‘Planets’ will be performed on Friday, May 3, at Hoffman Auditorium at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford.

Ballet Hartford. Courtesy photo

Submitted

It will be an energetic and imaginative performance by Ballet Hartford on Friday evening, May 3 with the debut of Planets, a dynamic show highlighting Gustav Holst’s famous music through an imaginative series of performances inspired by the solar system’s planets.

Each planetary performance is being envisioned by a different choreographer, connecting music and dance to evoke planetary characteristics. It will all come together memorably at the Hoffman Auditorium on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. The performance begins at 7 p.m.; tickets are now on sale at www.ballethartford.com

The Planets, Op. 32, is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1917, described recently by the New York Times as “one of the most popular orchestral pieces of the 20th century.” Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the solar system and its supposed astrological character.

Ballet Hartford has assembled a highly regarded array of choreographers to develop a series of singular choreographies that invoke the characteristics of each of the planets through dance. Ballet Hartford performed a special preview of the performance earlier this month at the Connecticut Science Center, in a unique program partnership.

Featured choreographers will include Norbert de la Cruz III (Mars), Claire Kretzschmar (Venus); Steve Rooks (Mercury); Danielle Diniz (Jupiter); Leyna Doran (Saturn); Alejandro Ulloa (Uranus); and Oliver Steele (Neptune).

“The music in Venus is luscious and romantic, and to capture that music and I tap into a Greek myth to really bring the music to life, particularly where there is tension created as the romance unfolds.  That is the premise, and I look forward to sharing this choreography,” Kretzschmar explained.

“I am excited to create to this beautiful score – the music is powerful and diverse. In my section, I am pleased to work with dancers from our Trainee program and the School of Ballet Hartford. It’s a wonderful example of the many benefits between a professional company and its affiliate training program,” said Leyna Doran.

The entire performance, as it has been developed in recent months, has inspired descriptions ranging from athletic, rigorous, contemporary, whimsical, technical, complicated, and energetic, to theatricality, physicality, versatility, excellence, virtuosity, jarring, and energetic.

Later in May, Ballet Hartford will perform excerpts from Planets at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown, headlining an evening of Cosmos and Cocktails on Friday, May 17, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are available on Eventbrite or at www.ballethartford.com.

Throughout the year, with professional dancers from Connecticut and across the United States, Ballet Hartford produces engaging programs that uphold tradition and celebrate innovation, highlighted by technically and artistically diverse choreographic works.  The company has received national and international recognition, and continues to grow in stature with increasing acclaim from local and regional audiences.

As the reputation of Ballet Hartford has noticeably grown, dancers have been attracted to the company by the caliber, creativity and camaraderie that characterizes Ballet Hartford. Last year’s company of 15 dancers has now grown to 25, the largest number since the inception of Ballet Hartford.

Ballet Hartford’s home at the 224 EcoSpace in Hartford holds great significance within the Connecticut dance community as this facility once housed the Hartford Ballet. Overseen by Reverend Lydell Brown, the 224 EcoSpace is a premier arts, health and wellness social enterprise located on Farmington Avenue.

For tickets and additional information about Ballet Hartford, visit www.ballethartford.com.  To learn more about the Connecticut Science Center, including current and upcoming exhibitions and events, visit www.ctsciencecenter.org.

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