Wendy Whelan to join ‘Ballet Stars of New York’ concert April 4

Wendy Whelan, principal dancer of the New York City Ballet, will take the Koger Center stage April 4 with fellow NYCB dancers and University of South Carolina dance students in the “Ballet Stars of New York” performance.

Whelan performed in the university’s Ballet Stars of New York concerts in 2006 and 2007, but NYCB schedules did not permit her participation this year. On Tuesday, she learned that she would be able to perform in Columbia and immediately called dance professor Stacey Calvert to see whether her participation would be possible.

Whelan will dance “Liturgy,” a ballet by NYCB’s resident choreographer Chris Wheeldon, to music by Arvo Part.

“Wendy Whelan is the premiere super star in the ballet world,” said Susan Anderson, director of the dance program. “It would be similar to Michael Jordan coming to Columbia to play with the USC basketball team. All this would not be possible if not for our personal relationship with the New York City Ballet through Stacey Calvert.”

The event will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature accompaniment by the School of Music’s Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Donald Portnoy. Charleston Symphony Orchestra violinist Yuriy Bekker also will perform. The program also will feature works by George Balanchine and Peter Martin. Tickets are $25 for students, $30 for adults and $35 for orchestra seating. To reserve a ticket, call 803-777-5112. Or, to charge, call 803-251-2222. Proceeds will go toward student scholarships.

In addition to Whelan, principal dancers from the New York City Ballet will include Benjamin Millepied, Megan Fairchild, Albert Evans, Charles Askegard, Abi Stafford and Teresa Reichlen. They will join 25 dancers from the USC Dance Company.