‘Sylvia’ resurrected at center

It’s been a long time, but “Sylvia” is back, center stage, in a resurrected ballet about a chaste nymph and her quest to avoid the temptations of love.

After a half a century, the acclaimed American Ballet Theatre has reawakened Sir Frederick Ashton’s ballet as a two-act performance on stage next week at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

“Sylvia” is the centerpiece of American Ballet Theatre’s four-part series, which also includes performances of George Balanchine’s “Apollo,” John Cranko’s “Jeu de Cartes” and Mark Morris’ “Gong.”

Last performed in 1952 by the Royal Ballet, “Sylvia” got a new lease on life in 2004 when choreographer Christopher Newton devoted months of grueling research and study to the ballet.

Newton was involved in the 1952 performance, which was only the second production following the Paris premiere in 1876.

Memories of the 1952 showcase had been mostly forgotten, leaving Newton with only choreographer notes, limited film footage, and his own recollections to piece the mythic Greek romance back together. “It’s a huge deal, mostly because of its historic background,” said dancer Craig Salstein. “It had become lost when they decided to revive it. Newton has a photographic memory and came up with a mostly valid reproduction.”

The result is a fast-paced, light-hearted frolic about Sylvia, a loyal nymph who swears off love out of allegiance to the goddess Diana.

As is often the case in matters of the heart, love finds Sylvia, via the aphrodisiac arrow of Eros, and she falls for the gentle shepherd Aminta.

The incorrigible Orion tries to sabotage the pair’s love with a plot to kidnap Sylvia, provoking an intervention by the gods and a short lesson on love and loyalty.

“It’s like a big ‘Seinfeld’ episode in that it all comes back together in the end,” Salstein joked.

The ballet is set to a score by Leo Delibes and includes dancers Julie Kent, Maxim Beloserkovsky, Angel Corella, Paloma Herrera, Gillian Murphy and Ethan Stiefel.

The American Ballet Theater is recognized as one of the top ballet troupes in the country, with over 15 international tours to 42 countries on engagements often sponsored by the U.S. State Department.

The group’s repertory includes all of the great full-length story ballets of the 19th century, as well as works from the early part of the 20th century and several contemporary pieces.dpt.28-happs-2-BPhotoInfoUP1QDO2K20060428iyel72ncIF YOU GO