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Upcoming week: ABT OFFSTAGE, MAY 25–31 2020 Romeo and Juliet In this weekly online series running through July 4, American Ballet Theatre OffStage offers diverse behind-the-scenes experiences of America’s National Ballet Company®. The third week of ABT OffStage features conversations, ballet classes and blog posts themed to Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet. #ABTMetMemory: Alexandre Hammoudi Monday, May 25 at 12pm ET on YouTube and Instagram: ABT Soloist Alexandre Hammoudi, who has danced the roles of Tybalt and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, will share his favorite Met season memories. The video will remain on ABT’s YouTube channel and IGTV for future viewings. Guest Artist Spotlight: Natalia Osipova Tuesday, May 26 on ABT.org: Guest Artist Natalia Osipova was set to reunite with ABT Principal Dancer David Hallberg for one special performance of Romeo and Juliet this season. Visit ABT’s website for a feature on Osipova at www.abt.org/abtoffstage. Debut Deferred: Cassandra Trenary Wednesday, May 27 on ABT.org, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: Prior to shelter-in-place orders, ABT Soloist Cassandra Trenary had been rehearsing the role of Juliet for her premiere at the Abu Dhabi Festival and her New York debut at the Met. Visit ABT’s social media channels to see a rehearsal video and ABT’s website for a Q&A with Trenary. Hee Seo and Cory Stearns in Romeo and Juliet. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor. ABT@80: A Fond Look Back with ABT’s First Romeo Thursday, May 28 on YouTube and ABT.org: Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet was given its ABT Premiere in 1985, danced by Leslie Browne and Robert La Fosse. View a special feature on La Fosse, a former Principal Dancer and current faculty member at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, on YouTube and ABT’s website. ABT Classics as Ballet Classes: Romeo and Juliet with Devon Teuscher and Cory Stearns Friday, May 29 at 12pm ET on YouTube: ABT Principal Dancers Devon Teuscher and Cory Stearns will teach a free ballet class inspired by Romeo and Juliet. The video will be available on ABT YouTube channel. ABT Weekend Talk Series: Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III with Susan Fales-Hill Saturday, May 30 at 12pm ET on YouTube: ABT Principal Dancer Misty Copeland and Soloist Calvin Royal III were scheduled to perform Romeo and Juliet together this season. They will discuss the iconic roles and the significance of this performance with ABT Trustee Susan Fales-Hill. The conversation will remain on ABT’s YouTube channel for future viewings. Hair and Makeup Feature: Styling the Harlot Wigs Sunday, May 31 on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: Rena Most and Jill Haley of ABT’s Wigs and Makeup team share background on styling of the unique wigs for the role of Harlot in Romeo and Juliet. Visit www.abt.org/abtoffstage to download a free Romeo and Juliet background for your next virtual meeting!

Next week" ABT OFFSTAGE, MAY 25–31 2020 Romeo and Juliet In this weekly online series running through July 4, American Ballet Theatre OffStage offers diverse behind-the-scenes experiences of America’s National Ballet Company®. The third week of ABT OffStage features conversations, ballet classes and blog posts themed to Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet. #ABTMetMemory: Alexandre Hammoudi Monday, May 25 at 12pm ET on YouTube and Instagram: ABT Soloist Alexandre Hammoudi, who has danced the roles of Tybalt and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, will share his favorite Met season memories. The video will remain on ABT’s YouTube channel and IGTV for future viewings. Guest Artist Spotlight: Natalia Osipova Tuesday, May 26 on ABT.org: Guest Artist Natalia Osipova was set to reunite with ABT Principal Dancer David Hallberg for one special performance of Romeo and Juliet this season. Visit ABT’s website for a feature on Osipova at www.abt.org/abtoffstage. Debut Deferred: Cassandra Trenary Wednesday, May 27 on ABT.org, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: Prior to shelter-in-place orders, ABT Soloist Cassandra Trenary had been rehearsing the role of Juliet for her premiere at the Abu Dhabi Festival and her New York debut at the Met. Visit ABT’s social media channels to see a rehearsal video and ABT’s website for a Q&A with Trenary. Hee Seo and Cory Stearns in Romeo and Juliet. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor. ABT@80: A Fond Look Back with ABT’s First Romeo Thursday, May 28 on YouTube and ABT.org: Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet was given its ABT Premiere in 1985, danced by Leslie Browne and Robert La Fosse. View a special feature on La Fosse, a former Principal Dancer and current faculty member at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, on YouTube and ABT’s website. ABT Classics as Ballet Classes: Romeo and Juliet with Devon Teuscher and Cory Stearns Friday, May 29 at 12pm ET on YouTube: ABT Principal Dancers Devon Teuscher and Cory Stearns will teach a free ballet class inspired by Romeo and Juliet. The video will be available on ABT YouTube channel. ABT Weekend Talk Series: Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III with Susan Fales-Hill Saturday, May 30 at 12pm ET on YouTube: ABT Principal Dancer Misty Copeland and Soloist Calvin Royal III were scheduled to perform Romeo and Juliet together this season. They will discuss the iconic roles and the significance of this performance with ABT Trustee Susan Fales-Hill. The conversation will remain on ABT’s YouTube channel for future viewings. Hair and Makeup Feature: Styling the Harlot Wigs Sunday, May 31 on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: Rena Most and Jill Haley of ABT’s Wigs and Makeup team share background on styling of the unique wigs for the role of Harlot in Romeo and Juliet. Visit www.abt.org/abtoffstage to download a free Romeo and Juliet background for your next virtual meeting!

ABT finally offers some clips. This is a nice video to celebrate the anniversary of Makarova's 40th anniversary of La Bayadere, includes an interview with Natalia Makarova and clips of her performance back from the 70s (<sigh> back in the heyday of PBS's culture offerings): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy5I-hdtFfg

More news: AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE JOINS NEW YORK CARES TO ASSIST VOLUNTEER EFFORTS FOR THE ACTORS FUND AND KEEN Building on the success of American Ballet Theatre’s “80 Hours of Service” with the New York Cares Coat Drive, which kicked off the Company’s 80th Anniversary earlier this year, ABT staff and artists are again joining forces with New York Cares to serve New Yorkers in need. In addition, ABT will begin its first collaboration with KEEN, Kids Enjoy Exercise Now, to bring creative movement to children and young adults with disabilities. During the world health crisis resulting from COVID-19, New York Cares continues to serve the NYC community by mobilizing New Yorkers in volunteer service. To aid in this effort, volunteers from American Ballet Theatre will participate in virtual phone banking to assist seniors and other adults served by The Actors Fund, a human services organization focused on the needs of the entertainment community, including dancers. This socially distanced activity will take place through one-on-one phone calls to clients of The Actors Fund. The calls will serve as an important source of socialization and a way to connect those in need to appropriate support. American Ballet Theatre will extend its service by working with KEEN, Kids Enjoy Exercise Now, a New York Cares Community Partner. Participants in KEEN, an athletics-based program open to youths with physical or development disabilities, will be given exclusive access to free online creative movement classes, designed by ABT Teaching Artists and tied to themes around ABT’s repertory. KEEN families will gain insight into ballet through exposure to ABTKids Daily activities and virtual dance classes. “This is a wonderful opportunity for ABT artists and staff to share the warmth and empathy that is the hallmark of American Ballet Theatre,” said ABT Executive Director Kara Medoff Barnett. “We are grateful to our partners at New York Cares for their incredible leadership and exemplary model of service to the city we call home. We are proud to partner with New York Cares, The Actors Fund, and KEEN to offer our time and talents to our fellow New Yorkers.” For more information on American Ballet Theatre, please visit www.abt.org.

