While the Triangle region is still celebrating Carolina Ballet's 10th anniversary season, the company is looking ahead to the 2008-2009 season and the start of its second decade.

When Carolina Ballet raised the curtain on its first performance in October 1998, the company planned a season with four programs and 18 performances. For the 2008-2009 season Carolina Ballet is offering eight productions on its subscription package plus the annual "Nutcracker" in December for a total of 55 performances in Raleigh. All the performances for the 2008-2009 season will be presented in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

The schedule of performances is as follows:

Sept. 18-21, Artistic Expressions, featuring a new ballet by Lynne Taylor Corbett and her "Chiaroscuro," originally choreographed for New York City Ballet.

Oct. 9-12, "Don Quixote," a world premiere by Robert Weiss, in collaboration with the Nasher Museum at Duke University.

Nov. 26-30, the return of Robert Weiss' "Messiah" to the music of George Frederic Handel accompanied by the North Carolina Master Chorale.

Dec. 19-28, "Nutcracker," the traditional family classic for the holidays with members of the North Carolina Symphony.

Jan. 29-Feb. 1, "Balanchine By George!", a further look into the works of the great choreographer.

Feb. 26-March 1, the return of two great stories, Robert Weiss' "The Kreutzer Sonata" and "Tempest Fantasy" with the Ciompi Quartet.

April 9-12, "American Music and Dance," a celebration of the great collaboration of Jerome Robbins and Leonard Bernstein, with the Raleigh premiere of "Fancy Free."

April 30-May 3, "Coppelia," to the magnificent score of Leo Delibes with Robert Weiss' choreography.

May 28-31, Robert Weiss' world premiere of "Beauty and the Beast."

The season includes three world premieres; five story ballets (six if you count the "greatest story ever told" "Messiah"); live music with the Ciompi Quartet, North Carolina Master Chorale and the North Carolina Symphony for several shows; a family subscription series of "Coppelia" and "Beauty and the Beast"; and a Raleigh premiere of "Fancy Free," considered by many to be the "great American masterpiece" choreographed by Broadway's Jerome Robbins who masterminded "West Side Story," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Gypsy" and "Funny Girl" among others.

The Nasher Museum at Duke University is opening an exhibit in August of paintings and art work from El Greco to Velasquez during the reign of Philip III. Carolina Ballet's new "Don Quixote" will coincide with this exhibit and is being created in collaboration with the museum.

"We are thrilled to have this opportunity to study the art of this great period," says artistic director Robert Weiss. "Just as we did with Monet Impressions, we will create a ballet that reflects the period, and in this case, we will retell one of the great stories in literature through our dance."

Also on this program will be a new ballet to composer Paul Moravec's "Time Gallery." This is Carolina Ballet's second collaboration with Paul Moravec. In 2006, Robert Weiss choreographed "Tempest Fantasy" to Moravec's 2004 Pulitzer Prize-winning score.

The performances of "Nutcracker" are not included in the subscription package, but those taking a subscription of all eight ballets, seven or six ballets will be able to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

There are many benefits to subscribing such as getting discounted prices on the tickets, getting the choice of the best seats and being able to make exchanges to tickets with no penalties.

For information regarding the subscription packages one should call the Ballet Box Office at (919) 719-0900.