The Georgia

Youth Ballet will present two exciting new pieces this

weekend at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center.

The ballets

were choreographed by internationally renowned dancers

Elie Lazar ("Untitled") and Vladmir Issaev

("Chipollino") and have provided the dancers of

the Georgia Youth Ballet with an enriching opportunity.

Lazar began

dancing with the Israel National Ballet at the age of 17

and has danced with the Israel National Opera as well as

the Haifa Ballet. In 1986, Lazar joined the New Jersey

Ballet and is currently a faculty member at the School of

the Joffrey Ballet in New York. His piece

"Untitled" features music by Scott Killian and

will feature 15 dancers from the Georgia Youth Ballet

Company.

"Chipollino,"

which Issaev choreographed to music by A. Katchaturian,

is based on a Russian folk tale about vegetables.

Chipollino is the last name of a popular family of onions

that live in a very happy village with many other

vegetables. All is well in the village until the Chief of

Police Tomato arrives to tell the villagers of a new law,

stating that all villagers must pay for sunlight, rain

and wind.

The

villagers are upset and young Chipollino steps on the

chief's foot as a sign of protest and runs away. When the

police cannot find him, they take his father to jail.

The chief

also sees that Mother Pumpkin is building her new house

on Countess Cherry's land and he orders the police to

destroy the house. Chipollino hears the news and decides

to rescue his father and put a stop to the evil police.

At Countess Cherry's castle, Chipollino and Ms. Carrot

befriend the sad princess on their way to rescuing

Chipollino's father.

Through

music and dance, "Chipollino" not only tells

the story of a fanciful folk tale, but also expresses a

much deeper political statement. "Chipollino"

is presented in two acts and is dedicated to the group's

graduating seniors: Randi Loudermilk, Starr's Mill; David

Gant, Mt. Zion High School, and Madge Turner, home

school.

The show

will be presented at 7:30 p.m Saturday, March 11 and at

2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12 at the Clayton County

Performing Arts Center. Admission is $5 and be purchased

at the door or by calling 770-716-9858.

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