Provided by Virginia National Ballet
Virginia National Ballet ends the 2021-22 season, its ninth season, with the revival of the very popular ballet SNOW WHITE, originally created by VNB in 2017 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.
Snow White, choreographed by VNB Artistic Director Rafik Hegab, was so popular with audiences in 2017 that it demanded a revival presentation! VNB was scheduled to present Snow White in early 2020 both at the Historic Palace Theater in Cape Charles, Virginia, and the Hylton Performing Arts Center, but both productions had to be canceled due to the pandemic. VNB is finally able to present Snow White this spring!
Additionally, this will be the farewell performance for the beautiful principal dancer of Virginia National Ballet for six years, Mason Saaya Pikula, as her husband has accepted a job out of state, and she will join him there at the end of this season. Whether you’re a fan of Saaya Pikula Mason or haven’t had a chance to see her perform yet, this is your last chance to see her perform here in Virginia.
Snow White at Hylton Center
Northern Virginia audiences can see Snow White at HPAC on Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available through the Hylton box office or online at hylton.calendar.gmu.edu/virginia-national-ballet-snow-white/.
This ballet is perfect for families and delights adults and young children alike. The two-act ballet tells the famous fairy tale of Snow White with an orchestral score showcasing familiar melodies made popular by the Disney film.
The dancers
The title role of Snow White will be danced by VNB lead dancer Saaya Pikula Mason, partnered with Owdrim Kaew as the prince. Pikula Mason and Kaew also teamed up in VNB’s Nutcracker and in the recent production of Three World Premieres (Tango Nights, The Beatles and For These We Lost) at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Rounding out the cast, Virginia National Ballet has 12 professional dancers from the United States, Brazil and China. In addition, VNB’s exceptional Junior Company will dance supporting roles, as well as students from the Virginia National Ballet School.
Pikula Mason has danced numerous world premieres and title roles for Virginia National Ballet, including title roles in Cinderella, Snow White, Aida and Carmen, lead roles in La Boheme, Aladdin, Carmina Burana, Bohemian Rhapsody, Bolero , Life in the Fast Lane, The Beatles, Tango Nights and For Those We’ve Lost.
About the Artistic Director
Artistic director Rafik Hegab is the 2019 winner of the Seefeldt Award for Outstanding Individual Artist. He also received great reviews for his choreography on Broadwayworld.com, DC Metro Theater Arts, Inside NOVA, Bull Run Observer, etc. Each year he creates new world premieres for the Virginia National Ballet, including brand new works never before performed and remakes of classics. During the 2019-20 season, he created his own version of Cinderella.
After a year-long hiatus due to the pandemic, he created Three World Premieres in 2021-22: Tango Nights, The Beatles and For These We Lost. Other past premieres include Aladdin, Aida, La Boheme, Bohemian Rhapsody, Bolero, Carmen, Carmina Burana, Collection, Life in the Fast Lane, and numerous contemporary and neoclassical short works. He was also guest choreographer for The Circle of Life: The Music of Time Rice, a Young Artists of America production at the Music Center in Strathmore, which was televised on PBS. This production won a regional Emmy Award. Hegab is a former principal dancer with the Cairo Opera and Ballet in Egypt and toured the world performing lead roles with the company.
About the CEO
Managing Director Elysabeth Muscat Hegab founded VNB in 2013 after spending twelve years as Managing Director of Baltimore Ballet. She is also a former professional opera singer who sang lead roles in major European opera houses and taught for 15 years at the Johns Hopkins University Peabody Institutewhere she was chair of the voice department of the preparatory division.
Sponsors
VNB is very grateful to its sponsors: Prince William County, MicronMr. Delbert Parks, Hollins & Fur Associates, NOTEC, united bank, The Virginia Commission for the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, Prince William County Arts Council, The Hylton Performing Arts Centerand many individual donors.
VNB is housed in a beautiful facility in Manassas/Bristow with three large studios, and the VNB school offers classes six days a week. For more information, please visit virginianationalballet.org or call 703-753-5005.
