The Charleston Ballet - 2007 Program

Be part of the excitement

The Charleston Ballet will present its SENSATIONAL SEASONS series of programs for the upcoming 2007-2008 season. The October 12-13, 2007 mixed bill will include performances of THE SEASONS, a ballet for the full company and apprentices, to the beautiful score of Glazunov with choreography depicting the changes of the seasons Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. ISTAR, based on the one act symphonic poem of Vincent d’Indy, will be staged for Charleston Ballet principal dancer, Rhiannon Turley and guest artist. Originally choreographed by Serge Lifar for the Paris Opera, this ballet follows the legend of the Assyrian goddess Istar and her journey to the underworld to set the Son of Life free. Guest artist Olivier Wecxsteen will also join the company to perform two pas de deux with director Kim Pauley. The program will feature several of the company’s soloists.

The NUTCRACKER will again be the holiday highlight accompanied by our own wonderful WV Symphony Orchestra at the Clay Center for just 3 public performances on December 14 and 15, 2007. Special student performances will take place during the day earlier in the week. Mark your calendar now to join this annual Charleston tradition. Renowned choreographer Miguel Campaneria will join our many scheduled guests and talented company to present this memorable ballet for you and your family. Tickets for the NUTCRACKER will be available at the Clay Center Box Office at 561- 3570 and range from $46 - $5.

alice in wonderland

On March 7 and 8, 2008, the Charleston Ballet will present ALICE IN WONDERLAND at the Civic Center Theater at 7:00 p.m. Follow Alice through her zany adventures with the White Rabbit, The Cheshire Cat, The Caterpillar and the Queen of Hearts. It is a humorous, delightful ballet that audiences of all ages will enjoy. A few shorter works will also be presented with storybook characters in this special concert designed with our younger audience members in mind and will serve as a great introduction to the art of dance.

Tickets are available at the ballet office, and are now available online! See our link to purchase your tickets for these amazing performances. Adult tickets are $20 and Student/Senior tickets are $15. Group discounts are available. For more information, call the ballet office at 342-6541.

50 Years of Excellence in Dance

The Charleston Ballet, the official West Virginia State Ballet, was formed in 1956 by Andre Van Damme. Mr. Van Damme achieved great success in his native Belgium as the first star dancer with the Royal Opera. His vision was to provide state experience in a professional atmosphere for West Virginia dancers and to create a greater appreciation for the art of ballet.

The company has been a pioneer among regional ballet troupes in the United States. For five decades, the civic troupe has enriched the cultural life of West Virginia, performing hundreds of traditional and original ballets. Known for its artistic integrity and discipline, the ballet also has been one of the most socially responsible groups in the community.

Our Director

In 1989, Kim Pauley was appointed Artistic Director becoming one of the very few women and one of the youngest directors nationally of a regional ballet. She assumed the Artistic Director position following the footsteps of her mentor, the late Andre Van Damme. She has studied and performed with many guest artists from national and internationally known companies, and worked with classical and contemporary choreographers. She and Miguel Campaneria have staged most of the traditional classics for the company and she also has created many original works, both contemporary and classical. Ms. Pauley maintains a strong commitment to the community and to education.

Our Guest Artists

Miguel Campaneria trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba and was a Bronze medal winner at the prestigious International Ballet Competition at Varna. He was a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Cuba, Les Grand Ballet de Canadians, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. A frequent guest of the Charleston Ballet, he is now Artistic Director of National Ballet Theatre of Puerto Rico and actively pursues an international career as a Teacher and Choreographer.

Olivier Wecxsteen trained in France and participated in the Prix de Lausanne at the age of 15. He has performed the major principal roles in ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, and Nutcracker with Les Ballet de Monte Carlo, Boston Ballet and Les Grand Ballet de Canadians. As a freelance artist, he now performs extensively with national and international companies. Recent guestings include San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker.

Yves de Boutieller studied ballet in Toulouse, France and subsequently in Paris, and with Rosella Hightower at the International Dance Center in Cannes.

In 1979, Mr. de Boutieller began his professional career. He has performed professionally with Bejart's Ballet of the 20th Century, the Royal Ballet of Flanders, the Ballet der Deutsch Oper, and as principle dancer with the Ballet du Nord and Milwakee Ballet. He has created roles in all of the major classic repertoire and has performed numerous works of choreographers such as Balanchine, Ailey, Bruce Wells, Arpino, Butler, Nebrada, Taras, Martinez, and many other contemporary works. Besides appearing with Ballet du Nord on its many international tours, Mr. de Boutieller participated in the first New York International Ballet competition representing France, and as a guest artist in the Competition's gala performance.

Christopher Flemming Christopher Fleming's performing career includes principal and soloist positions with American Ballet Theatre in New York City Ballet. At the urging of George Balanchine, Mr. Fleming began to pursue his own choreographic talents, having his works performed by companies such as Atlanta Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Southern Ballet Theatre, and Dayton Ballet. He has served as Artistic Director of Compania Colombiana de Ballet in Bogota, Colombia and later, Bay Ballet Theatre in Tampa. Currently, he serves as Assistant Director of The Rock School, offical school of Pennslyvania Ballet in Philadelphia and continues his work as a freelance choreographer.

Back to The Charleston Ballet home page.