Segerstrom Center for the Arts Presents
Tour de Force II
Program includes:
 American premieres of Leonid Jacobson’s Rossini Pas de Deux, Mauro
Bigonzetti’s Vertigo, and Patrick De Bana’s Creature and The Picture of …
 West Coast premieres of works by Boris Eifman, James Kudelka and Mauro
de Candia
 Dance superstars from the Bolshoi Ballet, Mariinsky Theatre, Staatsballett
Berlin, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of
Canada, The Forsythe Company, Dresden Semper Oper Ballett and Eifman
Ballet of St. Petersburg
Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Details below.
Tickets on sale now
COSTA MESA, CA – Following the tremendous success of its first Tour de Force in 2009, Segerstrom
Center for the Arts presents Tour de Force II – a one-night-only celebration of extreme dance artistry,
extraordinary talent and brilliant creativity that will thrill dance audiences. Tour de Force II will be on April
28 at 7:30 p.m. in Segerstrom Hall. International dance superstars Katya Markowskaya, Anastasia
Matvienko, Heather Ogden, Natalia Osipova, Tiler Peck, Diana Vishneva, Guillaume Côté, Patrick
De Bana, Joaquin De Luz, Noah D. Gelber, Marcelo Gomes, Vladimir Malakhov, Dimo Kirilov Milev,
Denis Matvienko, Ivan Vasiliev and members of the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg will hold the
spotlight and captivate the audience with a program of beloved classics, contemporary works and
numerous American, West Coast and Segerstrom Center premieres. Choreographers represented in the
Tour de Force II include Boris Eifman, John Forsythe, Maurius Petipa, James Kudelka, George
Balanchine, Patrick De Bana, John Neumeier, Leonid Jacobson, Roland Petit, Mauro de Candia,
John Cranko, Mauro Bigonzetti and Alexander Gorsky. Tour de Force is being presented in
association with Ardani Artists.
Those who attended the first Tour de Force still talk about the phenomenal performances by some of the
world’s most charismatic dancers, many of whom are returning for Tour de Force II. The Orange County
Register called Tour de Force “an effervescent evening of unforgettable excellence” and “ … on a scale of
1 to 10, Tour de Force easily rates an 11.” Segerstrom Center continues to build its dance tradition with
Tour de Force II, promising a never-to-be-forgotten array of glorious dance.
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
T (714) 556-2121
F (714) 556-8984
SCFTA.org
Tour de Force II
NEWS 2/7
The Tour de Force II program includes a number of American and West Coast premieres:
American premieres:

Rossini Pas de Deux by Leonid Jacobson, originally created in 1972 for Tatiana Sevostyanova
and Igor Kuzmin, who will stage this work for Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev specially for Tour
de Force II

Vertigo by Mauro Bigonzetti starring Diana Vishneva and Marcelo Gomes

Patrick De Bana’s Creature and The Picture of … danced by Patric De Bana and Dimo Kirilov
Milev
West Coast premieres:

Excerpts from Boris Eifman’s Who’s Who danced by the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg

James Kudelka’s Cinderella Pas de Deux performed by Heather Ogden and Guillaume Côté
 Mauro de Candia’s The Dying Swan with Vladimir Malakhov
Additional works:

Le Corsaire Pas de Deux by Petipa danced by Anastasia and Denis Matvienko

Tarantella by George Balanchine performed by Tiler Peck and Joaquin De Luz

Lady of the Camellias by Neumeier starring Diana Vishneva and Marcelo Gomes

Tchaikovsky: The Mystery of Life and Death final scene with the Eifman Ballet

Proust: The Intermittences of the Heart by Petit, excerpts with Guillaume Côté as soloist and a
pas de deux by Denis Matvienko and Marcelo Gomes

Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux by Balanchine danced by Tiler Peck and Joaquin De Lux

Sylvia Pas de Deux by Balanchine staged by Marina Eglevsky specifically for Tour de Force and
danced by Anastasia and Denis Matvienko

