Baryshnikov to Dance at Probst Center

He won’t be dancing “Swan Lake,” but the world’s best-known ballet dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov, will appear on stage at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in April.

Plagued by injuries and the natural aging process, Baryshnikov has left ballet behind in recent years, focusing instead on modern dance. He will dance with the White Oak Dance Project on April 25 and 26 at the Charles E. Probst Center for the Performing Arts.

Mike Pettite, whose Anaheim company is presenting the production with the Civic Arts Plaza Foundation, said there is a good chance the group will debut a new piece choreographed by Kevin O’Day, formerly of the Twyla Tharp dance group.

“In our negotiations with them in the contract, they wanted an additional day for rehearsals of a new piece they are going to put on,” Pettite said.

Thousand Oaks is one of three California cities the group will perform in this spring. The White Oak Dance Project will play two nights in San Diego and one night in Cupertino.

Luring the much-adored star to Thousands Oaks is a coup, said theater director Tom Mitze.

“He’s the greatest dancer of his generation,” Mitze said. “We’re very excited.”

The performance is one of a select few the Civic Arts Plaza Foundation is co-sponsoring in an attempt to build its operating fund. With box office potential of $171,000 over two nights, Baryshnikov’s appearance could add as much as $50,000 to the foundation’s coffers.

Typically the performers and booking agents take home all box office proceeds, leaving the arts plaza only the one-day rental fee--$1,800.

Ticket sales for the Baryshnikov performance are already brisk for seats ranging from $35 to $65, Pettite said.

One risk the sponsors run is that scores of adoring fans will turn up to see Baryshnikov flashing across the stage in true romantic balletic fashion, only to be crushed when he performs modern dance instead of embracing a ballerina.

“We should make sure that people know this is not going to be ballet,” Pettite said. “We had tremendous problems a few years ago when White Oak came out and went to Arizona. These retirees really got up in arms, you know, where are the tutus?”

Pettite said he is confident a typical Thousand Oaks audience can handle something a little more avant-garde.

“We have a feeling that this is a smart, sophisticated crowd,” he said.

The troupe has won rave reviews from cities around the country since its debut in 1990. Although Baryshnikov is undoubtedly the most famous name on the list of 12 dancers he performs with, he does not give himself top billing.

Founded jointly by Baryshnikov and modern dancer and choreographer Mark Morris, White Oak is named after the Florida plantation of Howard Gilman, who set up a studio there for the troupe.

The group can generally be expected to perform Merce Cunningham’s 1970 piece “Signals,” Pettite said. Other dances may include works by Morris, O’Day and Jerome Robbins, and are accompanied by live music. Baryshnikov typically performs in at least half the dances.

The Civic Arts Plaza Board of Governors this week announced its schedule for the 1995-1996 season, beginning with “Cats,” performed by the Theater League in September.

Cabrillo Music Theater will stage “Oliver” in October and “West Side Story” in March. The Theater League will put on 14 performances of “Les Miserables” in December, followed by “Good-bye Girl” next February and “Evita” in April, 1996.