Spring guest artists

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Info on guest artists for the spring:

Throughout the spring season 11 guest artists from some of the many ballet companies that are associated with Balanchine and his work will perform with New York City Ballet.

The first guest artists of the season will be Aurélie Dupont and Manuel Legris, both étoiles with the Paris Opéra Ballet, who will dance Balanchine’s Sonatine as part of the French Tribute that will open the spring season on Tuesday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. In 1947 Balanchine worked as a guest ballet master for the Paris Opéra, where he choreographed Le Palais de Cristal (now called Symphony in C). Ms. Dupont and Mr. Legris will also dance Sonatine on Wednesday, April 28 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, May 1 at 2 p.m.

On Saturday, May 9 at 3 p.m. and Tuesday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m., Noelani Pantastico (soloist) and Olivier Wevers (principal) of the Pacific Northwest Ballet will dance the second movement of Balanchine’s Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet. Since 1977 Pacific Northwest Ballet has been under the artistic direction of former NYCB dancers Francia Russell and Kent Stowell. Ms. Russell was one of the first ballet masters chosen by Balanchine to stage his works, and the repertory of the Pacific Northwest Ballet includes many of his ballets.

For the performances of Balanchine’s Ballo della Regina on Wednesday, May 12 at 8 p.m., Sunday, May 16 at 3 p.m., and Tuesday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m., the leading roles will be danced by Boston Ballet principal dancer Lorna Feijóo and San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Gonzalo Garcia. Boston Ballet was created in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams, who was recommended by Balanchine to receive the first Ford Foundation grant to encourage the development of regional ballet companies in America. The San Francisco Ballet, America’s oldest professional ballet company, was founded in 1933 as the San Francisco Opera Ballet. In 1942 the company became a separate entity from the opera company, with William Christiansen as artistic director. In 1952 his brother Lew Christensen, who had a long association as a dancer, choreographer, and ballet master with Balanchine and was the first American dancer to perform Balanchine’s Apollo in 1937, became the company’s director. Since 1986 San Francisco Ballet has been under the artistic direction of Helgi Tomasson, who danced with New York City Ballet from 1962 to 1984.

On Friday, May 28 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 30 at 3 p.m., Tai Jimenez and Rasta Thomas from the Dance Theatre of Harlem will perform the leading roles in Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes. The Dance Theatre of Harlem was created in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell, who joined New York City Ballet in 1955 and made history as the first African-American male dancer to become a permanent member of a major ballet company. Balanchine’s works remain one of the cornerstones of the company’s repertory.

Also on Sunday, May 30 at 3 p.m., Amy Aldridge, a principal dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet, will dance Balanchine’s Tarantella with current NYCB soloist Joaquin de Luz, who was a soloist with Pennsylvania Ballet in 1996. The Pennsylvania Ballet was created in 1963 by Balanchine protégé Barbara Weisberger, through a Ford Foundation initiative to develop regional dance companies that was granted primarily to companies associated with Balanchine.

Performing with New York City Ballet during the Russian Festival will be Angel Corella, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, who will perform the leading male role in Theme and Variations, the final movement of Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky’s Suite No. 3, on Sunday, June 20 at 3 p.m. In 1947 Balanchine created Theme and Variations for Ballet Theatre (later renamed American Ballet Theatre). Balanchine choreographed the entire Tschaikovsky score for NYCB in 1969, with Theme and Variations as the ballet’s final movement.

The final guest artist for the spring season will be Caroline Cavallo, a principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet, who will dance Balanchine’s Cortège Hongrois on Wednesday, June 23 at 8 p.m., Thursday, June 24 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 27 at 3 p.m. In the 1930s Balanchine worked as a ballet master for the Royal Danish Ballet, and throughout his life generously allowed many of his ballets to be performed by the Danish company. Ms. Cavallo also performed with NYCB during the 2004 winter season dancing Odette/Odile in Peter Martins’ production of Swan Lake, as well as a leading role in Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2.