Reviews & Quotes
 
Over the years, American Ballet Theatre has garnered numerous rave reviews from the press for the elegance and spectacle of its unforgettable performances. Below are a small sampling of some of the critical accolades ABT has received, both for the Company and for the ballets in its current Met season repertoire.

 
"Once in a not too frequent while, there comes along an evening that reminds you why you're in the theatre in the first place, and why dance is not a luxury or a frill but a necessity of life. Such an evening was American Ballet Theatre."
--The Washington Post
“One of the most beautiful sights in dance is American Ballet Theatre in full flight.”
--Clive Barnes, New York Post

“American Ballet Theatre and Kevin McKenzie’s success is a victory for American dance and their happy influence on our cultural landscape only grows with each season.”
--San Francisco Chronicle

“ABT has become a company that doesn’t revolve around one star couple, but in fact integrates a whole passel of highly skilled principal dancers with distinct styles and personalities that Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie can mix and match to great effect.”
--Karen Campbell, Boston Herald

DON QUIXOTE

"Choreographic fireworks!"
--Newsday

“ABT’S Don Quixote blazes!”
--Jennie Schulman, Backstage

FOKINE CELEBRATION

"Here is Fokine at his theatrical best."
--The Washington Times

"Splendid choreography, splendidly danced!"
--Jack Anderson, The New York Times

GISELLE

"To see American Ballet Theatre at its best is to see it in Giselle. This production glows with dramatic life and finely nuanced acting that illuminates ABT's virtuoso dancing!"
-- The New York Times

“Though it is more than 150 years old, the two-act Romantic ballet Giselle can still entrance… Giselle remains a stunner, with showy choreography and a mythical story.”
--Ann Holmes, Houston Chronicle

LE CORSAIRE

“American Ballet Theatre’s Le Corsaire is just downright giddy fun. This swashbuckling ballet has it all: bravura dancing, spirited work for the corps de ballet, romance, betrayal, murder – even a shipwreck.”
--Pia Nordlinger, The New York Sun

“Crammed with many spectacular dancing roles... [a] showcase for ABT’s virtuosity in depth [and] a funny, charming ballet... choreography is a mix of pure Petipa classicism… and later Soviet razzamatazz, especially for the male dancers.”
--Clive Barnes, New York Post

RAYMONDA

“This Raymonda is a visual feast, with a richness to the corps scenes, stunning costumes and sets, and dynamic bravura dancing. Raymonda endures because of its glorious ballet score by Glazunov and Petipa’s cornucopia of high-style classical choreography. A delight!”
--Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times

“ABT’s new production of Raymonda is a dream-like spectacle filled with the kind of virtuoso dancing that inspires fanaticism. Raymonda has assumed its rightful place among the blockbusters. This brilliant new staging is a company milestone.”
-- The Star-Ledger

SWAN LAKE

“[ABT’s Swan Lake]... Glides to the forefront of stagings all over the world. The fabled lake of the swans has risen into view, inspiring awe for its mystery and magic.”
--The Wall Street Journal

“This Swan Lake is a blockbuster production. With sets and costumes that evoke a rich Renaissance court at a lakeside castle, its sheer opera-house spectacle is a hit.”
--The New York Times

TCHAIKOVSKY SPECTACULAR

"Judging from the crowds that American Ballet Theatre's all-Tchaikovsky program have been drawing, the composer and ballet are as delectable a combination as caviar and champagne."
--Jennie Schulman, Backstage

"American Ballet Theatre's Tchaikovsky Spectacular is a feast of dancers."
--Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times