Photo by Burnie Flake Hootie & the Blowfish drummer Jim "Soni" Sonefeld and Columbia City Ballet dancers. Columbia City Ballet will present the world premiere

of The Hootie & the

Blowfish Ballet at the Koger Center. The unique multimedia dance and live music experience will open Friday, April 3, at 7:30 pm, with the last two performances at 3 and 7:30 pm on Saturday, April 4 and will feature Hootie & the Blowfish playing live at every performance.

"I was first drawn to Hootie & the Blowfish's music because of its highly accessible listenability and the way it speaks to a vast cross section of people," said executive and artistic director William Starrett. "I wanted to do more than simply interpret their most popular songs through dance but actually help people explore the meanings behind the music."

The story, presented in two acts, begins with the band member's childhood years, showing the various influences that propelled them to pursue musical careers.

The ballet then follows the four remarkable young men through their early college days playing as a cover band, then through their musical triumphs of winning two Grammy Awards and selling over 25 million recordings worldwide.

All three performances of the ballet will showcase the Columbia City Ballet professional dancers performing with the famed band Hootie & the Blowfish on stage. Executive and artistic director William Starrett, nationally renowned for creating the award- winning ballets

Dracula: Ballet With a B ite

and Off the Wall & Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of

Jonathan Green, has choreographed the ballet, which recreates the formative years and triumphs of South Carolina's most famous musical ambassadors.

Additionally, Starrett's team including Technical Director Barry Sparks, is designing sets reproducing familiar University of South Carolina dorms such as Snowden and area nightclubs such as Rockefella's and Elbow room. Large video screens onstage will present live camera feeds of the action upclose, giving everyone the best seats in the house.

"I feel so honored to be allowed to create a ballet that celebrates the amazing accomplishments and musical achievements of one of our state's greatest success story," Starrett said. "I want the audience to hear not only the hits they know but also discover many more of the gorgeous songs these South Carolina treasures have created."

Tickets for the Hootie & the Blowfish Ballet are available at all Capitol ticket outlets. For ticket details, call 803-251-2222, or check online at www.capitoltickets.com.

For more information, visit www.columbiacityballet. com, or call the ballet offices at 803-799-7605 or 800-899-7408.