Sat, April 11, 2026
7:00 PM
Edmonds Center for the Arts
Sun, April 12, 2026
5:00 PM
Edmonds Center for the Arts
An eclectic celebration of ballet featuring classical and contemporary works!
La Fille Mal Gardée (Excerpts) by OBT Artistic Directors Oleg Gorboulev and Mara Vinson after Alexander Gorsky with music by Peter Hertel
From the Dark Land by Donald Byrd with music by George Crumb
La Fille Mal Gardée (Excerpts)
Choreography: Mara Vinson & Oleg Gorboulev after Alexander Gorsky
Composer: Peter Hertel
Premiere: 1789, Grand Théatre de Bordeaux
Lighthearted and full of charm, La Fille Mal Gardée is one of the oldest surviving ballets in the repertoire. Set to a lively score by Ferdinand Hérold and choreographed by Alexander Gorsky, this delightful comedy follows the spirited Lise as she outsmarts her mother’s plans for an arranged marriage in order to be with the man she truly loves. With its playful humor, colorful characters, and joyous dancing, La Fille Mal Gardée remains a beloved favorite for audiences of all ages.
Trinity Isidore, Photo by Katya Turnbow
Alberto Gaspar and Ria Adachi, From the Dark Land 2023. Into Dust Photography.
From the Dark Land
Choreography: Donald Byrd
Composer: George Crumb
Premiere: 2023, Olympic Ballet Theatre
Olympic Ballet Theatre brings back Donald Byrd’s bold and thought-provoking ballet, From the Dark Land, for the first time since its premiere in 2023. Set to George Crumb’s Black Angels, 13 Images from the Dark Land for electric string quartet—paired with the haunting second movement of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden—this new work explores the tension between beauty and dissonance, chaos and calm.
Byrd’s choreography does not shy away from discomfort; instead, it provokes reflection, inviting audiences to question their own reactions to the unsettling and the unfamiliar. Evocative and layered, From the Dark Land channels themes of conflict, mortality, and Romantic fascination with death into a striking theatrical experience.
A Tony-nominated and Bessie Award-winning choreographer, Byrd is renowned for using dance as a social and civic instrument. With From the Dark Land, he challenges both dancers and audiences to step beyond comfort, engaging deeply with music, movement, and meaning.
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