Elizabeth Kaye explores Choreographers of the 20^th and 21^st Centuries in this installment of Behind the Ballet, focusing on landmark ballets from two iconic choreographers, George Balanchine’s Ballet Imperial and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room, during ABT’s 2024 Fall season. Kaye describes how Ballet Imperial, one of the first plotless ballets, carries a rich graciousness that permeated the grand 19^th century ballets such as Swan Lake. Unique to this year’s Fall season are the new sets and costumes that establish a world and mood before a single step is performed. Kaye then describes how Tharp, who turned classical ballet on its head in the 20^th century by fusing it with other dance elements, weds grace with athleticism in The Upper Room.