Collaboration: It's what we do

Our 2012-2013 season marks a return to big productions and classic stories. We're beginning with a beautiful, traditional production of Verdi's La traviata, presenting a new Jun Kaneko designed production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, and concluding our season with a mysterious world of doors in Bartok's only opera, Bluebeard's Castle.

As different as the three productions are, there is a collaborative thread in each. We work with the Omaha Symphony to provide an outstanding orchestra and our ongoing partnership with Ballet Nebraska is enhanced and increased this season. Ballet Nebraska dancers are featured in each of our 2012-2013 operas.

We're offering opera and ballet intertwined with a wonderful orchestra in the beautiful Orpheum Theatre. This is truly live performance at its finest! It wouldn't be possible without our partners at the Omaha Symphony and Ballet Nebraska. Thank you for your ongoing support!

The information below is from Ballet Nebraska's website and is available here: http://balletnebraska.org/2012/overturff-and-gawf-discuss-ballet-nebraskaopera-omaha-collaborations-for-upcoming-season/

Overturff and Gawf discuss Ballet / Opera collaborations

Omaha – July 31, 2012    If you are a patron of the arts in Omaha, you’ll see familiar faces in several places this season, as evidenced by Ballet Nebraska and Opera Omaha’s unveiling of four collaborative productions this morning on CBS Channel 3 KMTV’s Morning Blend show.

View ‘Morning Blend’ interview here.

ABOVE: J. Gawf and Erika Overturff discuss the upcoming ballet and opera seasons with 'Morning Blend' hosts.

Omaha’s professional ballet and opera companies will collaborate this season on several productions — beginning with a two-city performance of The Nutcracker at the Arts Center at Iowa Western on Nov. 30 and at Omaha Music Hall on Dec. 2. J. Gawf, musical director of Opera Omaha, will assemble and direct young singers for their performance as the North Wind Chorus during the Land of the Snow scene in Ballet Nebraska’s version of The Nutcracker – which premiered on tour in 2010 and to Omaha and Council Bluffs audiences last year.

In turn, Gawf says “Ballet Nebraska is going to be involved in every one of Opera Omaha’s productions this year.”

Overtuff will choreograph and direct Ballet Nebraska’s professional dancers for the opera’s production of the beloved Verdi classic La Traviata Oct. 5 & 7 at Orpheum Theater.
Ballet Nebraska dancers will also appear in movement for scenes in Jun Kaneko’s stunning new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute Feb. 22 & 24 at Orpheum Theater.


Bluebeard’s Castle (April 19 & 21 – Orpheum) will not only feature professional guest dancers from Ballet Nebraska but also the Omaha Symphony on the stage — and marks the return of Hal France to the conducting stage.

In addition to its performances with Opera Omaha and The Nutcracker – including a touring production in Spirit Lake, IA – Ballet Nebraska will present a fall production of Momentum featuring Armando Duarte’s Safona de Boca, Overturff’s Tropico and Matthew Carter’s Sadako (Oct. 19 & 21 at Witherspoon Hall, Joslyn Art Museum) as well as an adaptation of the Lewis Carroll classic Alice In Wonderland choreographed by master ballet storyteller Kennet Oberly (April 26 & 27 at IWCC Arts Center).