ON POINTE

A SPECIAL UPDATE ON THE 2023-24 LOUISVILLE BALLET SEASON

by Leslie Smart

ike so many nonprofit organizations, Louisville Ballet has continued to navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic and subsequent economic difficulty in an effort to continue to bring moving art to our beloved community.

These impacts were compounded by the difficult cancellations of three sold-out performances of The Brown-Forman Nutcracker last season due to Winter Storm Elliot on December 22, 2022.

Since that stormy night, we have worked diligently to recover from the financial hardship it caused. Consequently, we have some changes to our 2023-24 Season of the Commonwealth as follows:

Giselle will be presented November 10-12, 2023 at The Brown Theatre. This world-renowned classical masterpiece features traditional sets and costumes — including set design by Peter Cazalet, whose work you’ve seen in The BrownForman Nutcracker.

Our artists will now perform Distilled, a collection of three ballets, in the Louisville Ballet Studios at 315 E. Main St., from October 13-15, 2023. The intimate setting of the studio invites patrons into the inner sanctum of the dancers' art while providing a view of ballet that few get to experience. Performances will include a pre-performance bourbon experience reception for current subscribers, sponsored by Heaven Hill Brands and featuring their master artisans.

The three ballets in Distilled include:

Copland’s Appalachian Spring, choreographed by Louisville Ballet Resident Choreographer Andrea Schermoly. This work was commissioned by the Louisville Orchestra and Music Director Teddy Abrams and had its world-premiere performances in April 2019, with the Louisville Orchestra and Louisville Ballet at Whitney Hall.

Cold Virtues, choreographed by Resident Choreographer Adam Hougland, was commissioned by Bruce Simpson as a world premiere in 2003 and became a Louisville audience favorite. Hougland creates a deeply atmospheric and dramatically intense work set to Philip Glass’ intoxicating Violin Concerto No 1.

The evening culminates with Raymonda, another Louisville Ballet favorite and one of the most beautiful of classical divertissements choreographed by Marius Petipa.

LOUISVILLE BALLET'S SEASON OF THE COMMONWEALTH:

DISTILLED

October 13-15, 2023

Louisville Ballet Studios

GISELLE

November 10-12, 2023

The Brown Theatre

THE BROWN-FORMAN NUTCRACKER

December 8-24, 2023

Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center

#CHORSHOW

January 24-28 &

February 2-4, 2024

Louisville Ballet Studios

ROMEO & JULIET

March 1-2, 2024

Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center

The rest of our season, including The Brown-Forman Nutcracker, Choreographer’s Showcase, and Romeo & Juliet, will be presented as originally planned. However, due to financial difficulties, we will be unable to invite the Louisville Orchestra to play for The Nutcracker this season.

Continuing to create ballet experiences that the community is eager to support with their presence and gifts is critical to our recovery, and is the genesis of our programmatic modifications. Our patrons have enabled Louisville Ballet to make moving art for 72 years as the fifth oldest professional ballet company in the United States, and serve as a critical part of the arts ecosystem in Kentucky.

We were fortunate to have had a decade of former Artist Director Robert Curran's artistry. With Robert’s resignation, we are now blessed by the artistic support of Bruce Simpson and Helen Starr, who will be serving as Artistic Advisors during the ballet’s global search for its next Artistic Director.

Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding. We are immensely grateful that you continue to be a part of our Louisville Ballet family.

Leslie Smart is Chief Executive of the Louisville Ballet. This content of this article was originally sent in a letter to patrons.