Join us for another weekend of live streams on Friday, April 17^th at 7:00 pm (CST) and Saturday, April 18^th at 12:00 pm (CST). Watch on Tulsa Ballet’s YouTube channel (wherever YouTube U.S. is available) from the comfort of your couch (or bed…we don’t judge).

For one weekend only, we will be streaming Classical Symphony by Ukraine-native Yuri Possokhov, a former dancer and choreographer at San Francisco Ballet. Classical Symphony is an exuberant celebration of ballet and movement, dedicated to Possokhov’s most beloved ballet teacher, Perer Pestov. Set to a thrilling score by Prokofiev, this piece uses neoclassical influences to illustrate the choreographer’s childhood memories and reverence for traditional ballet.

We couldn’t just leave you with one ballet now, could we? After a short intermission (just enough time for a bathroom break and drink refresher), we will be streaming Remember Our Song, a piece by Andy Blankenbuehler, which Tulsa World called, “…a compelling piece of dance theater, at once brutal and beautiful.” The three-time Tony Award-winning choreographer of Broadway’s Hamilton came to Tulsa just last year to create a brand new work inspired by Tulsa Ballet dancers – his first commission for a ballet company! Mr. Blankenbuehler is one of the most sought after choreographers on Broadway, and we are so excited to bring it back (virtually, of course).

These streams will only be available for viewing while they’re live during their time slots, so be sure to follow us on all of our social media handles to keep up to date when we go live. Artistic Director Marcello Angelini will be available for questions during the April 17^th performance via the stream live chat.

Be sure to subscribe to the Tulsa Ballet YouTube account to be notified 30 minutes prior to the performance going live, or sign up to be notified one hour prior to the live stream by entering your email address HERE.

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If you’d like to stream the performance through your SmartTV:

STEP 1: Download the YouTube App on the device you’ll use to tune in. You can find it by opening the App Store, Google Play, etc. If you have a smart TV, try pressing the “Home” or “Menu” button on your remote control. The YouTube app is likely already installed.

STEP 2: If you don’t want to download an app, simply open the internet browser on your device and enter YouTube.com/TBTulsaBallet

It should look something like this:

STEP 3: Approximately 30 minutes prior to the stream beginning, you will be able to bring it up to make sure your audio and video are working correctly.

You should see something like this:

Notice the “Live Now” in red? That’s how you’ll know which video to select. Click on it and you’re all set to enjoy the show!

For the first time ever, Tulsa Ballet will be streaming a full-length ballet performance online, completely free of charge on Friday, April 3rd at 7:00 pm (CST) and Saturday, April 4th at 12:00 pm (CST)! Join us for an encore performance of Tchaikovsky: The Man Behind the Music, choreographed by Tulsa Ballet’s own Ma Cong. Be captivated by the story of a Russian composer known for some of the most iconic music in the world of ballet, as well as an opportunity to chat live with Resident Choreographer Ma Cong and Artistic Director Marcello Angelini.

While Tchaikovsky was celebrated for his professional success and popularity, the societal constraints of life in 19th century Russia created constant inner conflict between his private life and the public persona society required of him.

Tune in to watch the spectacular full-length pre-recorded ballet, accompanied by the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, free of charge, wherever YouTube U.S. is available. Be sure to subscribe to the Tulsa Ballet YouTube account to be notified 30 minutes prior to the performance going live, or sign up to be notified one hour prior to the live stream by entering your email address HERE.

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If you’d like to stream the performance through your SmartTV:

STEP 1: Download the YouTube App on the device you’ll use to tune in. You can find it by opening the App Store, Google Play, etc. If you have a smart TV, try pressing the “Home” or “Menu” button on your remote control. The YouTube app is likely already installed.

STEP 2: If you don’t want to download an app, simply open the internet browser on your device and enter YouTube.com/TBTulsaBallet

It should look something like this:

STEP 3: Approximately 30 minutes prior to the stream beginning, you will be able to bring it up to make sure your audio and video are working correctly.

You should see something like this:

Notice the “Live Now” in red? That’s how you’ll know which video to select. Click on it and you’re all set to enjoy the show!

Dear Friends,

If you are like Daniela and me, you have been spending pretty much every waking hour of your day, and most likely every evening, pondering on the events of the last few weeks.  And now that COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across Oklahoma, the sense of urgency to protect our health, and understand the consequences of this pandemic on our businesses, has escalated dramatically.

Based on the upward trends in our area, as well as the recommendations from the CDC, our Mayor’s directives and the latest Executive Order issued by Governor Stitt, we came to the conclusion that resuming artistic operations at this time is not only unsafe for our dancers and administrators but also irresponsible.  Our first and foremost obligation is for the safety and well-being of every Tulsa Ballet family member, a family that includes our patrons, our dancers, our administrators and everybody who interacts with our employees.  We are therefore rescheduling our two upcoming programs, and some of the upcoming works, to a later time.

For those of you who were excited about the upcoming shows of Vendetta, A Mafia Story, you will be happy to know that you can still see this spectacular piece of dance and theater next season.  Vendetta will see its U.S. premiere on October 29^th through November 1^st, 2020, at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center!

I can already hear some of you wondering about Ma Cong’s World Premiere of Carmen. I can reassure you it will be part of the season, as well.  In fact, Carmen will close our upcoming season at the Lorton Performing Arts Center on May 6^th through 9^th, 2021.  As for the triple bill scheduled in that slot, it will be postponed to a later season.

I know some of you were very excited to revisit Andy Blankenbuehler’s Remember our Song.  You will be able to enjoy this unique work by the three-time Tony Award-winning choreographer of, among others, the sensational Broadway hit Hamilton, in our own Studio K September 17^th through 27^th, 2020.  The only thing better than seeing Remember our Song is seeing it up close and personal in Studio K.  I am confident that your 2020|21 Ballet season will be even more exciting, engaging, endearing and groundbreaking as ever.

As for our Center for Dance Education, we will be suspending live classes at both campuses till the beginning of the new school year.  Our students will, however, be able to continue training in the safety of their own homes, with their favorite teachers, through electronic mediums.

Work continues in anticipation of the world premiere of Jack and the Beanstalk, a children’s ballet that will open our TBII season in August.  With sets and costumes by Tracy Grant Lord, designer of Tchaikovsky, The Man Behind The Music, and brand-new choreography by Ma Cong, this new work will be the second in a series of four made possible by the generosity of the Hardesty Foundation.

All of us at Tulsa Ballet are as apprehensive as you are about the present situation.  By the same token, the true test of an organization is how it responds in times of crisis.  Observing the reaction of our Board and staff during this crisis clearly showed that, in spite of the distress we are all experiencing, every stakeholder is determined to come out of this tunnel stronger than ever.  This crisis will define who we are as people, organizations, local communities and as a global society.  We will be back stronger, more focused, more creative, more entertaining and more alive than ever!

Marcello Angelini
Artistic Director