The region’s dance world gets moving this fall with new work from a prominent regional company and world class visitors. Let’s have a look.
American Repertory Ballet
The region’s premiere professional ballet company with deep connections to Princeton starts its season with a new artistic director, Ethan Stiefel, and a series featuring new and traditional works.
One of the resident companies of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, ARB will be presenting its October “Emergence” series featuring the following pieces: Stiefel’s “Wood Work,” created for the Washington Ballet in 2019; “World, Interrupted” by choreographer and former Sacramento Ballet director Amy Seiwert; “Mexican Music” by New York City choreographer and dance film maker David Fernandez; and “Saudade,” by ARB company member Ryoko Tanaka. $25 to $55. Saturday, October 23, 7 p.m., and Sunday, October 24, 2 p.m.
The company then opens the holiday season with its production of “The Nutcracker,” with presentations in Princeton, Trenton, and New Brunswick.
American Repertory Ballet at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, McCarter Theater, and the State Theater in New Brunswick. www.arballet.org.
Roxey Ballet
The Lambertville dance company will provide two free area special event performances. The first is “9/11 Heroes Run,” featuring its trainees as part of the 20th anniversary commemoration of the September 11, 2001, tragedy, held at War Memorial Stadium at Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown. Sunday, October 3.
Company professionals and trainees will then present “MaryLuz” by former National Ballet of Colombia dancer and Roxey member Giovanni Ravelo as part of the annual Shad Fest in Lambertville. Saturday, October 9.
Roxey then gets into the holiday spirit with its annual interpretation of “The Nutcracker,” presented at the theater of Villa Victoria Academy in Ewing. $36 to $60. Saturday and Sunday, November 27 and 28.
Roxey Ballet, Canal Studio Theater, 243 North Union Street, Lambertville. www.roxeyballet.org.
McCarter Theater
The performance arts center in Princeton continues with its annual schedule of new and established national and international dance companies:
Garba360 presents a free outdoor event celebrating the traditional dance from the Gujarati section of Western India. Mixing presentation and participation, the program includes live music, dance performances, and dance lessons. The event is held in the Princeton Shopping Center courtyard. Free. Sunday, September 26, 2 p.m.
A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, a Pittsburgh-born and New York City-trained and based dancer and choreographer, presents work “galvanized by Black culture and history” and uses “a sensual and provocative vocabulary with a strong emphasis on music, text, video, and visual art.” $50 to $60. Friday and Saturday, October 8 and 9, 8 p.m.
Dorrance Dance’s “SOUNDspace” reflects New York-based artistic director Michelle Dorrance’s commitment to celebrating and continuing tap dance’s “uniquely beautiful history in a new and dynamically compelling context.” $45 to $65. Friday, October 22, 8 p.m.
McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton. 609-258-2787 or www.mccarter.org.
State Theater New Jersey
The arts center in downtown New Brunswick is also busy resuming its fall dance schedule with the following events:
Complexions Contemporary Ballet presents “Bach To Bowie.” Founded by former Alvin Ailey dance embers, the New York City company mixing classic ballet with contemporary approaches presents a two-part program: “Bach 25,” using music to explore love and alliances, and “Stardust,” a tribute to the music of David Bowie. $19 to $49. Tuesday, October 19, 8 p.m.
Pilobolus arrives with “Big Five-Oh!” From its birth as a Dartmouth College dance project and taking its name from a fungus, the group now celebrating its 50th anniversary is known for exploring the movement potentials of the human body. $19 to $49. Sunday, November 14, 7 p.m.
State Theater New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. 732-246-7469 or www.stnj.org.
