May 3, 2021
American Ballet Theatre to Present ABT Across America
Company to Travel by Bus and Truck to Eight U.S. Cities Over Three Weeks in July
The 1950s ABT tour bus, "The Pioneer".America’s National Ballet Company® will take to the road this summer traveling by bus and truck to 8 U.S. cities beginning July 1, 2021. ABT Across America builds on ABT’s history of cross-country tours in the 1940s and 1950s. ABT Across America was announced today by Kevin McKenzie, Artistic Director.
From its starting point in Lincoln, Nebraska, ABT Across America will cross the United States in a caravan of 6 sleeper buses and 3 production trucks. 20 ABT dancers and 28 support crew will travel across 14 states, for a total of 3,100 miles, performing outdoors for socially distanced audiences. Cities that will host ABT Across America include Lincoln, Iowa City, Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Charleston, and Middleburg (VA). The tour will conclude on July 21 with a performance at Rockefeller Center in New York City, the site where Ballet Theatre offered its first public performances in 1940.
These unique performances, free to the public in most cities, will take place on a custom-built 40’ x 76’ stage that folds out of an 18-wheeler truck. Dancers scheduled to participate in the ABT Across America tour include Lauren Bonfiglio, Jacob Clerico, Michael de la Nuez, Carlos Gonzalez, Kiely Groenewegen, Sung Woo Han, Catherine Hurlin, Anabel Katsnelson, Kanon Kimura, Melvin Lawovi, Tyler Maloney, Joseph Markey, Abbey Marrison, Hannah Marshall, Betsy McBride, Duncan McIlwaine, João Menegussi, Chloe Misseldine, Cory Stearns, and Devon Teuscher.
Each 50-minute show will be performed without an intermission. Repertory for ABT Across America will feature Lauren Lovette’s La Follia Variations, a work for eight dancers set to music by Francesco Geminiani, Jessica Lang’s Let Me Sing Forevermore, a pas deux blending ballet and jazz vocabulary set to songs sung by Tony Bennett, Darrell Grand Moultrie’s Indestructible Light, a celebration of American jazz, and a classical pas de deux from ABT’s extensive repertoire. Family activities, fitness classes, and community engagement programs for local audiences are scheduled at each tour stop. All activity will take place according to state and local guidelines for health and safety.
“As necessity is the mother of invention, I am delighted to announce ABT Across America,” said McKenzie. “With most indoor performing arts centers still closed, these outdoor settings will allow ABT’s dancers to share their artistry, excellence, and optimism. For the past year, we have been pursuing our mission of reaching the widest possible audience through virtual programs and digital channels. With ABT Across America, we will go beyond the digital divide to provide access to live performance experiences. The planning of this tour has galvanized our staff and company, and we hope that these performances will be joyful and uplifting for communities nationwide.”
A complete list of tour dates and venues follows:
ABT Across America
| July 1, 2021 (rain date July 2) |
Pioneers Park, Lincoln, NE | 8:45 P.M. |
| July 4, 2021 (rain date July 5) |
Hancher Green, Iowa City, IA | 8:00 P.M. |
| July 8, 2021 | Chicago Park TBA/Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL | 7:30 P.M. |
| July 10, 2021 | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum/Northrop at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN | 5:00 & 8:00 P.M. |
| July 11, 2021 (rain date July 12) |
2:00 & 5:00 P.M. | |
| July 14, 2021 (rain date July 15) |
Forest Park, St. Louis, MO | 5:30 & 8:30 P.M. |
| July 17, 2021 (rain date July 18) |
Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC | 7:30 P.M. |
| July 19, 2021 (rain date July 20) |
Salamander Resort & Spa, Middleburg, VA | TBA |
| July 21, 2021 (rain date July 22) |
Rockefeller Center, New York, NY | TBA |
For more information on locations, ticketing, and protocols for ABT Across America, please visit www.abt.org/abt-across-america.
ABT Across America is generously supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
American Ballet Theatre recognizes Dalio Philanthropies and one anonymous donor for their champion support of ABT Across America. Special thanks to Susan Sherman for her guidance and enthusiasm in bringing this tour to St. Louis.
ABT extends deepest gratitude to:
Dr. Robert Galvin, Medical Advisor
ABT’s Choreographic Innovation and Inspiration and Inclusion programs are generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Additional major support of ABT’s Innovation and Inclusion programs is provided by Mark Casey and Carrie Gaiser Casey, the Ford Foundation, The Ted and Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund and through an endowed gift from the Toni and Martin Sosnoff New Works Fund.
Commissions and presentations of new works by women choreographers are supported by the ABT’s Women’s Movement. Champion support for the ABT Women’s Movement is provided by Jenna Segal. Additional leadership support is provided by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Special thanks to Denise Littlefield Sobel for her leadership gifts to: ABT’s Media Fund, advancing the Company’s digital endeavors; and ABT RISE, fueling the Company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
American Airlines, the Official Airline of American Ballet Theatre
Bank of America, Lead Corporate Partner of ABT Studio Company
LG Electronics, Global Electronics Partner of American Ballet Theatre