SWAN LAKE! PRESENTED BY MARIINSKY (KIROV) BALLET FOR 6 SHOWS ONLY! INCLUDING A MAKE A WISH GALA MARCH 1ST 2011

THE ILLUSTRIOUS MARIINSKY (KIROV) BALLET PERFORMS ITS SIGNATURE WORK SWAN LAKE MARCH 1 – 6

SPECIAL EVENT:  Make A Wish Gala on March 1^st, 2011

This gala evening in support of Make-A-Wish Canada and the Recovery Acres Society includes a pre-show dinner, premium seating for the performance of Swan Lake , and a post-show opportunity to meet some of the dancers.  Tickets are $600 each.  Gala patrons will receive a tax receipt for $350.  For tickets call 416-872-2262 or go online at http://www.sonycentre.ca.

“Known for their impeccable style and flawless technique, the Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet under Valery Gergiev shines in a unique production of this beautiful and beloved story – it’s perfect for the entire family.”  The Times of London

( Toronto , ON ) In its first Toronto appearance since 1989, the world-renowned Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet will perform its signature ballet, Swan Lake, at the Sony Centre March 1 to 6, 2011.  Arguably, the most popular ballet ever created, Swan Lake is brought vividly to life by the exceptional artistry of a company renowned for classical purity and grace, since its inception in 1783.

Written by the great Russian composer Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky with choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, this ballet masterpiece premiered in Russia in 1895, first performed by the Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet who has since set the world’s standard in performance of this tragic love story.  Dancing the lead role of the white queen Odette and her counterpart the black swan Odile, is the ultimate career achievement of the world’s greatest ballerinas.

Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet’s Artistic & General Director Valery Gergiev has brought together a company of 79 dancers for this production featuring revised choreography and stage direction by Konstantin Sergeyev, set designs by Igor Ivanov and costumes designed by Galina Solovieva.  Pavel Bubelnikov conducts the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.

The Mariinsky’s long and illustrious history began in 1783 when Russian Empress Anna Ivanova established a ballet school for the instruction of favoured servants’ children. This evolved into a company that provided courtly entertainment. Under royal patronage, the company finally settled in St. Petersburg ’s Bolshoi (Stone) Theatre in 1783 as the Imperial Ballet. There it remained until 1885 when it moved into the ornate, jewel-box Mariinsky Theatre, where it is still based today.

Swan Lake runs at the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts ( 1 Front Street East , Toronto ) for seven performances only March 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 at 8 pm, with matinee performances March 5 and 6 at 2 pm. Tickets range from $60 to $225 and are available by calling 416-872-2262, online at www.sonycentre.ca or in person at the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts Box Office ( 1 Front Street East , Toronto ). Group discounts (8 people +) may be purchased by calling 416-368-4343 or 1-866-737-0805.  For more information visit www.sonycentre.ca.

SONY CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Toronto’s first performing arts centre, has played a defining role in the cultural life of Toronto for more than 50 years. Today, the newly renovated Sony Centre is home to a roster of national and international visiting artists that reflect the diversity and sophistication of 21st century Toronto audiences.  In addition, the Sony Centre is dedicated to developing Toronto ’s younger audiences through an Under-30 membership program and a variety of pre-show workshops targeted towards school-aged audiences.