Ballet Theatre of Maryland artistic director Dianna Cuatto is looking to the past and the future as she prepares the troupe's next performance at its original home, which she hopes will become a "continuing tradition."

Before Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts was founded more than 30 years ago, the ballet performed at St. John's College, where the troupe will hold its first production of the new year, "An American Southwest Carmen," in February. "It is my hope that BTM performances here will become a continuing tradition," Cuatto said.

Cuatto looks forward to her dancers performing in the venue, "with its fine stage facilities, and where Tommy Light, one of the best lighting designers in the Annapolis area, will design the lighting" for the production.

Cuatto also looks backward and forward with this ballet, which she originally choreographed in the mid-1990s when she danced the role of Carmen and became fascinated with "actual Hispanic women who survived frontier life in the 1840s Colorado Territory."

The ballet is set to the music of Georges Bizet's opera "Carmen" - a score admired for its distinctive dramatic melodies, brilliant color and lively Spanish rhythms. Brought to life in dance are the tragic events surrounding the murder of the real-life Candelaria Senna, whom Cuatto describes as "one of the most notorious female smugglers in the history of the American West." She recently recalled finding the grave site in Canyon City, Colo., of Senna, who met a similar fate to Bizet's Carmen. Bizet's music works perfectly against the Mexican-American War backdrop where the true-life Carmen's story unfolds with romance, passion, intrigue and betrayal.

"Carmen" Candelaria Senna and her friends Maria Lopez, Antonia Luna and Nicolassa will come alive in the latest version of "An American Southwest Carmen," which Cuatto has always considered a favorite "because it ranges from flamenco to classical ballet and is a tour de force for the female lead."

Of this new version, Cuatto said, "This will be better than what I choreographed for BTM in April of 2005 because now we have a much stronger company with dancers who will be able to portray the roles with a greater depth of sensitivity and technique as they meet the demands of the choreography for the 2010 version."

As is her custom, Cuatto has selected two dancers to play the leading role of Carmen for the performances Feb. 6 and 7. Kelly Braga, now in her third BTM season and recently acclaimed for her role as Enchantress Luna in this season's opener "Beauty and the Beast," and Scali Riggs, who is in her fifth season with BTM and remembered for her Stepsister role in "Cinderella," will share the role.

Viejo Wells, Carmen's live-in lover, will be played by Justin Allen, who joined BTM this season and has already become a formidable presence. Magdalena, a wealthy Spanish woman and Carmen's foil, will be danced by Margaret Hannah, now in her fifth season with BTM and remembered for dancing several leading roles, including Cinderella. Nicolassa, the feisty, infamous "Madam" of smuggling at Fort Pueblo, will be danced by Meagan Helman, now in her sixth season with BTM and most recently seen as Belle, the lead in the "Beauty and the Beast" opening ballet.

Viejo's foil, Corporal La Fontaine of the U.S. Cavalry, will be played by Calder Taylor, who is now in his fifth season with BTM and was widely praised for his performance as the lead Prince/Beast in the season opener.

The performance will also include a new work choreographed by up-and-coming choreographer Helman to the music of Beethoven and featuring dancers Margaret Hannah, Kathryn Carlson, Nicole Seitz, Christopher Pennix, Justin Allen and Brian Walker.

If you go

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 and 2 p.m. Feb. 7. Ticket prices are $40 for adults, $33 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children, plus a $3 service charge per ticket. Rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Maryland Hall box office at 410-280-5640. Both performances are at Francis Scott Key Auditorium of St. John's College.