Findlay, Ohio, Feb. 25, 2004 — Ballet Internationale from Indianapolis, Ind., will perform Carmen Thursday, March 18, at 8 p.m. in the TLB Auditorium, Winebrenner Theological Seminary, as part of The University of Findlay’s Concert and Lecture Series.

Carmen is a timeless, seductive tale of a femme fatale that features the fiery choreography of Alberto Alonso, music by Georges Bizet-Rodion Shchedrin, costumes by Galina Solovyeva and scenery based on an original design by Boris Messerer.

In its 30th season, Ballet-Internationale – Indianapolis has earned a national and international reputation that draws dancers from around the world. The Ballet’s mission is to stimulate the evolution of the community in those ways only possible with world-class ballet.

Eldar Aliev is the artistic director of Ballet Internationale. Utilizing his creativity and connections in the dance world, Aliev has quickly transformed Indiana’s only professional ballet company into an internationally acclaimed ensemble. Since assuming the role of artistic director in 1994, Aliev has recruited many outstanding dancers and expanded the repertoire to include the finest in classical and contemporary ballet.

He has created a number of remarkable productions, such as A Thousand and One Nights, The Nutcracker and The Firebird, that have garnered acclaim from international dance critics.

Prior to joining Ballet Internationale, Aliev enjoyed a 13-year career as a principal dancer with the Kirov Ballet where he appeared in more than 30 countries. He toured with the Kirov Ballet, Yekaterina Maximova, Vladimir Vasiliev and the Stars of the Kirov and Bolshoi Ballets, and in the Galaxy of Russian Ballet series. With his commanding presence and unique interpretations of lead roles in classics such as Swan Lake, La Bayadère, Le Corsair, Spartacus, Don Quixote and others, Aliev quickly became a Kirov favorite and sought-after guest star. He appeared with numerous companies including the Bolshoi Ballet and The Australian Ballet and has been featured regularly in gala events in Germany, Japan, Canada and the United States.

Aliev is also well known for his performances in several commercial videotapes, such as Kirov in London, Kirov’s Classics, Swan Lake, Le Corsaire and Pas-de-deux in White Night. He tours the world creating new choreography, staging classical repertoire and teaching.

Tickets for the event are $25 for the public, $15 for UF faculty and staff and $10 for UF and high school students. They are available by calling 419-434-5335 or emailing funkk@findlay.edu.