In this final installment of  Behind the Ballet for the 2024 Summer season, ABT Principal Dancer Herman Cornejo joins Elizabeth Kaye to discuss Like Water for Chocolate and its layered three-act story. From adapting to a non-balletic character and demanding acting scenes to onstage sensuality and heartbreak, this exclusive interview offers a unique perspective on two-time Tony Award® winner Christopher Wheeldon’s full-length ballet, based on Laura Esquivel’s iconic novel of the same title.

In this installment of Behind the Ballet, Elizabeth Kaye revisits the creation of The Royal Ballet (1965) in the wake of World War II, which sought to bring back “what was lost after the war—the gentleness of life.” Kaye then explains how Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy is translated into movement through four heart-wrenching pas de deux and three acts of forbidden young love that reveal the universal language of ballet in Romeo and Juliet.

This episode of Behind the Ballet takes on the third production of the 2024 Summer season: Swan Lake. Described by Elizabeth Kaye as the “crown jewel of classical ballet,” Kaye offers a sneak peek into this production’s premiere in 2000 featuring current Artistic Director Susan Jaffe in the role of Odette/Odile. Kaye chronicles the tragic story of Swan Lake and how Tchaikovsky’s ethereal score shapes this iconic 19th Century tale.

This segment of Behind the Ballet delves into the contemporary masterpiece that is Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works. Elizabeth Kaye’s informative lecture offers a rich understanding of choreographer Wayne McGregor’s history and a glimpse into the ballet’s layered content. Join ABT for an enlightening discussion that promises to leave you with much to think about and even more to anticipate on stage with this electrifying performance.

The first installment of Behind the Ballet for the 2024 Summer season unearths the emotionally charged classic ballet Onegin. ABT Dance Historian and New York Times #1 best-selling author Elizabeth Kaye gives us an in-depth glance of the plot structure in this ballet adaptation of the original verse-novel by Alexander Pushkin, and explains exactly why this ballet remains an audience and dancer favorite. 

In the newest installment of Behind the Ballet, ABT Dance Historian and New York Times #1 best-selling author Elizabeth Kaye puts the spotlight on the beloved tradition returning this holiday season. Kaye takes us on a magical journey through The Nutcracker’s history, music, and how the ballet came to be a worldwide holiday sensation.  

Don’t miss ABT’s The Nutcracker on stage at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California, from December 8–17! With choreography by Alexei Ratmansky, this annual classic brings a cast of more than 100 performers to the stage and features dazzling sets and costumes by Tony Award® winner Richard Hudson, accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s timeless score.  

In the final installment of Behind the Ballet, Kaye ventures into the backgrounds of the choreographers themselves to uncover how each visionary’s upbringing is reflected through movement. Kaye discusses the history of Alonzo King and his work centered on hope, Single Eye. Kaye also connects Alexei Ratmansky’s upbringing in Ukraine to his narrative ballet On the Dnipro, which takes place in his home country.

From the ebullience of Russian imperialism in George Balanchine’s Ballet Imperial, to the magical forest and Shakespearean entanglements of Frederick Ashton’s The Dream, 20th Century Works: Balanchine and Ashton will transport audiences to new places. Kaye explains how these two ballets – one abstract, one narrative – bring viewers into their spellbinding worlds.

In Classics Old and New, Kaye takes audiences on a journey through Alexei Ratmansky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort, and Harald Lander’s Études. Kaye discusses how each choreographer’s unique vision and specific style ultimately culminated in the distinctly unique masterpieces presented in the program.

After the success of our summer series, we are delighted to bring you the next iteration of Behind the Ballet with Elizabeth Kaye, a series of talks with ABT’s Dance Historian, renowned ballet lecturer, and New York Times #1 best-selling author. Each Behind the Ballet video provides a deep dive into the 2023 Fall season programs: Classics Old and New, 20th Century Works: Balanchine and Ashton, and 21st Century Works: King, Ratmansky, and Bond. Explore the videos below and find out what lies behind the ballet!