'Dream Threads' ballet stages worldwide premiere at TBPAC

For four years, artists in Chicago, New York and Tampa have been working on a ballet called Dream Threads.

On Sunday, local audiences will see its world premiere at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

"It's really exciting because in this economy not too many arts organizations are able to commission works," said Wendy Leigh, TBPAC's vice president for education. "We're able to do this because this process started four years ago, and it was a different time."

Even in a prosperous economy, this would be an awfully impressive achievement for TBPAC. The music was written specifically for this performance by one of the country's most acclaimed composers, Augusta Read Thomas, and the choreography comes from Tom Gold, best known as a soloist with New York City Ballet.

Thomas' music will be performed by the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra. The dancers come from the Orlando Ballet School (in residence at TBPAC's Patel Conservatory) and the Orlando Ballet itself.

There's other cool stuff on the program as well, including a Balanchine pas de deux performed by two principal dancers from the New York City Ballet.

The whole concert is titled "An American Dream," and it's set for 2 p.m. Sunday at TBPAC's Ferguson Hall. Tickets are $10-$20 in advance and $12-$25 the day of show, plus service charge. (813) 229-7827 or tbpac.org.

Marty Clear, Times correspondent