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Birmingham — Alabama Ballet, the state’s premier professional ballet company, is set to tour to Clanton, Alabama for the first time on October 3, 2021. The performance will take place at 2:30 p.m. at the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center. Alabama Ballet on Tour will feature two renowned ballet works, Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo and Joseph Mazilier’s Paquita.

Rodeo is the touching story of a tomboy in search of love. The cowgirl, who DeMille admitted was based on herself as a young woman, is a misfit among the men and women in her community. Agnes has said, “She acts like a boy, not to be a boy, but to be liked by the boys.” Hers is a bitter lesson, but she learns it at the ballet’s denouement when she puts on a dress and goes to the hoe-down. She finds her man, and she finds him through dancing. The ballet features bravura dancing for the men in a unique style derived from horseback riding and cattle roping. A work by turns robust and tender, full of optimism, Rodeo is a celebration of the pluck and spirit of the American character.

Paquita is the story takes place in Spain during the presence of Napoleon’s army. The heroine is the young gypsy girl, Paquita. Unbeknownst to Paquita, she is really of noble birth, having been abducted by gypsies when she was an infant. She saves the life of a young French officer, Lucien d’Hervilly, who is the target of a Spanish governor who desires to have him killed by Iñigo, a gypsy chief. By way of a medallion, she discovers that she is of noble birth, being in fact the cousin of Lucien. As such, she and the Officer are able to get married.

“Touring allows our professional company to branch out from their home base in Birmingham and experience performing on other stages across our state while creating an opportunity for more people to experience our art form,” said Tracey Alvey, Artistic Director of Alabama Ballet. “This performance lineup is high-energy and all around enjoyable to watch. We are so excited to be able to share it with the Clanton community.”

Tickets for Alabama Ballet on Tour are on sale now and can be purchased for $25 online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alabama-ballet-on-tour-tickets-167762252413. Tickets will also be available at the door.

About Alabama Ballet

The Alabama Ballet is the state’s premiere professional ballet company. The company has achieved national prominence as one of only eight ballet companies in the world permitted by the Balanchine Trust to perform Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. The Alabama Ballet promotes the development of classical and contemporary ballet through high quality performances, dance education and community outreach. Education and outreach activities include CityDance, which provides 16 weeks of dance training for youth from the city of Birmingham and Jefferson County. The Alabama Ballet is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.