And here, people complained that the Kennedy Center was getting relief. I have to remind people that cultural centers, performing arts, museums, public gardens, theaters, opera etc..these are major employers. And contribute greatly to the economic welfare of their cities/towns and various industries.

Looks like the Mariinsky is starting repeats. I would have thought they had more left in the store, so to speak. But at least they're continuing. Looks like the Bolshoi is done with the free streams. They put up a "Thank you for watching" video. But I really liked this Petipa Gala. A nicely done bit of Balanchine and the last act of the reconstructed Sleeping Beauty (which we don't see enough).

From the company: ABT OFFSTAGE, MAY 18–24, 2020 La Bayadère at 40 In this weekly online series running through July 4, American Ballet Theatre OffStage offers diverse behind-the-scenes experiences of America’s National Ballet Company®. The second week of ABT OffStage features conversations, ballet classes and blog posts to honor the 40th Anniversary of Natalia Makarova’s staging of La Bayadère. #ABTMetMemory: Susan Jones Monday, May 18 at 12pm ET on YouTube: ABT Ballet Mistress Susan Jones shares her memories of working with Natalia Makarova and the legacy of the Kingdom of the Shades scene as a stager of La Bayadère. The video will remain on ABT’s YouTube channel for future viewings. Guest Artist Spotlight: Olga Smirnova and Kimin Kim Tuesday, May 19 on ABT.org: A blog post will feature Guest Artists Olga Smirnova and Kimin Kim, who were to appear with ABT for one performance during the Met season. Visit www.abt.org/abtoffstage. Debuts Deferred: Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell Wednesday, May 20 on ABT.org, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: See a video of Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell rehearsing the roles of Gamzatti and Solor, while sheltering in place. Read a Q&A with Hurlin and Bell on their experience anticipating their debuts at www.abt.org/abtoffstage. ABT@80: A Fond Look Back with Natalia Makarova Thursday, May 21 on ABT.org: ABT will honor the 40thAnniversary of the World Premiere of La Bayadère with a special tribute. ABT Classics as Ballet Classes: La Bayadère with Susan Jaffe Friday, May 22 at 12pm ET on YouTube: Former ABT Principal Dancer Susan Jaffe will teach a free ballet class inspired by La Bayadère. ABT Weekend Talk Series: From One Gamzatti to Another Saturday, May 23 at 12pm ET on YouTube: Former ABT Principal Dancer Cynthia Harvey, who originated the role of Gamzatti, will discuss the iconic role with current ABT Principal Dancer Isabella Boylston. The conversation will remain on ABT’s YouTube channel for future viewings. Joseph Gorak as the Bronze Idol in La Bayadère. Photo: Marty Sohl. Hair and Makeup Tutorial: Painting the Bronze Idol Sunday, May 24 on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: Go behind the scenes with ABT’s hair and makeup team who reveal what it takes to transform a dancer into the Bronze Idol from Act III. Step into the set of La Bayadère! Visit www.abt.org/abtoffstage to download a free background for your next virtual meeting.

Those "edits" are down to design. NYCB has a house camera in the back of the State Theater, I believe, every performance. Dancers have talked of looking at the videos afterwards for improvements or being shown them by a coach. Other than those overhead shots (which they use a lot on live IG events, I guess so they can whet the appetite without violating certain union rules and choreography deals), it's mostly head-on (which I actually think is best - give the audience the view they'd have if they were center first ring). I do think with ABT, it is due to maybe a lack of desire or negotiating skills. Wish we knew. There's obviously different thinking now at NYCB/SAB (as shown by not only the Digital season but the SAB Workshop release). The thing is, viewers aren't (at least I'm not) looking for cinematography on the scale of Emmanuel Lubezki. We just want performances. Other than the films that were recorded with multiple cameras and in HD, like those done by European companies or the Met Live in HD or National Theatre Live), most of the very welcome offerings by SFB, PNB and others aren't ready-for-DVD shape. But I'm going to remember the institutions that were generous. And repay in kind (well, as much as I can!).

These are great offerings. People have been begging Lincoln Center (and PBS) for these recordings for years.

Like most of you, gala to me meant more dancing. But when I read the release I saw there was much touting of celebrities and home videos (which, frankly, we can access on our own through social media and the like; not that I don't appreciate all that). For those pointing to it as a fundraiser, yes, I guess that's more of what it was. It reminded me of those PBS fundraisers. If you have the money to give and did so, then watching the rest is sort of pointless. And if you don't have the funds, one sits there guilt ridden. I don't know. Maybe this was more for their board members and high-ranking donors. I find it hard to believe they don't have video footage. It seems like some amount of house cameras are the industry standard these days.

For anybody who missed the Ballet Arizona La Sonnambula (as I had), the link we have here does seem to be back up (it was listed as private yesterday).

