OKLAHOMA CITY - A black swan is not the only bird in classical ballet.  As part of a season-long celebration of its 40^th anniversary, The Oklahoma City Ballet will turn up the heat in February with an ambitious triple bill including a Robert Mills-remake of the Stravinsky classic The Firebird.

Originally created in 1910 by composer Igor Stravinsky and choreographer Michel Fokine, The Firebird is a story of good conquering evil. It is based on Russian folklore of a magical, glowing bird that is both a blessing and a curse to its captor.

"Our repertory programs are some of our most exciting offerings, both for our dancers and for our audiences. I am thrilled to bring In Between Dreams to Oklahoma and happy to have Alan Hineline here to create a new work. Plus, The Firebird is a piece I've always wanted to choreograph. It is going to be a great program and full of variety," Artistic Director Robert Mills said.

Choreographer Alan Hineline is best known to Oklahoma City audiences as the choreographer of the 2009 hit The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.Hineline returns in February with a commissioned original ballet. Formerly Artistic Director of Ballet Philippines in Manila, Hineline's work has appeared in the repertories of Pennsylvania Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Sacramento Ballet and Kansas City Ballet, among others.

The third ballet of the evening will be a signature work by Robert Mills. Choreographed in 2007 for Ballet Nouveau Colorado, Mills earned praise from World Dance Reviews, "...choreographers can be found who paint dances well. Robert Mills has done that, and did it again with In Between Dreams." In Between Dreams is a unique collaboration of stagecraft, lighting and design. The work is punctuated by the music of Estonian classical composer Arvo Part, one of the most prominent living composers of sacred music, and Gustav Mahler, a late-Romantic Austrian composer.

Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12 at the Civic Center Music Hall, located at 201 N. Walker Ave. in Oklahoma City. The matinee will feature family-focused events before and after the production.

Individual ticket prices range from $10 to $57 depending on section. Online ticketing is available at www.okcballet.com/tickets, by phone at 405.848.TOES (8637) or at the Civic Center Box Office.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA CITY BALLET

Founded in 1972, the Oklahoma City Ballet is the resident dance company of the Civic Center Music Hall and tours as part of the Oklahoma Arts Council's touring program. It is the only U.S. ballet company of its size to regularly debut world premier full-length ballets with original commissioned scores. Oklahoma City Ballet also tours under the auspices of the Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts Dance Touring Program and the Heartland Arts Fund. For more information, please visit www.okcballet.com or call 405.843.9898.