07122016Tue
Last updateFri, 08 Jul 2016 8am

Myriad of international ballet stars to light up July 30 gala at Telmex

Tapatio ballet sensation Isaac Hernandez visited Guadalajara last week for the final promotional push before his much anticipated gala show at the Telmex Auditorium on July 30.

A principal with the English National Ballet, Hernandez has lined up a stellar cast of performers for his gala “Despertares.” From his current company are Tamara Rojo, principal and artistic director of the English National Ballet, and principal Alina Cojocaruas.  Among the other dancers are (all principals): Nadia Mara (Atlanta Ballet); Gennadi Nedvigin, Maria Kochetkova and Joan Boada (San Francisco Ballet); Joaquín de Luz (New York City Ballet); Johan Kobborg and Lauren Cuthbertson (The Royal Ballet, London);  Michaela DePrince (Dutch National Ballet); Xander Parish (Mariinsky Ballet, San Petersburg) and Brooklyn Mack (The Washington Ballet).

Hernandez will also be joined in stage by his younger brother Esteban, currently with the Paris Opera Ballet.

It has always been Hernandez’s dream to bring performers of this quality to the city of his upbringing.  He says organizing the event to bring such a talented number of dancers to Mexico was complicated but he is confident that the show will be a memorable one.

Part of the dynamic of the show is to bring classical dance to a wider audience and undo perceptions in Mexico that it is an elitist pastime. Hernandez, who learned to dance in the backyard of his modest Guadalajara home under the tuition of his father, stressed the importance of keeping ticket prices down to a level (300-900 pesos) that would be impossible in the United States or Europe.  

“Despertares” will feature 16 pieces, including pieces from Concerto Grosso by Helgi Thomasson; The Sleeping Beauty by Marius Petipa; Two Pieces for Het by Hans van Manen; and Diana and Actaeon by Agrippina Vaganova.

Other dances will be from Don Quixote by Marius Petipa; My Way by Stephan Thoss; Nighthawks by Yuri Possohkov; Les Lutins by Johan Kobborg; Maria Kochetkova by Jorma Elo and Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White by Itzik Galili.

Together with his brother Esteban, Hernandez will dance a piece from Le Corsaire by Marius Petipa.

“Despertares” is at the Auditorio Telmex, Saturday, July 30, 8:30 p.m. Tickets: 300-900 pesos.

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