More info: AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE OFFSTAGE: A 2020 VIRTUAL SEASON Virtual Offerings Each and Every Day for Eight Weeks to Include Tributes to ABT Dancers, Anniversary Spotlights and In-Depth Features American Ballet Theatre (ABT) will present a full season of programming to viewers and fans around the world with American Ballet Theatre OffStage: A 2020 Virtual Season. As the global health crisis has forced ABT artists out of the theater and into their homes, these online offerings will carry the artistry of ABT into homes everywhere with a slate of daily activities timed to align with ABT’s previously planned New York 80th Anniversary Spring Season, May 11–July 4, 2020. In this week-by-week online journey, American Ballet Theatre OffStage offers diverse behind- the-scenes experiences of America’s National Ballet Company®. Daily programming includes conversations, ballet classes, orchestral concerts, Guest Artist spotlights, hair and make-up tutorials and a historical review. American Ballet Theatre OffStage will run across Company online platforms at ABT.org, Instagram (@ABTOfficial, @ABTSchool, and @ABTStudioCo), Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and email blasts. A sampling of ABT Offstage highlights includes: #ABTMetMemory Video Diaries Each Monday, beginning May 11, individual ABT artists will reflect on their personal memories of performing at the Metropolitan Opera House and share their thoughts on a particular full-length ballet from ABT’s repertoire. ABT Principal Dancers Stella Abrera, Isabella Boylston, Herman Cornejo and former Principal Dancer Paloma Herrera are among the notable names scheduled to share their favorite Met memories. Debut Deferred Series Each Wednesday, dancers scheduled for major debuts this Spring will discuss their roles and perform a brief rehearsal while sheltering at home. Soloists Aran Bell, Skylar Brandt, Thomas Forster, Catherine Hurlin, Calvin Royal III and Cassandra Trenary will answer viewer questions submitted online and discuss their preparation for leading roles in La Bayadère, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty. ABT@80: A Fond Look Back Each Thursday, ABT Offstage will celebrate the milestones of its eight decades and honor dancers from its past (#ThrowbackThursday, #TBT) with historical images, videos, and testimonials featuring its legendary artists. On Thursday, May 21, Natalia Makarova will participate in a special celebration of the 40th anniversary of her staging of La Bayadère, which was given its ABT premiere on that date in 1980. The Company will also pay tribute to Alicia Alonso, famed Cuban ballerina and pioneering member of Ballet Theatre. Ballet Classes Inspired by the Classics Each Friday, ABT Offstage will feature former and current Company dancers teaching a class inspired by one of this season’s scheduled ballets. Christine Shevchenko, Sarah Lane, Luciana Paris, Susan Jaffe and Sascha Radetsky are among the guest teachers slated to conduct classes influenced by the ABT productions Of Love and Rage, The Sleeping Beauty, Jane Eyre, La Bayadère and Fancy Free. ABT Weekend Talk Series Each Saturday, the Company will present conversations on YouTube focused on the ballet that would have been performed, as well as a special July 4th exchange between two heroes: former ABT dancers-turned-first-responders Gray Davis, a Deputy Sheriff in Abbeville County, South Carolina and New York City 911 paramedic Patrick Ogle. ABT Offstage conversations also include Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie discussing “ABT Then and Now” with Herman Cornejo and choreographer JessicaLang, Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III discussing their roles in Romeo and Juliet, former Principal Dancer and ABT JKO School Artistic Director Cynthia Harvey and Isabella Boylston parsing the role of Gamzatti in La Bayadère, and Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell sharing their experiences creating ABT’s World Premiere production Of Love and Rage. Virtual Meeting Backgrounds Unique virtual backgrounds of ABT productions will be available for download at www.abt.org. Fans can access a new background each week, representing the weekly repertoire aligning with ABT’s planned 80th Anniversary Spring season. Scenes from Fancy Free, La Bayadère, Romeo and Juliet, Of Love and Rage, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Jane Eyre and Swan Lake will enable users to attend their next virtual meeting in true ABT style. American Ballet Theatre: Together Tonight Kicking off ABT’s 2020 virtual season, American Ballet Theatre: Together Tonight on Tuesday, May 12 at 7pm ET will be a free one-hour celebration on YouTube featuring ABT’s renowned dancers joined by special guests Tony Bennett, Cynthia Erivo, Katie Couric, Kelly Ripa and Liev Schreiber. This tribute to ABT’s 80th Anniversary will celebrate the Company with film, music and choreography to be streamed on YouTube. ABT: Together Tonight will build awareness for the ABT Crisis Relief Fund, which provides needed assistance to ABT’s artists—dancers, production crew, rehearsal pianists, ballet masters and education faculty—directly impacted by loss of income due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Viewers will be encouraged to donate online to the fund throughout the evening. Virtual experiences and one-of-a-kind items will also be available through an online auction open to all ABT fans and supporters on the OneCause platform at https://one.bidpal.net/abt. “While we long for the energy of artists and audiences together in the same physical space, we now have the opportunity to share rare glimpses behind the scenes,” said Kara Medoff Barnett, ABT Executive Director. “We invite our fans and friends – who had looked forward to experiencing their favorite ballets and beloved dancers live at the Met – to join us in the wings with ABT Offstage. I have not yet had the heart to remove ABT’s 80th Anniversary performances from my calendar, and now, I don’t have to!” For more information, please visit www.abt.org/TogetherTonight. For more information on American Ballet Theatre OffStage or to donate to the ABT Crisis Relief Fund, please visit www.abt.org. American Airlines, Official Airline of American Ballet Theatre LG SIGNATURE, Global Electronics Partner of American Ballet Theatre Bank of America, Lead Corporate Partner of ABT Studio Company

A release: NATIONAL DANCE INSTITUTE (NDI) TO HOST FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL GALA, BRINGING COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR AN EVENING CELEBRATING THE ARTS & ARTS EDUCATION 44th Annual Gala To Feature Tributes from Alec Baldwin, Josh Groban, Mandy Patinkin, Dharon E. Jones, and More WHAT: National Dance Institute (NDI), the non-profit arts education organization founded in 1976 by legendary New York City Ballet principal dancer, Jacques d’Amboise, will host its 44th Annual Gala: From the Heart remotely this year. NDI’s virtual gala will be an online livestream event of dance, music, and revelry to support the extraordinary work NDI is doing to bring the arts into the lives of children throughout New York City, across the United States, and around the world. More than 60,000 children participate in NDI programs annually. The evening will feature both new and archival performances, celebrity friends of NDI, a tribute to long-time NDI benefactors, Judy & Josh Weston, and of course, the exuberant dancing children of National Dance Institute. WHEN: Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 7:30 PM EST WHERE: NDI will livestream the event free of charge on nationaldance.org, Facebook, YouTube, and IGTV. WHY: The Annual Gala is National Dance Institute’s largest fundraising event and raises $1.5 million annually in support of NDI’s award-winning arts education programs that reach thousands of children every year. Two million children have been impacted by NDI’s programming since its founding in 1976. WHO: Jacques d’Amboise, renowned ballet dancer and National Dance Institute founder; Alec Baldwin, actor; Charlotte d'Amboise, actress and dancer; Josh Groban, singer and actor; Kathryn Grody, actress and writer; Dharon E. Jones, Broadway actor/singer/dancer; Judy Kuhn, singer and actress; Terrence Mann, actor and singer; Jillian Mercado, model/actress/disability activist; Mandy Patinkin, actor and singer; and more. Ellen Weinstein, Artistic Director, and Traci Lester, Executive Director, will also participate in the evening. In support of its mission, NDI’s Star Committee includes: actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; composer and conductor David Amram; Charlotte d’Amboise; Alec and Hilaria Baldwin; Mandy Patinkin; Whoopi Goldberg; Mikhail Baryshnikov; Glenn Close; Michael Cerveris; actress and writer Kathryn Grody; Terrence Mann; Lysiane Luong Grooms; Red Grooms; Bill Irwin; Kevin Kline; Rebecca Krohn; Norm Lewis; Ann Martin; Sara Mearns;; Desmond Richardson; Chita Rivera; James Taylor; Edward Villella; Wendy Whelan; and Tony Yazback; American Ballet Theatre dancers Isabella Boylston and Calvin Royal III; and New York City Ballet dancers Tiler Peck, Daniel Ulbricht, Sterling Hyltin, Megan Fairchild, Robert Fairchild, Joaquin De Luz, Adrian Danchig-Waring, Ask la Cour, Teresa Reichlen, and Ashley Bouder. For interviews or additional information, please contact Michele O’Mara, NDI’s Chief Advancement Officer, at momara@nationaldance.org.

