American Repertory Ballet to Open New Season with Mary Barton Showcase

American Repertory Ballet (ARB) opens its 2017-2018 season with a full evening of works celebrating 15 years of Mary Barton's choreography by showcasing three of her most recognized works in a program entitled Woman of Dance: Celebrating the Work of Mary Barton, on Friday and Saturday, September 22 and 23, at 7:30 p.m. at Rider University's Bart Luedeke Center Theater (2083 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville).

Tickets are $20 and $15 for students and seniors are available online at arballet.org; by phone (609) 896-7775; or in person at the Bart Luedeke Center box office.

"Woman of Dance: A Celebration of Mary Barton is really a two-fold celebration - honoring her contribution over the last seven years as American Repertory Ballet's Resident Choreographer as well as acknowledging her role as a choreographer to this organization for the past 15 years," says Douglas Martin, ARB Artistic Director. "Mary is a very gifted and talented choreographer and her work is a testimonial to the strength of female choreographers in America today."

The program features Scarlet Sonata, a scintillating, technically challenging work for five women; Five Men and a Concerto, a work for five men which highlights the male form, set to the strong drive and melody of Vivaldi's Concerto for Oboe; and the imaginative and thrilling Straight Up with a Twist (an ARB signature performance since its inception), a work set to the eclectic sounds of Kaila Flexer and Third Ear which showcases the versatility of ARB's dancers and Barton's choreographic genius.

Mary Barton received her dance training at The Washington School of Ballet under the direction of Mary Day and participated in summer courses at the School of American Ballet and Joffrey Ballet School. Her professional experience began when she performed with The Washington Ballet as a soloist in Balanchine's Scotch Symphony and in the principal role in Tom Paczik's Tzigane. Early professional credits include the Oldenburg Staat Ballet in Germany and several seasons with Dayton Ballet. In 1986, Ms. Barton joined the Joffrey Ballet/NY where she performed a variety of roles in the great ballets of the 20th century. Robert Joffrey created the role of Clara for her in the world premiere of his new Nutcracker. Ms. Barton was featured along with Gerald Arpino in an interview with Charlie Rose for the world premiere of Robert Joffrey's Nutcracker. Ms. Barton TV credits include performances in Dance in America on PBS and she was an original cast member of the historic recreation of Nijinsky's Le Sacre du printemps. From 1993-2004, Ms. Barton was a principal dancer with American Repertory Ballet where notable roles include Sugar Plum Fairy, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Emily in Our Town and leads in Balanchine's Four Temperaments, Rubies, Concerto Barocco and Serenade. Ms. Barton has been on the faculty of the Princeton Ballet School since 1994 and is one of the primary teachers and choreographers for the Summer Intensive. She is a former ballet faculty member at Princeton University and current faculty at Rider University's Music Theater Department.

For more information on American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School, visit arballet.org or call (609) 921-7758.

American Repertory Ballet/Princeton Ballet School is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.