Onegin excerpt by John Cranko with Heathre Ogden and Guillaume Côté

Finale to include Gorsky’s Don Quixote Pas de Deux danced by Natalia Osipova and Ivan
Vasiliev paired with an excerpt of Boris Eifman’s Don Quixote with the Eifman Ballet
Tickets to Tour de Force II start at $40 and are available now at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600
Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts
for 15 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. The TTY number is (714) 556-2746.
Artists and program are subject to change.
The Center’s 2010-2011 International Dance Series is made possible by The Audrey Steele Burnand
Endowed Fund for International Dance, Jane and Jim Driscoll, and The Segerstrom Foundation
Endowment for Great Performances. Additional support for Tour de Force II has been provided by
Firebrand Media, Janice M. Johnson, South Coast Plaza, Tim and Mary Harward, Mary and Richard
Cramer and a special lead gift from the Segerstrom Foundation. The Center applauds Media Sponsor
Classical KUSC 91.5.
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
T (714) 556-2121
F (714) 556-8984
SCFTA.org
Tour de Force II
NEWS 3/7
Katya Markowskaya is a first soloist a the Dresden SemperOper Ballet in Dresden. She performs the
title role in Giselle and has starred as Kitri in Don Quixote, Lise in La Fille mal Gardée, Bianca in Der
Widerspenstigen Zahmung, the Princesses Natalia and Claire in Illusionen-wie Schwanensee, Marie in
The Nutcracker, Chloé in Daphnis and Chloé, the ballerina in Petrushka as well as the featured roles in
Le Sacre by John Neumeier, Mahler by Mauro Bigonzetti and Theme and Variations, Tarantella and
Rubies by Balanchine. She studied at the Heinz-Bosl-Stiftung in Munch and the State School for
Choreography in Kiev. In 1999, Makowskaya won the Mary Wigman Prize.
Anastasia Matvienko has been with the Mariinsky Theatre as a soloist since 2009. She was born in
Sevastopol, Ukraine. After graduating from the Kiev State School of Choreography in 2001, she joined
the National Shevchenko Opera of Ukraine and was promoted to the rank of soloist six months later. She
was a prima ballerina at the Mikhailovsky Theatre from 2007–2009. She has performed in numerous
ballets including The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, La Bayadère, The Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Giselle,
Raymonda, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, Spartacus and Romeo and Juliet. Her awards include a silver
medal prize at the IV International Serge Lifar Competition, Best Duet prize and Press Jury first prize at
the International Ballet Competition in Varna and a gold medal prize at the X International Ballet Festival.
Heather Ogden was born in Toronto and trained at the Richmond Academy of Dance in British Columbia,
before joining The National Ballet of Canada. She was promoted to principal dancer in 2005. Her
repertoire includes Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Onegin, The
Merry Widow, La Bayadère and Cinderella. In addition, Ogden has danced featured roles in diverse
works such as James Kudelka’s The Four Seasons, Dominique Dumais’ one hundred words for snow,
George Balanchine’s Apollo, Eliot Feld’s Intermezzo, August Bournonville’s La Sylphide and Victor
Gsovsky’s Grand Pas Classique. Recent company premieres include lead roles in John Neumeier’s The
Seagull and Davide Bombana’s Carmen. She’s performed at The Sixth International Competition, Stars of
the 21st Century gala performance in New York City, Banff Centre’s 60th Anniversary Gala and the Ruby
Gala des Étoiles.
Natalia Osipova was born in Moscow and graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy where she is
currently a principal dancer with the company. Her coach is the legendary Bolshoi dancer Marina
Kondratieva. Osipova's repertoire includes La Bayadère, Le Corsaire, Don Quixote, The Flames of Paris,
Coppélia, Giselle, La Esmeralda, La Sylphide, The Bright Stream, Les Presages, Russian Seasons, In
the Upper Room, Serenade and Symphony in C. She has appeared as a guest artist with the Mariinsky
Ballet, Zurich Ballet, Mikhailovsky Ballet, Novosibirsk State Ballet, Teatro alla Scala and American Ballet
Theater. Her awards include the Grand Prix at the Prix de Luxembourg International Ballet Competition,
Russian Ballet Magazine’s Soul of the Dance Award, Russia’s National Theater Award, the Golden Mask
for her performance in Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room, Britain’s Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards
for Best Female Dancer, Leonide Massine's Positano Dance Award and the Benois de la Danse Award
as Best Female Dancer.
Tiler Peck was born in Bakersfield, California. She began her dance training at the age of 7, studying
privately with former Bolshoi Ballet principal dancer Alla Khaniashvili. At 11, she began studying with
former New York City Ballet dancers Colleen and Patricia Neary. During this time, she also studied with
former NYCB Principal Yvonne Mounsey. At age 12, Peck entered the School of American Ballet, the
