Toshiro Ogawa

American Ballet Theatre will celebrate its 80th Anniversary during the 2020 Spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House with the New York Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's Of Love and Rage, an opening week devoted to both new and historic works from the Company's repertory, and the 40th Anniversary performances of Natalia Makarova's production of La Bayadère. The Spring season was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

On Friday July 13th, I witnessed the incredible performances of Misty Copeland, Isabella Boylston and Jeffrey Cirio as the lead soloists in the mesmerizing and captivating La Bayadere', at the world-renowned Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, at the Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles. ABT was presented as part of the 15th season of Gloria Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center. Thank you, Gloria, for being so generous in your love of Dance. It is a vitally important part of Los Angeles being able to appreciate Dance as one of the primary communicative Arts worth sponsoring and being available to our entire community. It is more important than ever, as, sadly, our support and funding for the Arts keeps dwindling on especially the National level.

The Music Center welcomes the return of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) with the company's production of the 19th century classic ballet, La Bayadere, which will be performed at The Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for the first time from July 13 - 15, 2018.  The final engagement of the 15th season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, La Bayadere is set in royal India and tells the story of eternal love, fate, vengeance and justice.  The production will highlight ABT's stellar roster of international ballet stars, including Principal Dancers Isabella Boylston, Jeffrey Cirio, Misty Copeland, Hee Seo, Cory Stearns, Gillian Murphy, Devon Teuscher and Christine Shevchenko.

American Ballet Theatre's 2018 Spring Season opens with eight performances of Giselle beginning Monday evening, May 14, led by Hee Seo in the title role, opposite Roberto Bolle as Albrecht and Gillian Murphy as Myrta. Guest Artist Natalia Osipova will perform the title role on Friday, May 18 opposite David Hallberg as Albrecht.

American Ballet Theatre's 2018 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 14 - July 7, will feature the World Premieres of AFTERITE by Wayne McGregor and Harlequinade by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky. Tickets for ABT's 2018 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House go on sale at the box office on Sunday, March 25 at 12 Noon.

Los Angeles audiences will discover a new perspective on many timeless classics interpreted through a contemporary lens as they journey through The Music Center's dance season and uncover themes of conflict between female strength and societal expectations.  The 2017/2018 Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center (Dance at The Music Center) season is replete with powerful characters, riveting storylines, modern choreography and theatrics that take the traditional narrative ballet to a new level.  Audiences are invited to venture into the world of dance and experience realms of expression beyond expectation.  The coming season opens with the U.S. premiere of Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes (September 15-October 1, 2017), a beloved fairytale and Hollywood classic where life imitates art, presented by Dance at The Music Center and Center Theatre Group. 

Set in the Royal India of the past, La Bayadere is a story of eternal love, mystery, fate, vengeance, and justice. On Tuesday, June 2nd, at the Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center, I was transported to this far away place and time by a marvelous cast, with some of ABT's finest dancers, in a magnificent production, conceived, directed, and choreographed by Natalia Makarova, after Petipa. The rich and memorable music by Ludwig Minkus was specially arranged by John Lanchbery. The lavish scenery for both outdoor and indoor scenes by Pierluigi Samartani, the costumes, designed by Theoni V. Alldredge, and the effective lighting by Toshiro Ogawa, all contributing to the complete transportation to this other world.

Casting for the third and fourth weeks of American Ballet Theatre's 2015 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

American Ballet Theatre's 2015 season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 11-July 4, will be highlighted by the New York Premiere of an all-new production of The Sleeping Beauty, a revival of Lar Lubovitch's Othello and repertory programs featuring historic works in celebration of the Company's 75th Anniversary Season. Tickets for ABT's Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House go on sale at the box office on Sunday, March 22 at 9:00 A.M.

American Ballet Theatre's 2015 season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. The season will be highlighted by the New York Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's all-new production of The Sleeping Beauty, a revival of Lar Lubovitch's Othello and repertory programs featuring historic works in celebration of the Company's 75th Anniversary Season.

American Ballet Theatre's 2015 season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. The season will be highlighted by the New York Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's all-new production of The Sleeping Beauty, a revival of Lar Lubovitch's Othello and repertory programs featuring historic works in celebration of the Company's 75th Anniversary Season.

Casting for the first two weeks of American Ballet Theatre's 2014 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

American Ballet Theatre's 2014 season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 12-July 5, will be highlighted by the Company Premiere of Frederick Ashton's Cinderella and a Shakespeare Celebration to include Ashton's The Dream and Alexei Ratmansky's The Tempest. Season revivals include Leonide Massine's Gaite Parisienne and Kenneth MacMillan's Manon. Tickets for ABT's Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House go on sale at the box office on Sunday, March 30 at Noon.

American Ballet Theatre's 2014 season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. The season will be highlighted by the Company Premiere of Frederick Ashton's Cinderella, and a Shakespeare Celebration to include Ashton's The Dream and Alexei Ratmansky's The Tempest. Season revivals include Leonide Massine's Gaîté Parisienne and Kenneth MacMillan's Manon.

American Ballet Theatre's 2010 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 17-July 10, will celebrate the Company's 70th Anniversary with a tribute to legendary ballerina Alicia Alonso and the 30th Anniversary of Natalia Makarova's production of La Bayadère. The season will also feature the Company Premiere of John Neumeier's Lady of the Camellias. Tickets for ABT's Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House go on sale at the box office on March 28.

Casting for the first two weeks of American Ballet Theatre's 2010 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

American Ballet Theatre's 2010 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 17-July 10, will celebrate the Company's 70th Anniversary with a tribute to legendary ballerina Alicia Alonso and the 30th Anniversary of Natalia Makarova's production of La Bayadère. The season will also feature the Company Premiere of John Neumeier's Lady of the Camellias. Tickets for ABT's Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House go on sale at the box office on March 28.