Catherine "Katie" Williams was a huge hit with audiences for American Ballet Theater last week at the Kennedy Center -- but if you missed it, you still have a chance to see her closer to home. Williams is one of a dozen dance stars taking part in the Baltimore Ballet's 10th anniversary gala concert Sat., Feb. 6 starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Lyric Opera House.

The Howard County ballerina joined ABT last year and instantly became one of the most sought-after guest artists in our area. In November, she performed at the Ballet Royale benefit in Columbia; the following month, she danced the role of Snow Queen in the Baltimore Ballet's "Nutcracker."

"Katie is a favorite guest artist," agrees Elizabeth Hallgren, one of eight chosen Baltimore Ballet students dancing in the program. "I love watching her perform."

Adding another dimension to the concert program will be a new work by dance choreographer Tony Powell. These days, Powell makes his living shooting films and taking photos of celebrities, but his dance roots trace back to the old Columbia Multi-Media Dance Theater at Slayton House. The Silver Spring resident just returned from Chicago where he worked with the Joffrey Ballet and actress Neve Campbell.

"I'm thrilled to be back in Maryland, creating a new piece for the Baltimore Ballet," Powell said. "It's my first major piece of choreography to be seen in the area since my company disbanded in 2002."

Classical ballet excerpts planned for the Lyric include a daring "Spartacus" variation, seen last season at Goucher College; "Don Quixote,"" one of those fiery dances that Williams does so well; and "Carnival of Animals," a showcase for the young dancers who train with Cem Catbas at the ballet troupe's Cockeysville studio home.

The one-night only gala promises to be a celebration for the husband-and-wife team who arrived in Baltimore just 10 years ago to set up a classical ballet studio with only a handful of students and big dreams.

Besides Williams, the roster of dance talent includes Murat Catbas, Russian ballerina Evgenia Singur, Enton Hoxha and Se-Yong Kim. Another dance favorite, ballerina Nejla Yatkin, will perform to a musical selection by soprano Elysabeth Muscat-Catbas.

Other featured dancers are Jennifer Whalen and Devon Teuscher from ABT; Alys Shee, a Silver Medalist at Moscow International Ballet Competition; and Junio Enrique Teixiera from the New Jersey Ballet. Also featured will be members of Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre and the Washington Ballet.

Tickets range from $22 to $72, available through www.ticketmaster.com, the Lyric Opera House box office, or by calling Baltimore Ballet at 410-667-7974.

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