American Repertory Ballet Will Present AMERICANA, Featuring Balanchine Works and World Premieres

American Repertory Ballet will present Americana, the company’s 2025–26 season finale, May 1–3, 2026 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.

The mixed-repertoire program will highlight the spirit of the United States in honor of its 250th anniversary, combining classical ballet with new works. The program will include George Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux (1960) and an excerpt from Stars and Stripes (1958), along with world premieres by company dancer Michelle Quiner and Artist in Residence Ethan Stiefel.

Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky originally written for Swan Lake, returns following its 2025 company premiere at McCarter Theatre and the Princeton Festival. The performance will be paired with the company’s debut of the Stars and Stripes pas de deux, set to music by John Philip Sousa. The Balanchine works are presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and have been staged in accordance with its artistic standards.

Michelle Quiner will make her company choreographic debut with At the Heart of It, a work exploring different expressions of strength. “My piece explores the strength of a woman through several different facets,” Quiner said. “Strength is not one-dimensional – it can take on many forms and reveal itself in both big and small ways.” The ballet will feature costume design by Janessa Cornell Urwin and lighting by John Bartenstein.

Audience members can learn more about Quiner’s creative process at a free “On Pointe” event on April 21 at Morven Museum & Garden, where she will be in conversation with Executive Director Julie Diana Hench about the development of the work and her experience as a professional dancer.

Ethan Stiefel will contribute a world premiere titled Ol’ Timin’, set to music by Mark O’Connor. “When presented with the idea of an Americana-themed program, my mind immediately went to some string quartets composed by the prolific Mark O’Connor,” Stiefel said. The work will feature costume design by Janessa Cornell Urwin and lighting by Jason Flamos.

The performances will also mark the final appearance of company dancer Annie Johnson, who will retire at the conclusion of the season. Johnson joined Princeton Ballet School as a trainee, became a member of ARB2 in 2017, and was promoted to the main company in 2018. During her tenure, she originated roles in numerous new works and performed across the company’s classical and contemporary repertory.

Performance Information

Performances will take place at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue:

– Friday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m.
– Saturday, May 2 at 2:00 p.m. (audio-described performance)
– Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m.

Ticket Information

Tickets range from $42 to $72, not including fees.