March 14–16, 2025
Leo Rich Theater
BALLET TUCSON PREMIERE
Choreography by Justin Peck
Music by Igor Stravinsky
Ballet Tucson will be the second company in the United States to perform this virtuosic ballet by famed choreographer Justin Peck, originally created for the renowned New York City Ballet. Tony Award-winning choreographer Justin Peck is one world’s most sought-after dancemakers, creating for top international ballet companies and Broadway musicals, in addition to his television and film work including Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story.
BALLET TUCSON PREMIERE
Choreography by Andrea Schermoly
Audiences were awestruck by Andrea Schermoly’s Klein Perspectives at our 2023 Fall Concert. We are proud to add another of this internationally acclaimed choreographer’s works to our repertoire. Swivet is an electrifying contemporary ballet that demonstrates the versatility, athleticism and power of our dancers.
BALLET TUCSON PREMIERE
Choreography by Kiyon Ross
Music by Astor Piazzolla
ə{Schwa} is a passionate Tango inspired ballet set to the music of Astor Piazzolla by Kiyon Ross, a celebrated American choreographer and Associate Artisitc Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet. His energetic and engaging style has captured the hearts of audiences across the country for over a decade and this is his fourth repertory contribution to Ballet Tucson.
Choreography by Chieko Imada
This compelling contemporary work is one of Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Chieko Imada’s most beloved works. Hibiki (meaning echo in Japanese) is a fixture of Ballet Tucson repertoire because of its striking modern choreography and driving Taiko drum music.
Clear Bags no larger than 14″ x 16″ or a clutch no larger than 8″ x 5″. Large bags, briefcases, backpacks, luggage and convertible backpack purses are strictly prohibited. Tucson Convention Center does not provide storage for any confiscated baggage or safeguard any personal belongings and also prohibits Ballet Tucson Staff from doing so.
Friday, March 14, 2025 at 7:00 pm Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 2:00 pm Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 7:00 pm Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 2:00 pm
All programming is subject to change
Single Tickets are available for purchase through Ticketmaster and the Tucson Convention Center Box Office. Call 800.653.8000, visit the Tucson Convention Center Box Office at 260 S Church Ave, or click the button below to purchase online:
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TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER POLICIES AND INFORMATION
(Subject to change)
BOX OFFICE:
If your tickets are reserved at the Box Office/Will Call, you will need to show ID to verify your identity. You can pick up your tickets after going through the security check.
TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER BAG POLICY:
Tucson Arena, Tucson Music Hall and Leo Rich Theater has enhanced venue environmental, health and safety protocols to include the type of bag guests are allowed to bring into these facilities. In additional to health and safety issues, our new protocol will help expediate entry to games and events. Clear Bags no larger than 14″ x 16″ or a clutch no larger than 8″ x 5″. Large bags, briefcases, backpacks, luggage and convertible backpack purses are strictly prohibited. Guests entering any facility in the Tucson Convention Center are subject to search at the discretion of management. Tucson Convention Center does not provide storage for any confiscated baggageor safeguard any personal belongings and also prohibits Ballet Tucson Staff from doing so.
SECURITY CHECK:
Security checks are required before entry. The Tucson Convention Center recommends that patrons should plan to arrive earlier than normal to allow for this enhanced security process. Tucson Convention Center reserves the right to refuse items which may cause a danger or disruption to an event or other guest. Any guest who declines to be searched or is in possession of a prohibited item may be denied entry or ejected from the facility.
FIREARMS:
The only person(s) allowed to bring firearms into the Tucson Convention Center are credentialed local, state, and federal law enforcement officers with proper identification.
PARKING:
Parking is available in Parking Lot A Garage which is located off Church Ave. Parking in Lot B is accessible via Granada, and Lot C which is accessible off or Granada. Please do not park in surrounding neighborhoods.
FOOD & BEVERAGE:
Guests of the Tucson Convention Center are not permitted to bring food or beverages into the premises. To purchase alcoholic beverages, a patron must present a valid US driver’s license, Passport, US liquor ID, or Military ID, which indicates the patron to be at least 21 years of age. (Duplicate licenses, expired licenses, damaged licenses and/or identifications will not be accepted). The TCC will not serve any guest whom they believe to be intoxicated.
RE-ENTRY:
Guests will not be allowed to exit and re-enter the Tucson Convention Center during an event.
PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY
All photography and videography with any type of recording equipment including smartphones is strictly prohibited in the theater during performances. Any individual violating this policy may be asked to leave the theater.
