ABT Opening Night Gala at NY City Center on 10/19

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AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE’S OPENING NIGHT GALA AT

NEW YORK CITY CENTER, OCTOBER 19 AT 7 PM, TO FEATURE THE

WORKS OF AGNES DE MILLE, MARK MORRIS AND JEROME ROBBINS

Opening Night Gala Sponsored by Malo and

Superfund Asset Management, Inc.

American Ballet Theatre’s Opening Night Gala at New York City Center, Wednesday, October 19 at 7 PM, will be highlighted by the Company Premiere of Jerome Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun, a performance of Mark Morris’ Gong and the Revival Premiere of Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo, celebrating the choreographer’s centenary.

The pas de deux from Paquita and excerpts from Kirk Peterson’s The Howling Cat will complete ABT’s Gala Opening Night program. The evening will also honor Principal Dancer Julie Kent as she begins her 20th Anniversary season with ABT.

Gala chairmen include Muffie Potter Aston and Sherrell Aston, Arlene and Harvey Blau, Grace Hightower De Niro and Robert De Niro and Julia and David Koch. American Ballet Theatre’s Opening Night Gala is generously underwritten by Malo and Superfund Asset Management, Inc., with additional support from Lee Angel Jewelry.

A Gala dinner at New York’s landmark Pierre Hotel will immediately follow the performance. Gala benefit tickets, which include prime seats to the performance and post-performance dinner dance, are priced at $1,500 and $1,000. For Gala benefit ticket information only, please call American Ballet Theatre’s Special Events office at 212-477-3030, ext. 3239.

Performance-only tickets for American Ballet Theatre’s Opening Night at New York City Center are priced from $35 to $130 and are available on-line at www.abt.org <http://www.abt.org/> or by calling City Tix at 212-581-1212. New York City Center is located on West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in New York City.

Countrywide Financial is the National Sponsor of American Ballet Theatre and Cole Haan is a Leading Benefactor. Superfund Asset Management, Inc. and Graff Jewelers are the 2005 City Center Season Sponsors. ABT’s 2005 New York City Center season is also made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

American Ballet Theatre’s 2005 Fall season at New York City Center continues through November 6. For more information, please visit ABT’s website at www.abt.org <http://www.abt.org/> .