A Night Of Ballet With American Ballet Theatre Master Class, Discussion With ABT Principal Dancers Announced

A special night filled with ballet at Bryant Park, featuring a master class led by American Ballet Theatre's Cynthia Harvey and Richard Toda, a discussion with ABT Principal Dancers Sarah Lane and Herman Cornejo, and performances with CONTINUUM Contemporary/Ballet, Doug Baum & Artists, and Da' Von Doane & the Artists of the Shift!

The event kicks off at 6pm with a Ballet Master Class led by Cynthia Harvey (Artistic Director of the American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School) with Richard Toda (ABT Artistic Coordinator of Educational Outreach). Cynthia Harvey danced virtually every ballerina role with American Ballet Theatre and had the distinction of being invited by Sir Anthony Dowell to be a principal ballerina of the Royal Ballet - the first American dancer to have that honor. She performed as guest artist with Baryshnikov and Company, Nureyev and Friends and numerous internationally renowned ballet companies before retiring in 1996.

As the ABT Artistic Coordinator of Educational Outreach, Richard Toda facilitates ABT's arts in education residencies - ABT at School, Ballet for a New Audience, and Make a Ballet - in New York City public and private schools and offers pre-performance workshops for students and families across the country and internationally during ABT touring engagements. The ballet master class will be followed by a brief discussion (6:55pm - 7:20pm) with two of ABT's principal dancers, Sarah Lane and Herman Cornejo, who are staring in the company's annual Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House, now through July 7. Learn more about ABT, America's National Ballet Company, at ABT.org.

Following the discussion, the performances with CONTINUUM Contemporary/Ballet, Doug Baum & Artists, and Da' Von Doane & the Artists of the Shift begin! CONTINUUM Contemporary/Ballet is comprised of classically trained dancers with contemporary artistic voices and a repertory that is fresh, clever, and infectiously dancy. Led by founding artist Donna Salgado, the company aims to expand the role of creativity in the art of ballet by engaging in artistic processes that encompass experimentation, collaboration, and design. Follow CONTINUUM Contemporary/Ballet at ContinuumContemporaryBallet.org.

Doug Baum received his BFA from Fordham University in collaboration with The Ailey School. Since graduating, he has toured internationally with Rasta Thomas' Bad Boys of Dance, Compagnie Flak, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Follow his artistry at Instagram.

Da' Von Doane & the Artists of the Shift is a new choreography project that explores changes in paradigm in both life and ballet. Doane is a leading member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, frequently in soloist and principal roles, and has been choreographing and teaching for the Dance Theatre of Harlem lecture/demonstration series touring throughout the U.S. Doane was named one of the "Top 25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine in 2014. Follow Da' Von's artistry at Instagram.

Program Details: CONTINUUM Contemporary/Ballet Concerto Geloso (World Premiere) Choreography: Donna Salgado Music: Vivaldi's Concerto for Violin and Strings In E Minor RV 281 Allegro Dancers: Laura DiOrio, Dorothea Garland, Shoko Fujita, Donna Salgado, and Vanessa Salgado
Doug Baum & Artists Tangle Choreography: Doug Baum Music: Philip Glass Dancers: Doug Baum and Katie Currier Da' Von Doane & the Artists of the Shift Dances for Brass: Sacred and Profane (World Premiere) Choreography: Da' Von Doane Music: George Walker Daners: Malik Berry, Daniel Cooke, Paunika Jones, Cortney Key, and Courtney Cochran

Designated America's National Ballet Company by an Act of Congress in 2006, American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is an internationally celebrated cultural institution. ABT exists to create, to present, to preserve, and to extend the great repertoire of classical dancing, through exciting performances and educational programming of the highest quality, presented to the widest possible audience. Do not miss ABT's Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House now through July 7, 2018. For tickets, visit www.abt.org or call 212-362-6000.

ABT's primary mission is to continue the legacy of classical dance, and that legacy lives in the movements of today's dancers. ABT is proud to provide educational programming of the highest quality. ABT Master Classes are specialized ballet classes taught by faculty certified in ABT's National Training Curriculum, combining scientific principles with elements of classical French, Italian, and Russian schools of ballet. For the Bryant Park Master Class with ABT's Cynthia Harvey, no previous experience with ballet is needed, and all fitness levels are welcome.