From the company: AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: TOGETHER TONIGHT ABT’S FIRST-EVER ONLINE CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICA’S NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY® TO STREAM ON YOUTUBE, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2020, 7–8 PM EDT, FEATURING ABT DANCERS, THE ABT ORCHESTRA AND CELEBRITY FRIENDS SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMANCES BY TONY BENNETT AND CYNTHIA ERIVO, WITH APPEARANCES BY KATIE COURIC, JENNIFER GARNER, KELLY RIPA AND LIEV SCHREIBER AN EVENING OF NEW AND INNOVATIVE WORK CREATED AT A SOCIAL DISTANCE TO BENEFIT THE ABT CRISIS RELEASE FUND A SALUTE TO ESSENTIAL WORKERS CHOREOGRAPHED BY MICHELLE DORRANCE Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III. Photo: Ruth Hogben. Bringing the history, artistry and optimism of American Ballet Theatre to homes across the world, ABT presents American Ballet Theatre: Together Tonight, a gala celebration of new work created in social isolation and historical film footage to be streamed on American Ballet Theatre’s YouTube channel on Tuesday evening, May 12 from 7–8 PM EDT. This unprecedented one-hour, pre-recorded presentation will mark ABT’s 80 years through film, music and new choreography representing the Company’s tradition of celebrating the diversity and dynamism of America through the power of world- class dance. In addition, virtual experiences and one-of-a-kind items will be available through an online auction open to all ABT fans and supporters on the OneCause platform. For more information, please visit www.abt.org/TogetherTonight. Produced by Matador Content and curated by ABT dancers and artistic staff, ABT: Together Tonight will benefit the ABT Crisis Relief Fund, which provides needed assistance to ABT’s artists—dancers, production crew, rehearsal pianists, ballet masters and education faculty— directly impacted by loss of income due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Gala guests will be able to donate online to the fund throughout the evening through ABT’s website. Headliners and Celebrity Guests Headliners for ABT: Together Tonight include the legendary Tony Bennett singing “Fly Me to the Moon” to adapted choreography by Jessica Lang (Let Me Sing Forevermore) performed on location in Central Park by ABT Soloists Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell, a talented couple who are sheltering in place together. Oscar nominee and Tony Award® winner Cynthia Erivo performs “America the Beautiful” against a backdrop of ABT artists – and everyday Americans – dancing across the nation and the world as they stay at home, #AloneButTogether. Special guests scheduled to toast ABT’s 80th Anniversary during Together Tonight include Katie Couric, Jennifer Garner, Kelly Ripa, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Julianna Margulies, Margaret Qualley, Chita Rivera, Deborah Roberts, Liev Schreiber, Al Roker, Nate Berkus, Jeremiah Brent, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Julio Bocca, Roberto Bolle, Alessandra Ferri and Carla Fracci. 80th Anniversary Tribute and New Work ABT: Together Tonight, narrated by ABT dancers and leaders, celebrities, alumni and special guests, will present viewers with rarely-seen glimpses of ABT’s 80-year history in footage of past performances. Gala guests will also enjoy interviews with ABT artists, celebrity greetings, performances by the ABT Orchestra, and a video montage with members of the ABT Studio Company and students of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School introduced by New York Yankees pitcher Adam Ottavino. Additional highlights of the gala evening will include a tribute to the 20th Anniversary of Kevin McKenzie’s Swan Lake and newly adapted choreography by tap dance legend Michelle Dorrance, created to honor frontline essential workers everywhere. Dorrance’s percussive dance, adapted from her 2018 work Dream within a Dream (deferred), will be performed by the Company’s current roster of dancers, filmed from their home locations, and conclude with footage of the daily 7 PM #ClapBecauseWeCareNYC celebration of health care workers. A new work by choreographer Jessica Lang entitled Our Common Fate, set to David Lang’s the national anthems, will feature ABT dancers and ABT Studio Company members performing from locations across the country. Online ABT80 Auction to Benefit ABT Crisis Relief An online auction of unique ABT items and virtual experiences will be available for bidding throughout the evening’s program to benefit the ABT Crisis Relief Fund. Virtual offerings include ABT dancers conducting cooking classes, ballet lessons, conversations, specialized workouts and children’s story times. Guests can bid on items beginning Friday, May 8 through Thursday, May 14, 2020 on the OneCause platform. For more information on American Ballet Theatre, online offerings and the ABT Crisis Relief Fund, please visit www.abt.org/TogetherTonight.

Thank you. Got a heads-up on a press release and forgot it was already up. Thanks to you, and everybody else keeping tabs on these.

A release from POB on a Midsummer stream: https://infos.operadeparis.fr/optiext/optiextension.dll?ID=x10x3YRa5e9DiYfH_TA9E_MKErOBWu_TTwf_IxAEj%2BLisKehF3jsIO7aWeQfpDETVktoSzsMRI6vy2OWCycW%2B0E2gvHxe

An announcement: MISTY COPELAND AND CALVIN ROYAL III AN ONLINE CONVERSATION WITH BUDD MISHKIN Sunday, April 19, 5 pm, $5* https://www.92y.org/event/misty-copeland-and-calvin-royal-iii Misty Copeland has been breaking down all kinds of barriers in the world of dance. In 2015, American Ballet Theatre promoted her to its top ranks, making her its first African American female Principal Dancer. Today, acclaimed as “the biggest draw in dance right now” by the Los Angeles Times, a crossover star with international reach, she’s trying to be “a platform for the dialogue and conversation of race within ballet.” This May, prior to the cancellation of American Ballet Theatre’s Spring season at the Met, she and Soloist Calvin Royal III were set to make history as the first African American lead dancers with ABT to dance Romeo and Juliet together. Join them as they discuss this historical marker, overcoming barriers, and their careers with journalist Budd Mishkin. 92Y is confronting tremendous financial losses due to COVID-19. All ticket purchases will help sustain the institution and will also support the creation of new, online programming that will bring comfort and inspiration to our community. American Ballet Theatre has been severely impacted by the current state of emergency. The newly established ABT Crisis Relief Fund allows ABT to provide supplemental benefits and financial support to ABT’s artists. For more information or to donate to the ABT Crisis Relief fund, please visit https://www.abt.org/.

