Launched in 2018, the ABT Women’s Movement is an ongoing initiative to support the creation, exploration and staging of new works by female choreographers for American Ballet Theatre and the ABT Studio Company. The ABT Women’s Movement supports at least three female choreographers each season to create new works for American Ballet Theatre. In most years, one work will be designated for ABT’s main Company, one for the ABT Studio Company and one will be a work-in-process workshop for ABT or Studio Company dancers. Each choreographer will work with her respective group of dancers for a two-to-five week period, receiving guidance and feedback from ABT’s artistic staff.
The ABT Women’s Movement took shape in 2016 as the Women Choreographers Initiative, having supported the ABT World Premiere of The Gift by Jessica Lang and the return of Lang’s Her Notes during the Company’s 2017 Fall season. The Initiative also funded new works for the ABT Studio Company by New York City Ballet principal dancer Lauren Lovette and former San Francisco Ballet soloist Dana Genshaft. In addition, choreographer Pam Tanowitz was in residency with ABT in November 2017 on a work-in-process. The workshop explored and developed movement phrases and concepts and culminated in an informal studio showing.
