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ABT announces new partnership with Columbia University


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A release:

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE AND THE ARTS INITIATIVE AT

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP

IN CONJUNCTION WITH ABT’S 2014 INNOVATION INITIATIVE

PARTNERSHIP TO ENABLE COLUMBIA STUDENTS TO INTERFACE WITH AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE FOR MASTER CLASSES, CHOREOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES

WORKS-IN-PROCESS TO BE PERFORMED AT MILLER THEATRE AT

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 AT 3PM

American Ballet Theatre and the Arts Initiative at Columbia University have formed a new arts partnership that will offer students a unique, in-depth immersion into the process of creating a new ballet. It was announced today by Rachel Moore, ABT CEO and Melissa Smey, Executive Director of the Arts Initiative and Miller Theatre at Columbia University. The partnership was designed as a complement to American Ballet Theatre’s Innovation Initiative, a two-week choreographic workshop spearheaded by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie and ABT Principal Dancer David Hallberg.

The Innovation Initiative will culminate in a performance at Miller Theatre at Columbia University on Sunday, November 16, at 3PM. The performance will be highlighted by works-in-process choreographed by members of American Ballet Theatre and outside creators, and performed by ABT dancers.

Choreographers selected for this year’s Innovation Initiative include ABT corps de ballet members Gemma Bond, Claire Davison and Daniel Mantei. For the first time since the program was established in 2010, ABT’s Innovation Initiative has invited two outside choreographers to participate. Choreographers Jillian Peña, a dance and video artist, and Pam Tanowitz, of Pam Tanowitz Dance, join ABT Company members in the exploration of new ideas and movement.

In the weeks preceding the performance, Columbia University students will have several opportunities to become intimately familiar with ABT and the choreographic

process. The Arts Initiative at Columbia University will coordinate a variety of special events in partnership with ABT, giving students the opportunity to attend a performance at the David H. Koch Theater; observe an early rehearsal of the new works at ABT’s studios; participate in a master class led by an ABT dancer; and attend the final Innovation Initiative program when it is performed on campus at Columbia University on November 16.

“We are grateful to the Arts Initiative at Columbia University and Miller Theatre for partnering with ABT and the Innovation Initiative,” said ABT CEO Rachel Moore. “Columbia University’s participation helps make this workshop possible, while expanding the arts offerings available to their students. It’s a win-win for both organizations.”

"I am so excited to be working with American Ballet Theatre to pilot this new model for audience development in the arts," said Melissa Smey, Executive Director of the Arts Initiative and Miller Theatre at Columbia University. "Many arts organizations struggle with the question of how to cultivate the next generation of audiences. We believe that by providing students from a variety of academic backgrounds with access to the creative process through a sustained, multifaceted partnership like this, we can help instill a lifelong love of the arts that they will carry with them throughout their adult lives."

Student participants will include dancers studying in the Department of Dance at Barnard College and members of co-curricular dance groups such as Orchesis and Columbia Ballet Collaborative. Attendance at the performances and rehearsal visits will be open to any interested Columbia student, regardless of major. For more information, please visit the Arts Initiative’s website, artsinitiative.columbia.edu.

Tickets for the Innovation Initiative performance, priced at $15 for the public, can be purchased beginning on November 3 at www.millertheatre.com; in person, at the Miller Theatre Box Office (2960 Broadway at 116th Street); or by calling 212.854.7799.

Student tickets, priced at $7, are available for pre-sale to all students with valid Columbia

University ID beginning today, October 27. The Miller Theatre Box Office is open

Monday through Friday, from 12 noon to 6 p.m., and starting two hours before performances.

The Innovation Initiative is generously underwritten by Dr. Joan Taub Ades and Irene and Fred Shen.

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