Christopher Wheeldon News

Ballet Academy East has announced that Wendy Whelan will join the Pre-Professional Division Faculty. Ms. Whalen's tenure will begin with Ballet Academy East's Summer Intensive from August 18-29 and will continue through the school year, which begins on September 16, 2014. Ms. Whalen will primarily teach the upper level students of the Pre-Professional Division.

Peter Martins, Ballet Master in Chief of New York City Ballet, announced today that choreographer and NYCB Soloist Justin Peck has been named the Company's Resident Choreographer, effective immediately. In this new capacity Peck will create two world premiere ballets for NYCB each year, in addition to continuing to dance with the Company. Peck will become only the second person to hold the title Resident Choreographer at NYCB; the first was Christopher Wheeldon, who had the position from 2001 to 2008.

Peter Martins, Ballet Master in Chief of New York City Ballet, announced today that choreographer and NYCB Soloist Justin Peck has been named the Company's Resident Choreographer, effective immediately. In this new capacity Peck will create two world premiere ballets for NYCB each year, in addition to continuing to dance with the Company. Peck will become only the second person to hold the title Resident Choreographer at NYCB; the first was Christopher Wheeldon, who had the position from 2001 to 2008.

Daniel Ulbricht/BALLET 2014 offers an exclusive opportunity for audiences to experience some of today's most remarkable ballet dancers in the intimate Ted Shawn Theatre at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, July 16-20. New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Daniel Ulbricht directs and performs with a select ensemble of top stars including Tyler Angle, Craig Hall, Robert Fairchild, Russell Janzen, Emily Kikta, Rebecca Krohn, Tiler Peck, Georgina Pazcoguin, and Teresa Reichlen.

Principal casting has been announced for the upcoming world premiere production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS. The cast will include Robert Fairchild as Jerry Mulligan, Leanne Cope as Lise Dassin, Veanne Cox as Madame Baurel, Jill Paice as Milo Davenport, Brandon Uranowitz as Adam Hochberg, and Max Von Essen as Henri Baurel.

DANIEL ULBRICHT is a principal dancer with New York City Ballet and the founder and director of Stars of the American Ballet, a company that tours nationally and internationally and is devoted to presenting high caliber dancer performances and offering educational and outreach programs.

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the world premiere of An American Soldier, June 13-14, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. An American Soldier features music by composer Huang Ruo and a libretto by David Henry Hwang. This new work, to be performed in English, is the second hourlong opera created under the auspices of the American Opera Initiative, WNO's commissioning program for contemporary American opera. An American Soldier is directed by David Paul and a chamber orchestra is conducted by Steven Jarvi; both are alumni of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

Megan Fairchild, principal dancer of the New York City Ballet, will be a member of the faculty for the Allen Civic Ballet's Summer Program from today, June 10-12, 2014 in Allen, Texas.

Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe Award Winner John Lithgow brings his critically acclaimed show, Stories by Heart to celebrate the Long Wharf Theatre 2014 Gala, taking place tonight, June 6.

Today, June 3rd, Metropolitan Ballet Academy will begin its annual master class series, The Bridge. The series gives intermediate and advanced level students the opportunity to study with some of the region's most celebrated professional teachers and dancers. This year's series features ballet instruction led by three acclaimed dance artists and teachers: Abi Stafford, Olga Kostritzky, and John Selya.

On Tuesday, June 3rd, Metropolitan Ballet Academy will begin its annual master class series, The Bridge. The series gives intermediate and advanced level students the opportunity to study with some of the region's most celebrated professional teachers and dancers. This year's series features ballet instruction led by three acclaimed dance artists and teachers: Abi Stafford, Olga Kostritzky, and John Selya.

Halfway through celebrating its 50th year at the David H. Koch Theatre in Lincoln Center, the New York City Ballet showcased three diverse pieces influenced by the Company's greatest artists - Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, and of course, George Balanchine.

Following the record-breaking attendance of Festival 2013, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival announces the full 2014 Festival free and ticketed event schedule. Jacob's Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, home to America's longest-running dance festival, and a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Noted dance writer Jennifer Dunning has called the Pillow "the dance center of the nation, possibly the world."

SASHA DE SOLA, soloist of the San Francisco Ballet, and TIIT HELIMETS, principal dancer of the San Francisco Ballet, will appear as guest artists in a collaborative performance co-presented by the Allen Civic Ballet and the Allen Philharmonic. Ms. De Sola and Mr. Helimets will dance the Grand Pas de Deux in The Sleeping Beauty Act III in collaboration with the Allen Civic Ballet and the performance will be accompanied by the Allen Philharmonic at the Performing Arts Center at Allen High School in Allen, Texas on May 17, 2014.

Philadelphia, PA

Linda Shelton, Executive Director of The Joyce Theater, announced today the organization's programming for its 2014-2015 fall/winter season, launching September 9 with the New York premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's extravagant production of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, danced by the magnificent dancers of the National Ballet of Canada at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.

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!

New York City Ballet will open its 2014-15 season at Lincoln Center on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, which will continue through Sunday, June 7 with three repertory seasons - Fall (September 23 through October 19); Winter (January 20 through March 1); and Spring (April 28 through June 7); as well as the Company's annual holiday performances of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, which will be performed from Friday, November 28, 2014 through Saturday, January 3, 2015.

The world's most celebrated dancing partners, Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev are re-united for this summer's hottest ticket, at the London Coliseum, Wednesday 6th - Saturday 9th August in producer Sergei Danilian's presentation of SOLO FOR TWO.

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the world premiere of An American Soldier, June 13-14, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. An American Soldier features music by composer Huang Ruo and a libretto by David Henry Hwang. This new work, to be performed in English, is the second hourlong opera created under the auspices of the American Opera Initiative, WNO's commissioning program for contemporary American opera. An American Soldier is directed by David Paul and a chamber orchestra is conducted by Steven Jarvi; both are alumni of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.