Virginia National Ballet presents “Aladdin” at the Hylton

(Press Release) Virginia National Ballet is thrilled to announce the World Premiere of Aladdin, choreographed by its acclaimed Artistic Director, Rafik Hegab.

This family friendly production will be sure to enchant people of all ages with the famous story of Aladdin and his adventures with Jasmine, Jafar, the Genie, the magic lamp, and the magic carpet, as he navigates his way through castles and caves of wonder.

Aladdin is the most famous story from the well-known book, Arabian Nights.  This popular story has been made into a Disney movie, and is often performed as a musical or as a ballet.  VNB’s version is brand new, choreographed by Mr. Hegab.

Audiences will be treated to gorgeous sets and costumes and wonderful special effects, performed to a brilliant musical score by Carl Davis.  You will delight in seeing the exciting technical and bravura dancing of VNB’s world class company of international professional dancers.

Ticket prices range from $20 – $40 and are available at the Hylton Box Office, or online at tickets.com.

VNB Principals Emanuel Tavares and Saaya Pikula are performing Aladdin and Jasmine.  Tavares and Pikula are quite well known regionally, as they partner together as Principal Dancers in all VNB productions.  Before Aladdin, they starred in the leading roles in VNB’s Snow White, La Boheme, Aida, Carmina Burana, Bolero, Bohemian Rhapsody, and annually in The Nutcracker.  They are in demand as guest Principal Dancers with many companies throughout the state of Virginia as well as companies in Florida and elsewhere.

Pikula and Tavares are enjoying their third season as Principal Dancers with VNB.  Other dancers performing feature roles are Masaya Kaneko of Japan as the Genie, Seulbi Lee of South Korea, Daniela Moya of Mexico, Olga Aru of Ukraine, Quinn Fieldstone of Canada, Karla Rodriguez of Cuba, and American dancers Lydia Sanders, Regan Shaw, and Amanda Michel.

Also performing are outstanding students from VNB’s Junior Company:  Jade Condrell, Zoe Frantz, Camila Griggs, and Laura Rosendale, and students from the School’s upper levels 3-5, ranging in age from 10 – 15.  One of the great advantages for students studying at VNB is the invaluable opportunity to perform in world class professional ballet productions with professional dancers at the beautiful Hylton Performing Arts Center.

Mr. Hegab previously choreographed one selection from the musical Aladdin, “A Whole New World”, which was performed at the Regional Emmy Award Winning Production of “The Circle of Life:  The Music of Tim Rice” at The Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD, and was televised on PBS.  Hegab cast Emanuel Tavares to perform as Aladdin in that event.  This time, he is choreographing the complete ballet for VNB to be performed at the Hylton.

In the Spring, VNB will be presenting the ballet Carmen based on Bizet’s famous opera and featuring some live singing, and the Premiere of Life in the Fast Lane, a rock ballet to The Eagles’ greatest hits, on Sunday, April 28, 3:00 pm, also at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

Tickets to all performances are available online through the Hylton’s Website or on tickets.com.

VNB was founded by Elysabeth Muscat Hegab (Managing Director) and Rafik Hegab (Artistic Director) in 2013.  Originally known as Gainesville Ballet, VNB relocated to a beautiful, brand new facility with three large studios in Manassas after spending 5 years at the Gainesville location.

In addition to performing a full season at the Hylton, VNB is also on the Virginia Commission for the Arts Tour Directory, and has performed at the Ernst Cultural Center in Annandale, as well as the International Ballet Festival in Nicaragua.  Hegab was a guest choreographer for The Circle of Life:  The Music of Tim Rice, produced by Young Artists of America at the Music Center at Strathmore.  This show was also broadcast on PBS, for which it won a Regional Emmy Award.

VNB has been a three time finalist of the Seefeldt Awards for Outstanding Arts Organization, and Hegab was a Finalist twice for Outstanding Individual Artist.  VNB School won “Best Dance Studio” 2017 in Northern Virginia Magazine.

VNB is supported in part by The National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Prince William County, NOVEC, the Dominion Energy Foundation, and the Hylton Performing Arts Center. For more information about Virginia National Ballet, please visit https://virginianationalballet.org or on Facebook @VirginiaNationalBalletCompany.