Louisville Ballet releases its 2022-23 season schedule. Here's what to know
On the heels of its milestone 70th anniversary, The Louisville Ballet is keeping with its mission of honoring its past and looking toward the future.
The 2022-23 season, which was announced Tuesday, features a hearty mix of classics, reimagining tradition and contemporary works. Dubbed "The Season of Transcendence," Robert Curran, the artistic director of The Louisville Ballet, says this 71st year is about rising above the challenges from the year before. The theme nods both to the coronavirus pandemic, but also to the work the ballet has to do externally about making itself more accessible to the community it serves.
"The last 70 years are the reason for the next 70 years," Curran said. "I think it’s really important to acknowledge that while we’re trying to bravely forage ahead."
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Kicking off with "Coppelia" in October, the Louisville Ballet has chosen to set this European classic, which tells the tale of a doctor who has made a life-size dancing doll, in Louisville's own Germantown during the fall of 1917. Curran says the ballet made this decision as a way to connect the Louisville community to the works the ballet is doing. During this comedy Franz, a young man in the village, becomes so infatuated with the doll, that his true love Swanhilda, dresses like the toy and pretends it has come to life.
From there the company transitions to "Celebrating Alun" in November, which highlights the influence of Alun Jones, who led Louisville Ballet as Artistic Director for almost a quarter of a century. This three-part performance will feature his choreography from "Violin Concerto," "Liebestraume" and "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" and will give the audience a look into Jones' range as a choreographer as well as his influence on the ballet during his tenure with the company.
"Alun was leading the organization for almost a quarter of a century and had a huge impact on the Louisville Ballet that we see today," Curran told the Courier Journal. "A program of all of his works opens up a really big door for us to walk through."
Following that tribute, "The Brown Forman Nutcracker" returns to Whitney Hall in December, then the ballet launches into the new year with "Chorshow," which features performances by dancers with and without disabilities. Up next The Louisville Ballet offers its second installment of its "Spotlight Series" with works created by a team of women-only choreographers as well as scenic, costume and lighting designers.
The company will finish out the season with one of the oldest existing ballets, “La Sylphide.” The Louisville Ballet is redesigning the context of the ballet, but the classic story begins when a young groom is awakened on his wedding day by a kiss from a sylph. The mythical spirit dances for him before she disappears up a chimney, and then later, she steals the wedding ring of his beloved and tries to tempt him to the forest where she lives. This ballet explores themes of love, vengeance, and envy while examining the juxtaposition between nature and modern life.
"I feel is a very balanced season as we look to the past and celebrate what got us here and also look to what we are and what we need to be for the future," Curran said.
The Louisville Ballet 2022-23 Season
'COPPÉLIA'
WHAT: This is a uniquely local version of a beloved autumnal ballet, which is set in Louisville's own Germantown during the fall of 1917. The ballet tells the tale of a young man who becomes infatuated with a life-size dancing doll. His own true love decides to pretend like the toy has come to life by dressing like it.
WHEN: Oct. 6-8
WHERE: The Brown Theatre at 315 W. Broadway
CREDITS: Choreography by Robert Curran, music by Léo Delibes, scenery designs by Jacob Heustis.
'CELEBRATING ALUN'
WHAT: This performance celebrates the life and artistry of the late Alun, Jones, who led Louisville Ballet as Artistic Director for almost a quarter of a century. This is a three-part performance that will feature his choreography from Violin Concerto, Liebestraume and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The selections will give the audience a rounded sample of his work from his 24 years with the Louisville Ballet.
WHEN: Nov. 4-5
WHERE: Whitney Hall at The Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
CREDITS: Choreography by Alun Jones
'THE BROWN-FORMAN NUTCRACKER'
WHAT: This holiday classic returns to Louisville as Marie and her Nutcracker Prince travel to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The story is filled with magic, artistry, awe-inspiring sets and costumes.
WHEN: Dec. 9-24
WHERE: Whitney Hall at The Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
CREDITS: Choreography by Val Caniparoli and music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky performed live by the Louisville Orchestra.
'CHORSHOW'
WHAT: This production presents new works, which featuring performances dance by dancers with and without disabilities with local, national and international backgrounds.
WHEN: Jan. 25-29, 2023
WHERE: Louisville Ballet Studios, 315 E. Main St.
CREDITS: Choreography by the artists of Louisville Ballet, with guest choreographer Marc Brew
'SPOTLIGHT SERIES: WOMEN'
WHAT: The second installation of this mixed-repertory series features new works created by a team of women-only choreographers as well as scenic, costume and lighting designers.
WHEN: March 2-4, 2023
WHERE: The Brown Theatre 315 W. Broadway
CREDITS: Choreography by Ching Ching Wong and Andrea Schermoly, who is Louisville Ballet's resident choreographer as well as the to be determined 2023 Dysart Award Winner.
'LA SYLPHIDE with Scotch Symphony'
WHAT: This is one of the oldest existing classical ballets.“La Sylphide” explores themes of love, vengeance, and envy while examining the juxtaposition between nature and modern life.
WHEN: April 13-15, 2023
WHERE: The Brown Theatre 315 W. Broadway
CREDITS: Choreography by August Bournonville and George Balanchine with music by Hermann Lovenskjold and Felix Mendelssohn.
Features columnist Maggie Menderski writes about what makes Louisville, Southern Indiana and Kentucky unique, wonderful, and occasionally, a little weird. If you've got something in your family, your town or even your closet that fits that description — she wants to hear from you. Say hello at mmenderski@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4053. Follow along on Instagram and Twitter @MaggieMenderski.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Ballet 2022-23 season guide: dates, shows, tickets
