Gala celebrates Olympic Ballet Theatre’s diversity in style

A new production and a new start to Olympic Ballet Theatre’s season — the Summer Gala — will be performed Saturday, celebrating the diversity of the company’s repertoire.

The program will include:

“Nyman” — choreographed by Olympic artistic director Oleg Gorboulev — a conceptual repertory piece with five movements, including a pas de deux.

“With its colorful costumes and energetic choreography and score, ‘Nyman’ involves a large cast,” said fellow artistic director Mara Vinson. “And it’s always a rush for the dancers, especially the last movement, where the entire stage is covered by each dancer in the cast.”

The “Satanella” section from “Carnival in Venice” — with choreography by the great Marius Petipa, considered by many to be one of the most influential choreographers of classical ballet. His most famous works including “Giselle,” “Coppélia” and his 1895 revival of “Swan Lake.”

“It is rare for companies to present the Satanella in its entirety, with four couples plus a principal couple,” Vinson said.

The neoclassical “Rossini Overture,” a repertory piece choreographed by Nicole and Jason Cisler.

The “Dream Scene” from “Don Quixote,” which is new to the OBT stage. The piece calls for a corps of 29 women and three soloists, all dressed in new costumes.

The world premiere of a contemporary work by Seattle choreographer Vincent Lopez, who trained in New York City. A former principal at Spectrum Dance Theatre, Lopez has spent time performing, producing and teaching in Southeast Asia.

“We are delighted that Vincent will be performing in the piece as well,” Vinson said.

The new summer program is a celebration for OBT, she said. It’s about the new season and the diverse styles offered by Olympic Ballet Theatre.

“We also are celebrating youth, as the performance includes dancers who have attended Olympic Ballet School’s summer intensive training program,” Vinson said.

Vinson and Gorboulev, former dancers with Pacific Northwest Ballet, took over the reins of the nonprofit OBT in 2011 from founders Helen and John Wilkins. OBT has been performing its version of “The Nutcracker” in Snohomish County since 1982. Performances are given in Edmonds as well as Everett.