Hee Seo News

American Ballet Theatre will give its final New York City performances of The Nutcracker at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House beginning Friday, December 12, 2014 at 7:00 P.M. Choreographed by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky, the holiday classic will be given 13 performances through December 21 at BAM.

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.

On June 23rd, Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes were scheduled to dance the lead roles of Odette-Odile and Prince Siegfried in American Ballet Theatre's Swan Lake. Unfortunately, after an exquisitely musical and technically proficient first act, it was announced that Ms. Murphy would not dance in the second act due to an injury, sparking a collective gasp from the audience, especially since the first act was danced so well.

I was privileged to see American Ballet Theatre performing Giselle twice this season.

American Ballet Theatre's premiere of the Royal Ballet's Cinderella was a beautifully romantic and astonishingly comedic whirlwind of a fairytale. With Frederick Ashton's cutting-edge choreography set to Sergei Prokofiev's vibrant score, American Ballet Theatre delivered a ballet enjoyable for all ages.

Casting for the fifth and sixth weeks of American Ballet Theatre's 2014 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

Balanchine and Massine on the same program on February 20, 2014? I can't remember that last time I saw that. I wonder if the two would approve. But there is one fundamental difference separating the two choreographers. Balanchine, even 30 years after his death, is still in the forefront of modern ballet choreography, and most of Massine's ballets have fallen into oblivion. To be honest, the only Massine ballets I have seen prior to this were Parade and The Three Cornered Hat, both of which I enjoyed. I'd like to see The Good Natured Ladies, Le Beau Danube, La Boutique Fantasque, Rouge et Noir, Choreartium and Les Presages one of these days, but the chances are very slim. As the old saying goes, keep dreaming.

Casting for the third and fourth weeks of American Ballet Theatre's 2014 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

Casting for the first two weeks of American Ballet Theatre's 2014 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

After five years of planning, design and renovation, the curtain will rise this weekend on the University of Minnesota's historic Northrop. The iconic arts and entertainment venue is returning as the academic and cultural center of the Twin Cities' campus.

Northrop at the University of Minnesota reopens today, April 4, 8:00 pm with its Northrop Inside Out Grand Reopening Gala. The opening night gala features American Ballet Theatre, America's National Ballet Company performing the classic romantic ballet Giselle with live orchestra, a post-performance dessert and champagne reception, and Northrop Inside Out After Dark dance party featuring a live DJ and special performances.

American Ballet Theatre's 2014 season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 12-July 5, will be highlighted by the Company Premiere of Frederick Ashton's Cinderella and a Shakespeare Celebration to include Ashton's The Dream and Alexei Ratmansky's The Tempest. Season revivals include Leonide Massine's Gaite Parisienne and Kenneth MacMillan's Manon. Tickets for ABT's Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House go on sale at the box office on Sunday, March 30 at Noon.

Northrop at the University of Minnesota reopens on April 4, 8:00 pm with its Northrop Inside Out Grand Reopening Gala. The opening night gala features American Ballet Theatre, America's National Ballet Company performing the classic romantic ballet Giselle with live orchestra, a post-performance dessert and champagne reception, and Northrop Inside Out After Dark dance party featuring a live DJ and special performances.

Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and TenduTV announced today that the highly successful theatrical documentary, Ballet's Greatest Hits, is now available for purchase ($14.99 to $19.99) and rental ($3.99 to $4.99) on iTunes in over 20 countries, including The United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa. Ballet's Greatest Hits is also available for purchase and rental on Amazon, Google Play and YouTube. In addition, this is TenduTV's first new release on the African continent.

While the men were good in their supporting roles, it was the women who truly ruled this show.

99 Histories is a powerful story about the bond between mothers, daughters, sisters and aunts across three generations. 29-year-old Korean American violin prodigy Eunice comes home pregnant and unmarried, and tries to mend her estranged relationship with her very Korean mother. Haunted by memories of a violent past, Eunice must confront her ghosts before she can move forward. This is a riveting and poignant drama of memory, legacy and home - what is remembered is made up, the only homelands that exist are the imaginary.

American Ballet Theatre's 2014 season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. The season will be highlighted by the Company Premiere of Frederick Ashton's Cinderella, and a Shakespeare Celebration to include Ashton's The Dream and Alexei Ratmansky's The Tempest. Season revivals include Leonide Massine's Gaîté Parisienne and Kenneth MacMillan's Manon.

Casting for American Ballet Theatre's 2013 Fall Season at the David H. Koch Theater was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

American Ballet Theatre's 2013 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House previously announced the cast of THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

The World Premiere of The Tempest by Alexei Ratmansky will highlight American Ballet Theatre's inaugural Fall season at the David H. Koch Theater, October 30-November 10, 2013. The Fall 2013 season, announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, will also feature revivals of Bach Partita by Twyla Tharp, Les Sylphides by Michel Fokine, Gong by Mark Morris and Clear by Stanton Welch.