Virginia National Ballet
Virginia National Ballet completes 2021-22 season, its 9and Season, with the revival of the hugely popular ballet “Snow White”, which was originally premiered 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 at both the Historic Palace Theater in Cape Charles, Va., 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 2022!
Also, this will be the farewell performance for the beautiful Virginia National Ballet principal dancer of six years, Saaya Pikula Mason, as her husband has taken a job out of state, and she will be joining 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.
Northern Virginia audiences can see “Snow White” at HPAC on Saturday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Hylton box office or online at https://hylton.calendar.gmu.edu/virginia-national-ballet-snow-white/ .
This ballet is perfect for families and delights adults and young children alike. The ballet in two acts tells the famous fairy tale of White as snow with an orchestral score showcasing familiar melodies made popular by the Disney film.
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 on VNB’s “Nutcracker” and 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 many world premieres and title roles for Virginia National Ballet, including title roles in ‘Cinderella’, ‘Snow White’, ‘Aida and Carmen’, ‘Leading Roles in La Bohème’, ‘Aladdin “, “Carmina Burana, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Bolero”, “Life in the Fast Lane”, “The Beatles”, “Tango Nights” and “For those we have lost”.
Artistic director Rafik Hegab is the 2019 winner of the Seefeldt Prize 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 2019-2020 season he created his own version of “Cinderella” and after a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, he premiered three world premieres in 2021-22: “Tango Nights”, ” The Beatles” and “For Those We’ve Lost.” Other past premieres include ‘Aladdin’, ‘Aida’, ‘La Boheme’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Bolero’, ‘Carmen’, ‘Carmina Burana’, ‘Collection’, ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ and many short films. contemporary and neoclassical 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 has toured the world performing lead roles with the company.
Executive Director Elysabeth Muscat Hegab founded VNB in 2013 after spending twelve years as Executive 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 Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute, where she served as chair of the voice department of the preparatory division. .
VNB is very grateful to its sponsors: Prince William County, Micron, Mr. Delbert Parks, Hollins & Fur Associates, NOVEC, United Bank, The Virginia Commission for the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Prince William County Arts Council, The Hylton Performing Arts Center and many individual donors.
VNB is housed in a beautiful facility in Manassas/Bristow with 3 large studios, and the VNB school offers classes 6 days a week. For more information, please visit https://virginianationalballet.org or call 703-753-5005.