Announcement of social media events: AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE SOCIAL MEDIA EVENTS APRIL 8–11, 2020 FRIDAY, April 10 at 11am ET on @ABTOfficial Instagram LIVE, ABT corps de ballet member Betsy McBride will host a ballet class to raise awareness for the ABT Crisis Relief Fund. Train like an ABT dancer with this special one-hour version of daily Company Class, including barre exercises and full-body conditioning. SATURDAY, April 11 at 2pm ET on @ABTOfficial Instagram LIVE, A Conversation on Swan Lake with ABT Principal Dancers Devon Teuscher and Cory Stearns. The couple – in dance and in life – will discuss how they were slated to perform together in Kevin McKenzie’s Swan Lake at the Detroit Opera House on April 16. The discussion will include their creative process as partners, consideration of characters in this iconic ballet, conditioning during time off and more. This year not only marks ABT’s 80 th Anniversary but also the 20th Anniversary of McKenzie’s Swan Lake. Every TUESDAY and THURSDAY on @ABTOfficial Instagram, a new episode of #BalletNutsandBolts is posted. In this humorous Instagram series, ABT JKO School faculty member and former ABT Principal Dancer Ethan Stiefel uses garage tools to illustrate technique tips in ballet. The next episode in this limited series, shot by ABT Principal Dancer Gillian Murphy, will be posted on Thursday, April 9 at 12pm ET. Every week, MONDAY through THURSDAY, @ABTSchool Instagram and YouTube offers daily virtual classes taught by former ABT dancers, ABT JKO faculty and ABT teaching artists – all certified in the ABT National Training Curriculum. These classes engage ABT’s youngest students and their families, as well as the global community at large, by exploring musicality, fostering creativity and imagination, and teaching ballet fundamentals. Classes become available at the following times: o #ABTots (Ages 2–4): Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10AM ET o Primary (Ages 5–8): Mondays & Wednesdays at 2PM ET

ABT has cancelled the Spring 2020 Met season: AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE TO CANCEL 2020 SPRING SEASON AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE American Ballet Theatre announced today the cancellation of its 2020 season at the Metropolitan Opera House. The season, marking the Company’s 80th Anniversary, was scheduled for May 11–July 4, 2020. The cancellation, necessitated by the public health crisis arising from the coronavirus pandemic, was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie and Executive Director Kara Medoff Barnett. “While the impossibility of proceeding with our season is deeply painful, protecting the health and well-being of our ABT artists, crew, musicians, staff, and audience members is paramount,” said Barnett. “Right now, members of the ABT community are #AloneButTogether, doing our part to stop the spread of the coronavirus through social distancing. We have never been prouder of the Company’s camaraderie, unity, and optimism. We look forward to the day when ABT’s artists can come together to train, create, and collaborate, as well as when we can astonish, delight, and transport audiences once again, in New York City and beyond. As America’s National Ballet Company®, we know we will play an important role in healing our nation on the other side of this crisis.” American Ballet Theatre’s 2020 Spring season was curated to celebrate the Company’s 80th Anniversary with programs paying tribute to ABT’s vibrant history and bright future. Programming for the 2020 Spring season was slated to include “ABT Then and Now,” the New York Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Of Love and Rage, the 40th Anniversary of Natalia Makarova’s production of La Bayadère and full-length ballets Romeo and Juliet (35th Anniversary), Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Jane Eyre, and Swan Lake (20th Anniversary). American Ballet Theatre’s 80th Anniversary Spring Gala, originally scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2020 at the Metropolitan Opera House, has been postponed to Wednesday, October 21, 2020, kicking off the Company’s Fall Season at the David H. Koch Theater (October 21–November 1, 2020). “The ABT80 Gala program will celebrate the diversity of ABT’s repertoire and the dynamism of our dancers,” said McKenzie. “We look forward to honoring the Company’s eight decades of artistry with highlights from our beloved classics as well as world premieres. We may be hunkering down now, but our creators are busy dreaming and planning for the future.” Subscription ticket holders for ABT’s 2020 Spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House will have the option to donate the value of their tickets to support ABT during this unprecedented time, to receive credit for future performances, or to request a refund. Ticket holders will be contacted by a representative of ABT and information will be available on ABT’s website, www.abt.org, or by calling Met Customer Care at 212-362-6000, Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm EST. Please be aware that due to a high volume of inquiries, there may be long wait times. Thank you for your patience, support, and understanding during this uncertain time. The current state of emergency has severely impacted American Ballet Theatre’s operations. Before the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House, ABT’s spring tour engagements in Chicago, Durham, Abu Dhabi, and Detroit were also cancelled. As a result, the Company projects losses of approximately $18 million in revenue from touring fees, ticket sales, education programs, and special events. “American Ballet Theatre was founded in 1940 and survived World War II. This company exemplifies resilience and resolve,” said Barnett. “We have provided emergency relief and supplemental benefits for our artists during the period of the cancelled tours, and we are striving to position ourselves to support our artists and staff during the time that we would have been preparing for and performing magnificent productions at the Met. While the artistic and financial ramifications for the ABT ecosystem will be major, ABT has been nimble, agile, and scrappy for eight decades, and we will forge ahead.” American Ballet Theatre’s 80th Anniversary continues with the Fall 2020 season at the David H. Koch Theater, (October 21–November 1), which is anticipated to continue as planned, pending the guidance of government and health officials. “ABT is an entrepreneurial, resourceful, and innovative group of individuals, and we know that the collective imagination of this community will spark inspiration during this otherwise dismal time,” said McKenzie. The newly established ABT Crisis Relief Fund allows ABT to provide supplemental benefits and financial support to ABT’s artists. “We are grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from fans and friends around the world,” said Barnett. “At this time when our mission – which requires travel, human connection, and public assembly – is under threat, we are buoyed by the generous acts of kindness we have witnessed.” For more information or to donate to the ABT Crisis Relief Fund, please visit www.abt.org.

From the company: UPCOMING SOCIAL MEDIA EVENTS FROM AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE Here’s a list of highlights coming your way this week: THURSDAY, April 2 on @ABTOfficial, Ethan Stiefel and Principal Dancer @GillianEMurphy are launching #BalletNutsandBolts, a humorous Instagram series created by former ABT Principal and ABT JKO Faculty Member Ethan Stiefel that uses garage tools to illustrate technique tips in ballet. The limited series, shot by Gillian Murphy, will be posted on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12pm ET. FRIDAY, April 3 at 12pm ET on @ABTOfficial Instagram, ABT Ballet Master Carlos Lopez will host a live ballet class to raise awareness for the ABT Crisis Relief Fund. Train like an ABT dancer for an hour with this special version of daily Company Class, including barre exercises and full-body conditioning. SATURDAY, April 4 at 2pm ET on @ABTOfficial Instagram, Soloists Cassandra Trenary and Calvin Royal III will engage in an extended conversation about Romeo and Juliet. The two dancers were slated to make their debuts in the title roles on this date at the Abu Dhabi Festival with the Cleveland Orchestra, a huge career milestone, and instead, they will be social distancing #AloneButTogether. They'll talk about the rehearsal process, what it has been like to learn the roles, and hopes to perform it in the future. The conversation will also raise awareness for the ABT Crisis Relief Fund. Every week, MONDAY through THURSDAY, @ABTSchool Instagram and YouTube offers daily virtual classes taught by former ABT dancers, ABT JKO faculty and ABT teaching artists - all certified in the ABT National Training Curriculum. These classes will engage ABT’s youngest students and their families, as well as the global community at large, by exploring musicality, fostering creativity and imagination, and teaching ballet fundamentals. Classes will become available at the following times: o #ABTots (Ages 2–4): Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10AM EST o Primary (Ages 5–8): Mondays & Wednesdays at 2PM EST

From the company: AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE LAUNCHES ABT CRISIS RELIEF FUND IN SUPPORT OF ABT ARTISTS American Ballet Theatre’s artists – dancers, production crew, rehearsal pianists and ballet masters – directly impacted by the loss of income due to canceled tour engagements in four cities this spring are now receiving supplemental benefits and financial support through the newly established ABT Crisis Relief Fund. The Fund, created by ABT, will help to sustain the Company’s artists through the turbulent period resulting from the COVID-19 state of emergency. “With our March and April tours canceled and our studios closed, we want to keep our community strong and our artists supported,” said ABT Executive Director Kara Medoff Barnett. “Ballet is a team sport. During this time when individuals are physically distant from one another, we want them to know that they are not alone. We will rely on our artists – their collaborative spirit and their collective optimism – for inspiration during this crisis and for healing on the other side of it.” Funds raised through the ABT Crisis Relief Fund will provide direct assistance to ABT’s artists. For information on how to donate and for continued updates on American Ballet Theatre, please visit www.abt.org.

