The Los Angeles Ballet presents "Celebration" March 12, 2011

Los Angeles Ballet [LAB] Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary are pleased to present Celebration, which comes to Los Angeles in March, featuring Balanchine's luscious Raymonda Variations and riotous Western Symphony, both Los Angeles Ballet premieres. Additionally, My Greatest Fear, a World Premiere, was created specifically for LAB dancers by the returning Sonya Tayeh. Mr. Christensen and Ms. Neary chose the title Celebration in honor of LAB's 5th Season presenting dance in Southern California.

Raymonda Variations was inspired by George Balanchine's admiration of Glazounov's music. He loved what he called its "grand and generous manner, its joy and playfulness." Western Symphony, also by Balanchine, is set on a rugged Old West street populated by cowboys and dance hall girls! Steps Balanchine uses from traditional ballet vocabulary allude to the steps, formations, and gestures of American folk dancing. The lively, familiar score consists of classic American folk songs orchestrated and arranged by Hershy Kay.

LAB proudly presents its next commissioned World Premiere, My Greatest Fear, created by one of the country's most beloved choreographers, Sonya Tayeh, who makes her return to Los Angeles Ballet after the tremendous success of her first LAB commissioned work in last May's New Wave LA performances. LAB’s artistic directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary had the vision to ask Tayeh to adapt her exceptional skills as a successful pop/commercial choreographer to the world of ballet and ‘pointe work', to thrilling results.