official school of New York City Ballet. In 2004, Peck became an apprentice with New York City Ballet and
in 2005, she joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet. She was promoted to principal
dancer in 2009. She performed in Meredith Willson's The Music Man on Broadway and in the Radio City
Christmas Spectacular. She is a 2004 recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation - USA Dance
Fellowship, the 2004 Mae L. Wien Award recipient and Janice Levin Honoree for 2006-2007. Peck's film
credits include A Time for Dancing, Geppetto and Donnie Darko.
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
T (714) 556-2121
F (714) 556-8984
SCFTA.org
Tour de Force II
NEWS 4/7
Diana Vishneva is the recipient of numerous awards including the People’s Artist of Russia, Benois de la
danse prize, Golden Sofit Baltika prize, Dancer of Europe and multiple Golden Masks – three for Diana
Vishneva: Beauty in Motion. She was born in Leningrad and graduated from the Vaganova Academy of
Russian Ballet. She also trained at the Mariinsky Theatre. She joined the Mariinsky Ballet in 1995 and
has been a soloist since 1996. She has performed with acclaimed Bayerisches Staatsballett, Teatro alla
Scala, the Opera de Paris and the Metropolitan Opera. She’s been a guest soloist at the Staatsoper Unter
den Linden (Berlin) since 2002 and with American Ballet Theatre since 2005. Vishneva frequently works
with renowned contemporary choreographers and stage directors including Petr Zuska who staged Les
Bras de mer specially for Vishneva and Andrei Moguchy and Alexei Kononov who staged the production
Silenzio. Diana Vishneva. In 2008, Vishneva together with Ardani Artists Management and Segerstrom
Center for the Arts presented Beauty in Motion (Alexei Ratmansky’s Pierrot Lunaire, Dwight Rhoden’s
Three Point Turn and Moses Pendleton’s F.L.O.W.).
Guillaume Côté is a native of Québec. He studied at Canada’s National Ballet School and joined the
National Ballet of Canada in 1999. He’s currently a principal dancer with the company. His repertoire
includes leading roles in The Taming of the Shrew, The Merry Widow, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty,
Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Onegin and Le Corsaire. He has danced with American Ballet
Theatre, English National Ballet, Teatro Colón de Buenos Aires, Berlin’s Staatsoper and Teatro alla
Scala. He is also an accomplished musician and composer and has written music for dance and theater
productions. He was awarded a Gemini and Galileo 2000 prizes for his dance and musical collaboration
in the documentary Moving to His Music: The Two Muses of Guillaume Côté.
Patrick De Bana is a native of Hamburg, Germany where he studied at the school of Hamburg Ballet. He
danced with Bejart Ballet Lausanne and Compañia Nacional de Danza of Spain before creating his own
company, Nafas Dance Company. He’s choreographed numerous dances including Obras Poeticas for
Incolballet in Columbia, Creatures for Introdans in Holland, The Picture of… for Paris Opera Etoile, White
Shadows for the Tokyo Ballet and Marie Antoinette with the Wiener Staatsballett. He is currently working
on a duet for Bolshoi dancer Ilze Liepa and a piece for the National Ballet of China. He has toured around
the world with Nafas Dance Company as a guest artist and with fado singer Mariza. Additionally, he
choreographed and performed in the movies Iberia and Fados.
Joaquin De Luz was born in Madrid and received his training at the Victor Ullate School of Ballet. He
danced with the Victor Ullate Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and American Ballet Theatre before joining New
York City Ballet as a soloist in 2003. He was promoted to principal dancer in 2005. His repertory includes
La Bayadère, Billy The Kid, Fancy Free, Swan Lake, Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 and Theme and
Variations. De Luz has appeared as a guest artist in numerous dance events as well as with the Ballet
Mediterraneo with Fernando Bujones and with American Ballet Stars Tour of China. De Luz’s awards
include the Gold Medal at the Second Nureyev International Ballet Competition in Budapest, Hungary and
the Rising Star prize by Seven Arts Magazine in Philadelphia. He represented Spain at the Expo '98 in
Lisbon, dancing in the gala Stars of Spanish Ballet.
Noah D. Gelber studied at the School of American Ballet, becoming a principal dancer at 16 with the
American Ballet Company. He was a principal guest-artist and soloist with the Royal Ballet of Flanders
before joining Frankfurt Ballet. He was one of William Forsythe’s featured artists, performing the greater
portion of the company’s repertoire, notably premiering in the original cast of The Vertiginous Thrill of
Exactitude. He was also featured as a singer in Forsythe’s works and sang for television and in concerts
in Germany and Austria. He also created solo and pas de deux material in some Forsythe pieces. Noah
