by Lucy Shaw

As Ballet Austin's Artistic Director, one of Lambros Lambrou's goals is to keep his company accessible to the audience. The new 1997-98 season reflects this desire by offering performances that both familiar and innovative. This season includes two classic favorites, Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker, as well as two premieres, Ulysses and Cinderella. In addition to the full-length productions is an evening of mixed repertoire, featuring George Balanchine's Serenade and Peter Pucci's Size Nine Spirit. "This is one of the best seasons ever. It has something for everyone," says Lambrou.

Ballet Austin, founded in 1956, has been training students at the Academy and performing in Austin for over 40 years. Its numbers have grown rapidly over the years to now include 24 professional dancers in the Company and over 400 students enrolled at the Academy every semester. The Company has recruited international dancers from Cuba, Iceland, Mexico, Ukraine, and all over the United States. Lambrou himself is a native Cypriote with a rich and diverse background. "I consider myself a citizen of the world, and I try to bring a little bit of all that to Austin," says Lambrou. At the same time, the Company also takes pride in its eclecticism and local flavor. Overall, the Company has developed into a strong team with loyal subscribers who have been witness to their growth. While keeping a firm grasp on classical style and technique, the company still continues to evolve, grow, and expand. "We have endeavored to prove that ballet today is varied and so much more powerful than it was at the turn of the century," says Lambrou. Because of the Company's growing success, audiences are eagerly awaiting Ballet Austin's new season and especially Mr. Lambrou's world premiere of Ulysses, a mythological journey based on Homer's Odyssey.

The season starts off with the Ballet Austin premiere of Cinderella. Stephen Mills, who has worked with Ballet Austin in the past, will be the guest choreographer for this opening event. Though the volume of his work has been in the contemporary vein, this time his choreography will be very classical. He has chosen the music of Alexander Glazounov to be played by the Austin Symphony Orchestra with Sung Kwak conducting. Ballet Austin enjoys working with Mills. "It's fun to have him back," says Cookie Ruiz, Ballet Austin's new general manager.

The next production will be a series of medleys, the first being George Balanchine's Serenade. "In my opinion it is his greatest work ever -- hauntingly romantic, an incredible ensemble piece," says Lambrou. It has been showcased all over the world and will be a Ballet Austin premiere this season. The second of the evening will be Peter Pucci's Size Nine Spirit. Featuring the music of the Benny Goodman Orchestra, this piece takes a nostalgic look at the big band era. "It's a hit!" says Lambrou.

Then, as the holidays roll around, the 35th annual Nutcracker will makes its regular appearance. Every year Ballet Austin performs this holiday favorite for theater-goers as well as Austin-area schoolchildren (in shortened form) who may not normally have a chance to see such a production. Last year Ballet Austin got all new sets and costumes for the event. This year promises to have additional surprises. "There will be a lot of humor," says Lambrou.

Up next will be Ulysses, Lambrou's highly anticipated world premiere telling the tale of a man's long journey home. To heighten the experience of the performance, Lambrou wants to use high-tech lighting, music by a collage of Greek composers, and ancient Greek narration. "I'm hoping to have a lot of fun with it," says Lambrou. It is a story that allows for a lot of individual interpretation, and Lambrou says so far he's been inspired for the special effects in this production by F/X landmarks like Star Wars and Star Trek.

The season's finale will be a revival of the perennially loved Romeo and Juliet. "It has become one of our signature pieces," says Lambrou. This will be its second production by Ballet Austin since its premiere in 1992. It proves to be a box office success that audiences are consistently thrilled with. "I feel it brings the audience and dancers back together again," says Lambrou.

So, not only is Ballet Austin confident and excited about the new season, they are also very happy to welcome Cookie Gregory Ruiz as their new general manager. Ruiz, voted unanimously to take the position, was previously the Ballet's executive development director. She has over 15 years experience in the areas of strategic planning, program development, and non-profit fund-raising. She is taking the place of Paul Kaine, who will be moving to the Sarasota Ballet of Florida to take the position of executive director. Ballet Austin is proud that their own general manager was selected from a nationwide search because of his skill and efforts. "We wish him well and look forward to the new challenges we face," says the president of the Board of Directors, Emily Moreland. "The talent in Austin is absolutely phenomenal and we are blessed to have the Company as a resource," says Ruiz. She is looking forward to the new season attracting an even broader audience and encouraging the use of ballet as an art of communication. "Cookie Ruiz has the skills, the energy, and an incredible nurturing aspect that is going to carry us into the millennium," says Lambrou. With an energetic new general manager, a strong company of dancers, a growing Academy at the heart, and an artistic director not afraid to add a bit of humor and the absurd, Ballet Austin ushers in the new season.