Spanish National Ballet

Leonide Massine's comic ballet "The Three-Cornered Hat" is an other of those enduring works that emerged from the creative ferment of Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Created in 1919, the work was a collaboration between Massine, composer Manuel de Falla and painter Pablo Picasso, who created the sets and costumes.

Leonide Massine's comic ballet "The Three-Cornered Hat" is an other of those enduring works that emerged from the creative ferment of Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Created in 1919, the work was a collaboration between Massine, composer Manuel de Falla and painter Pablo Picasso, who created the sets and costumes.

Leonide Massine's comic ballet "The Three-Cornered Hat," which the Spanish Nacional Ballet will dance at the Performing Arts Center Oct. 6 through 11, embodies the soul of sunny Spain. But behind its authenticity lies a personal tragedy.

Leonide Massine's comic ballet "The Three-Cornered Hat," which the Spanish Nacional Ballet will dance at the Performing Arts Center Oct. 6 through 11, embodies the soul of sunny Spain. But behind its authenticity lies a personal tragedy.

Dancing most of the time to taped symphonic music, revelling in driving, flamenco-style heelwork executed by dozens of corps members in unison and exploiting non-stop emoting-for-approval by its principals, the Royal Spanish National Ballet brought to the Greek Theatre on Tuesday everything impuro in the updating and theatricalization of a unique cultural heritage.

The Royal Spanish National Ballet opened a five-day run Tuesday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, showcasing principals who were not reviewed during the company's appearances last week in Los Angeles. In the title role of Jose Granero's "Medea," Ana Gonzalez seemed bound within all-too-human dimensions and evoked nothing more tragic than a Spanish version of "Cavalleria Rusticana."

Bolshoi Ballet star Maya Plisetskaya will become the artistic director of Spain's national ballet, the Spanish Ministry of Culture announced Tuesday. A spokesman for the ministry's music and theater arts body said that Plisetskaya had a two-year contract starting in December. Under the contract--agreed upon by Spanish and Soviet cultural authorities--the dancer will spend six months a year in Spain and six months in the U.S.S.R.

The return of the Kirov and the Spanish National ballets, a world premiere of a work by Glen Tetley and rare (for the hall) performances of modern dance by the Paul Taylor Dance Company will be included in the 1992-93 dance series at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. As previously announced, the Royal Danish Ballet will dance three programs of works by August Bournonville.

A Spanish version of "The Three-Cornered Hat," the return of the Kirov Ballet, the world premiere of a work by Glen Tetley and the Paul Taylor Dance Company will highlight the 1992-93 dance series at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Dancing most of the time to taped symphonic music, revelling in driving, flamenco-style heelwork executed by dozens of corps members in unison and exploiting non-stop emoting-for-approval by its principals, the Royal Spanish National Ballet brought to the Greek Theatre on Tuesday everything impuro in the updating and theatricalization of a unique cultural heritage.

Regarding the performance of the Royal Spanish National Ballet at the Greek Theatre (reviewed by Lewis Segal, July 28): After buying a ticket well in advance at the Oxnard Ticketron, I drove to the Greek for the July matinee and found a sign saying the performance was canceled and that refunds could be obtained at the point of ticket purchase. I then drove to the Oxnard Ticketron and found a sign saying that the office had closed and giving addresses in Camarillo and Ventura. I got back on the freeway and went to the Ventura address (Jailhouse Records)

Jose Antonio, artistic director of the Royal Spanish National Ballet, will be featured in two of the four pieces on the bill during the company's Aug. 2-7 run at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. Antonio and principal dancer Juan Mata will alternate in "Alborada del gracioso," to Ravel's score, and will dance the previously announced "Medea," with music by Manolo Sanlucar. Both pieces have been choreographed by Jose Granero.