ORLANDO BALLET ANNOUNCES
its production schedule for its new season, and it is adding performances to each of its major shows.
Orlando Ballet will add performances to each of its major shows for the 2018-19 season, with the annual production of “The Nutcracker” extending over two weekends. The new season, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of Robert Hill as artistic director, was announced Friday night.
“Orlando Ballet’s resurgence continues, and we are pleased to expand our season based on popular demand,” said Jonathan Ledden, president of the board of directors. The ballet sold out a significant number of its performances this season. Under the new plan, the three shows in the upcoming subscription season will add a Saturday matinee in addition to the traditional Friday-Saturday evening and Sunday matinee schedule.
Live music is set for some programs, and Ledden said other productions could be accompanied by an orchestra — depending on how the ballet’s finances look at the end of the current season. The additional performances mean it costs the ballet more to hire musicians.
“We would love to include the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra for ‘Nutcracker,’ but are not yet able to commit to a two-week run absent specific underwriting, which we will seek,” Ledden said. “We will continue to commit to our partners in a fiscally responsible way.”
Here’s a chronological look at the season:
■ Carmina Burana, Oct. 12-14: Carl Orff’s dramatic music combines with Hill’s sensual choreography. An anniversary gala will take place on opening night. Music will be by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, which also performed the piece — one of Hill’s signature works — in 2013 and 2014.
■ The Nutcracker, Dec. 7-16: More than 200 Orlando Ballet School students join the company for this holiday tradition in which a little girl visits a magical land on Christmas Eve.
■ Bailamos!, Feb. 15-17, 2019: Hill, the former artistic director of Mexico’s Ballet de Monterrey, puts his Latin-inspired choreography onstage in an upbeat program heavy on pop music.
■ Fast Forward, March 2, 2019: Orlando Ballet II dancers, the troupe’s professional second company of up-and-comers, will perform. The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra will provide the music.
■ Peter and the Wolf,
March 30-31, 2019: The ballet’s Family Weekend program returns with a show suitable for children of all ages and family ticket packages that start at $60 for a group of four. The ballet is in discussions about arranging live music for the show, Ledden said.
■ Arcadian Broad’s Wonderland: Mad Tales
of the Hatter, April 26-28, 2019: A company dancer, Broad wrote an original story based on the “Alice in Wonderland” Mad Hatter character, composed the music and choreographed this work, which will be accompanied by the Central Florida Community Arts Orchestra.
For more information, go to OrlandoBallet.org.