Greater Niagara Ballet Company to bring 'Swan Lake' to UB

The Greater Niagara Ballet Company will present its first full-length production of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” at 7 p.m. Aug. 1-2, taking center stage at the University at Buffalo’s Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts. Featuring a cast of almost 50 GNBC company dancers, alongside several distinguished guest artists, the summer presentation promises a rich interpretation of ballet’s most enduring love story.

The production marks a milestone for the Niagara Falls ballet company, offering audiences the complete arc of Tchaikovsky’s romantic classic. Artistic Director Mary Schnepf said, “We have been building towards this for the past several seasons, and it brings together a tremendous range of talent from across the region.”

“Swan Lake” is one of the most beloved and iconic ballets of all time. Set to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score, it tells the enchanting story of Prince Siegfried; and Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. Filled with romance, tragedy, and Marius Petipa’s famous choreography, “Swan Lake” is a timeless tale of love’s power to overcome darkness.

“Swan Lake” dancers are shown at practice. (Images courtesy of the Greater Niagara Ballet Company)

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Distinguished guest artists include:

•Dominic Giambra, a performer and teaching artist with Configuration Ballet Theater, and returning guest principal dancer for the GNBC. His choreography and performance work bridges dance, visual art, and experimental performance, and he performs and choreographs for various musical theater productions in the region.

•Jordan Leeper, company member with the Atlanta Ballet in Atlanta. Leeper is a Jamestown native who trained with the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet and later with the San Francisco Ballet. Leeper has also performed with the Charlotte Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and the Metropolitan Ballet Theater.

•Paul Mockovak, MFA in musical theatre and Distinguished Teaching Professor at SUNY Fredonia. As a director/choreographer, his work has been seen across the country, including Off-Broadway, regional and educational theater, concert dance, opera and video. His performance experience includes working with Ballet Randolph, Ballet Oklahoma, operatic work with Chautauqua Opera, and Shakespearean roles across regional stages.

•Molly Vine, a Bemus Point native who has danced with GNBC, Configuration Dance Theater and Renaissance Ballet. In 2015, Vine opened and directed Buffalo Dance Ensemble, producing original ballets and teaching classical technique. She also co-directed GNBC’s “The Nutcracker” in 2021 and 2022.

“We’re thrilled to have such a strong lineup of guest artists this season,” Schnepf said. “Their range of backgrounds, from major ballet companies to Off-Broadway theater to musical theater, bring incredible depth to the production. Their energy and artistry really elevate the whole experience.”

Tickets start at $34 and are available at the UB CFA Box office or online at
https://www.ubcfa.org/events-exhibitions/dance/swan-lake.html.

Schnepf said, “It’s really exciting for us to be performing in Buffalo and on the UB Drama Theatre stage, in particular. We have several UB alumni in the cast, many of whom danced on that same stage in the past, and it is a homecoming of sorts for them. We’re proud to be based in Niagara Falls, but sharing our work with Buffalo audiences – who have such a strong love for the arts – is a special opportunity. We’re looking forward to connecting with the community and bringing something beautiful to the stage.”

For more information about performances, auditions and classes, visit www.greaterniagaraballetcompany.org, email gnbcballet@gmail.com, or call 716-334-4017.