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Show Utah Civic Ballet to Initiate "Zion Festival" in Springdale The Utah Civic Ballet will initiate one of the most exciting excit-ing programs in its history this summer with the opening, open-ing, on July 24, of the "Zion Ballet Festival" in Springdale, Utah. Playing six nights a week for two weeks, this first annual an-nual program will feature seven ballets on alternating programs according to William Wil-liam Christensen, , Company Artistic Director. Included in the ballets to be presented are, "Con Amore," "Les Bijoux du Mai," "Serenade," "Seren-ade," "Swan Lake," "Pas de Six," divertisments from the Second Act of "The Nutcracker," Nutcrack-er," and "Filling Station." The company of 35 dancers will perform nightly at 9 p. m. from the July 24th opening open-ing through August 5th in the Springdale amphitheatre at the entrance to Zion Park. Zion Canyon, scene of some of nature's most exciting and colorful scenery, is one of the great tourist attractions in the United States. Color Country Promotion A cooperative effort by the Company and the community of Springdale, as well as the entire "Color Country" area, it is anticipated that the Festival Fes-tival will eventually be expanded ex-panded to include eight to ten weeks each summer. "There is no more striking setting for wonderful ballet than that found in the Zion Canyon area," stated Mr. Christensen, "the immence cliffs and bluffs are beautiful beyond words. Whon you place a ballet in such a setting," set-ting," he continued, "you have a truly inspiring program." pro-gram." Mr. Christensen noted that the stage in the Springdale bowl had been enlarged and adapted to ballet. "The bowl will seat over 2,500 people," he explained, "and the stage and lighting have been arranged ar-ranged to give the best possible pos-sible display of ballet in this fantastic setting." Special Numbers Several of the ballets are being added to the repertoire specifically for the programs. "Filling Station" will be premiered by the Company at the Festival. "Swan Lake," which was such a hit during the Spring Gala a year ago, is a perennial favorite with ballet lovers everywhere. The numbers from "The Nutcracker" Nutcrack-er" are big drawing cards because be-cause of the tremendous popularity pop-ularity of the annual complete production which is rated as one of the best in the world. |