Frederick Ashton News

Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, announces an epic 60th Anniversary Season of Celebration in 2015-16 including three World Premieres, the North American Premiere of Sylvia by John Neumeier, the Joffrey Premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's Fool's Paradise, and the return of Frederick Ashton's lavish Cinderella. Notably, 2015 will mark the farewell season of Robert Joffrey's The Nutcracker. The Joffrey has commissioned Christopher Wheeldon, whose An American in Paris is Broadway-bound this spring, to re-envision a major new Nutcracker to receive its World Premiere here in December 2016.

American Repertory Ballet (ARB) Artistic Director Douglas Martin will premiere his new full-length ballet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, on February 26 and 27, 2015 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ. The ballet will feature the beloved score by Mendelssohn, performed live by Rutgers Symphony Orchestra. ARB will also bring this new ballet to the Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem, PA on March 6. In anticipation of these performances, today January 16, ARB will host 'Behind the Music: A Midsummer Night's Dream,' a free lecture featuring guest and music scholar Simon Morrison.

The Joyce Theater Foundation presents the long-awaited NYC return of the UK's Royal Ballet – first time in over 11 years – at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center beginning with a gala performance on June 23, followed by two mix-billed programs of works by Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, Wayne McGregor, Liam Scarlett and Christopher Wheeldon through June 28. Tickets for The Royal Ballet can be arranged online at www.DavidHKochTheater.com or by calling (212)-496-0600.

New York Theatre Ballet (NYTB) will perform at 92Y from tonight, January 9-11, 2014. 92Y is located at 1395 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10128 (Lexington Avenue and 92nd Street). Performances: Today and Saturday at 8pm;and Sunday at 3pm.

American Repertory Ballet (ARB) Artistic Director Douglas Martin will premiere his new full-length ballet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, on February 26 and 27, 2015 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ. In anticipation of these performances, on January 16, ARB will host 'Behind the Music: A Midsummer Night's Dream,' a free lecture featuring guest and music scholar Simon Morrison.

Houston Ballet presents its eleventh annual Jubilee of Dance, a special one-night only performance tonight, December 5, 2014 at 7:00 pm. This year's program will feature the great American ballerina Julie Kent, a principal dancer with New York's American Ballet Theatre, who will make a special guest appearance. Ms. Kent will perform the leading female role in Stanton Welch's Clear (2001), a role she created at the work's premiere in 2001 in New York. Houston Ballet will also pay tribute to beloved first soloist Kelly Myernick, who is retiring after 14 years with the company. The Jubilee of Dance will close the evening with an excerpt of Stanton Welch's high-speed Velocity (2003), a ballet that pays homage to classical conventions in a contemporary manner. The Jubilee of Dance will be held at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713 227 2787 or by visiting www.houstonballet.org.

Houston Ballet presents its eleventh annual Jubilee of Dance, a special one-night only performance tonight, December 5, 2014 at 7:00 pm.

Houston Ballet presents its eleventh annual Jubilee of Dance, a special one-night only performance on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 7:00 pm. This year's program will feature the great American ballerina Julie Kent, a principal dancer with New York's American Ballet Theatre, who will make a special guest appearance. Ms. Kent will perform the leading female role in Stanton Welch's Clear (2001), a role she created at the work's premiere in 2001 in New York. Houston Ballet will also pay tribute to beloved first soloist Kelly Myernick, who is retiring after 14 years with the company. The Jubilee of Dance will close the evening with an excerpt of Stanton Welch's high-speed Velocity (2003), a ballet that pays homage to classical conventions in a contemporary manner. The Jubilee of Dance will be held at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713 227 2787 or by visiting www.houstonballet.org.

Houston Ballet presents its eleventh annual Jubilee of Dance, a special one-night only performance on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 7:00 pm.

American Ballet Theatre's 2015 season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. The season will be highlighted by the New York Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's all-new production of The Sleeping Beauty, a revival of Lar Lubovitch's Othello and repertory programs featuring historic works in celebration of the Company's 75th Anniversary Season.

Paloma Herrera, Julie Kent and Xiomara Reyes, Principal Dancers with American Ballet Theatre, have announced their retirements from the Company at the conclusion of the 2015 Metropolitan Opera House season in New York City. 'These three unique ballerinas have each made such distinctive contributions to ABT throughout the years,' Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie stated. 'With them, an era of our history resides. Their remarkable careers will be three more reasons to celebrate our 75th Anniversary season.'

Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director Ashley Wheater and Executive Director Greg Cameron announced today that Erica Lynette Edwards, a dancer with the Joffrey since 2000 who took on such roles as The Chosen One in Nijinsky's The Rite of Spring, fourth song soloist in Antony Tudor's Dark Elegies and the Fairy Godmother in Frederick Ashton's Cinderella, will retire following the engagement of Robert Joffrey's The Nutcracker (set to run at the Auditorium Theatre, December 5-28) to become the company's new Director of Community Engagement.

New York City Center's 11th annual Fall for Dance Festival will feature free performances in Central Park and 24 acclaimed dance companies and artists from around the world, in six unique programs in September and October 2014. In keeping with the Festival's commitment to make dance accessible to everyone, the Festival will kick off with two FREE evenings of dance at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, in association with The Public Theater, today and tomorrow, September 12 and 13 (rain date, September 14) and will continue at City Center from October 8 - October 19 with all tickets at $15. The Festival's many free pre-show events will include dance lessons and panels by choreographers, artists and dance educators. Tickets will go on sale Sunday, September 14 at 11 a.m.

The Joyce Theater Foundation and The National Ballet of Canada today announced the casting for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, having its New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center today, September 9 - 14, 2014.

The Joyce Theater Foundation and The National Ballet of Canada today announced the casting for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, having its New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center, September 9 - 14, 2014.

From September 4-14, 2014, Houston Ballet launches its 45th season with the company premiere of John Neumeier's three-act ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream. The ballet is based on Shakespeare's lighthearted play of the same name and follows the hijinks and hilarity that ensues when a well-intentioned plan with a love potion goes awry. Created in 1977, A Midsummer Night's Dream has served as Mr. Neumeier's calling card, being seen as one of his most joyous and popular creations. Houston Ballet is the first American ballet company to perform the famous work and it is the first piece by Mr. Neumeier to enter the Houston Ballet repertoire.

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, beginning tonight, Wednesday 6th, and continuing through Saturday 9th August in producer Sergei Danilian's presentation of SOLO FOR TWO.

New York City Center's 11th annual Fall for Dance Festival will feature free performances in Central Park and 24 acclaimed dance companies and artists from around the world, in six unique programs in September and October 2014.