New England Ballet Theatre
presents
October 2025
Hoffman Auditorium at
University of Saint Joseph
1678 Asylum Ave
West Hartford, CT 06117
Parking Information:
When attending the performance please enter the campus through the West Entrance and park in Lot J.
Campus Map
Parking Map
About the Performance
Act I will open with a new work performed by the talented dancers of The School of New England Ballet Theatre’s Performance Ensemble. This will be followed by two special pieces celebrating Connecticut’s rich and vibrant ballet history, more details to be revealed soon. The act concludes with an exciting teaser: an excerpt from Dorianne Grey, an original ballet by acclaimed choreographer Christopher Fleming. Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, this preview offers a glimpse into the full production, which will premiere with New England Ballet Theatre in October 2026.
Act II will feature Firebird, a vivid reimagining of the iconic ballet set to Igor Stravinsky’s groundbreaking score. This magical tale of courage, enchantment, and transformation brings the evening to a powerful close.
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A Legendary Tale
The Firebird is a vibrant ballet inspired by Russian folklore and set to Igor Stravinsky’s groundbreaking score. The story follows Prince Ivan, who encounters the magical Firebird while hunting in an enchanted forest. When he spares her life, she gifts him an enchanted feather for protection. Later, as Ivan confronts the evil sorcerer Kastchei, he uses the feather to summon the Firebird. With her help, Kastchei and his monstrous creatures are cast into a deep sleep, allowing Ivan to destroy the source of the sorcerer’s power, a hidden egg containing his immortal soul. The spell is broken, freeing the captive princesses, and Ivan falls in love with one of them.
Stravinsky was not the original composer chosen for the ballet. Sergei Diaghilev, director of the famed Ballets Russes, initially approached Anatoly Lyadov. When Lyadov failed to deliver, the commission went to the young and relatively unknown 28-year-old Stravinsky. The Firebird premiered in 1910 at the Paris Opera, choreographed by Michel Fokine, and became the first major success of Stravinsky’s career. Today, The Firebird remains a cornerstone of both ballet and orchestral repertoire.
Picture of Igor Stravinsky
Poster design for the ballet "The Firebird" ("L'Oiseau de feu") by I. Stravinsky
A Personal Connection to Ballets Russes
Picture of Waleria Gnatowska
At New England Ballet Theatre, our repertoire is shaped not only by classical tradition but also by deep personal roots in ballet history. One such connection is to the legendary Ballets Russes, a company that revolutionized dance in the 20th century. Our Artistic & Executive Director, Rachael Gnatowski, has a familial tie to this iconic troupe through her relative, Waleria Gnatowska, who was a dancer with the company. This artistic lineage and the Ballets Russes’ bold, collaborative spirit continue to inspire Rachael’s vision and the work we bring to the stage today. It is especially meaningful to honor this legacy through productions like The Firebird, which emerged from that groundbreaking era.