has also choreographed for the TV show ‘Born to Dance’ in Israel. His first story ballet for the Mariinsky
Ballet, The Overcoat after Nikolai Gogol, won the Golden Lantern Award for Best Ballet and the Golden
Mask. His other creations include The Golden Age for the Mariinsky, Object Ours for dancers of the Royal
Ballet, Running Time, and his own solos Gnos Naos and Opus 3/1-3. His choreographic works have been
presented in Moscow, St. Petersburg, New York, London, Montreal, Tel Aviv and Frankfurt.
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
T (714) 556-2121
F (714) 556-8984
SCFTA.org
Tour de Force II
NEWS 5/7
Since 1997 while still dancing, Noah has maintained the responsibility of Choreographic Assistant for 10
different ballets from William Forsythe's repertoire, working with over 25 different ballet companies in
major theaters around the world. He performs regularly in international Galas, dancing solos and duets
created especially for him by William Forsythe and other choreographers.
Marcelo Gomes, a native of Brazil, began his dance studies at the age of 5 in Rio de Janeiro. He also
trained in the United States at The Harid Conservatory and schools of the Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet
and Cuballet, where he studied under Alicia Alonso. Gomes joined American Ballet Theatre in 1997. He
was promoted to soloist in 2000 and principal dancer in 2002. He has performed in virtually every fulllength classical ballet in the company’s repertoire, including Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Swan Lake, La
Bayadère, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Onegin, Le Corsaire, The Nutcracker,
Othello, Raymonda and Manon. He has also appeared at many international dance festivals, and has
been a guest artist with the Mariinsky Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Houston
Ballet, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, the Teatro Municipal Do Rio de Janeiro, Universal Ballet and New
York City Ballet. He is a recipient of the prestigious Prix Benois de la Dance award in Moscow.
Vladimir Malakhov began his dance training in the Ukraine, continuing on to the Bolshoi Ballet in
Moscow. Under the tutelage of Peter Pestov, he later joined the Moscow Ballet as the company's
youngest Principal Dancer. Malakhov joined the Vienna State Opera Ballet as a Principal Artist in 1992,
and later the National Ballet of Canada in 1994. He was a Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre,
and continued to dance principal roles in Vienna as well as Stuttgart Ballet. Malakhov became First
Soloist and the Artistic director of the Berlin State Opera Ballet in 2004.
Denis Matvienko was born in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. He studied at the Kiev State Choreographic
School and made his debut with the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ukraine. He is currently a
principal dancer with the Mariinsky Theatre in St.Petersburg, Russia. He has performed as a guest artist
with such ballet companies as the New National Theatre (Japan), Bolshoi Ballet (Russia), Teatro alla
Scala (Italy) and Paris Opera (France). His repertoire include title roles in such ballets as The Sleeping
Beauty, Swan Lake, Giselle, La Sylphide, La Bayadère, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Raymonda,
Manon, Le Corsaire, Spartacus and The Golden Age. He is the winner of many international ballet
competitions including IV International Ballet Competition in Luxembourg, III Rudolf Nureyev International
Ballet Competition in Budapest, III International Competition of Modern and Classical Dance in Nagoya, X
International Ballet Competition in Moscow. He is married to his stage partner Anastasia Matvienko.
Dimo Kirilov Milev born in Sofia, Bulgaria. He began his studies at the National Ballet School of Sofia.
He joined The National Opera of Sofia in 1993 and a year later joined the Jeunne Ballet de France.
He was a soloist with Ballet National de Nancy et Lorraine from 1996 to 2001 where his repertoire
included Gisele, Swan Lake, Theme and Variations, The Prodigal Son as well as works by Jiri Kylian,
Jorma Uotinen, Jean Fransois Durrure, Abou Lagraa and Hans van Manen. In 2001, he joined Compañia
Nacional de Danza under the direction of Nacho Duato where he became a principal dancer. He has
worked with a variety of choreographers including Kylian, Mats Ek, Wim Vandekeybus, Orjan Anderson,
Jacopo Godani, Gustavo Ramirez and William Forsythe.
Ivan Vasiliev was born in Vladivostok, Russia. He studied at the Dnepropetrovsk Ballet School in Ukraine
and later at the Belorussian State Choreographic College in Minsk. In 2006, he joined the Bolshoi Ballet
as a soloist, making his debut with the company at age 17. He was promoted to principal dancer in 2010.
He is coached by the former Bolshoi star Yuri Vladimirov. Vasiliev’s repertoire includes Spartacus, The
Nutcracker, La Fille Mal Gardee, La Bayadère, Le Corsaire, The Flames of Paris, La Esmeralda, Le
Jeune Homme et la Mort, Misericordes and Class Concert. He has been a guest artist with the
