American Ballet Theatre News

Kaatsbaan Cultural Park will present American Ballet Theatre with world premieres from Helen Pickett and James Whiteside as a part of the 2021 Kaatsbaan Spring Festival from May 20-21 at 6:30pm. The Kaatsbaan Spring Festival will take place May 20-23 and May 27-30.

The Music Center has named 14 Grand Prize finalists from 1,500 applicants in The Music Center’s 33rd annual Spotlight (Spotlight) program, a free nationally acclaimed arts training and scholarship program for Southern California teens. The Music Center re-imagined Spotlight’s offerings for the 2020–2021 year to be entirely digital and COVID safe.

ABT, America's National Ballet Company, has been in residence at the Center since March 22, rehearsing this new program that will receive its world premiere before a live audience on Sunday, April 25 in Segerstrom Hall, followed by streaming on demand from May 12 – 26.

The Music Center will welcome back limited audiences in a safe manner to enjoy live performances with a new outdoor series called Dance at Dusk.

Kaatsbaan Cultural Park has expanded the musical component of its Spring Festival curated by Oliver Ray. Visitors now have an additional opportunity to see Patti Smith. Her May 22 tribute to Bob Dylan’s upcoming 80th birthday quickly sold out.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced plans for its 50th Anniversary season, slated to begin in September 2021 with a grand reopening of its stages and campus and culminate in September 2022 with a fresh interpretation of the seminal work that opened the Center in 1971, Leonard Bernstein’s MASS.

Youth America Grand Prix – the world's largest ballet scholarship competition – hosted its annual gala on March 31, 2021, featuring the World Premiere of Journey Uptown by American Ballet Theatre Soloist and YAGP Alum Gabe Stone Shayer, two exclusive duets from Russia's Mariinsky Ballet, and highlights from YAGP's 2021 season.

Guild Hall has announced the artists and events for its landmark 90th season which begins at the end of May and will feature author Salman Rushdie, American Ballet Theatre, Emmy-winners Susan Lucci & Joy Behar, 5-time Tony-winner Susan Stroman, Oscar & Tony-winner Mercedes Ruehl, and more.

Kevin McKenzie today announced his retirement as Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre at the end of 2022, following three decades of leadership. He will oversee ABT’s creation of new works and performances throughout 2021 and 2022, ensuring ABT’s vitality and artistic integrity, while working with the Board of Governing Trustees to provide a seamless transition to the Company’s next Artistic Director.

Kevin McKenzie today announced his retirement as Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre at the end of 2022, following three decades of leadership. He will oversee ABT’s creation of new works and performances throughout 2021 and 2022, ensuring ABT’s vitality and artistic integrity, while working with the Board of Governing Trustees to provide a seamless transition to the Company’s next Artistic Director.

Pacific Northwest Ballet has announced a new upcoming production as part of its digital stage. The digital dance stage offers new avenues of creativity for choreographers, dancers, and filmmakers.

It is always encouraging to hear the stories of Baldwin Wallace University alumni who make it big in the arts field. Oh, and I forgot to list a critical Baldwin Wallace University campus hot tip.

The Royal Opera House has shared early plans for its 2021/22 Season, the first full Royal Opera House Season since 2019.   

For six weeks beginning Monday, March 29, American Ballet Theatre will present the works of the 2021 ABT Incubator with weekly premieres of new choreography created within the past year by ABT artists. 

iHeartDance NYC, a new initiative to celebrate and support the dance artists of New York City through performance opportunities and financial relief, announce their live inaugural performance series, April 11, 2021 on the rooftop of the Empire Hotel.

Today, in a historical first, the NAACP announced that it will be awarding two recipients, NBA superstar Stephen Curry and The Women’s National Basketball Players Association, with the Jackie Robinson Sports Awards. Additionally, Misty Copeland will be honored with the prestigious Spingarn Medal.

American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced a singularly prestigious faculty for its April and May live virtual masterclasses.

The UofSC Dance Company will take the Koger Center stage on April 1st for Excavating Movement, a one-night only concert featuring works from legendary choreographers José Limón and Antony Tudor, plus a brand-new work by guest artist Rosy Simas.

One of the great dance companies in the world, American Ballet Theatre (ABT) makes a much-anticipated return to City Center for a night at the ballet with works by acclaimed choreographer and ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky—filmed live on the City Center stage.

American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum (NTC) has announced a new  subscription-based web portal enabling access to selected content from ABT’s Teacher Training  Intensives and its specialized Raising the Barre Weekend Workshops.