Romantic ballet with a jazz twist

10 April 2006

At the end of the month the NEWI William Aston Hall will be host to a ballet extravaganza. This ballet double bill offers a unique combination of romantic elegant ballet ‘La Sylphide’ and the modern, jazzy and energetic ballet of ‘Rhapsody in Blue’.

The story of La Sylphide, which is set in the Scottish Highlands, is a romantic and mysterious full-length ballet which tells of a young man's infatuation with a mischievous sylph. James spurns his bride-to-be to pursue the love of the beautiful, other-worldly sylph of the title; but a witch causes the sylph to lose her wings and thus her life, leaving James utterly alone. Good and evil, doomed young love and the moonlit forest setting are just some of the hallmarks of this romantic classic. The ballet features music by Hermann Lovenskjold; choreography by Sheila Styles after Auguste Bournonville and has been re-staged by Shirley Grahame.
     
Rhapsody in Blue however is a modern, jazzy and energetic ballet set to the ever popular classic from George Gershwin. The choreographer Daryl Raizal- Ming Tan who was born in Singapore, has over the past decade overcome most barriers to carve out a niche in the international dance scene. From dazzling the local dance industry with the Singapore Dance Theatre to touring the world with international dance companies.

After a huge success in the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, by the Royal Ballet, the
Vienna Festival Ballet is proud to bring this production to the NEWI William Aston Hall on Friday 28th April at 7.30pm.  Tickets are £15 with concessions £10, available from The Tourist Information Centre, Lambpit Street, Wrexham or telephone 01978 292015.