ABT Announces World Premiere Of New Dorrance Work

Tap dance choreographer Michelle Dorrance , in her first work for American Ballet Theatre , will create a pièce d'occasion for the Company's Spring Gala performance on May 21 , 2018 at the Metropolitan Opera House . It was announced today by ABT Artistic Director Kevin Mckenzie . The new Dorrance work is the first of a trio of works by the choreographer , co - commissioned with Vail Dance Festival , for which Dorrance is an artist - in - residence . The pièce d'occasion will be followed up in July 2018 with the premiere of a new work for American Ballet Theatre's first appearance at the Vail Dance Festival .

Dorrance's Vail work will incorporate dancers from ABT and guest artists from the Festival's roster , leading towards an ABT World Premiere for the Company's Fall season at the Koch Theater in New York , October 17 - 28 , 2018 . Michelle Dorrance , a New York City based tap dancer , choreographer , director and performer , is founder and Artistic Director of Dorrance Dance . She is an Artist - in - Residence at the American Tap Dance Foundation , a 2016 - 17 New York City Center Choreography Fellow and a 2015 MacArthur Foundation Fellow .

" To have Michelle's imaginative artistry on the same program with works by Alexei Ratmansky and Wayne McGregor is a dream come true , " said McKenzie . " For me , it recalls Ballet Theatre's early days when diverse choreographers , working in distinct styles , offered variety to both dancers and audiences . "

Dorrance's work in Vail over the past summers has drawn her into collaborations with a wide range of dancers beyond the tap world , from modern dance to street dance to ballet . " We are ecstatic to be partnering on this project , which furthers our mission of promoting creative alchemy , " said Vail Dance Festival Director Damian Woetzel .