATER WITH
TWO U.S. PREMIERES
JANUARY 26– 31, 2010
The Joyce Theater is proud to present the return of the world-renowned Györ National Ballet from Hungary. During this engagement, the company will present two U.S. premieres by young and original choreographers: Petrushka by Dimitrij Simkin and Rite of Spring by Atilla Kun. This engagement is part of the Performing Revolution in Central and Eastern Europe Festival presented by the New York Public Library, marking the 20th Anniversary of the fall of Communism. Tickets for Györ National Ballet at The Joyce start at $10 and can be purchased through JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or online atwww.joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.
The Györ National Ballet, one of Europe’s most respected contemporary ballet companies, returns to The Joyce with two U.S. premieres. Choreographed in 1995 by Dimitrij Simkin, Petrushka is an artistic portrayal of the manipulation and dehumanization that occurred under the totalitarian regime in Eastern and Central Europe, set to the world-famous score by Stravinsky. Twenty years after the fall of Communism in Hungary, this work still resonates and impassions audiences worldwide. The program also includes Atilla Kun’s compelling version of Rite of Spring, making this the perfect Stravinsky-filled evening for lovers of modern music and international contemporary ballet.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Györ National Ballet, founded by the graduates of the Hungarian Ballet Institute in 1979, began in the new National Theatre in Gyor under the leadership of Iván Markó and soon won international success. In addition to two premieres in each theatre season in Györ, the company performed several world premieres in Budapest, Vienna, Athens and Paris. Besides appearing at the Scala of Milan, at the Bayreuth Festival Games and the Olympic Games in Seoul, the company toured internationally and was awarded the Critics' Prize at the World Theatre Festival in Baltimore in 1983.
János Kiss, a founding member, became the artistic director in 1991. Under his leadership, a new era started, as the company retained traditional dance theatre elements while using wide range of themes and styles as well as using a wider range of artists, composers, choreographers and set designers.
Since 1995, the Company has spent three to five weeks annually on international tours, mainly in Germany and Austria and has presented very successful performances in Rome, Thessaloniki and in several cities throughout the Netherlands and France.
Györ National Ballet has appeared throughout Hungary (Budapest, Szolnok, Nagykanizsa, the Skanzen Amphitheatre in Szentendre) and the rest of Europe and has appeared at several cultural festivals (Budapest Spring Festival, Jewish Summer Festival, Open Air Plays of Szeged, Opera Festival of Miskolc, Dance Panorama of Keszthely).
Györ National Ballet can be seen at The Joyce Theater for one week from January 26 – 31. Performances are Tuesday & Wednesday at 7:30pm, Thursday & Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sunday at 2pm & 7:30pm. Dance Chat, a free post-performance talkback with the artists, will take place on Wednesday, January 27, and is open to all attending that evening’s performance. Tickets start at $10 (for the front row) and range up to $49 (top price for Joyce Members is $37). Please note: Ticket prices are subject to change. Tickets and subscriptions can be purchased by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or online at www.joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.
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Leadership support for The Joyce Theater’s 2009–2010 season has been received from the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.
This presentation is supported by The R. Britton Fisher and Family Gift for International Dance. Lead support has been provided by the Trust for Mutual Understanding. Lead support to celebrate Cultural Heritage through dance provided by American Express.
Additional support for this engagement was provided with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts; the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency; and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; and with private funds from the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund to encourage the performances of out-of-town companies at The Joyce Theater. Special support provided by the Office of State Senator Thomas K. Duane.
Major support for The Joyce has been provided by Bloomberg, The Boeing Company, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, First Republic Bank, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc., The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation and The Shubert Foundation.
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