KING CITY — Monterey County Dance Foundation’s charitable event, Tour de Dance, this Saturday will raise funds for South County’s first original ballet production, “The Nightingale,” next year.
Tour de Dance will include a silent auction, wine tasting, raffle, food and live music, in addition to musical excerpts from “The Nightingale,” the first ballet written in the area. The Sept. 8 event begins at 6:30 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. at the Monterey County Dance Theatre, 332 Bassett St., in King City.
“The Nightingale,” based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, will feature an original ballet score composed by local music educator Steve Ettinger. The ballet will be choreographed by Artistic Director Janette Harkness and performed by more than 75 local dance students of Monterey County Dance Theatre.
Monterey County Pops orchestra will play the symphony when the ballet is presented for three shows in April 2019 at the Robert Stanton Theatre in King City.
“The ballet has been commissioned for Monterey County Dance Theatre, our students and our community,” Harkness said. “We are honored at the trust Mr. Ettinger has given us to bring his music to life in dance. It is an artistic educational experience enriching not only the lives of our community, but the lives of the participants.”
For tickets to Tour de Dance, or to make a donation to the nonprofit dance foundation, contact Jan Harkness at 831-261-2981.
