Ballet Theatre of Dover on stage Aug. 1 at Schwartz Center

Sergio Alvarez from Bogota, Colombia, will dance with the Ballet Theatre of Dover's production of dances from “Raymonda” and “Swing Suite” at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Schwartz Center for the Arts in downtown Dover.

Dancers from the Ballet Theatre of Dover will be led by guest dancer Alvarez. He has danced with the National Ballet Theatre of Colombia, Ballet Fleming and the Roxey Ballet. He trained at the Anna Pavlova School in Colombia and at the Rock School in Pennsylvania. He will be dancing the role of Jean de Brienne partnering local dancer Sara Biscardi.

Dances from “Swing Suite” will feature the music that got America dancing from Benny Goodman in the '30s to the contemporary sounds of Brian Setzer and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. A kaleidoscope of the swing dance style will be presented in numerous ways from the classical ballet genre to tap, jazz and contemporary.

“Raymonda,” with music by composer Alexander Glazunov, is set in Europe during the time of the Crusades, and the Princess Raymonda is being wooed by a Saracen knight, while her beloved is off to the Crusades.  The divertissement (collection of dances) features music with distinct Middle Eastern overtones.

The production is a staging of the original ballet which was first premiered by the Maryinsky Ballet (formerly the Kirov) in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1898 with choreography by the prolific choreographer Marius Petipa, who brought classical ballet to its golden age in imperial Russia.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Buy an adult ticket and get a child’s ticket free. A special group discount is available for the 2 p.m. performance. Tickets are available at the Schwartz by calling 302-678–5152.

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