PROHIBITED ITEMS:
GIFTS: Wrapped gifts are not allowed inside the facilities. There have been some exceptions, please contact the Tucson Convention Center for more information at 520.791.4101. ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES: Tucson Convention Center and all of thier venues offer convenient facilities and features for persons with disabilities. Please call 520.791.4101 during business hours or see a Guest Service representative for assistance during events. For guests with disabilities, the TCC recommends accessible parking in Lot A off Church Ave. between Congress and Cushing if you are attending an event in the Tucson Arena, Leo Rich Theater or Meeting Rooms. They recommend accessible parking in Lot C off Granada between Cushing and Congress if you are attending an event in the Tucson Music Hall. SMOKING: The Tucson Convention Center is a smoke-free facility. Smoking is prohibited and violations will result in ejection from the Tucson Convention Center without a refund. Smoking is allowed outside of the Tucson Convention Center in designated areas. Guests attending a Tucson Arena event will have availability to smoke in a designated area outside of Section 2018 doors. All guests must have their tickets in order to exit and reenter the building. STROLLERS: Strollers are not allowed in the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall or Leo Rich Theater. Strollers must be checked in at either Guest Services or in the theater lobbies. Guest Services is located on the concourse level behind the Ticket Office off Church Ave. For more information about Tucson Convention Center policies, visit: https://theater.tucsonconventioncenter.com/venue-info/faq/
Choreographer of Pulcinella Variations
JUSTIN PECK is a Tony Award-winning choreographer, director, filmmaker, and dancer based in New York City. He is currently the acting Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet.
Peck began choreographing in 2009 at the New York Choreographic Institute. In 2014, after the creation of his acclaimed ballet Everywhere We Go, he was appointed as Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet. He is the second person in the institution’s history to hold this title.
After attending the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center from 2003-2006, Peck was invited to join the New York City Ballet as a dancer in 2006. As a performer, Peck has danced a vast repertoire of works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Alexei Ratmansky, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Benjamin Millepied, Christopher Wheeldon, and many others. In 2013, Peck was promoted to the rank of Soloist, performing full-time through 2019 with the
company.
Peck has created over 50 dances—more than 20 for New York City Ballet. His works have been performed by Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Dresden Semperoper Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, Boston Ballet, Juilliard, National Ballet of Canada, Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, LA Dance Project, Dutch National Ballet, the School of American Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet Austin, Ballet Bordeaux, Finnish National Ballet, Ballet MET, Cincinnati Ballet, and Ballet Arizona.
Working on a wide array of projects, Peck’s collaborators include composers Sufjan Stevens, The National, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly, Dan Deacon, Caroline Shaw, Chris Thile, Stephen Sondheim, M83, Dolly Parton; visual artists Shepard Fairey, Marcel Dzama, Shantell Martin, John Baldessari, Karl Jensen, George Condo, Steve Powers, Jules de Balincourt; fashion designers Raf Simons, Mary Katrantzou, Humberto Leon (Kenzo, Opening Ceremony), Tsumori Chisato, Dries Van Noten; and filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Sofia Coppola, Damien Chazelle, Elisabeth Moss, Frances Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Jody Lee Lipes.
In 2014, Peck was the subject of the documentary Ballet 422, which presents Peck’s craft and creative process as a choreographer in great detail, as he creates New York City Ballet’s 422nd commissioned dance.
Peck has worked extensively as a filmmaker. In particular, his focus has been exploring new innovative ways of presenting dance on film. Peck choreographed the feature films Red Sparrow (2016) starring Jennifer Lawrence and directed by Francis Lawrence; and West Side Story (2021) in collaboration with director Steven Spielberg. Peck’s work as a director-choreographer for music videos include: The Dark Side of the Gym (2017) for The National; Thank You, New York (2020) for Chris Thile; and The Times Are Racing (2017) for Dan Deacon. In 2018, Peck directed the New York Times Great Performers Series (starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Lakeith Stanfield, Glenn Close, Toni Collette, Yoo Ah-in, Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, Regina Hall, Yalitzia Aparicio, Elsie Fischer, and Rachel Weisz).
Peck choreographed the 2018 Broadway revival of Carousel. The production was directed by Jack O’Brien and stars Jessie Meuller, Joshua Henry, & Renée Fleming.
Peck has been awarded the National Arts Award (2018), the Golden Plate Honor from the Academy of Achievement (2019), the Bessie Award for his ballet Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes (2015), the Gross Family Prize for his ballet Everywhere We Go (2014), and the Tony Award for his choreography on Broadway’s Carousel (2018).
