Ballet Hartford to Embark on a Three State Holiday Tour

Ballet Hartford, in collaboration with Claire Kretzschmar Productions, will embark on a three-city tour - to New York City, Philadelphia and Winston-Salem – next month, the most extensive in the company’s history. The tour will feature original ballets choreographed by Claire Kretzschmar, former New York City Ballet soloist and Ballet Hartford’s Artistic Director, and it includes the world-premiere of Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas Tree).

• Monday, December 9: New York City, NY – Symphony Space, 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 11: Philadelphia, PA – Performance Garage, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, December 15: Winston-Salem, NC – Reynolds Auditorium, 3:00 p.m.

The program, curated by tour Executive Producer Claire Kretzschmar, begins with the premiere of John Conahan's choral composition, "Ingress of the Messengers" and is followed by Ms. Kretzschmar's two ballets - Weihnachtsbaum, with music by Franz Liszt, and A Ceremony of Carols, with music by Benjamin Britten.

This is the first time that A Ceremony of Carols will be performed since its premiere last year, and the first time it will include live music. Co-produced by Grammy Award-winning singer Katy Avery, this double feature is elevated by live piano, harp, and choral music. The performances aim to connect with a wide range of audience members and create new Christmas traditions for those young and old.

“We are honored to bring our love for ballet to these communities. With each performance, we strive to create an experience that resonates, inspiring joy and contemplation through the beauty of dance," Kretzschmar said.

In addition to the talented dancers of Ballet Hartford, the performances in the three cities will include singers Katy Avery, Liz Lang, and Abigail Chapman, Harpist Amanda Kengor and Pianist Mark Livshits. Lighting Design is by Conor Mulligan and Costume Design by Nicole Roque. The Conductor is Daniel Spratlan.

A rehearsal for the new performance program was held in Hartford on November 18, including the Ballet Hartford company and the live music that will accompany them on the three-state tour.
“This entire process has been inspiring and invigorating, and when the dancers and musicians came together, the exponential joy of song and dance was palpable,” Kretzschmar added. “We’re looking forward to an exciting month ahead.”

This is Claire Kretzschmar’s first staged choreographic program to appear in NYC, where she trained and danced professionally for 13 years. Both Claire Kretzschmar and Katy Avery are from Winston-Salem, NC and attended local schools there while growing up. They are returning to their hometown in Winston-Salem, NC to give back the gift of live music and dancing to the community that fostered their talents.

Tickets for A Ceremony of Carols are available at www.Claire-K.com. Follow Claire K Productions on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content and updates during the tour.

About Ballet Hartford
Ballet Hartford, a leading ballet company located in the heart of Connecticut, pursues excellence in ballet by presenting performances rooted in truth, infused with beauty, and propelled by the common good. With professional dancers from across the United States, Ballet Hartford produces programs that uphold tradition and celebrate innovation. Accompanied by its affiliate school, the School of Ballet Hartford, the company strives for excellence with joy in all of its performances and offerings to the public.