Festival Ballet Providence (FBP) and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra (RIPO) will commence a yearlong collaboration at the July 31st Waterfire. This past spring, the two organizations announced that the RIPO will be performing at all of FBP's Main Stage productions at the VMA Arts and Cultural Center and The Nutcracker (performed at the Providence Performing Arts Center). This marks the first time the two organizations will work together with Waterfire officially kicking-off this partnership; both organizations are also hoping this will be the first of many opportunities to perform at Waterfire.

At the July 31st Waterfire, the RIPO will be performing five selections, two of which will feature dancers from FBP: Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings and Manual de Falla's "Ritual Fire Dance" from El Amor Brujo. Company dancer and resident choreographer Mark Harootian will be setting the two pieces for FBP. He is very excited to be working with the Philharmonic and for the opportunity to showcase his work and FBP's talented dancers at such a large venue. For the Adagio, Harootian notes the theme will be one of "a journey to enlightenment" and for the "Fire Dance," the focus will be on "struggle and accomplishment." The FBP and RIPO performance will take place at Turk's Head Plaza from 9:00PM - 10:00PM; Waterfire creator and Director Barnaby Evans announced that 5,000 chairs will be set-up for those wishing to view the performance.

Following Waterfire, FBP and the RIPO will continue their collaboration the weekend of October 1 -3, 2010 with Viktor Plotnikov's Carmen kicking-off FBP's 2010-2011 season at the VMA. This will be followed by All Balanchine! on November 6 and 7, 2010,  also at the VMA. Then, from December 17 - 19, 2010, they will present everybody's favorite holiday treat: The Nutcracker. This lavish, full-scale production features majestic seats, breathtaking costumes and stunning choreography, with this year marking Archie the Nutcracker Dog's 100th performance. This is truly a "Christmas gift not to be missed!" FBP's season will close May 13 -15, 2011 with The Sleeping Beauty. Tchaikovsky's moving score, performed by a live orchestra, and the magic of dance bringing everybody's favorite fairy-tale to life make this a ballet not to missed.

Of the partnership between FBP and the RIPO, Resident Conductor Francisco Noya observes, "I am really excited about the collaboration between these two great artistic institutions. I am delighted to be working with Misha and the fabulous dancers of FBP. Together, along with my colleagues at the Orchestra, we look forward to what promises to be an outstanding artistic partnership." FBP Marketing and Public Relations Manager Mark Morin adds, "This has been something we have talked about doing for years. The audience loves hearing a live orchestra at the ballet and the dancers also prefer a live orchestra; this partnership just made too much sense for it not to occur."

FBP would also like to acknowledge Edward M. and Gail Higgins Fogarty for their generous support in helping make the July 31st Waterfire performance possible.