November 14, 2003

Holiday in motion

The Loyola Ballet will present a special Holiday Concert November 21 and 22 at 8 p.m., in Roussel Performance Hall. The concert will open with Les Patineurs (The Skaters), a ballet in one act. Set to music by Giacomo Meyerbeer, the students are learning the original choreography by Frederick Ashton. Joining the Loyola Ballet in this piece will be Robert Gosnell, member of Nashville Ballet.

" The ballet was first performed in 1937, at a time when a day at the ice rink was a social occasion," said Loyola Ballet Director Laura Zambrano. "The Victorian-era ballet, complete with old-fashioned manners and etiquette, is filled with gliding steps that simulate skating. It is a wonderful piece that brings the audience back in time."

The concert also features excerpts from Act II of The Nutcracker, which has not been performed by the Loyola ballet for almost 20 years. A holiday favorite, The Nutcracker is set to music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and is staged by the faculty of the ballet program.

Guest artist Christopher Mohnani, member of Nashvile Ballet and former member of Ballet Manila, will perform the role of the "Cavalier." Dancing the role of the "Sugar Plum Fairy" will be sophomore Andrea Ganier, who returned to Loyola after spending a year as a trainee with Nashville Ballet.

Other works being performed in the concert include the ballet Christmas, originally choreographed by Anna Pavlova to music by Tchaikovsky. An original work choreographed by senior Megan Zuchowski, a ballet minor who received the 2002 Best Choreography Award from the Tribute to the Classical Arts, will also be presented.

Tickets are $12 for general admission; $8 for Loyola community. For ticket information, call 865-3492.

Karen Beck