OKC BALLET PRESENTS

THE FIREBIRD AT

THE CIVIC CENTER,

FEB. 11-12

 From "Between Dreams" choreographed by Robert Mills.
Photo provided

By Nancy Condit

When The Firebird appears at the Civic Center on February 11 and 12, the famous ballet  will be in a remake by choreographer and Oklahoma City Ballet artistic director Robert Mills.  Also on the program are two works new to Oklahomans, one by Alan Hineline, choreographer of the 2009 work The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Mills’ work In Between Dreams.

 "The Firebird" in a remake by choreographer and artistic director
Robert Mills.  Photo provided.

The Firebird, originally created in 1910 composer Igor Stravinsky and choreographer Michel Fokine, is a story of good conquering evil.  It is based on a Russian folklore tale of a magic glowing bird that is both a blessing and a curse to its captor, reads the press release.

Hineline returns with another original commissioned work.  He is formerly artistic director Ballet Philippines in Manilla.  Hinelline’s work has appeared in the repertories of the Pennsylvania Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Sacramento Ballet and Kansas City Ballet, among others.

The third ballet, In Between Dreams, was choreographed by Mills for Ballet Nouveau Colorado.  “…choreographers can be found who paint dances well.  Robert Mills has done that, and did it again with In Between Dreams,” World Dance Reviews.

“When I took over Oklahoma City Ballet, I was committed to bringing our audiences variety” in choreography and works from classical to neoclassical to contemporary works, says Mills of the triple bill in an email.

Mills was asked what he hoped this show would bring to Oklahoma City area art loves as well as neophytes.

His answer was, “Art lovers will connect with the collaborative nature of any three of these works through their beautiful music, ranging from Michael Nyman, Arvo Part and Gustav Mahler, not to mention the iconic music of Stravinsky.  We have an extremely talented resident costume designer in Michael Jones, and we have brought in a lighting designer from Texas, Buddy Combs.  All of this runs parallel with our incredible company of dancers that have the opportunity to showcase their versatility. 

“For ballet or art ‘newbies,’ I encourage them to dismiss their preconceived notions of ballet.  They will see an incredibly athletic and intricately choreographed dance in Alan Hineline’s world premiere, they will see a visually stunning collaboration of dance, stagecraft and lighting design with In Between Dreams, and The Firebird brings an exciting yet easy to follow short story to life.”

Performances are at 8 p.m. Saturday, February 11, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 12 at the Civic Center Music Hall at 201 N. Walker.

At 7 p.m., before the 8 p.m. Saturday February 11 performance, a talk will be given by dance historian Dr. Camille Hardy, Robert Mills and Alan Hineline. The matinee will feature events for kids before and after the production, including creating their own Firebird mask and trying on costumes from their favorite shows. Both events will take place in the south lobby.

Individual tickets range from $31 to $57.  A family four pack of tickets is available for $50. Tickets are available by phone at 405-848-TOES (8637), or go to www.okcballet.com/tickets, or the Civic Center Box Office.

The Oklahoma City Ballet is the only U.S. Ballet company of its size to regularly debut world premier full-length ballets with original commissioned scores.