SWAN LAKE

February 27 – March 1, 2026 at DeVos Performance Hall

Experience the timeless beauty of Swan Lake, one of the most beloved ballets of all time, in a world-premiere production by Grand Rapids Ballet’s Artistic Director and Choreographer, James Sofranko. This stunning new interpretation honors the original choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, while showcasing the talent and artistry of Grand Rapids Ballet’s dancers.

Set to the iconic score by Tchaikovsky, performed live by the Grand Rapids Symphony, Swan Lake tells the hauntingly beautiful story of Prince Siegfried’s love for Odette, a princess cursed to live as a swan, and a tragic betrayal orchestrated by the evil magician Rothbart and his daughter Odile, the Black Swan. The dual role of Odette and Odile is a true showcase of virtuosity and artistry, making it a must-see performance for any ballet lover.

Renowned ballerina Misa Kuranaga will be joining Grand Rapids Ballet as a principal guest artist for two performances, Friday February 27, and Sunday March 1 in the role of “Odette/Odile”.  One of the world’s current leading dancers, Kuranaga has performed with some of the world’s largest ballet companies and is currently a principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet.

SWAN LAKE | DATES & TIMES

To avoid Ticketmaster fees, please contact the Grand Rapids Ballet Box Office for tickets to Swan Lake by phone at 616.454.4771 ext 110, or in person.

The box office is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Estimated Run Time: Coming Soon

Seating: Reserved seating

Accessibility: Accessible and companion seating available

Please contact the Grand Rapids Ballet Box Office with any questions about this event via phone at 616.454.4771 ext 110, or by email at boxoffice@grballet.com. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

SWAN LAKE | CREATORS

James Sofranko

James Sofranko

Artistic Director & Choreographer

Biography

James Sofranko assumed the position of Artistic Director of Grand Rapids Ballet in 2018 after an 18-year career as a soloist with the San Francisco Ballet.

He is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and received his dance training at The Harid Conservatory in Florida and later at The Juilliard School in New York City, where he received his BFA in dance.

At San Francisco Ballet, he danced in numerous works and world premieres by choreographers such as Helgi Tomasson, Val Caniparoli, William Forsythe, Liam Scarlett, Justin Peck, Alexi Ratmansky, Edwaard Liang, Lar Lubovitch, Wayne Macgregor, Mark Morris, Julia Adam, Yuri Possokhov, Christopher Wheeldon, Paul Taylor, Arthur Pita, Stanton Welch, Jorma Elo, Hans Van Manen, Jiri Kylian, John Neumeier, James Kudelka, Lila York, Kenneth Macmillan, George Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins. Some of his favorite roles include Mercutio in Tomasson’s Romeo and Juliet, Eros in Mark Morris’ Sylvia, Bugle Boy in Taylor’s Company B, and the second sailor in Robbins’ Fancy Free.

He received an Isadora Duncan award (Izzie) for best performance in 2011 in Yuri Possokhov’s Classical Symphony.

James starred in the principal role of Eddie in the Broadway touring company of Movin’ Out, a musical choreographed by Twyla Tharp to the songs of Billy Joel.

In 2012 he co-founded DanceFAR (Dance For A Reason), an annual benefit performance and after-party that brings the Bay Area dance community together to support the work of the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC).

In 2014, he formed a new contemporary repertory company in San Francisco, SFDanceworks, presenting works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Lar Lubovitch, José Limón, Nacho Duato, Christopher Bruce, and world premieres by Penny Saunders, James Graham, Danielle Rowe, Dana Genshaft, and Sofranko himself. He continues his work with SFDanceworks currently in the role of Artistic Advisor.

Since 2018, Sofranko has created 11 original works for Grand Rapids Ballet: Two Tangos, Ballade, The Sweet By and By, A Dreamer, Calling Forth, Aubade, Julia, Piece of You, Ave Maria, Peter and the Wolf, and Romeo and Juliet Fantasy. In February 2023 he will create a world-premiere full-length production of Romeo and Juliet to be premiered at DeVos Performance Hall with the Grand Rapids Symphony. He has also created works for San Francisco Ballet School, SFDanceworks, Long Beach Ballet, and Marin Dance Theater. James has worked as a repetiteur for Yuri Possokhov, resident choreographer for San Francisco Ballet, and has staged his ballets on Cincinnati Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet and San Francisco Ballet.

