First State Ballet Theatre Presents UP FRONT ON MARKET at The Grand Opera House on November 15 & 17, 2024

Wilmington, DE - First State Ballet Theatre presents UP FRONT ON MARKET on November 15th at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 17th at 2:00 p.m. in Studio 1 at The Baby Grand Theater.  Tickets are on sale via The Grand’s Box Office.

Experience dance up close!  Up Front on Market is a mixed program of highlights from the classical repertoire and new contemporary work in an intimate setting, with only 75 seats available for each performance. 

The program features excerpts from the quintessential ballet classics Don Quixote and La Esmeralda as well as the gloriously acrobatic Spring Waters and playful Satanella Pas De Deux.  Don’t miss the premiere of Gershwin Variations with choreography by FSBT company dancer Olivia Grace Sparling, set to music by the beloved George Gerswhin.

FSBT is honored to present a contemporary piece by international choreographer Christopher Roman.  Roman is renowned for his decades-long partnership - as a dancer, ballet master, and choreographer - with the revolutionary choreographer William Forsythe.   

“This is going to be an incredible weekend of dance in Wilmington.  Up Front highlights our dancers as ballet technicians, actors, athletes, and even choreographers.  It is a dynamic program and the up-close nature of the performance makes it extra special,” says Pasha Kambalov, Artistic Director.  

“I am thrilled to present this piece by Chris [Roman].  It is an incredible opportunity for our dancers to stretch their creative muscles, and he’s brought such inspiration into our studios.  Chris has an international career, but he is a Delaware native, and I couldn’t be more proud to share his work in his home state,”  says Executive Director Kristina Kambalov. 

PERFORMANCE & TICKET INFORMATION

UP FRONT ON MARKET

Friday, November 15, 2024 at 7:00 pm

Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 2:00 pm

Tickets are available via The Grand Box Office, which is accessible online here, via phone at (302) 652-5577, or in person at 818 N. Market Street in Wilmington, DE.  Tickets are $53.  

Subscriptions for FSBT’s season are offered through The Grand’s MyChoice Series, which allows patrons to save on ticketing service fees, provides ticket discounts, and offers free parking, along with other benefits.  For more information visit https://www.thegrandwilmington.org/special-offers/my-choice/. 

ABOUT FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE

Established in 1999 by Artistic Director Pasha Kambalov and Executive Director Kristina Kambalov, First State Ballet Theatre is Delaware's only professional ballet company.  

FSBT employs a diverse roster of dancers from around the world to present classical and contemporary ballet, including new works from local and internationally-recognized choreographers, on stages across the state of Delaware and beyond.  

The School of FSBT offers ballet classes year-round at the company’s headquarters at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, DE and attracts students from all three counties in Delaware as well as Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.  A satellite school in Whitehall, DE is scheduled to open in 2024.     

FSBT’s mission is to present ballet boldly to Delaware; to enrich the community with live professional performances; to inspire and educate dancers and audiences of the future; and to connect local youth with a creative, inclusive movement experience.  FSBT reaches over 6,000 people annually through its performances and outreach programs.