Contact: Bertina Dew bsdew@chartertn.net
Kingsport Ballet
201 Cherokee Street, Kingsport, TN 37660
423/378-3967, 423/863-1280
For Immediate Release
Kingsport, TN – Kingsport Ballet prepares for another vibrant, exciting and outright fun ballet production, with the staging of Don Quixote at the Wellmont Performing Arts Center, on the Northeast State Community College campus.
The cast, made up of a blend of guest professionals, local professionals, and Kingsport Ballet’s own Company also includes some children from the school. Artistic Director, Valeria Sinyavskaya, who celebrates ten years with the company in 2012, is proud of the hard work the students have put into this celebrated ballet classic. Some of the company members were little children upon her arrival in 2002, and have risen to have some of the lead roles in the ballet.
The Company now has several of its own professional dancers and production crew, Erika Ballard, Jessica Barrett, Adriana Dew, and Tonya Harris. “Adriana was herself one of my first students here. She graduated and left, and she is now back performing the lead role of Kitri. We are proud to have her with us,” explains Ms Sinyavskaya.
Guest professional Oleksandr Vykhrest, of the Columbia Classical Ballet, will dance the lead male role of Basilio. Also returning to the Kingsport Ballet stage as guest artists are Tak Khuan Chu and Edward Smirnov – both accomplished professionals with national and international companies. Zoltan Boros, soloist with the Columbia Classical Ballet, will be performing the saucy role of Espada.
Senior Bella Velasco, will once again perform the role of Street Dancer in Don Quixote. Bella was just in Ballet One when Ms Sinyaskaya began her tenure with the ballet school. The school has a solid group of rising junior company members who make up the bulk of the cast.
Northeast State theatre students assist with sets and backdrops as well as technical production jobs. This partnership aims to involve students and volunteers in many aspects of staging a professional ballet production.
“Don Quixote is one of those ballets that invigorate and charm audiences. Kingsport Ballet invites the entire region to come and see this great production – you don’t need to leave the area to see outstanding ballet productions,” explains board president, Mary Schnede. “This ballet has the potential to be a sellout – and leave audiences wanting more!” she says.
Public Performances: March 23rd and 24th 7pm. School performance: March 22nd , 10am. Tickets may be purchased online: www.kingsportballet.org or by calling 423/378-3967.
Kingsport Ballet is funded in part by the Tennessee Arts Commission under an agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts. Outreach programs are funded by the City of Kingsport, the Massengill De-Friece Foundation, the East Tennessee Foundation and Funds for At Risk Youth (TAC), Holston Medial Group, Regions Bank, among other area supporters. Please see below for season and performance sponsors.
