Diablo Ballet Opens 19th Season with Jose Limon, Ballet Nacional de Caracas and A SWINGIN' HOLIDAY Tonight

Diablo Ballet, the award-winning, professional dance company in Walnut Creek, CA, begins its 19th season tonight, November 16th and Saturday November 17th at the Lesher Center with a program featuring Shakespeare, Latin fair, and a world premiere.

Diablo Ballet brings the California Premiere of Lento a Tempe a Appassionato by renowned choreographer Vicente Nebrada of Ballet Nacional de Caracas. This passionate duet develops through three dramatic movements, featuring the music of Alexander Scriabin performed live.

The Moor's Pavane, by legendary modern dance choreographer Jose Limon, is brought to life in a co-production with Diablo Ballet and sjDANCEco. This American classic brilliantly captures the intrigue and emotion of Shakespeare’s Othello.

Broadway choreographer Sean Kelly creates the world premiere of A Swingin' Holiday, which mixes favorite holiday songs with swing dance and swing music, accompanied by a live 16 piece big band under the direction of Diablo Ballet's Music Director Greg SudmeieR. Kelly, a former principal dancer with the Houston Ballet, has been the Resident Choreographer for the Tony winning musicals Swing, Movin' Out and Billy Elliot.

Performances are tonight, November 16th 8 PM and Saturday November 17th 2 PM and 8 PM at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek - 1601 Civic Drive. Tickets are $36 - $52 depending on performance. Tickets may be ordered by calling the Lesher Center box office at 925-943-7469 or visiting their website at www.LesherCenter.org.

After the Saturday November 17th 2 PM performance, guests are invited to meet Diablo Ballet dancers in costume in the lobby and have their picture taken with them.

For 19 years, Diablo Ballet has been the award-winning, professional dance company for Contra Costa County. Presenting acclaimed classical and contemporary works, Diablo Ballet has been names Best Dance Company for the East Bay by Diablo Magazine for the past two years. The Company is also committed to exposing youth to the arts through the renowned PEEK Youth Outreach Program, bringing in-school arts education to over 5,000 elementary school students in under-served Contra Costa counties. The Program was recently recognized by Congressman John Garamendi for outstanding contributions to the community.

Pictured: Diablo Ballet dancers Edward Stegge (left), Rosselyn Ramirez (center), and David Fonnegra (right). Photo Credit: Ashraf.