American Repertory Ballet Presents Fall Repertory Preview for Oct 2014 'On Pointe' Today

Through guest speakers, lecture demonstrations, performance previews, and panel discussions, American Repertory Ballet's On Pointe series gives the public an inside look at the world of dance and, within that, ARB's unique work. ARB's "Fall Repertory Preview" On Pointe will be held today, October 10, 2014 at 5:15pm. This On Pointe event will feature American Repertory Ballet dancers performing excerpts from upcoming ARB productions.

All On Pointe events are free and open to the public and are held at Princeton Ballet School - 301 North Harrison Street (above McCaffrey's supermarket in the Princeton Shopping Center).

At the "Fall Repertory Preview" on October 10, the dancers will perform excerpts of Douglas Martin's brand-new A Midsummer Night's Dream. Sections of this new ballet will premiere in A Midsummer Night's Dream Preview Performance on October 17, 2014 at Union County PAC's Hamilton Stage in Rahway, NJ. The world premiere of the full ballet will take place on February 26 and 27, 2015 at State Theatre in New Brunswick. The music will be performed live by the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Kynan Johns and the women of the Rutgers University Kirkpatrick Choir under the direction of Patrick Gardner.

"Meet the Company" On Pointe

ARB's Princeton studios: 301 N. Harrison Street, above McCaffrey's Supermarket

Friday, September 12, 2014 at 5:15pm

This event is free and open to the public.

ARB's Fall Kick-Off Performance

Rider University's Bart Luedeke Center Theater in Lawrenceville, NJ

Friday, September 19, 2014 and Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 7:30pm

$20 adults; $10 seniors and students; $5 Rider U students

Box Office: (609)-896-7775

Grumpy Bird

Kids' Day at the Park - part of the Hub City Sounds festival in New Brunswick

Boyd Park in New Brunswick, NJ

September 27, 2014

This event is free and open to the public.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Preview Performance

Union County Performing Arts Center's Hamilton Stage in Rahway, NJ

Friday, October 17, 2014 at 8:00pm

$35 adults; $17 students and seniors (available only through box office with ID)

Box Office: (732) 499-8226

A Night at the Ballet

The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, NJ

Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 8:00pm

$25, $35 adults

Box Office: (908) 725-3420

About American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School - American Repertory Ballet's mission is to bring the joy, beauty, artistry and discipline of classical and contemporary dance to New Jersey and nationwide audiences and to dance students through artistic and educational programs. The organization comprises: American Repertory Ballet, the preeminent professional classical and contemporary ballet company in the state; Princeton Ballet School, one of the largest and most respected non-profit dance schools in the nation; and ARB's Access & Enrichment initiatives, including the long-running and acclaimed DANCE POWER program. The performing company is a classical and contemporary ballet company committed to presenting ballets from the 19th and 20th centuries alongside new and existing works by choreographers from today. Founded in 1963, the company is currently under the artistic leadership of Douglas Martin, former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet. Its rich history of repertory includes established masterpieces by distinguished American choreographers such as George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharp; cutting edge works by choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Kirk Peterson, Dominique Dumais, Harrison McEldowney, Amy Seiwert, Susan Shields, Melissa Barak, Patrick Corbin, Trinette Singleton, and ARB Resident Choreographer Mary Barton; and former Artistic Directors Dermot Burke, Marjorie Mussman, Septime Webre and Graham Lustig. ARB has been designated a "Major Arts Institution" by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts consistently for the past two decades, and has repeatedly been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. ARB was voted the Jersey Arts People's Choice for "Favorite Dance Company" in 2008, 2011 and 2012.

Princeton Ballet School has gained a national reputation for its excellent dance training since its founding in 1954 by Audrée Estey. Under the direction of Mary Pat Robertson, Princeton Ballet School currently serves approximately 1,200 students, starting at age three, and includes a large open enrollment division for adults. Princeton Ballet School has studios in Cranbury, New Brunswick, and Princeton and offers classes in ballet, modern dance, jazz, hip-hop, CardioBallet, and CoMBo - Conditioning for the Mind and Body. Students from the school have gone on to dance in professional ballet and contemporary dance companies in the US and abroad. Graduates have danced with such diverse organizations as New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Miami City Ballet, Complexions, Mark Morris Dance Company, Twyla Tharp, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Ballet West and on Broadway.

The Access & Enrichment wing of American Repertory Ballet reaches out to the community not only through its DANCE POWER program and signature On Pointe series, but also with free programming, master classes, residencies, lecture demonstrations and School Time Matinees throughout the state. In 1984, American Repertory Ballet partnered with the New Brunswick Board of Education to create DANCE POWER. Today, it's the longest-running uninterrupted arts/community partnership in New Jersey. The legendary Gregory Hines was DANCE POWER's Honorary Chair for 18 years before his untimely passing in 2003. In 2001, Mr. Hines endowed a scholarship at Rutgers University that earmarks annual funds for a DANCE POWER student to attend the university.