In celebration of his decade as Resident Choreographer, Ricardo Graziano takes center stage with a trio of breathtaking ballets in Program Four. The captivating "Graziano Celebrated" is scheduled to grace the FSU Center for the Performing Arts from January 26 to 29, 2024.

Among the featured pieces is the elegant "Sonatina," a testament to Graziano's classical prowess. Meticulously crafted, it served as a beacon for the Company's triumphant return to the stage following the 2020–2021 Digital Season. Sonatina displays company-style hallmarks with its bright footwork palette contrasting with pliant upper body movements in the entire cast's choreography. An extended pas de deux blushing with charm yields to a soulful and nostalgic larghetto movement for the male principal. The ballet builds to a joyful conclusion in the final allegro movement of Dvořák's Violin Sonatina, with dancers covering the stage like blossoms caught on the wind.

Following the grace of "Sonatina," audiences will be treated to Graziano's critically acclaimed work, "In a State of Weightlessness." Premiered during The Sarasota Ballet's residency at the prestigious Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, this work left a lasting impression on audiences and critics alike. Carrie Seidman of the Herald-Tribune, having witnessed the dance multiple times, attests to its mesmerizing quality, stating, "I've now watched Graziano's 'In a State of Weightlessness' at least four or five times, and it just gets better with every viewing. This exploration of suspension, lightness, and ethereality was so mesmerizing, it seemed to go by in a heartbeat."

As the final crescendo to Program Four, The Sarasota Ballet will unveil the World Premiere of Graziano's 11th One-Act ballet, promising an unforgettable conclusion to a decade of artistic brilliance. This joyful exploration matches Graziano's intention to stretch his limits: "Although there is a style I lean towards, every time I make a new ballet, I want to do something different. How do I push these dancers that I'm so familiar with?"