Celebrating Italian music from the Baroque to the present, our upcoming performance will include four ballets by Miro Magloire. Follia, to music by Arcangelo Corelli, will receive its world premiere, joined by Lace, to Luciano Berio's seminal Sequenza for solo violin. Also on the program are Velvet, a sensual Pas de Deux (music by Luigi Dallapiccola) and audience favorite Silk (music by Giuseppe Tartini).

Friday, March 23rd at 8:30pm &
Saturday, March 24th at 8:30pm
New York City Center Studio 4
130 West 56th St, 4th floor (betw. 6th and 7th Ave)

Four formidable Italian musicians are the inspiration for our spring performance. Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) is widely known as the first major composer of violin music. Unlike most composers, he also made a very good living with his music, amassing a small fortune. Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770) was more of a maverick. After studying law, he secretly married the 15-year old niece of a cardinal and promptly had to flee to escape the cardinal's ire, taking refuge in a convent - where he took up playing the violin. He went on to become one of the most respected violinists of his day, expanding the range especially of bowing technique. Luigi Dallapiccola (1904-1975) was the first Italian composer to fully embrace the musical idiom of the 20th century. He greatly admired Tartini though, and based two of his own works on Tartini's original themes. Dallapiccola's student Luciano Berio (1925-2003) also excelled in the creative exploration of music from the past. His Sequenza for violin pushes violin technique to new limits, while paying tribute to the great tradition of writing for this instrument.

We made a little survey of the Italian influences at the New Chamber Ballet. Here are some highlights: only one of our dancers, Christin Hanna, has direct Italian ancestors (her great great grand mother). Another, Emily SoRelle, at least has an Italian name (it means "sisters"). Three of our staff have been to Italy, and our pianist Melody Fader has even given a concert there (in Spoleto). Coach Deborah Wingert likes Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina, Elizabeth Brown prefers Montepulciano wine, and costume designer Candice Thompson Pistachio ice cream. Damien Johnson listens to Rossini on his IPod. In general, the company's men don't have favorite Italian shoes, and just about everyone names the glorious Alessandra Ferri as their favorite Italian dancer! The complete results of the survey will be available at the performance...

Denise Small (photo) has appeared twice on tv in the past couple of weeks, dancing in the Metropolitan Opera's production of the Magic Flute - congratulations!... We're thrilled to have Damien Johnson is back with us after a few months in London. He will perform in the upcoming world premiere of Follia... Lauren Toole will also be back from L.A. for our two next shows, performing in Silk, Velvet and Lace...

We may be the most cost-efficient ballet company around: although our budget is only a fraction of what others have, we manage to produce countless new works!

But occasionally we have to swallow our pride and confront reality. The reality is that our costs still outpace our income. This spring will be an especially challenging time, with three different programs in preparation from now through June. We urgently need your support, whether it is small or large, to be able to continue our work...