Richmond Ballet Presents a Celebrated Revival and a World Premiere for Studio Four

Richmond Ballet will close the 2022-2023 season with Ershter Vals by Ma Cong and a world premiere by Nicolo Fonte for its Studio Four performances May 9-14. During the eight-show run, the company will perform the program of two works in the Ballet’s state-of-the-art, in-house studio theatre.

Ershter Vals was the first ballet choreographed for Richmond Ballet by Associate Artistic Director Ma Cong. The moving piece had its beginnings in the Ballet’s 2009 New Works Festival and was fully commissioned by the company in the fall of 2010. It has since been performed by Richmond Ballet in both London and Washington, D.C., receiving critical and audience acclaim along the way. The inspiring work by Cong has also been presented by ballet companies around the world including Queensland Ballet in Australia and BalletMet in Ohio. Ershter Vals features music originating in the Jewish ghettos during World War II and uses engaging choreography to portray the light people find in relationships and communities, even in the darkest of times. Cong’s captivating ballet weaves folk dance influences with classical technique while carrying a penetrating message of redemption.

“We planned our 22/23 season as a welcome to Ma during his first full year in Richmond. I could not think of a better way to close this season than to revive Ershter Vals to honor Ma’s beginnings with Richmond Ballet and to celebrate our future together!” said Artistic Director Stoner Winslett.

Richmond Ballet has commissioned Nicolo Fonte, internationally acclaimed choreographer and current Resident Choreographer for Salt Lake City’s Ballet West, to create a world premiere to close the Studio Four program. Known for his unique movement vocabulary and dramatic, technically challenging works, Fonte has created more than 40 new ballets for companies in the United States and across the globe. This will be the first time Fonte has worked with Richmond Ballet.

Tickets to Studio Four start at $25. Tickets may be purchased online at etix.com, by phone at 804.344.0906 x224 or in person at the Richmond Ballet Box Office, 407 East Canal Street, Monday – Friday, 11:00am – 6:00pm.

Studio Four

May 9-14, 2023 | Richmond Ballet Studio Theatre, 407 E Canal Street, Richmond, VA 23219

• Tuesday, May 9                               6:30PM
• Wednesday, May 10                      6:30PM
• Thursday, May 11                           6:30PM
• Friday, May 12                                 6:30PM
• Saturday, May 13                            5:00PM & 8:00PM
• Sunday, May 14                               1:30PM & 4:30PM