Ballets with a Twist show brings cocktails to life through dance

This week, Philadelphians will be able to witness a unique performance at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center with the production of ‘Cocktail Hour: The Show’ by Ballets with a Twist. 

The New York-based dance company will be in West Chester on Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m. with this new production that melds original choreography, music, and costume design in a series of sparkling vignettes.  

As the release notes, Philadelphians can watch as numbers like the ‘White Russian’, ‘Hot Toddy’, and other spirits of the season spring off the menu and onto the stage in an evening of “high-style merriment.” The show was created by artistic director and choreographer Marilyn Klaus and is said to combine the glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age with a sleek, 21st century sensibility. 

‘Hot Toddy’ will take audience members back in time through the Roaring Twenties, while ‘Manhattan’ will use the stylings of a jazz trumpet to set the mood. And finally, ‘White Russian’ will tell the tale of a wintry royal wedding set to the tones of a cinematic piano concerto.

This particular performance was conceived by a trio of powerhouses in the performance world through the company. Klaus’ choreography has been seen internationally and she formed Ballets with a Twist in association with Grammy-nominated composer Stephen Gaboury and costume designer Catherine Zehr.

Gaboury’s compositions have been performed by celebrated musicians nationwide, and as a pianist, he has collaborated and toured the world with pop/rock icon Cyndi Lauper for more than a decade. 

And lastly, Catherine Zehr is the artistic force behind the company’s costume design, with her previous work lauding in American fashion houses and through her own label. 

As the release notes, Ballets with a Twist will be part of the inaugural Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center Holiday Extravaganza — a month-long celebration of the performing arts in West Chester, and will be appearing on the A. Roy Smith Mainstage, a fully accessible, comfortable, and intimate theater.

Ticket prices range from $35, $40 to $45. For tickets, Philadelphians can visit uptownwestchester.org, email info@uptownwestchester.org, call 610-356-2787, or stop by the box office at 226 N. High Street.