Bolshoi Ballet to Perform "Spartacus" in Philadelphia at The Mann Center

Philadelphia, PA - In accordance with its mission of promoting both business and cultural contacts between Russia and the Mid-Atlantic Region, the Mid-Atlantic Russia Business Council is pleased to join in announcing the arrival in Philadelphia of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet, performing Spartacus at The Mann Center for Performing Arts. There will be two performances only - Tuesday, August 2 and Wednesday, August 3 at 8 p.m. With one of the world's greatest ballet companies and symphony orchestras in the world both performing, this performance is considered to be the Philadelphia cultural event of the summer.

Bolshoi is the Russian word for "big," and that is a most appropriate adjective for this tour. The Bolshoi ballet, internationally recognized for its history, size, and dazzling full-length productions will present the epic tale of Spartacus, a hero-slave who led an unsuccessful rebellion against the Roman legions. 175 artists will perform in the Philadelphia premiere of this spectacular ballet. The Bolshoi is one of the principal ballet companies of Russia and is acclaimed for its superb ensemble skills and the spectacular realism of its scenery and costumes.

The Bolshoi Ballet is celebrating its 228th year from its initial founding as a dancing school for the Moscow Orphanage. The company was influenced largely by visiting Italian and French masters such as Carlo Blasis and Marius Petipa, and danced the notorious first production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake in 1877. In the early 20th century, ballet-master Alexander Gorsky revitalized the dance company by introducing a new dramatic realism to the classical ballets.

The Bolshoi is the only company in the world that performs Spartacus, which premiered in 1968. The superb and riveting production of Spartacus is largely a result of the credentials and quality of the professional production team. This includes Alexei Ratmansky, new Artistic Director of the Bolshoi since January 2004, who creates the look and feel of the entire ballet. Ratmansky trained at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow and has danced with companies around the world including the Kiev State Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet. Spartacus was choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich, choreographer-in-chief of the Bolshoi Theatre since 1964. Grigorovich's accomplishments include the creation of masterpiece ballets as The Nutcracker Ballet and Romeo and Juliet, as well as new versions of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Don Quixote, among others. Joining Grigorovich and Ratmansky is leading conductor of the Bolshoi orchestra, Pavel Sorokin. In 1998, Sorokin was awarded the title "Merited Artist of Russia."

The Philadelphia Premiere of Spartacus at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2 and Wednesday, August 3 at 8:00 PM. Ticket prices are $125, $85, $75, and $45 and can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999 or visiting www.manncenter.org or the Mann Center box office.

Celebrating its 29th season, The Mann Center for the Performing Arts is the region's premiere outdoor cultural arts center offering a diverse season of world-class entertainment. Through the new $13 million Reach for the Stars capital program, The Mann will become more convenient, more accessible, more attractive, and more fun than ever before. Conveniently located in beautiful Fairmount Park, programming at The Mann transcends genres and includes PECO Pops, jazz, dance, theater, opera, classical and contemporary concerts, and Broadway, and serves as the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Community outreach opportunities through the Access the Arts initiatives include free Young People's Concert Series, Connecting-Arts-N-Schools presentations in public and parochial schools, professional development through master classes with visiting artists, and complimentary ticket distribution to the region's underserved constituents. Through the new $13 million Reach for the Stars capital program, The Mann will become more convenient, more accessible, more attractive, and more fun than ever before. Philadelphia's famous Frog Commissary Catering serves an array of delicious international dining options and pre-concert buffet dining.

The Mid-Atlantic Russia Business Council is lending its support in the effort to promote this exciting production. For further information, please contact Val Kogan, President of the MARBC, by telephone at (215) 708-2628 or by e-mail at val@ma-rbc.org.