International Rudolf Nureyev Festival in Kazan and has also appeared with the Novosibirsk Opera and
Ballet Theater and the Mikhailovsky Ballet. His awards include a gold medal at the Moscow International
Ballet Competition, gold medal at the Arabesque-96 Ballet Competition in Perm and the Grand Prix Varna
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
T (714) 556-2121
F (714) 556-8984
SCFTA.org
Tour de Force II
NEWS 6/7
International Ballet Competition. He was also awarded the Triumph Youth prize, British Critics’ Circle
National Dance Awards in the Spotlight category and the Benois de la Danse prize.
Boris Eifman has created more than 40 ballets. He has been honored with Russia’s Golden Mask award,
including one for lifetime achievement in contemporary choreography. Eifman is also a four-time recipient
of the St. Petersburg theater award, The Golden Sofit. His other awards and distinctions include the
Triumph award, the Russian state award for his contribution to the development of the performing arts,
induction into France’s Order of Arts and Letters, the distinguished title of The People’s Artist of Russia
and a professorship at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. From Siberia, Eifman studied at the
Vaganova Ballet Academy and Leningrad Conservatory. He founded The New Ballet of Leningrad (now
known as the St. Petersburg State Academic Ballet Theater, or Eifman Ballet) – Russia’s first and only
ballet theater dedicated to performing works by a single choreographer. With his ballet troupe, he created
an original choreographic style based on classical ballet and infused with the spirit of contemporary
choreography. With his company, he has also mentored a group of like-minded artists for whom nothing
seems impossible.
Tour de Force II
Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Segerstrom Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA
Tickets:
Start at $40
In person -
The Box Office
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
Online SCFTA.org
Phone (714) 556-2787
Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily
TTY number - (714) 556-2746
Group Sales - (714) 755-0236
Information provided is accurate at the time of printing, but is subject to change. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a private, nonprofit organization. “Segerstrom Center for the Arts” is a registered trademark
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
T (714) 556-2121
F (714) 556-8984
SCFTA.org
Tour de Force II
NEWS 7/7
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is unique as both an acclaimed arts institution and as a multidisciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages, offering
unsurpassed experiences, and engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the
unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring programs.
Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center traces its roots back to
the late 1960s when a dedicated group of community leaders decided Orange County should have its
own world-class performing arts venue.
As Orange County’s largest non-profit arts organization, Segerstrom Center for the Arts owns and
operates the 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall and intimate 250-seat Founders Hall, which opened in 1986,
and the 2,000-seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, which opened in 2006 and also houses
the 500-seat Samueli Theater, the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge Education Center’s studio performance
space and Boeing Education Lab. A spacious arts plaza anchors Segerstrom Center for Arts and is
home to numerous free performances throughout the year as part of Segerstrom Center for the Arts’
ongoing Free for All series.
The Center presents a broad range of programming each season for audiences of all ages from
throughout Orange County and beyond, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top
Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music
performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free
performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other
special events. It offers many education programs designed to inspire young people through the arts.
These programs reach hundreds of thousands of students of all ages with vital arts-in-education
programs, enhancing their studies and enriching their lives well into the future.
In addition to the presenting and producing institution Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the 14-acre campus
also embraces the facilities of two independent acclaimed organizations: Tony® Award-winning South
Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region’s major
performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and
the Pacific Chorale, who contribute greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons at
Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
###
Posted on www.ROSTOC.us
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
T (714) 556-2121
F (714) 556-8984
SCFTA.org