Aaron Atkins' BALLET INC. Comes to Ailey Citigroup Theater, Today

Rising young choreographer Aaron Atkins returns to the Ailey Citigroup Theater with his 17-member company for a performance of eight world premieres and repertory dances by Atkins and company associate director Edgar Peterson, Saturday, October 3 at 8 PM.

A master at working with large ensembles, Atkins has assembled an outstanding group of dancers whose credits include Miami Contemporary Dance, Eliot Feld's Ballet Tech, Bejart Ballet Lausanne, Elise Monte Dance, and the American Swiss Ballet.

The Atkins' style is ballet based; indeed, many of the works are on pointe, and combined with a very contemporary sensibility. Boldness and vitality distinguish many of the works, though Atkins' repertory also ranges to gentle, romantic dances.

As always, a Ballet Inc. evening is also rich musically, with works danced to Bach, Satie, Beethoven, Arvo Part, Michael Gordon, Max Richter, Philip Glass, Little Dragon, Massive Attack, and Edith Piaf.

Premieres include Count to 1 (music by Glass and Richter); Bellator (Hilary Hahn and Cory Smythe), Les Sentiments (Bach, Satie, Beethoven), Stolen Moments in Time (Michael Gordon), and an as yet untitled work by Peterson for twelve dancers (Michael Gordon).

Company favorites are When I Am Alone, a solo for Kara Cooper, and Jamais Ton, a stunning duet for Chloe Slade and Edgar Peterson.

Ballet Inc. has been invited to perform at over 40 different festivals along the U.S. East Coast and has presented three self-produced full-length evenings to groundbreaking success since its founding in 2012 by Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Aaron Atkins. Based in New York City, Ballet Inc. is currently Artist in Residence at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center and the 92nd Street Y. The Company hopes to redefine the principles that offer versatile and talented dancers a platform to share their artistic voices while merging various forms of dance into a unique and eclectic style.

IF YOU GO:

AN EVENING WITH BALLET INC., VOL. IV

Dances by Aaron Atkins and guest choreographer Edgar Peterson

Saturday October 3 at 8 PM

Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 West 55 Street

Tickets: $25; $20 for students & seniors

with reception following: $35; $30 for students & seniors

Reservations: www.ballet-inc.org

Dancers: Elizabeth Arencibia, Kara Cooper, Kyla Ernst-Alper, Felipe Escalante Medina, David Ferguson, Sabrina Imamura, Miku Kawamura, ChiHwan Kim, Shannon Maynor, Edgar Peterson, Courtney Sauls, Maxwell Simoes, Chloe Slade, Po-Lin Tung, Rebecca Walden, Wade Watson, Dona Wiley

Choreography: Aaron Atkins

Guest Choreographer: Edgar Peterson