Frederick Ashton News

Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen announces programming for the 2020a?"2021 season. The season opens with a world premiere as part of a three-ballet program of William Forsythe's works. Nissinen's The Nutcracker returns to capture the imagination of audiences of all ages. The spring season includes a second world premiere by William Forsythe, Alexei Ratmansky's Symphony No. 9, and George Balanchine's Ballo della Regina, plus the Company premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's A Midsummer Night's Dream and the return of Marius Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty. The season concludes with a female-led program, part of Boston Ballet's ChoreograpHER Initiative. The Company's 57th season runs November 5, 2020 through May 30, 2021 at the Citizens Bank Opera House.

Part of Inside Out, a year exploring the relationship between our inner lives and creativity, Viviana Durante Company brings the world premiere of Isadora Now to the Barbican Theatre in February 2020. An evening of performance paying tribute to the American dancer Isadora Duncan, a timeless feminist icon who made work that enabled women to express themselves physically on their own terms.

Less than one month into his new job as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta announces plans for world premieres, classic revivals and brand-new partnerships in his first year as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet. Opportunity, talent and inspiration are the key ingredients that underpin his vision and ambition for the company.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that Greta Hodgkinson's final performances as Principal Dancer will be in Marguerite and Armand, onstage February 29 - March 7. #MargueriteandArmandNBC

On the afternoon of February 2nd, 2020, a nearly sold-out audience for a performance of Pacific Northwest Ballet's “Cinderella” proved that diehard dancegoers and eager young ballet students will show up in full force even though plenty of other people decide to opt for watching Superbowl Sunday's football game.

Part of Inside Out, a year exploring the relationship between our inner lives and creativity, Viviana Durante Company brings the world premiere of Isadora Now to the Barbican Theatre in February 2020. An evening of performance paying tribute to the American dancer Isadora Duncan, a timeless feminist icon who made work that enabled women to express themselves physically on their own terms.

The Washington Ballet continues their bold 2019.20 season with BALANCHINE + ASHTON February 19-23 at The Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. The program features a suite of contrasting masterworks by two of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century: George Balanchine and Sir Frederick Ashton. Marcelo Gomes, an international ballet star, will make a special guest appearance.

The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts presents two very different works from two of the finest ballet companies in the western half of North America-Ballet West's beautifully traditional production of Giselle, and Ballet BC's stunningly reimagined take on the timeless tale of Romeo + Juliet.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Executive Director Barry Hughson today announced the company will tour to the historic Royal Opera House in London, UK for the first time in 41 years. The National Ballet will perform one of its most treasured classics, The Sleeping Beauty from July 28 a?" August 1, 2020 for seven performances.

Canada's esteemed national ballet company, The National Ballet of Canada, returns to the Kennedy Center with two programs showcasing its world-renowned talents in the classical and contemporary dance repertory, January 28-February 2. All performances will be accompanied by the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra conducted by David Briskin, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the National Ballet of Canada's Orchestra.

Linda Shelton, Executive Director of The Joyce Theater Foundation, unveiled the full slate of programming for the organization's Spring/Summer 2020 season, featuring a diverse roster of companies from across the U.S. and around the world. From classical ballet and seminal contemporary dance to some of the most in-demand choreographers and dancers creating new work today, the New York City organization continues to pave the way for dance as one of the world's most renowned presenters of the art form. The Joyce Theater's Spring/Summer 2020 season will see dance artists and companies celebrate monumental milestones and boundary-breaking world premieres, creating a unique blend of revered tradition and future classics across genres that will both delight dance aficionados and engage new audiences all season long.

Elmhurst Ballet Company has announced the details of Synergy, an evening of dance excerpts by some of the most influential figures in the history of ballet, including Ninette de Valois's Checkmate, widely regarded as de Valois' signature ballet and a cornerstone of the British ballet repertoire. Excerpts from Frederick Ashton's Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Peter Wright's Swan Lake, and David Bintley's Take Five also appear in the mix, and will be combined with new works, including a contemporary piece by Studio Wayne McGregor.

Valerie Taylor-Barnes, celebrated ballerina of the Royal Ballet and champion of young artists, passed away peacefully of natural causes on November 18, 2019 at the age of 88. She was preceded in death nearly ten years to the day by her beloved husband, Clive Barnes.

The Washington Ballet's beloved production of The Nutcracker returns to THEARC Theater November 23-24 and at the historic Warner Theatre November 30-December 29, 2019. Set to Tchaikovsky's magical score, this celebrated holiday favorite has become the signature Nutcracker in our nation's capital. With 40 performances and special events for families and military personnel, 45,000 patrons will enjoy The Nutcracker this season.

THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL BALLET THEATRE (TIBT) and stars of BOLSHOI BALLET present the triumphant return of THE NUTCRACKER. This unforgettable classic will feature internationally renowned Russian ballerina's Anastasia Stashkevich and Vyacheslav Lopatin, principal dancers in Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet, along with many of Toronto's most promising emerging dancers. THE NUTCRACKER will be presented at Meridian Hall (Formerly Sony Centre for the Performing Arts) on December 14, 2019 for two shows only, 2pm and 7pm.

According to the BBC, former Royal Ballet principal dancer, and West End performer, Stephen Beagley, has been jailed for 10 years for sexually abusing three girls. The girls were between the ages of 9 and 13.

SIMON WEXLER, former principal dancer of Texas Ballet Theater and former member of American Ballet Theatre, will appear as a guest artist in the Etudes de Ballet's production of The Nutcracker on December 20 and 21, 2019 at the Golden Gate High School Auditorium in Naples, Florida.

The Barbican today announces its full January to August 2020 Theatre and Dance programme in the Barbican Theatre and The Pit. Tickets go on sale to Barbican Members Plus on Friday 25 October 2019 and to Barbican Members on Monday 28 October 2019. From only £54, Barbican Members get priority booking, discounted tickets (subject to availability) and pay no booking fees. They can also take advantage of exclusive behind-the-scenes events and the Members' Lounge. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 1 November 2019.

Stella Abrera, a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre since 2015, will give her farewell performance with the Company in the title role of Giselle on Saturday evening, June 13, 2020 at the Metropolitan Opera House.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the second show of their 2019-2020 season, Roald Dahl's MATILDA, THE MUSICAL, book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, choreography by Kate Dunn and directed by Michael Matthews.