This fall, the curtain rises on the American Repertory Ballet (ARB) spotlighting the artistry, joy, and beauty of dance in two upcoming performances showcasing the strength, athleticism, and classical training of ARB’s professional dancers.
The 2018-’19 season kicks off with American Made: Paul Taylor and Others at the Bart Luedeke Center Theater at Rider University in Lawrenceville at 7:30 p.m. on September 21 and 22. For tickets, visit rider.edu/events.
Resident choreographer Kirk Peterson will stage a revival of his critically acclaimed 2013 ballet Tears of the Moon, set to Beethoven’s piano sonatas, and Artistic Director Douglas Martin will revisit the pas de deux from his original ballet, Ephemeral Possessions, set to the music of Samuel Barber. The evening will also highlight the poetry and lyricism of an iconoclast of modern dance, Paul Taylor, who died in August. ARB will present the company premiere of one of Taylor’s masterpieces, Airs, set to the music of G.F. Handel.
“It’s an honor to have the Taylor piece made available to us and to have expert staging by longtime Paul Taylor company member Sean Mahoney,” said Martin. Mahoney, an alum of Princeton Ballet School and American Repertory Ballet, infused his years of wisdom as a member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company.
October 19 finds the dancers of ARB, adept in all types of classical and modern American dance, filling the stage at the State Theater in New Brunswick with movement and music as they perform Coppelia, one of the great comic ballets of all time.
According to Martin, “Coppelia is the perfect story ballet for ARB. Brilliant classical dance meets delightfully comic narrative. It’s an enjoyable light comedy that our audiences will love to see.”
The ballet tells the story of Coppelia, a mechanical doll that is so life-like she is able to fool Franz, who is about to be married, after he notices Coppelia throwing kisses to him. Franz places himself in great danger as he tries to determine if Coppelia really loves him. Perfect for the entire family, the performance is at 8 p.m. For tickets, visit stnj.org.
ARB’s mission is to bring the beauty, artistry, and discipline of classical and contemporary dance to New Jersey and nationwide audiences. Under the artistic direction of Douglas Martin and leadership of Executive Director Julie Diana Hench, the organization comprises of the professional dance company; Princeton Ballet School, one of the largest and most respected non-profit dance schools in the nation, with locations in Princeton, Cranbury, and New Brunswick; and ARB’s Access & Enrichment initiatives, including the acclaimed DANCE POWER, the longest continuously running community arts partnership in New Jersey.
Pencil in future performances of Coppelia in March and April, as well as the world premiere of Peterson’s Beauty and the Beast. The much beloved holiday favorite, Nutcracker, opens at McCarter Theater (mccarter.org) over Thanksgiving weekend, and continues with performances in Princeton, Rahway, South Orange, New Brunswick, and Red Bank throughout the holiday season.
American Repertory Ballet, 301 North Harrison Street, Princeton. www.arballet.org; 609 921 7758.
