ABT's The Innovation Initiative

[Dale]

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS

THE INNOVATION INITIATIVE

A BENEFIT CELEBRATING CHOREOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION AT

FREDERICK P. ROSE HALL, HOME OF JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER,

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12 AT 6:00PM

ABT PRINCIPAL DANCER DAVID HALLBERG TO SERVE AS

THE EVENING’S ARTISTIC CO-CHAIRMAN

American Ballet Theatre will showcase the choreographic work of four Company

members with The Innovation Initiative, a one-night-only benefit at Frederick P. Rose

Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, on Tuesday evening, October 12 at 6:00pm.

The Innovation Initiative will be highlighted by the World Premieres of four

works choreographed by members of American Ballet Theatre and performed by dancers

from the Company. Choreographers for The Innovation Initiative are Gemma Bond,

Nicola Curry, Daniel Mantei and Craig Salstein. The performance is the culmination of

ABT’s four-week choreographic workshop under the mentorship of Artistic Director

Kevin McKenzie, ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky and Stephen Pier.

The benefit evening, which begins at 6:00pm, kicks off with an Innovators

Celebration Dinner in The Allen Room, followed by a performance at Rose Theater at

Ruthe and Tony Ponturo are the Lead Underwriting Sponsors for American Ballet

Theatre’s Innovation Initiative. Co-Chairmen are Joan Taub Ades and Alan Ades, Avery

and Andy Barth, Susan and Leonard Feinstein, Robin Chemers Neustein and Sharon L.

Patrick. Vice Chairmen are Lisa and Dick Cashin, Barry R. Fierstein, Linda Allard

Gallen, Laura and Jamie Rosenwald and Jean and Larry Shaw. ABT Principal Dancer

David Hallberg will serve as the evening’s Artistic Co-Chairman.

"The Innovation Initiative was created with a sole purpose of nurturing the

exploration of new movement, giving choreographers a platform for experimentation,”

said Hallberg. “We hope this program will set a course to discover new ideas and nurture

A festive After Party with dancing will immediately follow the performance in

The Allen Room with the cast and members of the Company. Benefit tickets for

The Innovation Initiative are priced at $1,000 and include a benefit dinner, performance

and After Party with the cast. Tickets for the performance and post-reception are priced

at $350. For benefit tickets and information, please call American Ballet Theatre’s

Special Events office at 212-477-3030, ext. 3239. A limited number of performance-

only tickets, priced $30-$75, will be available at the Frederick P. Rose Hall box office,

beginning September 26 or by calling CenterCharge at 212-721-6500. Frederick P. Rose

Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, is located on Broadway at 60th Street.

[Ambonnay]

Members interested in the $1000 or $350 tickets should note that they are available now, via the ABT special events number noted in the press release. I just got a $350 ticket. One does not have to wait until September 26.

[Ambonnay]

I received an e-mail reminder from ABT re the availability of general tickets starting Sept 26. Note physical box office is at Time Warner, if one chooses that route.

The e-mail names the dancers who would participate in the performances. They are mostly corp members, except for Stella A, Sarah L and J Matthews. No principals are participating in the performances, although David Hallberg is presumably likely to appear at the after-party, and at the dinner preceding the event.

[Barbara]

I went online yesterday to order regularly priced tickets. Since I wanted the lowest priced tickets I ended up smack dab in the center of the very last row of the balcony. I've been wanting to see something at Jazz at Lincoln Center so besides being interested in the program this was an additional reason to want to attend. Has anyone been to the Rose? Will I be miles from the stage at the back of the balcony? I plan to bring my trusty binocs.