Ballet Hawaii will present “Balanchine to Broadway,” an evening of ballet, at 7 p.m. July 26 and 4 p.m. July 27 at Leeward Community College Theatre.
The program will feature George Balanchine’s “Serenade, a Midsummer Night’s Dream;” Pas de Deux, by Toni Pimble and Corps de Ballet by Christine Kaminski, and a Broadway piece entitled “The Groove Is in the Heart,” by award-winning choreographer Lainie Sakakura.
The show is the culmination of Ballet Hawaii’s three-week Summer Intensive starring Megan Fairchild, principal dancer, New York City Ballet; Lucien Postlewaite, principal dancer, Pacific Northwest Ballet; Courtney Schenberger, principal dancer, Carolina Ballet; Mark Tucker and Danielle Tolmie Tucker, principal dancers, Eugene Ballet; Wyatt McConville-dcCoy, Sacramento Ballet; and Ballet Hawaii’s Summer Intensive Corps de Ballet.
The program is being staged and choreographed by some of the world’s ballet luminaries, including Robert Barnett, Atlanta Ballet artistic director emeritus; Lainie Sakakura, award winning choreographer and Verdon Fosse legacy reconstructor; Maiqui Mañosa, Val Caniparoli stager; and John Selya, Tony-nominated star of “Movin’ Out.”
Ballet Hawaii’s Nataliya Andriyevska and Christine Kaminski and faculty members Claudia Kalikolehuaiukaomanoa Pizzino, kumu kaliko, and Elisha Roman also participated in the staging.
The program is the first endeavor under the leadership of Richard Vida, new executive director of Ballet Hawaii.
Tickets are $45, available at the Leeward theater box office at https://honoluluboxoffice.com/shows/2024/7/26/balanchine-to-broadway or visit BalletHawaii.ORG/events/Balanchine-to-broadway …
Ukulele Festival July 27 at Kapiolani Park
The Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii will stage the International Ukulele Festival of Hawaii from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 27 at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki.
Pre-festival events are slated the day before, July 26, at different venues. Ukulele and hula will be performed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the lobby of the Hawaii Prince Hotel on Ala Moana Boulevard, and a concert is set from noon to 2 p.m. at the Beach Bar of the Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel on Kalakaua Avenue.
The primary attraction, at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand, will feature Raiatea Helm, Jake Shimabukuro, Kalaʻe Camarillo, Mika Kane, Jody Kamisato, Crossing Rain, Craig & Sarah, Cynthia Lin, Corey Fujimoto, Benny Chong, Byron Yasui, Honokaa, Kalei Gamiao, Sho Humphries & Tyler Donkoh-Halm, 1933 Ukulele All Stars, Tomoki Suzuki, Dr. Trey and Flatnine Ukulele Jazz Orchestra.
A secondary stage, nearby in the park, will assemble keiki strummers from the Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios, Ukulele Hale, and Kapālama Elementary School.
There also will be ukulele display at booths by uke makers from Hawaii and a special collection of vintage ukes from the Hawaii State Archives.
“On behalf of Ukulele Festival Hawaii, we congratulate Kazuyuki and the Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii on celebrating 15 years of sharing their love and passion for the ‘ukulele with Hawaii and the world,” said Roy and Kathy Sakuma in a joint statement. The Sakumas, founders of the uke fest, presented the event for 52 years. The Ukulele Foundation, current sponsor for the past 15 years, previously called the attraction the Ukulele Picnic.
Admission is free.
And that’s Show Biz…