Diana Vishneva x Beauty in Motion x OCPAC x Ardani Artists x April, 2009 x Russia Today

The Orange County Performing Artscenter and Ardani Artists have announced the world premiere of Diana Vishneva: Beauty in Motion. Three ballets are being created for the Beauty in Motion to showcase the phenomenal talents of prima ballerina Diana Vishneva. World premiere ballets are being choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky, Moses Pendleton and Dwight Rhoden. The new work being choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky, artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet, will be to Arnold Schoenberg's brilliant song cycle Pierrot Lunaire. The cycle, which premiered in 1912, was for soprano and orchestral ensemble and was based on poems by Albert Giraud . Members of the Kirov Orchestra and Opera will also be featured in the ballet. Moses Pendleton, choreographer and artistic director of New York-based dance company Momix, is creating a solo work called Picarte, originally named Flow, for the Russian prima ballerina. Ms. Vishneva's costume is being designed by Phoeby Katz and props by Tony® and Emmy® Award-winner Michael Curry. The name Picarte refers to three artists whose paintings inspired Moses in this three-part ballet: Picasso, Caravaggio and Erté. Dwight Rhoden, choreographer and co-artistic director of Complexions: a Concept in Dance, joins the illustrious Alexei Ratmansky and Moses Pendleton who are also placing new works on the beautiful Russian ballerina. Mr. Rhoden has created more than 60 ballets for Complexions, as well as numerous other companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; The Arizona Ballet; The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Company; The Dance Theater of Harlem; Dayton Contemporary Dance Company; The Joffrey Ballet; New York City Ballet/Diamond Project; North Carolina Dance Theater; The Pennsylvania Ballet; Philadanco; Minneapolis Dance Theater; Phoenix Dance Company; Sacramento Ballet; Oakland Ballet; Pittsburgh Ballet Theater; The Washington Ballet; and Zenon Dance Company. He has worked with, coached, and created for some of the most diverse artists spanning the world of ballet and contemporary dance. Alexei Ratmansky has been artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet since January 2004. Previously he was a principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet. Trained at the Ballet School of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, he danced with the Ukrainian National Ballet and Royal Winnipeg Ballet before joining the Royal Danish Ballet as a soloist in 1997. He was promoted to principal dancer in 2000. Ratmansky was awarded First Prize at the Ukrainian Ballet Competition in 1998, the Gold Medal at the Moscow Diaghilev Competition in 1992, and the Nijinsky Prize in 1992. In 1999, he created his first ballet, Betwix, as a participant in the Choreographer Workshop at the Royal Danish Ballet. His other works include Turandot's Dream, which was performed as part of the Shaken - Not Stirred program at the Old Stage of the Royal Theatre, The Nutcracker and Anna Karenina for The Royal Danish Ballet. Poem of Ecstasy, The Fairy's Kiss, Middle Duo and Cinderella for Kirov Ballet, as well as Capriccio, Dreams About Japan, The Bright Stream, Leah, and Bolt for the Bolshoi Ballet. Moses Pendleton is one of America's most innovative and widely performed choreographers and directors. One of the founding members of the ground-breaking Pilobolus Dance Theater in 1971, he formed his own company, Momix, in the early 80's and has been its artistic director since 1984. He has also worked extensively in film, TV, and opera and as a choreographer for ballet companies and special events. He has created works for the Paris Opera, Joffrey Ballet, Deutsche Oper, La Scala, U.S. Spoletto Festival, Munich State Opera and many other companies. In 1980, he choreographed the Closing Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid and in 1981 he created Momix, which rapidly established an international reputation for highly inventive and often illusionistic choreography. He is also a noted photographer and has received the American Choreography Award, the Cine Golden Eagle Award and an International Emmy Award for Best Performing Arts Special, representing his multi-faceted talents and achievements. Beauty in Motion won three Golden Masks Award, the highest National Dance Award in Russia