Connecticut Ballet Announces Leads for "Coppélia" and Family Discount

Connecticut Ballet Announces Casting for

COPPÉLIA

Acclaimed Ballet Company to Offer Discounted Family Four-Pack

May 7 at Palace Theatre/Stamford
May 20 & 21 at The Bushnell/Hartford

April 24, 2023/Hartford, CT...Connecticut Ballet Artistic Director Brett Raphael has announced that four talented company soloists will make their debut as principal dancers in the company’s upcoming production of Coppélia, at The Palace Theatre in Stamford on Sunday, May 7 and The Bushnell in Hartford on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21. Carla Hernandez and Jafet Reynoso and Nicole Fedorov and Kaitaro Kodama will alternate as Swanhilda and Franz, the leading roles in this popular story ballet. The ballet follows Swanhilda, and her escapades inside the toy workshop of the mysterious Dr. Coppélius. With colorful national dances from Poland and Hungary, this family-friendly ballet culminates with the famous 'Waltz of the Hours and the wedding of Swanhilda and her sweetheart, Franz.

Raphael states, "I am delighted to showcase this next generation of talent in a storybook ballet that has enchanted audiences for over 150 years. Children can get their programs signed and have a picture taken with the leads after each performance, so be sure to join us in the lobby!"

Tickets are on sale now for both engagements with a Family-Four Pack of tickets available for all performances. When reserving this four-ticket package, guests will receive 20% off the face value of the tickets (not including ticketing fees).

Tickets for the Sunday, May 7 at 2pm performances at The Palace Theatre (61 Atlantic Street, Stamford) are $50 to $75 (plus ticketing fees) and can be purchased by visiting PalaceStamford.org or by calling (203) 325-4466. Tickets for the Saturday, May 20 at 7:30pm and Sunday, May 21 at 2pm performances at The Bushnell (166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford) are $58 to $76 (plus ticketing fees) and can be purchased by visiting Bushnell.org or by calling (860) 987-5900.

About Coppélia

The colorful and comedic storybook fantasy Coppélia, featuring a score by Léo Delibes and a libretto by Charles-Louis-Étienne Nuitter, made its debut in 1870 on the stage of the legendary Paris Opéra where it became the most successful ballet in the company's history. Coppelia follows a young girl, Swanhilda, and her escapades inside the toy workshop of the mysterious Dr. Coppélius. With colorful national dances from Poland and Hungary, this family-friendly ballet culminates with the famous 'Waltz of the Hours and the wedding of Swanhilda and her sweetheart, Franz.

Both performances are fully accessible for people with limited mobility. Discounted group rates of 20% off are available for parties of 10. For more information, call Connecticut Ballet at (860) 293-1039, (203) 964-1211 or visit connecticutballet.org.

About Connecticut Ballet

Currently celebrating its 42nd season, Connecticut Ballet is a nationally-recognized, professional company headquartered in Hartford and Stamford under the leadership of Founder and Artistic Director Brett Raphael. With a repertoire of over one hundred ballets (including eight full-length productions) performed in annual seasons at The Bushnell and The Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut Ballet’s statewide Center for Dance Education offers a comprehensive educational program which includes school assemblies, outreach classes at residential treatment facilities, schools and community centers, professional development workshops for classroom teachers, and a Trainee Program for pre-professional ballet dancers.Visit connecticutballet.org.

About Brett Raphael

Brett Raphael, Artistic Director and Founder of Connecticut Ballet, has choreographed more than 20 original works and ten full-length productions since founding Connecticut Ballet in 1981. At age ten, Mr. Raphael was chosen by George Balanchine to receive a Ford Foundation scholarship to the School of American Ballet. He subsequently performed with the touring ensemble, Stars of American Ballet and choreographed independently for Boston Ballet, Netherlands Dans Theater and Joffrey II Dancers. In addition to directing Connecticut Ballet Center, Mr. Raphael has served on the faculties of Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Harkness House in New York City, and Purchase College Division of Continuing Education. He has served as dance panelist for the New Jersey State Council and Pennsylvania Council for the Arts and is past President of Connecticut Dance Alliance.