A release: AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE’S PERFORMANCES AT 2020 ABU DHABI FESTIVAL TO BE POSTPONED American Ballet Theatre’s scheduled performances of Romeo and Juliet at the 2020 Abu Dhabi Festival have been postponed due to concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19). It was announced today by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation. American Ballet Theatre’s performances of Romeo and Juliet with The Cleveland Orchestra were scheduled for April 3 and 4 at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace Auditorium. “The health and safety of our dancers, staff, crew and audiences is our utmost priority,” said Kara Medoff Barnett, ABT Executive Director. “We are deeply disappointed, as we were looking forward to this historic collaboration with great anticipation. We are grateful for the support and guidance of the Festival staff, and we salute the vision and generosity of Her Excellency Huda I. Al Khamis Kanoo.” For more information, please visit: http://www.abudhabifestival.ae/.

Very sad. He was a wonderful dancer. I loved watching him at ABT and he was the best dancer I think that was ever on SYTYCD. He should have won that season but the judges called him "haughty" ever show.But more than that, he should have had a very long life. Very sad for his family and friends.

ABT release: DAVID HALLBERG NAMED ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer David Hallberg has been appointed Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, effective January 2021. It was announced on Monday, March 2, 2020 in Melbourne by The Australian Ballet. Hallberg succeeds David McAllister, who served as Artistic Director for the last 30 years. Commenting on the appointment, American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie said, “David Hallberg has proven himself to be a leader among his peers, as well as an innovator. His leadership of ABT’s choreography workshop, ABT Incubator, successfully provided a platform for new choreographic voices and creativity. I am proud to have witnessed his growth, skill and intelligence as an artist and look forward to seeing his next chapter unfold.” David Hallberg said, “I am honored to accept the position of Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, an institution that inspires and energizes me through its dancers and its culture. It is a perfect time in my career to utilize the experience I’ve garnered over 20 years, both at ABT and abroad, and funnel it into the development of dancers and audiences in Australia. I am so inspired to realize my ambitious artistic vision for this world-class institution. The future looks very bright.” Born in Rapid City, South Dakota, Hallberg began his formal ballet training with Kee Juan Han at the Arizona Ballet School in Phoenix. In 1999, he was accepted into the Paris Opera Ballet School. Hallberg attended American Ballet Theatre’s New York Summer Intensive in 1999 and 2000 and joined ABT Studio Company in September 2000. He joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2001 and was promoted to Soloist in January 2004. Hallberg was appointed a Principal Dancer with ABT in May 2006. His repertoire includes ABT’s entire classical canon, as well as a range of works by Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky including Chamber Symphony, Seven Sonatas, Firebird, On the Dnieper, The Nutcracker, Whipped Cream and The Bright Stream. Hallberg joined the Bolshoi Ballet as a Premier Danseur in September 2011, the first American to join the company under that title. In 2017, his memoir A Body of Work: Dancing to the Edge and Back was published by Touchstone. Hallberg will perform with American Ballet Theatre during its 80th Anniversary Spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 11–July 4, 2020, in the roles of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet on Monday evening, May 25 and Albrecht in Giselle on Thursday evening, June 11. The Metropolitan Opera Box office opens Sunday, March 22. For tickets and information, please visit www.abt.org. Mr. Hallberg’s performances with American Ballet Theatre are sponsored by Avery and Andrew F. Barth.

