Both training grounds for American Ballet Theatre – ABT Studio Company and JKO School – will showcase their talents in their home city this coming May.
Directed by Sasha Radetsky, the ABT Studio Company will present Spring Moves, a program which includes classical, neoclassical, and newly commissioned works. George Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Kenneth MacMillan’s Concerto pas de deux, and a suite from Marius Petipa’s Raymonda will complement premieres by Gemma Bond, Hope Boykin, Houston Thomas, and Aleisha Walker.
“There’s nothing like a homecoming. After touring around the country and abroad, we’re excited to return to our roots in New York City. Spring Moves features a range of classical, neoclassical, and contemporary repertoire – including the New York City Premieres of four thrilling new works – and a special guest appearance by fiery concert pianist Cecile Licad, whose keyboard may well combust during the closing dances. Please join us to see some of ballet’s most promising and versatile young artists leave it all onstage for their home crowd,” said Radetsky.
ABT Studio Company dancers performing in Spring Moves are:
- Madison Brown
- Finnian Carmeci
- Kayke Carvalho
- YeonSeo Choi
- Kyra Coco
- Brady Farrar
- Ayami Goto
- Lilia Greyeyes
- Takumi Miyake
- Vince Pelegrin
- Sylvie Squires
- Alejandro Valera Outlaw
ABT STUDIO COMPANY NYC PREMIERES
The Go Between by Gemma Bond, is a new work commissioned for ABT Studio Company, with music by Domenico Scarlatti and costumes by Lauren Starobin, accompanied by Cecile Licad on live piano. After winning the esteemed Leventritt Competition award at the age of 20, the Manila-born artist has gone on to be a highly acclaimed pianist worldwide.
…if it ain’t BA-ROQUE by Hope Boykin, is a new work commissioned for ABT Studio Company, set to music selections by Agostino Steffani, George Frideric Handel, and Antonio Vivaldi performed by Cecilia Bartoli.
Knife’s Edge by Houston Thomas, is a new work commissioned for ABT Studio Company, featuring original music by Johannes Goldbach.
Do You Care? by ABT apprentice and former ABT Studio Company member Aleisha Walker, is set to music by Johannes Bornlöf. Walker’s Do You Care? won one of two Young Creation Awards presented at the 2023 Prix de Lausanne, where it was performed by ABT Studio Company member Madison Brown.
Students from ABT JKO School Pre-Professional Division, led by recently-appointed Stella Abrera, will perform:
- excerpts from Paquita, staged by Yan Chen with Rubeìn Martiìn after Petipa
- Seven Sonatas: A Study, staged by Stella Abrera after ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky*
- excerpts from Act I of Giselle, choreographed by Caridad Martinez
- Antony Tudor’s The Leaves Are Fading staged by Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner
*The performance of Seven Sonatas: A Study will include ABT JKO School Upper 2 and Upper 3 level students along with ABT Soloist SunMi Park and ABT Studio Company member Finnian Carmeci. It will additionally feature a collaboration with students from Bronx School for Music.
Faculty members involved in staging the demonstrations and excerpts, as well as contributing original choreography include Gemma Bond, Yan Chen, Marianne dello Joio, Elizabeth Ferrell, Carmela Gallace, Robert LaFosse, Rubeìn Martiìn, Caridad Martinez, and select Upper 3 students, will participate in class demonstrations that highlight the ABT JKO School curriculum.
All performances to be held at the Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU.
ABT Studio Company
- Friday, May 19 at 7:00 PM
- Saturday, May 20 at 7:00 PM
ABT JKO School
- Thursday, May 18 at 7:00 PM
- Saturday, May 20 at 1:30 PM
Featured Photo for ABT Studio Company and JKO School of Alejandro Valero Outlaw and Madison Brown in Kenneth MacMillan’s Concerto pas de deux. Photo by Rosalie O’Connor.
