Amar Ramasar News

On the first ever World Ballet Day, October 1st 2014, I postponed watching the video stream of five top ballet companies in favor of attending what turned out to be a mesmerizing mixed bill featuring Balanchine ballets to the music of Stravinsky at the Koch Theater in Lincoln Center. YouTube can wait for me to catch up on the video stream later, but being in the audience at a live performance is always a one-time experience never to be recaptured except in the mind's eye.

The Public Theater was founded on the idea that “Culture belongs to everyone.” While Fall for Dance Festival is a brainchild of New York City Center and not The Public, this mandate is similarly a founding principle of the festival. Each performance costs $15 and consists of four works from leading dance companies and artists. This year, City Center commissioned three works in addition to four American premieres and four New York City premieres. Last year, at the tenth anniversary of the festival, City Center partnered with The Public to present two free performances at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. It was so successful that Fall for Dance at the Delacorte will become the annual kick off event. This year, the program consisted of works presented by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, New York City Ballet, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, and Lil Buck.

The Festival Ballet Theatre will host its 2014 Gala of the Stars tonight, August 15, 2014 at 7pm.

The Festival Ballet Theatre will host its 2014 Gala of the Stars on Friday, August 15, 2014 at 7pm.

The All Robbins program offered this spring season by New York City Ballet is a testament to the range and depth of the choreographer's genius. 'Glass Pieces', the 1983 work to the driving rhythms of music by Philip Glass, is an ideal opener with its masterful blend of postmodern and classical movement styles that call to mind the pulsating urgency of urban life.

Dance Against Cancer raised more than $200,000 for the American Cancer Society on Monday, May 5, 2014. Proceeds from the evening will benefit research initiatives and patient and family service programs. More than 500 guests attended the fourth annual Dance Against Cancer. VIP guests enjoyed cocktails, preferred seating, and a gift bag in addition to the performance and post-event reception. The performance featured new work by Brian Reeder created for American Ballet Theatre's Isabella Boylston with New York City Ballet's Chase Finlay and Amar Ramasar, Paul Taylor Dance Company in its first appearance at the benefit, Charles 'Lil Buck' Riley performed with students from National Dance Institute, and included the NYC premiere of Justin Peck's Sea Change. Scroll down for photos from the performances!

Co producers, Erin Fogarty and Daniel Ulbrict of the New York City Ballet, present The 4th Annual Dance Against Cancer, the American Cancer Society's signature dance event dedicated to raising funds and supporting the fight against cancer. Guests enjoy cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres, as well as world premiere dance performances from companies including New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Norwegian National Ballet, Broadway's finest, many more. Since its inauguration, Dance Against Cancer has raised over $200,000.00 in support of the American Cancer Society.

Producers Erin Fogarty and Daniel Ulbricht have partnered with the American Cancer Society to present the fourth annual Dance Against Cancer on Monday, May 5, 2014 with cocktails at 6pm (VIP ticket only), followed by a performance at 7pm, and a post-show reception at the AXA Equitable Theater, 787 Seventh Avenue (between 51st and 52nd Streets), NYC. Tickets are $150 ($300 for VIP) and are available at www.dacny.org.

Producers Erin Fogarty and Daniel Ulbricht have partnered with the American Cancer Society to present the fourth annual Dance Against Cancer on Monday, May 5, 2014 with cocktails at 6pm (VIP ticket only), followed by a performance at 7pm, and a post-show reception at the AXA Equitable Theater, 787 Seventh Avenue (between 51st and 52nd Streets), NYC. Tickets are $150 ($300 for VIP) and are available at www.dacny.org.

Nearly 31 years have passed since George Balanchine, the prolific and pioneering 20th century choreographer, died on April 30th 1983. Yet the New York City Ballet, the company he co-founded with Lincoln Kirstein 80 years ago, continues to revere and remember him with equal parts fondness and awe. That legacy of love and respect for Mr. B was especially evident on January 25th 2014, the 4th annual celebration of "Saturday at the Ballet with George" in honor of his birthday. He was actually born on January 22nd 1904 but scheduling the event on a Saturday allows for a daylong series of workshops and performances, all of them affordable and some of them free.

On Monday, November 11th the American Dance Machine for the 21st Century performed “Next Look,” an exclusive benefit showing in preparation for the company's full-length New York City debut at the Joyce Theater next year. The benefit performance included reconstructed works from show-stopping musicals such as Contact, A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, and Promises Promises.

AOL On Originals, AOL's premium video platform, launched its newest documentary series, city.ballet, today, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day lives of the elite roster of artists who perform with the New York City Ballet.

American Dance Machine for the 21st Century (ADM21) will present a benefit evening of classic musical theater dance numbers from A Chorus Line, Contact, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, 42nd Street and Promises! Promises on Monday, November 11 at New York City Center, Studio Five at 7:00 p.m. Each piece has been coached by artists intimately involved in their original productions. The evening will be directed by Artistic Director Margo Sappington and feature live music with musical direction by Eugene Gwozdz. ADM21 is a new non-profit dance company founded by Executive Director Nikki Feirt Atkins, dedicated to creating a living and vibrant archive of classic and current notable musical theater choreography.

NYC Ballet's Black and White program offers rich rewards for dedicated dancegoers. The company is in great form, so much so that it's too much for the eye to take in.

Manhattan Youth Ballet offers a comprehensive three-week Summer Intensive to prepare dancers to return to their year-round programs, beginning today.

The New York Philharmonic will present A Dancer's Dream: Two Works by Stravinsky, a multidisciplinary, theatrical reimagining of the ballets The Fairy's Kiss and Petrushka, created by Giants Are Small. Sara Mearns, New York City Ballet principal dancer, will star in the production, which will be conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert, directed and designed by Doug Fitch, choreographed by Karole Armitage, and produced by Edouard Getaz - tonight, June 27, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 28 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, June 29 at 8:00 p.m.

Choreographer Karole Armitage and director/designer Doug Fitch work with Sara Mearns, Amar Ramasar, Matt Acheson, William da Silva, and Abbey Roesner to bring the stories of Stravinsky's 'Petrushka' and 'The Fairy's Kiss' to life in rehearsal for 'A Dancer's Dream'. Click below for a sneak peek at the show in rehearsal!

The New York Philharmonic presents A DANCER'S DREAM: Two Works by Stravinsky, June 27, 2013 at 7:30pm. Check out the videos below!

Manhattan Movement & Arts Center announces Manhattan Youth Ballet's Summer Intensive at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center at 248 W. 60th Street, NYC (between Amsterdam and West End Avenues) in the Lincoln Center area.

The New York Philharmonic will present A Dancer's Dream: Two Works by Stravinsky, a multidisciplinary, theatrical reimagining of the ballets The Fairy's Kiss and Petrushka, created by Giants Are Small. Sara Mearns, New York City Ballet principal dancer, will star in the production, which will be conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert, directed and designed by Doug Fitch, choreographed by Karole Armitage, and produced by Edouard Getaz - Thursday, June 27, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 28 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, June 29 at 8:00 p.m.