Romance to Ragtime

Richard Strauss’s soulful Four Last Songs has become a ballet synonymous with Ben Stevenson, demanding both rigorous technical precision and intense emotional preparation by dancers. The ballet assumes the form of the circle of life rather than a narrative, with an ending as affecting as any found in dance. Texas Ballet Theater features gifted soprano Melissa Givens singing the exquisite Strauss song cycle.

Tim O’Keefe, choreographs his second work for the company, Ragtime Dance, a world premiere set to the ragtime music of Scott Joplin. The program also includes Prince of the Pagodas, Benjamin Britten’s ballet inspired by the music of Bali and choreographed by Ben Stevenson, as well as The Dying Swan, set to the glorious music by Camille Saint-Saëns, from The Carnival of Animals.

An evening of unforgettable ballet, showcasing dancers dedicated to the demands of their art, the program is designed to stir your imagination and ignite your spirit.


Program Information

Four Last Songs
Music by Richard Strauss
Choreography by Ben Stevenson
Set and Costume Design by Matthew C. Jacobs
Lighting Design by Tony Tucci

Britten Pas de Deux
Music by Benjamin Britten
Choreography by Ben Stevenson

The Dying Swan
Music by Camille Saint-Saens
Choreography by Michel Fokine

Ragtime Dance
World Premiere
Choreography by Tim O’Keefe
Music by Scott Joplin

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jack Buckhannan

Photo Credit
Artists: Thomas Kilps, Jessica Freitas, Heather Crosby, Carolyn Judson.
Photo: Ellen Appel.