Just received a large release with sketches and set designs. Let's see if I can get it up here. Segerstrom Center for the Arts Presents World Premiere of American Ballet Theatre’s Of Love and Rage Choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky Photo: Erin Baiano March 5 – 8, 2020 in Segerstrom Hall Tickets on sale now COSTA MESA, CA – Segerstrom Center for the Arts proudly presents the World Premiere of American Ballet Theatre’s Of Love and Rage, a new work choreographed by ABT Artist-in-Residence and MacArthur Genius Alexei Ratmansky. Sets and costumes are by award-winning designer Jean-Marc Puissant, with lighting by designer Duane Schuler. Inspired from the first century Greek novel, Callirhoe, the libretto for Of Love and Rage was adapted by actor, director, screenwriter and Molière Award winner Guillaume Gallienne. The ballet is set to music by Aram Khachaturian with arrangements by Philip Feeney and performed live by Pacific Symphony. There will be five performances: March 5 – 8, 2020 in Segerstrom Hall. The ballet will have its New York Premiere during ABT’s 2020 Metropolitan Opera House season June 2 – 6. Alexei Ratmansky said, “Of Love and Rage is not a fairytale. Although it was written thousands of years ago, with the complexity of the relationship [between Callirhoe and Chaereas] at its core and the tough choices they face, it feels very modern and relevant. Callirhoe is a strong woman in a world where women had very limited options and no power. After early experiences where her fate is determined by men, she learns that she can use her beauty and her brains to shape her fate.” Ratmansky added, “I am fascinated by the topic of forgiveness. This is a story about how anger and jealousy tear two people apart – two people who are madly in love. Forgiveness is the only way they can reunite, and forgiveness requires strength. As Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.’” Single tickets for American Ballet Theatre’s Of Love and Rage at Segerstrom Center for the Arts start at $29 and are now available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. Callirhoe Chaereas Dionysius King of Babylon Queen of Babylon Principal Casting for Of Love and Rage at Segerstrom Center for the Arts Artists and program are subject to change. Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. Callirhoe – Catherine Hurlin Chaereas – Aran Bell Friday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. Callirhoe – Christine Shevchenko Chaereas – Thomas Forster Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 p.m. Callirhoe – Catherine Hurlin Chaereas – Aran Bell About the Ballet Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. Callirhoe – Hee Seo Chaereas – Calvin Royal III Sunday, March 8 at 1:00 p.m. Callirhoe – Christine Shevchenko Chaereas – Thomas Forster Declared “the most gifted choreographer in classical ballet today” (The New York Times) Ratmansky was introduced to the ancient Greek text Callirhoe by his friend and colleague Guillaume Gallienne. Written by Chariton of Aphrodesias, Callirhoe is widely acknowledged to be the oldest novel ever written, set around 400 BC in the ancient Greek world, which, at that time, sprawled across the Mediterranean. A ballet in two acts, Of Love and Rage follows the novel’s powerful love story of Chaereas and Callirhoe as they struggle with the tragic consequences of their mistakes and, ultimately, find redemption through forgiveness. Of Love and Rage pulls inspiration from the Greek aesthetic of beauty and harmony, incorporating many elements from ancient Greek drama. Ratmansky employs his expansive knowledge of classical ballet’s history and the rhythms, harmonies and orchestrations of Aram Khachaturian’s score Gayane to create a powerful, story-driven piece, utilizing the full company of dancers. The corps de ballet, dancing as one unit, will portray supporting emotions in the commentary role found in Greek theater. The Story Callirhoe is a young noblewoman living in the city of Syracuse, Sicily. She is acknowledged as the most beautiful woman in the world, compared often to the goddess Aphrodite. She has many suitors, but when she and the handsome Chaereas see each other, it is love at first sight. Although her father Hermocrates and Chareas’s father Ariston are bitter enemies, the families are convinced to put aside their feud for the sake of love. Callirhoe and Chaereas are married. Callirhoe’s rejected suitors, now jealous of Chaereas, deceive the groom into thinking that Callirhoe is unfaithful. He becomes consumed by his own jealousy and confronts Callirhoe. In the course of the confrontation, she collapses, causing Chaereas to believe that his beloved is dead. Callirhoe is entombed along with a large cache of treasures. Pirates have secretly observed the funeral and, after the mourners leave, they plunder the tomb. Callirhoe awakens – she is not dead. The pirates kidnap her and sail to the city of Miletus in Cyprus. They sell her as a slave to the benevolent and wealthy Dionysius, who instantly falls in love with her. Meanwhile, she discovers that she is pregnant with Chaereas’ child. To save her child from being born into slavery, and thinking she will never see Chaereas again, Callirhoe takes control of her destiny and marries Dionysius. He doesn’t know Callirhoe is pregnant and assumes that the child is his. Chaereas, in the meantime, has returned to the tomb and finds it ransacked and Callirhoe gone. He gathers a ship and sets sail to find her. Following a series of coincidences, adventures, and near-reunions, Callirhoe and Chaereas finally see each other again. Dionysius, who loves Callirhoe and her son as his own, allows Callirhoe to decide whether to stay or return to Syracuse with Chaereas. Fate has imposed this decision on Callirhoe. Neither situation is perfect, but she must make a choice. About Alexei Ratmansky, Choreographer Alexei Ratmansky was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and trained at the Bolshoi Ballet School in Moscow. His performing career included positions as principal dancer with Ukrainian National Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet. He has choreographed ballets for the Mariinsky Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, the Royal Swedish Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Kiev Ballet and the State Ballet of Georgia, as well as for Nina Ananiashvili, Diana Vishneva and Mikhail Baryshnikov. His 1998 work, Dreams of Japan, earned a prestigious Golden Mask Award from the Theatre Union of Russia. In 2005, he was awarded the Benois de la Danse prize for his choreography of Anna Karenina for the Royal Danish Ballet. He was made Knight of Dannebrog by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in 2001. He won his second Benois de la Danse for Shostakovich Trilogy in 2014. Ratmansky was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow for 2013. Ratmansky was named artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet in January 2004. For the Bolshoi Ballet, he choreographed full-length productions of The Bright Stream (2003) and The Bolt (2005) and re-staged Le Corsaire (2007) and the Soviet-era Flames of Paris (2008). Under Ratmansky’s direction, the Bolshoi Ballet was named “Best Foreign Company” in 2005 and 2007 by The Critics’ Circle in London, and he received a Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for The Bright Stream in 2006. In 2007, he won a Golden Mask Award for Best Choreographer for his production of Jeu de Cartes for the Bolshoi Ballet. In 2009, Ratmansky choreographed new dances for the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Aida. Ratmansky joined American Ballet Theatre as Artist in Residence in January 2009. For American Ballet Theatre, Ratmansky choreographed On the Dnieper (2009), Seven Sonatas (2009), Waltz Masquerade, a ballet honoring Nina Ananiashvili’s final season (2009), The Nutcracker (2010, West Coast Premiere at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in 2015), Dumbarton (2011), Symphony #9 (2012), Firebird (World Premiere at Segerstrom Center for the Arts 2016), Chamber Symphony, Piano Concerto #1 and The Tempest (2013), The Sleeping Beauty (World Premiere at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in 2015), Serenade after Plato’s Symposium (2016), Songs of Bukovina (2017), Whipped Cream (World Premiere at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in 2017), Harlequinade (West Coast Premiere at Segerstrom Center for the Arts 2018) and The Seasons (2019). Scenic design for Of Love and Rage. Artwork by Jean-Marc Puissant. About Jean-Marc Puissant, Set & Costume Designer Jean-Marc Puissant is an award-winning set and costume designer working internationally in opera, theatre, dance and musicals. For The Royal Ballet, he has designed Christopher Wheeldon’s Aeternum, Electric Counterpoint, DGV: Danse à grande vitesse and Tryst, set designs for George Balanchine’s Jewels and Javier De Frutos’s Les Enfants Terribles. For The Royal Opera, he designed sets for David McVicar’s production of Aida. Further work at the Royal Opera house includes Whelan/Watson: Other Stories for The Royal Ballet, A Dream within a Midsummer Night’s Dream for Ballet Black Arthur Pita’s God’s Garden and Alexander Whitley’s The Measures Taken. He has also appeared on the main stage as a dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet. Puissant began his career as a dancer, training at the Paris Opera School and dancing professionally with BRB and Stuttgart Ballet. He then studied on the Motley Theatre Design Course and studied art history at the Sorbonne. He designs for leading international companies including New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, BRB, Dutch National Ballet, Rambert, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Scottish Opera, Norwegian National Opera, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia, Menier Chocolate Factory and Théâtre du Châtelet. Several productions Puissant has designed have won Olivier, South Bank Show and Critics’ Circle awards. He was nominated for Best Scenographer at the 2016 Benois de la danse and was a finalist at World Stage Design 2013. He has given talks about his work at the V&A and Guggenheim Museum, New York, has tutored theatre design at Central School of Speech and Drama and is on the