Triple Threat

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Two ballet companies team up for a trio of works

Art begins with inspiration – and, in the case of BalletMet’s upcoming show, also ends with it.

BalletMet and Cincinnati Ballet are collaborating to present Inspired March 11-13 at the Ohio Theatre and March 18-19 at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center for the Arts.

Inspired is a collective performance of three works: George Balanchine’s Who Cares?, Trey McIntyre’s Wild Sweet Love and Edwaard Liang’s Age of Innocence. BalletMet and Cincinnati Ballet will combine forces for a joint performance, making a full corps de ballet.

Who Cares? is the most classical of the three sets, and is meant to evoke the bustling life of a metropolis. BalletMet and Cincinnati Ballet will share the stage for this performance. Music by composer George Gershwin includes “I Got Rhythm” and “The Man I Love,” which feature romantic duets and energetic ensembles.

Wild Sweet Love, to be performed by Cincinnati Ballet, takes onlookers on a journey through the ups and downs of a romantic relationship. Featured music ranges from Queen’s “Somebody to Love” to the Partridge Family’s “I Think I Love You.” The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called Wild Sweet Love “… a playful, rambunctious celebration of love.”

Age of Innocence, to be performed by BalletMet, was choreographed by BalletMet Artistic Director Edwaard Liang. The Chicago Sun-Times called it “a newly minted masterpiece.” Music by Thomas Newman and Philip Glass evokes the pomp and circumstance of a 19th century ballroom.

Performances are slated for 8 p.m. March11 and 12 and 2 p.m. March 13. Discounted tickets are available for the dress rehearsal, which will take place Friday at 11 a.m.

Tickets begin at $29 and can be purchased at the CAPA Ticket Center (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets and ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, call 614-469-0939 or 800-745-3000.

For more information, visit www.balletmet.org.

Jessica Williams is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.