Since assuming the directorship of Grand Rapids Ballet, the company’s repertoire has grown to include classical and contemporary works by some of the most sought after choreographers working today. The dancers have come from across the United States and around the world.

Sofranko has brought repertory which includes choreography by Yuri Possokhov, Alejandro Cerrudo, Penny Saunders, Trey McIntyre, Val Caniparoli, Adam Hougland, Danielle Rowe, Nicolas Blanc, Brian Enos, Christopher Stowell, Darrell Grand-Moultrie, Jennifer Archibald, Ben Stevenson, Edwaard Liang, Amy Seiwert, Katarzyna Skarpetowska, and George Balanchine. He instituted a program entitled Jumpstart which allows new choreographic talent to emerge from within the ranks of the dancers. He has personally collaborated on world premieres with musicians Gene Hahn and Jordan Hamilton, and the company collaborates frequently with other cultural organizations in the area, including with the Grand Rapids Symphony, ArtPrize, Festival of the Arts, DisArt and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Since 2019 the company has performed annually at the amphitheater at the Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park and in 2021 began performing at Studio Park Celebration Cinemas in downtown Grand Rapids.

During the 2020-21 season, Grand Rapids Ballet successfully weathered the pandemic by producing a first-ever virtual season, in collaboration with SALT Creative Production Studios. Sofranko curated four virtual programs, including “The Nutcracker Experience,” which was seen on television throughout West Michigan and earned the company an Emmy nomination.

James would like to thank his wife Cynthia Sheppard Sofranko for her ongoing support and creative input in all of his work.

Follow James on Instagram.

Peter Tchaikovsky

Peter Tchaikovsky

Composer

Biography

Peter (Pyotr) Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) was a Russian composer whose works included symphonies, concertos, operas, ballets, and chamber music. Tchaikovsky was born on May 7th, 1840 in Votkinsk, a small town in the Russian Empire. He displayed exceptional musical ability from an early age, improvising at the piano and composing his first song in 1844, aged four. Tchaikovsky persuaded his father that music was his future and he began composition lessons with Anton Rubinstein in 1861. Between 1871 and 1876 he produced a series of great works, including Swan Lake (1876) and the First Piano Concerto (1875), which established him as Russia’s leading composer. By 1887, he was conducting his own music to great acclaim and producing such works as the Sixth Symphony, the ‘Pathetique’ in 1893 (the year of his death), and the ballets The Sleeping Beauty (1890) and The Nutcracker (1892).

Misa Kuranaga

Misa Kuranaga

Principal Guest Artist (Friday 2/27 and Sunday 3/1)

Biography

One of the world’s foremost ballet artists, with an inspiring story of fearless strength and determination, irrefutable star Misa Kuranaga is much more than the Boston Ballet’s first-ever Principal Dancer from Asia. Beloved, dynamic, talented, and versatile, she inspires people all over the world with her indomitable spirit.

Trained at the Jinushi Kaoru Ballet School in her hometown of Osaka, Japan and later at the School of American Ballet, Kuranaga joined the Boston Ballet in 2003 and held the rank of Principal Dancer for many years before moving to San Francisco Ballet as a Principal Dancer in 2019. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including a gold medal in the junior division at the Moscow International Ballet Competition and the Professional Scholarship Award at the Prix de Lausanne Competition in 2001. Most notably, Kuranaga won the gold medal in the senior division of the 2006 USA International Ballet Competition.

Kuranaga has traveled all over the world performing in galas, including at the Youth American Grand Prix Gala in New York City, the Dance Open Gala in Helsinki, the seventh International Ballet Star Gala in Taipei, the Prix de Lausanne Gala in Tokyo, and the International Ballet Gala in Dortmund, Germany, as well as with Alina Cojocaru & Friends in Sarasota, Florida. In 2009, she performed Serenade with New York City Ballet in Lincoln Center, and in 2012, she danced the role of the Firebird as a guest artist with the Komaki Ballet in Tokyo, Japan. She is an annual guest artist at the Vail International Dance Festival, directed by Damien Woeztel.

Generous Support Provided By

LEAD SPONSOR

ADDITIONAL GENEROUS SUPPORT PROVIDE BY 

Mary & Richard Panek

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