An Angelic Romeo & Juliet Premiere at The Smith Center
Featuring Nevada Ballet Theatre Company Artists Julia Pasquale and Sergio Alvarez. Photography by Alicia Lee.
Nevada Ballet Theatre Dances in the Heart of Verona
"Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hand unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; whose misadventured piteous overthrows, doth with their death bury their parents' strife."
William Shakespear
October 17, 2025 — The Romeo & Juliet premiere by the Nevada Ballet Theatre softly unfolded the story of two destined angels whose love remains one of the greatest symbols of romance. It was a success of talent, passion, and devotion to art and culture. Choreographer James Canfield understood the journey, and the audience responded with bursts of applause and hopeful whispers that maybe this was the one where these two star-crossed lovers would live happily ever after, as we know it. A destiny, nevertheless, more beautiful when choreographed and reimagined in ballet.
“It is exciting to present works that are steeped in history and tradition, yet still resonate deeply with us today,” said Artistic Director Roy Kaiser. “With its universal themes of love, conflict, and the search for connection, Romeo & Juliet reminds us of the life experiences that we all share now, just as they did centuries ago. I’m thrilled for our audiences to experience the beauty of our art form and the power of this classic work once again.”
It was as if Juliet never touched the ground, gracefully portrayed by Julia Pasquale, and when Romeo joined her in the pas de deux their choreography—portrayed by Sergio Alvarez—coupled with technique and strength, turned their ballet into what successfully mimicked two ultra-light shadows, flowing so thinly and ready to disappear at the blink of an eye. It was divine.
The contrast of their love story with the dance of blades between Romeo, and a wild Tybalt and Mercutio had the audience awakened on the sidelines of passion, ego, and tragedy. Much like romance led the way, death also swiftly announced itself throughout, one such moment being when Mercutio ever so naturally and gracefully fell from the stairs of battle into the arms of his friends and family. However tragic, it was among the stellar moments of the ballet.
If Romeo & Juliet were considered a fairytale, the Nevada Ballet Theatre and its cast certainly set the stage and invited an audience yearning to experience more of its classical culture; some attendees also wearing the part as if they too had stepped out of a book. It inspired an evening of dreams for everyone, regardless of how this tragedy might fatedly have ended. Sincerely, the evening resonated with a centuries' old moral, a faint but still living whisper of love and peace across The Smith Center's red vintage walls.
It makes it that much more special that this season's The Magic of Movement, with Romeo & Juliet as part of it, will feature four performances with two different casts. It is an exemplary, reimagined ballet of talent and dedication as it continues past a successful premiere evening.
Follow the Nevada Ballet Theatre 2025-2026 season at: https://nevadaballet.org/
