The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet will present its annual Spring Gala performance at the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater on Friday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m. The program, under the artistic direction of Monika Alch, will feature all the students of CRYB in a mixed program featuring classical and contemporary repertoire. Submitted photo by Rob Sigler

CHAUTAUQUA — The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet announced that one of its premier annual showcases will be hosted at a brand new location this summer.

Tickets are now on sale for CRYB’s 2018 Spring Gala performance to be performed at the newly renovated Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater on Friday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m.

“Chautauqua Institution is proud to celebrate the young dancers of CRYB,” said Deborah Sunya Moore, vice president of performing and visual arts at Chautauqua Institution.

The program, under the artistic direction of Monika Alch, will feature all the students of CRYB in a mixed program featuring classical and contemporary repertoire. Guest performers are Brittany Bush and Spencer Keith from the Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre in Boston.

The first half of the program will feature students from Creative Dance up through Advanced in a ballet suite to music by Saint-Saens, including “Carnival of the Animals,” and choreographed by CRYB faculty. Rounding out Act One is “Until the Dawn,” a new, modern work for CRYB’s Advanced students which was choreographed by CRYB Modern Instructor Sukanya Burman in the style of Martha Graham.

The second half of the program will highlight CRYB’s Pre-Professional students and will feature the “Red Violin Suite” and excerpts from the ballet “La Bayadere.” Solos and demi-solos will be performed by Megan Stefanik, Cate Walter, Maya Swanson and Cecelia Johnson. Guest performers Bush and Keith will perform the famous “Golden Idol” variation from “La Bayadere” and will dance a pas de deux from the ballet.

Tickets may be purchased online at cryb.net or chq.org, or by calling 357-6250. Tickets are $10 for students and $18 for adults. In addition to regular tickets, CRYB is offering a special VIP ticket which will include a catered pre-show reception in one of the new amphitheater’s reception rooms. VIP tickets are $55 per person or $100 for two. VIP tickets can be purchased by calling CRYB at 664-9766.

There will also be a special morning performance for area schools on Thursday, June 14, at 10 a.m. Interested educators may contact Suzanne Fassett, Chautauqua Institution’s director of arts education, at 357-6421 or sfassett@chq.org to make a reservation.

“When CRYB leadership approached us about the idea of opening the Chautauqua Amphitheater early for the Spring Gala, we wanted to increase the impact of these aspiring artists by also presenting the performance as a field trip opportunity,” Moore said. “Being able to invite school children, families and the public to celebrate dance is a real pleasure.

“We encourage the community to come early, enjoy the grounds and complete the experience with dinner or ice cream for the whole family.