While the art of ballet cannot sustain sold-out audiences at VMA or PPAC, the intimate and exciting “Up Close on Hope” is one of the hottest tickets in Rhode Island.

Festival Ballet’s Artistic Director Mihailo Djuric sure knows how to put on a show. He has turned Festival Ballet’s rehearsal studio on Providence’s Hope Street into a perfect performance space, allowing the audience to be Up Close and Personal (to coin an old Warwick Musical Theatre phrase) and selling out many performances.

The current program offers eight diverse dances over two hours, with a brief intermission for some complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres, including four world premieres and one company premiere.

The short pieces range from the athletic and sensual “Secrets of the Moon” to Balanchine’s folksy “Tarantella,” danced beautifully by Lauren Menger and Alexander Aulov, to two “Pas de Deuxs” that received sustained applause.

Colleen Cavanaugh has choreographed a poignant ballet piece titled “Legacy of Loss,” funded by Miriam Hospital and others in the community to raise breast cancer awareness. With the use of some dialogue and superior dancing, the piece is a must-see.

Tickets are $45 and are still available for most performances by calling 353-1129. (My advice is to call today).

Performances are scheduled for Saturdays, Nov. 14 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, Nov. 15 and 22 at 6:00 p.m.

“Up Close at Hope” will return with a new program in March.