New England Ballet Theatre

presents

October 11-12th, 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

Estimated running time is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes

For important information about attending performances, CHECK OUT OUR FAQs

About the Program

Reflections on the Water

Originally choreographed by Michael Uthoff, founding director of the Hartford Ballet (1973–1992), and restaged by Thomas and Jeanne Giroir, Reflections on the Water is a striking work set to music by Debussy. It has been performed by the Juilliard Dance Ensemble and featured in professional repertory presentations. Its inclusion marks a milestone for NEBT, showcasing a legacy piece by a major figure in American ballet.

Jane Scichilli, member of the Hartford Ballet

Michael Uthoff

Born in Chile to Ernst Uthoff and Lola Botka, founders of the Chilean National Ballet, Michael Uthoff trained at The School of American Ballet, The Martha Graham School, and The Juilliard School. He performed as a soloist with the José Limón Dance Company, a principal with the Joffrey Ballet, and toured internationally with the First Chamber Dance Company of New York. Uthoff was the founding Artistic Director of the Hartford Ballet, building it into a nationally respected company and touring it to China and Latin America. He later served as Artistic Director of Ballet Arizona, Ballet Estable del Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, and Dance St. Louis, where he created acclaimed programs like Spring to Dance and New Dance Horizons. His choreography and teaching have influenced dancers and audiences worldwide.

Thomas & Jeanne Giroir
Thomas and Jeanne Giroir are celebrated artists and educators who each enjoyed distinguished performing careers before becoming sought-after teachers and coaches. Thomas, a graduate of Southern Methodist University, danced as a principal with Hartford Ballet for nine years, performing works by Uthoff, Balanchine, Tudor, Lubovitch, and others. Jeanne, a Ford Foundation scholarship recipient from Dallas, danced with Harkness Ballet in New York and later joined Hartford Ballet, where she performed principal roles for over 18 years. Together they have worked with generations of dancers through the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and other institutions, bringing deep expertise, artistry, and passion to their teaching and staging.

Voices of Spring
Choreographed by Connecticut’s own Tracy Dorman, Voices of Spring draws inspiration from a 1960s ballet by Marguerite de Anguera, originally created for Indianapolis Civic Ballet. Tracy’s reimagining honors that legacy while bringing fresh life to the stage, paired with elegant costumes by Eleanor Burtt for the Connecticut Valley Regional Ballet. Bright and graceful, this piece captures the spirit of spring, and showcases the exceptional talent of our NEBT dancers.

Ballet Theater Company premier performance - 1999

Tracy Dorman
Tracy Dorman is a dancer, choreographer, designer, and arts advocate who has been a vital figure in Connecticut’s dance community for over 25 years. A founding member and former Executive Director of Ballet Theatre Company, she choreographed and designed much of its repertoire and performed with companies including Connecticut Valley Regional Ballet and Hartford Civic Ballet. She is a recipient of the CT Dance Alliance Award for Distinguished Achievement and now serves on the board of New England Ballet Theatre.

Excerpt from Dorianne Grey
A preview of Christopher Fleming’s full-length original ballet, premiering at NEBT in October 2026, with an original score by Dr. David Goldstein. Fleming, a former dancer with New York City Ballet under George Balanchine, offers a haunting and elegant teaser inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Conceptual Image for Dorianne Grey

Christopher Fleming
Christopher Fleming, a former member of New York City Ballet, danced principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins. With Balanchine’s encouragement, he began choreographing and went on to create works for companies and theaters around the world. He served as Artistic Director of the Compañía Colombiana de Ballet at Teatro Colón in Bogotá and of Bay Ballet Theatre in Florida, and as Resident Choreographer at The Rock School for Dance Education. His diverse body of work includes acclaimed ballets such as Dracula, Janis & Joe, and The Myth and the Madness of Edgar Allan Poe, as well as theatrical and television choreography. Fleming has received multiple international awards for his choreography and continues to create bold, imaginative works for the stage.

The Firebird
A vibrant reimagining of the iconic Stravinsky ballet. NEBT’s production delivers this magical tale of courage, enchantment, and transformation with bold and contemporary flair. Choreographed by Artistic & Executive Director, Rachael Gnatowski, and featuring new vibrant costumes by Fiona Burlin.

Photo by Michela Semenza

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.