Board of Directors of Dance Umbrella Ltd. He was a 2018 Fellow at New York University’s Center for Ballet and the Arts. About Duane Schuler, Lighting Designer Duane Schuler’s work encompasses opera, ballet and theatre. Opera productions include Turandot (La Scala), Pelleas et Melisande (Metropolitan Opera), La Fanciulla del West (Opéra Paris), Elektra (Salzburg Festival), Fidelio (Covent Garden), Beatrice et Benedict (Glyndebourne), Candide (Santa Fe Opera) and Don Giovanni (Lyric Opera of Chicago). Ballet credits include Swan Lake and The Snow Maiden (American Ballet Theatre), The Sleeping Beauty (Stuttgart Ballet), Giselle (Deutsche Ballet) and The Nutcracker (Houston Ballet). Theatre credits include House and Garden (Manhattan Theatre Club), The Royal Family (Ahmanson Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest (Broadway) and Ragtime (The 5th Ave Theatre). Upcoming productions include Cendrillon (Metropolitan Opera) and Ernani (San Francisco Opera). Schuler is also a founding partner of Schuler Shook, the theatre planning and architectural lighting design firm whose projects include Seattle’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Lyric Opera of Chicago and the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. About Guillaume Gallienne, Librettist Gallienne made his film debut in 1992 in Tableau d'honneur and he has starred in Sofia Coppola's 2006 film Marie Antoinette. Between 2008 and 2010, he had a short sketch segment entitled Les Bonus de Guillaume on Le Grand Journal, parodying DVD bonus features. He won a Molière Award for Best Newcomer in 2010 in his one-man stage show Boys and Guillaume, to the table! (Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table!) and another for Best Supporting Actor in 2011 in Un fil à la patte. He collaborated with choreographer Nicolas Le Riche to write the libretto for the 2011 Paris Opera Ballet production of Caligula. He adapted Bolshoi Ballet's 2014 Parisian production of Illusions perdues, choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky. His 2013 film Me, Myself and Mum, an adaptation of his stage show, was screened in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival where it won the top prize (Art Cinema Award) and the Prix SACD. The film was nominated for ten Césars, the most in 2014, winning five in total. Individually, h was awarded the César Award for Best Actor and the César Award for Best Writing. Gallienne has been a member (Sociétaire) of the Comédie-Française company since 2005, having first entered in 1998. He became a Knight of the National Order of Merit in November 2008 and an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters at the start of 2013. He has hosted a weekly literature show Ça peut pas faire de mal on France Inter since September 2009. About Philip Feeney, Musical Arrangements Composer and pianist Philip Feeney studied composition at the University of Cambridge and at Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He is best known for his work in dance, which he first encountered in Italy and has since worked with many companies in addition to American Ballet Theatre, including Northern Ballet Theatre, Rambert Dance Company, the White Oak Project and the Martha Graham Company. He has collaborated with many choreographers including Michael Pink, Didy Veldman, Michael Keegan-Dolan, Derek Williams, David Nixon, Adam Cooper and Sara Matthews, and his works have been performed by dance companies as diverse as Northern Ballet Theatre, Rambert Dance Company, Cullberg Ballet, Boston Ballet, Fabulous Beast, Scottish Dance Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, in addition to more than forty works for Ballet Central. From 1991-95, Feeney lectured in composition at Reading University. He is currently composer in residence for Ballet Central and has been a longstanding accompanist at the London Contemporary Dance School. Inspired by image and movement, Feeney’s output is remarkable for its range and scope. Extending from full-length orchestral ballet scores to electro-acoustic soundscapes, jazz and hip hop scores, his works exhibit a capacity for reinventing past styles in a post-modern way. For Feeney, it is crucial that music for dance make sense as pure music at all times. It needs to have kinetic musicality and parallel logic that make the listener feel that the music is right, and that it is the only possible music that could work for that particular choreography. American Ballet Theatre is one of the great dance companies in the world. Few ballet companies equal ABT for its combination of size, scope and outreach. Recognized as a living national treasure since its founding in 1940, ABT annually tours the United States, performing for more than 300,000 people, and is the only major cultural institution to do so. For 80 years, the Company has appeared in a total of 132 cities in 45 countries and has performed in all 50 states of the United States. ABT has recently enjoyed triumphant successes with engagements in Paris, Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Hong Kong and Oman. On April 27, 2006, by an act of Congress, American Ballet Theatre became America’s National Ballet Company®. Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair for the last 29 years, has been the resident orchestra of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for over a decade. Currently in its 40th anniversary season, the Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the U.S. in the last 50 years and is recognized as an outstanding ensemble making strides on both the national and international scene, as well as here in Orange County. Pacific Symphony is dedicated to expanding the orchestral repertoire, illustrated through its many commissions and recordings, in-depth explorations of American artists and themes. The Symphony’s innovative approaches to new works received the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming in 2005 and 2010. In April 2018, Pacific Symphony made its debut at Carnegie Hall as one of two orchestras invited to perform during a yearlong celebration of composer Philip Glass’ 80th birthday. The New York Times saluted Pacific Symphony as “excellent...a major ensemble.” The following month the orchestra toured China, and in June 2018 made its national PBS debut on Great Performances with Peter Boyer’s “Ellis Island: The Dream of America,” conducted by St.Clair. Presenting more than 100 concerts and events a year and a rich array of education and community engagement programs, the Symphony reaches more than 300,000 residents—from school children to senior citizens. ________________________________________________ The Center's International Dance Series is made possible by the Audrey Steele Burnand Endowed Fund for International Dance and The Segerstrom Foundation Endowment for Great Performances. Of Love and Rage is presented with special underwriting from Mr. and Mrs. Eyal Aronoff, Mr. and Mrs. George Schreyer and William J. Gillespie. Segerstrom Center for the Arts applauds United Airlines, Official Airline of the Center. COAST Magazine is the official media partner of the Dance Season. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence, offering unsurpassed experiences and to engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance as well as a diverse array of inspiring arts-based education and community engagement programs. Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County’s largest non-profit arts organization. In addition to its six performance venues, Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School and the School of Dance and Music for Children with Disabilities. The Center presents a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages, featuring international ballet and dance companies, national tours of top Broadway shows, jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, and free performances on its plaza, such as outdoor movie screenings, concerts, community and cultural festivals. Segerstrom Center is a leader among the nation’s performing arts centers for providing education programs designed to inspire young people through the arts. The Center’s programs reach hundreds of thousands of students each year in five Southern California counties. The CDI supports flagship artistic programming and a wide range of projects that celebrate innovation, nurture creativity and engage audiences of the future. The Center Without Boundaries develops partnerships with non-cultural organizations to help them in their own efforts to respond to the ever-changing needs of the community. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region’s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Pacific Chorale. Each contributes greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons performed at the Center. In addition to Segerstrom Center for the Arts as a presenting and producing institution, it also identifies the beautiful 14-acre campus that embraces the Center’s own facilities as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art. AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: OF LOVE AND RAGE Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Segerstrom Hall 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky, based on Chariton’s novel Callirhoe Music: Aram Khachaturian’s Gayane, arranged by Philip Feeney, performed live by Pacific Symphony Set and Costume Design: Jean-Marc Puissant Lighting Design: Duane Schuler Of Love and Rage is a co-production with the National Ballet of Canada. March 5 – 8, 2020 Thursday – Friday at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Tickets – In Person – Online – Phone – Group Sales – Start at $29 The Box Office 600 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily www.SCFTA.org www.ABT.org (714) 556-2787 Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily (714) 755-0236 Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ 2019–2020 International Dance Series continues with Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company’s Onegin (July 31 – August 2). Information provided is accurate at the time of printing but is subject to change. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a public, non-profit organization. “Segerstrom Center for the Arts” is a registered trademark. Eh, the pictures didn't post.