California Ballet Anniversary Concert to Premiere Soviet Choreographer’s Work

SAN DIEGO â€”  The California Ballet’s 20th anniversary concert, scheduled for May 7 at the Civic Theatre, is still about a month away, but the studio is a beehive of activity in anticipation of the big event.

Soviet choreographer Mikhail Lavrovsky will set up shop early next week as teacher, coach, and resident choreographer for the company’s world premiere of the “The Novice,� which Lavrovsky will create for the Cal Ballet’s celebration concert. Daniel Meja, the French import who will partner Denise Dabrowski in this new work, arrives then as well to study with the Soviet visitor.

“One of the reasons we wanted Lavrovsky,� director Maxine Mahon said, “was so he could work with our dancers individually as well as in class. It’s an important opportunity for them to learn from one of the greats.�

Meanwhile, former California Ballet stars Marlene Jones and Douglas Hevenor, are polishing their act up in Seattle. They will dance the award-winning “Albinoni Adagio� for this performance.

Mahon admits to a case of the jitters as the concert date gets closer.

“I’m just a little nervous about the ticket sales. It’s been slow so far, even though we’ve had ads in the paper. But we haven’t sent out our brochure yet,� she added, hopefully.

The San Diego Foundation for the Performing Arts accepted a tough challenge in December-- raise $100,000 by the end of 1988 to satisfy a grant requirement for double-matching funds.

Now, only a few months later, the foundation has reached its ambitious goal. Development director Fred Colby was jubilant when he described the generous outpouring of support from the local community.

“The most encouraging part of the whole thing, is that we’ve gotten a lot of new contributors, and the old contributors have increased their donations,� Colby said. “It looks like we’re going to make our $323,000 goal for the 1987-88 season, although we’re still $50,000 shy of that total right now.

“We didn’t know how we’d be affected by the competition, from San Diego Performances or just from normal attrition. But we’ve only lost 10% of the old supporters, and we’ve added about four times as many as we lost. Now we’re up to 453 contributors, including individuals and corporate sponsors.

“When I started, I had my heart in my throat,� Colby said, “but the response has been overwhelming--and this was supposed to be a tough year for fund-raising.�

Another changing of the guard at Stage Seven Dance Theatre. Katherine Irey, co-director and ballet mistress of the company, will replace Wayne Davis at the helm of both the company and the school.

“Wayne just decided to retire. He’s been in the dancing business for 30 years, and he just wanted to do something else,� Irey said. “I think the potential for his leaving has been building for several years.�

For now, Davis is determined to make a vocation out of a life-long avocation.

“He’s working for a nursery now,� Irey said. “He’s always loved gardening, and now he’s pursuing that--at least for the time being.�

How will the shift in regime affect the dance ensemble?

“I’m absolutely committed to continuing the company,� Irey said. “The only difference is that we’ll be using several guest choreographers for performances. We, as dancers and artists, have been doing mostly Davis’ works. Now we’ll have different choreographic styles to do. We’ve already contracted with five choreographers for our May concert, and they all work differently. That stretches the dancers.

“We haven’t lost any dancers,� Irey said, “and we’re continuing to gain new dancers as people become more interested in us. We still have plans to do two or three concerts a year. In fact, we’re getting ready for our Memorial Day weekend concert right now, and we’re all very excited about it.