Choreographer of Swivet
Andrea (Andi) Giselle Schermoly was born in South Africa. She trained at the National School of the Arts, Johannesburg and on full scholarship at Rambert Ballet and Contemporary School, and full scholarship at The Royal Ballet School, London. She competed internationally as a member of The South African National Rhythmic Gymnastics Team. She danced professionally for Boston Ballet Company and the Netherlands Dance Theater (1&2).
She is the resident choreographer at Louisville Ballet Company.
She has choreographed for Ballet Met, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Cape Dance Company, Kansas City Ballet Company, State Street Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet Company, Louisville Ballet Company, Santa Barbara Dance Theater, Festival Ballet Theater, Ballet Theatre Afrikan, Quixotic Cirque Noveau, Boston Ballet 2, Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, The Juilliard School solos evening and directed and choreographed a dance narrative film for The Ashley Bouder Project presented at The Joyce Theater, NYC, which went on to be presented by San Francisco Dance Film Festival. She was awarded the “Outstanding Choreographer” award in 2012, 2013, and 2017 at Youth America Grand Prix. In 2014 she choreographed at Lincoln Center for YAGP’s 15th anniversary gala evening on dancers Maria Kochetkova (principal San Francisco Ballet) and Joaquin de Luz (principal New York City Ballet). The piece has since been re-staged at "Buenos Aires International Dance Gala" Argentina and "Stars of the 21st Century Gala" in the Champs Élysées, Paris. Andi has choreographed for feature films, commercials, and music videos including A Beautiful Now, Bunheads, a Justin Bieber/Poo Bear, and Deorro music video, and choreographically assisted on projects such as a Budweiser Superbowl Commercial and Star Trek Into Darkness. She's created work for principal dancers attending international galas, most recently for Sarah Van Patten/Wei Wang of San Francisco Ballet for Tahoe Dance Camp.
Andrea has created 7 original works for Louisville Ballet, including having the honor of recreating two iconic Martha Graham works in collaboration with Louisville Ballet and Louisville Orchestra. Appalachian Spring and Judith. Appalachian Spring will be performed at Carnegie Hall in an upcoming season. She has upcoming work with Royal New Zealand Ballet and Compania Nationala de Danca, Spain, amongst others. Her most recent dance film, Rite of Spring for Louisville Ballet, received outstanding reviews including “the best pandemic film produced in the US” by ARTS AIR.
Choreographer of ə{Schwa}
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Kiyon Ross trained at the Baltimore School for the Arts, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He joined PNB as a new dancer in 2001. His favorite roles included Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Symphony in Three Movements by George Balanchine; Waiting at the Station, In the Upper Room, and Opus 111 by Twyla Tharp; and Emergence by Crystal Pite. While dancing, he earned his BA in Non-Profit Leadership from Seattle University through the Second Stage program. Kiyon retired as a Soloist in 2015. After retirement, he served on the PNB School faculty, where he taught in the DanceChance program and coordinated the Next Step program. In 2019, he became Director of Company Operations, and in 2022, he was appointed Associate Artistic Director. He has choreographed works for PNB, PNB School, Ballet Arkansas, and Atlanta Ballet and staged works by Twyla Tharp.
Ballet Tucson Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer
Choreographer of Hibiki
Chieko Imada is a native of Japan where she danced professionally as a Soloist with Inoue Ballet of Tokyo and also served as Ballet Mistress there. She has worked closely with many of the past and current noted figures of classical ballet, having performed in Europe, Korea, the Philippines, Australia and the South Pacific. Since coming to the United States, she has been a member of Arizona Dance Theatre, Ballet Arizona, and a former Principal Dancer for Ballet Tucson. She also appeared regularly with Orts Theatre of Dance and Tenth St. Danceworks modern troupes in Tucson.
Over the years, she has been responsible for staging many classical ballets and has also created numerous original contemporary works on Ballet Tucson, enriching the company’s repertoire. A talented choreographer, Ms. Imada has been nominated for the Buffalo Exchange Arts Award and the Governor’s Art Award. In 2021, she received the OnMedia Arts Hero Award for her impact on the arts in Tucson. She continues to be sought after as a guest teacher and choreographer. For the company’s 30th anniversary season, she created an original steampunk version of Jekyll & Hyde and in 2018 a world premiere Dia de Los Muertos ballet Spirit Garden in collaboration with renowned artist Lawrence Lee. In addition, she is the Director of Educational Outreach for Ballet Tucson implementing “Best Foot Forward” in Tucson Title 1 schools.