Sat, April 12, 2025
7:00 PM
Sun, April 13, 2025
5:00 PM
An eclectic celebration of ballet featuring classical and contemporary works!
1 in 10^2,685,000
by OBT dancer Alberto Gaspar with music by Michael Nyman
La Bayadére (Excerpts)
by OBT Artistic Directors Oleg Gorboulev and Mara Vinson after Marius Petipa with music by Ludwig Minkus
1 IN 10^2,685,000
Choreography: Alberto Gaspar
Composer: Michael Nyman
Premiere: 2022, Olympic Ballet Theatre
This 28-minute neoclassical work celebrates the joy and miracle of existence in the present moment. The odds of being alive at any given time are 1 in 10^2,685,000—so infinitesimal that each of us is, in essence, a living miracle.
OBT premiered this work in 2022. In the years since, the company has significantly expanded adding 13 dancers. “We have new dancers who bring their unique strengths and different movement qualities, allowing me to rework parts of the choreography,” says Gaspar. “The piece will take on a completely new energy and interpretation. It’s not about making it more exciting but about shaping it to resonate with the new dancers—so they can bring out their best and create a deeper emotional connection with the audience.”
ABOUT ALBERTO GASPAR
Alberto Gaspar is an OBT company dancer and choreographer. His experience as a choreographer began at Saint Louis Ballet, where he created a piece for the Pulitzer Museum that included a live cello piece and several designs from upcoming fashion designers.
He has been involved with two collaborative groups that performed neoclassical and contemporary pieces set to live music in galleries and museums. His show titled Mexicanismo, featuring Yancy Calvo’s art toured two states in the United States. He’s also created his own music videos to the music of Lisa Mac and Dreamers. Alberto choreographed for Ballet Memphis, including a full-length ballet for the school and three different neoclassical ballets for the company.
Alberto has created Transfigurations (2019), 1 in 10^2,685,000 (2022), and Capriccio del Cuore (2023) for Olympic Ballet Theatre.
OBT company dancer Taylor Lim and guest artist Philipp Mergener in 1 in 10^2,685,000 in OBT’s 2022 Summer Performance. Into Dust Photography.
OBT dancers Wyatt Johnson, Carlos Narvaez, Ria Adachi, and OBS Professional Track Program student Yevgeni Gorboulev in rehearsal for 1 in 10^2,685,000. Photo by Shoshana Scott.
OBT dancers in rehearsal for 1 in 10^2,685,000. Photo by Hadley Kaufmann.
Alberto Gaspar. Photo by Hadley Kaufmann.
LA BAYADÈRE (EXCERPTS)
Choreography: Oleg Gorboulev and Mara Vinson after Marius Petipa
Composer: Ludwig Minkus
Premiere: 1877, Imperial Ballet
Originally choreographed by Marius Petipa in 1877, La Bayadère is a dramatic tale set in ancient India, following the forbidden love between a temple dancer (bayadère) Nikiya, and a noble warrior, Solor. Passion, jealousy, and fate intertwine in this iconic four-act ballet, known for its expressive storytelling and beautiful choreography.
OBT will perform selections from Act II, including the Fan Dance (performed by Olympic Ballet School students), Waltz, and Grand Pas d’Action. These excerpts showcase the technical precision and dramatic depth that have made La Bayadère a beloved classic.
“La Bayadère is a vibrant and dynamic ballet, and Act II, in particular, is filled with color, celebration, and exquisite dancing,” said OBT Artistic Directors Oleg Gorboulev and Mara Vinson. “Classical ballet is at the core of what we do at Olympic Ballet Theatre, and we always strive to bring these timeless works to life for our audiences.”
ABOUT MARIUS PETIPA
Marius Petipa (1818–1910) was a French ballet master, choreographer, and teacher who served as the Premier Maître de Ballet of the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg from 1869 to 1903. He choreographed or restaged over 50 ballets, including The Sleeping Beauty (1890), La Bayadère (1877), Raymonda (1898), and revised productions of Swan Lake (1895) and Giselle (1884). Petipa’s work established the structure of classical ballet, emphasizing pas de deux, variations, and ensemble dances. His influence on Russian ballet and the classical canon remains significant, with many of his productions still performed today.
Jackie Iwamura, Yasmin Arafe (trainee), and Trinity Isidore (trainee) performing the Waltz from La Bayadère at the 2024 Autumn Auction & Dinner. Into Dust Photography.
OBT trainees Yasmin Arafe (left) and Haley Breslin (right) with OBS student Yevgeni Gorboulev in La Bayadère rehearsal. Photo by Hadley Kaufmann.
OBT trainee Evelyn Gohl and company dancer Jackie Iwamura in La Bayadère rehearsal. Photo by Hadley Kaufmann.
The 2024-25 Performance Season is generously sponsored in part by Adam and Sonja Cobb and Mill Creek Family Services.
OUR GRANT SPONSORS
We graciously thank the following sponsors for their support of our exciting performance season!
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