VIRGINIA NATIONAL BALLET

Virginia National Ballet is an Affiliate Arts Partner of the Hylton Performing Arts Center and a member of the Virginia Commission for the Arts Tour Directory. It is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Prince William County, NOVEC, the Prince William Arts Council, North Realty, and Purnell, McKennett, and Menke. VNB's roster of 12 award winning international professional dancers are led by the award winning Artistic Director and Choreographer, Rafik Hegab. VNB produces a full season at the Hylton, often with new world premiere ballets and using live music. What sets VNB apart is its unique, new, exciting repertoire, never before seen anywhere, as well as the outstanding production value, always beautiful, tasteful, and exceeding expectations. Additionally, VNB gives back to the community by giving free outreach presentations and performances to those who would otherwise have difficulty attending. Recent outreach recipients have been the Manassas Senior Center, NOVA Family Services, The Fenwick Foundation, Veterans Ticket Foundation, Cedar Oak Elementary, and more. Artistic Director Rafik Hegab produced and choreographed the first ever full length ballet of Aida in the world, based on Verdi's famous opera about ancient Egypt. He created his own version of La Boheme, using live orchestra and a score originally commissioned for the West Australian Ballet. This orchestral score had never before been used in the United States, and only one other ballet company has produced a ballet of La Boheme (based on the famous Puccini opera), and they did not use this orchestral version. He created several rock ballets including Bohemian Rhapsody (to the music of Queen) and Life in the Fast Lane (to the music of The Eagles.) He created his own version of the ballet Carmen, with a unique twist of incorporating a famous scene from the opera Carmen with live singing. He also created his own version of Carmina Burana which had never before been performed in the region. He created a brand new version of the ballet Aladdin, as well as Snow White, also never before performed in the region. He created a beautiful version of the famous ballet Cinderella, and many shorter contemporary premieres. During the pandemic VNB was unable to have a regular season, and in 2021-22 the company is excited to get back to the theater. Three new world premieres are in the works, including "For those we lost": a powerful and emotional tribute to those who lost their lives to COVID and their love ones left behind: "Tango Nights", a sultry tango-inspired neoclassical ballet to the music of famed Argentinian Composer Astor Piazzolla, and an upbeat rock ballet, "The Beatles" , to many of The Beatles' greatest hits, accompanied by a live Tribute Band. Also on the program for the 2021-22 season is the popular VNB version of "The Nutcracker", and the revival of "Snow White."