A.V.A. Ballet Theatre’s 2025 Season

Published January 17, 2025

A.V.A. Ballet Theatre’s 2025 Season

A.V.A. Ballet Theatre, the resident ballet company of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, will offer its 30^th season of classical and contemporary ballets in 2025. The three classical ballets at the Pioneer Center will be performed with the Reno Phil. The popular rock ballet will be performed at the Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater at the Bartley Ranch Regional Park.

Filer image element — *Peter Pan and flying Darlings*

A.V.A. Ballet Theatre will begin its 2025 season with Peter Pan on March 15 and 16 on the Pioneer Center stage. Choreographed by A.V.A. Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Alexander Van Alstyne, Peter Pan is the captivating story of Peter Pan and Wendy and their adventures in Neverland. Fairies, pirates, and the Lost Boys all have starring roles in this fantasy adventure. This classic story is filled with mesmerizing dance, intrigue, and is fun for the entire family.

Van Alstyne has re-staged and re-choreographed Peter Pan to the beautiful Carmon DeLeone score. Maestro DeLeone is not only the composer of the music for the ballet but will also be conducting the Reno Phil. This will be an encore performance of Peter Pan for DeLeone in Reno. He conducted his Pulitzer-nominated masterpiece here six years ago. DeLeone is in his 57^th year as the Music Director of the Cincinnati Ballet. What a special treat it’s going to be to see the composer conduct his own original score.

As with all A.V.A. Ballet Theatre productions, guest principal dancers from major ballet companies such as Ballet West, San Francisco Ballet, and the Kansas City Ballet will perform with the large local cast of dancers.

One of the most popular shows during Artown is A.V.A. Ballet Theatre’s rock ballet Vortex: The Ballet That Rocks. This year’s performances will be held July 18 and 19 at the beautiful Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheatre. Vortex is unique as it combines classical ballet with rock songs from today’s most popular performers. Imagine ballerinas performing grande jetés to music by Lady Gaga, Metallica, and Katy Perry.

Vortex is a great way to see classical ballet in a different context. The lighting, sets, and props are just as important as the dancing. They become part of the show. “Vortex is one of my favorite productions,” said Van Alstyne. “I can create emotions on stage that are not often seen in a classical ballet.”

Vortex is free to the public due to the generosity of several of our major sponsors. Because the ballet is free and wildly popular, it makes for some logistical challenges at the amphitheater. The fire marshal will only allow 900 people into the amphitheater. We have to give everyone attending the ballet a wristband. When we hit the 900 in attendance, we have to turn people away. Reno really does support the arts.

A.V.A. Ballet Theatre will continue our Fall classical season with the beloved The Little Mermaid. The ballet will be performed at the Pioneer Center September 20and 21. The Little Mermaid is the enchanting Hans Christian Andersen story of a beautiful mermaid and her dreams of becoming a human. Van Alstyne, has re-staged and re-choreographed The Little Mermaid to a beautiful Leo Delibes score as performed by the Reno Phil. I’ve said this many times over the years; once you’ve seen and heard a ballet performance with a live orchestra there is really no comparison to one with a recording. There is something special when you see two performing arts groups working together to entertain an audience.

In this fantasy ballet, the Mer-King is a widower and has seven lovely daughters. He would tell them about the world of human beings above them. He told stories about the cities, ships, and the animals and people who inhabited the land. The little mermaid would fantasize about their lives.

The last time A.V.A. Ballet Theatre performed The Little Mermaid was during the COVID-19 pandemic and we were only allowed to have 200 people at each performance in the Pioneer Center. This time, 3,000 patrons can enjoy the production.

Rounding out the 2025 ballet season will be the holiday favorite The Nutcracker with the Reno Phil at the Pioneer Center December 19, 20, and 21. A.V.A. Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker is the single most attended non-profit performing arts event in all of northern Nevada. Due to the popularity of this holiday classic, A.V.A. Ballet Theatre will continue to perform five shows.

The Nutcracker is the story of a young girl, Clara, and her toy nutcracker soldier. With the help of Herr Drosselmeyer, her magical godfather, Clara travels to the Land of the Sweets. While there, she sees the mysterious Arabians, charming Chinese dragon, the rambunctious children of Mother Ginger, toy soldiers, and dancing mice and their Mouse King.

The corps de ballet dancers from A.V.A. Ballet Theatre will perform exhilarating renditions of the Waltz of the Flowers with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, and a snow scene with the Snow King and Queen. By the end of the show, Clara has found her prince charming and all is well in the world. Eight guest principal dancers will grace the stage in various lead roles. Laura Jackson will be conducting the Reno Phil. Tchaikovsky’s moving score is some of the best music you will ever hear. No one ever leaves The Nutcracker without a smile on their face.

For its 30^th season, A.V.A. Ballet Theatre is once again bringing a great year of ballet to northern Nevada. Please join us at the Pioneer Center and the Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater and enjoy this stunning and entertaining art form.

Steve Trounday is a board member at A.V.A. Ballet Theatre, the resident ballet company of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts.