Nevada Ballet Theatre gears up for park performance

Friday, Sept. 14, 2001 | 8:44 a.m.

In 1717 King George I asked baroque composer George Frideric Handel to write festive music for an extravagant river excursion the king was hosting on the Thames.

Known as "Water Music," the delightful, merry pieces that enthralled royal party-goers centuries ago will accompany dancers Saturday as the Nevada Ballet Theatre performs an outdoor concert at the Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park.

The special performance of "Handel Celebration and Napoli" will include includes dances extracted from the Nevada Ballet Theatre's final performance of the 2000-2001 season in April at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall.

"It's very beautiful," Bruce Steivel, artist director for the Nevada Theatre, said of the performance. "It's very bright. The costumes are beautiful. The music itself is very regal."

In addition to "Water Music," dancers will perform the third act of the ballet "Napoli," which follows the marriage of two lovers in an Italian village. Soloists and principal dancers will perform the tarantella (a vivacious folk dance of Southern Italy) and marriage-festival dances.

"(The program) works very well for the park," Steivel said. "We really have a good time there."

Show-goers are advised to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

Nevada Ballet Theatre opens its 30th season in October with a performance of "Don Quixote" at the Rio's Samba Theatre.