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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>CLEVELAND, OH April 30, 2016:</span></b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> Cleveland Ballet is pleased to announce that tickets are now available for their commissioned, new version of the comic ballet Coppélia. This world premiere production marks Cleveland Ballet’s second performance in its debut season at the Ohio Theatre.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>As Cleveland’s only resident ballet company, Cleveland Ballet boasts a company of seven core dancers and four apprentices. As a professional ballet company, dancers rehearse full time with Cleveland Ballet for the entire season. In addition, choreographer Oller builds dances and dramatic moments around Cleveland Ballet company members, ensuring a strong and unique-to-Cleveland world premiere production.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Coppélia originally premiered 146 years ago in May of 1870. Oller’s wholly new version is an exciting for the city and Cleveland Ballet. Company member Jason L. Wang sees the benefit of transforming a classic for today’s audience,“I love classical works, and it’s rare to have an opportunity to be a part of a new vision of a classic. I believe Oller will breathe new life into Coppélia and give the audiences something they’ve never experienced before.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Coppélia tells the story of Swanhilda and Frantz whose carefree romance is threatened when Frantz becomes infatuated with the beautiful Coppélia. Frantz does not know that his heart belongs to a life-size doll created by the town’s toy maker Dr. Coppélius. Because Franz’s passion for Coppelia is so great he pushes aside his true love, Swanhilda. Eager to win back Franz’s heart, Swanhilda dresses like the doll Coppélia fooling both men into believing the doll has come to life. The danger mounts as Dr. Coppélius seeks to keep the living doll hidden from the world while Frantz tries to run away with his new-found love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>For more information on our world premiere of Coppelia at the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square on Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 14 at 1 p.m., visit our website www.clevelandballet.org or playhousesquare.org to purchase tickets ($20-49).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>What: Ramón Oller returns to complete the choreography for Coppélia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Who: Cleveland Ballet<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Performances: Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Time: 7 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Location: Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Admission: $20-49<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>For more information on Cleveland Ballet, visit clevelandballet.org, or call 216-320-9000<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>